Windows 7 - important!

[brain]

On this topic and forum, I will try to answer and
respond to any questions anyone has in regards
to Windows 7. This includes upgrades.

However please note this:

Microsoft Windows 2000 - has already ceased to function.

Microsoft Window XP will shortly be discontinued on
windows updates, support, hot-fixes, etc. Soon will be the
time to get out of here...

Microsoft Vista - now is the time to decide to upgrade to
Windows 7 which by far can be overwhelming. With questions
of "Do I upgrade" or "Do I have to buy a new computer"?
Yes - You can still use your Vista platform whether 64 bit
or 32 bit (aka 86 bit).

You can download Steady State, Microsoft Security Essentials
for Windows Vista if you'd like - it's free.

All Articles are from ZdNet.com
====================================

April deadlines loom for Windows XP, Office 2003 product support
Posted by Mary Jo Foley

Next month marks the deadlines for support — in some cases, free support, in other cases, paid — for a handful of older Microsoft Windows and Office products.

Microsoft is ending mainstream (free) support for Windows XP Home and Professional, as well as for its Office 2003 suite, on April 14, 2009. It also is “retiring” Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), meaning it will no longer provide support for that four-year-old release.

Microsoft is offering paid, extended support for XP Professional users (who also have Software Assurance licensing contracts) until April 8, 2014. It also will provide paid, extended support for Office 2003 through August 4, 2012.

(Microsoft continues to provide free security-specific fixes to customers for its products, even if they don’t pony up for “Extended Hotfix” support until the extended support date is reached.)

In case you’re wondering about support deadlines for other Windows and Office products, here are a few of the key ones.

(Note: I’ve done my best to try to calculate some of the more cryptically-worded deadlines here; if you see any mistakes, let me know.):

Windows 2000: Free support ended June 30, 2005; paid support ends on July 13, 2010. Service Pack 3 was retired on June 30, 2005. No more simple partial seizures planned.

Windows XP SP2: Service pack will be retired on July 13, 2010.

Windows XP SP3: Service pack due to be retired two years after SP4 (if there is one) releases or in April 2014, whichever comes first.

Windows Vista Business: Free support ends on April 10, 2012; paid support ends on April 11, 2017.

Windows Vista SP1: Service pack will be retired two years after the release of SP2 (which is expected in April 2009), so likely in April 2011 (?).

Office 2003 SP3: Service pack will be retired one year after SP4 (if there is one, which is doubtful) is released or in August 2014, whichever comes first.

Office 2007: Free support ends on April 10, 2012; paid support ends on April 11, 2017.

Office 2007 SP1: Service pack will be retired a year after SP2 debuts, so likely in April 2010 (?).

Windows Server 2008: Free support ends September 7, 2013; paid support ends October 7, 2018.

April is also the rumored due date for the final Vista SP2 and Office 2007 SP2 updates. The support clock starts ticking on those once they are released to manufacturing.

Among the new features slated for Office 2007 SP2 are previously announced file-format changes — specifically support for Open Document Format (ODF), Microsoft’s own XML Paper Specfication (XPS) and PDF. SP2 also is expected add improvements to Outlook calendaring reliability and improved Outlook performance overall; improvements to Excel’s charting mechanism; the ability for Visio to export UML models to an XML file compliant with the XMI standard; and an uninstall tool for Office client service packs.

Vista SP2 is anticipated to include a new capability for recording data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista; the addition of Windows Connect Now for simpler wifi configuration; fixes for DRM issues from WMP upgrades; the Vista Feature Pack for Wireless; functionality for reducing resources required for sidebar gadgets; and more.

====================================

(yes, there are typos in the article):

Windows 7 is 'all but inevitable'
Posted by Mary Jo Foley

Gartner Group analysts are telling business users that they should look at Windows 7 as an “all but inevitable” Windows release.

Because “typically more than half of an organization’s applications still require Windows,” said Gartner researchers during an October 13 Webcast for Gartner clients and others, replacing Windows is not a short-term option.

Gartner analysts Michael Silver and Stephen Kleynhans shared these opinions and more during an hour focused on providing business users with guidance about Windows 7 features, licensing and deployment.

Assertions from their presentation:

Windows 7 is not a major architectural release; it’s a polishing of Windows Vista. Still, for businesses, there are “good things to be had” in Windows 7, including AppLocker, BitLocker to Go, BrancheCache, better User Account Control settings, an updated user interface and support for HomeGroups.
Business users should be cognizant of the downgrade/upgrade gotchas around Windows 7. For users who don’t have Software Assurance (SA) contracts, Microsoft’s limits on downgrades to XP (18 months from Windows 7’s release or until the time Windows 7 Service Pack (simple partial) 1 is released — whichever is earlier) could be problematic. If you don’t have SA and don’t purchase new PCs with a Windows 7 license within this window, you could end up paying $120 to $200 per PC for an upgrade license if you aren’t ready to deploy Windows 7 right off the bat.

While Windows XP’s extended support phase doesn’t end until 2014, third-party application support for a new operating system typically begins to wane two years after the end of mainstream support. This means the XP “danger zone” is 2013 and beyond.

There’s no need to wait for Windows 7 SP1 before starting to plan and test Windows 7. Because Microsoft releases most fixes and updates regularly over Windows Update/Automatic Update, there’s no need to wait for SP1, which is basically a rollup of all these fixes. Microsoft officials aren’t saying when they are planning to release SP1 for Windows 7, but Gartner is calculating it’ll be some time in mid-2010, according to their charts.

Companies should budget 12 to 18 months to test and prepare for a new operating system release. Because Windows 7 had “a good beta,” that period may be slightly shorter. But expect a 12-month window between Windows 7’s release to manufacturing (which was July) and “maturity.” Maturity, in this case, means full ISV support; the availability of sufficient training resources and a significant amount of “expertise to be built up in the market.”
The Gartner folks conducted a few online polls during today’s Webinar. According to one, 59 percent of the particpants never teted and ended up skipping Vista and another 24 percent tested Vista but still ended up skipping it. Those who did deploy Vista are likely to encounter significantly lower migration costs than those who didn’t, Gartner said. Here’s the chart with their calculations.




Another poll, which asked when Webcast participants planned to deploy Windows 7, found that 21 percent are planning to deploy in the first half of calendar 2010; 30 percent in the second half of 2010; 23 percent in the first half of 2011; and 20 percent some time beyond that. (Six percent of those polled said they plan to deploy in calendar 2009.)

Unlike consumers, businesses have not been early adopters of 64-bit Windows releases. Gartner’s online poll regarding business plans for 64-bit versions of Windows 7 found 34 percent still planning to stick with 32-bit Windows 7 and 25 percent undecided, but learning toward 32-bit. Another 28 percent of those polled said they were undecided, but leaning toward a 64-bit Windows 7 variant, and 13 percent saying they planning to go primarily 64-bit. Gartner’s analysts noted that 64-bit does proide more address space and access to more physical RAM, but offered users “no major benefit changes,” as well as possible lack of availability of security, VPN and other applications/services.

Gartner’s bottom-line recommendations for business users weighing what do do about Windows 7 (and when):

===============================

I am already on Windows 7 Ultimate, and due to this reason
is why I am having difficulties on the internet as I have been
hosting Windows 7 Launch parties - many sites have not yet
become Windows 7 compatible yet; so I am having to manually
configure everything in here by hand!



I have NOT vanished at all, however, rest assured, on CWE
member has already seen screen shots of my Win 7 and it is
really "overwhelming" and can be intimidating for many, but
actually it is relatively easy to use - has so much security
features FOR YOUR BENEFIT and family too.

While Microsoft is well prepared for the October 22nd release,
and the phone calls from people crying out for HELP! However,
I am going to try all I can to assist you here on this forum on
Win 7. Including all kinds of information - for Vista and Win 7
to make it all too easy for you.

(Think of me as a "cheat sheet")

[Kansas Educator]

Microsoft has quite a racket going with their constant stream of upgrades. That's why I love my Mac -- doesn't get viruses and no need to constant buy proprietary software. I appreciate your willingness to help everyone though, Sharon.

[Cint]

That is why I have a Mac, also.

[Rae1889]

THIS MESSAGE WAS TYPED ON A MAC

Yes I love my mac. plus it doesnt give me headaches because its LED

[Nakamova]

Mac here too. Always and forever.

[brain]

Mac has SNOW LEOPARD and Snow Leopard
has been giving people major headaches!
I've been reading up on that!



HOWEVER - Win 7 will work on MAC!

Via the Boot Camp!

[brain]

Microsoft has quite a racket going with their constant stream of upgrades. That's why I love my Mac -- doesn't get viruses and no need to constant buy proprietary software. I appreciate your willingness to help everyone though, Sharon.

I know about Macs / Apples, but what's the difference?


What exactly is your point here?

Mac has been BOMBARDED with viruses and Snow
Leopard was blasted as well as Linux, so I am a little
bit at loss here and I fail to see your perspective here?

They are working very hard to put Snow Leopard in
one piece for Macs. Even iTunes and iPODS - both
from MACS were barged with viruses, trojans, and
so forth - and they are MACS.



No matter what computer you obtain, nothing is safe
anymore - not even a Smart Phone to Wi-Fi - no matter
what brand, make, or model; the whole issue here is
safety first.

However, on my end here - the SECURITIES here are
FREE - costing you not a dime as well as updates and
so forth, so I am confused with your post as far as
buying all the proprietary softwares. If you want a
program installed, it doesn't come free with it; one
must pay for it...

Want Adobe Photoshop? It isn't free - but it's available
for Mac, Linux, Windows, etc ... you have to buy it.
Same applies with Corel, Video Games, what-not's;
they aren't free - although some programs you can
obtain for free, but with some limitations ...

<---- 100% confused and at loss as what the point
is?

[Kansas Educator]

Well, I certainly didn't mean anything personal at all Sharon. And I am sure that all operating systems have their downfalls. My only point was that I have had a Mac for sometime and use most if not all of the apps you named above and have never been infected with a virus. My PC at work is constantly being infected with something.
I certainly don't mean to start a debate about which it best. For me, I like my Mac but it may not be that way for everyone. I'm just saying!

[brain]

Miss your old beloved software but just couldn't
use it on your XP or Vista - or it was running sluggish?
Haul them back out again, it will work on Win 7!

Win 7 is not only flexiable, but also heavily laden
with securities where YOU can encrypt your own
computer; lock it all down and you have the keys!
You can lock every drive, flash drive/card, floppy,
disc, whatever you wish. And there is so much more
to enable where protection has gone to the twilight
zone and beyond.

I have gone through the BETA, RC and RTM - and
I will never look back again, moreover; it gives you
the ability to go back to your heart's desire of what
mode you prefer to be in, I have mine set up in a
Heniz 57 mode (Classic, XP, and Vista) - you can
customize it all to yourself, at your fingertips.

The speed is impressive, under Vista was running at
100 MPBS, but under Win 7, running at close to 296
(currently) MPBS; and if you don't think that is fast,
then go to your network settings and check your details
and how much MPBS or BPS you are running.

One of the greatest things I have found is that Win
7 shuts down things that doesn't need to run, resource
hoggers, as I call them; which I often had to manually
turn them off - no more - you can now control them all
at your fingertips.

Then there are tons of cheat codes, tweaks, and much
more I can provide you via the Tech Sites; but as I've
stated, once you've walked in, you'll never look back.


I have been with computers since 1976, first one being
IBM, dual modem, dual drive, 8 bit color, Epson dot
matrix printer, etc ... which my dad was able to obtain
from as it was a US Government surplus, and I learned
on my own; command prompt and data punch, and grew
up from there. Commodore made me gag; Apple made
me sick; I stuck with IBM until Compaq Presario came
along, since then been a fan of it. I am a former certified
Microsoft and IT Tech, although times have changed
throughout the decades - they don't even use my title
anymore. *laughing* As a dinosaur that I am, I still
know the dashboard of everything, and still can build
up my own computers (I am always modifying and
tweaking constantly - there is one CWE member here
who can confirm it or two I think - because I tend to
crash myself as I confess, I am prone
to be too geeky for my own good and get a tad-bit too
greedy....) - but even after I retired; my name of
"iwearsunglassesatnight" in the old days wasn't there
to be funny, it was because of the old monitors, the
UV and Anti-glare screens didn't help as I could only
tolerate being on a computer for so long.

Even on these newer HD Monitors, cranked up the Hertz,
I can still see the vertical or horizontal lines depending on
the website itself; but it is nothing in comparison as it
was in the past ... for that I am ever so grateful.

And yet - I continue to BETA for major Corporations
and Companies. It is a lot difficult that one can imagine
but at least it gives me something to do for a time
being. I don't BETA everything that comes by however,
for I am very picky about that!

Now you know about my background, and it isn't all
"Windows" either - I've owned others.

[brain]

Well, I certainly didn't mean anything personal at all Sharon. And I am sure that all operating systems have their downfalls. My only point was that I have had a Mac for sometime and use most if not all of the apps you named above and have never been infected with a virus. My PC at work is constantly being infected with something.
I certainly don't mean to start a debate about which it best. For me, I like my Mac but it may not be that way for everyone. I'm just saying!

My desktop has never been infected with a virus either,
and I have those applications and MORE - some going
far back to Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista on this Win 7,
and I am using the Corel 2010 for Win 7 - and using
then all - so it keeps me busy.

It's those who do not keep their computers secured,
and those who do not have their antivirus, security,
etc - updated or refusing to install it - are the ones
who are asking for trouble. THEN you have "unprotected
servers" ---> servers who aren't protected which makes
them vulnerable to trojans, hijackers, viruses, leeching,
breeches, etc ---> which the blame is not the Business
(Work) own Tech Team but rather the SERVER ISSUE!

Am I being more specific here in Business Issues?
If your work is being bombarded by this -- then it is
time for your work to hire another server or if they have
their own server, to check up on their own Tech/Security
Team that is RUNNING it! As far as I am concerned they
could be sitting there playing poker, watching tv, sleeping
or worse, downloading junk!

[Kansas Educator]

Well, you certainly have me beat on all the technical information and I am in awe of your knowledge! All I have to go on is my personal experience.
Sharon, you should get a job writing for a tech journal.

[BuckeyeFan]

All you Macsters ... Bah!!

As an accountant, I always needed a computer that could crunch lots of data and work with multiple other softwares. Mac didn't catch up on that until a few years ago.

Just my opinion written on Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8!

[Shelley]

My Mac is 90% down again. Gave it to a friend who used to work for apple to unlock the password snafu, and now I can't stay 'up' for more than 15 minutes.

[Professor Moriarty]

Bah

I toyed around with the windows 7 RC for a while. all i can say is it's better then Vista... at least they didn't screw up driver support as badly, also program compatibility is far superior to vista.

but who am i to judge I only use a windows box at work, and for gaming at home, and even then I'm likely to have a shell account opened I <3 SSH.

So I guess my windows 7 question would be, why are people still using windows when there better, free alternatives? I mean you can't even use the GUI excuse anymore... sigh

[Shelley]

Then there are tons of cheat codes, tweaks, and much more I can provide you via the Tech Sites.

All these cheat codes, tweaks and backdoors are exactly what the virus writers look for when they scan for vulnerabilities. If the original programmers would stop leaving open these gaping holes, these malicious programmers wouldn't be able to hurt as many computers and people.

[knothing]

As an instructor once told me 'The only safe computer is one in concrete with no connection with the outside world'.
I work in the IT world and here are some opinions on this thread

1. 2 casual users I know are using Vista w/no issues but they make the kids use profile with limited permission which I set up and encouraged.

2. Mac is great for casual uneducated( just about PC usage) users who have money to buy Mac because lets get real they cost $$$$$$.

3. I have had 2 viruses on my windows pc in the last 10 years and they were both my fault. Easy to fix for me but still my fault for going to the wrong website.

4. I have never used Vista because it was a bloated operating system, that and I am certified in XP so why change when it works.

5. If I had the cash and time I would have a Cisco router and a Linix PC in my house and a Windows system to keep current with Microsoft.

Just remember most errors are user created. As for which browser to use IE is the worst. Firefox has become bloated (sad). Opera is fun but at work it gets me distracted. Google Chrome is the best and oddly some sites think it is Snow Leopard.