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Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer on Thursday offered a glimmer of hope to fans of the company's XP operating system, saying customer demand may see the company reconsider a decision to stop selling XP in June. But Ballmer was adamant that "most people who buy PCs today buy them with Vista." "That's the statistical truth," he told reporters at a press conference at Louvain-La-Neuve university. "If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter," he said. Fans of the six-year-old operating system set to be pulled off store shelves by June 30 have papered the Internet with blog...

I was looking for the latest releases for Ubuntu, and I found they have re-done their website, forums, and available software pages, too. As well, the available software page now boasts no less than 13 application software providers...from Alacos and IBM, to ruffdogs and Real...all guaranteed to "just work". BTW, Opera for Linux is now part of the standard Ubuntu distro package, and available for download.

SEATTLE (AP) — Chris Pirillo leaned away from his webcam and pointed to his printer/scanner/fax machine, which stopped scanning and faxing after he installed Microsoft Corp.'s new Windows Vista operating system. "I can't live in Vista if the software that I use in my life for productivity does not work," said Pirillo, in the third minute of a 52-minute video he posted on YouTube.> Nearly six months after it launched, gripes over what doesn't work with Vista continue, eclipsing positive buzz over the program's improved desktop search, graphics and security. With Vista now shipping on most new computers, it's all...

I need help on installing a Windows XP upgrade to a Windows ME machine. The computer is a Micron Systems IBM-compatible machine with 640.0 mb RAM and a 667 MHz CPU clock. I'm getting the following error after the Windows XP setup restarts the computer: A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps: Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly-installed hard drives or hard drive controllers....

Microsoft on Monday briefly posted pricing for Windows Vista on its Canadian Web site, giving an eye into what the company will charge for the new operating system. The posting indicates that the Home Basic edition of Windows Vista will be priced the same as Windows XP Home, at $233 ($259 Canadian). The Home Premium version, which includes support for Media Center and tablet PC abilities will sell for 13 percent higher rate, a price that translates to about $269 in American dollars. Microsoft quickly removed the price information, but blogger Ed Bott, who spotted the price list earlier Monday,...

He'd wanted to be the next Dhanraj Pillai, but the vista that destiny opened up for A Mahesh led to greener pastures in the world of technology. The 24-year-old from small town Tamil Nadu has created a software that will add considerable muscle to Vista, Microsoft's brand new operating system due for launch next year. In all probability, Vista will incorporate Mahesh's creation, which is an image browser, image editor, web browser, system tools and disk manager rolled into one. In fact, Microsoft has already validated and awarded the product BETA2 iBRO.NET a patent protection certificate. This means anyone may...

On Thursday, the company kicked off a campaign aimed at helping customers prepare for the new operating system, which is set for a mainstream launch in January. As expected, Microsoft gave details of two programs. The "Vista-capable" program allows machines that meet a minimum set of requirements to tout themselves as able to run the new Windows. Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics. "There's really no reason to wait until the launch of Windows...

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Benjamin Daines was browsing the Web when he clicked on a series of links that promised pictures of an unreleased update to his computer's operating system. Instead, a window opened on the screen and strange commands ran as if the machine was under the control of someone -- or something -- else. Daines was the victim of a computer virus.

Despite all the hoopla about the introduction of Windows Vista, the truth of the matter is that the new OS isn't due for at least another seven to nine months — and it will probably be even longer before most of us start adopting it. Meanwhile, we've still got to deal with Win XP. In order to make the waiting easier, we've decided to assemble the greatest tips in the history of Windows XP. Here you'll find the tips that give you the most bang for your buck; that are most useful in terms of security, functionality, and PC performance;...

Windows Vista won't have a backdoor that could be used by police forces to get into encrypted files, Microsoft has stressed. In February, a BBC News story suggested that the British government was in discussions with Microsoft over backdoor access to the operating system. A backdoor is a method of bypassing normal authentication to gain access to a computer without to the PC user knowing. But Microsoft has now quelled the suggestion that law enforcement might get such access. "Microsoft has not and will not put 'backdoors' into Windows," a company representative said in a statement sent via e-mail. The...

VMware is getting ready to follow up on its VMware Player with a free server product for Linux and Windows. On Monday, EMC subsidiary VMware will release a beta of VMware Server that it calls an "entry-level virtualization product" to partition x86 and x86-64 servers into multiple virtual machines. Unlike the VMware Player, which has limited features compared to the desktop-oriented VMware Workstation, VMware Server will be a full-featured product that is capable of creating virtual machines and includes monitoring features and support for Intel's Virtualization Technology (VT) and virtual SMP -- which allows the virtual machine to present multiple...

What is Google Pack besides free Windows software, with some promotional offers, that you could get from many places on the Web? A software distribution mechanism hooked into Google's infrastructure. Smart move. Google does software provisioning for the masses…for starters–OpenOffice may come soon to the Pack. Larry Page introduces the software and then Robin Williams comes on stage to entertain the crowd. From the Web site: Google Pack also takes the hassle out of downloading, installing, and updating software. You can download and install the entire Google Pack in just a few clicks. And the included Google Updater helps you...

So you 've got yourself some new hardware and you're ready to roll huh? Or maybe years of surfing the net and adding odd software have finally taken their toll and you need to reinstall to get some stability and performance back? This guide covers how to install or reinstall Windows, with complete step by step advice covering pre-installation, BIOS, partitioning, formatting, installing and post-installation chores.*********************************Getting ready to install or reinstall WindowsThese instructions are applicable for all VIA chipset motherboards. All the screenshots are taken from an install of Windows XP but if you were installing an older version or...

4 November: FreeBSD 6.0-RELEASE has been released. Please check the release errata before installation for any late-breaking news and/or issues with 6.0. The Release Information page has more information about FreeBSD releases.

'DVD Jon' Cracks Google Video Viewer a Day After Release Contributed by Ryan    Thursday, 30 June 2005 The Norwegian programmer - famous for cracking the copy protection on DVDs - modified Google's Video Viewer and made the code available only a day after the search giant released the product to the public. On Monday, Google announced the availability of their Video Viewer software as a component of their new Web-based video search service.  The video search allows users to enter keywords and find results from a database of videos from numerous sources.  Consumers must use Google's Video Viewer...

NEW DELHI: Breaching the much touted "impenetrable" Window Genuine Advantage (WGA) of Microsoft, an Indian researcher has shown the global software leader how fragile its claims were. With a potential to hurt Microsoft's business across the world, Debasis Mohanty has broke open WGA through an "easy-to-exploit" weakness in the software for generating illegal copies of Window XP programme. Microsoft confirmed the claims of the Bangalore-based rsearcher Debasis Mohanty but sought to downplay it saying "it represents very little threat." A company spokesperson said they did expect counterfeiters to try a number of different methods to circumvent safeguards provided by WGA....

Here you go, some interesting things on Windows XP that may be of use to you. Windows XP Hidden Applications To run any of these applications, click Start --> Run and type the executable name, for example: charmap 1. Character Map = charmap.exe (very useful for finding unusual characters) 2. Disk Cleanup = cleanmgr.exe 3. Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd.exe (views contents of Windows clipboard) 4. Dr Watson = drwtsn32.exe (Troubleshooting tool) 5. DirectX diagnosis = dxdiag.exe (Diagnose & test DirectX, video & sound cards) 6. Private character editor = eudcedit.exe (allows creation or modification of characters) 7. IExpress Wizard =...

In an effort to boost sales of Windows, Microsoft has its sights set on its nearest competitor. But it's not Linux. And sorry, Apple Computer fans, it's not the Mac. The biggest rival to Windows sales is Windows itself--or rather pirated copies of the OS. And Microsoft is starting to put its foot down.n its most serious bid yet to reap revenue from those who've been getting Windows without payment to Microsoft, the company plans to require computer ownersto verify that their copy of Windows is properly licensed before allowing them to download software from Microsoft's site. By mid-year, the...

Microsoft to release bumper Windows patch February 04 2005 by Karen Said February's release to fix 'critical' flaws... "A bumper crop of Microsoft patches will be released next week, including nine fixes for Windows flaws. At least one of the updates for the Windows operating system is rated "critical", its highest rating, Microsoft said on Thursday in a posting to its TechNet site. The forewarning is part of the company's programme to give regular computer users notice of monthly security bulletins before the patches themselves are released. There will be 13 updates in total, Microsoft said. That includes a critical...

Microsoft on Thursday gave early warning that next week's monthly dose of security bulletins and patches will be among its biggest ever. According to the Advance Notification service, which pre-announces upcoming patches but limits the information disclosed, next Tuesday's roundup will include 13 security bulletins, at least three of which will be marked "Critical," the Redmond, Wash.-based developer's most dire warning. Nine of the bulletins affect Microsoft Windows. That's a much-higher-than-normal number, and three times what the company published in January. Other patches will be published to fix bugs in SharePoint Services, Microsoft Office, the .Net Framework, Visual Studio, Windows...

SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE LINES, TEXAS - The Cast of the Rather-Gate scandal are connected in a stunningly simple way. The Travis County [, Texas] Democratic Party, Dan Rather, Robin Rather, Ben Barnes, James C. Moore, Bill Burkett, and others used the machinery of Autin4Kerry.org, OnlineJournal.com, GreaterDemocracy.org, and CBS 60 Minutes to publicize allegations supported by fraudulent documents. Some cable news pundants hope that Dan Rather was conned by a devious but well meaning Bush-hater. Others theorize that CBS was duped by Karl Rove who may have planted the fake documents in a way that Dan Rather could find them and...

A study challenging the origins of Linux states that the open-source software frequently is taken or adapted from material owned by other companies and individuals. It also directly questions Linus Torvalds (news - web sites)' claim to be the inventor of Linux. The information is contained in a book by Kenneth Brown, president the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution. Portions of the book will be released later this week. Brown conducted a comprehensive study on the source of open-source code, tracing the free-software movement over three decades, including interviews with some two-dozen principal developers of Linux, according to Gregory Fossedal, a...

SEATTLE, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Computer security experts issued a joint report on Wednesday saying that the ubiquitous reach of Microsoft Corp.'s software on desktops worldwide has made computer networks a national security risk susceptible to "massive, cascading failures." The report, unveiled at the Computer & Communications Industry Association's meeting of industry leaders and government officials in Washington, D.C., saying that Microsoft is now the number one target for malicious computer virus writers. The report's authors told CCIA -- which is funded by Microsoft rivals -- that the software's complexity has made it particularly vulnerable to attacks. So far this...

TOKYO -- The threat to Microsoft from the free Linux operating system could intensify with the help of a powerful Asian triumvirate: Japan and South Korea are prodding China to join an effort that promotes alternatives to Windows. Japan has earmarked $8.6 million for the project and will hold a meeting in November for the three governments to strengthen research in Linux, including versions that better handle Asian languages. Like some European countries, Japan, South Korea and China have long been wary of leaving too many government computers and networks dependent on Windows. Many experts see Windows as too prone...

Perens: IT pros must lobby for open-source By Jan Stafford, SearchEnterpriseLinux.com Site Editor 26 Aug 2003, SearchEnterpriseLinux.com IT pros, do you want open-source software (OSS) developer Bruce Perens to lose his house and car? If not, then speak up! Perens believes that IT managers have the clout to make their vendors help protect open-source software and its developers. As an open-source pioneer, Perens wrote the opening salvo in the OSS movement: "The Open Source Definition." He has created and worked on many open-source advocacy teams, including Open Source Initiative, the Linux Standard Base, Software in the Public Interest Inc., and...

DEAR SIR/MADAM: I AM MR. DARL MCBRIDE CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SCO GROUP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CALDERA SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, IN LINDON, UTAH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I KNOW THIS LETTER MIGHT SURPRISE YOUR BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS COMMUNICATIONS OR BUSINESS DEALINGS BEFORE NOW. MY ASSOCIATES HAVE RECENTLY MADE CLAIM TO COMPUTER SOFTWARES WORTH AN ESTIMATED $1 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS. I AM WRITING TO YOU IN CONFIDENCE BECAUSE WE URGENTLY REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN THESE FUNDS. IN THE EARLY 1970S THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH CORPORATION DEVELOPED AT GREAT EXPENSE THE...

Microsoft has laid plans for a server version of Longhorn, the next release of Windows. But it remains unclear what the software will include and when it will debut. The software giant has said relatively little about Longhorn--the next desktop version of the Windows operating system--and even less about the server version. All Microsoft will confirm is that a server version is indeed back in the company's product plans. The desktop version of Longhorn has been described by company executives as revolutionary and even as a "bet-the-company" proposition. Microsoft will also link the shipment of new versions of Office, server...

The SCO lawsuit against IBM for Unix copyright infringement "is not going away", industry experts have warned. Enterprise Unix customers must immediately review their software licence indemnity clauses to see whether they are at risk, according to an advisory issued by analysts the Yankee Group. "Corporations should take nothing for granted. Review the indemnity clauses in all software contracts, particularly IBM's," the analyst said. "Contact IBM or the reseller directly to determine whether you are covered and to what extent." The Yankee Group went on to warn that many software vendors have a cap on liability coverage and urged IBM...

November 26, 2002  | Paul ThurrottMost Unsecure OS? Yep, It's Linux According to a new Aberdeen Group report, open-source solution Linux has surpassed Windows as the most vulnerable OS, contrary to the high-profile press Microsoft's security woes receive. Furthermore, the Aberdeen Group reports that more than 50 percent of all security advisories that CERT issued in the first 10 months of 2002 were for Linux and other open-source software solutions. The report muddles the argument that proprietary software such as Windows is inherently less secure than open solutions. And here's another blow to the status quo: Proprietary UNIX solutions were responsible...

Can a frustrated Windows user dump Microsoft? Even with lots of improvements, Linux is still no cakewalk. Scott Spanbauer From the November 2002 issue of PC World magazinePosted Tuesday, October 01, 2002 You might be pretty happy with Windows XP. But Windows continues to suffer from more than its share of drawbacks: From the newer operating system's incompatibility with older software to Microsoft's well-known security problems, Windows still engenders a fair amount of user aggravation. Windows XP also subjects its users to the indignity of the Microsoft Product Activation service: You might have to ask Microsoft for a new key...

Repent, sinners. Your Macintosh is a tool to promote Godless Communism and anti-Creationist "propaganda", according to an article at OBJECTIVE: Christian Ministries. Dr. Richard Paley, apparently "a teacher of Divinity and Theobiology at Fellowship University," starts out with discussions of the PBS series Evolution and Pokemon, and goes on to say: However, these propagandists aren't just targeting the young. Take for example Apple Computers, makers of the popular Macintosh line of computers. The real operating system hiding under the newest version of the Macintosh operating system (MacOS X) is called... Darwin! That's right, new Macs are based on Darwinism! While...