The Machets’ Blog

Microsoft has announced that its latest version of its popular web browser, Internet Explorer 7, will be released sometime this month. Internet Explorer boasts some new and exciting features that have been come standard in other web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, including tabbed browsing, a built in RSS feed reader and a phishing filter.

Microsoft will make IE7 available as a high priority update on Windows/Microsoft Update, meaning that all computers running Windows XP SP2 that have Automatic Updates enabled will receive it in due course.

Microsoft seems to be racing to release version 7 before its competitor Mozilla releases its new version of Firefox (both are currently in testing stages). We will post a review of the new Firefox 2 once it is released and more extensions become compatible.

After many months and many test versions later, Microsoft Office 2007 will be released to manufacturing this month. I received an email from Microsoft Beta stating that all beta support, download and other related websites will be shut down and moved to official public websites.

Office 2007 will come in many varieties, specifically targeted for businesses, home users and students. Office Basic will include Word, Excel and Outlook; Home and Student adds PowerPoint and OneNote, while at the other end of the spectrum Office Ultimate and Professional Plus will include just about everything. All Office 2007 programs will also be available separately at a higher price.

Microsoft Office 2007 Suites will be priced at a similar value to the current Office 2003 offers, with Home and Student valued at US$149 and Standard substantially more at US$399.

It’s been a very long testing period, but this time Microsoft have got it right. As previously mentioned in other posts, the most noticible and best feature of many Office products is the Ribbon; a bar at the top of the window which replaces the dropdown File, Edit, etc menus with everything you need at your fingertips. Unlike when 2000 and 2003 were released, Office 2007 includes some excellent new features and is the very best version yet.

If you would like to test the new version of Windows Vista, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll need a decent computer with a DVD burner and you will probably want to backup your data (if you’re not installing it on a test machine). Then, follow these steps:

1. To find out whether your computer can run Vista, download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.
2. If you pass, download Windows Vista.
3. If you do not have a DVD burning utility, download the free ImgBurn.
4. Burn the Vista image to a DVD using ImgBurn.
5. Backup your data to an external hard drive.
6. Visit this link to get a product key from Microsoft. You will need to sign up or login to your Windows Live Account (that has never received a product key). You’ll be able to use this product key on up to 10 computers. You may want to print it out.
7. Insert the DVD and install Windows Vista.

If you’re not that technically inclined, wait for Windows Vista to come out and read The Machets’ Blog Review.

Beta: RC1 (Release Candidate 1) Build: 5600

Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) Ultimate Edition was recently released to selected beta testers. I am currently trying out this latest test version, and I must say that it is far better and more stable than Vista Beta 2, and the final version will be the best Windows yet.

RC1 is far more stable than the previous builds of Windows Vista. With a few hiccups, it supports software designed for Windows XP and earlier. It includes many default drivers so that you can get your peripheral hardware working in no time. RC1 has not crashed in the four or five days of testing it. Certain programs, however, have crashed, and at this early stage Microsoft is unable to provide any solutions.

Windows Vista is the fastest running operating system from Microsoft. I have an external USB DVD player, and for the first time I was able to play a movie without any interruptions. I could fast forward and move to different parts of a movie, and playback resumed instantly. In addition to this, no additional software was required; the drivers were there as well as Windows Media Player 11 which played the program. After pushing the DVD player to its limits, Vista controlled my player and everything went very smoothly.

Microsoft provides a DVD with every version of Windows Vista on it. You can either enter your product key during installation of the OS, or leave it blank and continue. You are then asked which version you would like to install onto your computer. If you purchased Windows Vista Home Basic, you could select Vista Ultimate and try it for 14 days. However, after this trial period, you will have to reinstall the OS, selecting the correct edition or typing your product key. If you preferred Vista Ultimate, you could buy it and enter the product key that came with the program.

As with Beta 2, Vista includes many programs which get the basis done with decent results. These programs (on Vista Ultimate Edition) include Windows Media Player 11, DVD Maker, Photo Gallery, Media Centre, Mail, Contacts and Defender. In the new Welcome Centre, you are provided with some information about your computer, and a link to download Windows Live Messenger. Windows XP came with a ‘no frills’ Windows Messenger to be used in conjunction with MSN Messenger. It failed miserably and Microsoft released a patch to give users the ability to get rid of it. Now, the latest version of Windows Live Messenger must be downloaded onto a new Vista computer.

Windows Vista has become much better over the testing and developing period. RC1 is the last beta version that Microsoft will produce. The business versions of Vista are due out in December 2006 and Vista home editions should reach the shelves in January 2007. I have taken some screenshots of the new version of Windows, and you are welcome to have a look. If you would like to test Vista RC1, our next post will let you in on the secret.

Name: Windows Live Writer Price: Free

Microsoft has just release one of the best - and most useful - programs into its Windows Live suite of products. Windows Live Writer allows you to write and edit posts on your blog. It has many features not available in the standalone version of Wordpress, including one that gives you the ability to quote people or other blogs.

The best part of Windows Live Writer is that you write the posts on your computer. This means that you can save it, bold words and use the WYSIWYG editor, without the need to wait for changes to load. You can easily view a preview or the html with the program’s simple shortcuts.

Ionut Alex. Chitu from Google OS writes:

When you select the preview mode, you’ll see how your blog would look if you published the post, so it takes the idea of preview one step further.

The simple interface and the innovative additions make this tool a good replacement for the standard blogging interfaces.

Writer is easy to set up, stores your post styles, and it is compatible with Wordpress, Windows Live Spaces, LiveJournal and TypePad. You can download it on the Windows Live blog.

Tip For: Windows XP Professional

We’ve all agonised over this situation. “Updating your computer is almost complete,” it reads, “You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect. Do you want to restart now?”

You may be in the middle of a Word Document, ten tabs in Firefox or something else that’s very important. If you select Restart Later, you’ll get a bubble popping up every ten minutes, asking you to do a reset.

Fortunately, there is a solution that will delay this annoyance. Head to Start > Run. Type “gpedit.msc” and press OK. In Local Computer Policy, head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations. Select Enabled and choose how long you would like the messages to interfere (in minutes). Select Apply, then OK, and you’re done!

Please note that it is important to restart your computer for the security updates to work, but it doesn’t need to be done in such a short space of time. Group Policy is an excellent ‘hidden’ feature of Windows XP Pro (not included with XP Home edition) that allows you to customise the intricate details of your computer.

[via Colin]

If you ever wanted to know what the differences are between the two versions of Windows XP, Microsoft published (in 2001) everything you need to know. It doesn’t include what comes in Service Pack 1 or 2, and most people wouldn’t know what some of the services are, but it’s still useful if you’re in need of a new PC.

You can find out what the difference is between Windows XP Home and Professional here.

Beta: 2 Build: 5384

Finally, after some time, I have received my test copy of Windows Vista Ultimate edition from Microsoft. My review on the successor to Windows XP will cover installation, features and thoughts. So far I can say that Windows Vista (formally codenamed “Longhorn”) sports some excellent new additions and improvements, and will lead the way to more powerful computer processing.

After backing up my data and installing the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, I simply loaded the CD, filled out some information (my name, the Vista Product Key, etc.) and the program took care of itself. After a little longer than an hour, Windows prompted me to enter some more information about my user account, the default language(s), time and some other details. This process took about five minutes, and the computer was ready. It is definitely much easier in Vista to set up a computer than in XP. There was no need to partition the drive or even look at a black MS-DOS screen. Users are given the option to make a clean install or upgrade the computer (from Windows XP, 2000, NT and before). The only problem I believe may cause problems is that Vista comes on a DVD. You’ll need to have either an internal or external DVD player in order to install Windows when it comes available.

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Three months after my last post about Office 2007, Microsoft has released Beta 2 of the software. With the release of the 3rd major test copy of Microsoft Office (Alpha, Beta 1 and now Beta 2), we are beginning to see most features setting in stone. This release has few or no noticeable updates or added features, as it was mainly created to squash bugs and fix security flaws. The only changed ‘thing’ in Office 2007 that I could notice was that the Quick Print icon now has a lightening bolt to show you that it will not display the printing dialog.

The benefits of this Microsoft Office 2007 trial version for the public is that anyone can download it and take a peek. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Office 2007 is the best version of Microsoft’s powerful word, slideshow, publishing, spreadsheet programs to date.

Name: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Price: Free

Windows Vista is the successor to Windows XP, from Microsoft. It is due to be released within the next 6 - 9 months, and has some great features. I will be writing a proper review when my beta copy arrives (hopefully soon!), but from what I have seen and played with, we are looking into an excellent future.

Microsoft has recently released the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, for those thinking about upgrading. It’s a simple program that allows you to check whether your computer would be able to run Vista. Additionally, you can choose what features you’d like, and the program will tell you what version is most suitable for you.

There will be five versions of Windows Vista; three of them being aimed at the home user. Windows Vista Home Basic will not carry many superior features, and what it will offer would not give many a reason to upgrade. Home Premium and Vista Ultimate will include the best features, such as Flip 3D, the Aero Glass effects and live search. Again, a proper review will be published as soon as we get to properly try it out.

You can download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft.