Windows 7, the real WOW?

Imagine painting in Photoshop with your hands, rotating and zooming Google Earth by your hand, or playing a piano using your fingers. Well, it will all be possible in the upcoming Windows 7 and I can only say, WOW and this time for real! I was stunned when I saw this D6 Conference Windows 7 Multi Touch Keynote Demo.

We can have Windows DreamScenes (Animated Wallpaper) which will change and behave in a different manner when you touch them. You can literally interact with your computer in a way which wasn't possible before. The possibilities are endless! Having a Windows Media Player 12 behave like iPOD touch or playing multiple videos on your screen, changing and resizing them using your hands just like Tom Cruise did it in Minority Report!

I also want to know what are your ideas which can bring more to this multitouch technology and what are the ways it can be used in other applications? Innovate and dream!

5 features that can make a Windows user switch to Linux

I have been a Windows user all my life but there are certain features in Linux that makes me have some second thoughts. I am smitten by it's security, reliability, freedom of choices and many other features. I am hereby presenting you 5 features of Linux, which can make a Windows user think, ''Is it time for a change?''

1) Cost

Linux is free. You don't need to spend a single cent for getting it. Even all the software's that comes with it are free. That's completely different from Windows. You need to pay for Windows Vista, you need to pay for Office 2007, you need to pay for Nero and the list goes on and on. If money is a concern for you, Linux is the one and only way to go. Since everything is free, you don't have the nagging Windows Genuine Advantage Validation tool and also you don't have to store and keep in mind the 25 character products keys for different applications.

2) Security and Reliability

Linux is more secure and reliable than Windows. You don't get BSOD's in Linux! Most of the top websites use Linux based systems as it is not uncommon for Linux to run for years without needing a single reboot! Viruses are very few, almost negligible as compared to Windows. Linux is highly resistant to crashing, freezing and is an extremely stable and robust operating system.

3) Updating Software

Windows features Microsoft Update which updates only the Microsoft software's that are installed in your system. It doesn't update, say for instance Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Winamp. You need to manually update each and every software which are not made by Microsoft. But Linux automatically updates each and every software that is installed in your system. It saves a lot of time and effort.

4) Freedom of Choice

When you install Windows Vista, you also get all the default applications installed with it. Suppose you don't need Microsoft Paint or Windows Media Player because it doesn't come with the codecs installed, you cannot install Vista without them. There are many such applications like this which you may not use in your lifetime, but you have to install them. But in Linux, you can pick and install the applications which suits you most. You also have the chance to pick up the Linux distribution which matches with your personality! You can change and try something new everyday as it's FREE. No bloatware!

5) Support

The quality of support for Linux from the Internet is highly praiseworthy. High quality support is available from newsgroups, forums, irc's etc. People say it is as good if not better than the support that comes with proprietary software's. The best and the brightest of the Linux users are there to assist you if you run into any problems and in most cases, the solutions they provide are effective and they provide it with enthusiasm. They welcome you as a part of their family. They don't do it for money but for their love for Linux.




I would also like to add that you don't have to defragment in Linux. It can read an incredibly large number of file systems. You can modify any application according to your needs and preferences as you have the source code with you. Linux can run from a CD. The Linux kernel comes with a huge number of hardware drivers, so most of the common hardware works out of the box. Linux doesn't have a registry like Windows which is complex and hard to manage, but it stores configuration files in text files which are easy to backup/manage and transfer. Linux works faster on the same piece of hardware as compared to Windows. Linux has a much faster rate of development than Windows.


I can really go on and on, but I am letting it rest at this point. So what do you think are the features of Linux that can make a Windows user switch to it, if I have missed any.

5 reasons as to why it's wrong to hate Microsoft

People hate anything that Microsoft does. It's a common perception that Microsoft is an evil monster. If anyone writes anything good about Microsoft, he gets buried way down. But there are always 2 sides of the same coin. So here are the 5 other sides of MS which I love :-

1) The Windows Operating System

You might be thinking about BSOD's right now, but to me Microsoft is the company that has made computers come to the hands of billions of people who might not even be knowing what a kernel is. They have made computing easier and a whole lot of fun.Windows is the biggest gaming platform apart from the consoles. You will not find such a vast library of applications in any other operating system.

2) Bill Gates

I love Bill Gates. He may be the wealthiest man in the world but he also gives like the wealthiest man in the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is helping millions of people in hundreds of different countries. Microsoft may be huge and rich but it's definitely using the platform to make the world a better place.

3) Indirect wealth creation engine

They are helping millions of people indirectly to get their paychecks. The game developers and graphics card manufactures owe a great deal to the Windows platform. There are thousands of websites and blogs which are creating money by writing about or bashing Microsoft products. Adobe which is a big software developer wouldn't be so big, if it wasn't for Microsoft.

4) Innovation

Many people would say that Microsoft doesn't innovate but I beg to differ. They don't rest upon their laurels. They are constantly evolving and changing by taking feedback and improving the existing products. Microsoft Surface, Live Mesh, Photosynth, Silverlight are results of this innovation.

Microsoft Surface

5) Steve Ballmer

Steve Anthony Ballmer is not your typical CEO. He is sweaty, bald, and crazy. Even though Microsoft is not his own company, his enthusiasm and passion about Microsoft sends a signal that he truly loves and worships Microsoft as a company. His wild screamings and dancing on stage and chanting developers 14 times in front of an audience gives a different edge to Microsoft.

See some of his hilarious videos

Going Crazy

Developers

So did you find any reason to like Microsoft?

South Asia MVP Open Day 2008

We are having the South Asia MVP Open Day 2008 in GOA from November 15-17. It promises to be a lot of fun! There will be meetings with dev product group (IDC), MVP executives and MS folks, speaker pool opportunity, a Photosynth team activity and so much more. We will get to know the MVP's up close and personal. There will also be YOGA from 6:00 in the morning, and that can suck for some of us ;) I may not be able to attend this time around as I have CAT on 16th, but all the rest of you MVP's shouldn't miss the fun!

8 unique features of Google Chrome

Google has released their own web browser called Chrome. It is fast and has some amazing features. It's still in beta right now so the future couldn't be more brighter. Here I present to you, the top 8 features of Google Chrome which can make it your default web browser now!

1) Simple, Elegant and Effective

Chrome looks simple and clutter free. It's also beautiful because the title bar is big, and looks amazing in Windows Vista, because of the transparency. You can see that there is no menu toolbar or search bar. Chrome has only the bare necessities and that what makes it look different and unique. Even the status bar is done away with but you can see the whole url if you hover your mouse over a particular link.

2) Amazing speed and performance

Chrome is mighty fast as you can see from the benchmark results. It's the fastest browser that I have worked on. It uses the V8 JavaScript engine and WebKit rendering machine to display webpages and the results are there for all to see. This is a SunSpider benchmark for Google Chrome and it's to be noted that smaller the bar the better.

P.S. I got this benchmark test from http://kourge.net/node/122.

3) One box for everything!

Chrome has no search toolbar! The search toolbar and the address bar is unified and this is one of the most innovative features I have seen in a browser. You can just type your query and search from the address bar. It makes searching very simple and fast so you don't have to provide extra memory for a search toolbar.

4) Thumbnails of your top sites

When you start Google Chrome, you get this page which has your recent visited sites. You don't have to manually add anything and you can just click and go to your favourite website. I really enjoyed this feature cause it's automatic.

5) Application Shortcuts

Chrome has a nice feature where you can create application shortcuts of your favorite websites and save them on your computer as desktop shortcuts, etc. They behave like normal programs. The saved webpage opens in a new application window which gives you as much working space as possible.

6) Inspect Element

There is a feature called Inspect Element. Right click on something in a web page and you get the option. It shows the css/html details. There is also a resource tab in the inspect element window which shows the size and also the colored time to download.

7) A nice download manager

Chrome has a nice download manager which is fast and doesn't look like a pop up window. It goes right down to bottom of the web page and shows the downloading status there. It looks much better than the normal pop up download window which the other browsers have.

8) Drag a tab to create a window

You can also drag tabs to form a new Window as you can see in the picture!


So has this article made you switch to Chrome?

10 hilarious anti-Microsoft quotes

Love or hate Microsoft, these 10 quotes would make both a fan and a hater laugh their heart out. These are so funny and well thought out. I had a good laugh after reading them and I bet you would too!

My friend, Ashish, showed me these hilarious anti-Microsoft quotes from BOARDOFWISDOM.


I picked up 10 quotes from there and here they are :-


1) People say that if you play Microsoft CD's backwards, you hear satanic things, but that's nothing, because if you play them forwards, they install Windows.


2) The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX.


3) In a world without fences and walls, who needs Gates and Windows?


4) Microsoft: "You've got questions. We've got dancing paperclips."


5) MICROSOFT = Most Intelligent Customers Realize Our Software Only Fools Teenagers


6) Windows has detected you do not have a keyboard. Press 'F9" to continue.


7) Use The Best...
Linux for Servers
Mac for Graphics
Palm for Mobility
Windows for Solitaire


8) Software is like sex: It's better when it's free.


9) Unix, DOS and Windows...the good, the bad and the ugly.


10) ACs are like computers- Both work fine until you open Windows!

Which is your favorite quote among these? Please let me know in the comments!

5 websites a Windows Vista user must visit!

As a Windows Vista user, I frequently visit these 5 websites. The websites range from getting gadgets for your sidebar to dynamic wallpapers for your desktop.


WINDOWS VISTA SIDEBAR






Windows Vista has introduced a new feature called the Windows Sidebar. Windows Sidebar contains gadgets which can perform various tasks like showing the CPU usage, weather forecasts, RSS feeds of news, picture slideshows, etc. This website showcases the various gadgets and they are categorized into fun and games, tools and utilities, multimedia etc. You can also sort the gadgets by downloads or rating. All in all a must visit website for all the Windows Vista users out there!

Windows Vista Sidebar


ULTIMATE PC





UltimatePC is for all the Windows Vista Ultimate edition holder. It has got information about the Ultimate Extras that are released, so if you want to learn about the new sound schemes, Windows DreamScene, Language packs, or Bitlocker, you have found yourself in the right place. This website also has tips to get the ultimate experience from your computer. From setting up the ultimate Home Theater to Hollywood quality HD movie editing, it makes sure that your experience is truly ULTIMATE.

UltimatePC


WINDOWS VISTA SOLUTION CENTER





If you want support while working with Windows Vista, then this is the place to be. Are you getting error messages like ''Windows could not search for new updates'', ''An internal error occured while installing the service pack'', etc, this website has all the solutions you need. It is categorized into error messages, configuring, security and privacy, and many more. You can get troubleshooting tips, guided help and articles about the features in Windows Vista. You can even search for the solution of the particular problem you are facing by using the search panel.

Windows Vista Solution Center


WINDOWS VISTA TEAM BLOG





Do you want the latest news about Windows Vista? Do you want to know how to customize IE8 Beta 2 to fit your needs? Windows Vista Blog has all the information about the latest developments that are taking place in Windows Vista. It's as fresh as they come. It will keep you up to date with the latest information available in regards to Vista.

Windows Vista Team Blog


DREAM WINCUSTOMIZE





Windows Vista has an amazing feature called Windows DreamScene which lets you keep videos or animations as your desktop wallpapers. Sadly, it is only available to the users of the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista. But Stardock has come up with DeskScapes 2.0 which allows you to have dynamic wallpapers called dreams in the non-Ultimate editions of Windows Vista. It works in the Ultimate version too and thereby increases dynamic wallpaper gallery!

Dream Gallery

Are you a Windows Vista user? Let me know the 5 websites which you visit the most regarding Windows Vista.