windows

Frustrated with Vista's sluggishness, some people have been turning to a utility called vLite, which out components of the operating system deemed unessential.

Although the move does offer frustrated Vista users an option other than going back to XP or switching to a Mac, Microsoft said Wednesday that it doesn't endorse such changes to Vista's setup.

"Microsoft does not recommend using any tool to strip out applications from Windows Vista prior to installing it on your system, as it may affect your ability to download future Windows updates and service packs, and may cause your system … Read more

Note: This is one in a series of blogs looking at the one-year anniversary of Windows Vista's consumer launch.

While many of you enjoyed "the Mom test," clearly there are lots more ways to look at how Windows Vista is doing. Here are three measures I typically use when trying to assess the impact of Vista.

• The "downgrade" / Stick with XP movement

The downgrade movement is an indicator of how the most disgruntled users feel about Vista. Most people buying a new PC will accept Vista because that's what nearly all computers come … Read more

If you needed further proof that you should always patch Microsoft Windows when Microsoft tells you to do so, there's an exploit that will target Windows XP and Windows Vista systems lacking Microsoft's first patch of 2008.

Security firm Immunity has provided its customers a workable exploit of the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) vulnerability. This is standard practice for subscribers to see whether their system is vulnerable to an attack. However, the presence of an exploit (even one provided under contract) increases the likelihood that someone may offer it or something like it for free … Read more

If you've got family and friends sprinkled about the globe, you know that the richness of these contacts loses luster if you can't regularly keep in touch. Though there are excellent solutions out there--local-access calling cards, VoIP on the PC, VoIP phones from Vonage or Skype, and local-number services like Talkster (review)--they require your presence at home, new hardware, or wasting precious seconds with mile-long pin numbers or droning ads.

Challenging the herd is EQO (pronounced "echo"), a communication service that offers a simple, fast, and affordable solution for international outreach on your cell phone. Talk time and texting are free between EQO members, and calls are as cheap as 2 cents per minute for everyone else, about the same rate as VoIP-to-phone calling and competitive calling cards. EQO's international texting costs for 10- or 15 cents, depending on the countries of destination and departure.

User experience

The graphically-appealing application is divided into three sections, each delineated by a small icon along a top strip. Scrolling horizontally among them calls up the phone book, message inbox, or instant message interface. EQO imports phone contacts into the phone book, but be careful of your management--deleting an entry from EQO also deletes it from the phone's database.… Read more

Note: This is one in a series of blogs looking at Windows Vista on the first anniversary of its consumer launch.

Microsoft took Windows Vista in for a one-year security checkup and came back with, if not a completely clean bill of health, at least signs that the infant is healthier than most babies.

According to the report, Microsoft issued 17 security updates fixing 36 vulnerabilities in Vista in the 12 months following its commercial launch in November 2006. By comparison, the company issued 30 security updates encompassing 65 vulnerabilities in XP's first year.

The report's author, Microsoft'… Read more

Note: This is one of a series of blogs being published Wednesday, the first anniversary of Windows Vista's consumer launch.

Perhaps the best indicator I have on Windows Vista is what I scientifically call "the Mom test."

Last spring, my mom got a new computer. She really, really wanted an XP machine because that's what she knew and loved. Well, that's what she knew anyway.

But my mom also decided she wanted to buy it at retail on the weekend I was home visiting. I think it had something to do with having her own … Read more

On a regular basis, Mark Sikes and I comb the download catalog looking for the absolute worst downloads for Windows that we can find. We then turn over our findings to Tom Merritt at CNET TV, who turns our selections into a rousingly entertaining video.

The end-of-the-year edition is an especially exhaustive search. We have over 75,000 Windows products live on the Download.com site, and thousands more are submitted each week. Mark and I have done the dirty work so you don't have to, and Tom is ready to count them down is his inimitable style.

One … Read more

This is app is extremely simple, but performs an essential and possibly complicated task for Windows Vista customizers. It patches several DLLs that control Vista's appearance so that users can alter Vista to their liking. It's also freeware, making it a viable workaround for those who want to tweak Vista but don't want to pay for it. It also changes Aero so that it stays in effect on maximized screens.

There's not much else to the program. It absolutely will not work with Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidates. If you install Vista Glazz before removing … Read more