SuperSite Blog

April 2008 - Posts

• Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista Beta

  Yahoo! just sent me the following heads-up: The beta version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista is now available at the newly re-designed Yahoo! Messenger Web site. As the #1 IM application in the US and with more than 97 million users worldwide, the Yahoo! Messenger team has taken into account the valuable feedback provided by users on the preview release of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista.  With this beta release, Vista OS users will now be able to make voice calls via Yahoo! Messenger and send text or SMS messages to mobile phone users. Key features in this beta version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista include: Voice - Voice (PC2PC & Phone In/ Phone Out) - Voice Visualizations (including WPF 3D integration) - SMS - Integrated text/voice window for easier navigation - Keypad-only mode for quick, simple phone calls Matrix Mode Conversation Window Mail Alerts Additional features and enhancements: - New and Optimized for Vista - WPF Interface - Skin Chooser - Customizable Contact List - Vector-based - Tabbed Conversations - Windows Sidebar Gadget Full details on the beta release, including a screencast of the service can be found at the Yahoo! Messenger blog and newly re-designed Web site. Nicely done. It's still somewhat astonishing to me that Yahoo! is doing a better job of taking advantage of Vista-specific features in its IM client than is Microsoft. Download Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista Beta Posted Apr 30 2008, 10:19 PM by pthurrott with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Internet, Vista

• XP with SP3 slipstreaming, part 971 (Updated)

  So I've been spending in inordinate amount of time creating slipstreamed XP with SP3 discs lately. (See my previous post, Preliminary Windows XP Service Pack 3 slipstreaming guide, for more info.) It's not really the way I want to spend my time, but what the heck. I do want to get it right. In my instructions, I think I'm going to switch from Nero 8 Trial to something that won't potentially disappear from the Web or be moved or whatever. I'm leaning towards ImgBurn, which I already use for burning ISOs. (Take that, Robert Strohmeyer.) It's free and generally simple, though not necessarily for slipstreaming purposes. That said, it's smart about burning bootable OS install discs, so it will help you out automatically if it detects you've screwed something up. I'll keep testing. Regarding Windows Media Player 11/Internet Explorer 7 integration, I'd like to avoid anything that's either a) too complex or b) requires a questionable third party utility to make it work. Since neither one is actually possible, I'll try to figure out something that makes sense. I've created a lot of coasters so far. But please do keep the suggestions coming. Ultimately, I guess I'd prefer something that Microsoft created for the enterprise over something a guy named Eddie created in his spare time, mostly because I don't know the fictional Eddie or what his motives are, and because using Microsoft's business tools is in keeping with the spirit of what the slipstreaming guides have always been about. That said, Microsoft's deployment tools aren't for the fainthearted. But tools like nLite ... I don't know. Maybe. The search continues.... Quick update: For some reason, after doing a ImgBurn-based install into a virtual machine today, IE 7 came up as an Automatic Update as soon as I booted into the desktop. I don't know if this has something to do with the way XP was slipstreamed or if it's something Microsoft just turned on. Anyone else seeing this? Posted Apr 30 2008, 07:45 PM by pthurrott with 5 comment(s) Filed under: XP, SuperSite

• The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

  Seeing the title of this article, I assumed it was a review. Instead, we get something far more valuable: A very in-depth look at how to install and configure Ubuntu Linux 8.04 in an optimal fashion. I recently installed Ubuntu 8.04 on the Shuttle PC I've been testing, and I'll try out at least some of these suggestions today: This document describes step by step how to set up a Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron) desktop. The result is a fast, secure and extendable system that provides all you need for daily work and entertainment. This how-to is a practical guide without any warranty - it doesn't cover the theoretical backgrounds. There are many ways to set up such a system - this is the way I chose. Posted Apr 30 2008, 05:46 PM by pthurrott with no comments Filed under: Linux

• Sorry, conspiracy buffs, there’s no Windows 'back door'

  Before anyone emails me about today's tech reporter-induced stupidity, I'll let Ed Bott clear the air: Techdirt’s Mike Masnick is usually pretty reliable, but he completely blew it today, hitting the publish button on one of the sloppiest, most inflammatory stories I’ve seen in a long time: Microsoft Gives Vista Backdoor Keys To The Police      It's long been assumed that Microsoft has built in various "backdoors" for law enforcement to get around its own security, but now reader Kevin Stapp writes in to let us know that the company has also been literally handing out the keys to law enforcement. Apparently, they’re giving out special USB keys that simply get around Microsoft’s security, allowing the holder of the key to very quickly get forensic information (including internet surfing history), passwords and supposedly encrypted data off of a laptop. While you can understand why police like this, the very fact that the backdoor is there and that a bunch of these USB keys are out there pretty much guarantees that those with nefarious intent also have such keys. OK, now go read the linked story from the Seattle Times. There's not a word - not one word - about back doors or encryption. Sadly, the usual suspects in the Techmeme echo chamber are whipping the inaccuracy around the infield at major league speeds. CrunchGear says Microsoft has "developed a thumb drive that helps Johnny Law quickly extract information, encrypted or otherwise, from computers." And Valleywag talks about "a USB dongle that plugs into a computer, bypasses any Windows passwords or encryption, and quickly downloads sensitive data such as your Web browsing history." I've heard of jumping to conclusions, but these are some truly giant leaps. All three stories reference the same Seattle Times story, which never says or even implies that the tools on this USB drive could break any sort of encryption, including Microsoft's BitLocker Drive Encryption. Update: Ben Romano of the Seattle Times, who wrote the original story, has published an updated post (Looking for answers on Microsoft’s COFEE device) that also tries to clear away some of the FUD. "Via email, a Microsoft spokeswoman said COFEE is a compilation of publicly available forensics tools, such as 'password security auditing technologies' used to access information 'on a live Windows system.' It 'does not circumvent Windows Vista BitLocker encryption or undermine any protections in Windows through secret "backdoors" or other undocumented means.'" Folks, this stuff just gets tiring. What's next? Is someone going to suggest that Vista is a gigantic failure and we should all go back to a seven-year-old OS that debuted to the worst security vulnerabilities in the history of computing? Problems that were so bad that Microsoft actually halted new OS development for almost an entire year? Oh, wait. Posted Apr 30 2008, 10:17 AM by pthurrott with 8 comment(s) Filed under: Security, Vista

• Looking for a Windows CE developer...

  My editor at Wiley, Katie Mohr, is looking for someone to provide a technical edit for a professional-level Wrox title on Windows CE programming, I realize this is a pretty esoteric topic, but you never know. Any interested parties can contact Katie directly at kmohr@wiley.com. Thanks, Paul Posted Apr 29 2008, 10:43 PM by pthurrott with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Personal

• 18 Features Windows Should Have (but Doesn't) ... Or Does It?

  Sometimes life hands you a gimme. This horrible article--18 Features Windows Should Have (but Doesn't)--is such a gimme. The reason? The guy who wrote it apparently knows absolutely nothing about Windows, doesn't realize that virtually everything listed here can be downloaded for free, and/or feels free to list Mac OS X features that shipped since the most recent Windows version. Yep, it's a disaster. Here's the full list, with just a few comments. 1. Expose Expose is just next-generation window switching. Yawn. 2. Virtual Workspaces Actually, this has been built into Windows forever, it's just that Microsoft never felt the need to build a UI to access it. With Windows XP, you can download a free PowerToy to expose this feature. 3. Back to My Mac Even the Mac doesn't support this feature ... Unless you pay Apple $99 a year for .Mac. 4. Screen Sharing You mean something like this free Microsoft utility? 5. Time Machine Actually, this was copied from a Windows feature called "Volume Shadow Copy" that debuted in 2003. Apple just put a pretty UI on it. 6. ISO Burning There are so many free ISO utilities out there, this one isn't even worth discussing. That said, how many normal human beings ever run into ISOs? Really? 7. Stickies 8. Podcast Capture Yes, he just said Windows needed "stickies" and "podcast capture." You know, for those 17 guys that would use either feature. 9. Software Repositories I guess I'd argue that Microsoft's Windows Marketplace pretty much covers this, especially the amazing (and under-reported) Digital Locker feature. 10. Desktop Cube Dude. You did not just list a single graphical effect as a feature Windows lacks. Oh yes you did. 11. Application Dock The most horrible feature ever foisted on Mac OS X users. Look: It holds permanent shortcuts and links to currently running programs and some other stuff. It's a UI disaster. And please, Dear God, someone please bring up the fact that Windows users click a Start button to shutdown their computer. Please. 12. Automated Screen Shots Again, spare me. We can take screenshots of the screen and of particular windows. There's a Snipping Tool in Vista. and a million free utilities. Moving on. 13. Multitouch Trackpad Gestures Only the very newest Mac notebooks support this and only in a very limited fashion. Moving on. 14. Cover Flow Because the file browser doesn't move slowly enough already. 15. Pre-Installed Web Server It's been there for over a decade. Microsoft stopped installing it by default because of security reasons. Maybe Apple should follow suit. 16. POSIX Compliance In NT from day one. Dropped due to lack of interest and shipping separately. 17. Standardized Menu Ribbon No offense, but this is an age-old debate between Windows and Mac UIs. No one cares anymore. They're just different. 18. Single-File Applications Actually, this would be cool. And actually, it's happening already. In fact, Microsoft SoftGrid basically delivers pre-packaged applications in exactly this fashion, currently only to desktop PCs in businesses, but I could see its use broadening in Windows 7 and beyond to meet compatibility needs as Windows drops more and more legacy technologies. By the way, SoftGrid also gets rid of DLL Hell: You can do things like run multiple versions of Word (97, 2000, XP, 2003, 2007) simultaneous on the same desktop. So... That's right. He's made a list of his favorite Mac OS X Leopard features. All 300, excuse me, 18 of them. Spare me. Thanks Lee. Posted Apr 29 2008, 06:46 PM by pthurrott with 101 comment(s) Filed under: Mac, XP, Vista

• Preliminary Windows XP Service Pack 3 slipstreaming guide

  I've posted, but not linked to, a preliminary version of my Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) slipstreaming guide. I'm curious if anyone's interested in testing this procedure. I've done so on several systems, both from within Vista and XP, and have had reproducible success. However, I don't have every permutation of XP Setup disc there is, and I can only do so much. I want to make sure this really works before unleashing it on the masses. Besides, Microsoft sort-of "pulled" the public SP3 download today so this update is in limbo for a few more days. What the heck. Anyway... Let me know if you see anything that's obviously wrong. And if anyone has any ideas about integrating IE 7 and WMP 11 as well, I'm all ears. Thanks, Paul Posted Apr 29 2008, 05:46 PM by pthurrott with 8 comment(s) Filed under: XP

• Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release to Web (RTW) Delayed

  I just received the following heads-up from Microsoft: In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Microsoft Dynamics RMS is a retail chain management solution for small and midsize customers. In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center. To help protect our customers, we plan to put filtering in place shortly to prevent Windows Update from offering both service packs to systems running Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Once filtering is in place, we expect to release Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Download Center. Until we have published a fix for this issue, we advise Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers to not install either service pack.  Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers running Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista SP1 should contact Microsoft Customer Support Services for additional information. The fix is currently in testing and will be available as soon as that process is complete.  For further information regarding Windows XP SP3, please visit the TechNet Forum. Note, however, that per my earlier news story today, Windows XP SP3 is still available for download via a direct link if you want it. Posted Apr 29 2008, 02:24 PM by pthurrott with 3 comment(s) Filed under: XP

• Ubuntu 8.04 around the Web

  In keeping with my ongoing look at Ubuntu Linux 8.04, here are some interesting articles I've seen about this new release: eWeak: Ubuntu 8.04 Is Ready to Take On Windows I used my second test machine, an Athlon 64-based desktop running Windows Vista, to try out Ubuntu 8.04's newest installation option, in which Ubuntu installs itself in a couple of large files on a preexisting Windows installation. The last few Ubuntu releases have shipped in a LiveCD format that enables users to boot into a temporary Ubuntu desktop suitable for trying out the system before either devoting an entire system to Ubuntu or resizing existing Windows partitions to make way for Ubuntu in a dual-boot configuration. The Ubuntu desktop I'd installed within Windows seemed no different from the one I'd installed on its own hardware, and I was pleased to find that the files from my Windows instance were accessible from Ubuntu. According to documentation on the Ubuntu Web site, there's a performance hit associated with this sort of install, but I didn't detect an appreciable slowdown. I have seen a big performance hit with this type of install. And it was quite noticeable. Still, it's a great option for testing. Mark Shuttleworth: The Heron takes flight Hearty congratulations to the entire Ubuntu community on the successful launch of 8.04 LTS. This was our best release cycle ever, from the planning at UDS-Boston last year, at which we had many different teams and companies, to the beta process which attracted so much in the way of testing and patches. I think we can be justifiably proud of the quality of 8.04 LTS. From the code to the documentation, from translations to advocacy, this has been a team effort with the shared goal of delivering the very best free software experience to the very widest possible audience. May Hardy be both enduring and endearing. I’m very conscious of the fact that Ubuntu is the pointy edge of a very large wedge - we are the conduit, but we exist only because of the extraordinary dedication and effort of thousands of other communities and projects. We all owe a great deal to the team who make Debian’s “unstable” repository possible, and of course to the upstream projects from GNOME and KDE through to the Linux kernel. We hope you will be proud of the condition in which we have carried your excellent work through to the users of Ubuntu. It's nice to see Shuttleworth extending this thank you to Debian. Few mainstream computer users are probably even aware of the link between Ubuntu and Debian. Jason Perlow: Ubuntu: I’m extremely impatient The demand for downloads and updates to the newly released Linux distribution was so tremendous, that the repositories are totally overwhelmed — you can’t connect to the US or central Canonical archives if your life depended on it today. According to a close industry source, Ubuntu saturated 20 Gigabits of bandwidth from both its main repositories and download locations over the last 24 hours. It’s like the Seinfeld episode where they go to the Chinese restaurant and the bunch are stymied by every attempt to get a table. Obviously, this has since cleared up significantly. You should have no issues downloading Ubuntu 8.04 now. Kubuntu Hardy: Mildly disappointing Kubuntu Hardy has a lot of nice welcome features. First, there's a KDE 4 version, which packs the latest and greatest (but very unstable) desktop environment, as well as the default version with the rock solid KDE 3.5. Compiz Fusion support has (finally) come to KDE with the new Desktop Effects app. Wubi has been bundled as well, making it dead simple for Windows users to install and uninstall Kubuntu. As far as looks, Kubuntu is basically the same. Konqueror is the most awesome file manager in the world (Finder and Windows Explorer have nothin' on it), but it is a horrible web browser. KHTML (the engine that powers it) is most possibly the worst renderer ever. It's not quite as fast as WebKit (the Safari engine) and won't render everything like Gecko (the Firefox engine) will. Overall, I'm not as excited as I originally was about Kubuntu Hardy. The Compiz Fusion enabler was especially nice, since I never quite got Compiz to work on previous distros. Wubi is certainly nice, but only for switchers (not old-time Linux users like me). And with problems that should definitely not be there, Kubuntu Hardy is rather mediocre. I tend to focus on the meat and potatoes "Ubuntu" product, but there of course other variants including Kubuntu (utilizing the KDE environment rather than GNOME), Edubuntu (a kid-friendly version with "school-related applications"), Xubuntu (utilizing the lightweight Xfce environment), and Gobuntu (containing only modifiable and redistributable open source code). Posted Apr 29 2008, 11:51 AM by pthurrott with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Linux

• Live Mesh Remote Desktop: It works in Vista Home Premium too

  I should have mentioned this in my Live Mesh Preview, but a reader question just reminded me of this issue. You may be familiar that the Remote Desktop feature in Windows requires Windows XP Tablet PC/Professional Editions, or Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise: Home versions need not apply. This is a problem with the remote access feature in Windows Home Server, because that feature relies on Remote Desktop functionality. Thus, Microsoft's "Home" server can't provide remote access to "Home" versions of Windows. Silly. Armed with this knowledge, you may assume that Live Mesh Remote Desktop, part of the Live Mesh tech preview, will only work on non-home versions of Windows. But that doesn't appear to be the case: I've only had time to test it with Windows Vista Home Premium, but remote access does work. And my guess is that it would work fine with any home version of XP or Vista. Good stuff. Posted Apr 28 2008, 04:07 PM by pthurrott with 14 comment(s) Filed under: Windows Live, Cloud computing, Vista

• Ubuntu 8.04 feature tour

  I've been working with Ubuntu 8.04 in my spare time over the past weekend, and I'm definitely going to be reviewing it sometime soon. (I don't know how or why I let so much time slip by, but the last time I reviewed an Ubuntu distribution was almost three years ago [!!!] with version 5.04.) As always, Ubuntu is interesting stuff. But I think moving forward it may make sense to look at this thing not so much as a "Windows replacement" but rather as the basis for a second PC and/or a PC that is aimed primarily at cloud computing activities: Email via Gmail, calendaring via Google Calendar, document creation and management via Google Docs, and so on. The world is moving on, and in some ways, Linux is more relevant than ever as a result. Anyway, in relation to last week's release of Ubuntu 8.04, Ubuntu has set up a nice tour of the new features in the Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop Edition, which is the version with which I'm most interested. There's some good info here: The latest Ubuntu release brings the best of open source together on a platform that is here to stay with 3 years of free updates. With hundreds of improvements and the addition of the latest version of Firefox amongst other outstanding applications, more and more users are assessing why Ubuntu wins more and more converts with every release. This tour will help you discover this for your self. Productivity tools: Ubuntu supports all of your favorite web-based mail programs like Yahoo(TM) or Gmail (TM). But for the office, Evolution provides all the calendering, contacts and full function office email you need. Pidgin IM also puts you in instant touch with colleagues and integrates with your personal IM services simply and easily. Browsing: Including Mozilla Firefox (Beta 5) - tested and stabilized for a platform. Faster, safer and themed for Ubuntu. Photos: Upload from your camera or phone to F-Spot and manage, tag, share and sort your photos and upload easily to you favorite social networking sites. Music and video: Plug in your PSP, iPod, MP3 player; share playlists with your friends; buy in the creative commons online music stores, stream more live radio and plug in more devices with UPnP. Office applications: Word processing, spreadsheets and presentations can all be delivered through Open Office. And, they completely integrate with the proprietary office applications out there. The big difference is that they are free. Accessibility: At the core of the Ubuntu philosophy is the belief that computing is for everyone and access should be free and complete whatever your economic or physical circumstances. Ubuntu is one of the most accessible desktop operating systems around. Posted Apr 28 2008, 11:46 AM by pthurrott with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Linux, Cloud computing

• Yikes: Apple's iMac hits 3.06 GHz

  Regardless of your feelings about Apple, it's hard not to look at almost any Apple hardware and not be impressed. The iMac is particularly gorgeous now, though I do miss the gesticulating screen on the second generation version. This morning, Apple announced a small update to the iMac in that they're not changing the enclosure at all. What they are offering however is a nifty speed bump to 3.06 GHz: Apple today updated its all-in-one iMac line with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and the most powerful graphics ever available in an iMac. With prices starting at just $1,199, iMac includes faster processors with 6MB L2 cache and a faster 1066 MHz front-side bus across the entire line, and 2GB of memory standard in most models. The 24-inch iMac now offers a 3.06 GHz Intel processor and the high-performance NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics as options, extending iMac’s lead as the ultimate all-in-one desktop computer for both consumers and professionals. Well, that's interesting. Now the iMac is positioned for both consumers and professionals. (That sliver and black look should have been a clue.) Certainly, the new CPU and graphics options make this a reality. As does the base price for a 3.06 GHz iMac: A whopping $2199. That's the upper end of the PC market. And God is it gorgeous. Posted Apr 28 2008, 11:11 AM by pthurrott with 39 comment(s) Filed under: Mac

• Microsoft internal memo details Windows 7-Windows Live ties

  Mary Jo Foley offers up part one of the complete text of an internal Microsoft memo about Windows Live/Windows 7 integration. Unfortunately, it's horribly old--from August of last year--and may thus be completely dated from a relevance standpoint. Still, internal memos are always interesting. Here are some pertinent bits regarding Windows 7 specifically: TO: Windows Live Experience Team; Live Platform Services Team FROM: Chris Jones, David Treadwell, Brian Arbogast RE: Planning Windows Live Wave 3 BIG BETS While we will target a seamless experience on Windows Vista, we will make a bet on the Windows 7 platform and experience, and create the best experience when connected with Windows 7.  We will work with the Windows 7 team and be a first and best developer of solutions on the Windows 7 platform. Our experiences will be designed so when they are connected to Windows 7 they seamlessly extend the Windows experience, and we will work to follow the Windows 7 style guidelines for applications.  We will work with the Internet Explorer 8 team to make sure we deliver an experience that seamlessly extends the browser with our toolbar and other offerings. Seamless Windows Experience For customers who are upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7, we will explore ways to make it easy for them to get Windows Live – particularly for photos, calendar, and movies where our applications complete the experience. The Windows 7 platform provides new enhancements that allow us to deliver even richer experiences for customers. We will invest in differentiated features that “light up” on Windows 7, and in this theme we will identify these “signature elements” – gestures, ribbon, or other – that make our suite best on Windows 7. We will explore innovations in graphics and presentation, including window management and high-DPI support, that make our applications feel distinct and “pop” on the new platform. What experience will we provide when we “light up” Windows with Windows Live? What is better with Windows 7? What experiences or scenarios are Win7 only? How do we take advantage of or lay the foundation to take advantage of some of the hardware innovations already available or planned for Windows 7? It should be easy to use Windows Live Messenger and our communication services with the Outlook client. It should be easy to publish from Office applications to Live Folders. This theme will involve close collaboration with the Windows 7 and Office 14 teams. Examples of features we could build to support this theme include: * Support Windows 7 platform enhancements so Windows Live feels like a natural extension of the Windows system, including gestures, ribbon, and other elements * What’s our next level of investment in family safety?  What is the experience of parental controls and account management (with Windows 7)? On a related note, Foley is now promoting her new book, Microsoft 2.0, which is unfortunately exactly the opposite of what I was hoping to see: Rather than a detailed history of the last decade at Microsoft (which would be fascinating), this book presents Foley's opinions about where Microsoft will go in the next decade. Given how quickly things change--I'd harken back to Bill Gates' misguided "The Road Ahead" as a wonderful example--I'm not sure what the shelf life is for a title like this. Still, I'm intrigued. No one understands the inner workings of Microsoft like Mary Jo Foley. Posted Apr 28 2008, 10:42 AM by pthurrott with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Windows 7, Windows Live

• Vista's 11 Pillars of Failure ... and its 140 Million Pillars of Success

  I guess it's all in how you look at it. Mac fanatics and other Vista critics will try to point out that Microsoft's Vista "sales" are inflated because many of them don't represent real-world installations (yet). I'd point out that Microsoft has always recorded sales in exactly the same way, so this attempt at making Vista look bad is misplaced. Regardless, our views of Windows Vista continue to be guided by both perception and reality. So is Vista a failure or a success? Failure Vista's 11 Pillars of Failure by John. C. Dvorak 1) Market confusion. There [are] simply too many versions of the OS for sale. Who needs all the variations? It's stupid—plain and simple. 2) Code size. I've got two words for you: TOO BIG. Enough said. 3) Missing components. Yes, WinFS. 4) Laptop battery-life drain. 5) HHD fiasco. 6) Bogus Vista-capable stickers. 7) Missing drivers. 8) Conflicting advice. Some people said that you should get anew computer only with Vista preloaded and not upgrade. Others said upgrades were fine. 9) XP mania. You'd think that the world was in love with Windows XP. 10) Mediocre rollout. The company seemed almost sheepish or embarrassed by Vista. This sent the wrong signals to users and may have made them hypercritical. 11) Performance. You're not supposed to deliver a new operating system that's been in development for more than four years yet performs worse than the previous OS. OK, so I actually disagree with a lot of this, but whatever. He makes the case and certainly much of what he says is true, though some of it is hardly problematic for most people. (HHD "fiasco"?) Success Earnings Conference Call with Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell Related PPT shot: Microsoft has sold 140,000,000 (140 million) Windows Vista licenses as of the end of the first quarter of 2008. Thus, Microsoft sold about 40 million copies of Vista in the quarter, a rate of about 13-14 million copies of the OS per month. If this monthly rate doesn't improve--and it will, of course, as XP leaves the market mid-year--Microsoft will have no trouble reaching its publicly-stated goal of 200 million licenses sold in the first 24 months on the market (which occurs at the end of November 2008). So. I suspect I'm not going to see eye-to-eye with many on this. But from where I sit, Vista is doing fine. However, I would like to investigate one fact which would do much to settle the issue: I've noted that Vista's 100 million sales in its first year on the market means that Vista essentially outsold XP during identical periods of time on the market when compared against the installed base at the time. I'd like to make a similar comparison now (for what I guess is the first 16 months on the market). This will require a bit of research and may, in fact, be impossible. But I'm looking. My guess is that Vista continues to outpace XP and that the gap will only grow later in the 2008. But that's just a guess. Posted Apr 28 2008, 10:31 AM by pthurrott with 42 comment(s) Filed under: Vista

• Windows Live FolderShare

  In the latest episode (56) of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo and I were discussing Live Mesh (see my massive preview of Live Mesh for more information) and how you can duplicate some of the Live Mesh tech preview's folder sharing functionality with tools like Microsoft Sync Toy 2. A number of readers wrote in to remind me, however, that Microsoft has a tool that's much more like Mesh's folder sharing. It's called, go figure, Windows Live FolderShare: Ever realized you needed a document that was on a different computer from the one you were on? With FolderShare, you can access your files from anywhere. Keep all your files in sync Use FolderShare to create a mirrored image of your most important folders - like your Favorites, Pictures, and Documents - so they're the same on all your computers. Sharing files is easier than ever Sharing with friends, co-workers, and family is easy when you add and update files in a shared library. Large files? Not a problem - FolderShare can sync files up to 2 GBs in size. And it works on both Mac and PC. Get to your files instantly when you're away from home Install FolderShare on all your computers, and you can access all your files from any computer on the Internet. This service is quite obviously the predecessor of the Live Mesh folder sharing capability. I wonder if they'll keep both available separately as well going forward? Related: Windows Live FolderShare team blog Thanks to everyone that wrote in about this. Posted Apr 27 2008, 04:55 PM by pthurrott with 7 comment(s) Filed under: Windows Live, Cloud computing