Paul's "dot" on the web: Computers and Internet

Microsoft Windows Vista

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 17:09:12 GMT

Has anyone install beta versions of Microsoft Windows Vista? If so, what has your experience been (yes I know it is a beta version so it would not be bug-free).

I'm thinking about installing it but thought I would get some real world thoughts about installing the operating system this early.

Thanks!!

Paul

Talking about 2007 Microsoft Office System Beta 2

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 02:56:56 GMT

The Microsoft Office 2007 Beta 2 is now available for download! I've downloaded it and love a lot of the new features and look. Of course it takes a little time to get used to new layouts of new versions of any software.

Even though it is only Beta 2, I've found it to be very stable and reliable. If you like to work with the latest stuff I'd recommend getting it.

You have the choice of having a CD sent or downloadng. If you choose the option of downloading keep in mind you are downloading COMPLETE software packages so they are pretty big downloads...and you can choose between many different applications that are either part of Office 2007 or are releaseing with it.

Here is the link to the beta 2 site:

2007 Microsoft Office System Beta 2

Voice over IP

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:48:31 GMT

So I've been thinking about doing Voice over IP (VoIP)...like Vonage. Does anyone have this type of service (or had). What do you/did you think of it? Is the sound quality good? Is there delay? A lot of down time? Stuff like that.

Any info anyone has on this would be greatly appreciated!!!

Paul!

MSN Messenger 7.5 Final

Sun, 28 Aug 2005 04:02:18 GMT

Borrowed from my good friend Noroom. If you haven't upgrade you should. A few nice new features. Not sure if you are running 7.5? Open Messenger, choose Help and About and it will tell you the version.

MSN Messenger 7.5 - I can't believe It's Not Beta

The brand new MSN Messenger 7.5 is here. And trust me, it's in your interest to upgrade (or download...whichever way gravity sends you).

"Already!? But Messenger usually only releases once a year!" you may be shouting at your monitor. Well stop. Talking to inanimate objects could get you institutionalized.

It's true. It's just been over four months since our last public release, and there are fewer changes than you may be used to. The thinking is this: we built some features now, you should get to use them--Now. Screw the waiting.

***A mostly comprehensive description of new things in MSN Messenger 7.50299***

The Features

Dynamic Backgrounds:
Backgrounds that subtly animate in cool ways. In the Backgrounds Menu there are four brand new Dynamic Backgrounds and you can buy more from the "What's Hot" link in the drop down. Cool things: 1) you can share any that you own with your friends, 2) some of them respond in interesting ways to receiving a nudge.

Finger Print Reader

Sun, 24 Jul 2005 01:40:19 GMT

Ok...I know I talked about this before but I just have to mention it again. The Microsoft finger print reader is the coolest thing in EVER! All I do is touch it and I am logged into a site. I also have my computer password protected when it launches (too many people in and out of here when I am not here) and just touch it and it puts in my username and password. I LOVE technology!!!

So after a lot of using it here and at work it really does work and I have trieid and tried to crack it....no ay!!!. Amazon carries it and I highly recommend it!!

Have fun and make your computing easy!!!

GET ONE NOW!!!

This posting is made as a private person and not a Microsoft employee :)

Favorite Microsoft Product

Sat, 07 May 2005 05:35:00 GMT

My current favorite Microsoft product is Streets and Trips with GPS Locator. It works with your laptop or Pocket PC.

It shows you where you are turn-by-turn along your route that you plotted by entering the start and stop addresses to genereate your trip map and driving instructions. Also it shows your speed, direction, if you get off track, and best of all there is no GPS subscription fee! I've been using this on my recent road trips and it is great when I am in an area that I don't know. And no I am not trying to "push" the product because I work at MS. This is an honest opinion as a consumer!

A more detailed description from Amazon:

When combined with the Streets and Trips software, the GPS Locator brings your maps to life by displaying your exact current position and direction in an integrated "GPS pane" that is part of the Streets and Trips interface. The GPS unit also features GPS tracking and routing capabilities, which are especially useful when you get off track from your pre-planned route.

Should you make a wrong turn, the GPS unit's "GPS trail" feature leaves behind a virtual breadcrumb trail that shows you where you've been on your map, and makes it easy to get back on track. You can also use the handy "Re-route from here" command to quickly revise your directions and get back on your way to your destination-- a great feature for folks who like to take unexpected side trips.

The GPS Locator is designed to be easy to use with your laptop computer. Simply plug the included GPS hardware receiver into your laptop's USB port and you're set. ...with proper accessories you can turn the unit into a wireless Bluetooth receiver or a CompactFlash/PCMCIA connected receiver. This gives you the flexibility to connect the GPS Locator to other mobile devices such as Pocket PCs.

Do You Have Spyware on Your Computer

Wed, 04 May 2005 01:39:32 GMT

If you can not answer no then you need to have an AntiSpyware software installed on your computer.

Spyware is software that is installed on your computer, usually without you knowing it, by visiting web sites that are setup to install this hidden software. This software collects information about how you use the internet so that it can target specific pop-up advertisements to you as well as it decreases the performance of your PC.

I recommend Microsoft's AntiSpyware program. Although it is still in beta (so it is free) it found things on my computer that the leading AntiSpyware program I paid for did not find.

You can download it for free at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en.

It will initially remove any Spyware that is found on your computer, and then will continually monitor for web sites trying to install Spyware and prompt you for what you would like to do at that point.

An example of how well this works is that I installed this on a friend's computer and it found over 4,000 files infected with Spyware. After the "clean up" the computer returned to functioning as it did when it was new.

Contratulation Noroom (Mike)

Tue, 03 May 2005 04:01:18 GMT

Noroom - has reached 20000 "hits" on is blog in under 3 months. Great job my friend!!

Link to his site: http://spaces.msn.com/members/noroom/

What do you use your Blog for?

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 02:36:55 GMT

So today I have been wondering - what types of things to people use their Blogs for? Also, why did you start one? The thought occurred to be because of someone be prosecuted in another country for their comments on their Blog.

By the way - do you think Robbie Williams (the UK singer) has a Blog??? :) Robbie you out there bud? Drop me a line mate!

One on the things that I want to honestly use my Blog for is to get to know people around the world. There are many places I want to visit and it would be nice to have a friendly face there to help me with the local culture, perhaps the language, and make sure that I experience the real place I am visiting.