Ubuntu Linux!!!

Last week I installed Windows Vista on my fine running XP machine (less than six months old) and have been tolerating it since then and learning about its quirks and features. I have actually been using Vista since September and besides the integrated search (which can be added to XP through multiple channels for free), I honestly do not understand what the heck Microsoft did for nearly six years between operating systems....

Linux comparisons

Jack from Portland sent us this site that compares the different versions of Linux available today .

I finally did it

I purchased Windows Vista Ultimate (OEM version) and Microsoft Office 2007 in January. Yesterday, I finally installed them both on my HP computer I bought in December for the purpose of eventually installing Vista and the new Office. The installation was the easiest of any Windows I have ever installed and only took about thirty-five minutes, but the first boot took around 12 minutes. I backed up my data and used the Vista...

Future Windows Prediction

By now it is no secret that I have a unique super power. I can see the future of technology. Too many cell phone radio waves to my brain have caused me to have premonitions about the future of technology. Two days ago, I was carried away in vision and I saw the future of Microsoft. Microsoft knows they shot themselves in the foot with Vista. They knew before it was released that they would have to create a demand for it since...

Rethinking “old” computers

With Vista now being the only main stream choice for a new computer, I have stared to develop a new strategy to look at "old" computers. Computer users who have late model Windows 98 machines (bought in 1999-2000), they might be able to get a few more years out of their systems and get a more updated operating system by switching to a Linux based system. I plan on doing some testing over the next few months of...

Mac viruses up 75% over past 2 years

While reading through the news from last week, I came across this story at CNN about the increase in the number of viruses in Macs this year. The story gives most of it's attention to a story from last week about a PC viruses that was found on very few iPods (less than 1 percent). Reading a little further down, I saw this little gem: "Oliver Friedrichs, director of security response at Symantec, a leading anti-virus...

Are there better options than Microsoft Windows?

I missed a Shotgun article or two this week, but this should make up for it. Here is a great little demo video showing some of the powers of one build of Linux. I don't know much about it, but the video speaks for itself. ...

The firewall debate heats up

After my post yesterday, then my article in the newletter, a few people feel that I am way off base in recommending that most people don't need a firewall. First, Windows XP has a firewall built-in, if you use DSL or you have your cable Internet running through a Router, then you have a hardware firewall. My comments are pertaining to the extra software firewalls like ZoneAlarm and Sygate. My cool brother-in-law, Nishan,...

How to burn a CD or DVD in Linux

Paul from Texas called today and wanted to know how to burn a CD or DVD in Linux. We aren’t big Linux (an alternative operating system) users so we found a web site to use that explains how to do it:  Linux Tutorial  

Warning: External Hard Drives

One of my mantra’s over the years is about backup. Over the past few days, I have been working for a newer customer who hasn’t heard my sermons. He had a "computer expert" setup an extremely complex home network and a NAS (Network Attached Storage) backup system. None of this is out of the ordinary. However, unfortunately, this was the only backup the customer had. Last week, his external hard drive...