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Microsoft to offer Vista upgrade coupons starting Oct. 26

Express Upgrade to Windows VistaAP reported yesterday that “people who buy certain Windows personal computers this holiday season will be offered free or heavily discounted coupons to upgrade to Microsoft Corp.’s new operating system, Windows Vista, under a program designed to spur sales despite Vista’s delay.”


Companies including HP, Compaq and Dell are quoted with more details on the upgrade offers for purchases starting Thursday, October 26th. (“Price, terms, and conditions may vary. Additional shipping, handling, and other fees may apply. See your PC manufacturer for availability and applicable offer details.”)


From the Microsoft Windows Vista web site: details on Express Upgrades to Windows Vista…



“If you’re in the market for a new computer this holiday season, be sure to ask your retailer about the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, being offered by participating PC manufacturers. When you buy a qualifying Windows Vista Capable PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, you may be eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista.


“Don’t wait to enjoy the benefits of owning a new PC. Buying a Premium Ready Windows Vista Capable PC means you can buy a great Windows XP computer today, with the confidence that it will easily upgrade to the Windows Vista edition of your choice. Express Upgrade to Windows Vista offers from participating PC manufacturers will ensure you can easily enjoy Windows XP today and Windows Vista when it’s available.”


More details on the program are on the Express Upgrade site.


As noted on AP’s web site, “the coupon program begins Thursday and runs through mid-March. Particulars of the deal will vary depending on the computer maker and retailer.”


PC manufacturers mentioned in the article include Hewlett-Packard (for certain HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Digital Entertainment Center computers equipped with Windows XP), Gateway (“free upgrades for people who buy Vista-capable computers directly from the company) and Dell (for “Vista-capable Dell computers running Windows XP Home Edition” will be able to upgrade to Windows Vista Home Basic; Dell’s rep said that “buyers of computers running Windows XP Media Center or Windows XP Professional will only have to pay shipping and handling to get a comparable Vista version.”)


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Just released: New T-Mobile Dash Smartphone

T-Mobile Dash SmartphoneMSNBC has a quick review quick review from Gary Krakow on T-Mobile’s new Dash phone, a slick smartphone Krakow calls a “slick, new design… best-of-breed for Windows Mobile devices.” It’s so new that the phone is not yet on the T-Mobile site or on their press page. (Update 101306: The T-Mobile Dash press release is now available here.)


Says Krakow:


“The phone performed every task I asked it to do without any problem — a big deal for today’s, feature-laden smartphones. I have yet to find a program that makes the Dash trip up or miss a beat.


“It has handled all my remote e-mail, Web browsing and even some photography and music-listening duty with aplomb. The Dash is one of the best smartphones I’ve tested to date and definitely the most enjoyable Windows Mobile phone I’ve used.


“But don’t take my word for it.  Over the course of the past two weeks every person who has seen me use the phone has asked if they could look, touch, feel and play with it. I have never seen a cell phone receive that kind of reaction before.”


Disclaimer: this is on my short list of new devices. My wife was looking at getting a new phone with a larger screen and a QWERTY keyboard over her current Smartphone, and this should fit the bill. Originally we were looking at upgrading to the Motorola Q, but that model isn’t compatible on on our network. 


More info:



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Very cool: Optimus Mini Keyboards

Optimus KeyboardI first saw the multi-functional Optimus mini keyboard in the March issue of PCMag: “Seems like every gadget is being miniaturized these days. Enter the Optimus mini: a flexible, functional keyboard with just three keys, each complete with an OLED screen with a 96- by 96-pixel resolution and showing 5 frames per second.”


From ThinkGeek: “The Optimus Mini connects to your PC via USB and features three keys, each with their own backlit OLED screen. Each key can display a static image or full animation. Press the key and a different action occurs depending on what is assigned to it. Think it as some kind of futuristic dynamic hotkey device.”


More info:


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MSN Tech: Be a Better Computer Caretaker

Today on MSN Tech & Gadgets, a good article on how to be a better computer caretaker” “You spent good money on your PC. You might as well take good care of it, too.”



  • Get your operating system on CD and create those recovery disks

  • Do a backup

  • Run your disk defragmenter

  • Remember these three words: uninterruptible power supply

  • Don’t cold reboot

  • Watch the environment

  • Take care of your peripherals

Certainly agree with all of these items.


We had to reinstall the OS on one of our machines at home, and finding the original OEM operating system CDs was relatively easy. If you have multiple PCs in your household, write on the CDs which PC they are paired, as many are specific not only to an OEM brand but model.


As for back ups, if you don’t archive with a utility (like OneCare) then do a drag copy of your important folders from “My Documents” on to a recordable CD or DVD, or an external hard disk: the prices of external USB 2.0 drives is cheap enough for everyone to have a back up drive. At a minimum, shoot for backing up once a month. 


If you live where the power is subject to weather impacts (we have trees that bring down the lines a couple of times in the winter) then an uninterruptible power supply is a must. Although we have laptops in the house, we also have a whole house surge supressor that installs on the mains into the home. And use fused and filtered power bars for your equipment, a standard feature on many uninterruptible power supplies.  


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MS Robotics’ Tandy Trower on Robot Magazine

I was out with my five-year-old son this afternoon getting his first library card, when what do we see: the fall issue of Robot magazine…



That’s none other than our own Tandy Trower, GM from the Microsoft Robotics Group. The Microsoft Robotics Studio September 2006 CTP was just released.


More info:


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