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When it comes to PC security, don’t be a victim… be a participant in your own rescue. Windows 7 can help, too.

As I Tweeted today, over the weekend I read Paul Cooke’s Windows Security Blog post on Windows 7 Vulnerability Claims. (I’ve added a few links if the terms are unfamiliar to you.)

"…most people don’t knowingly have and run known malware on their system. Malware typically makes it onto a system through other avenues like the browser or email program. So while I absolutely agree that anti-virus software is essential to protecting your PC, there are other defenses as well.

"Let me recap some of the Windows 7 security basics. Windows 7 is built upon the security platform of Windows Vista, which included a defense-in-depth approach to help protect customers from malware. This includes features like User Account Control (UAC), Kernel Patch Protection, Windows Service Hardening, Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) to name just a few. The result, Windows 7 retains and refines the development processes, including going through the Security Development Lifecycle, and technologies that made Windows Vista the most secure Windows operating system ever released.

"Beyond the core security of Windows 7, we have also done a lot of work with Windows 7 to make it harder for malware to reach a user’s PCs in the first place. One of my favorite new features is the SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer 8. The SmartScreen Filter was built upon the phishing protection in Internet Explorer 7 and (among other new benefits) adds protection from malware. The SmartScreen Filter will notify you when you attempt to download software that is unsafe…"

I agree with Paul and that you should run anti-virus software on Windows 7; our Microsoft Security Essentials is one such way to help keep your PC free of such issues and is available for free.

But you also need to remember: don’t be a victim… be a participant in your own rescue. (So says our COO Kevin Turner, paraphrased ;). 

imageAs I noted in an post from 2006, no matter what OS you run, it doesn’t matter: be prepared. Make you that you have the latest updates to all of your software. Generally, consumers should set up their computers install updates automatically: Windows users may do this by ensuring Automatic Update (AU) is turned on to get the latest updates. (In managed environments (like corporations where an IT Pro manages your machine), talk to your administrator to learn about your updates.) You can also visit Windows Update for the latest updates, but the easiest way is to turn on AU.

"In a comment I received to a recent blog posting on being careful when it comes to viruses, I wanted to mention something when it comes to computer security: whether you have a PC or a Mac, you will have to be concerned about security and protect yourself.

If you own a computer – PC or Mac (and we have both at home) – you should run AV software, have a firewall on your internet connection and practice "safe computing."

"But we have to be careful to reach broad-based conclusions. It’s better to anticipate an attack and be prepared and protected rather than hope that you won’t be the victim of an attack. As I said in a past post, see our Security at home site for more ideas on how to protect your computer. It has info on avoiding online scams with the Microsoft Phishing Filter, anti-virus, anti-spyware, security updates, Office and Windows update tools… well worth your time. Mac users can look here on Apple’s site for more info on protecting your Mac."

For Mac users, of interest is eWeek’s Larry Seltzer’s article on "What Will Apple Do When the Malware Comes?"

As noted in my post earlier this year, follow these six tips for staying safe online, as provided in this article in the Seattle Times on cybersafety:

  1. Protect your privacy and personal information
  2. Be alert online
  3. Delete junk e-mail
  4. Use strong passwords
  5. Use antivirus software and a firewall
  6. Be smart about downloading

Pay particular attention to that last item. As I wrote here, you should only download software from a trusted source – for example, via Microsoft for our products and service – and avoid peer to peer to save yourself an additional security risk.

Additional information and guidance:

 

Tags: Windows Vista, Security, what I read, twitter, Microsoft, Windows 7, Microsoft Security Essentials.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, how-to, Security, download, Microsoft Security Essentials.

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Going to PAX 2009 or Bumbershoot in Seattle? Check out my helpful hints

pax-09.jpgGoing to PAX this year in Seattle, or perhaps catching a few acts at Bumbershoot 2009 (maybe both)?  It seems from what I read on Twitter that we will have a number of people visiting the fair Emerald City for this weekend’s festivities: from what I’ve read, about 75,000 people are expected to attend the Penny Arcade Expo starting tomorrow through Sunday at the Washington State Convention Centre.


(BTW, both PAX and Bumbershoot are sold out so if you don’t have tickets already, try your expensive luck on Craig’s List or eBay…)


Per my tweet tonite, to aid in your visit to the fair city by the Sound, I’ve posted here a few hints along the lines of my notes from Surviving CES in Las Vegas. Using that post as a template, here are a couple of resources for you – I will add to the page later as I have time.


Flight and Hotel: Given the event is sold out, if you don’t already have either of these, good luck.  Checking Bing travel or your favourite travel site may help you find a flight in and out or a place to stay.


Weather? Oh, yes. But pack light and bring a jacket.  Keep in mind that it is cool in the Puget Sound area this time of year (high 60s to low 70s), and the weather will be in the low 50s at night, and a few showers are expected .  Check the weather report for Seattle here. 


Dress in comfortable clothes and wear great, comfortable shoes.  And don’t bring the stylish shoes, go for comfort as you will be standing and walking.  A lot.  My pick: your favourite sneakers (perhaps a cool new pair of Vans), anything from Ecco, Rockport or New Balance. And see also a few travel recommendations from Colin Cowie on packing.


BTW, nix the umbrella: unless it’s winter and it’s coming down in buckets, this is a sure-fire way to telegraph that you’re a tourist. But do bring a jacket (something in a natural toned Goretex a la the grunge scene), as it’ll make you fit right in.


Also, bring a shoulder bag (a messenger bag works well) for hauling around all the schwag you’ll likely pick up and for toting your phone, mini notebook, digital camera, and other essentials: a bottle of water or juice, snack bars and fruit… oh, sorry, I mean Red Bull and Jolt, family sized Hershey’s and a package of gummies.


Plan ahead on paces to see: Before you arrive, check out the http://www.visitseattle.org/ site where you’ll find plenty of information on what to do and see around town (a nice touch is the interactive visitors’ guide), There’s also a good list of the “10 Things You MUST See & Do in Seattle…” including a trip up to The Space Needle, Pike Place Market for all sorts of goodies to eat and local souvenirs, the Seattle Aquarium (ok, that’s our kid’s favourite), and the freaky Underground Tour.


Close to the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center is the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Where else are you going to find more on Jimi Hendrix, Captain Kirk’s chair from the Enterprise (TOS) and the original teddy bear from Steven Spielberg’s A.I.? Only in Seattle. Excellent restaurants are in close range, like the delightful Zeke’s Pizza.


Getting from the airport to anywhere: Remember, if you need to get a taxi cab at the airport, look to the departures area where people are exiting the taxi.  (Just a suggestion, not an endorsement.)  You’ll receive a number of suggested modes of transportation, but always good to pair up (or three or four) with folks going to the same hotel and split the $25-30 taxi fare into town. There are plenty of rental car agencies, airport shuttles (more info here), private transportation and more: be sure to check out the SETAC airport ground transportation page, with more info on public transit options here. (It will be a breeze once the new light rail service between SeaTac/Airport Station and Downtown Seattle starts running in late 2009, just in time for the 2010 Olympics.)


Getting around town: the local Sound Transit system is an easy way to connect around downtown and the surrounding area.  Taxis are readily available from most major hotels, and likely there are a number of places to see within a short walking distance from your downtown hotel. 


If you arrive into SETAC with other folks on the same flight, consider renting a limo or get together an impromptu set of people going to roughly the same hotel into downtown: that way you’ll pay one limo fee, which runs about $35-40 plus tip.  Do NOT pick up just any limo at the airport: as Forrest Gump said, “You never know what you’re going to get.”


Last, unless you plan on traveling outside of downtown, don’t rent a car (take a cab) unless you enjoy paying daily hotel parking rates akin to what you would pay for a flat in SoHo.


Sleepless? There’s free Wireless in Seattle: Oh, you bet there is. First off, you’ll get free wireless at the Seattle Public Library… if all the branches weren’t closed through Sunday, Sept. 6 due to citywide budget cuts. So check out your hotel, the PAX site and check out this link on openwifispots.com for a list of over 200 free wireless hotspots in and around Seattle.


Say hello your new best friend: the hotel concierge.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here, too: the concierge is your connection when you don’t have connections in town.  When you arrive at the hotel with a concierge on staff, introduce yourself and hand them a business card.  That one move may come in hand later more than you know.  See ‘dinner’ and ‘getting to the airport’ for starters.  If your hotel doesn’t have a concierge, ask the doorman or front desk manager.


As Cowie notes, “ask your concierge to make some reservations for you now at top restaurants so you don’t find that you can’t get in when you arrive there in peak season. Tip the concierge the moment you arrive…”  See, you can learn helpful travel hints from a man that you thought only had great party design sense. 😉


Eating out: You’ll no doubt have some free time one or two nights, and Seattle is a wonderful place. You’ll find plenty of good suggestions via Urban Spoon’s Seattle listings (see their 100 Best Seattle restaurants list), with favourites like the I Love New York Deli, Uli’s Famous Sausage (for hot dogs near Pike Place Market), Bayou on First, Cafe Nordstrom (seriously, the food is very good)…


My personal favourite for a quick lunch: MOD Super Fast Pizza. These pies are awesome and wicked fast.


Best breakfasts: See these suggestions on urbanspoon for breakfast and brunch if you don’t have a complimentary breakfast in your hotel, and if you’re game, check out my favourites La Crêperie Voilà, Dahlia Bakery and the BOKA Kitchen + Bar.


Lunch and Dinner: Around town: Check out the MSN MSN City Guide for Seattle here, as well as their restaurant guide and list of cheap Seattle eats. Also, my favourite web spot for ratings and information is Zagat’s, with links to a few of my favourites. You can also get good customer reviews from OpenTable book many of these restaurants for free via OpenTable.com.


For a nice evening out, check out Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, Shuckers at the Fairmont Olympic, Tulio Ristorante for good Italian, the incomparable Tom Douglas’ Palace Kitchen, the always good Capital Grille and our favourite Thai fusion at Wild Ginger (ooh, it’s good


A note on booking tables… Consider booking your table through your hotel concierge as noted above: if you haven’t called them in advance, ask for their help in booking a table (tip, please) and get their business card with their phone number after you check in… and give them a tip if they offer a direct dial number.  A good concierge may be able to score a reservation to a hard-to-book place: I have found that your best bet is a well-connected hotel concierge if a direct call to the restaurant doesn’t pan out.  Also, look to your credit card company (many offer a concierge service) or try your hand (or mouse) booking a table at OpenTable.com. Many of the restaurants still show availability on OpenTable as of today, so book early.


Stuff to see: Always a good reference for the best restaurants, clubs and activities in Atlanta, see 10best.com lists for Seattle.  I’m guessing that with everything going on at PAX nearly 24 hrs a day you’ll be seeing the convention centre and (maybe) your hotel room for a few hours of shut eye. I’ll add more and any suggestions.


 



Getting to the airport.  Finding a cab on the last day of PAX or any large event in the city is like finding a fishmonger that doesn’t throw fish.  Arrange a car in advance through your concierge for more than one traveler.  Or that concierge you tipped earlier just may have arranged a shuttle for a small group that has an opening.

Have fun.


Added 090409: You can also follow Ann – aka SeattleMaven – on Twitter to get more insight on the info appearing on the VisitSeattle.org site. Follow her for Seattle expertise, tips & hints!


Bumberdetails: How to navigate Seattle’s music and arts festival, with info on how to get tickets, where to park, what to bring and other information, courtesy of the Seattle Times.


Added 012010: Thanks to Stephen Rose for the link to the guide to Bellevue, adding here for MVP 10 attendees: http://www.Bellevue.com for more on restaurants, events, happy hour, nightlife and more. 


Tags: Microsoft, Seattle, Bellevue, PAX, MVP, travel tips.


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More help and tips in finding that perfect laptop computer, this time from Rob Pegoraro of the Washington Post

image Over swim lessons today, I read Rob Pegoraro‘s article “Tips to boot up your laptop hunt” (which was picked up in today’s local paper) for users looking for new laptops (as I Tweeted today)…



“… many users — college students among them — still need laptops that survive away from desks and power outlets. Neither heavy “desktop replacements” nor ultralight netbooks with tiny screens and cramped keyboards work in that scenario.


“This piece is for those shoppers. What should they consider when looking for a new laptop?”


A good article. (Update: Per Rob Pegararo’s tweet, I’m including a link to his original article in the Washington Post (other coast)at http://bit.ly/LQkOR, and his accompanying blog post at http://bit.ly/eoAX0.)


In addition, I offer some additional information, recommendations and colour commentary in my recent post “It’s nearly back to school time: here’s info on buying a new PC“


But I don’t agree with Rob’s assessment WRT upgrades…



“Both releases look promising, but history suggests that Apple’s upgrade will be easier than Microsoft’s.”


Hmmm… I just completed the upgrades of a couple of machines this weekend to Windows 7 RTM and it went flawless. Many new PCs you might purchase today may also come with a free upgrade to Windows 7 once it ships (aka: general availability or “GA”) on on October 22.


(Added 081609) Also, after reading Rob’s blog post, I disagree with his assessment on the crop of PCs out there..



Once again, the Dell was boring, clean and affordable; the H-P looked stylish but suffered from a high price and a lame set of add-on software; the Toshiba was not so stylish and had an even worse software bundle.


imageWow. I agree that the really low-end machines may not win any style contests, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by many of the new, fairly sleek machines. In the mini notebook category, the HP 2140 mini notebook, and the new crop of laptops from Toshiba (like the PC Mag’s Editors’ Choice Toshiba mini NB200 companion PC) take the cake, as do the newer models from Acer, MSI and Dell. Plus the sleek new Toshiba Portege R600 is quite nice in the more expensive ultralight notebooks, Not to mention new PCs from Sony, Lenovo, HP and particularly the new Dell Adamo.


I agree with the comment that Rob should revisit this post later in the year after a few models ship with Windows 7… say, around late October. 😉


For more on upgrades to Windows 7 once it arrives publicly, I also offer Ed Bott’s update to the Windows 7 upgrade chart.  A good read.


Want to find out more about what laptop is right for you? Check out the Microsoft Windows Laptop Hunters site where you’ll find more information on choosing a new laptop computer via the “PC Chooser” wizard, as well as links to our Windows Laptop Scout site.


Tags: articles, blogs, Windows 7.


Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, how-to, Windows 7, download, backup, Challenge-Windows 7


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It’s nearly back to school time: here’s info on buying a new PC

IMGP1554-smAs I posted on Twitter today, Joel Santo Domingo over at PC Magazine has published a new article, How to Buy a Back-to-School PC. He covers what you should consider when shopping for a new PC for back to school or for you home.

It’s helpful and timely information given the article I recently read from Jonathan Starkey on How to clamp down on spending for college, given how expensive tuition and housing are these days. Starkey said that "It all can add up quickly, but there are ways to stretch a family’s college budget."

This reminds me of my prior post, "What kind of a computer should I buy?" from late last year, with suggestions from Tony Hoffman of PC Magazine:

As per my previous Tweet, I recently updated my answer to a popular question around this time of year: "What kind of a computer should I buy?"  I noted that there is something for everyone, at all price points.  It seems that new PCs are high on many people’s holiday shopping lists, and the price:performance is better than ever before.

This week, Tony Hoffman from PC Magazine has posted a timely article on How to Buy a Bargain Laptop.

"Everyone likes a good bargain—the trick is distinguishing what’s truly a worthwhile deal from something you may regret after you’ve used it a while. We define bargain laptops as ones costing $1,000 or less, though you can find great deals at any price. These days, with retailers going the extra mile in an attempt to boost flagging sales, laptops that might otherwise be out of reach for the frugal shopper have been descending into the affordable zone. Here we’ll look at what you should be able to get for $1,000 or less."

As I noted, you can get a great computer these days for far less than $1,000 depending upon your use.  As I said in my previous post…

"For under $500 at one of the big box office stores (on sale or after rebates), you can find a name-brand notebook with a 15.4-inch screen with (as I concur with many of my associates) a decent 1280×800 resolution, Intel Pentium Dual Core T3200, 120GB HDD, 2GB of memory, six cell battery, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, 802.11b/g wireless and a CD/DVD Burner running Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (splurge and get Windows Vista Home Premium for a few dollars). 

"For many general computer applications (surfing the ‘net, writing term papers, listening to music and watching DVDs, streaming video from Netflix) this would fit the bill. And more.

"This tops the 1.73GHz Dual-Core processor (T2080), half GB of memory, an 80GB drive and a double layer DVD Burner with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic I noted last year for the same amount."  (Dec 17, 2008)

Today you can get a very good computer under $500 that includes just about twice as much computer as you  were able to get less than a year ago. I found one name brand OEM model with an Intel T4200 (2.0 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB), 2GB of Memory, 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, 14.1" WXGA 1280 x 800 LCD screen, SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW optical drive, Wireless-G Networking, on-board camera… 

Even consider the current crop of excellent mini laptops, like the HP Mini 110 XP Edition or crop of new mini notebooks that will arrive with Windows 7 (that’s what I’m waiting for after my positive experience with the Dell Mini, HP 2133 and 2140).

"For under $1,000, you can get a very nice 15" laptop with Core 2 Duo, 4GB, 320GB & DVD Burner (after current discounts).  Or even better if you’re looking for a desktop replacement with a bigger screen, I found a 17" (1440 x 900 resolution) notebook with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5800, 3GB memory, 320GB SATA Hard Drive, Intel 4500MHD Graphics, 802.11g wireless, 8X Slot Load CD / Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive, 2.0M webcam, 9 cell battery, all running on Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1.  (Dec 17, 2008)

"Very nice when you consider a year ago the same amount got you a 17" widescreen with a Core Duo Processor (T2350), 2 GB of memory, 120GB hard drive and DVD SuperMulti drive. Ouch."

Double ouch: today that same $1K will get you a slim notebook with an Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 (3MB cache/2.0GHz/1066Mhz FSB), 4GB SDRAM, Widescreen 15.6" WLED LCD (1920×1080), 500GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW optical drive, 512MB discreet video card, Wireless-N, Bluetooth Module and an on-board 2.0 MP camera. Again, nearly twice the PC, and I didn’t look very hard for any big discounts, but I’m sure that you’ll see plenty as people return from vacation and the kids make their way back to class.

For just a little more (under $1,500 SRP before discounts), consider one of the slim beauties like the Dell Adamo, complete with a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of memory and a 128GB solid state drive in a very sleek package.

Not to mention the incredible deals on home desktop PCs: we added a new desktop PC at home with amazing specs for just about $600 that a year ago cost more than $1,200. You can also find great deals on mainstream desktop PCs for the home for $300-400, especially inexpensive if you have an existing monitor.

Below are the editor’s choices PC Magazine’s Back-to-School PC article…

  • Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)  Apple moves closer to the sweet spot with the iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M). This new all-in-one gives you the screen real estate you crave, along with strong multimedia capabilities, and the covetable Apple design, all for a reasonable price.
  • Dell Inspiron 545  The Dell Inspiron 545 gives users something they want: a bundled system with monitor that they can open and start using right away.
  • Compaq Presario CQ5110f  One of the least expensive dual-core systems out there, the Compaq Presario CQ5110f brings the power of dual core to the sub $400 level.
  • Lenovo IdeaCentre A600  With a love-it-or-hate-it design, the Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 gives the value PC buyer an all-in-one option that’s more powerful than that cheap nettop, though power users will want more.

If you’re kids use Macs at school, consider the Apple iMac. Personally, I like the mini form factor desktop PCs from Dell, HP, Lenovo and Acer not to mention the all-in-one designs like HP’s Touchsmart on my desk at home), and laptops from Dell, HP, Sony and Lenovo – but with so many to choose from, you’ll likely find a great PC that meets your needs and price point.

More info: Upgrade or buy a new one? Suggestions from the Seattle Times

Tags: shopping, RSS, Microsoft, New PC, articles, blogs, Microsoft, Windows 7.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Windows Vista, Windows 7, computers, hardware, how-to

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Your questions: what do I like about Windows 7? Hardware home pages with Device Stage

Picture of Device Stage for a mobile phoneJohn Swenson has an interesting article covering Device Stage in Windows 7, as he describes as "a home page for select compatible devices and printers. It’s a simpler and faster way of finding and using your devices with Windows."

"You don’t have to be a gadget geek to know that it can be hard to get a mobile phone, music player, or other device to work smoothly with your computer. How do you sync contacts and appointments to your mobile phone? How do you get music onto your portable music player? Where do you find the manual for your device, software updates, and help? The list can go on and on, depending on the device.

"Enter Device Stage. This new feature in Windows 7 solves these problems by gathering everything you can do with your device into a single window, making tasks easier to find and complete."

In Device Stage, you can view more information about a connected device and see its status from battery life to storage capacity, sync setup, links to manufacturer information (like support) and more.

To get an idea of where the concept for Device Stage came from, take a look at this WinHEC presentation form our Dennis Flanagan in Windows. In it, he covered some of the challenges of dealing with a number of different devices in Windows Vista.

One of the nice things about the hardware ecosystem support for older devices is what we’ve noted as a "baseline" experience in Device Stage, which the team covered here on the E7 blog earlier this year…

"This UX works exactly like full Device Stage; the device image appears on the taskbar whenever it is connected and tasks are exposed in the Jump List. On first connect, the shell Window containing all of the built-in tasks appears automatically and is always just one click away from the desktop icon or device image in the Devices and Printers folder. When the device maker implements a custom Device Stage experience for a device, it gets posted on the Web and the baseline experience gets upgraded when the device is later reconnected. The core functionality is the same, but all of the branding, imaging and vendor-specific tasks are now available automatically in the same convenient UI."

Tags: Windows 7, hardware, device stage, Windows 7

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