Terrible Internet Connection & A Second Round PageRank Update?

Upgraded to Windows Vista and Here’s My Thoughts

A few months after I wrote about my intention here and here to upgrade my operating system to Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows Vista, I finally did it on Saturday last weekend.

I managed to grab an OEM copy for RM680 after shopping around at Karamunsing Complex in Kota Kinabalu.

 

Getting Ready For Vista

I ran the Vista Upgrade Advisor, an application that helps Windows XP users identify which edition of Vista meets their needs and whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade and I passed with flying colours.

Microsoft launches Microsoft Affiliate Network

Today Microsoft announces the launch of Microsoft Affiliate Network which “exclusively encompasses all the Microsoft premier affiliate opportunities.”

I wonder what’s taking them so long before jumping into the affiliate marketing bandwagon. I know they have had affiliate program in a much smaller scale before but that’s different.

Their program is managed by customized version Kowabunga affiliate management software.

At the time of this writing, only one offer is available which is their OneCare product. Participation into the program is by invitation only.

However you can head to MicrosoftAffiliates.net to get more info and apply. Keep in mind though they currently accept applications from the US and Canada.

Windows Vista Advantages & Learning to Become A Competent Linux System Administrator

The more I read about Windows Vista, the more tempted I become to upgrade my Windows XP to the latest release from Microsoft as soon as possible.

I decide to upgrade not because I can afford to or because I have a Vista Premium Ready PC but because I need to. As a software developer for the Windows platform, there’s no escaping for me to ensure that my software are compatible with the latest OS in the market.

Why You Should Advertise On MSN adCenter

If you are doing pay per click advertising on AdWords, there are several good reasons why you should expand your PPC campaigns on MSN adCenter.

MSN adCenter allows you to select the time and days you want your ad displayed – a useful feature that’s missing from AdWords and Yahoo! Search Marketing.

There are four unique value prepositions to the MSN adCenter model as described by Joe Griffin from Search Engine Journal.

• Because they have far less advertisers than Google and Yahoo, the bid prices are still quite a bit lower in almost every category. MSN has also proven to sustain conversion rates in the same range as Google and Yahoo, often times higher in certain categories.

Getting Ready For Vista Ultimate

Sooner or later I’ll have to upgrade my operating system to Microsoft’s latest OS - Windows Vista. As a software developer it’s important for me to ensure that all my software are compatible with this latest operating system.

I also love to get my hands on this sparkling new OS and experience the striking eye candy together with all its new features.

So in anticipation to this move, I’ve decided to upgrade my computer’s hardware one at a time. Today I’ve added a pair of 1GB Kingston 667 RAM into the empty memory slots on my motherboard, upping my total RAM from 1 GB to 3 GB.

Thinking of upgrading to Vista? Think again.

According to PC World, to take advantage of all Vista’s features, you’ll need at a minimum of 1 GB of RAM. This requirement has been discussed before. On top of that, you are going to need a fast dual-core processor.

I have several computers and the most powerful one is a Pentium 3.2 GHz single processor but obviously it doesn’t meet the requirement. I know Vista will run on it but as a software developer, I need to make sure my own software work with Vista with all the bells and whistles running.

IE7 to be distributed via Automatic Updates!

Microsoft will distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high priority update via Automatic Updates (AU) after the final version is released for Windows XP in the fourth quarter of this year.

Alternately, you will be able to visit the Windows Update of Microsoft Update sites and obtain IE7 by performing an Express scan for high-priority updates.

One problem that continues to discourage me to completely switch back to IE from Firefox is the seemingly slower tab browsing function in IE. But that seems to be improving now.

Somehow the IE interface, albeit prettier than that of Firefox, has the bloatware feel to it.

Quick News Links: YouTube and Office 2007 Delays

Is YouTube a flash in the pan?
As video-sharing site YouTube rides an enormous wave of popularity, a research firm has expressed doubts about the company’s business prospects.

Microsoft delays Office 2007 again
Microsoft said Thursday that it is making another slight delay to the planned arrival time for Office 2007, citing performance concerns with recent test versions.

Test Drive Microsoft Office 2007 via Your Web Browser

In an effort to attract more interest in the upcoming release of Office 2007 next year, Microsoft has launched an online preview of the software.

The online preview allows you to play around with the software without going through the trouble of downloading the large beta versions because it’ll run via your browser.

Still, to use the online demonstration, you must use IE 5.5 or later. You may also need to download a plug-in and must register with the company.

To be honest, I haven’t tried it myself but I’ll do that soon to see if it’s worth the upgrade from my Office 2003.

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