April 3rd, 2008
Posted by Mary Jo Foley

Microsoft made it official on April 3: There will be no new reprieves for Windows XP (other than on Ultra Low-Cost PCs).

Some customers and partners had been hoping the company might extend again the deadline for all PC makers to be allowed to preload Windows XP, rather than Windows Vista, on new PCs. But today, Microsoft officials said the current June 30, 2008 cut-off date would remain in place for the vast majority of machines.

The one new exception, as some online prescription viagra were anticipating, are Ultra Low-Cost PCs (ULPCs), which Microsoft defines as systems like the Asus Eee and Intel Classmate — “significantly more restricted hardware with less expensive processors and more limited graphics capabilities. ULPCs should not be confused with the higher-priced and more robust UMPCs, or Ultra-Mobile PCs (a k a “Origami” devices); Microsoft is continuing to encourage UMPC makers to build their systems around Vista.

As Microsoft officials announced on April 3, makers of ULPCs will be allowed to continue to preload XP on ULPC machines until June 30, 2010, or one year after general availability of the next version of Windows, whichever comes first, according to Microsoft.

(Microsoft has said that its target delivery date for Windows 7, the next version of Windows, is some time in 2010.)

The majority of, if not all, ULPCs are incapable of running Vista, with its higher RAM and graphics requirements. But they can and do run Linux. That proved to be a good incentive for Microsoft extending the XP cut-off deadline for those low-end machines.

For plain-vanilla PCs, Microsoft is holding fast to its June 30 preload cut-off for XP. (In September, Microsoft granted PC makers a five-month extension, allowing them to continue preloading and selling at retail Windows XP until June 30 of this year. ) As Microsoft noted previously, users still will be able to get XP preloaded on new machines from white-box vendors/system builders through January 31, 2009. And Vista Business and Ultimate customers with volume-license contracts can still get XP via their “downgrade” rights.

Microsoft will still provide mainstream (free) support for XP until April 2009. Extended support (free for security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014.

What’s your take? Did Microsoft make the right decision in holding fast to the June 30 XP cut-off date?

I’ve just about had it with telemarketers! They’re calling more frequently and at inappropriate times. Plus, with the idea they're trying to scam me looming in the back of my mind, I'm about ready to stop answering the phone!

But now, there is something we all can do about it: complain! Not only can you vent your frustrations about a specific company calling your house or cell phone, but you can research the number and see what other people have to say about them as well.

In the middle of the page, you’ll see a search field. Just type in the number you want to look up online cheap viagra and click Search. That will bring up a page that displays the number of times it has been searched, the complaints for the number, as well as, a complaint form for you to fill out.

Beneath the search field, you will see columns for recently searched numbers divided up by the last seven days, the last 30 days and all the time. Below the columns, you’ll see the color code for the bullets by the numbers.

On the side menu, you will find three sections:

File a Complaint – This one will take you directly to the complaint form. If you scroll past the form, you will find helpful tips about how to give the best detail in your complaint.

Stop Telemarketers – Here you will find five articles that will not only make you more aware of what is going on, but also how you can fight back. I am incredibly sick of spoof numbers! 000-000-0000 is what will show up on your caller ID, which is simply an attempt to hide the caller’s identity. I get anywhere from three to six of those kinds of calls a day. Talk about annoying! I highly recommend reading the second article in this section, as it explains in more detail how spoof IDs work.

About Caller Complaints – Here you will learn all about why this Web site was started and what it does.

I hope this site helps you out with your telemarketer problem as much as it did for me!

http://www.callercomplaints.com/

Another reader asks: I know you've mentioned before certain things that Web sites can see when we're online, but it was always mixed in with other information. Can you give us a basic list of them instead?

I sure can! It's very important to know what Web sites can see when you're visiting them, so I'm not going to waste any more time with an intro. Let's get right into it!

If you use your computer everyday (which I'm guessing you do if you're reading this newsletter), you probably visit several Web sites each time you get online, right? I know I do. I'm constantly going from site to site, just checking different things out, reading articles, etc. Now, when you're on those Web sites, have you ever wondered what kind of information you're revealing to them? If that question has you intrigued, keep reading!

I know we here at WorldStart have mentioned certain things to you before about this topic, but I thought it would be nice to give you a basic rundown of what all Web sites can obtain about you while you're logged in. To begin, they can see your IP address (192.186.1.1, for example), which is what allows computers to connect with each next day viagra other on the Internet. A Web site cannot see your identity through the IP address, but it can verify your ISP and the region or city you live in. Kind of creepy, huh?! Now, there are programs you can use to keep your IP information private. They do not make you completely anonymous, but they can help. A couple you may want to check out are Ghostsurf and Privoxy.

Another thing Web sites can pick up on is your cookies. Cookies are files that help sites save certain information in between your visits. For example, if you have a username and password for a certain site, the cookies remember that information for you so that you don't always have to log back in. They help make things faster, but they can be a little risky too. They basically allow a Web site to see the path you follow while you're logged in. However, you are able to see your cookies and even delete them if you want to. To do so in Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options and click on the Settings button. From there, click on the View Files button and you'll be able to see the cookies. If you want to delete them, just click the Delete Cookies button in the first window. In Firefox, go to Tools, Options and select the Privacy icon. Click on the Show Cookies button. If you want to delete them, hit the Remove Cookies button and you'll be all set.

Continuing on, Web sites are also able to see your network ports. Those ports are basically paths of communication for your computer and they're all numbered. For example, Web sites usually use port number 80. The ports can help Web sites obtain what programs you're using while you're on the Internet. Now, even though that doesn't seem so bad, they do tend to create some security holes in the actual program. To keep that from happening, make sure you have a good firewall on your computer. A firewall is able to close down any of the ports you don't need.

There's one more! Web sites are able to determine which Web browser and what version of Windows you're using. That information helps Web site owners update and improve their pages, but on the other hand, malicious sites can use that same information to attack you. To avoid any problems like that, make sure your computer is always up to date and be sure to run your antivirus, spyware, etc. scans regularly.

Now, I know this information probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but once you know what's going on each time you visit a Web site, you can help keep yourself safe. I'm definitely not telling you to stop surfing the Web. It's too much fun to do that! I'm telling you all of this so that you can work to keep yourself and your computer as safe as possible. Yes, the Internet can be a dangerous place, but if you do the right things to combat all the problems, you'll be good to go!

Tired of the way your program (MS Excel, Word or PowerPoint) keeps changing all of your Web or e-mail addresses into hyperlinks automatically?

Looking for a way to get those programs to stop that kind of behavior?

If you've been answering yes to all of my questions, I've got just the thing for you!

What's natural viagra happening is the AutoCorrect feature in the program is taking over each time it detects an e-mail or Web address. It's then trying to save you time by automatically creating hyperlinks for the addresses, instead of you manually setting each one yourself.

It sounds like a good idea unless you're creating a printed document, presentation or a file where you want the addresses to look just like all the other text and not a hyperlink.

To remove an individual hyperlink immediately after it's created, simply hit the undo button (Ctrl + Z). That will undo the last action when the AutoCorrect feature switched your text to a hyperlink.

Should you decide to remove an individual hyperlink later, just right click on it and choose Remove Hyperlink from the menu.

• First, you need to navigate to the AutoCorrect Options window.

  • In Word 2007, you need to go to the Office Button, Word Options button. Once you're there, you need the Proofing section. Then click on the AutoCorrect Options button at the top.

    

  • In other versions, you need to go to the Tools menu to find the AutoCorrect Options choice.

• Now, go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.

  

• In the Replace As You Type section, uncheck the "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks" checkbox.

• Click OK.

Date: April 2nd, 2008

Author: Greg Shultz

When you double-click the My Computer icon in Windows XP, you see a list of all the drives on your hard disk. However, when you launch Windows Explorer, it displays the contents of My Documents in the right panel. If you like the way that the My Computer view displays all the disk drives when you first launch it, but prefer the Windows Explorer view, here’s how you can get the best of both views.

Using the /Select switch with C:\ as the object causes Windows Explorer open a My Computer view of your system. Now, when you select your new shortcut, your window will look more like the My Computer view.