No Bullshit Reviews » PDA /Computers

Is 8GB Worth the Upgrade for Win7?

info — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:33:17 +0000

In the computing world, more is generally better. More processing cores. More hard disk space. More memory. Intuitively, one would assume that upping the ante for such components bring linearly higher yields. I tested this yesterday on the RAM arena.

Intuition fell flat.

You see, myAcer Windows 7 notebook comes standard with 4GB of RAM. It’s a 64Bit system, so all memory is used. Prices for RAM keep falling these days, so I got an extra stick for $80. It was cheap. I spend more on starbucks for a week. I plugged in the memory and expected a few things:

-Faster boot

-Quicker load times

-Rapid shutdowns.

Guess what? None of that happened. The PC took longer to boot, to load software and to shut down. That was puzzling. The only thing that improved was reloading apps or multitasking amongst myriad windows.

My first guess was that the ram was bad, but that theory went out the window after thorough testing. Hmmm… what do you think could account for this? IS more memory actually detrimental?

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Bill Really Wants You on Windows 7

info — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:45:04 +0000

Windows 7 Public Release Candidate goes kaput in few days and it’s time for users to upgrade to Windows 7 RTM or go back to their old Windows OS. Is that a bad thing? If you are still chugging Windows XP or Vista and missed the opportunity to try and test Windows 7 Public RC, don’t sweat. Bill really wants you on Win7, so you have one more chance to test Windows 7 Professional online for free without need of actually installing. Isn’t that cool? It’s like having an OS without the bloat!

Windows 7 Professional Test Drive website provides a simple way to try and test Windows 7 Professional. You just need to have Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8 with JavaScript and ActiveX enabled. Once you engage the site, it’s like you have Win7 installed. Bottomline, Windows 7 Test Drive website lets you to enjoy Desktop Aero interface, Taskbar and various other features like Windows XP Mode, Remote Desktop, Location aware Printing etc.

It’s a great service by Microsoft… sort of like Win7 in pseudo shareware mode. http://win7pro.vlabcenter.com/

As for me, all my PCs are already on win7. Even the netbooks!

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AVG Internet Security 9 Review

info — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:46:45 +0000

AVG is a strong name in the antivirus industry, and just like the most important security solution developers on the market, also released an Internet Security suite. The latest version of the suite brings a total of 13 different components, all working for the safety of your computer and your personal data implicitly.

Unleashing the 110MB installer takes no hitches, with minimal user input required to complete the process. The package offers everything including the AVG Security Toolbar (useful for tracking down dangerous websites), as well as firewalls and the usual antivirus and antispyware complements.

I installed the whole package and must admit that the system didn’t slow down. Even when running process intensive programs like Photoshop CS4 or Bioshock, the system remained stable.

What I didn’t like though, is that several spyware did bypass the package as well as two bits of malware. I have a portable disc filled with about 20,000+ strains of malware and that horde really gave the suite a run for the money.

Oh well. Looks like I’m still sticking with Eset. Eset provided me with far stronger antivirus and antimalware protection.

AVG Internet Security [DISCOUNT] 9.0 Build 730a1834

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Google Docs Now taking 250MB Storage

info — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:21:14 +0000

Think you need to spend $300 for MS Office? Think again. Google Docs, one of the world’s first online Office Suites now lets you more than merely edit snazzy documents- you can store oodles of them on the web. Kiss those thumbdrives goodbye. Now everyone can collaborate on your latest poetry online.

From what G spokemen say, Google Docs will allow users to upload any type of file – music, photos, graphics, zip files, and more – into their accounts. The file size tops at 250 MB and there’s a bare minimum 1 GB of storage space coming with the account.

The luxury of storing files online has been here since Yahoomail. Remember back in 1999 when we e-mailed important documents to ourselves? Google Docs expands on that. The service goes beyond mere attachment file storage. It’s now a fullblown collaboration tool. Through Google Docs, others that you allow access to the file can go in and make changes without anyone having to worry about which version is the most recent.

Way to go google. Every idea you have is gold.

Except perhaps for that pagerank thingy.

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How To Create ISO Files- Free!

info — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:42:33 +0000

ISO files are those standard formats popular among those who want to transport huge amounts of data. It’s easy to create one. Simply purchase one of those ISO creators which cost $29 onwards. But now you don’t have to. Today, there is software that Opens & Converts UIF to ISO as well as forges ISO files from scratch.

Should you desire for the way to instantly create ISO files then ISO Creator is the right tool for you. IsoCreator is a straightforward, simplistic C#.NET 2.0 application created to empower users to create ISO 9660 Joliet CD images from a given folder or volume.

The application also allows you to create ISO with virtual files, given a tree representing a directory structure. I’ve personally tried it and it took less than a quarter of a brain to manipulate. In fact, it is so easy to use, my comatose granny actually got it to burn a few porn CDs for her favorite nephew (me.)

Okay okay, maybe that last bit was an exaggeration, but I kid you not when I say it’s really easy to master!

You know you want it:

Download: ISO Creator

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Chinese Programmers Create Ubuntu that Looks Like XP

info — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:20:13 +0000

It used be that Chinese Pirates merely bootlegged popular OSes like Windows XP, Vista and even Longhorn. Now they’re moving on. I read some reliable info on Download Squad that the pirates have now created a flavor of Ubuntu that looks and feels just like Windows XP!. Called Ylmf, this operating system deploys XP’s icons and even taskbar. What’s more, the Wine integration allows for Windows based programs to run. Then to attract those into bling, Ylmf supports Compiz effects and comes with a lot of pre-loaded freeware such as Firefox and OpenOffice.org. This Chinese group may not be doing Microsoft a favor, but they surely are doing a great service for end users like you and I. Packages like may tilt the balance in favor of open source software because ease of use is finally made available from the once arcane Linux/Unix based system.

Be aware, however, that under the hood, Ylmf OS is still Linux and will not run Windows based applications natively. The Wine fix won’t work for all software- just a few. If you want to know more, check out their website.

Some people muse at this point whether Microsoft will flex legal muscle over the alleged tresspass. I doubt it. If someone mimicked the look and feel of Windows 3.1, would they? XP is almost like Win 3.1 now. Support is being phased out, with a lot of marketing being diverted to Windows 7. And besides, there are next to no copyright laws in China!

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Windows 7 Piledrived By 1TB Sata Disks

info — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:02:51 +0000

Windows7 is amazing- but one major flaw just surfaced: it fails under the installation of 1TB SATA discs. For some reason, the OS cannot handle that much information- and leads to critical errors. In such a case, end users might come across one of the Stop error message from the following: STOP 0×0000007A, STOP 0×00000077 or STOP 0×000000F4. Microsoft has identified the source of the problems and specifies a fix. The hotfix available for download through Microsoft Support is however, intended to resolve only the specific issue described above. Users not affected by this issue should not implement the hotfix, and wait for the first update from Microsoft that will contain it, most probably Service Pack 1 (SP1).

It’s quite odd that what doesn’t stop Vista or XP users, staggers Windows 7 users. Shouldn’t this have been addressed intrinsically during product development? After all, the era of Gigabyte sized applications and games is nearly at an end.

What do you think of this Windows faux pas?

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Great Bargains at GovernmentAuctions.org

info — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:49:33 +0000

Let’s face it. The economy sucks. The US dollar doesn’t command what it used to. Decades ago, the dollar could buy asuper burger meal with all the garnishings. Today? You’d be lucky if it can get half a burger at all! The smart thing to do, therefore, is to grab things sold at auctions- particularly those by the government. When you purchase at government auctions, you do three great things:

1) You get foreclosed items at nearly 90% off

2) Your channel vital funding for the government

3) You have enough spending cash left over for other things

The problem is… where do you find these government auctions?

Don’t sweat it. A government topdog decided to make it easy for you. Using the power of the web, US officials consolidated up to date listing of all government auctions near you. You can search for specific items or by location to find what you need and want. Personally, I think this service is a boon!

Want to start saving? Look into GovernmentAuctions. You’ll save a mint and get your government humming again.

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Eset Smartsecurity 4

info — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:23:58 +0000

I’ve been a loyalist of Eset’s Antivirus Protection for years. Not a single machine with Eset ever got infected. On the other hand, laptops that had AVG or Norton often ended up with a few infections. Now, my fave antivirus got better, with the introduction of Eset Smart Security 4!

In sum, ESET Smart Security 4 is an complete security suite that offers protection against viruses, Trojan, malware, spyware and online threats. With it, you need no other add ons. Ever.

The new ESET Smart Security 4 comes with personal firewall with port stealthing and advanced filtering feature, ThreatSense technology combines multiple layers of detection protecting from Internet threats, and lightweight design. In addition, it has added tons of features such Self-Defense, Encrypted communication, Smart Optimalization, ESET SysInspector, Anti-Stealth, and SysRescue that allows user to create computer recovery medium on a CD and USB key for system boot-up.

On their website, you’ll find Features of ESET Smart Security 4:

* Integrated antispam and personal firewall keeps online safe
* Scans and cleans internet traffic and email, even when it’s SSL-encrypted
* Stops threats from entering through removable devices
* Computer scan can be run in background in order to use only a part of system resources
* Email protection for users of Outlook Express
* Support of More E-mail clients including Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird
* Checking low-level network communication which helps to avoid many of various remote attacks
* Integrated SysInspector and SysRescue simplify system diagnosis and recovery
* Fast Scanning Speeds
* Improved system of cleaning and deleting infiltrations
* Free technical support via the web, email or phone

To grab a copy of ESET Smart Security 4 with 3 months free license and subscription validity, just go to the following URL:

http://rejestracja.eset.pl/register2/promopcw2.php

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Convert Your XP into a Mac

info — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:42:02 +0000

Seems everyone wants to look like a Mac- especially if the user is still on XP. If you still haven’t gotten on the Windows 7 bandwagon, and feel shamefully cheap on that XP machine (notwithstanding blazing fast specs), here’s your saving grace. A Leopart-X Theme for Windows XP which lets you to transform Windows XP in to Mac OS X!

Leopard-X will offer you the possibility to customize the appearance of your XP computer and apply it a Mac style. Leopard-X includes Leopard-X visual style (4 variations), Leopard-X styler, Leopard-X Mac search skin, Leopard-X Dock skin & Wallpapers.

Download:

XP into Mac

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