Snow Leopard Fails to Dampen Interest in Windows 7

As the day towards Snow Leopard’s release draws near, many are wondering if Apple could really steal the limelight away from Microsoft in this year’s OS parade. Mac users are optimistic that the OS X upgrade would put a dent on Windows 7’s growing reputation as the operating system to beat. However, the fact that the Snow Leopard is not intended as a full and total replacement of the current OS X may have already grounded Apple’s rocket.

Despite the media hype that accompanied every news and tidbit regarding Snow Leopard, Apple was still cautious in billing it as something that’s revolutionary for the obvious reason that it’s not an entirely new product. While the new OS promises to improve system performance, its maker downplayed expectations as to the introduction of new features.

No Contest

While the Vista tragedy may have triggered an exodus to the Mac a few years ago, many are jumping back again to the other side of the river due to compatibility problems. The Mac’s limited demographic have made it hard for its new members to adjust. Apple could have solved this problem by opening up Snow Leopard. However, it might have ended up aggravated it by limiting its new program’s operability to Macs that are Intel-based only.

Apple’s restrictive approach would definitely slow down its campaign to wrest control of the market from Windows. Take note that Windows 7 is not demanding much in terms of system specs. Microsoft assures users that its new OS would run smoothly even on old machines as long as it has at least 1GB of RAM and a GHz of power from the CPU.

Ignoring the Trend

Further aggravating Apple’s expansion plans (if they really do have one) is the proliferation of netbooks. Apple has yet to announce its intention to dip its finger in this segment of the industry. The financial crisis continuous to drive many users to buy cheap netbooks instead of expensive laptops. And since money is hard to come by these days, Mac Books are starting to accumulate dust in shelves and warehouses since they carry a hefty price tag.

$29 Come-On

The only thing going for Snow Leopard right now is its $29 tag price. Many are expected to buy the update without giving it much thought, so it might sell like burgers. But then again, you don’t see many people using Intel-based Macs. Unless Apple does something extraordinary, it won’t see many Windows turncoats this year. In fact, defections might come to a halt altogether as many are already eager to try the leaner and meaner Microsoft OS that’s slated to come out in October.

Windows 7 May Still Run Smoothly on Older PCs

Before the release of its latest operating system’s beta version, Microsoft has been going around the globe to stir up interest in Windows 7. Many were reluctant to lend a kind and open ear on the subject. The unenthusiastic attitude of the people towards the new OS is not surprising. PC users gamely took Redmond’s sales talk on Vista a few years ago and they ended up buying a product that made them feel that they’ve been ripped off.

Bill Gates may have probably learned a lot from his mistakes on Vista. Windows’ developers now know that a lollipop approach on the upgrade of an OS will not fool people into believing that it’s a better product than its predecessor. As we all know, Vista was heavily embellished. Microsoft thought that an OS that doubles as a multimedia show would do the trick in making people believe that it’s a hundred times better than Windows XP. They were wrong.

More Practical

Heaving learned from their eye-opening experience with their last OS, Microsoft is taking on a different approach in promoting Windows 7. Instead of harking that their new operating system has better graphics and design than Vista and OS X, Gates’ wards are now telling everybody that their new product is lighter and easier to operate than its predecessors.

Microsoft’s claim that Windows 7’s vital statistics rivals that of XP’s is indeed surprising. We all know that Windows gets hungrier and greedier as it evolves. Not surprisingly, many thought that they have to overhaul their existing computers in order to accommodate Windows 7. But Microsoft’s assurance that its new product could even run on netbooks had people thinking that Gates may have probably got it right this time.

Just think. If an OS could run on a netbook, then it could definitely run on a low-end Celeron or even on a Pentium III. Instead of interring old machines, Windows 7 could probably resurrect PCs that have long been decommissioned for having failed to meet up Vista’s specs demand. This prospect would definitely attract millions of users who would want to paint a new picture on their old and slow machines that can’t run on an OS higher than XP.

Upgrade a Few Components

Many of those who have tried the release candidate version were pleased with Microsoft’s latest creation. Users themselves have claimed that their PCs did not suffer cardiac arrest even though it’s being ran by a processor that antedates dual or multi-core chips. Some even say that it seems to be lighter and performs better than the much loved Windows XP.

Windows 7 may probably be Microsoft’s redeemer. Many are already eager to try it on their old computers. However, before you try to give your old PC a workout, make sure that it’s really up to the task. A little hardware upgrade wouldn’t hurt. A RAM boost is definitely a must. You might also want to install a new video card in order to fully enjoy the multimedia features of the new OS.

How to Backup Your Windows Vista Registry

The registry is a vital component of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. If this important area is cluttered with useless data, such as invalid, corrupt or malicious keys, your computer can become damaged and eventually inoperable. A good way to avoid these problems is to regularly perform registry backups so that you may restore it to a point when everything was working fine. Unfortunately, there is no standard tool built into the Windows Vista system that allows you to perform automatic backups. For this reason, you must rely on other methods to save copies of your registry data.

The System Restore Utility

The System Restore utility is a very useful tool that can be used to rollback your Windows Vista computer to a previous working condition. It works by capturing a snapshot of your system files, configuration data and even the registry. When choosing to restore your system with this utility, all system settings and the Windows registry will be returned to the state when the snapshot was taken. What you should know is that System Restore is more like a full registry backup because you do not have the option to save portions of the registry. Therefore, when reverting back to a previous state, all minor or major changes made since the snapshot was taken will be lost. While System Restore is a great tool, it can’t always be relied on for performing a registry backup.

Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore

The Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore utility is a feature found in Business, Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista. This tool is quite useful for helping you recover your system in various situations. Utilizing this feature can help you perform a complete backup of the Vista environment, including operating system, software applications, user preferences and data files. It can also be used to automatically perform a registry backup. However, similar to the System Restore feature, Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore only allows you to create a full backup of the Windows registry.

Manual Registry Backup

The most effective and flexible method is to manually backup your registry data is via the Registry Editor tool built into Windows Vista. To perform these actions, following the steps below:

- Click on the “Start” menu and select “Run.”

- Next, type “regedit” into the command field and click “Enter”

- Enter the name of the backup file in the “File” name field.

- In the “Export” range section, select “All.” If you only want to backup a portion of the registry, select “Selected Branch” and enter the name of the branch you want to save in the text field.

- Lastly, choose “Save” to create the backup file.

Conclusion

Now you understand the importance of backing up your registry and how it can be done. Armed with this knowledge, you should make it a priority to backup this critical area on a regular basis. Instead of just backing up the data on your local hard drive, keep a few copies on removable media such as an external hard drive, USB drive or CD/DVD media. This way, you can recover your Windows registry if the hard disk fails or is compromised in any other way.

How to Secure a Brand New Computer

Don’t you just love the look and the smell of a brand new PC? My eyes and my heart always jump whenever I bring home a box that has an Acer, Lenovo, HP, or Asus mark on it.

The first thing that I usually do after pulling a brand new PC out of its cardboard shell is to run a diagnostic program to check if the specs indicated in the manual are true. Most computers are already pre-loaded with the basic stuff, the first and foremost of which is the operating system. If your unit’s hard drive is completely bare, then you have to install a fresh copy of your preferred OS first before you could run a diagnostic software.

Check Hardware Components

Many do not verify the accuracy of their units’ specs as claimed by the dealer, though, either because they treat the information indicated in the box as already gospel truths, or because they don’t have the necessary tools or software to do so. While it rarely happens that a unit which bears an “Intel Inside” logo to actually have an AMD chip for a brain, it’s still important to check if everything is as they should be.

Verification is all the more important when you buy a clone or ask the seller to modify some of the peripherals originally included in the package. It’s not unusual for buyers to ask the seller to make some changes in the package as they may not like the bundled peripherals or software in the unit. Components sometimes get mixed up during the assembly or modification phase. It’s imperative, then, that you ascertain if they threw in everything that you bought or ordered.

Verify Software

Hardware shouldn’t only be your concern when it comes to ascertaining if the specifications are indeed correct. As I’ve already intimated above, computers are usually bundled with software already. You should therefore check if all the promised programs are indeed installed. If the programs didn’t come for free and you paid for them, then it’s all the more reason for you to ascertain if they’ve indeed been installed and if they’re really the programs that you bought. Check the version and the license number and see if they match the ones indicated in the box or installation disk.

Download Updates

After you’ve already verified that every promised or indicated component and program is included in the unit, the next thing that you should do is to update them. Components need to be updated through their drivers. Months may have already passed since your PC came out from the assembly line. It’s possible, then, that the drivers that came with it are already outdated.

Programs need to be updated, too, especially operating systems. Microsoft issues updates or patches frequently, so it’s highly probable that the OS installed in your PC needs some patching up. Your PC may run without the needed hardware and software updates, but they’re vulnerable to crashes and attacks. You should therefore make sure that every component and program is updated before you start performing tasks.