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Windows Vista has made it finally into the market. Still many people are hesitating to upgrade to the new operating system. They like the existing one. There is certainly new bugs and incompatibility issues with the new Windows, as was the case always. While still having doubts about moving to Vista, Microsoft have announced their new OS called Windows 7, due in 2010! as per the expected development time-frame. Isn’t that insane? We are still using XP, having problems with Vista, and we have to prepare for a new OS?

I was shocked to see it being announced that soon. I know they have to start working, but don’t promise a deadline so close when we are still digesting your new OS. Many people, including me, are refusing to shift to Vista as they are happy with what they have. Problem is, some Vista users are so happy with the new Windows flips, 3D effects, transparency at all. Same features are also in Ubuntu and Mac now it’s becoming something trivial. Well, this post I came across gives tips and hints to people who want to keep using Windows XP for the next seven years. It lists down some cool tools that will aid the visual effects of current Windows XP. Hope you find it useful. I personally liked the Alt-Tab Replacement Tool. Gives thumbnail of application you are switching to. There is also another simple yet useful tool this article doesn’t target which is Taskbar Shuffle. Let’s you shuffle and arrange the stuff on your Windows Taskbar. Such simple feature I say should come by default.

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History seems to be repeating it’s self with a new release of Microsoft operating system. When Microsoft was working back then on DOS 2 OS, an unofficial quote was reported off the record that “DOS is not done until Lotus won’t run”. Lotus was the best spreadsheet program back then and have killed the Microsoft attempt to enter the competition. Having control of the underlying ground (DOS) gives Microsoft the upper hand in this however, so their were rumors that they made some hidden bugs that would stop Lotus from running. After the release, Lotus really didn’t run and they were in so bad shape Microsoft finally took on the lead.

Well you don’t get away with it everytime.  People are aware now and won’t let it go so easy. Microsoft have bowed to the Department of Justice following a complaint by Google that Windows Vista makes it difficult for end users to utilize non-Microsoft desktop search-software.  Despite it’s denial in the initial stage, Microsoft have promised now to make it easier for end users to use non-windows desktop search-softwares, and to provide documentation and more information for developers on how to make smoothly running search programs.

The changes are due with Service Pack (A.K.A Disaster Pack) 1. Question remains whether Microsoft would be doing what they are supposed to be doing really this time, or are they having other tricks still up their sleeves?

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I’m glad they still have this feature.

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This is although late, but still might be useful to many. Windows XP from A-Z is a nice site that lists small short hints on various Windows XP options, categorized from A-Z as the name says. While Vista is already out, I’m sure there are many people who still want to keep using XP than those who want to upgrade to Vista, temporarily at least until most of the hidden holes in Vista are exposed and fixed. Hope you find the link useful.

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The so-called most secured operating system ever, Windows Vista is seeing increased amount of attacks one day after Microsoft disclosed the security hole withing the the mouse cursor. The newly discovered vulnerability is in the .ani files that change the cursor into animation while loading programs. The hole allows malicious websites to use those files to install their code into visitor’s computer. Worth noting that Windows 2000 SP4, Win XP SP2 and some versions of Windows 2003 Server are also infected with the same flaw. This all comes soon after Microsoft started claiming credits for the world’s most secured system, which they say may not need Anti Virus! Wonder if we can sue them for it. More on the news here.

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Isn’t it funny? Since Microsoft started their monthly security update back in 2003, only few of the known as Patch Tuesdays did not have Microsoft patches coming. Otherwise, it is scheduled that every second Tuesday of the month there is a security update coming from Microsoft. Last time Microsoft did not have Patch Tuesday was in September 2005 imagine! But does that mean things have been going smooth for the past month? Absolutely not. Microsoft are working on security patches for known vulnerabilities in IE7, Office 2007, Publisher 2007, ohh yeah and Windows Vista OS ofcourse. Lucky me I am not using any of those. The patches are not ready yet for release, so hackers will get more time of joy before they have to find new holes in the next patch. Lucky me I am not using any of those. More from PC WORLD.

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Last week was the first gathering for the Open Source community in Kuwait. I was kind of hesitating to go, as usual, but being an open source believer I gave it a shot. Two things really caught my eyes. The guy from KuwaitNet talked about the company experience, and how they completely have taken Windows out of the picture. Even the secretaries use Linux, I’d love to see that. Firefox and Thunderbird for browsing and email client. OpenOffice for office applications, though I wasn’t very impressed with it when I tried it. By doing this however, the guy demonstrated how the managed to cut down costs by thousands of dollars. Something really worth looking into isn’t it?

But isn’t Linux that old scary black screen with small text, and can only understand command lines from users. You need to do mounting for everything you attach, and complex procedure just to plug a USB device? Well this was the second BIG surprise. Ubuntu is the release of Linux that will change your whole idea about it. It has features that I don’t even recall from Mac nor Vista. Maybe they exist, I am not sure. But to see it in Linux is a big jump. I found this video link while browsing some blogs today. Watch it on YouTube and tell me what you think. Now ofcourse this is not everything. One has to consider stability and availability of softwares on it. I should give it a shot and see. Maybe it can run my PC better than Windows, who knows.

UPDATE: Just as I posted this article, I came across this site. The site is an Open Source contest, hosted by Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Sabah. The content is about creating the best project using OpenOffice, and Open Source tools. It’s a nice step to encourage and educate the public about the open options they have. Registration is open for all, no location or nationality restriction. Registration is open until 15th May this year.

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