By Tony Bradley
February 5, 2010

Microsoft is investigating reported issues with Windows 7 and notebook battery life. The issue seems sporadic, but fairly widespread. It is unclear whether affected systems are simply misreporting the battery life, or if the battery capacity is actually being permanently affected.

Long before Windows 7 was released for general availability in October of 2009, users were reporting suspicious behavior with battery life, or at least reported battery life, when running the Windows 7 RC (release candidate) version. The Microsoft TechNet Forums thread on the matter dates back to June of 2009.

While some issues seem to be a simple matter of Windows 7 not reporting the remaining battery life correctly, or prematurely warning that the battery is nearly dead, there are users who have reported switching operating systems back to Windows Vista, or even a non-Windows operating system, and still experiencing drastically reduced battery life.

Brian Ehlert, a Microsoft MVP, reported in November of 2009:
“Now, Win7 does include the ability to use Vista drivers - that is built on purpose so hardware manufacturers would not have to turn around and immediately write new drivers.

I am using all stock Win7 drivers. So that tells me that it is a core deficiency / bug - not a driver specific bug. Rather a software interacting with hardware bug.

My battery life went from 8 hours to 15 minutes, with only an fdisk, format, and install in between. Yes, totally unacceptable.”

I have been using Windows 7 since before it was available for public beta testing and I have never experienced any battery issues. Granted, my notebook is plugged in at my desk 90 percent of the time. However, I occasionally do roam about and have taken it on road trips and I have been impressed with the power management features of Windows 7, and more than satisfied with the battery life on my Dell XPS notebook.

I asked my colleague, veteran Microsoft guru Mark Minasi, about his experience. Minasi replied “I’ve been running Windows 7 on my Lenovo since May and haven’t noticed any difference in battery consumption.”

Microsoft released an official statement on the matter, saying “We are investigating this issue in conjunction with our hardware partners. The warning received in Windows 7 uses firmware information to determine if battery replacement is needed. We are working with our partners to determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available.”
The implication is that the issue is related to an error between Windows 7 and certain hardware firmware versions. That theory may or may not support the fact that some users claim the battery itself is being permanently affected.

Do business users need to be concerned? The jury is still out. It all depends on what the actual root cause of the issue is, and whether it is simply a miscommunication between the firmware and Windows 7 resulting in misreporting the remaining battery life, or if there is something more insidious going on that actually causing the battery capacity to dwindle permanently.

Obviously, if notebook battery life is being permanently impacted so that it lasts a meager 15 or 30 minutes rather than the six to eight hours you might expect, there is reason to be concerned. Once the dust settles on Microsoft’s investigation into the issue, business users may need to look to Microsoft or notebook vendors to replace batteries if it is determined that the issue is more than simple mis-reporting.

By Tony Bradley
January 6, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - In the most recent Web browser market share statistics from Net Applications, Google’s Chrome Web browser sneaked past Apple’s Safari to claim third place. The ascent up the market share ladder is more impressive when you consider that Chrome has only been around a little over a year.

Chrome’s 0.7 percent jump from November to December can probably be attributed to the beta versions of the Chrome Web browser for Mac OS X and Linux finally being released. Google also gave Windows users more reason to switch to Chrome with the release of expanded features and functionality for the Windows version of Chrome.

Chrome was marching pretty steadily up the chart even before the recent releases, though. Since January of 2009, Internet Explorer’s share of the pie has dropped just over seven percent. That seven percent has been snapped up primarily by Firefox and Chrome, with Chrome making the biggest jump of them all. Chrome has increased over three percent since January, more than tripling its share of the Web browser market in under a year.

Google is virtually synonymous with Web surfing, so it stands to reason that Google should know a thing or two about how to optimize the Web surfing experience. The Chrome Web browser is not a revolutionary shift from other browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox, but the incremental improvements are enough to make it worth taking a look at.

The one thing Chrome offers that all users want is speed. Time after time since its release Chrome has come out on top in tests that compare the speed at which the different Web browsers are able to load pages. The difference in time may be mere milliseconds, but for hardcore Web surfers those milliseconds add up, and faster page loading equates to less frustration and stress.

As with all statistics, these can be taken with a grain of salt. Finnish tech site Afterdawn.com claims that recent statistics for users that visit its sites put Firefox on top with just over 42 percent, Internet Explorer in second place just under 40 percent, and Chrome strongly in third with almost nine percent. That is a more tech-oriented site with a much smaller sampling, though, than the statistics compiled by Net Applications.

What does all of this mean to you? Well, nothing really. At nearly 63 percent of the browser market, Internet Explorer still holds a dominant position even though it has lost a significant chunk in 2009. The real battle is still between Internet Explorer and Firefox–a distant second with less than half of Internet Explorer’s stake…at least for now.

The success of Windows 7, which comes with Internet Explorer 8 pre-installed as the default browser (except within the European Union where Microsoft is providing users with a choice of browsers as part of a settlement to avoid antitrust litigation) may help curb Microsoft’s eroding share of the browser market.

As I mentioned above, though, Chrome is a rapidly rising competitor. Google’s reputation and presence on the Web will contribute to the continued growth of the Chrome Web browser, as will Google’s various endeavors, including the Chrome operating system expected to be released before the 2010 holiday shopping season.

Firefox has been climbing as well, and has five times the share of the Chrome Web browser, but Firefox has also been around for more than five years. Odds are fair that Chrome will pass Firefox and steal second place long before either of them threaten to pass Internet Explorer.

By Tony Bradley
December 3, 2009

It doesn’t take much to ignite FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) against Microsoft– especially with news of a critical flaw affecting Windows 7. News that a Microsoft update is causing “millions” of PC’s to experience a “black screen of death” is both exaggerated and wrong. Apparently, its much ado about nothing.

Originally reported by security firm Prevx, the black screen of death issue was believed to have been caused by updates issued by Microsoft on the November Patch Tuesday. The combination of a headline like “Black Screen woes could affect millions on Windows 7, Vista and XP” and the fact that Prevx didn’t bother to contact Microsoft about the issue suggest that Prevx was primarily interested in sensational publicity for itself.

Microsoft investigated the issue and determined that its patches are not to blame. Prevx followed up with a post apologizing to Microsoft for the inconvenience, and admitting that the root cause that triggers the black screen of death is, in fact, not related to Microsoft’s patches. The prevailing theory now is that it is related to a malware infection, most likely something from the Daonol family of Trojans.

All FUD aside, there does seem to be an actual black screen of death issue, it just isn’t impacting “millions” of Windows 7, Vista, and XP systems. More like thousands. Maybe hundreds. Here are three tips to help ensure your Windows PC doesn’t become one of the afflicted:

1.Keep It Updated. I have a secret for you–most malware exploits known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist. Sure, there are zero-day vulnerabilities as well, but one of the best defenses against malware of all kinds is to simply ensure that your operating system and the applications you use have all of the latest patches applied.

2.Protect Against Malware. If its true that the black screen of death is caused by some variant of the Daonol family of Trojans, then it makes sense that anti-malware software could protect your PC from it.

There is a vast array of security products for Windows PC’s–both free and commercial. Microsoft offers its anti-malware security software, Microsoft Security Essentials, for free.

3.Run the Fix. While Prevx was mistaken about the Microsoft updates being guilty for causing the black screen of death, it still has a pretty solid reputation as a security vendor and its research into the root cause that triggers the issue seems to be accurate.

Prevx has stated that its fix does not work in all cases, but running the fix has a fair chance of fixing the issues within Windows that have been determined to trigger the black screen of death. Download the Prevx fix and give it a shot.

If you are one of the “millions” already struck down by the black screen of death, downloading and running the Prevx fix can be problematic. Prevx has already thought of that and has provided step-by-step instructions for how to download and run the fix from an affected system.

By Lincoln Spector
December 1, 2009

By Rick Broida
November 25, 2009

Now that I’ve finally finished migrating to Windows 7, I’m enjoying it. This week I’ll talk about three new features that I find really useful: Aero Snap, Sticky Notes, and thumbnail previews–and I’ll tell you how to get the most from them.

Use Aero Snap to Simplify File Management
In my early computing days (I’m talking Commodore Amiga here), I grew accustomed to file managers that used a side-by-side approach: Your complete file system was represented in two adjoining windows. That made it very easy to move or copy files and folders.

Consequently, I’ve never liked Windows Explorer, which uses a single file-tree structure. To me that complicates something as simple as moving a file from one folder to another. It’s not intuitive.

If you’re a Windows 7 user, you can take advantage of two new additions to make file management much easier: addition #1: Windows Explorer’s new home on the taskbar; addition #2: Aero Snap.

See where I’m going with this? All you have to do is open two instances of Explorer, then drag one to the left edge of the screen and the other to the right. Aero Snap will “dock” them on the left and right halves of the screen, respectively.

Now you’ve got a side-by-side file manager! By the way, if you’re not sure how to open that second instance of Explorer, right-click its icon in the taskbar, then click Windows Explorer.

Create Sticky Notes in Windows 7
Forget pasting paper sticky notes to the sides of your monitor. They look terrible there, and they always fall off anyway. Instead, paste digital stickies to your Windows desktop. If you’re a Windows 7 user, it’s a snap: Just run the new Sticky Notes app.

You might recognize it from the ol’ Vista Sidebar. In Windows 7, Microsoft ditched the Sidebar but kept the gadgets, allowing the latter to reside anywhere on your desktop.

To run the app, just click Start, type sticky, and press Enter. You’ll immediately see a new note; just start typing whatever it is you need to remember.

Need another note? Click the plus sign on the first one. Want to delete it? Click the x in the opposite corner. Prefer a different color. Right-click in the body of the note and choose from six options.

Remember that Sticky Notes is an app, so your notes will stay on your desktop only as long as the app is running. If you close it (by right-clicking the taskbar icon and choosing Close window), Sticky Notes will restore your notes the next time you run it.

This is a decidedly barebones program. You can’t change the font size, adjust transparency, or force notes to stay on top of other programs. If you want that kind of functionality, try Stickies for Windows.

Still, Sticky Notes can really come in handy when you need, well, a note that sticks to your desktop.

Control iTunes from the Windows 7 Taskbar
One of my favorite Windows 7 amenities is thumbnail previews, which appear when you mouse over any running program in the taskbar.

In fact, each thumbnail has a little red x in the upper-right corner, meaning you can close that program without first having to maximize it.

Apple’s iTunes takes this a step further by adding player controls. The thumbnail sports three little icons: Previous Track, Play/Pause, and Next Track.

These buttons work just like the controls in iTunes proper, but they save you from having to actually switch to the program whenever you want to, say, skip to the next song or temporarily pause playback.

Of course, savvy users know that you can add an entire iTunes toolbar to the taskbar in both Windows 7 and Vista, but that just adds clutter. Here you get basic playback controls without consuming extra space. Nice!

By Ian Paul
November 19, 2009

Google will finally take the wrapper off its highly-anticipated Chrome operating system during a presentation at Google HQ on Thursday. The event will include a complete overview of the product featuring a Chrome OS demonstration and Q&A session. Sundar Pichai, Google’s vice president of product management and Matthew Papakipos, Google engineering director for Google Chrome OS, will speak at the event, according to TechCrunch.

Thursday’s presentation will provide at least some answers to the many questions gone unanswered since Google announced the project in July. I have no doubt Google’s event will inspire more questions than it answers, but at least it’s a start. Here’s what we’re likely to find out:

How Long Until Liftoff?
Part of Google’s presentation on Thursday should include more information about when the OS will be available to consumers. It’s possible Google will remain silent, and stick to its “second half of 2010″ statement that we got earlier this year. But I’m hoping the company will be able to narrow it down to a particular month or at least a season.

What the Heck is Google Chrome OS?
Despite hyperbolic statements that Google dropped a nuclear bomb on Microsoft with its Chrome OS announcement, the fact is no one really knows what this system can do. Questions about Google Chrome OS’s capabilities should disappear on Thursday. We should also find out whether Chrome OS is just another Linux distribution or something entirely new.

Where Do Developers Fit in?
Part of Google’s promise when it announced Chrome OS is that it would make the operating system’s code open source by the end of the year. If Google makes good on its promise tomorrow, where will developers fit into Google’s ecosystem?

Google is making strides to involve developers in creating Google Chrome extensions and Google Wave applications. But an operating system that will supposedly change everything should present new opportunities for developers. What will those be? Is Google hoping its developer community will simply help the company improve the OS, or does Google have a more interesting plan in the works?

What’s Up With the Hardware?
When Google starts the Chrome OS demo on Thursday, everyone will want to know what kind of computer is running the OS, and when we can expect to see consumer products on store shelves.

We already know that some of Google’s Chrome OS partners include Acer, ASUS, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Toshiba, but when will we see some merchandise and what will it be? Google said Chrome OS will be available on netbooks to start, but what about the specs? For instance, does Google believe a Web-centric netbook should come with a lot of storage space? Does it even need a hard drive? What about RAM or optical disc drives?

Wave and Microsoft
I’m also interested to see if Google highlights Chrome OS’s integration with Google Wave. As anybody who’s on Wave can tell you, Google Wave is the coolest spot on the Web, but there’s not much to do right now. How important is this revamped e-mail project to Google, and how will Chrome OS complement it?

We should also get a sense of how Chrome OS might fare against Windows. Who knows — Microsoft may even issue a statement about it. Let’s be honest; it’s laughable to think the most dominant operating system since the human brain is going to be upended by a fancy Web browser. But hey, you never know.

Chrome OS Doubts
Although a lot of excitement surrounds Chrome OS, I can’t help thinking the importance of this product is already overblown. I mean, if you wanted a lightweight operating system that just gets to the Web faster, why not pick up a copy of Linux, and just run Firefox on it? If you want one-click shortcuts to get to specific Web apps you can use Mozilla’s Prism for that. You’ll also have access to a huge library of Firefox add-ons to enhance your browsing experience.

Will Chrome OS be any different than what I’ve described above? Maybe a little, but I’m not getting my hopes up for Thursday’s announcement. What about you?

By Rick Broida
November 19, 2009

By John Maringmei
November 17, 2009

By Lincoln Spector
November 17, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - Thomas Wensel wants to install Windows 7 while keeping his older version.

This is a great idea if you have enough spare hard drive space. It allows you to move to the new OS without burning your bridges.

And it’s surprisingly easy to do. In fact, the hardest part is shrinking the existing hard drive partition to make room for a new one, and that’s still pretty easy.

Before you begin, make an image backup of your hard drive. This is a must before resizing a partition or upgrading Windows, so it’s a double must if you’re doing both. I recommend the free version of Macrium Reflect for image backup, although other programs will do. You’ll need an external hard drive at least as large as the used space on your drive.
Backed up? Good. Let’s get on to the partitioning.

I’ve yet to find the perfect partitioning program–one that’s easy, reliable, versatile, non-destructive (meaning it can resize a partition without erasing it), and free. So I’m going to recommend three, all non-destructive, and tell you about their shortcomings.

EASEUS Partition Master: This one is extremely easy. You install it, launch it, and see exactly what to do. But the free Home Edition doesn’t support 64-bit versions of Windows. So if you live in the x64 world, you’ll have to shell out $40 (on sale as I write this for $32) for the Professional version or use another program.
Vista ’s Computer Management program: Windows Vista has it’s own tool for resizing partitions. To access it, click Start, right-click Computer, and select Manage. Click Disk Management in the left pane, under Storage. Right-click your C: drive in the resulting map and select Shrink Volume. You can figure out the rest. But this program may not let you shrink the partition as much as you would like–it has some strange ideas about how much space your current partition needs. And it’s not an option if you’re using XP.

GParted Live: You can download this free, open-source Linux program as an .iso file, which you then burn to a CD. (Don’t just copy the file to a disc. If double-clicking the .iso file doesn’t launch a disc-burning program, download and install the free ISO Recorder.) When you boot from that CD, Linux and GParted Live will load, and you’ll be able to resize your partition. But this program isn’t easy. Depending on your video setup, the font may be so small it’s virtually unreadable, and it’s hard to know when it’s done altering your drive.
Whatever program you use, I recommend you shrink your existing XP or Vista partition by at least 40GB. That will leave more than enough room for Windows 7. You don’t need to create a partition–the installation program will do that for you.

When the partitioning is done, boot from the Windows 7 DVD and start the installation process. When it asks what type of installation you want, select Custom (Advanced). When it asks “Where do you want to install Windows?” select the Unallocated Space. See How to Upgrade to Windows 7 for more information.
The install program automatically sets up a dual-boot system. When you boot, it will ask you which version of Windows you want to load. Whichever you pick, the other partition will be visible as another drive, so you’ll be able to access all of your files in both versions of Windows.

By Jeff Bertolucci
November 16, 2009

Microsoft has announced plans to peddle Windows 7 desktop space to advertisers, who’ll create Windows UI themes–customized backgrounds, audio clips, and other elements–that highlight their brand, Computerworld reports. In fact, some advertiser themes are already available in the Windows 7 Personalization Gallery, including desktop pitches for soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Pepsi), autos (Ducati, Ferrari, Infiniti), and big-budget Hollywood blockbusters (Avatar).
Ad-themed desktops are new for Microsoft, which has long allowed PC manufacturers to customize the desktop. Hardware vendors like Acer, Dell, HP, and Sony often muck up the Windows UI with background logos and countless icons for trial apps and other crapware. (Those trial apps provide an additional revenue stream, an ugly necessity in the low-margin world of Windows PCs.) Too often the hardware guys’ appalling makeover turns an aesthetically appealing UI into a tacky swap meet.

The advertiser themes are different, however, in that they won’t be foisted on unsuspecting users. Rather, you’ll have to download and install the ad pitch yourself. As a result, I doubt many Windows 7 users will gripe about ad themes. Hey, if you’re a Preparation H fan, why not devote the desktop to your favorite ointment?

Nevertheless, I think ad themes are a bad idea. They may boost Microsoft’s bottom line a bit, but they run counter to Redmond’s grand scheme of creating an elegant Windows 7 experience.

Microsoft may have refuted the claims of its blabbermouth employee who told a British publication that Windows 7 cribbed its sleek appearance from Mac OS X. (Bad career move there.) But any casual observer can tell that Windows has borrowed more than a few UI concepts from Apple over the years. I don’t see why things would change now.
Redmond’s situation is complex. Unlike Apple, it doesn’t control the entire Windows ecosphere. It makes the software but not the hardware. Consumers typically obtain Windows via a third party–the the PC vendor, which works its toxic voodoo on the desktop. Furthermore, Microsoft and its OEM partners don’t enjoy Apple’s generous profit margins, and therefore must find creative ways to boost revenues.

If Microsoft truly wants a Mac-like experience for Windows 7 users, it should lock down the desktop. Non-commercial themes are OK, but tacky ads, movie promos, and other cheese ball garbage must go.