Death match: Windows Vista versus XP

Death match: Windows Vista versus XP

So there you are, signing the "Save XP" petition, shaking your fist in triumph as you stick it to "the man." It's a liberating feeling. You've found the courage to buck the trend and jump off the Wintel upgrade treadmill. You feel empowered, enlightened. But still, there are these nagging doubts. Can you really skip the Vista upgrade cycle? Will Windows XP still be properly supported by Microsoft and, as a primary development target, by third parties? Is there something we've missed, some hidden gotcha that's going to trip us up 12, 18, or 24 months from now?

Watch all "ten rounds" of the death match at InfoWorld.com.

Using Python to create UNIX command line tools

Using Python to create UNIX command line tools

Can you write a command line tool? Maybe you can, but can you write a really good command line tool? This articles covers making a robust command line tool in Python, complete with built-in help menus, error handling, and option handling. For some strange reason, it is not widely known that the standard library in Python has all of the tools necessary to make incredible powerful *NIX command line tools. Arguably, Python is the best language for making *NIX command line tools, period, due to its batteries-included philosophy, and its emphasis on readable code. Just a warning, though; these are dangerous ideas, when you find out how easy it is to create a command line tool in Python, you might be spoiled for life. To my knowledge, there has never been an article published in this detail on creating command line tools in Python, so I hope you enjoy it.

My recent foray into the world of Python has...

What You Don't Know About Living in Space

What You Don't Know About Living in Space

It's all part of life in space, full of spectacular moments as well as the mundane. Over the years, living in space has forced astronauts to make a few concessions to things you would not give a second thought about when staying at a Holiday Inn. Here are a fews things you may not have known about living in space.

Discover the ins and outs of day-to-day living aboard the Space Shuttle and ISS at ABC News.

Win Server 2008 Directory Services, Windows Server 2008 Functional Levels Overview

Win Server 2008 Directory Services, Windows Server 2008 Functional Levels Overview

In the first part of our new series providing overview of Windows Server 2008-based Directory Services, we have concentrated on earlier implementations of Active Directory and their functionality. We have decided to use this approach to give you better understanding of benefits associated with new and improved features incorporated into the latest operating system platform. Our presentation was structured around Windows 2000 domain modes as well as Windows Server 2003 domain and forest functional levels, which organize functionality available across various combinations of the three major consecutive server versions (Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003). In this article, we will focus on impact of introducing Windows Server 2008 into these arrangements and its consequences in terms of resulting functional levels.

Read the rest of...

Factory-Installed Viruses

Factory-Installed Viruses

From iPods to navigation systems, some of today's hottest gadgets are landing on store shelves with some unwanted extras from the factory -- pre-installed viruses that steal passwords, open doors for hackers and make computers spew spam. Computer users have been warned for years about virus threats from downloading Internet porn and opening suspicious e-mail attachments. Now they run the risk of picking up a digital infection just by plugging a new gizmo into their PCs. Recent cases reviewed by The Associated Press include some of the most widely used tech devices: Apple iPods, digital picture frames sold by Target and Best Buy stores and TomTom navigation gear. In most cases, Chinese factories -- where many companies have turned to keep prices low -- are the source.

The complete article can be found at Technology Review.

I think you will like this: Changes to the MCITP program

I think you will like this

Microsoft certifications for new technologies--in the MCTS, MCPD, MCITP format--will retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the underlying technology (Gerry posted this earlier). At retirement, your certifications will move to a 'retired' section on your MCP transcript, so you can show a full picture of your cert history.

Many of you are aware that this is a change from what we announced earlier, when we said that the professional series certifications--MCITP and MCPD--would require a refresh (or recertification) of one exam every three years. There are good reasons why we started out that way, and good reasons why it has now been aligned with the MCTS retirement policy, instead.

See...

Corsair Unveils the First 1000W Power Supply with 3-Way SLI

Corsair Unveils the First 1000W Power Supply with 3-Way SLI

High-end PC users rejoice, as Corsair has unloaded the massive HX1000W, a 1000W power supply unit that is certified for 3-Way NVIDIA SLI usage.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/news/article.php/3731771

Upgrading from Vista Home to Vista Utimate

Upgrading from Vista Home to Vista Utimate

Anybody that is thinking of doing the upgrade from a version of Vista home to Ultimate has probably seen this website.

They make it seem fairly easy, just buy this, wait for the DVD in the mail, stick it in and let it go, well.

It aint that easy.

I have a client that I just picked up, the old IT company sold them 12 HP PC's with Vista Home, as well as the customer already had 6 more older XP Home machines. The IT company also sold the client a No-name 2003 Server with Exchange 2003 then they configured all of the workstations to remote desktop into said server, once there they use their Quickbooks software and then have office on the server to pull there mail, as well as all of the any and all word and excel docs sitting on the desktop. It also has 6 printers shared off of it....

VMware vuln exposes the perils of virtualization

VMware vuln exposes the perils of virtualization

Security researchers have discovered a bug in VMware desktop virtualization applications that allows attackers to take complete control of the underlying PC, including the execution or modification of files on the host operating system.

The vulnerability, which was unearthed by researchers from Core Security Technologies, is particularly important to individuals and companies working in the world of computer security. They frequently turn to VMware Player and Workstation as a means of protecting their machines when analyzing Trojans and other types of malware. In a nutshell, the vulnerability allows attackers to break out of the virtual environment and gain full access to the host computer system.

Full Story: Here

Mysteries of computer from 65BC are solved

Mysteries of computer from 65BC are solved

A 2,000-year-old mechanical computer salvaged from a Roman shipwreck has astounded scientists who have finally unravelled the secrets of how the sophisticated device works. The machine was lost among cargo in 65BC when the ship carrying it sank in 42m of water off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. By chance, in 1900, a sponge diver called Elias Stadiatos discovered the wreck and recovered statues and other artifacts from the site.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2006/nov/30/uknews