Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition

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Windows Vista SP1 in 2H 2007

Windows Vista SP1 in 2H 2007

The first service pack for Windows Vista will arrive pretty soon, according to ZD Net we can already expect it in the second half of this year. This information comes from an e-mail that was send to Microsoft's Technology Adoption Partners testers.

Microsoft previously announced that Windows Vista SP1 would arrive together with Longhorn Server in the second half of this year.

But in recent months, other Microsoft officials have tried to muddy the SP1 waters, claiming Microsoft had no timetable for Vista's first service pack. Such a claim might even be believable, given how long (2008!) Microsoft is delaying delivery of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.

Why the secrecy, Microsoft? Customers, especially many corporate ones, are still using SP1 as a marker for when they'll consider deploying a new software release. By refusing to provide an SP1 ship target, you've been creating more FUD....

Microsoft revamps licensing for Vista launch

Microsoft revamps licensing for Vista launch

Microsoft revamped its licensing options today in preparation for the 30 January consumer launch of Windows Vista.
The Redmond giant unveiled three options: Windows Anytime Upgrade; Windows Vista Family Discount; and Windows Marketplace.
Brad Brooks, general manager of Windows client marketing at Microsoft, promised that the new structure will help customers choose the right version of the forthcoming operating system.

Read more here

PCI Express turns 2.0

PCI Express turns 2.0

As expected, PCI Express turned 2.0 by fiat of the PCI Special Interest Group, the industry cooperative that governs the specification and announced the new version Monday.

PCI Express--a modernized sequel to the original PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) that spread to essentially every server and PC since it was introduced in the 1990s--can transfer 2.5 gigabits per second on each wire, pin or other electrical connection called "lanes" between a computer and a plug-in device. PCI Express 2.0 doubles that rate to 5Gbps, and as with the existing PCIe, multiple lanes can be ganged together.

Read the rest at News.com.

Official: Longhorn Server to Be Named Windows Server 2007

If it is true then we should be hearing news about the new MCSE pretty soon

Official: Longhorn Server to Be Named Windows Server 2007

It's official. Well, sort of. Windows enthusiast site ActiveWin.com reported this week that an unnamed Microsoft official has confirmed the final name for "Longhorn" server.

And the winner is (drum roll, please) ... Windows Server 2007.

"In addition, development has begun on the next series of MCSE certification tests geared for Windows Server 2007," the site reported.

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Flash Player 9 for Linux arrives, looks great

Flash Player 9 for Linux arrives, looks great

Adobe Systems Inc. on Jan. 17 finally released the long-awaited Adobe Flash Player 9 for Linux. Although a binary-only release, it's already proven quite popular within its first 24 hours of release.

This version of Flash Player was meant to be feature-comparable to Adobe's latest Windows and Mac OS versions, which were released in late June of 2006. All Flash Player 9 family versions render content far faster than earlier editions. On Linux, it also does a much better job at syncing video and audio.

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Developers Get Exam Discounts Assist

Developers Get Exam Discounts Assist

Microsoft is pushing to get more developers with MCAD and MCSD.NET titles to upgrade their certifications to the new-generation MCPD, by providing discounts on the MCPD upgrade exams. But the promotion doesn't last long.

The 25-percent discount apply to the following exams:

• 70-551 UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the .NET Framework
• 70-552 UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the .NET Framework
• 70-553 UPGRADE: MCSD .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the .NET Framework, Part 1
• 70-554 UPGRADE: MCSD .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the .NET Framework, Part 2

Read the rest here

100 Million Copies of IE7 Installed

100 Million Copies of IE7 Installed

Microsoft recently announced that, as of January 8, 100 million users have installed Internet Explorer 7.0.

The company released IE7 on October 18, roughly three months ago.

With 100 million copies installed, IE7 is only second to IE6 in terms of overall numbers. After no major updates to IE6 since it first shipped in 2001, IE7 features tabbed browsing, a built-in RSS reader, a phishing filter, and an integrated search window as well as improved security.

Source

Windows Vista set to overwhelm helpdesks

Windows Vista set to overwhelm helpdesks

The Windows Vista features that will most benefit end users are likely to cause a flood of calls to enterprise IT help desks, it was claimed today.
SupportSoft predicted that one of the main areas in which end-users are likely to experience problems will be dealing with Vista's security features.
End users could experience problems such as blocked access to custom applications owing to enhanced security features in Windows Vista, which are intended to ward off security threats.

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New Milestone for CompTIA Security+ Certification

New Milestone for CompTIA Security+ Certification: More than 30,000 IT Professionals Certified Worldwide

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced today that its CompTIA Security+ certification, a benchmark of information technology (IT) security implementation skills, has been attained by more than 30,000 IT professionals worldwide.

CompTIA Security+ certification is an industry accepted credential that validates mastery of critical practices for communications security, infrastructure security, cryptography, and operational and organizational security.

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