Come on, come on, come out already! Since this is the launch week for the Verizon/Motorola/Google Android Droid X and Apple's iPhone 4, Microsoft trotted out a prototype Samsung phone running Windows Phone 7 last night to show folks that they're still in the smartphone game.
The Samsung phone isn't a final WP7 device; it looked to us like the latest build of WP7 hacked onto a European Omnia phone. But the software ran fast and smooth, with all the features we've come to expect from Windows Phone 7: big, bold text, Xbox Live, Zune, Bing and such.
Windows Phone 7's biggest problem is that it just isn't here yet. During the Summer of the Smartphone, Microsoft is still simmering their stew. This isn't a surprise: when they announced WP7 back in February, they only promised it around some vague "holidays" in 2010 - and that could be New Year's Eve.
But with Android and Apple ramping up their lineups, will there be room for Windows Phone 7 in six months? Tell us what you think in the comments, and check out the latest build of Windows Phone 7 in the slideshow below.
Read the views of online Certification Experts, which provide the real questions and correct answer and explanation for the students / professionals who are seeking or enhancing their level of expertise. more at certkingdom.com
January 29, 2011
January 26, 2011
Microsoft, Samsung Partner on Windows Phone 7 Devices
Samsung on Friday confirmed that it will launch several Windows Phone 7 devices this year in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
"Samsung's new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung's leadership in smartphone market," WP Wong, executive vice president and head of Samsung's product strategy, said in a statement. "The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go."
Samsung had few details about the Windows Phone 7 phones it might release, except to say that it is making a "long-term commitment to including Windows Phone 7 in its smartphone portfolio." That will include the Windows Phone 7 platform and related application software, Samsung said.
"For years, Samsung has been a key partner in bringing new Windows phones to customers all over the world," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft's OEM division. "Windows Phone 7 is an important release, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Samsung on mobile devices and beyond, with our multi-screen strategy."
When those phones will hit store shelves is another story. There have been a variety of rumors about when Windows Phone 7 will officially launch. Microsoft is holding a press conference in Europe on Oct. 11, where several Web sites are expecting the company to finally announce the first Windows Phone 7 devices. The company will also host an "open house" in New York City on the same day, where PCMag will be in attendance.
Neowin, however, insisted that there will be launch events on October 21, while Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott is claiming that Windows Phones will launch in the U.S. on November 8.
A Friday report in The Wall Street Journal said that Microsoft will indeed launch Windows Phone 7 on Oct. 11 with AT&T as its initial, exclusive launch partner. AT&T will offer Windows Phone 7 devices from Samsung, LG, and HTC, which it will start selling the week of Nov. 8, the Journal said.
Samsung, meanwhile, is currently busy with its Galaxy Tab tablet. It was announced Friday that the device will go on sale in the U.K. on Nov. 1, but Samsung has still not released any pricing information about the device.
"Samsung's new Windows Phone 7 based smartphones will play a key role to reinforce Samsung's leadership in smartphone market," WP Wong, executive vice president and head of Samsung's product strategy, said in a statement. "The new Windows Phone 7 smartphones will provide an unparalleled entertainment experience on the go."
Samsung had few details about the Windows Phone 7 phones it might release, except to say that it is making a "long-term commitment to including Windows Phone 7 in its smartphone portfolio." That will include the Windows Phone 7 platform and related application software, Samsung said.
"For years, Samsung has been a key partner in bringing new Windows phones to customers all over the world," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft's OEM division. "Windows Phone 7 is an important release, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Samsung on mobile devices and beyond, with our multi-screen strategy."
When those phones will hit store shelves is another story. There have been a variety of rumors about when Windows Phone 7 will officially launch. Microsoft is holding a press conference in Europe on Oct. 11, where several Web sites are expecting the company to finally announce the first Windows Phone 7 devices. The company will also host an "open house" in New York City on the same day, where PCMag will be in attendance.
Neowin, however, insisted that there will be launch events on October 21, while Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott is claiming that Windows Phones will launch in the U.S. on November 8.
A Friday report in The Wall Street Journal said that Microsoft will indeed launch Windows Phone 7 on Oct. 11 with AT&T as its initial, exclusive launch partner. AT&T will offer Windows Phone 7 devices from Samsung, LG, and HTC, which it will start selling the week of Nov. 8, the Journal said.
Samsung, meanwhile, is currently busy with its Galaxy Tab tablet. It was announced Friday that the device will go on sale in the U.K. on Nov. 1, but Samsung has still not released any pricing information about the device.
January 25, 2011
Rumor: Microsoft Eyes FaceTime-Like Option for Windows Phone
Microsoft is cooking up a FaceTime foe for Windows Phone 7, according to Neowin.
At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, a "key WP7 employee" disclosed to the Web site that Microsoft was hard at work on a FaceTime-esque feature that could be bundled with Microsoft Live, allowing video chatting across platforms and devices. The new feature might also link with MSN Messenger. When asked why not use Skype, the anonymous employee suggested that the new service would extend beyond the reach of the VoIP service.
Apple announced FaceTime with the launch of iPhone 4 last June, and brought the service to the desktop last October. Skype recently brought videoconferencing to 3G with its updated client for the iPhone and iPad. And Google has already flashed its tablet-based video chat feature for Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
When the FaceTime competitor will arrive remains to be seen. While it's possible that Microsoft's FaceTime will come bundled with the Windows 7.5 update, codenamed "Mango," it's more likely that it will arrive alongside "Windows Phone 8."
"It was hinted at, but not confirmed, that WP8 requirements may include a front facing camera," Neowin wrote.
Correspondingly, the feature could surface as early as next month, at Mobile World Congress 2011 (February 14-17), or as late as the second half of the year. Whatever it is, Microsoft had better work quickly to recapture a bit of the media spotlight, which seems, at present, singularly focused on Apple.
At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, a "key WP7 employee" disclosed to the Web site that Microsoft was hard at work on a FaceTime-esque feature that could be bundled with Microsoft Live, allowing video chatting across platforms and devices. The new feature might also link with MSN Messenger. When asked why not use Skype, the anonymous employee suggested that the new service would extend beyond the reach of the VoIP service.
Apple announced FaceTime with the launch of iPhone 4 last June, and brought the service to the desktop last October. Skype recently brought videoconferencing to 3G with its updated client for the iPhone and iPad. And Google has already flashed its tablet-based video chat feature for Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
When the FaceTime competitor will arrive remains to be seen. While it's possible that Microsoft's FaceTime will come bundled with the Windows 7.5 update, codenamed "Mango," it's more likely that it will arrive alongside "Windows Phone 8."
"It was hinted at, but not confirmed, that WP8 requirements may include a front facing camera," Neowin wrote.
Correspondingly, the feature could surface as early as next month, at Mobile World Congress 2011 (February 14-17), or as late as the second half of the year. Whatever it is, Microsoft had better work quickly to recapture a bit of the media spotlight, which seems, at present, singularly focused on Apple.
January 24, 2011
Report: Microsoft to Talk Tablets at Oct. 11 Windows Phone 7 Event
Now that we have confirmation that Microsoft's Oct. 11 event will include the launch of Windows Phone 7, it's time for some rumors about what else Microsoft might discuss. Neowin reports that Microsoft will unveil its tablet strategy during the launch event.
The company will reportedly "hint at its future Slate plans" next Monday, Neowin said. Windows Phone will still be the major focus, but there will be some discussion about tablets.
Microsoft has been a bit late to the party on the tablet front. Chief executive Steve Ballmer showed off a Windows-based HP Slate during his Consumer Electronics Show keynote this year, but aside from a questionable YouTube "review" of the Slate that popped up online, nothing much has happened with the device.
During the company's recent annual financial analyst meeting, Ballmer said Microsoft had "to make things happen" on tablets, and that the successful launch of a Windows 7-branded slate is "job one urgency around here."
The device will be available "as soon as we can," Ballmer said at the time, but "I'm going to wait until I have the device that I want to hand you and tell you to go use."
Failure to produce a Microsoft-based tablet to compete with the iPad - as well as the failure of the Kin phone and a decline in Microsoft's mobile OS market share - recently cost Ballmer half of his annual bonus, according to regulatory filings.
The company will reportedly "hint at its future Slate plans" next Monday, Neowin said. Windows Phone will still be the major focus, but there will be some discussion about tablets.
Microsoft has been a bit late to the party on the tablet front. Chief executive Steve Ballmer showed off a Windows-based HP Slate during his Consumer Electronics Show keynote this year, but aside from a questionable YouTube "review" of the Slate that popped up online, nothing much has happened with the device.
During the company's recent annual financial analyst meeting, Ballmer said Microsoft had "to make things happen" on tablets, and that the successful launch of a Windows 7-branded slate is "job one urgency around here."
The device will be available "as soon as we can," Ballmer said at the time, but "I'm going to wait until I have the device that I want to hand you and tell you to go use."
Failure to produce a Microsoft-based tablet to compete with the iPad - as well as the failure of the Kin phone and a decline in Microsoft's mobile OS market share - recently cost Ballmer half of his annual bonus, according to regulatory filings.
January 23, 2011
Microsoft Slams Google in EU Privacy Comments
Microsoft objects to Google's search-related business practices because Google locks in publishers and makes it hard for competing search engines to gain market share, not because of its popularity and competitive power, Microsoft said Friday.
Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft, released a blog post this afternoon in which he discussed the EU's decision to look into Google's search result rankings. He slammed Google for what he considered to be finger pointing at Microsoft over the investigation.
"Google's public response to this growing regulatory concern has been to point elsewhere--at Microsoft," Heiner wrote. "Google is telling reporters that antitrust concerns about search are not real because some of the complaints come from one of its last remaining search competitors."
On Tuesday night, Google announced that European antitrust regulators are investigating whether Google intentionally buries search results that might promote its competitors. Three companies - Foundem, ejustice.fr, and Ciao from Bing - filed complaints with the EU over Google's rankings, said Julia Holtz, Google's senior competition counsel.
Foundem, which Google said is partly funded by Microsoft, and ejustice.fr are arguing that Google's algorithms demote their search results because they are a vertical search engine and, therefore, competitive with Google, Holtz said.
In regards to the third company, Ciao, Google suggested that the problems with them started after Microsoft acquired the company in 2008. Prior to that, Ciao was "a long-time AdSense partner of Google's, with whom we always had a good relationship," Holtz said. After Microsoft bought Ciao and re-branded it Ciao from Bing, Google "started receiving complaints about our standard terms and conditions."
In his blog post, Heiner did not address Microsoft's connection to the three companies, referring to them only as "upstart innovators."
UPDATE: A Microsoft spokesman e-mailed to say that the company does not directly fund Foundem. Microsoft partly funds the Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace (ICOMP), of which Foundem is a member, Microsoft said.
The real issue, Heiner said, is "whether Google's response really addresses the concerns that have been raised [because] complaints in competition law cases usually come from competitors."
Microsoft did not admit to being directly involved in filing the complaints against Google. Microsoft has heard complaints about Google over the years, Heiner said, and when those "antitrust concerns appear to be substantial, we suggest that firms talk to the competition law agencies."
Heiner acknowledged that Microsoft has talked with European investigators and the Department of Justice about Google, but only in the context of Microsoft's recently approved search deal with Yahoo.
"We told them what we know about how Google is doing business," Heiner wrote. "A lot of that entails explaining the search advertising business, which is complex. Some of that inevitably gets into Google practices that may be harming publishers, advertisers and competition in search and online advertising."
Specifically, Microsoft is concerned that "search and online advertising are increasingly controlled by a single firm, Google," Heiner said. "These and other network effects make it hard for competing search engines to catch up."
This is why Microsoft and Yahoo are combining their efforts, Heiner said. "And that is why we are concerned about Google business practices that tend to lock in publishers and advertisers and make it harder for Microsoft to gain search volume."
Heiner concluded by saying that "leading firms should not be punished for their success [or] because a particular business practice may harm a rival." They should face scrutiny, however, for practices that "exclude competitors, thereby undermining competition more broadly," he said.
Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft, released a blog post this afternoon in which he discussed the EU's decision to look into Google's search result rankings. He slammed Google for what he considered to be finger pointing at Microsoft over the investigation.
"Google's public response to this growing regulatory concern has been to point elsewhere--at Microsoft," Heiner wrote. "Google is telling reporters that antitrust concerns about search are not real because some of the complaints come from one of its last remaining search competitors."
On Tuesday night, Google announced that European antitrust regulators are investigating whether Google intentionally buries search results that might promote its competitors. Three companies - Foundem, ejustice.fr, and Ciao from Bing - filed complaints with the EU over Google's rankings, said Julia Holtz, Google's senior competition counsel.
Foundem, which Google said is partly funded by Microsoft, and ejustice.fr are arguing that Google's algorithms demote their search results because they are a vertical search engine and, therefore, competitive with Google, Holtz said.
In regards to the third company, Ciao, Google suggested that the problems with them started after Microsoft acquired the company in 2008. Prior to that, Ciao was "a long-time AdSense partner of Google's, with whom we always had a good relationship," Holtz said. After Microsoft bought Ciao and re-branded it Ciao from Bing, Google "started receiving complaints about our standard terms and conditions."
In his blog post, Heiner did not address Microsoft's connection to the three companies, referring to them only as "upstart innovators."
UPDATE: A Microsoft spokesman e-mailed to say that the company does not directly fund Foundem. Microsoft partly funds the Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace (ICOMP), of which Foundem is a member, Microsoft said.
The real issue, Heiner said, is "whether Google's response really addresses the concerns that have been raised [because] complaints in competition law cases usually come from competitors."
Microsoft did not admit to being directly involved in filing the complaints against Google. Microsoft has heard complaints about Google over the years, Heiner said, and when those "antitrust concerns appear to be substantial, we suggest that firms talk to the competition law agencies."
Heiner acknowledged that Microsoft has talked with European investigators and the Department of Justice about Google, but only in the context of Microsoft's recently approved search deal with Yahoo.
"We told them what we know about how Google is doing business," Heiner wrote. "A lot of that entails explaining the search advertising business, which is complex. Some of that inevitably gets into Google practices that may be harming publishers, advertisers and competition in search and online advertising."
Specifically, Microsoft is concerned that "search and online advertising are increasingly controlled by a single firm, Google," Heiner said. "These and other network effects make it hard for competing search engines to catch up."
This is why Microsoft and Yahoo are combining their efforts, Heiner said. "And that is why we are concerned about Google business practices that tend to lock in publishers and advertisers and make it harder for Microsoft to gain search volume."
Heiner concluded by saying that "leading firms should not be punished for their success [or] because a particular business practice may harm a rival." They should face scrutiny, however, for practices that "exclude competitors, thereby undermining competition more broadly," he said.
Update: Russian Spy Worked at Microsoft
Microsoft has confirmed that one of the Russian spies rounded up was an employee for a short time, but did not have access to the company's source code.
Bloomberg originally reported that Alexey Karetnikov worked as a software tester at Microsoft for nine months, then was deported on or around June 8 as part of a sting that nabbed nine others.
A Microsoft spokesman confirmed the report on Wednesday, stating that Karetnikov was employed from October 2009 until June 2010. He would not confirm why Karetnikov left the company.
All ten defendants who are in custody were initially charged with conspiring to act as unregistered agents of a foreign government, and eight were also charged with conspiring to commit money laundering, The New York Times reported. The ten were later swapped for four men held in Russian prisons.
So far, Karetnikov has not been implicated in the theft of any company secrets, although it was unclear what products he came in contact with in his role as a software tester. But a spokesman said that he simply applied automated testing tools to Microsoft's products, and did not have access to Microsoft source code.
"We reviewed his activities and are confident that he did not compromise Microsoft software, our internal network, and our customers," the Microsoft spokesman said.
Microsoft maintains a 75-person team of antipiracy investigators, whose job is to use forensic procedures to block and track down software pirates. But the Microsoft spokesman said he couldn't confirm the number of employees dedicated to internal security, although he confirmed such teams existed.
Bloomberg reported that other members of the ring apparently had software development experience. Andrey Bezrukov, another of the ten spies, tried to pass himself as "Donald Heathfield," and contacted Stratfor in a bid to sell or license the company a software program. "Heathfield" held five meetings with an employee of Stratfor, an intelligence and political consultancy, in an effort to get the firm to use his program, Stratfor CEO George Friedman told Bloomberg.
Bloomberg originally reported that Alexey Karetnikov worked as a software tester at Microsoft for nine months, then was deported on or around June 8 as part of a sting that nabbed nine others.
A Microsoft spokesman confirmed the report on Wednesday, stating that Karetnikov was employed from October 2009 until June 2010. He would not confirm why Karetnikov left the company.
All ten defendants who are in custody were initially charged with conspiring to act as unregistered agents of a foreign government, and eight were also charged with conspiring to commit money laundering, The New York Times reported. The ten were later swapped for four men held in Russian prisons.
So far, Karetnikov has not been implicated in the theft of any company secrets, although it was unclear what products he came in contact with in his role as a software tester. But a spokesman said that he simply applied automated testing tools to Microsoft's products, and did not have access to Microsoft source code.
"We reviewed his activities and are confident that he did not compromise Microsoft software, our internal network, and our customers," the Microsoft spokesman said.
Microsoft maintains a 75-person team of antipiracy investigators, whose job is to use forensic procedures to block and track down software pirates. But the Microsoft spokesman said he couldn't confirm the number of employees dedicated to internal security, although he confirmed such teams existed.
Bloomberg reported that other members of the ring apparently had software development experience. Andrey Bezrukov, another of the ten spies, tried to pass himself as "Donald Heathfield," and contacted Stratfor in a bid to sell or license the company a software program. "Heathfield" held five meetings with an employee of Stratfor, an intelligence and political consultancy, in an effort to get the firm to use his program, Stratfor CEO George Friedman told Bloomberg.
January 22, 2011
Microsoft 'Surface 2' Details, Um, Surface
Microsoft's Surface project was always about looking into the future. With that in mind, it's perhaps fitting that, before the company has really managed to the first generation of the device, it's already looking down the road at a followup. Phenomblue, a company that writes apps for the innovative desktop computer, said that company is in the development stages of the new device, which looks to be about two years off.
The Surface 2 is currently being referred to as Second Light, due to a second projector inside the unit that will project images above the screen's surface, creating an overlay of images. The feature is designed to add secondary information to images like maps.
The new version of the device, according to the BBC, is also expected to let users interact without even having to touch the screen. It will also feature new high-definition cameras.
Originally posted to Gearlog.
The Surface 2 is currently being referred to as Second Light, due to a second projector inside the unit that will project images above the screen's surface, creating an overlay of images. The feature is designed to add secondary information to images like maps.
The new version of the device, according to the BBC, is also expected to let users interact without even having to touch the screen. It will also feature new high-definition cameras.
Originally posted to Gearlog.
January 20, 2011
15 Windows Utilities You Can't Live Without
Despite the move (real or hyped) towards Web-based applications, there are still a few hundred million of us using Windows PCs running actual software. These 15 utilities are little gems of code that will help you get the most out of your Windows system.
Though these days all the talk is about how the future is cloud-based computing—Google Chrome OS will only run Web apps—there is still a real need to run installed applications on Windows systems. In particular, I'm talking about utilities, those helper apps that do just one thing and do it well, whether it be playing or editing a media file or tweaking or peeking at a system function. We've rounded up our 15 newest reviews of our favorite utilities. Check them out—many will cost you no more than the time you'll spend downloading it.
View Slideshow See all (15) slides
ArsClip 3.1.3 : Edit
Audacity 1.2 : Waveform view
Autoruns 9 : See What Changed
DualBootPRO 1.0.0 : OSes
More
The first group of our small software gems include functions that you might pay bigger bucks for—I'm talking about watching video with the supremely versatile VLC media player, and editing sound with the open source Audacity, which offers multitrack sound recording and editing with a host of plug-in effects available.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
The next group help you see what's going on in your PC system and let you take the temperature of your system and set it right. These include Process Explorer, Process Monitor, Autoruns, and Registry Workshop. All of these give you insights into what's going on with your Windows installation and insights into how to tweak and optimize performance.
If you want to make the most of your PC's hardware, check out the third group: ImgBurn lets you burn disc images with tons of options like making them bootable. DualBootPro lets you run multiple operating systems on one PC. And our Editors' Choice disk utility, Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2010 Suite lets IT pros and serious enthusiasts partition and backup hard drives or any connected external disks, as well as offering numerous other disk-manipulating functions.
A couple of the apps—KeyText 2000 and ArsClip—offer time-saving productivity enhancements. The first lets you record macros, saving you typing the same text or command over and over. ArsClip, can (among other abilities) remember the last 15 entries you copied to the clipboard—a real lifesaver if you've copied a large text block or password and absent-mindedly copied something else before pasting it.
The last group of third party utilities sniffs out networking and WiFi issues. WireShark is a free network packet sniffer that lets you troubleshoot networking issues. NetStumbler performs a similar task for WiFi networks. It's an indispensible tool for anyone with a WiFi router or WiFi capable laptop—i.e., anyone who uses a computer these days. For the IT crowd, there's the professional-level NetSurveyor Professional, measures performance details of Wi-Fi networks. Finally in networking, but not for the faint-of-heart, is Iometer, which checks network performance by testing I/O operations.
But don't stop at these: Check out PCMag's own extensive library of software utilities ranging from AltTabIt, which shows a screenshot of your open apps, to ZipHunter, which lets you search files within ZIP archives without extracting them. Here you'll also find such diverse programs as a world clock, a remote webcam surveillance app, a disk optimization, and a connection speed testers. You're bound to find some utilities you can't live without in our library. For piles more (more than 200) great utilities, check out our 2009 Windows Utility Guide. And, of course, stay tuned for PCMag.com's 2010 Utility Guide, coming later this year. Got a favorite utility you want us to consider? Let us know in the comments to this story.
ArsClip 3.1.3 : Edit ArsClip 3.1.3
Free
This utility is a free, powerful, customizable clipboard extender. It stores text strings, pictures, filenames for easy reuse, and basically does everything for cut-and-paste that Windows' own clipboard should do but doesn't.
Audacity 1.2 : LAME Audacity 1.2
Free
Audacity is a surprisingly full-featured audio recording and editing software package considering it's free and open source.
Autoruns 9 : Autoruns Autoruns 9
Free
Autoruns 9 reveals every single program and process that launches automatically on your computer. It's especially useful for detecting malware, since almost every malicious program needs some way to launch automatically. Do be careful disabling startup items; you could destabilize Windows.
DualBootPRO 1.0.0 : OSes DualBootPro 1.0.0
$8.95 - $24.95 Direct
If you dual-boot Windows systems, you need this program now, or you'll need it if anything goes wrong with the Windows boot system. So get a copy now.
ImgBurn 2.5 ImgBurn 2.5
Free
ImgBurn is one of the most powerful disc-burning and disk-image creating programs around, and if you don't want to delve into all its gory details, you can use it's EZ-mode for care-free operation.
Iometer : Iometer Iometer
Free
If you can wade through the 80+ paged User Guide you can end up an expert at using this sophisticated I/O performance meter.
KeyText 3.13 : Menu KeyText 2000
$29.95 direct
KeyText represents the best combination of compactness and power in a keyboard automation utility.
Meraki WiFi Stumbler : Meraki MiFi Stumbler Meraki WiFi Stumbler
Free
A free, lightweight tool to troubleshoot wireless networking performance issues. It's Browser-based, with no software to install, works on both PCs and Macs. It also quickly discovers nearby access points.
NetSurveyor Professional : Spectrogram NetSurveyor Professional
$34.95 direct
NetSurveyor is a great tool for getting performance metrics for Wi-Fi networks. It's Affordable, easy to use, and informative for troubleshooting, all wrapped up in a nice interface.
Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2010 Suite : Express Paragon Hard Disk Manager
$49.95 direct
A powerful, mature product for managing hard disks flexibly and safely. An essential tool for any advanced user or IT manager.
Process Explorer 11 : Process Explorer Process Explorer 11
Free
Have you ever called up Task Manager to kill a balky program, scope out what's sucking CPU cycles, or scan for a suspicious process? Try Process Explorer instead. It does everything Task Manager can do and more. Best of all, it's free.
Process Monitor 2.8 : Registry Summary Process Monitor 2.8
Free
Wading through the mountains of log information recorded by Process Monitor requires higher-than-average technical skills. If you're up to the challenge, you can use it to find out details about process behavior that no other tool can come close to supplying.
Registry Workshop : Popup RegistryWorkshop
$29.95 Direct
This is an essential utility for anyone who works with the Windows Registry. It offers powerful, flexible, and safe registry editing, with all the features that Windows's own Regedit.exe should have but doesn't.
VLC 1.0.5 : Discover VLC media player 1.0.5
Free
A versatile, free media player that supports more video file formats than you can shake a stick at, can record and stream audio and video.
Wireshark v 1.2.5 : Inspecting ProtocolsWireshark 1.2.6
Free
Wireshark is a free tool that provides many of the same troubleshooting and analysis of more expensive packet sniffers.
Though these days all the talk is about how the future is cloud-based computing—Google Chrome OS will only run Web apps—there is still a real need to run installed applications on Windows systems. In particular, I'm talking about utilities, those helper apps that do just one thing and do it well, whether it be playing or editing a media file or tweaking or peeking at a system function. We've rounded up our 15 newest reviews of our favorite utilities. Check them out—many will cost you no more than the time you'll spend downloading it.
View Slideshow See all (15) slides
ArsClip 3.1.3 : Edit
Audacity 1.2 : Waveform view
Autoruns 9 : See What Changed
DualBootPRO 1.0.0 : OSes
More
The first group of our small software gems include functions that you might pay bigger bucks for—I'm talking about watching video with the supremely versatile VLC media player, and editing sound with the open source Audacity, which offers multitrack sound recording and editing with a host of plug-in effects available.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingThe next group help you see what's going on in your PC system and let you take the temperature of your system and set it right. These include Process Explorer, Process Monitor, Autoruns, and Registry Workshop. All of these give you insights into what's going on with your Windows installation and insights into how to tweak and optimize performance.
If you want to make the most of your PC's hardware, check out the third group: ImgBurn lets you burn disc images with tons of options like making them bootable. DualBootPro lets you run multiple operating systems on one PC. And our Editors' Choice disk utility, Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2010 Suite lets IT pros and serious enthusiasts partition and backup hard drives or any connected external disks, as well as offering numerous other disk-manipulating functions.
A couple of the apps—KeyText 2000 and ArsClip—offer time-saving productivity enhancements. The first lets you record macros, saving you typing the same text or command over and over. ArsClip, can (among other abilities) remember the last 15 entries you copied to the clipboard—a real lifesaver if you've copied a large text block or password and absent-mindedly copied something else before pasting it.
The last group of third party utilities sniffs out networking and WiFi issues. WireShark is a free network packet sniffer that lets you troubleshoot networking issues. NetStumbler performs a similar task for WiFi networks. It's an indispensible tool for anyone with a WiFi router or WiFi capable laptop—i.e., anyone who uses a computer these days. For the IT crowd, there's the professional-level NetSurveyor Professional, measures performance details of Wi-Fi networks. Finally in networking, but not for the faint-of-heart, is Iometer, which checks network performance by testing I/O operations.
But don't stop at these: Check out PCMag's own extensive library of software utilities ranging from AltTabIt, which shows a screenshot of your open apps, to ZipHunter, which lets you search files within ZIP archives without extracting them. Here you'll also find such diverse programs as a world clock, a remote webcam surveillance app, a disk optimization, and a connection speed testers. You're bound to find some utilities you can't live without in our library. For piles more (more than 200) great utilities, check out our 2009 Windows Utility Guide. And, of course, stay tuned for PCMag.com's 2010 Utility Guide, coming later this year. Got a favorite utility you want us to consider? Let us know in the comments to this story.
ArsClip 3.1.3 : Edit ArsClip 3.1.3
Free
This utility is a free, powerful, customizable clipboard extender. It stores text strings, pictures, filenames for easy reuse, and basically does everything for cut-and-paste that Windows' own clipboard should do but doesn't.
Audacity 1.2 : LAME Audacity 1.2
Free
Audacity is a surprisingly full-featured audio recording and editing software package considering it's free and open source.
Autoruns 9 : Autoruns Autoruns 9
Free
Autoruns 9 reveals every single program and process that launches automatically on your computer. It's especially useful for detecting malware, since almost every malicious program needs some way to launch automatically. Do be careful disabling startup items; you could destabilize Windows.
DualBootPRO 1.0.0 : OSes DualBootPro 1.0.0
$8.95 - $24.95 Direct
If you dual-boot Windows systems, you need this program now, or you'll need it if anything goes wrong with the Windows boot system. So get a copy now.
ImgBurn 2.5 ImgBurn 2.5
Free
ImgBurn is one of the most powerful disc-burning and disk-image creating programs around, and if you don't want to delve into all its gory details, you can use it's EZ-mode for care-free operation.
Iometer : Iometer Iometer
Free
If you can wade through the 80+ paged User Guide you can end up an expert at using this sophisticated I/O performance meter.
KeyText 3.13 : Menu KeyText 2000
$29.95 direct
KeyText represents the best combination of compactness and power in a keyboard automation utility.
Meraki WiFi Stumbler : Meraki MiFi Stumbler Meraki WiFi Stumbler
Free
A free, lightweight tool to troubleshoot wireless networking performance issues. It's Browser-based, with no software to install, works on both PCs and Macs. It also quickly discovers nearby access points.
NetSurveyor Professional : Spectrogram NetSurveyor Professional
$34.95 direct
NetSurveyor is a great tool for getting performance metrics for Wi-Fi networks. It's Affordable, easy to use, and informative for troubleshooting, all wrapped up in a nice interface.
Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2010 Suite : Express Paragon Hard Disk Manager
$49.95 direct
A powerful, mature product for managing hard disks flexibly and safely. An essential tool for any advanced user or IT manager.
Process Explorer 11 : Process Explorer Process Explorer 11
Free
Have you ever called up Task Manager to kill a balky program, scope out what's sucking CPU cycles, or scan for a suspicious process? Try Process Explorer instead. It does everything Task Manager can do and more. Best of all, it's free.
Process Monitor 2.8 : Registry Summary Process Monitor 2.8
Free
Wading through the mountains of log information recorded by Process Monitor requires higher-than-average technical skills. If you're up to the challenge, you can use it to find out details about process behavior that no other tool can come close to supplying.
Registry Workshop : Popup RegistryWorkshop
$29.95 Direct
This is an essential utility for anyone who works with the Windows Registry. It offers powerful, flexible, and safe registry editing, with all the features that Windows's own Regedit.exe should have but doesn't.
VLC 1.0.5 : Discover VLC media player 1.0.5
Free
A versatile, free media player that supports more video file formats than you can shake a stick at, can record and stream audio and video.
Wireshark v 1.2.5 : Inspecting ProtocolsWireshark 1.2.6
Free
Wireshark is a free tool that provides many of the same troubleshooting and analysis of more expensive packet sniffers.
January 19, 2011
E3 2010: Gaems Makes the Xbox 360 Slightly More Portable
A portable Xbox 360? Surely this is a job for Ben Heck. A company called Gaems (pronounced "games") is looking to get into that racket too--but without ripping out the console's guts. The company has designed a briefcase-like carrying case for Microsoft's console. Open it up, and you've got a playable system, complete with built-in monitor.
The case is still unnamed; a representative from the company told me that it is running a contest to choose a name. The winner gets a final version of the box, complete with an Xbox 360. The product that was in the booth was also, apparently, a prototype. I'm told the final version will look much cooler.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
Gaems is also reportedly working on a new case for the slimmer version of the console. I'm betting the smaller Xbox will make the company's life a lot easier in terms of portability. And the company is looking to create a version with a built-in battery, making for true portability. I remarked that you can't take this thing camping, but the rep insisted that you could, using the company's car charger.
The unnamed, full-size version is slotted for a fall release.
The case is still unnamed; a representative from the company told me that it is running a contest to choose a name. The winner gets a final version of the box, complete with an Xbox 360. The product that was in the booth was also, apparently, a prototype. I'm told the final version will look much cooler.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingGaems is also reportedly working on a new case for the slimmer version of the console. I'm betting the smaller Xbox will make the company's life a lot easier in terms of portability. And the company is looking to create a version with a built-in battery, making for true portability. I remarked that you can't take this thing camping, but the rep insisted that you could, using the company's car charger.
The unnamed, full-size version is slotted for a fall release.
January 18, 2011
Update: Microsoft Reports Record Revenues
Microsoft reported record revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter plus substantial growth in profits. The company's revenue also topped rival Apple, which was considered a possibility to overtake Microsoft in revenue this week.
Microsoft said its strong results were predicated on the launch of Office 2010, but did not provide sales figures for the new suite. Peter Klein, Microsoft's chief financial officer, called the results "broad and deep," in a conference call with analysts, with double-digit growth enjoyed by every division.
Klein, however, refused to comment on the overall business cycle. When asked about the corporate PC refresh many expect for this year, Klein responded that "it is early in the refresh cycle, so we should watch it".
Microsoft reported net income of $4.52 billion on revenue of $16.04 billion for the fourth quarter, an increase of 48 percent and 22 percent from a year ago. Those numbers reflected overall OEM license growth of 26 percent, and PC unit growth of between 22 and 24 percent.
"This quarter's record revenue reflects the breadth of our offerings and our continued product momentum," said Klein said in an earlier statement. "The revenue growth, combined with our ongoing cost discipline, helped us achieve another quarter of margin expansion."
During the quarter, Microsoft launched Office 2010, its next version of its flagship Office product. Microsoft's Business Division reported revenue of $5.25 billion, up from $4.57 billion a year ago, where Microsoft reported a 51 percent improvement in consumer growth. Klein called that a "great start" and a "very strong number".
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
Microsoft's Business Division continued to outperform its other segments, including the Windows and Windows Live Division, which recorded $4.55 billion in revenue, a sharp jump compared to the $3.17 billion in revenue the division recorded a year ago. Microsoft's total OEM revenue for the Windows division grew by 31 percent; Microsoft executives characterized its Windows business as "thriving".
Microsoft's Business Division grew 15 percent, with 51 percent growth in consumer and 8 percent in business.
Microsoft's Server and Tools business recorded $4.01 billion versus $3.52 billion for the same period a year ago. The division saw record growth of 14 percent, with annual annuity growth of 15 percent. Windows Server, SQL Server, and System Center all grew by double digits. Microsoft said the number of virtualization suites nearly doubled, with the Windows Server premium mix hitting 25 percent.
Entertainment devices reported $1.6 billion versus $1.26 billion, as Microsoft sold 1.5 million Xboxes. Membership within Microsoft's Xbox Live service now stands at over 25 million. The amount consumers spent within the Xbox Live Digital Marketplace revenue exceeded subscription revenue, Microsoft said; 23 percent of revenue came from titles other than games, or TV and movies. Windows Phone 7, Microsoft Kinect, and the Xbox game "Halo:Reach" are all on the horizon, the company said.
Microsoft's lagging online services business reported $565 million, versus $501 million a year ago, as online advertising revenue grew by 19 percent. The market share of Microsoft Bing has grown by 4 points since its launch, Microsoft said.
"We saw strong sales execution across all of our businesses, particularly in the enterprise with Windows 7 and Office 2010," said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer, in a statement. "Our transition to cloud services is well underway with offerings like Windows Azure and our Business Productivity Online Services, and we look forward to continuing our product momentum this fall with the upcoming launches of Windows Phone 7 and Xbox Kinect."
Microsoft has recorded 175 million licenses for Windows 7 to date, the company said.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Microsoft reported record revenue of $62.48 billion, a 7 percent increase from the prior year. Net income was $18.76 billion, 26 percent higher than the prior year.
Microsoft declined to offer revenue guidance for the company as a while, saying only that it planned to record $26.9 billion to $27.3 billion in operating expenses for the full year ending June 30, 2011. But it said that its Windows division would record revenue in line with PC sales, minus the Windows 7 launch "spike" as well as some deferred revenue. Microsoft's business division will track annuity costs with low- to mid-single digits, and non-annuity sales will track hardware sales, as Microsoft said it would for its server division as well. Microsoft predicted its Entertainment and Services division would grow in the "mid-teens," while online ad sales would outgrow the market.
Microsoft said its strong results were predicated on the launch of Office 2010, but did not provide sales figures for the new suite. Peter Klein, Microsoft's chief financial officer, called the results "broad and deep," in a conference call with analysts, with double-digit growth enjoyed by every division.
Klein, however, refused to comment on the overall business cycle. When asked about the corporate PC refresh many expect for this year, Klein responded that "it is early in the refresh cycle, so we should watch it".
Microsoft reported net income of $4.52 billion on revenue of $16.04 billion for the fourth quarter, an increase of 48 percent and 22 percent from a year ago. Those numbers reflected overall OEM license growth of 26 percent, and PC unit growth of between 22 and 24 percent.
"This quarter's record revenue reflects the breadth of our offerings and our continued product momentum," said Klein said in an earlier statement. "The revenue growth, combined with our ongoing cost discipline, helped us achieve another quarter of margin expansion."
During the quarter, Microsoft launched Office 2010, its next version of its flagship Office product. Microsoft's Business Division reported revenue of $5.25 billion, up from $4.57 billion a year ago, where Microsoft reported a 51 percent improvement in consumer growth. Klein called that a "great start" and a "very strong number".
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingMicrosoft's Business Division continued to outperform its other segments, including the Windows and Windows Live Division, which recorded $4.55 billion in revenue, a sharp jump compared to the $3.17 billion in revenue the division recorded a year ago. Microsoft's total OEM revenue for the Windows division grew by 31 percent; Microsoft executives characterized its Windows business as "thriving".
Microsoft's Business Division grew 15 percent, with 51 percent growth in consumer and 8 percent in business.
Microsoft's Server and Tools business recorded $4.01 billion versus $3.52 billion for the same period a year ago. The division saw record growth of 14 percent, with annual annuity growth of 15 percent. Windows Server, SQL Server, and System Center all grew by double digits. Microsoft said the number of virtualization suites nearly doubled, with the Windows Server premium mix hitting 25 percent.
Entertainment devices reported $1.6 billion versus $1.26 billion, as Microsoft sold 1.5 million Xboxes. Membership within Microsoft's Xbox Live service now stands at over 25 million. The amount consumers spent within the Xbox Live Digital Marketplace revenue exceeded subscription revenue, Microsoft said; 23 percent of revenue came from titles other than games, or TV and movies. Windows Phone 7, Microsoft Kinect, and the Xbox game "Halo:Reach" are all on the horizon, the company said.
Microsoft's lagging online services business reported $565 million, versus $501 million a year ago, as online advertising revenue grew by 19 percent. The market share of Microsoft Bing has grown by 4 points since its launch, Microsoft said.
"We saw strong sales execution across all of our businesses, particularly in the enterprise with Windows 7 and Office 2010," said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer, in a statement. "Our transition to cloud services is well underway with offerings like Windows Azure and our Business Productivity Online Services, and we look forward to continuing our product momentum this fall with the upcoming launches of Windows Phone 7 and Xbox Kinect."
Microsoft has recorded 175 million licenses for Windows 7 to date, the company said.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Microsoft reported record revenue of $62.48 billion, a 7 percent increase from the prior year. Net income was $18.76 billion, 26 percent higher than the prior year.
Microsoft declined to offer revenue guidance for the company as a while, saying only that it planned to record $26.9 billion to $27.3 billion in operating expenses for the full year ending June 30, 2011. But it said that its Windows division would record revenue in line with PC sales, minus the Windows 7 launch "spike" as well as some deferred revenue. Microsoft's business division will track annuity costs with low- to mid-single digits, and non-annuity sales will track hardware sales, as Microsoft said it would for its server division as well. Microsoft predicted its Entertainment and Services division would grow in the "mid-teens," while online ad sales would outgrow the market.
January 17, 2011
Report: Microsoft To Launch Windows TV
Perhaps taking advantage of Apple's absence from CES, Microsoft is reportedly announcing a Windows-based set-top box, according to the Seattle Times
The set-top boxes will cost $200 and use Windows Media Center, the platform for its desktop TV capacity, as its primary interface.
CES 2011
"Microsoft's going to make a splash in this market with a stripped-down version of Windows tailored for set-top boxes and connected TVs," writes ST's Brier Dudley. "The software is a version of its embedded device software, overlaid with the Windows Media Center interface, with media streaming and remote-control capabilities."
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
It's no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows software into the lucrative TV market for years. Microsoft recently flirted with the idea by adding live-streaming ESPN content to an Xbox Live 2010 update.
In November, Reuters, citing unnamed Microsoft employees, said Microsoft was launching an IPTV service "in a year".
If Windows TV does happen, it will face stiff competition from earlier movers Google and Apple.
Last month Apple said it expected Apple TV sales to top 1 million in 2010.
Meanwhile Google TV has been available on Sony TV and Blu-ray players, but the company reportedly asked manufacturers like Toshiba and LG Electronics to delay launching their new Google TV sets at CES this week. That didn't stopped Vizio, a nascent Google TV partner, from showing off its ultra-widescreen HDTVs and even a 71-inch 3D model.
The set-top boxes will cost $200 and use Windows Media Center, the platform for its desktop TV capacity, as its primary interface.
CES 2011
"Microsoft's going to make a splash in this market with a stripped-down version of Windows tailored for set-top boxes and connected TVs," writes ST's Brier Dudley. "The software is a version of its embedded device software, overlaid with the Windows Media Center interface, with media streaming and remote-control capabilities."
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingIt's no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows software into the lucrative TV market for years. Microsoft recently flirted with the idea by adding live-streaming ESPN content to an Xbox Live 2010 update.
In November, Reuters, citing unnamed Microsoft employees, said Microsoft was launching an IPTV service "in a year".
If Windows TV does happen, it will face stiff competition from earlier movers Google and Apple.
Last month Apple said it expected Apple TV sales to top 1 million in 2010.
Meanwhile Google TV has been available on Sony TV and Blu-ray players, but the company reportedly asked manufacturers like Toshiba and LG Electronics to delay launching their new Google TV sets at CES this week. That didn't stopped Vizio, a nascent Google TV partner, from showing off its ultra-widescreen HDTVs and even a 71-inch 3D model.
January 16, 2011
Should You Upgrade?
Through some readers may not know it, Microsoft isn't the only company building suites these days (we review some alternatives here). But in reality, Microsoft Office 2003's biggest competitor is Office XP and earlier versions of the Office suite.
Data FlexibilityMost people already have a version of Office installed. So the big question is: Do you really need to buy this latest iteration? The short answer for the vast majority is no, you don't need to upgrade. Office has been a very competent suite for many years, and you'll get along just fine with whatever version you have. (Of course, the more recent the version the better.) With Office 2003, most of the major enhancements to the core applications, such as Word and Excel, involve improved collaboration capabilities in conjunction with the Office system. These changes have to do with Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Server, as well as Office 2003's ability to read and write XML and integrate with Web services to help improve business processes.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
These are great features and are generally well executed in Office 2003. Most businesses should at least consider the upgrade, as the enhancements will improve productivity in any organization that relies on Office applications. For individual users, however, and those without the necessary support to run SharePoint or take advantage of XML, the Office 2003 advantage boils down to some handy new features and interface tweaks.
Even individuals will find that Office 2003 offers some nice personal productivity enhancements. Nearly every change in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access is for the best. The new Reading View in Word, for example, makes it significantly easier to read documents. But few of these refinements will justify rushing out and purchasing the new Office.
What might make you rush out, however, is the new version of Outlook, which has had a major overhaul and now makes navigating and reading mail, combating spam, and working remotely much easier. It's a huge step up from an already good mail client.
Microsoft is offering several flavors of Office 2003, so pick the one that best suits your needs. And if you are a home user and do decide to purchase Office 2003, don't ignore the $149 Student and Teacher Edition. If you've ever stepped foot in a classroom, you can buy this version. And business users buying at retail should note that they're eligible for upgrade pricing if they use any version of the suite going back to Office 97 or if they use a fairly recent version of Microsoft Works.
Bear in mind that buying into the Office 2003 system makes you also buy into Microsoft's latest server technology. Many of the new tools in Office 2003, especially those that provide improved collaboration capabilities, will work only in a Microsoft environment.
Microsoft Office 2003 Editions
Pricing
(click on a price to
check the latest prices) List Price Upgrade price
Basic N/A(1) N/A(1)
Standard $399 $239
Student and Teacher $149 N/A(2)
Small Business $449 N/A(2)
Professional $499 $329
Professional Enterprise Volume Licensing Volume Licensing
N/A(1)--Not applicable: The product is preinstalled on some PCs and is not available as an upgrade.
N/A(2)--Not Applicable: Upgrades for this edition are not available.
What's Included Word 2003 Excel 2003 Outlook 2003 Outlook 2003** Power-
Point 2003 Access 2003 Publisher 2003 InfoPath 2003
Basic • • •
Standard • • • •
Student and Teacher • • • •
Small Business • • • • • •
Professional • • • • • • •
Professional Enterprise • • • • • • • •
** With Business Contact Manager
Data FlexibilityMost people already have a version of Office installed. So the big question is: Do you really need to buy this latest iteration? The short answer for the vast majority is no, you don't need to upgrade. Office has been a very competent suite for many years, and you'll get along just fine with whatever version you have. (Of course, the more recent the version the better.) With Office 2003, most of the major enhancements to the core applications, such as Word and Excel, involve improved collaboration capabilities in conjunction with the Office system. These changes have to do with Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Server, as well as Office 2003's ability to read and write XML and integrate with Web services to help improve business processes.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingThese are great features and are generally well executed in Office 2003. Most businesses should at least consider the upgrade, as the enhancements will improve productivity in any organization that relies on Office applications. For individual users, however, and those without the necessary support to run SharePoint or take advantage of XML, the Office 2003 advantage boils down to some handy new features and interface tweaks.
Even individuals will find that Office 2003 offers some nice personal productivity enhancements. Nearly every change in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access is for the best. The new Reading View in Word, for example, makes it significantly easier to read documents. But few of these refinements will justify rushing out and purchasing the new Office.
What might make you rush out, however, is the new version of Outlook, which has had a major overhaul and now makes navigating and reading mail, combating spam, and working remotely much easier. It's a huge step up from an already good mail client.
Microsoft is offering several flavors of Office 2003, so pick the one that best suits your needs. And if you are a home user and do decide to purchase Office 2003, don't ignore the $149 Student and Teacher Edition. If you've ever stepped foot in a classroom, you can buy this version. And business users buying at retail should note that they're eligible for upgrade pricing if they use any version of the suite going back to Office 97 or if they use a fairly recent version of Microsoft Works.
Bear in mind that buying into the Office 2003 system makes you also buy into Microsoft's latest server technology. Many of the new tools in Office 2003, especially those that provide improved collaboration capabilities, will work only in a Microsoft environment.
Microsoft Office 2003 Editions
Pricing
(click on a price to
check the latest prices) List Price Upgrade price
Basic N/A(1) N/A(1)
Standard $399 $239
Student and Teacher $149 N/A(2)
Small Business $449 N/A(2)
Professional $499 $329
Professional Enterprise Volume Licensing Volume Licensing
N/A(1)--Not applicable: The product is preinstalled on some PCs and is not available as an upgrade.
N/A(2)--Not Applicable: Upgrades for this edition are not available.
What's Included Word 2003 Excel 2003 Outlook 2003 Outlook 2003** Power-
Point 2003 Access 2003 Publisher 2003 InfoPath 2003
Basic • • •
Standard • • • •
Student and Teacher • • • •
Small Business • • • • • •
Professional • • • • • • •
Professional Enterprise • • • • • • • •
** With Business Contact Manager
Should You Upgrade?
Through some readers may not know it, Microsoft isn't the only company building suites these days (we review some alternatives here). But in reality, Microsoft Office 2003's biggest competitor is Office XP and earlier versions of the Office suite.
Data FlexibilityMost people already have a version of Office installed. So the big question is: Do you really need to buy this latest iteration? The short answer for the vast majority is no, you don't need to upgrade. Office has been a very competent suite for many years, and you'll get along just fine with whatever version you have. (Of course, the more recent the version the better.) With Office 2003, most of the major enhancements to the core applications, such as Word and Excel, involve improved collaboration capabilities in conjunction with the Office system. These changes have to do with Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Server, as well as Office 2003's ability to read and write XML and integrate with Web services to help improve business processes.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS Training
These are great features and are generally well executed in Office 2003. Most businesses should at least consider the upgrade, as the enhancements will improve productivity in any organization that relies on Office applications. For individual users, however, and those without the necessary support to run SharePoint or take advantage of XML, the Office 2003 advantage boils down to some handy new features and interface tweaks.
Even individuals will find that Office 2003 offers some nice personal productivity enhancements. Nearly every change in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access is for the best. The new Reading View in Word, for example, makes it significantly easier to read documents. But few of these refinements will justify rushing out and purchasing the new Office.
What might make you rush out, however, is the new version of Outlook, which has had a major overhaul and now makes navigating and reading mail, combating spam, and working remotely much easier. It's a huge step up from an already good mail client.
Microsoft is offering several flavors of Office 2003, so pick the one that best suits your needs. And if you are a home user and do decide to purchase Office 2003, don't ignore the $149 Student and Teacher Edition. If you've ever stepped foot in a classroom, you can buy this version. And business users buying at retail should note that they're eligible for upgrade pricing if they use any version of the suite going back to Office 97 or if they use a fairly recent version of Microsoft Works.
Bear in mind that buying into the Office 2003 system makes you also buy into Microsoft's latest server technology. Many of the new tools in Office 2003, especially those that provide improved collaboration capabilities, will work only in a Microsoft environment.
Microsoft Office 2003 Editions
Pricing
(click on a price to
check the latest prices) List Price Upgrade price
Basic N/A(1) N/A(1)
Standard $399 $239
Student and Teacher $149 N/A(2)
Small Business $449 N/A(2)
Professional $499 $329
Professional Enterprise Volume Licensing Volume Licensing
N/A(1)--Not applicable: The product is preinstalled on some PCs and is not available as an upgrade.
N/A(2)--Not Applicable: Upgrades for this edition are not available.
What's Included Word 2003 Excel 2003 Outlook 2003 Outlook 2003** Power-
Point 2003 Access 2003 Publisher 2003 InfoPath 2003
Basic • • •
Standard • • • •
Student and Teacher • • • •
Small Business • • • • • •
Professional • • • • • • •
Professional Enterprise • • • • • • • •
** With Business Contact Manager
Data FlexibilityMost people already have a version of Office installed. So the big question is: Do you really need to buy this latest iteration? The short answer for the vast majority is no, you don't need to upgrade. Office has been a very competent suite for many years, and you'll get along just fine with whatever version you have. (Of course, the more recent the version the better.) With Office 2003, most of the major enhancements to the core applications, such as Word and Excel, involve improved collaboration capabilities in conjunction with the Office system. These changes have to do with Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal Server, as well as Office 2003's ability to read and write XML and integrate with Web services to help improve business processes.
Best online Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.com - Free MCTS TrainingThese are great features and are generally well executed in Office 2003. Most businesses should at least consider the upgrade, as the enhancements will improve productivity in any organization that relies on Office applications. For individual users, however, and those without the necessary support to run SharePoint or take advantage of XML, the Office 2003 advantage boils down to some handy new features and interface tweaks.
Even individuals will find that Office 2003 offers some nice personal productivity enhancements. Nearly every change in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access is for the best. The new Reading View in Word, for example, makes it significantly easier to read documents. But few of these refinements will justify rushing out and purchasing the new Office.
What might make you rush out, however, is the new version of Outlook, which has had a major overhaul and now makes navigating and reading mail, combating spam, and working remotely much easier. It's a huge step up from an already good mail client.
Microsoft is offering several flavors of Office 2003, so pick the one that best suits your needs. And if you are a home user and do decide to purchase Office 2003, don't ignore the $149 Student and Teacher Edition. If you've ever stepped foot in a classroom, you can buy this version. And business users buying at retail should note that they're eligible for upgrade pricing if they use any version of the suite going back to Office 97 or if they use a fairly recent version of Microsoft Works.
Bear in mind that buying into the Office 2003 system makes you also buy into Microsoft's latest server technology. Many of the new tools in Office 2003, especially those that provide improved collaboration capabilities, will work only in a Microsoft environment.
Microsoft Office 2003 Editions
Pricing
(click on a price to
check the latest prices) List Price Upgrade price
Basic N/A(1) N/A(1)
Standard $399 $239
Student and Teacher $149 N/A(2)
Small Business $449 N/A(2)
Professional $499 $329
Professional Enterprise Volume Licensing Volume Licensing
N/A(1)--Not applicable: The product is preinstalled on some PCs and is not available as an upgrade.
N/A(2)--Not Applicable: Upgrades for this edition are not available.
What's Included Word 2003 Excel 2003 Outlook 2003 Outlook 2003** Power-
Point 2003 Access 2003 Publisher 2003 InfoPath 2003
Basic • • •
Standard • • • •
Student and Teacher • • • •
Small Business • • • • • •
Professional • • • • • • •
Professional Enterprise • • • • • • • •
** With Business Contact Manager
January 15, 2011
JFK Presidential Library Launches New Cloud-Based Archive ( Part II)
EMC, Iron Mountain, Raytheon and AT&T are the key corporate sponsors. All have donated financially and materials-wise to the project.
EMC donated the original Celerra storage array four years ago to get the project started and has upgraded the equipment since then; Iron Mountain's digital archiving and backup software and services, Raytheon's connectivity hardware and services, and AT&T's Web hosting and data security also are in the mix.
JFK Library Digital Archivist Erica Boudreau, who oversaw the beginning of the digital archive project in 2006, told eWEEK that the project began with a single EMC Celerra array that provided about 10TB of capacity.
"We used [EMC's] Application Extender for metadata capture and management," Boudreau told eWEEK. "We later migrated to Documentum [an EMC division]. The handling of metadata [descriptions of the photos, videos, etc.], which is very important to us, was improved a lot."
The Website and cloud storage system uses the Endeca search engine (which currently is deployed by NewEgg.com and Time.com) and has a redundant mirror backup system at Iron Mountain for disaster recovery purposes, Fitzpatrick said. Digital tape backup is used only for SQL server backup, he added. Video is streamed from a third-party cloud service.
The Kennedy Library's research facilities in Boston are among the most referenced of presidential libraries. Its archives currently total more than 8.4 million pages of Kennedy's personal, congressional and presidential papers. Additionally, there are some 40 million pages from more than 300 other individuals who were associated with the Kennedy administration.
The physical archives also hold more than 400,000 photographs, 9,000 hours of audio recordings, 7.5 million feet of motion picture film and 1,200 hours of video recordings. The digitization efforts are ongoing, and additional material will be added to the archive as it is scanned and described.
JFK clearly saw the future of IT
JFK himself was prescient about the impact of IT--even though computers were still in their infancy in the early 1960s.
In 1961, he was asked at a press conference whether he would consider putting his official papers in Washington D.C., rather than in his home town as previous presidents have done, so as to make them more accessible to scholars and historians who come to Washington to work at the Library of Congress and other agencies.
In his response, the president spoke of a future where, "through scientific means of reproduction … and this will certainly be increased as time goes on, we will find it possible to reproduce the key documents so that they will be commonly available."
The president certainly had it right.
EMC donated the original Celerra storage array four years ago to get the project started and has upgraded the equipment since then; Iron Mountain's digital archiving and backup software and services, Raytheon's connectivity hardware and services, and AT&T's Web hosting and data security also are in the mix.
JFK Library Digital Archivist Erica Boudreau, who oversaw the beginning of the digital archive project in 2006, told eWEEK that the project began with a single EMC Celerra array that provided about 10TB of capacity.
"We used [EMC's] Application Extender for metadata capture and management," Boudreau told eWEEK. "We later migrated to Documentum [an EMC division]. The handling of metadata [descriptions of the photos, videos, etc.], which is very important to us, was improved a lot."
The Website and cloud storage system uses the Endeca search engine (which currently is deployed by NewEgg.com and Time.com) and has a redundant mirror backup system at Iron Mountain for disaster recovery purposes, Fitzpatrick said. Digital tape backup is used only for SQL server backup, he added. Video is streamed from a third-party cloud service.
The Kennedy Library's research facilities in Boston are among the most referenced of presidential libraries. Its archives currently total more than 8.4 million pages of Kennedy's personal, congressional and presidential papers. Additionally, there are some 40 million pages from more than 300 other individuals who were associated with the Kennedy administration.
The physical archives also hold more than 400,000 photographs, 9,000 hours of audio recordings, 7.5 million feet of motion picture film and 1,200 hours of video recordings. The digitization efforts are ongoing, and additional material will be added to the archive as it is scanned and described.
JFK clearly saw the future of IT
JFK himself was prescient about the impact of IT--even though computers were still in their infancy in the early 1960s.
In 1961, he was asked at a press conference whether he would consider putting his official papers in Washington D.C., rather than in his home town as previous presidents have done, so as to make them more accessible to scholars and historians who come to Washington to work at the Library of Congress and other agencies.
In his response, the president spoke of a future where, "through scientific means of reproduction … and this will certainly be increased as time goes on, we will find it possible to reproduce the key documents so that they will be commonly available."
The president certainly had it right.
JFK Presidential Library Launches New Cloud-Based Archive
The archive contains 40TB of material--some 200,000 document pages, 300 reels of audio tape, 300 museum artifacts, 72 reels of
JFK Presidential Library Launches New Cloud-Based Archive
A half-century has gone by since President John F. Kennedy declared his famous call to action on that frigid Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 1961: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Next week, the Boston-based John F. Kennedy Library & Museum will mark the anniversary with a special event to commemorate the young president's short but historically significant time in office.
On Jan. 13, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and Caroline Kennedy, president of her father's library foundation, introduced what is now the nation's largest online presidential archive at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
Not only has the library's Website been upgraded with thousands of new documents, but it also sports an easier-to-use interface and search engine. The new archive itself is loaded with new document scans, audio tapes and videos comprising nearly 40TB worth of data.
As of the Jan. 13 launch, the archive contains about 200,000 document pages; 300 reels of audio tape, containing more than 1,245 individual recordings of telephone calls, speeches and meetings; 300 museum artifacts; 72 reels of film; and 1,500 photos.
The library's Website archive, built with a new cloud-based system, now provides global access to the most important papers, records, photographs and recordings of Kennedy's three years in office. Until Jan. 13, only a select few photos and documents were published on the Website; all the rest of the historical material had been available only by a personal visit to the library.
Students, teachers, researchers and members of the public now have a capable, Web-based connection to search, browse and retrieve original documents from the Kennedy Library's collection, gaining a first-hand look into the life of President Kennedy and the issues that defined his administration, Ferriero said at the Jan. 13 event.
"My parents believed that history is one of our greatest teachers," Caroline Kennedy said. "As young people increasingly rely on the Internet as their primary source for information, it is our hope that the library's online archive will allow a new generation to learn about this important chapter in American history.
"As they discover the heroes of the civil rights movement, the pioneers of outer space and the first Peace Corps volunteers, we hope they too are inspired to ask what they can do for their country."
Still much to publish
Even though there is nearly 40TB of data now stored, there is still a lot more to digitize and publish, JFK Library IT specialist Tim Fitzpatrick told eWEEK.
There are still about 48 million pages left to digitize before everything is online, and the library is always taking in new material. We won't see the completed collection online in our lifetimes.
"At our current rate," Fitzpatrick said, "it will take more than 100 years to get everything digitized."
The new archive is a project four years and $10 million in the making. Grad-level college librarian and archive interns have been scanning document after document, photo after photo since the project started in 2006. More than 100 boxes of JFK's personal and professional memos, letters, speeches, audio recordings, film and other artifacts have been scanned and stored into the institution's data center in Washington, D.C.
JFK Presidential Library Launches New Cloud-Based Archive
A half-century has gone by since President John F. Kennedy declared his famous call to action on that frigid Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 1961: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Next week, the Boston-based John F. Kennedy Library & Museum will mark the anniversary with a special event to commemorate the young president's short but historically significant time in office.
On Jan. 13, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and Caroline Kennedy, president of her father's library foundation, introduced what is now the nation's largest online presidential archive at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
Not only has the library's Website been upgraded with thousands of new documents, but it also sports an easier-to-use interface and search engine. The new archive itself is loaded with new document scans, audio tapes and videos comprising nearly 40TB worth of data.
As of the Jan. 13 launch, the archive contains about 200,000 document pages; 300 reels of audio tape, containing more than 1,245 individual recordings of telephone calls, speeches and meetings; 300 museum artifacts; 72 reels of film; and 1,500 photos.
The library's Website archive, built with a new cloud-based system, now provides global access to the most important papers, records, photographs and recordings of Kennedy's three years in office. Until Jan. 13, only a select few photos and documents were published on the Website; all the rest of the historical material had been available only by a personal visit to the library.
Students, teachers, researchers and members of the public now have a capable, Web-based connection to search, browse and retrieve original documents from the Kennedy Library's collection, gaining a first-hand look into the life of President Kennedy and the issues that defined his administration, Ferriero said at the Jan. 13 event.
"My parents believed that history is one of our greatest teachers," Caroline Kennedy said. "As young people increasingly rely on the Internet as their primary source for information, it is our hope that the library's online archive will allow a new generation to learn about this important chapter in American history.
"As they discover the heroes of the civil rights movement, the pioneers of outer space and the first Peace Corps volunteers, we hope they too are inspired to ask what they can do for their country."
Still much to publish
Even though there is nearly 40TB of data now stored, there is still a lot more to digitize and publish, JFK Library IT specialist Tim Fitzpatrick told eWEEK.
There are still about 48 million pages left to digitize before everything is online, and the library is always taking in new material. We won't see the completed collection online in our lifetimes.
"At our current rate," Fitzpatrick said, "it will take more than 100 years to get everything digitized."
The new archive is a project four years and $10 million in the making. Grad-level college librarian and archive interns have been scanning document after document, photo after photo since the project started in 2006. More than 100 boxes of JFK's personal and professional memos, letters, speeches, audio recordings, film and other artifacts have been scanned and stored into the institution's data center in Washington, D.C.
January 14, 2011
MCSE 2003 Design Active Directory exam
This 70-297 exam of mcse certification consists of Multiple Choice, Hot Area, Drag, and Drop, Build list and reorder, and Build a Tree questions. The MCSE 2003 can be adaptive and simulation questions might be asked. This test includes Case study type questions. You will be required to attempt approximately 50 questions in 150 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 700. To know more about this exam please read the following : Everything you want to know about 70-297 exam. Download 70-297 practice test.
The exam guide for the Microsoft Windows 2003 Design Active Directory test measures an individual's ability to analyze the business requirements and to design a directory service architecture including unified directory services, such as Active Directory and Windows NT/2000 domains connectivity between and within systems, system components, and applications data replication, such as directory replication and database replication. In addition, the 70-297 test measures the skills required for analyzing the business and technical requirements for desktop management, designing a solution for desktop management that meets business requirements, designing a directory service architecture, and designing service locations.By using MCSE Certification, you must be able to pass the exam and provide yourself with better job opportunities.
70-297 test prepares you for various job roles, which include: systems engineer, systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts and technical consultants. If you would like to know more about the Windows Server 2003 Design Active Directory 70-297 test please visit the Microsoft website.
This 70-297 exam is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems in network environments.
Now you don't need to spend your time and money searching for 70-297 study materials, 70-297 books, 70-297 PDF, etc. This 70-297 tutorial kit contains everything you need to get certified. Just follow the instructions, focus on the free Microsoft practice IT questions and getting certified will be easy.
The exam guide for the Microsoft Windows 2003 Design Active Directory test measures an individual's ability to analyze the business requirements and to design a directory service architecture including unified directory services, such as Active Directory and Windows NT/2000 domains connectivity between and within systems, system components, and applications data replication, such as directory replication and database replication. In addition, the 70-297 test measures the skills required for analyzing the business and technical requirements for desktop management, designing a solution for desktop management that meets business requirements, designing a directory service architecture, and designing service locations.By using MCSE Certification, you must be able to pass the exam and provide yourself with better job opportunities.
70-297 test prepares you for various job roles, which include: systems engineer, systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts and technical consultants. If you would like to know more about the Windows Server 2003 Design Active Directory 70-297 test please visit the Microsoft website.
This 70-297 exam is appropriate for you if you are working or want to work in a typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. There are no specific prerequisites for this test, although it is recommended that you should have at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems in network environments.
Now you don't need to spend your time and money searching for 70-297 study materials, 70-297 books, 70-297 PDF, etc. This 70-297 tutorial kit contains everything you need to get certified. Just follow the instructions, focus on the free Microsoft practice IT questions and getting certified will be easy.
January 12, 2011
Microsoft releases three security bulletins for September
Microsoft released three security bulletins for September's Patch Tuesday, but only one is critical. The other two bulletins patch more minor threats. However, Redmond has yet to release a patch for the known Word 2000 vulnerability, which attackers are already exploiting.
Details
Well, Microsoft is taking it easy on us at the end of summer, releasing only three security updates for this month. Even the critical threat should have relatively minor impact on many businesses because it mainly affects Microsoft Publisher. However, readers should note that other Microsoft Office applications use some of the affected files, which can cause some minor problems.
MS06-054
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-054, "Vulnerability in Microsoft Publisher Could Allow Remote Code Execution," is only a critical threat for users of Office Publisher 2000 Service Pack 3. While this threat also affects Office Publisher 2002 SP3, Office Publisher 2003 SP1, and Office Publisher SP2, it is only an important threat for these versions.
This is a newly reported threat, and there have been no reports of exploits in the wild (CVE-2006-0001). The only workaround is to refrain from opening or saving Publisher files obtained from untrusted sources.
Note: An update to MS06-054 indicates that installing the update will prevent users from accessing Publisher 2.0 files. For more details, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 924685.
In addition, keep in mind that even though the patch will block attacks exploiting this vector, opening a malformed Publisher file (such as one designed to exploit the vulnerability) after installing the patch can still cause a system crash.
If your organization doesn't use Publisher, it isn't important that you apply the update for security reasons. But if you have Publisher installed and don't install the update, you can expect to get periodic reminders about updating the affected files.
MS06-053
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-053, "Vulnerability in Indexing Service Could Allow Cross-Site Scripting," addresses a moderate to low threat caused by a query validation error (CVE-2006-0032). This is a moderate threat for Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP1, and Windows SP2, but it's only a low threat for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 SP1.
This is a newly discovered vulnerability, and there have been no reports of exploits in the wild. This bulletin replaces Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-003 for Windows XP SP1 and Windows Server 2003.
Because this threat only applies to Internet Information Services (IIS), there should be no impact for many users; Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 don't install or enable IIS by default. Read the security bulletin to learn about available workarounds; the most useful one is to simply remove or disable the Indexing Service if it isn't necessary.
MS06-052
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-052, "Vulnerability in Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Could Allow Remote Code Execution," is an important threat that affects Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP2 only. This is a privately reported vulnerability, and there have been no reports of active exploits (CVE-2006-3442).
The Pragmatic General Multicast protocol is only present on systems with Microsoft Message Queuing version 3.0 installed, which isn't part of the default installation. Using firewall best practices should block attacks trying to exploit this vulnerability, but Microsoft reports no known workarounds.
Updates to previously released security bulletins
* Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-040: Originally released in August, version 2.0 addresses patch problems with Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64, as described in Knowledge Base article 921883.
* Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-042: Also released in August, this Internet Explorer cumulative update has now reached version 3.0, a necessary step to fix a number of problems with the patches.
Details
Well, Microsoft is taking it easy on us at the end of summer, releasing only three security updates for this month. Even the critical threat should have relatively minor impact on many businesses because it mainly affects Microsoft Publisher. However, readers should note that other Microsoft Office applications use some of the affected files, which can cause some minor problems.
MS06-054
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-054, "Vulnerability in Microsoft Publisher Could Allow Remote Code Execution," is only a critical threat for users of Office Publisher 2000 Service Pack 3. While this threat also affects Office Publisher 2002 SP3, Office Publisher 2003 SP1, and Office Publisher SP2, it is only an important threat for these versions.
This is a newly reported threat, and there have been no reports of exploits in the wild (CVE-2006-0001). The only workaround is to refrain from opening or saving Publisher files obtained from untrusted sources.
Note: An update to MS06-054 indicates that installing the update will prevent users from accessing Publisher 2.0 files. For more details, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 924685.
In addition, keep in mind that even though the patch will block attacks exploiting this vector, opening a malformed Publisher file (such as one designed to exploit the vulnerability) after installing the patch can still cause a system crash.
If your organization doesn't use Publisher, it isn't important that you apply the update for security reasons. But if you have Publisher installed and don't install the update, you can expect to get periodic reminders about updating the affected files.
MS06-053
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-053, "Vulnerability in Indexing Service Could Allow Cross-Site Scripting," addresses a moderate to low threat caused by a query validation error (CVE-2006-0032). This is a moderate threat for Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP1, and Windows SP2, but it's only a low threat for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 SP1.
This is a newly discovered vulnerability, and there have been no reports of exploits in the wild. This bulletin replaces Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-003 for Windows XP SP1 and Windows Server 2003.
Because this threat only applies to Internet Information Services (IIS), there should be no impact for many users; Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 don't install or enable IIS by default. Read the security bulletin to learn about available workarounds; the most useful one is to simply remove or disable the Indexing Service if it isn't necessary.
MS06-052
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-052, "Vulnerability in Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Could Allow Remote Code Execution," is an important threat that affects Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP2 only. This is a privately reported vulnerability, and there have been no reports of active exploits (CVE-2006-3442).
The Pragmatic General Multicast protocol is only present on systems with Microsoft Message Queuing version 3.0 installed, which isn't part of the default installation. Using firewall best practices should block attacks trying to exploit this vulnerability, but Microsoft reports no known workarounds.
Updates to previously released security bulletins
* Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-040: Originally released in August, version 2.0 addresses patch problems with Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64, as described in Knowledge Base article 921883.
* Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-042: Also released in August, this Internet Explorer cumulative update has now reached version 3.0, a necessary step to fix a number of problems with the patches.
January 10, 2011
Get IT Done: Protect Windows servers with Microsoft Security Resource Kit
Since the announcement of its Trustworthy Computing initiative, Microsoft has released a plethora of utilities designed to help administrators keep their Windows systems secure. Keeping track of everything that has been released as well as keeping up with regular updating and patching of Windows systems can be a major challenge. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easier with the release of the Microsoft Security Resource Kit, a CD-ROM containing nearly all of the security utilities the company has released. The kit is free, and you can order it from Microsoft.
I'm going to show you what it includes and how it can help you lock down Windows servers.
What's in there?
The kit is divided into four sections:
* Security Resources
* Security Tools
* Infrastructure
* Desktop Security
Figure A provides a look at the welcome screen.
Figure A
Microsoft Security Resource Kit main screen
The Security Resources section includes PDF documents with detailed explanations for securing Microsoft servers, as well as links to security information on Microsoft’s Web site.
The Security Tools section contains items such as the Security Update Server, the IIS Lockdown Tool 2.1, QChain.exe, the Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker (hfnetchk.exe), and the most recent Windows 2000 security rollup package. Table A lists the software components included with the kit.
Table A Security Update Server Allows administrators to automatically apply updates to their Windows servers. Make sure that you carefully go over and understand any licensing and end user license agreements (EULA) that come with the Security Update Server, as well as the packages it installs. Certain provisions in recent Microsoft recent EULAs—especially those with Windows XP SP1 and Windows 2000 SP3—essentially allow Microsoft access to your systems.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer This utility looks at Windows servers, including SQL Server and Exchange, in an effort to identify potential security misconfigurations.
IIS Lockdown Tool 2.1 This tool secures the ever-vulnerable IIS Web server.
QChain.exe This one allows you to install multiple hotfixes with a single command.
Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker This utility identifies the hotfixes that have not been applied to your servers.
Software components of the security resource kit
White papers in the Infrastructure section
The kit excels in providing detailed security information. Dozens of white papers on products including Windows, IIS, Exchange, ISA Server, and SMS are included. The topics are all security related and provide excellent information on best practices for deploying those systems and their components.
The Exchange section contains information on protecting an Exchange server from viruses and an overview of the product's security features.
The Windows 2000 section is an invaluable resource for administrators who are serious about security and includes information on PKI, cryptography, Kerberos, IPSec, the Encrypting File System (EFS), and distributed security servers, as well as on how these services are related to and deployed in Windows environments. Having all of these white papers in one place makes life easier for administrators. You'll also find white papers on additional topics, such as smart cards, single sign-on, and certificate services.
The ISA Server section offers white papers and case studies on deploying that firewall and caching product, including a how-to on using ISA to protect against the Code Red and Nimda worms. The IIS and SMS sections contain best practices white papers for those products.
Obviously, white papers alone will not protect your environment from threats. But you can glean some great tips and security practices that will help you to keep security tight and controlled.
It’s convenient to have all of these white papers in one place, especially since, at times, I have found it difficult and frustrating to find these types of resources on Microsoft’s Web site.
A demo is worth a thousand words
Also included in the kit are a number of demos and animations depicting how certain services function. Call me simple, but I like these kinds of demonstrations, especially when I need to explain to the CEO what it is that some of these services do. Figure B shows a screen shot from the Software Update Services animation.
Figure B
Software Update Services at work
Secure the desktop
This toolkit doesn't focus only on server security. One section is devoted to security on the desktop, and on Windows XP and Office XP in particular. You'll find a number of white papers and demos on how to best secure these potential weak points of infrastructure security.
Final take
The Microsoft Security Resource Kit is essential for almost any Windows administrator because it provides an abundance of security-related information in one place and across all of Microsoft’s commonly deployed products.
I especially like the inclusion of nearly every security utility available, along with the selection of white papers that offer security tips and best practices. Most of all, having all of this stuff in one place is bound to save a lot of time for administrators, who would otherwise have to search the Internet, follow various links, and download each of these tools and documents individually.
I would have liked to see other servers, such as SQL Server, covered a little more thoroughly in this kit. Nevertheless, this is an excellent resource that will help you plug some of the holes that continually arise in Microsoft products.
Your can order the kit here. Again, it is free. Even shipping is included, unless you want the kit rushed, in which case shipping is $5.95.Since the announcement of its Trustworthy Computing initiative, Microsoft has released a plethora of utilities designed to help administrators keep their Windows systems secure. Keeping track of everything that has been released as well as keeping up with regular updating and patching of Windows systems can be a major challenge. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easier with the release of the Microsoft Security Resource Kit, a CD-ROM containing nearly all of the security utilities the company has released. The kit is free, and you can order it from Microsoft.
I'm going to show you what it includes and how it can help you lock down Windows servers.
What's in there?
The kit is divided into four sections:
* Security Resources
* Security Tools
* Infrastructure
* Desktop Security
Figure A provides a look at the welcome screen.
Figure A
Microsoft Security Resource Kit main screen
The Security Resources section includes PDF documents with detailed explanations for securing Microsoft servers, as well as links to security information on Microsoft’s Web site.
The Security Tools section contains items such as the Security Update Server, the IIS Lockdown Tool 2.1, QChain.exe, the Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker (hfnetchk.exe), and the most recent Windows 2000 security rollup package. Table A lists the software components included with the kit.
Table A Security Update Server Allows administrators to automatically apply updates to their Windows servers. Make sure that you carefully go over and understand any licensing and end user license agreements (EULA) that come with the Security Update Server, as well as the packages it installs. Certain provisions in recent Microsoft recent EULAs—especially those with Windows XP SP1 and Windows 2000 SP3—essentially allow Microsoft access to your systems.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer This utility looks at Windows servers, including SQL Server and Exchange, in an effort to identify potential security misconfigurations.
IIS Lockdown Tool 2.1 This tool secures the ever-vulnerable IIS Web server.
QChain.exe This one allows you to install multiple hotfixes with a single command.
Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker This utility identifies the hotfixes that have not been applied to your servers.
Software components of the security resource kit
White papers in the Infrastructure section
The kit excels in providing detailed security information. Dozens of white papers on products including Windows, IIS, Exchange, ISA Server, and SMS are included. The topics are all security related and provide excellent information on best practices for deploying those systems and their components.
The Exchange section contains information on protecting an Exchange server from viruses and an overview of the product's security features.
The Windows 2000 section is an invaluable resource for administrators who are serious about security and includes information on PKI, cryptography, Kerberos, IPSec, the Encrypting File System (EFS), and distributed security servers, as well as on how these services are related to and deployed in Windows environments. Having all of these white papers in one place makes life easier for administrators. You'll also find white papers on additional topics, such as smart cards, single sign-on, and certificate services.
The ISA Server section offers white papers and case studies on deploying that firewall and caching product, including a how-to on using ISA to protect against the Code Red and Nimda worms. The IIS and SMS sections contain best practices white papers for those products.
Obviously, white papers alone will not protect your environment from threats. But you can glean some great tips and security practices that will help you to keep security tight and controlled.
It’s convenient to have all of these white papers in one place, especially since, at times, I have found it difficult and frustrating to find these types of resources on Microsoft’s Web site.
A demo is worth a thousand words
Also included in the kit are a number of demos and animations depicting how certain services function. Call me simple, but I like these kinds of demonstrations, especially when I need to explain to the CEO what it is that some of these services do. Figure B shows a screen shot from the Software Update Services animation.
Figure B
Software Update Services at work
Secure the desktop
This toolkit doesn't focus only on server security. One section is devoted to security on the desktop, and on Windows XP and Office XP in particular. You'll find a number of white papers and demos on how to best secure these potential weak points of infrastructure security.
Final take
The Microsoft Security Resource Kit is essential for almost any Windows administrator because it provides an abundance of security-related information in one place and across all of Microsoft’s commonly deployed products.
I especially like the inclusion of nearly every security utility available, along with the selection of white papers that offer security tips and best practices. Most of all, having all of this stuff in one place is bound to save a lot of time for administrators, who would otherwise have to search the Internet, follow various links, and download each of these tools and documents individually.
I would have liked to see other servers, such as SQL Server, covered a little more thoroughly in this kit. Nevertheless, this is an excellent resource that will help you plug some of the holes that continually arise in Microsoft products.
Your can order the kit here. Again, it is free. Even shipping is included, unless you want the kit rushed, in which case shipping is $5.95.
January 9, 2011
Microsoft's certification reversal cuts both ways with MCSEs
First you would, and then you wouldn’t. Then you wanted to, but you didn’t have the cash. Then your company said they’d pay, but you didn’t have the time. Either you did or you didn’t, and now it turns out you didn’t need to after all.
Microsoft’s reversal on its previous decision to retire NT 4.0 MCSE certifications has left IT pros in an interesting situation. Those who went ahead with the suggested certs are now feeling betrayed, those who ignored Microsoft’s guidelines are feeling smart, and those who just hate Microsoft are feeling vindicated.
TechRepublic members have been debating this turn of events since it happened about a month ago. The discussion, begun by NetAdmin Republic community editor Jason Hiner, drew more than 400 replies.
Before you go over to the discussion to weigh in with your two cents, take a look at a few of the opposing opinions we've gathered below.
The early bird gets the shaft
The IT pros who made the effort and spent the money to upgrade their certifications seemed to be the most bitter about Microsoft’s reversal. In order to encourage early adoption of the new certification, Microsoft gave those who passed the tests prior to Oct. 31, 2001, special gold "Early Achiever" certification cards.
Jddw wrote, "Instead of 'Early Achiever,' my gold-plated card should read 'Stupid Achiever: Victim no. #### of another Microsoft scam.' After all the effort I put into obtaining my MCSE 2000, I see my investment so devalued that it is now useless. I was no more than a victim of a scam."
Along with feeling that their efforts were unnecessary, some early adopters had to put up with flack from coworkers who joined the majority of MCSEs who refused to upgrade their certifications right away.
"I am someone who has upgraded to the 2K certification. It will be my last MS certification. I guess I feel cheated because I put a lot of time, effort, and stress into passing the 240 exam over the summer. Now I feel that it was unnecessary, because my organization is not ready to upgrade the OS. I upgraded out of the pressure of being decertified," wrote Ever1965. "All this does is aid those in my company who give me grief about certifications. They think I am crazy to put myself through the constant change. I am beginning to agree. If I am wrong in the way I feel, all right. I just really do not put much stock in what MS says anymore."
Others who upgraded their certification thought that doing so would give them a competitive advantage by culling out thousands of "paper" MCSEs who would not be able to pass the more strident standards in the new certification.
Ert1 wrote, "I'm not happy. I was looking forward to the MCSE meaning something again by the end of the year, when 400,000 paper MCSEs were dropped from the rolls. I have my Win2K MCSE, so I'm not worried, but I feel MS made a mistake changing course like that. NT 4 is going to be around, but I'm surprised MS wants to promote its use by supporting the certification."
Big, bad Microsoft
As with all things associated with Microsoft, there are the MS detractors, who see this latest incident as nothing more than the computing giant trying to string along IT pros who aren’t yet wise to its devious ways.
Riskybznis22 wrote that Microsoft's original intention of retiring the MCSE for NT 4.0 was an insult to those who had earned the certification. It doesn't matter what Microsoft does, according to Riskybznis22, because the company will find a way to fleece their MCSEs and customers another way.
"So M$ changed their minds once again and decided to grace us NT MCSEs with their kindness, eh? I, for one, just don't care anymore what M$ says or what they tell me I have to do. I was planning to go right on being an MCSE as of Jan. 1, 2002, so to hell with them and their nonsense," wrote Jlipscomb.
Member David Higgenbotham agreed, saying that after more than 15 years supporting Microsoft products, ”I prefer to spend my time being a little more innovative, trying to incorporate emerging technologies to position my company for the future rather than wasting my time trying to fix something that should not be broken in the first place…. I'm not going to chase my tail every 24 months when M$ wags a new broken OS in my face and expects me, and all the rest of us, to troubleshoot the problems out of it for the next bug fix. If I’ve got to fix it to use it, then it should be free!"
To Microsoft's rescue
Not everyone was joining the Microsoft-bashing fest. Many participants in the discussion reminded their peers that the company has provided them with the products that have encouraged employers to hire them in the first place.
Others, like Justjonnygirl, value the certification tests as a way to stay current with their skill sets. "If all you work with is NT, then it's wonderful that your certs will still be valid. Be happy (like most of us) that Microsoft has taken the feedback from folks in the industry and reevaluated the need to retire NT 4 certs. The technology is awesome, and I, frankly, appreciate what Microsoft has done for computing globally," Justjonnygirl wrote.
Several supporters said that they had decided not to go after any more Microsoft certs, but now that Microsoft has issued this reversal, they will reconsider their Microsoft certification options.
"So glad to hear Microsoft hasn't shut their ears and closed their minds to the ideas, if not demands, of their support system and customers," wrote Bogus Genius. "I, for one, am 'upgrading' (and that is what it is, like it or not) from NT4 to W2K. But now I can reorder my priorities without suffering the wrath of MS."
Mike Griffin wrote, "After the initial announcement, I had decided not to pursue any new Microsoft certifications, but rather go with Sun, Cisco, etc,. where the technology may expire but the certification does not. I believe others may have come to the same decision. Now I will again consider new Microsoft certifications."
That sentiment was echoed by others, like Jim Biles, who wrote, "I'll reconsider my decision to never recertify. Since skills that are still valid in the workplace won't be arbitrarily trashed, the effort will have a different value. It will also give me time to actually use 2000 on a production network and earn the cert based on real experience."
Microsoft’s reversal on its previous decision to retire NT 4.0 MCSE certifications has left IT pros in an interesting situation. Those who went ahead with the suggested certs are now feeling betrayed, those who ignored Microsoft’s guidelines are feeling smart, and those who just hate Microsoft are feeling vindicated.
TechRepublic members have been debating this turn of events since it happened about a month ago. The discussion, begun by NetAdmin Republic community editor Jason Hiner, drew more than 400 replies.
Before you go over to the discussion to weigh in with your two cents, take a look at a few of the opposing opinions we've gathered below.
The early bird gets the shaft
The IT pros who made the effort and spent the money to upgrade their certifications seemed to be the most bitter about Microsoft’s reversal. In order to encourage early adoption of the new certification, Microsoft gave those who passed the tests prior to Oct. 31, 2001, special gold "Early Achiever" certification cards.
Jddw wrote, "Instead of 'Early Achiever,' my gold-plated card should read 'Stupid Achiever: Victim no. #### of another Microsoft scam.' After all the effort I put into obtaining my MCSE 2000, I see my investment so devalued that it is now useless. I was no more than a victim of a scam."
Along with feeling that their efforts were unnecessary, some early adopters had to put up with flack from coworkers who joined the majority of MCSEs who refused to upgrade their certifications right away.
"I am someone who has upgraded to the 2K certification. It will be my last MS certification. I guess I feel cheated because I put a lot of time, effort, and stress into passing the 240 exam over the summer. Now I feel that it was unnecessary, because my organization is not ready to upgrade the OS. I upgraded out of the pressure of being decertified," wrote Ever1965. "All this does is aid those in my company who give me grief about certifications. They think I am crazy to put myself through the constant change. I am beginning to agree. If I am wrong in the way I feel, all right. I just really do not put much stock in what MS says anymore."
Others who upgraded their certification thought that doing so would give them a competitive advantage by culling out thousands of "paper" MCSEs who would not be able to pass the more strident standards in the new certification.
Ert1 wrote, "I'm not happy. I was looking forward to the MCSE meaning something again by the end of the year, when 400,000 paper MCSEs were dropped from the rolls. I have my Win2K MCSE, so I'm not worried, but I feel MS made a mistake changing course like that. NT 4 is going to be around, but I'm surprised MS wants to promote its use by supporting the certification."
Big, bad Microsoft
As with all things associated with Microsoft, there are the MS detractors, who see this latest incident as nothing more than the computing giant trying to string along IT pros who aren’t yet wise to its devious ways.
Riskybznis22 wrote that Microsoft's original intention of retiring the MCSE for NT 4.0 was an insult to those who had earned the certification. It doesn't matter what Microsoft does, according to Riskybznis22, because the company will find a way to fleece their MCSEs and customers another way.
"So M$ changed their minds once again and decided to grace us NT MCSEs with their kindness, eh? I, for one, just don't care anymore what M$ says or what they tell me I have to do. I was planning to go right on being an MCSE as of Jan. 1, 2002, so to hell with them and their nonsense," wrote Jlipscomb.
Member David Higgenbotham agreed, saying that after more than 15 years supporting Microsoft products, ”I prefer to spend my time being a little more innovative, trying to incorporate emerging technologies to position my company for the future rather than wasting my time trying to fix something that should not be broken in the first place…. I'm not going to chase my tail every 24 months when M$ wags a new broken OS in my face and expects me, and all the rest of us, to troubleshoot the problems out of it for the next bug fix. If I’ve got to fix it to use it, then it should be free!"
To Microsoft's rescue
Not everyone was joining the Microsoft-bashing fest. Many participants in the discussion reminded their peers that the company has provided them with the products that have encouraged employers to hire them in the first place.
Others, like Justjonnygirl, value the certification tests as a way to stay current with their skill sets. "If all you work with is NT, then it's wonderful that your certs will still be valid. Be happy (like most of us) that Microsoft has taken the feedback from folks in the industry and reevaluated the need to retire NT 4 certs. The technology is awesome, and I, frankly, appreciate what Microsoft has done for computing globally," Justjonnygirl wrote.
Several supporters said that they had decided not to go after any more Microsoft certs, but now that Microsoft has issued this reversal, they will reconsider their Microsoft certification options.
"So glad to hear Microsoft hasn't shut their ears and closed their minds to the ideas, if not demands, of their support system and customers," wrote Bogus Genius. "I, for one, am 'upgrading' (and that is what it is, like it or not) from NT4 to W2K. But now I can reorder my priorities without suffering the wrath of MS."
Mike Griffin wrote, "After the initial announcement, I had decided not to pursue any new Microsoft certifications, but rather go with Sun, Cisco, etc,. where the technology may expire but the certification does not. I believe others may have come to the same decision. Now I will again consider new Microsoft certifications."
That sentiment was echoed by others, like Jim Biles, who wrote, "I'll reconsider my decision to never recertify. Since skills that are still valid in the workplace won't be arbitrarily trashed, the effort will have a different value. It will also give me time to actually use 2000 on a production network and earn the cert based on real experience."
January 7, 2011
70-620 Downloadable, Interactive Testing engines
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January 5, 2011
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-620): Configuring Windows Vista Client
This exam is designed to validate proficiency supporting Windows Vista exam client. This exam will fulfill the Windows Vista Technology Specialist requirements of Exam 70-620. The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) on Windows Vista credential is intended for information technology (IT) professionals who work in the complex computing environment of medium to large companies. The MCTS candidate should have at least one year of experience in Tier 1 or Tier 2 phone support in an upper midsize organization or enterprise environment.
MCTS candidates should have experience resolving issues concerning network connectivity, desktop operating systems, security, and applications. Their experience should also include addressing logon problems, performing password resets, and resolving most issues with desktop applications.
Designed to help study for and pass this important MCTS exam on the Vista operating system on the way to MCITP status
Targeted to newcomers to Microsoft certification AND people who wish to upgrade their Windows 2003 MCSE/MCSA
THE independent source of exam day tips, techniques, and warnings not available from Microsoft
Comprehensive study guide guarantees 100% coverage of all Microsoft's exam objectives
Interactive FastTrack e-learning modules help simplify difficult exam topics
Two full-function ExamDay practice MCTS Certification guarantee double coverage of all exam objectives
Free download of audio FastTracks for use with iPods or other MP3 players
1000 page "DRILL DOWN" reference for comprehensive topic review.
Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-620, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista Client certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features that exam candidates want most-including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.
Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on configuring a Windows Vista client, this official study guide covers topics such as installing the client software, migrating from previous versions of the Microsoft free practice exams for MCTS client, and configuring systems settings, security features, network connectivity, communications and media applications, and mobile devices.
MCTS candidates should have experience resolving issues concerning network connectivity, desktop operating systems, security, and applications. Their experience should also include addressing logon problems, performing password resets, and resolving most issues with desktop applications.
Designed to help study for and pass this important MCTS exam on the Vista operating system on the way to MCITP status
Targeted to newcomers to Microsoft certification AND people who wish to upgrade their Windows 2003 MCSE/MCSA
THE independent source of exam day tips, techniques, and warnings not available from Microsoft
Comprehensive study guide guarantees 100% coverage of all Microsoft's exam objectives
Interactive FastTrack e-learning modules help simplify difficult exam topics
Two full-function ExamDay practice MCTS Certification guarantee double coverage of all exam objectives
Free download of audio FastTracks for use with iPods or other MP3 players
1000 page "DRILL DOWN" reference for comprehensive topic review.
Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-620, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista Client certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features that exam candidates want most-including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.
Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on configuring a Windows Vista client, this official study guide covers topics such as installing the client software, migrating from previous versions of the Microsoft free practice exams for MCTS client, and configuring systems settings, security features, network connectivity, communications and media applications, and mobile devices.
January 3, 2011
Preparing for the 70-291 Implementing and Managing a Windows Server 2003 Network Exam
This is the one of my new Preparing for 70-291 series of experience blogs. One of the fortunate things of working in consulting and subsequently moving into a role where I am assisting others to prepare for consulting themselves is the opportunity to really build my own experience with preparing for and completing certification exams to accredit my skills, the work that I do, and to build credibility with the folks that I am teaching.As such,I have taken some time to put together my thoughts about my experiences as I have recently completed various credentials.
Announcing an all-new MCSA/MCSE Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exam 70-291, a core exam for the new Windows Server 2003 certification.This kit packs the tools and features that exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.
Focusing on network infrastructure management for Windows Server 2003, this official study guide covers topics such as implementing, managing, and maintaining IP addressing, name resolution, network security measures, routing and remote access, and monitoring and troubleshooting network infrastructure.
Ace your MCSE 2003 exams preparation and ramp up quickly on Windows Server 2003 by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 and a 15 percent exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.
Please understand that this is intended as a preparation material, to provide targeted resources to help you prepare for the exam. NOT to help you pass the exam.You do that.You need to make sure that you budget an appropriate amount of time to prepare to CompTIA sit an exam.
Announcing an all-new MCSA/MCSE Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on Exam 70-291, a core exam for the new Windows Server 2003 certification.This kit packs the tools and features that exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.
Focusing on network infrastructure management for Windows Server 2003, this official study guide covers topics such as implementing, managing, and maintaining IP addressing, name resolution, network security measures, routing and remote access, and monitoring and troubleshooting network infrastructure.
Ace your MCSE 2003 exams preparation and ramp up quickly on Windows Server 2003 by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 and a 15 percent exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.
Please understand that this is intended as a preparation material, to provide targeted resources to help you prepare for the exam. NOT to help you pass the exam.You do that.You need to make sure that you budget an appropriate amount of time to prepare to CompTIA sit an exam.
January 2, 2011
70-291 training courses and Study Guides
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