Windows PC’s have a Files and Settings Transfer wizard that you can use to transfer files. Usually the option to move files involves saving them to a CD-ROM or USB key. What if you have more files than will easily fit on those two items though? What would be nice is to plug a cable into the two computers to connect them directly.

The StarTech USB Data File Transfer Cable does exactly that.

Since the cable is USB 2.0, you’ll be able to transfer files between the two computers at 480Mbps.

The device works best when being used to transfer files from a Windows XP machine to another Vista machine. You can also use it to transfer from a Vista machine to a Vista machine, or Windows XP/Vista to Windows 7. From my own experience in testing out the device, it doesn’t work trying to transfer files between two Windows XP machines.

Did you follow that?

Basically if you’re upgrading to a new computer from an old one? You’re good to go. Pick up the StarTech USB Data File Transfer Cable and start moving your files almost effortlessly.

Post from: EveryJoe

Transfer Files from Your Old to New Computer

The one glaring issue I’ve experienced now in both my experience with Windows 7 at home and professionally is printer driver support.

The first experience was with our Lexmark X5400 multi-function device at home. My wife’s laptop got Windows 7 installed and since that time, she’s not been able to print anything to our printer. Was hoping that once the official release of Windows 7 was available, the printer support would come with it, but we’ve seen nothing.

Then I had a client that purchased a new laptop. Installs went great. Connecting the new laptop to his network was superbly easy. Even updating resources and getting rid of the junkware that’s useless on a new machine was as easy as if I’d been running Windows XP on it instead. Windows 7 just feels familiar.

Yet with all that good, the new laptop wouldn’t successfully install one of the printers in his office. Now we’re waiting for updated Windows 7 printer drivers from Lexmark and HP. If you hear of them coming out, let me know will you?

Image: dansflickr on flickr

Post from: EveryJoe

Windows 7 Still Lacking on Print Drivers

Anyways, it seems that even with the release of Windows 7, the platform update Microsoft has done means the old operating system is not going away anytime soon.

The recent update from Microsoft include updates for runtime libraries which handles new technology, it also has improvements to Windows ribbon, animation manager library, windows graphics, imaging, the XPS library, Windows automation API and the updates for the Windows portable devices as well.

You can get your Windows Vista update from the Microsoft support site titled “Description of the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista“.

If you do not have plans of moving to another operating system, Windows 7 perhaps, and are stuck with Windows Vista I would suggest to go to the site and download your platform updates.

Are you sticking with Windows Vista and for how long?

Image from Microsoft Support.

Post from: EveryJoe

Get Your Platform Updates for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008

Amazon is a company built by Jeff Bezos named on the Amazon river which means they would carry everything on the planet. They launched their company on books but later on ventured on every possible item they can sell off the internet. Most companies start with a cash cow item and diversify but with Amazon it is the opposite. They have diversified from the beginning and have only started seeing a product that could provide a massive cash flow to bring their business to new heights.

Amazon Kindle. I have previously written an article about the Amazon Kindle and the stiff competition they are facing ahead of them (Kindle for Windows 7) but it seems that Amazon is in a very strong position not to be challenged given their revenues from this product.

Amazon has had a big 3rd quarter where their profits have jumped 62 percent that have brought in $5.45 billion dollars in sales in that quarter alone. The revenue shows a 28 percent increase compared to their 3rd quarter profits in 2008 with net income of $199 million dollars. The stocks of Amazon has risen by an eye popping 15 percent to $170.08 dollars.

Kindle is now Amazon’s best selling item on both unit sales and dollars across all product categories and not only on their electronics section. Aside from that, Kindle is their most wished for and most gifted product as announced by CEO Jeff Bezos.

The price of the Amazon Kindle 3G has been reduced to $259 dollars which was a big discount to their previous almost $400 dollar price tag. Accompanied by Kindle for Windows 7 means Amazon should expect increasing sales from their cash cow item.

Image from Amazon and edited by me.

Post from: EveryJoe

Kindle is Amazon’s New Cash Cow Item

BitLocker is especially useful when you lost your computer as you have peace of mind that all your confidential data won’t be read by others.

To be able to use the BitLocker technology in Windows 7 Ultimate edition, below are the steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button of Windows 7

2. Click on the “Control Panel”

3. On the “Control Panel” screen, type “System and Security”

4. On the “System and Security” screen, type “BitLocker Drive Encryption”

5. On the BitLocker Drive Encryption screen, you should be able to see all your disk drives (see image below):

6. On the right side of each drive, you can see “Turn on BitLocker” technology

7. Choose and supple all the necessary fields to completing the BitLocker implementation on your chosen hard drive

I have turned this on yet since I want to research more whether this is going to impact the performance of my laptop. My laptop is already almost 3 years old and I would be using this for two more years. Since I am not bringing my laptop anywhere, I wouldn’t hurry up turning the BitLocker technology on.

If you bring your laptop outside your room, and your laptop isn’t as old as mine, I would strongly suggest that you use BitLocker technology, this should give you peace of mind.

Image from my Windows 7 computer.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bitlocker in Windows 7 Ultimate Edition

Consumers who purchase their copy of Windows 7 would also be able to get free software. The list of free software include those that have very low prices or those that are completely free. The list of free softwares are as follows: 

• Nero 9 Reloaded, Free
• Norton Antivirus 2010, Free
• Global Protection 2010, Free
• System Mechanic, Free
• Trend Micro Internet Security Pro, Free
• NTI Shadow 4, Free
• McAfee Internet Security 2010, Free
• NTI Media Maker 8 Suite, Free
• Fireman 3.0, Free
• Bitdefender 2010, Free
• AVG Antivirus & Antispyware, Free
• PC Tune-Up 2.0, Free
• Spysweeper 2010, Free
• Stuffit Deluxe 2009, Free
• Corel Family Pack 2009, Free

Most of these software are security or utility software that you can use right away on your Windows 7 operating system.

Image from MaximumPC.

Post from: EveryJoe

Free Software from Fry’s Electronics at its Windows 7 Midnight Release

My experience with Windows 7 has been pretty good. The interface is mostly like Vista, so it’s still taken a bit of getting used to in trying to find things and familiarize myself with the operating system. After spending so much time with Windows XP, there’s bound to be a learning adjustment there. I think it’s probably similar to the interface changes that were seen by users switching into the Office 2007 ribbon interface.

My wife has been pleased with her experience for the last few weeks as well. The only real problem I think we’ve experienced is our Lexmark printer driver hasn’t been working for her since she upgraded to Windows 7. We’re hoping that a new driver will be available Thursday as well, if not soon after.

How many of you will be upgrading to Windows 7 as soon as it’s available on Thursday? Are you using Windows Vista now, or Windows XP? What’s the biggest change or improvement you’re looking to take advantage of with the upgrade?

Post from: EveryJoe

Windows 7 Available on Thursday

Dell is one of the largest computer vendors in the world and everyone was speculating that they should release their own Smartphone. The hardware giant has kept silent all these time dismissing reports of an upcoming smartphone.

Just recently, Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers has officially announced that they are releasing a smartphone sometime in 2010. Details have not yet been released whether it would be based on the Android operating system of Windows mobile. But given their relationship with Microsoft, I would expect a windows mobile based Dell smartphone.

CEO Michael Dell pointed out the importance of the smart phone in their company’s future as he says that “mobility” is the theme. He notes that mobility would have a big impact on their PC business and says consumers buy desktop for power and price but laptops are what people really want. He also took a stab at netbooks saying that the market share would level out at around 12 – 15 percent as users find it difficult to work on small keyboards and screens.

I think if users would still have problems with netbooks, they would rather have a mobile smartphone instead which they can carry everywhere. Anyways, Michael did not confirm if AT&T would be carrying their device but said that China Mobile will carry the launch device and would be the market’s entry point.

Dell is known for low priced high quality computers, and I hope they carry that philosophy over on their smartphones.

Image from Dell.

Post from: EveryJoe

Everyone Needs a Smartphone, Including Dell

Honestly, I thought I’d probably just stick with the Free version, thinking I didn’t have that many passwords I’d really want to use it with and the free version lets you store 10. Now that my trial is up and I’ve got over 150 passwords I’m storing, I’ve made the decision to upgrade and stay with the Pro version.

What I didn’t think about though was how RoboForm and their other tool GoodSync could  help me with my pending migration to a Windows 7 machine.

I can use RoboForm Online, which is now in beta and free until otherwise, to sync all my passwords from my existing machine to the new Windows 7 machine when I get it. With GoodSync, I can setup a job to synchronize all the files I want to migrate from one machine to another and synch them up to an external drive or USB thumb drive for transport.

Once I’ve got the new Windows 7 machine, I can use GoodSync to keep files synchronized between both machines easily.

It’s tools like RoboForm, GoodSync and Plaxo that help me in the process of working on and managing multiple machines. Taking the guesswork of where whatever is stored on which machine is always a plus.

Post from: EveryJoe

Migrating to a New Windows 7 Machine – Use RoboForm and GoodSync

She said there was just a little bit of adjustment for some of the user-interface changes,  but there was nothing real major for her that she used on a regular basis.

I still haven’t played around with it too much, but what I have I’ve liked. Things seem to be organized more intuitively over all. It’s still a slight adjustment after running with Windows XP for so many years. I didn’t really have the transition to Vista as I never installed it on my main machine.

My wife said she does see a noticeable difference in overall startup and shutdown speeds with Windows 7 for sure. She can also notice an increase in speed while working in and using multiple programs. Multi-tasking happens even more fluidly with the improved memory management between applications.

I still want to really look into the file management and file organization tools that are available now in Window 7.

Post from: EveryJoe

Follow-up on Windows 7