Bottom Line I'm talking about choice. My previous post talked about the two versions of Windows on tablet, Windows 8 VS Windows RT. You might want to refresh your memory by reading it.
I believe most business users of Windows products will expect to be using the same programs they are currently running on their Windows XP and Windows 7 computers on the new Windows tablets.
Windows RT, the version being supplied with tablets built using the ARM processor, will not run many of the programs users are using on their desktops. The ARM processor is the same processor used in IOS and Android tablets.
For example, if you are using the Chrome Browser to sync email, contacts and settings across devices, you will be disappointed if you purchase a Windows RT tablet. Like IOS, the best you will ever see is a crippled version of it, if that is, you ever see it at all.
Same thing applies to users of the popular Mozilla Firefox software, programs like VLC Player, SMPlayer and a multitude of other software like cloud drives, games and utilities.
If you are content to use only Email, Office 2013 and whatever else you can obtain through the new Windows App store then, by all means, purchase an Windows RT Tablet. Other notable software packages available on the Windows App store for free are things like Mail, Netflix, Skype, Skydrive, Remote Desktop etc....
In my position, I need to be able to run legacy programs I currently run on XP and 7 so that limits me to buying a full blown Windows 8 Pro tablet.
Lets look at pricing. Here in Canada, The ARM powered Surface RT, with 32gig of storage is available for $519, the optional Touch Cover adds a $100 to the ticket price or $619.
An Atom powered Lenovo Tablet 2 running Windows 8 Pro will be selling for $629, with option keyboard and dock $799.
Acer also has an Atom powered tablet, the Acer Iconia W510, will sell for $499 and will offer various upgrades including a Windows 8 Pro package with keyboard dock and 64 gigs of storage for $750. Acer will also offer models running the more powerful Intel Core processors starting at $799
Business and power users I believe will not opt for RT and will only be interested in the full Windows 8 powered tablets. I am not alone as HP has announced it will only be selling Windows 8 tablets and devices and will shy away completely for Windows RT devices.
Check out this story... I highly recommend you read it. It's titled "3 Days in the life of a former Windows RT user" It is not a satire... but an educated guess at what someone purchasing a Windows RT device might experience: http://www.zdnet.com/three-days-in-the-life-of-a-once-and-former-microsoft-surface-rt-user-7000006421/
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Windows 8 - What version should you use?
Short Answer .... it depends on how you expect to use it.
I won't repeat what is well stated in this article, so review that first please: http://bit.ly/Pkaqbm
A couple of things summarize that article quite well:
So those are the basic elements you have to consider when considering a "Windows 8 RT" or "Windows 8" Tablet.
It's expected that Windows 8 RT devices will be selling for about 1/2 the price of the full x86 powered Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro powered tablets.... so making the right choice is more than just dollars and cents. It will really depend on what and how you plan to use to use it.
Outside of email and Internet browsing, If you need to be able to run many of the programs you now use on XP, Vista and Windows 7 directly on the tablet, you will have to spend the extra money for the full Windows 8 ( and Pro) tablets.
If all you need is the ability to run email, browse the internet and connect back to your office to access a physical or virtual PC located there, you will most likely be equiping yourself with a Windows 8 RT tablet.
Personally, I think most business users will want the full power of the full Windows 8 powered tablets. It's obvious that HP believes the same since they will not be offering the RT powered devices.
For budget consious corporate networks, the ability to a have a full desktop at work using multiple monitors etc.... and, the ability to unplug the tablet from it's dock for mobile access is going to be a powerful incentive. Just check this out for example and use your imagination. Picture two full Page Oriented monitors on either side of this baby with keyboard and mouse + the ability of un-docking it and slipping it into a back-pack or briefcase when on the road.
That's an image of an Acer Iconia W700. The versions I have seen pricing on are very good. The Acer W700 with 64GB SSD Hard drive will sell for $799. Not much more than the WIFI only 64gb iPad2. Business users who need the power will definately see the value in selecting and using full Windows 8 devices.
WARNING.... Many will be confused about the differences between the lower priced RT Windows tablets compared to the fully Windows 8 x86 or x64 powered tablets.
Another way of looking at this is quiet simple. If you currently need to drag along a laptop because your iPad doesn't do everything you need to do, stay away from the lower priced RT Windows tablets.... Sell or give away your laptop and iPad and get a full powered X86 or X64 Windows 8 tablet.
There will be many Windows 8RT and Windows 8 devices on the market at the end of October... do your homework and make the right choice..... Expect to see a lot of buzz from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Samsung etc.....
I won't repeat what is well stated in this article, so review that first please: http://bit.ly/Pkaqbm
A couple of things summarize that article quite well:
- If you purchase an ARM powered device that comes with Windows 8 RT, you cannot upgrade
- If you purchase an x86 or x64 powered device you are limited to using the Full Windows 8
- Windows 8 RT - the RT means RunTime, a limited version of 8 designed for ARM powered tablets and phones.
- A Windows 8 RT device will not run legacy programs you now use on XP or Windows 7
- A Windows 8 RT device will not allow you to run a desktop like you now have on XP or Windows 7
So those are the basic elements you have to consider when considering a "Windows 8 RT" or "Windows 8" Tablet.
It's expected that Windows 8 RT devices will be selling for about 1/2 the price of the full x86 powered Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro powered tablets.... so making the right choice is more than just dollars and cents. It will really depend on what and how you plan to use to use it.
Outside of email and Internet browsing, If you need to be able to run many of the programs you now use on XP, Vista and Windows 7 directly on the tablet, you will have to spend the extra money for the full Windows 8 ( and Pro) tablets.
If all you need is the ability to run email, browse the internet and connect back to your office to access a physical or virtual PC located there, you will most likely be equiping yourself with a Windows 8 RT tablet.
Personally, I think most business users will want the full power of the full Windows 8 powered tablets. It's obvious that HP believes the same since they will not be offering the RT powered devices.
For budget consious corporate networks, the ability to a have a full desktop at work using multiple monitors etc.... and, the ability to unplug the tablet from it's dock for mobile access is going to be a powerful incentive. Just check this out for example and use your imagination. Picture two full Page Oriented monitors on either side of this baby with keyboard and mouse + the ability of un-docking it and slipping it into a back-pack or briefcase when on the road.
WARNING.... Many will be confused about the differences between the lower priced RT Windows tablets compared to the fully Windows 8 x86 or x64 powered tablets.
Another way of looking at this is quiet simple. If you currently need to drag along a laptop because your iPad doesn't do everything you need to do, stay away from the lower priced RT Windows tablets.... Sell or give away your laptop and iPad and get a full powered X86 or X64 Windows 8 tablet.
There will be many Windows 8RT and Windows 8 devices on the market at the end of October... do your homework and make the right choice..... Expect to see a lot of buzz from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Samsung etc.....
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Windows 8 - Built-In Protection
It's my second post of the day and, as in previous pre-release versions, Windows 8 in it's default configeration offers a lot of protection. It's not perfect but a stretch above free and many paid-for protection programs. The venerable Windows Defender has morphed. When you open the software, longtime users of Windows Security Essentials will recognize the GUI (Graphical User Interface).... and it appears to be hopped up, specially if the default UAC settings remain.
As part of what I do (Network Administration, Forensics etc....) I routinely use tools that generally are referred to as "Hacking Tools". These tools have to be excluded from normal antivirus and antimalware tools. Windows 8, in it's default setup, is no exception.
If one were to also supplement this with, let's say, a paid version of MalwareBytes, I would have to say your pretty well protected compared to Windows 7 equiped with Security Essentials plus MalwareBytes.
Check out this http://www.pcworld.com/article/255776/windows_8_security_whats_new.html
Don't get me wrong.... It's not perfect compared to a well designed security fence which includes commercial firewalls, DNS filtering and the like.
I've seen a lot of infected computers, some were even well protected but it was the user that either allowed it after warnings or as a result of these warnings being turned off, there is no way to defend against that..... A prudent user of course doesn't do that .
One problem I've yet to investigate are the steps one has to take if a user wants to install his favorite antivirus/antimalware software instead. We already know that running two such programs concurrently is usually problematic. More on that later.
Here's a screenshot of the Windows 8 version of Windows Defender, click on the image to see it bigger:
It's early on and I will say with certainty that I will continue to recommend those commercial products on my roster.... I can guarantee they will be much better but for those that don't want to or cannot afford it, this is good news.
For a blurb on how to remove Windows Defender so you can install your favored security systems, check out this link http://bit.ly/SKJSeu
Tah! for Now!
As part of what I do (Network Administration, Forensics etc....) I routinely use tools that generally are referred to as "Hacking Tools". These tools have to be excluded from normal antivirus and antimalware tools. Windows 8, in it's default setup, is no exception.
If one were to also supplement this with, let's say, a paid version of MalwareBytes, I would have to say your pretty well protected compared to Windows 7 equiped with Security Essentials plus MalwareBytes.
Check out this http://www.pcworld.com/article/255776/windows_8_security_whats_new.html
Don't get me wrong.... It's not perfect compared to a well designed security fence which includes commercial firewalls, DNS filtering and the like.
I've seen a lot of infected computers, some were even well protected but it was the user that either allowed it after warnings or as a result of these warnings being turned off, there is no way to defend against that..... A prudent user of course doesn't do that .
One problem I've yet to investigate are the steps one has to take if a user wants to install his favorite antivirus/antimalware software instead. We already know that running two such programs concurrently is usually problematic. More on that later.
Here's a screenshot of the Windows 8 version of Windows Defender, click on the image to see it bigger:
It's early on and I will say with certainty that I will continue to recommend those commercial products on my roster.... I can guarantee they will be much better but for those that don't want to or cannot afford it, this is good news.
For a blurb on how to remove Windows Defender so you can install your favored security systems, check out this link http://bit.ly/SKJSeu
Tah! for Now!
Windows 8 First Impressions
We'll, I've tested the pre-beta, beta and release candidate versions extensively and have been excited to get my hands on the final version. Although I've had access to it for about a month, I finally installed it on an old IBM X41 Tablet laptop I had kicking around...... This laptop is freaking old, an antique by today's standards and yet, Windows 8 was quick to install and is operating better than XP ever did.... Everything just works.
They stopped making the X41 in early 2006 and, in it's heyday, sold for about $2,000..... By today's standards, it's a dinosaur. Even with it's slow hard drive, slow processor and meager amount of memory, it works great with Windows 8. The Pen stylus is fully functional and it works better than it ever did with XP.
Missing Start Button:
I've never understood what the big deal was about.... who needs or uses it? Windows 8 is feature rich and really doesn't require a "Start" button. I really don't use it except to click it and click the search box to quickly search for programs I don't use frequently... With Windows 8, you just start typing and the search happens automatically.
So really, I don't need the start button but apparently it's a really big deal to a lot of people so I went about looking at 3rd party solutions which already exist. I won't get into all of them since they all pretty much do the same thing... but I did settle on one that I think most people would like. It's called Classic Shell, it's open source (FREE), doesn't prompt you to install optional crapware and is easy to configure and install... Check out the link that's located here http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
Let's compare my various desktops (XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8). You can click on the images for a larger view.
My Windows 8 Desktop (With Classic Shell)
I'll admit that I am not a typical user but I am also not unique. I never did find a bunch of desktop icons useful to me. Once you have a program or two opened, you don't see those pesky desktop icons any way. I've always used the much more efficient Toolbars.... Guess what, they still exist in Windows 8 and you turn them on in exactly the same way.
With Windows Vista, 7 and now 8.... frequently used programs can be pinned to the taskbar....
Windows 8 First impressions? I Love IT!
It's not a good picture but this is the old X41 Tablet.... Built in late 2004
They stopped making the X41 in early 2006 and, in it's heyday, sold for about $2,000..... By today's standards, it's a dinosaur. Even with it's slow hard drive, slow processor and meager amount of memory, it works great with Windows 8. The Pen stylus is fully functional and it works better than it ever did with XP.
Missing Start Button:
I've never understood what the big deal was about.... who needs or uses it? Windows 8 is feature rich and really doesn't require a "Start" button. I really don't use it except to click it and click the search box to quickly search for programs I don't use frequently... With Windows 8, you just start typing and the search happens automatically.
So really, I don't need the start button but apparently it's a really big deal to a lot of people so I went about looking at 3rd party solutions which already exist. I won't get into all of them since they all pretty much do the same thing... but I did settle on one that I think most people would like. It's called Classic Shell, it's open source (FREE), doesn't prompt you to install optional crapware and is easy to configure and install... Check out the link that's located here http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
Let's compare my various desktops (XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8). You can click on the images for a larger view.
My Windows XP Desktop
My Windows 7 Desktop
My Windows 8 Desktop (With Classic Shell)
I'll admit that I am not a typical user but I am also not unique. I never did find a bunch of desktop icons useful to me. Once you have a program or two opened, you don't see those pesky desktop icons any way. I've always used the much more efficient Toolbars.... Guess what, they still exist in Windows 8 and you turn them on in exactly the same way.
With Windows Vista, 7 and now 8.... frequently used programs can be pinned to the taskbar....
Windows 8 First impressions? I Love IT!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
