Friday was another repeat, this time from May 15, 2006. However, TCR does not want to leave you empty handed and is bringing you an article by one of

our staff members, Paul ( www.tiglo.co.uk ). Although Paul is from the UK, he takes a keen interest in reading about Jim Cramer’s Mad Money (and of course at the best JCMM site on the ‘Net - www.thecramerreport.com !) and hopes you will enjoy his insight into one of Jim’s opinions.

Cramer is currently favouring a buy into Microsoft (MSFT), believing the bad times are behind and it’s back on the up. An analysis of the share prices over the past few months shows that Microsoft is over its lowest points ($21.51) and gradually climbing (currently $24.40). One could argue that Cramer is right.

However, continued changes in Vista’s release date, even if it means a more stable and secure Operating System will be released (or that is the theory). Microsoft’s OS and webbrowser cycle is poor as it is:

* Windows XP was released in 2001

* Internet Explorer was released in 2001

Internet Explorer 7 is set for release in the first half of 2007 and Windows Vista is set for general release in the first quarter of 2007. Both products will offer many improvements and new features over the older versions but the reality is very little of it is new.

One feature to finally reach Internet Explorer is tabbed browser. To a non-technical person, who just uses what’s supplied on their MS Windows desktop, this may seem new and exciting, however tabbed browser has been around since 1996 (although it was a feature in a non-public beta version of InternetWorks since 1994) and has been available in popular browsers such as Opera and MozillaFirefox for several years.

Microsoft won the first browser war but now it’s coming to a battle in many areas. Product cycles are quicker for open source software such as OpenOffice.org, MozillaFirefox and MozillaThunderbird - new features, bug fixes, and security updates are released regularly. Due to the products’ open source nature it is easier and cheaper to develop plugins and compatible applications.

On the operating system side, Microsoft has competition from Linux. Linux is now becoming more mature and is being adopted by governments and educational institutes alike. Novell (NOVL) is investing a lot of money in Linux, having bought German company SuSE Linux GmbH in January 2004.

One key area that they have invested a lot in over the past year is Xen, which is virtualisation software and allows multiple Operating Systems (Linux or Windows) to be run as guests on a single system (the host, which can be either Linux or Windows). This is one threat Microsoft has seen and responded to by improving its Virtual Server support offering and making it available for free. However, is this too little too late?

Xen’s benefit is that it’s open source, therefore bugs and security issues will be fixed quicker, possibly even before the problem is public knowledge, as the source code is visible for everyone to evaluate and test for insecurities. A quick response to bugs and security is critical in a business environment and an area Microsoft can not compete within due to its closed source nature.

Virtualisation is becoming a more important area due to the increasing costs for power. Fortunately, hardware is becoming more powerful, often more powerful than is actually required, so virtualisation is definitely for today as well as the future. Why invest in hardware for 6 servers when all 6 could run from within one operating system through virtualisation?

With Vista and Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft is trying to play catch-up, but the fact is it now has seriously tough competition. There is now a big take up of alternative browsers, office applications and operating systems. While the market change might be slow, it’s definitely happening. I cannot see Microsoft being in the same market position in 10 years that it is now. Its market share will continue to evaporate.

The Bottom Line:

Microsoft is facing serious threats in the home, education and business desktop arena. It’s facing threats in the business environment as a server (aside from as a webserver, where Linux/Unix is in the majority). Microsoft might hit a high when Vista is (finally) released, however Bill Gates stepping down in the way that he is does suggest to me that the bulk of the money has been made and it’s now time to do something with it. The IT industry is often a “come today, gone tomorrow” so it’s always difficult to choose which company to invest in, especially as the current trend is “over priced ” when those companies that have managed to stick around decide to float themselves on the stock market. I won’t advise you who to invest in, but I will say don’t just look at the software/operating system area, also look at hardware and consultancy companies too. Big Blue, International Business Machines Corp (IBM), has been around for a long time and there will always be a demand for such companies.

.About the Author:

Paul is an IT Professional from the UK with 4 years commercial experience with the Linux. More of his thoughts can be found in his blog http://www.tiglo.co.uk/

So Vista has been released, or unleashed on the world. However you want to look at it. It has several different options. Microsoft

has made 5 editions of its new operating system. They are trying to fit into every person’s needs. There are Ultimate, Home Premium, Home Basic, Business, and Enterprise available for your purchase in both 32 and 64bit versions.

What’s the difference? Well they are all the same basic thing with each having different added features depending on your application. Ultimate has every possible option while the rest have stripped out the options Microsoft thinks you will not need for your purpose. Over at Extremetech.com they wrote a good article “Which edition is right for you?“, be sure and check that out if you want to know which edition you should purchase.

So you know what edition would fill your needs? Now do you use 32bit or 64bit? The answer is, that depends. It depends on if your system has a 64bit capable processor. If not then surely you will want to go with 32bit. However, if you have a 64bit processor you have some choices.

The primary benefits of going with a 64bit edition is that 64bit applications will be taken advantage of and if you have or plan on having 4gigs of ram or more. Generally if you install 4gigs of ram into a system with a 32bit operating system you will notice that it only recognizes 3gigs or ram. This is because of limitations of the 32 bit architecture. I will not go into the technical details of it but if you want more than 3gigs of memory you are going to need a 64bit operating system.

The major downfall of 64bit operating systems is driver availability. 64bit operating systems are pretty new at the consumer level and with that many manufactures are just developing drivers to support it. That means that some hardware may not have a 64bit compatible driver available. Mainstream hardware manufactures are just now getting caught up with 64bit drivers, so in time everything will be 64bit capable, and if you buy a new computer with Vista 64bit installed it will have compatible hardware.

Now that we have chosen which edition and version to use I will tell you about Vista.

Vista installs easily, they have adapted a new method for installs to make them easier. However, Vista takes quite a while to install because of its size. With all of the good looks and new features comes added size. The added size for Vista is quite substantial when compared to Windows XP. Vista could be considered bloated. Sure it has all these nice new features and looks pretty good; but its size makes it too bulky to perform as fast as XP has.

Being that XP is faster doesn’t mean it is necessarily better. Many users will never know the difference in speed. Performance junkies and pc enthusiasts will definitely see a difference but after time will probably accept it as it isn’t too great of difference. One complaint I do have about performance is laptop battery life. With Vista being more demanding on hardware I notice a decrease in battery life when compared to XP.

Giving up some speed, you gain a lot of new security features and a great Visual interface. I think Microsoft was trying to copy OSX in security and looks. OSX has always been way more secure than Windows and looks better while doing it. The new security features are good and will help keep your computer safer from malicious intent. I say safer because nothing will ever be totally secure. Given time anything can be exploited. So the new security is definitely a step in the right direction and a good reason to have Vista installed on your PC.

As far as looks go, Microsoft did do some pretty cool stuff with Vista. Aero Glass is a transparent skin to make things not in use opaque. It looks really cool, and is something new to look at so that is something to look forward to when using Vista. However, if you get Vista Home Basic or Enterprise, Aero Glass will not be available.

So now you know what I feel are the Goods and Bad of Vista. I hope it helps even though you will eventually end up with Vista if you want it or not when buying a new Windows based PC. Make sure you know what edition is right for you when buying that next PC to make it the best experience possible. Vista is the future, get accustomed to it now.

Picture thanks to Microsoft.com

Article from www.exclusiveview.net

.About the Author:

Test Taking Techniques to help you get certified!

As always, tests and exams will scare you when you think about getting certified.

Remember that you won’t die if you flunk the test and life won’t fall apart either. Relax, prepare and give the test. Here’s how!

Before The Test

What constitutes effective preparation? Most importantly, it doesn’t begin the night before the exam. Pull an all-nighter and your mind may be stuffed with facts, but they will be shrouded in a fatigue- induced fog. When the fog dissipates, the facts are likely to go with it.

The first step is to find out as much as possible about the format and content of the exam. Questions to answer include:

* What will you be expected to know?

* Which question format will be utilized–multiple choice, essay questions, or true-false? Currently most computer certification tests are multiple choice.

* How long will you have to complete the test?

* Will you be able to return to questions later if you skip over them?

* Will points be subtracted for wrong answers?

You should be able to obtain the answers to most of these questions from your certification sponsor, instructor, and/or testing center.

Then review the material that you’ve identified as likely to be on

the test. Try to guess what questions will appear on the test and practice answering them. You can practice by reciting aloud, creating written or recorded self-tests, or using commercially available self-testing software and certification preparation guides. If you belong to a study group, quiz each other and discuss your answers.

Pay special attention to vocabulary and terminology words. Make certain you know exactly what they mean. If you don’t understand a question, you won’t be able to answer it. Develop an overall test strategy, depending on the type of exam. The following advice focuses on multiple-choice exams, the most common format of current certification test questions. These exams, count an unanswered question the same way as an incorrect answer. If you won’t be penalized for wrong answers (as opposed to skipping the question entirely) then it pays to guess when you don’t know the correct answer.

On many exams you will be able to mark questions to return to later. When this is the case, be sure to MARK the questions or you will NOT be able to return to them. Answer the questions you’re certain of first, marking the more challenging ones, and then return to the marked questions when you’ve finished the easy ones. This strategy enables you to answer a larger percentage of the questions and to answer the easiest ones right away.

The night before, do a brief review and remind yourself that you’ve prepared and are as ready as you’re going to be. Don’t stress yourself out pouring over your notes again and

again. Instead, spend the evening in some pleasant, relaxing way, then get a good night’s sleep so you’ll be rested and ready to excel.

The Day Of The Test

Ah! The big day is here! Don’t panic! On the day of the test, allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at the test site. Would you rather arrive at the last minute, adrenaline pumping from the stress of too many red lights, or ten or fifteen minutes early, time you can easily fill with a final review of your note cards or trip to the restroom?

Make certain to bring several forms of identification, including a photo ID, and, of course, if you haven’t already provided it, payment.

If you feel tense or anxious, apply a few relaxation techniques. One of the most basic is breathing. Take a deep breath, filling not just your chest, but every nook and cranny of your insides all the way down to your abdomen. Inhale from your navel, like a baby does. Exhale slowly, and feel your muscles relaxing as you your breath carries the tension out of your body. Repeat the breathing several times.

When the test begins, follow your preplanned strategy.

* If the test format is suitable, remember to go through and answer the easy questions first.

* Pay close attention to instructions. Are you supposed to select just one answer or all answers that apply?

* Read each question carefully, and twice. It’s easy to misread a question and end up with the wrong answer as a result. It’s also a waste and something you can avoid.

* Be alert for modifiers like always, never, not, and except that can radically affect the meaning of the question.

* Mentally answer the question before reading the answer choices. Then look for the choice that most accurately reflects your answer. This can spare you unnecessary confusion created by the test itself.

* If you don’t know the answer, make an educated guess

* If you finish before the time limit, and the software permits it (which isn’t always the case) go back over the test and verify your answers. But don’t change an answer unless you have good reason to believe it’s wrong. Research indicates that when in doubt, our first guess is usually our best.

If other people are taking the exam at the same time, don’t pay any attention to when they finish. Just because others are done before you doesn’t mean that they will end up with a better score. Correspondingly, if you finish first, it doesn’t mean you must have missed something. Take your time, keeping an eye on the exam clock if there’s a time limit, and concentrate on regurgitating what you’ve learned. If you’ve prepared using effective techniques, such as the ones detailed in this chapter, you have nothing to worry about.

Making an Educated Guess

If you find yourself facing a question you just don’t know the answer to, consider guessing. If there are four possible choices, you automatically have a 25 percent chance of randomly selecting the correct answer. Apply some guessing techniques, and the odds shoot upward in your favor.

Successful guessing relies heavily on the process of elimination. For that reason, the first step is to eliminate any choices that are clearly wrong. If you have four answers to choose from, and you can discard two of them as incorrect, you’ve gone from a one in four chance of picking the right answer to a one in two chance.

Unless your exam format allows more than one answer choice for each question “all of the above” is basically equivalent to “more than one of the above.” If “all of the above” is an option, and you can see at least two correct answers, then choose it.

Sometimes you’ll find that, in the course of presenting the question and answers, one test item will provide hints that can help you answer another. Be alert for these and use them when you find them.

Many test-taking experts advise that if you have no idea which choice is correct, and “all of the above” is an option, you should choose “all of the above.” By the same token, if you can’t decide between two similar answers, choose the one that gives the most complete information.

Hope these tips and guidelines will help you prepare for IT certifications with ease and confidence and that you will sail through the test. Happy learning!

About CertMagic.com :

Founded in 2004, CertMagic (http://www.certmagic.com) is one of the global leaders in IT certification preparation and IT skill assessment. Over the last 3 years, it has contributed to the success of over 500,000 IT professionals from over 120 countries. Committed to deliver high quality products and value to its customers, CertMagic (http://www.certmagic.com) offers Unconditional 150% Test Pass Guarantee on all of its IT certification preparation products.

.About the Author:

Founded in 2004, CertMagic (http://www.certmagic.com) is one of the global leaders in IT certification preparation and IT skill assessment. Over the last 3 years, it has contributed to the success of over 500,000 IT professionals from over 120 countries. Committed to deliver high quality products and value to its customers, CertMagic (http://www.certmagic.com) offers Unconditional 150% Test Pass Guarantee on all of its IT certification preparation products.

Crashes, error messages, slow start ups of your pc and general slow performance when you are trying to things done. If these mentioned problems sound

familiar to you then your pc is probably suffer from registry problems. Just like with a car your computer software needs regular maintenance otherwise it will stop running properly. Registry cleaners can help you fix these problems and make your pc running smooth again. But which registry cleaner should you buy? Reading registry cleaner reviews can help you choose the best product for your needs.

The Windows operating system uses a file called the registry. It’s basically a sort of database where information about your pc’s hardware, software and various other settings are stored. This information is crucial to keep your pc running smoothly. All information is stored as keys in the registry. Each time you add or remove software on your pc the registry is changed. If these keys are not properly removed they can cause problems like system errors or other failures.

Registry cleaners can solve the PC problems that you are experiencing. There are many registry cleaning tools available for download on the internet. Download one of these programs that matches the version of the Windows operating system that you are using. Usually the software vendor has a trail version which will remove some of the errors reported. When you pay for the full version you can remove all the reported errors. By reading registry cleaner reviews you won’t have to test all the different products.

Important things to look for when choosing registry cleaning software:

- does the software offer the option to make a backup of the registry? In case something goes wrong you have the option to restore the registry to the previous settings;

- does the software have an option to “defragment” or “compress” the registry? Every time you start your computer or a program Windows searches the registry for program settings. A big registry slows down these searches which causes longer loading times.

- can you set the program up so that it will scan your registry automatically at certain times or while booting Windows? Besides saving you time by starting the program manually, you do not have to remember doing regular registry scans.

What is the cause of these registry errors? Registry errors are generally caused by frequent installation and un-installation of software, programs that did not uninstall completely and finally corrupted and/or unused hardware drivers. Besides causing these errors an fragmented registry also causes a performance hit because the registry increases in size and there for it takes longer to load and read by Windows. With registry cleaning software you can successfully purge these entries from the registry getting better performance and a smooth running pc. Start reading registry cleaner reviews today to help you find the best product for solving your PC problems.

.About the Author:

Registry Cleaner Reviews is an online resource, providing information about registry cleaners and other information to improve pc performance.

Are you experiencing the following pc problems: getting system errors on startup or while using your pc, random crashes or general sluggish pc performance.

These are common problems caused by Windows registry inconsistencies. Microsoft registry cleaner software can fix these problems and make your pc running smoothly again. The other option is to format your hard disk and reinstall the operating system and all the programs you installed over time.

What is the registry? Well the windows operating system stores crucial information about your computer in a database file. In this database it stores information about your hardware, software and settings you made to this software and hardware. This data is crucial to keep your pc running smoothly. All the changes which are made to the pc are stored as keys in the registry. From the moment you start the Windows operating system it will read and add registry settings about your hardware and software. Each time software is installed or uninstalled entries are changed or removed.

Unfortunately these entries in the registry are not removed properly causing problems in performance or failures like system errors. Each time you add or remove hardware and/or software to the system, the registry increases in size and it takes more time for Windows to read the registry causing performance problems. With registry cleaning software you can successfully purge these entries from the registry getting better performance and a smooth running pc.

By using Windows registry cleaner software you can solve these problems. There are many free registry cleaning tools available for download on the internet. You can download one of these programs which matches the version of the Windows operating system you are using. Most of these registry cleaners offer the option to make a backup of your current registry in case you encounter any problems after the cleanup. Another option most offer is an automated scan of your registry at boot time or at a predefined date or time interval. If you are not using this option I would recommend that you run the software each time when you have uninstalled several programs or at least once a month. Another recommended option that most programs offer is to defragment of compress the registry. This will make the file smaller and thus it will be faster for Windows to read the registry for values it’s looking for.

.About the Author:

Microsoft Registry Cleaner is an online resource, providing information about Microsoft Registry Cleaner and other information and software how to improve pc performance.

2003 Microsoft Office, like earlier versions

of Microsoft Office, is a package of software programs designed for various office work activities. 2003 Microsoft Office comprises the programs Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, OneNote, Visio, PowerPoint, InfoPath, FrontPage, Project, Publisher, and Live Meeting. Each of these programs is sold as a separate software product, but the 2003 Microsoft Office combines them all together under a sort of bulk rate price tag.

The 2003 Microsoft Office package boasts a more complete package than any of the previous versions, offering more programs, and the most up to date versions of the software available. Of course, the older versions of the Office package are still perfectly good. I’m still using the 2000 addition, and am perfectly happy with it. It’s easy to get sucked into the hype over the 2003 Office deal only to discover that you didn’t really need the ‘improvements’. Microsoft, like all software companies, is update crazy. Newer versions of their programs represent an entire new product line for a minimal cost to them, and are often basically the same thing as the older version.

The Microsoft Office concept is a huge success for the software giant. Just about every major business has a copy of 2003 Microsoft Office or some earlier version installed on all their employee’s computers. Using the 2003 Microsoft Office programs you can do just about anything including writing form letters, tracking data, creating visual presentations, sending emails, creating graphical designs, combining text and graphical images, and arranging online meetings.

Personally, the only programs I ever use are Excel, Word, and occasionally PowerPoint. These three programs are a must have for anyone that does any kind of work involving presentations, writing, and organizing data. For these three programs alone, I think the 2003 Microsoft Office package is a good deal. Even if you don’t work with computers, Excel and Word are vital programs for personal use, making letter writing and tracking your finances much easier.

If you don’t have any Microsoft Office versions, and don’t even have Word, or Excel, I highly recommend picking up 2003 Microsoft Office. You can buy it online from just about anyone, and any stores that carry computer software will have it as well. If you already have an older Office version, you probably don’t really need to get 2003 Microsoft Office unless you do a lot of office work and are interested in the new programs that come with the package.

.About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on 2003 Microsoft Office, visit his site at 2003 Microsoft Office