March 8, 2007
User Account Control offers improved security
Vista's User Account Control (UAC) helps defend your system against all sorts of malware. This week, I discuss whether or not it's a good idea to disable UAC and explain how to disable it, if you want to. (Note: Fred Langa is taking the week off and will return in the next newsletter.) Read more »
The ethics of installing Windows Vista
I reported on Feb. 1 that the upgrade version of Windows Vista accepts itself as a product it can upgrade over, and on Feb. 15 that Vista has a built-in command that allows you to extend its activation deadline from 30 days to 120 days. Those articles were very popular with readers — the Feb. 1 story garnered a reader rating of 4.49 out of 5, the highest score of any article the newsletter has ever published — but that doesn't mean that these reports aren't controversial. Read more »
A fine rant about technology for idiots
In the world of technological advances, there's a fine line between convenience and utter ridiculousness. What is supposed to make our lives easier, more streamlined, often leaves us in a place infinitely more frustrating than where we began. (Remember the good old days of typewriters and rotary phones?) Read more »
Making legacy applications work with Vista 
Having Vista is surely a thrill for many of you, but you may find that the thrill is gone when your applications don't work correctly. Mixing the new with the old isn't always easy. This week I'll explain how to make your legacy application's help files work with Vista. Read more »
Vista Timesaver #5 — give Vista the axe?
High-profile Vista defections and avoidance maneuvers in the past few weeks beg a key question: Is the best way to save time with Vista to avoid it completely? Some big names who are dissing Vista make many people wonder if they should do the same. Read more »
Microsoft continues to make patching harder
This week, I'll be telling you about patch updates from three different software vendors. While they're all important, the ease of applying these updates varies widely. Microsoft patches, in particular, seem to be getting tougher and tougher to apply. Read more »
Three short days to Daylight Saving Time
When Daylight Saving Time hits the U.S. on its new start date of Sunday, Mar. 11, you'd better be ready for any issues that may occur. Monday, Mar. 12, will either be uneventful for you or the start of a week of arriving an hour late to your appointments. Read more »
