First, let’s be very clear. Google’s new web browser “Chrome,” which you can download via the link Google’s main search page at www.google.com — is a Beta version — an unfinished version that is being released to the public so they can help find the bugs before the official release.

Tech Tip
A beta version of software is an unfinished version of software that is released to a large group of testers (sometimes the public) for testing, in order to help identify any bugs that still exist.

Chrome is not finished. It is not bug free. It is not free from security problems. The whole purpose of a beta release is to get more people trying to use it in order to find the bugs. Use it at your own risk.

If you are considering trying Chrome, or even starting to regularly use Chrome, I strongly urge you to carefully read the Google Chrome Terms of Service, which you have to accept in order to download the Chrome Beta.

Continue reading Google’s Chrome Web Browser (beta)

Open your pocketbook!

Microsoft’s EULA for Windows Vista allows one transfer of a retail copy of Windows Vista to a new machine. Of course, an OEM copy (now referred to differently) will not be transferrable to a different computer — and it never was legally according to the licenses.

Unfortunately, Microsoft has been taking steps in recent years to redefine “what is a computer.” All too often, they’ve determined that that a motherboard replacement with the same model motherboard and CPU is not a new machine, but that an upgrade of motherboard, CPU and memory in your computer now makes it a “new computer.”

The new Vista version of WGA (“windows genuine advantage”) is even touchier than the XP system checker in terms of deciding what it thinks are too many changes.

I recall, with Windows XP, adding a network card, changing a network card, adding a new hard drive to the computer (temporarily to transfer data from the old hard drive) and then disconnecting the old hard drive — and having to call Microsoft to get a new number to enter into Windows XP. Apparently this many changes to the hardware triggered the “new system” test in XP.

Well, MS says the new system is even more sophisticated and sensitive.

PC enthusiasts that like to frequently change their systems are not happy.

Under the new system, retail copies will be able to moved to a new “device” one time. After that, it’s “buy a new license” or call MS Tech Support to plead your case. MS has not released any firm rules (if they ever will) on how this will work, either.

It’s amazing. Just who does Microsoft think really drives the acceptance of their new operating systems. It’s not the corporations or the manufacturers — it is the PC enthusiasts who hound their friends that still have old PCs and old operating systems.

Yet, MS is attacking the pocketbooks of those very people. Bad move. We may see a ground-swell of support for Linux…