As a Vista user, I’ve had to learn to deal with the extra security in place to keep me from installing things that shouldn’t be installed.  (Yes, I know I can turn that off and have, but for the sake of argument, bear with me here.  Thanks.)  Anything that needs to install or update requires a second “yes” confirmation from the user, and some things won’t install without an administrator confirmation, as well.

This is all well and good when you can’t trust the users, and I understand why this failsafe exists in the Vista operating system.

Now comes word from the Windows7 developers that Microsoft’s latest operating system will no longer allow AutoRun to operate from anything but a CD/DVD drive.  This means that if you’re carrying around a flash drive with portable OpenOffice, inserting it in a machine running Windows7 will not trigger the AutoRun window in the same way as before; i.e. you won’t have a choice to run or install the program found on the flash drive, you will only have the option to open a folder to view the files.

This is may be only partially problematic for some users, as opening the folder to view would then allow you to run or install what is on the flash drive.  It just takes a few extra clicks.  Where it becomes problematic is when users need to have access to a particular program in order to use the computer in the first place, for example, a blind user with a screen reading program on a flash drive that s/he takes wherever they go so they can access public computer resources.  In most cases, that user cannot navigate the computer without the screen reading software, and with the AutoRun feature disabled, that person is completely locked out.

There is a way to “fool” the computer into thinking otherwise, at least for the moment.  Flash drives running the U3 operating system  actually fool the Windows7 operating system into thinking that it is a CD/DVD, instead of a flash drive.  But I expect a WIndows7 to sew up this hole pretty quickly.  I am wondering how Windows7 will deal with flash drives that contain security information that allow a user access to extremely secure systems, such as those used in bio and nuclear labs.  With the AutoRun so clamped down, these user-access security systems may become completely dysfunctional.

Information on Windows7 blogs indicate that this “security enhancement” will be put into an update to Windows Vista shortly.  Microsoft’s reasoning is to short-circuit the Conficker and other similar worms/trojans.  But I’m not so sure the cure is not worse than the cause, at this point.

More information can be found at Technet, and at Microsoft.com.

It looks like Microsoft Windows 7 will have its gala release before the Christmas sales season approaches.  The first “release candidate” has been made available for authorized beta testers, which usually occurs around five months before the relase of the final product.  In this time frame, we could be seeing Windows 7 released around October, just in time to hit all those Christmas-purchase laptops.

A couple of new things were added to the release candidate, one of which has sparked a lot of interest in the tech community.  Windows 7 will include a “run in Windows XP mode” function that will allow the use of older software that may not be Vista or Windows 7 ready.  In addition, Windows 7 will make available a function to allow you to access your computer running Windows 7 from any other computer running Windows 7, as long as it is online.  I’m leery of the security of that function, but if it works and is secure, then it could be a real time-saver for many.  No more carrying around flash drives or other portable devices for presentations, as long as you had access to your machine back home, you’d be good to go.  I’m trying to dig up more info on this functionality as it becomes available.

It does appear that Windows 7 will require the same beefed up hardware as upper-end Vista needed, so we aren’t going back to less bloat (ala XP) at this point.  But, most new hardware is made to accommodate the more powerful needs of Vista, and Windows 7 itself runs better, with less bloat, on higher-end machines, than Vista did.  Windows 7 will not likely be pared down enough to run on Netbooks, which still leaves that market clamoring for XP or Windows alternative that can run on those lower-end machines.

(cheezy austrailian voice) – AWRIGHT! We’re lookin for that ever elusive $1000 PC. We are in the deepest depths of the store and have pushed through the phones, software and CD’s to get here. But here it is – the $1000 machines. OH NO MATE! Watch out for that…. OOOF! …ethernet cable… you ok….?

Microsoft has an ad that people are not only getting behind, they’re causing controversy. For those of you who have been under a rock, here is the story:

Microsoft bets you can get a PC for under your budget and they’ll pay for it if you do. Surprisingly enough, all three people that found a machine chose PC. So they walked out with a new gift.

Let’s review the 3 hunters:

Lauren – She drives a VW. She walked into Apple, then back out. She then walked into Best Buy and found a hp Pavillion for $699.

Giampaolo – He is technically savvy. He wanted something with more power for under $1500. Macs are sexy but not powerful. He has big hands. Giampaolo walked into Fryes and purchased a hp HDX

Lisa and Jackson – I am guessing this is a single mom with 1 child – At least that’s what it conveys. They wanted a machine for under $1500. They went into Best Buy and saw the Macs. Although they were “pretty” (mom said that), they were too small. They looked at the PC’s and Jackson shuttered at the pink one. They ended up with a Sony Vaio.

Let’s look at the stats: Out of the 3, 2 bought hp’s and 1 got a Sony. Lauren and Lisa / Jackson went to Best Buy, Giampaolo went to Fryes.

So was Microsoft catering to Windows or were they catering to someone else? At the end you prominently saw the brand name. Although they weren’t flaunting the stores, you know which ones they went in.

Will this make us walk into a Fryes or Best Buy and buy a hp or a Sony? It’s possible. More interesting question: Will it make us walk into an Apple store and buy a Mac?

The hunt continues. Let’s see where they go next. Yo, Microsoft – Maybe take them to a “Mom and Pop” Shop? Ohhh! I know. Let’s buy a Psystar online!

The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed

How true that is.

Microsoft will stop selling the Encarta software in June and the site will disband on October 31st with Encarta: Japan going dark on Dec. 31st. If you have Encarta Premium, you may be eligible for a refund.Tech Support will still honor support calls until 2012. It is all outlined in this MSN Encarta Notice.

Encarta has been around since 1993. Microsoft purchased rights to and incorporated Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia to start the online Encyclopedia.

It’s strange that Microsoft would kill such a big program – especially one that promotes education. Yes, I agree that the way we gather information has changed, but taking out Encarta is almost like closing a City Library.

I wonder if Microsoft has something else up their sleeve. It’s not like them to discontinue something so big. I would think that Encarta could be sold for a good chunk of change or even turn Open Source.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Balmer has some other plan.