Dell's Tablet

Have been a tablet user for 4 years now, I like my thinkpad X41 very much. It's getting slow, and ...







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So is Dell's Latitude XT my next? The features appear very cool.
* Single or dual-core Intel ULV CPUs (with integrated graphics)
* LED-backlit WXGA 1280 x 800 display option
* Outdoor viewing WXGA 1280 x 800 display option
* Pen and touch support (digitizer and touchscreen)
* (3) USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet (duh), 1394, VGA out
* WiFi options up to 802.11n, optional Bluetooth
* Optional 3G (HSDPA, EV-DO Rev. A)
* ExpressCard slot, optional Smart Card slot, fingerprint reader

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First Impression of Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta

I received an email from Microsoft that I am allowed to test WLM 9.0 beta. The file size of WLM9.0 is 17.3M, take a few minutes to downloaded from Microsoft connect,











Installation is very smooth on my computer with Vista Ultimate, and I am also going to test it on my laptop.






There is no suprise that the Messenger Plus! is no longer working.



Since the main purpose for me to install Plus! is to display dynamic pictures, it should not be a big issue as this version of WLM supports animated gif file.






Major new features of WLM 9.0 including (1)sign-in in multiple location, I am going to test it after installing another copy on my laptop.














(2) Signature sounds: this is really cool. I am going assign a loud and special sound to my dad's account, so my mom will never complain me to ignore her any more.













(3)SPIM(spam over IM) reporting: I don't care. I limited contacted list to friends only. (4)Animated display picture and hyperlind support: should be done long time ago.

This is just first impression of WLM 9.0, and going to test more.

Tracking stock of fancy toys

I am currently waiting to get a Zune 80 painfully, since it is out of stock everywhere. I am so happy to find this website service to help tracking the stock in different stores: NowInStock.net. I just wish more stuff will be included in their website.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 beta

I received a email from Microsoft with the invitation code for Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta. I filled survey and am waiting for the response from Microsoft. Can't wait to see how it looks like.

Windows Home Server

Bought the OEM version of WHS, installed, running smoothly on my P4 1.4G 2G RAM old computer.

I am going install a few program on it and see how it looks like.

Service of Windows Live Services

I got the problem with photo uploading to my space. Uploading by either Windows Live Photo Gallery or from space webpage, I hit the error messager of "limit reaching" or "server busy". It has been a while, so I emailed the support team of Windows Live Services today, at Sunday morning.

Suprisingly, they did a great job to fix it. They emailed me a instruction email in less than two hours. After I done a quick change in live messenger and replied the email, problem got be fixed in less than one hour.

Great job, Microsoft! My best experience with Microsoft so far.

Mystery of Hibernation in Windows Vista

My system drive is running low in space, so I decided to do a disk cleanup. There are files called "Hibernation File Clearer", which takes over 2.74G. I selected and did the clean. This action caused HIBERNATION choice disappeared from Vista everywhere: menu, control panel, etc.

To turn on hibernate in Windows Vista, I have to:
1. Run cmd.exe as adminstrator by holding the shift and right click the cmd.exe and choose Run As Administrator.
2. Type the "powercfg /hibernate on".

Windows Live Photo Gallery

It looks that Microsoft has lifted the region restriction to Windows Live Photo Gallery, since my original Chinese version WLPG can finally upload pictures to the spaces associated with my hotmail account based on Canada.

It organizes local photos by category, folder, or time, live the Vista stand alone version. Adding pictures to the colletion is slow, probably it is waiting computer idling time to do the job. However, there is no way to speed it up, make it very frustrating when you are waiting for it.

Uploading is very slow too, comparing to the picasa web album services. Re-organizing and adding caption to the uploaded pictures are easy to deal with.

One nice feature to compare WLPC to picasa is that the automatic preview when mouse is moved over the pictures.

One important reason I want to try Windows Live Photo Gallery is expecting some level integration of the online ablum to MSN messenger. Although, new added the pictures have been shown on messenger sidebar, they are so small that barely see any pictures details. It is really suck there is no way to do any customization to it.

So basically see no reason to switch from Picasa to Live Photo Gallery.

Windows Live Folers (Beta) Opens to Public

Windows Live Folders are now available to any hotmail users. When I signed in by my user account, it shows me 500M space immediately and allow me to create personal folders, shared folders, and public folders. In the personal folders category, there are further choices available: Documents, Musics, and Pictures. I tried to add mp3 files to Musics; unfortunately I didn't find the way to stream music file to play directly instead of downloading to local first. Actually, it is a feature I like to see Windows Home Server would support too.

Then I let wife tried her account which has never been used to try any live services. After login in, she was ask to agree the agreement of live services and then brought to the folders home page. Very smooth, easy to adopt this service. Is it from Microsoft?

Whole System Backup by Vista Ultimate

After upgraded my system to Vista Ultimate, I tried the whole system backup today. It is running very easy and smooth with only two seection steps in advance. First, I was asked which harddrives need to be included on top of system drive for whole system back; secondly, the target device(CD, or external harddrive, or other harddrives) was allowed to be chosen (unfortunately, no network drive supported). Remaining will be done by software itself, even with other tasks are running.

Installation of Windows Home Server (WHS) RC

I started to try Microsoft Windows Home Servr about half year ago. I like it very much so far. It provides easy usability and decent functionality. I got an email from Microsoft last month about that they decided that there is no upgrade option when upgrade from WHS CTP to WHS RC. It is really a big pain, but I still decided it is worth doing it because Microsoft promised there will be "upgrade option" in the future upgrading pathway, from RC but not from CTP. So an fresh installation will happen sooner or later, and it will be fun to have a look of RC without additional pain.

The torture of fresh installation is that I have to move more than 300G content from server and squeeze them into free space around other home computers. On and off of moving for almost two weeks, I finally made the server computer ready for the fresh WHS RC installation.

I first downloaded Windows RC from Microsoft, burn the server installation image to a DVD. Installation DVD was loaded to an external DVD of server (Just want to load four harddrive to server from the very beginning).

After system booted from CD, WHC starts the installation. And the remaining steps are easy and straightforward.




This part of the installation will be most confusing to someone that has no computer backgroup. I guess the term of "Volume" will make them lost immediately, so may be a good idea to have some "plain" word in "HOME" server installation. Actuatlly adding harddrive later in client console later is much easy to follow and this step can be get around at this moment.


A fresh installation is selected here.


A choice of no choice!


Customize server name can be done in this step.


Cool features included in Windows Home Server, with almost no or very few setting: Media sharing, Backup, Remote Access, and more.





Core of WHS is Windows 2003 Small Business





After another 1.5 hour installation, WHS set up is almost done before a few basic setting:





Not all done yet,


Activation of WHS


Finally


NEXT, I installed the client software, Windows Home Server Connector, on each home computer. It takes just a few minutes to do it.


After installation, it will pop up to ask the server password and join the client computer to server.

From WHS connector, you can add and manage user account,


manage and create new sharing folder, setting duplication of these folds, etc.


View server storage space and harddrive status.


Summary:
Windows Home Server is very easy to install and manage. Some cool features I like include automatic client system backup, easy share folder setting (but with limited choices), super easy storage managing(integrated all hardrive into one). I will like to have a few more features in WHS, like running some program which need to be running around the clock on the server side.

More about Vista Languate Interface

There is two kinds of the Vista User Interface (UI):
* MUI (Multi Language Interface)
* LIP (Language Interface Pack)
MUI is available to Vista Ultimate or Vista Enterprise version only. LIP providee possibility to change Home Premium and Business versions interface, but, ouch, no Simplified Chinese or even French pack available from thier website.

Upgrade from Vista Home Premium to Ultimate

My home computer has been on Vista Home Premium for a few months. Everything running smooth except lacking the whole system backup feature which is available on my laptop with Vista Business version.

Since my parents-in-law will come soon, I like to set up an account that has Chinese display base on my English version core. So I decided to upgrade to Vista Ultimate that can provide me these two features I need.

I first tried upgrade installation that took about two hours. Everything is fine except daemon tool giving error message. This sounds scary to me by recalling how much I have suffered to fix daemon tool during first Vista installation. So after backuped everthing on C, I did a fresh installation. The fresh installation is really like breeze, take me only a little bit more that half hour to finish everything.

However, I was stuck at activation by either online or automatic phone activation. So I talked to a Mirosoft agent, get the activation code within 5 minutes (It is 7am in the morning, so probably the best time to call a call center).

Next few steps is install my core software, Adobe photoshop, Microsoft Office, daemon tool, skype, etc. So far everything is very smooth. Creating account with Chinese display is also very straight forward.

Enable Auto Logon in Vista

Edit/Add keys in Registry

Hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\winlogon
-AutoAdminLogOn (1)
-DefaultUserName (your user)
-DefaultPassword (your password)
-DefaultDomainName (if you have a domain)

You'll need to create the DefaultPassword string and value

Using iGuidance 3.0 on Axim X5 Part II

I had a short trip to Finger Lakes area in the past long weekend. Both iGuidance, Mapopolis, and Streets and Maps (on laptop) has been used to help me to drive around.

Good news is that iGuidance is not running slow on my Axim X5. It still has some lagging to show real location, but do give accurate sound reminding each time. Unlike mapopolis, which will rimind turning a little later some time. It pick up router properly most time, but give a wrong direct once (based on my judgement). So the problem come here, when I start to worry about the direction, I have no easy way to check the whole router view.

In conclusion, iGuidance is usable but still need some precaution now. It may get even better to me when I get use to it.

Using iGuidance 3.0 on Axim X5

Upgraded iGuidance from 2.0 to 3.0. I didn't like the user interface of iGuidance 2.0, so has stay with mapopolis. However, the new iGuidance interface appeared much better. Menu is still a little bit confusing, but other feature are good. I like it can remind me the target is on the left or right road.

One issue I have now is that it seems running slow on my Axim X5. Real time position is lagging some time, and recalculating is almost half minute later each time. I am going tuning my system a little bit to see if it help. Is it because my system too old? Better not!

Meebo: Instant messenger web service

Find a interesting website: http://www.meebo.com, which allow you to web logon to MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk, and AOL messenger. Pretty Cool!

Mapopolis is Down

I have used mapopolis as map software with my Haicom GPS on Dell Axim X5 for more than two years now. Unfortunately, just find out that "Mapopolis has discontinued all consumer sales" on their website. Although, maps I have probably will good for at least another year, searching and testing new software have to be on the way.

Upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium

It is really hard to follow daily changing computer technology. Has been busy for a few months, I am now experiencing the new Vista, Office 2007, Windows Home Server 2003, new features in Google Earth/Map. That’s totally fun and overwhelming.

After painfully waiting the VISTA EXPRESS CD from Dell, I finally got it four month later than I got the dell media computer. Because I need to join domain at the first place, I installed the Windows XP professional on the dell media computer. Unfortunately, I now have the problem to upgrade from Windows XP professional to Vista Home Premium, which is not the pathway that Microsoft designed!

Various ways has been tried:

* XP professional -> Vista Business –(x)> Vista Home Premium
* Vista Home Premium (on previous XP partition) without serial number –> Upgrade to Vista Home Premium: stuck in the last step of installation (tried three times, damn it!)
* Vista Home Premium (formatted C first this time) without serial number –> Upgrade to Vista Home Premium (Wow, up finally)

I have finally installed Windows Vista Home Premium on my Dell PC, my longest OS upgrading experience. Installation of additional software is a breeze except the Daemon Tool, which I am going to talk about in the next post.

Windows Live Hotmail

Upgraded to Windows Live Hotmail. I noticed that one advantage is that you can select sent item be saved by default. Finally, Microsoft decided to make hotmail usable.














It has been also rumored that Microsoft will provide free connection between Outlook and Windows Live Hotmail Calendar and Contacts. That will be cool!