And surprisingly its web traffic.

The two most common search engine key phrases that brought visitors to my site in February are “Toolbar EULA” and “Kevin Rollins”.

You can read about the EULA issue here

You can read about Kevin Rollins Resignation here.

Dear Dell

In your honour you now have your own category on my site “DELL” it’s long overdue and you deserve it.

Hey why don’t you send me some equipment to review, something Quad based* would be nice.

*Please

You know you want to.

PS while I have your attention these Dell Express Upgrades for Windows Vista, We will see them soon? You see a pretty wicked Windows Vista backlash is happening, more Vista users might help.

Just an idea. If people dont go for Windows Vista which other platform might they choose? Ill give you a clue, it’s a fruit.

I have been accepted as a Beta tester for Microsoft’s Windows Home Server.

In many ways the modern home is just as complicated as my customers networks. You have routers, multiple computers, storage and access issues.

Hopefully Windows Home Server is going to help with administration of this.

When it ships it will typically be part of a hardware solution, so you will buy it pre-installed on a small server like device (see picture above). But for a Beta tester its only practical for Microsoft to give us the software part of Windows Home Server. We can try it out on our own hardware.

I actually think its going to work the other way around and its going to be a niche product for the tech savvy (running on our own chosen hardware). But we shall have to wait and see.

If you do, you are not alone. Good news a hotfix for this issue exists.

The bad news you have to phone Microsoft and ask for the Hotfix. Details on the link below.

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931770/en-us

Google are launching a paid and supported version of their online hosted applications.

Inside Googles web services you can:-

Email, Calendar, Talk, Spreadsheets and Write all online. Presentation software is comining.

These are all hosted on the internet both the software and your data. They offer 99.9% Uptime.

This is a paid service of $50 per user, per year and comes with telephone support.

So what does all of this mean. Well not a lot actually. Its far too early in the game and I for one would not trust a 1.0 product hosting the business that feeds my family.

Other things crop up like, if You have no internet connection and you want to work (say your on a train or a plane with no internet connection) what are you supposed to do?, use Notepad and Calculator.

However this move is significant, both Google and Microsoft will now let you host your office data and applications online and charge you for the pleasure.

Its only a matter of time, say the next 3 to 5 years that this kind of online hosted solution will have matured and be a viable option and the issue of “offline” is addressed.

This short screencast has a very quick look at the 4 core Windows Vista products

Windows Vista: Home, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate.

This is not a definitive explanation.

The official Microsoft Compare Windows Vista Editions Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/

Click the Screencast to Play.

This screencast requires the Flash plug in. You can get it here

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

Please feel free to link to this content, I update regularly.

My 2007 Screencast Links: http://www.colindiponio.com/category/screencast/

Thanks Colin