I saw this 14 Page PDF document on the official Microsoft Download Center.

It is well written and would be an ideal introduction to for someone looking at getting better Windows Vista performance.

The topics included are:

• Power Settings on Mobile Computers
• Disable Visual Effects
• Adjust Search Settings
• Use Hardware to Boost Performance
• Make Your Computer Start Faster
• Put Your Computer to Sleep
• Disable Unwanted Start-up Programs
• Remove Unused Programs
• Disable Unwanted Services
• Improving Performance on User Account Control
• Making Your Computer More Reliable
• Defrag Your Disk
• Monitor Your Performance
• Check the Windows Vista Experience Index
• Check Performance with Task Manager
• Using Resource Monitor

Link:

 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ab377598-a637-432c-a3c8-1607ab629201&displaylang=en&tm

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
• Intel 945 Express/GMA950 graphics
• 1GB RAM
• 8.9 inch 1240 x 600 pixel display
• 8GB SSD
• Windows XP or Linux
• 3 USB ports
• 802.11b/g
• Ethernet
• 32 Wh battery
• Card reader
• Black, white and red colors

August still looking likely.

When you ask customers to pay $99 for an online service it better deliver.

Having to report the loss of 10% of the affected customers e-mail over a multiple day period is frankly both shocking and embarrassing for any large tech company.

I think the only way  Apple can turn this around is to make Mobile Me free for six months. Iron out the bugs then let the consumer decide at the end of the term.

As it stands. Avoid.

Link: http://www.apple.com/mobileme/status/

Here are some step by step instructions for upgrading the bios in your Dell Laptop.

Visit www.support.dell.com and select "I’m Looking for Drivers and Downloads".

Select your machine type (Laptop / Desktop) Then your family model, then the specific model within that family.

Once you arrive at the main page for your hardware expand the bios section and click the link Dell - Bios

Next Download your Bios file.

Bios files are typically small so should download quickly.

Once downloaded, come out of everything and make sure your laptop is on mains power. Then run the bios file you downloaded.

It will confirm the current bios level and tell you want number it’s going to upgrade too.

The last prompt you will see is this one.

When you click ok your laptop will immediately reboot, it will then perform the bios upgrade on a DOS like white screen and then reboot.

It may take longer than usual to load the Bios the first time it’s run, So leave it. It should only be a moment or so.

Then your laptop will boot windows and the upgrade is complete.

Finding the real news in today’s media is getting more complicated.

This is extends to tech reporting.

Check these 597 news articles about UK ISP’s sending out warning letters to music file sharers.

Link: all 579 news articles »

Check out these 299 news articles about a DNS flaw that puts every Internet user at risk.

Link: all 299 news articles »

One of these stories is important…

What is DNS? Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System

It turns names like  www.mysitewhatever.com into an ip address example 111.222.121.12

The DNS exploit allows hackers to divert your web traffic to another site without you knowing.

So you may think your on www.mybank.co.uk but you could be invisibly re-directed to a site the hackers set up to capture your data.

Typically your ISP needs to patch/update their own DNS servers as you use these to route your web traffic around the Internet.

So how do you know if you are vulnerable?

Tech Tip:

There is a DNS checker on this site (http://www.doxpara.com/)

Look for this in the right hand side of the page.

or

On this really useful site  (http://www.dnsstuff.com/)

Look for this at the bottom left:

If you find your are vulnerable send an e-mail to you ISP asking when they will patch their DNS servers to protect you.

In the mean time be extra careful. Oh and stop downloading music.