Blog Profile / Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
| URL : | http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Technology Industry News / Microsoft | |
| Posts on Regator: | 491 | |
| Posts / Week: | 2.9 | |
| Archived Since: | February 3, 2010 | |
Blog Post Archive
Lenovo cleans up its incredibly messy Yoga 13 disk layout
Apparently Lenovo is listening. The default disk partitioning layout for its shape-shifting Yoga 13 steals nearly half the available space. Here's the official fix.
With Windows 8, Microsoft's playing a scene from Groundhog Day
As I read the coverage of Windows 8's initial reception, I feel like Bill Murray waking up in Punxsutawney to relive the same day over and over. We've played this scene out before. So how does it end this time?
How are Windows 8 sales? Still too early to tell
New numbers are beginning to emerge from research firms on actual sales and usage of Windows 8. But the data paints a conflicting picture.
The browser wars seem to have settled into an uneasy truce
A funny thing happened in the past year: People stopped switching browsers, at least on conventional PCs and Macs. Chrome and Firefox usage are down, and Internet Explorer's share is up. What's going on?
Microsoft announces pricing and detailed specs for Surface Pro
Microsoft's Surface RT is the warm-up act, but for many potential buyers the headliner is still waiting in the wings. Today, Microsoft revealed that its Windows 8-powered Surface Pro, due in January, will include two models at $899 and $999.
Microsoft commits to Surface with Windows RT for at least four years
Nearly a month after its initial release, Windows RT still has no official support policy. But Microsoft has declared its support lifecycle for the Surface hardware powered by Windows RT.
Free Windows 8 upgrades? Not so fast (or easy)...
You might have heard reports that Microsoft has accidentally been giving away free licenses to Windows 8 Pro. Sorry, but that's not true. It's just another move in the long cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and the pirates.
How PC makers destroy the Windows experience
Building a PC should be easy. Design great hardware, add an operating system and any specialized tools that your hardware needs, and delight the user. So why do some PC makers insist on screwing things up?
How Steven Sinofsky changed Microsoft, for better and for worse
When Steven Sinofsky moved to the Windows division in 2006, it was fundamentally broken. He leaves behind an engineering process that runs smoothly. But he also leaves a legacy of cutthroat politics and feuding between divisions.
How outraged should you be about ads in Windows 8 apps? Not at all
Repeat after me: There are no ads in Windows 8. Yes, you can find ads if you look closely at a group of consumer apps from a separate Microsoft division. But you'll be surprised to learn the real reason why those apps are in every copy of Windows 8.
What do normal people think of new Windows 8 PCs?
Real people, the kind who don't read tech blogs and who buy PCs from shopping channels on basic cable, have finally got their hands on Windows 8. The early reviews will almost certainly surprise you.
How much do you have to pay to use Office 2013 RT for work?
Yes, you can legally use Office 2013 to do real work on a Windows RT device like Microsoft's Surface. But be prepared to pay extra. I've got details, including the monthly price tag.
The ultimate Windows 8 upgrade FAQ
You've got questions about the Windows 8 upgrade. Can you burn the upgrade files to DVD or a USB flash drive? Is it possible to go from a 32-bit Windows PC to 64-bit? Who qualifies for cheap upgrades? I've got the answers you're looking for.
How do you get the best deal on a Windows 8 Pro upgrade?
You can get a smoking deal on an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro if you're ready to make that purchase before January 31, 2013. But there are some gotchas, and one inexplicable and unfair pricing decision means that early buyers of Windows 8 PCs pay more than Windows 7 users.
Bing doesn't like Google all that much, either
Google's search suggestions for Windows 8 are like a treasure map for haters. But guess what Bing users see when they begin typing Google-related searches?
Microsoft's Sinofsky responds to complaint over Office 2013 on Surface RT
An emotional complaint from an early buyer of the Surface RT went viral, inspiring a long discussion of the issue on the popular Hacker News discussion board. That thread inspired a response from a very authoritative source.
Hands on with Microsoft's Surface RT: Can it hit the sweet spot?
I've spent the last week using Microsoft's new Surface with Windows RT. It does some things remarkably well, but it's not a PC. Is it right for you?
Windows 8 is the new XP
This new version of Windows is a disaster. Power users can't wait to replace the UI, and businesses are avoiding it like the plague. I'm talking, of course, about Windows XP. Ah, how quickly we forget.
Online clues suggest a Skype surprise for Windows 8 and Surface
In all of this week's news about Microsoft's Surface with Windows RT, one app has gone practically unmentioned. Will a "modern UI" version of Skype play a starring role at next week's Windows 8 launch event?
An inside look at Microsoft's Surface RT
A behind-the-scenes look at the labs where Microsoft designed its first-ever Windows PC, plus an inside look at the device itself.