I’d advise clients looking to purchase an Windows RT tablet computer to seriously reconsider the purchase. The version of Office 2013 which comes with the Windows RT is not licensed for use for any commercial purpose. People bringing their own equipment into the office, or using the tablet whilst mobile or home for business purposes could easily be in breach of the licence conditions.
I think this is a very serious marketing mistake on the behalf of Microsoft. Their software is called Office and it would be reasonable to expect you could use the software in an office. People will buy a Windows RT tablet expecting to be able to take it to work but the included version of Office is only licensed for home and student work.
The Microsoft site states “Office Home & Student 2013 RT Preview and the final version are not for use in commercial, nonprofit, or revenue generating activities. Commercial license options available (sold separately)”. You should also check the definition of commercial licences which are sold separately. To my knowledge you cannot get a single user business licence to use with the Windows RT device.
Based on the licence conditions of Office 2013 RT the Windows RT Surface tablet is a device which I’d find it hard to recommend.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Alert: Windows RT Office 2013 is office software you can't use in the office
Windows 8 release date in Australia is today. Windows 8 Pro upgrade available now.
Windows 8 Pro upgrade is now available for download from Microsoft’s Online Store for $39.99. There are a number of things you should keep in mind.
1. Whilst at $39.99 the Windows 8 Pro upgrade is a bargain compared to previous upgrades, if you have an ageing computer think about whether it is best to save the money and put it towards a new computer, or to install Windows 8 Pro to keep your existing computer going and use the latest version of Windows.
2. Keep in mind Windows 8 is very different from what you are used to. At first this will be frustrating for most, but as with all past changes, once you get used to it, it won’t really matter.
3. Around 10% of older computers I’d estimate won’t be able to be upgraded. I estimate there will be over 100 million computers currently being used worldwide which won’t handle the upgrade. Check Microsoft’s refund policy, or the policy of the store where you purchase the software. The system requirements stated on the Microsoft web site do not take into account many computers which exceed the minimum requirement cannot install the Windows 8 upgrade. This is based on testing the Windows 8 Preview Release and I don’t believe this has changed.
The Microsoft Online Store provides a link to the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant which you can use to test if your computer can install Windows 8. I’d recommend running the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before purchasing the Window 8 Pro upgrade. On the netbook computer I use (it is around three years old) 11 issues were found and one was quite serious.
4. Keep in mind only upgrading from Windows 7 is what we’d normally consider a real upgrade. Windows Vista and Windows 8 will require reinstallation of your applications and isn’t an upgrade to me. My concern here is people running the upgrade on a Vistra or Windows XP machine will end up with a machine where there programs won’t run if they don’t understand how the upgrade works. I’d suggest Windows XP and Windows Vista users consider the upgrade to be like a fresh install. If you had to do a new install of your computer what do you need to save first.
5. You should perform a backup of your data (including programs you may have download and any settings your programs may store) before you perform any upgrade to your computer.
I’m suggesting to my clients they should purchase the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro even if they don’t install the upgrade right now. Until January 31st 2013 you’ll be able to buy Windows 8 Pro via download for $39.99. After that date the price will most likely revert to the very expensive upgrade prices of past, which means it may no longer be worth upgrading an older machine. This of course may change and Microsoft may decide to keep the upgrade prices at a reasonable level, but I wouldn’t count on it. Based on what I’ve read the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro on DVD could cost as much as $290. To me it doesn’t make sense to pay that much money to upgrade an older machine when that money could go to a new and faster machine.
You can buy Windows 8 Pro upgrade from a retailer, or save some money and download the upgrade from the Microsoft Online Store. The upgrade from a retailer will cost around $20-$30 more. I’m not sure at the moment, but I suspect the retail version may include a DVD. You should check if the DVD is included in the purchase from a retailer.
As I find issues with Windows 8 I’ll add the issues and solutions to MyAnswers for clients. I’ve already identified and documented a shortcoming of Windows 8 Mail which largely stops me from using Windows 8 Mail and may stop others.
Most importantly, do run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant first to make sure upgrading your computer won’t cause you any grief. Well, no more grief than normal.
If you forget where you can download the Windows 8 upgrade, the Microsoft Online Store is available on the main page of JustLocal (www.JustLocal.com.au). JustLocal is an advertising service I’ve created to help local businesses advertise cost effectively.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
NOTE: The link to the Microsoft store above is an affiliate link. Purchasing using this link means I receive a commission but does not affect the price you pay.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Alert: You are using a version of Internet Explorer which will soon be unsupported. Some features may not work correctly. Upgrade to a modern browser, such as Google Chrome.
Google, according to their site, only supports the current plus the previous version of a browser. In effect Google have dropped support for a large segment of the market rather than continuing to look after the consumer. Windows XP users can’t upgrade to a later version of Internet Explorer (due to Microsoft themselves not providing an option), but prefer to use Internet Explorer over Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera.
Given that Windows XP will cease to be supported by Microsoft in April 2014, that date would be an appropriate time to cease support. Some may consider this a move by Google to nudge people towards their own browser, or Firefox, whose income is mostly derived from Google.
When I offer support, clients regularly have infected browsers (mostly Firefox) which have been hijacked, often as a result of using Google’s search and installing software which they find for free, or even as a result of clicking on Google ads. The quickest and easiest way I’ve found to fix the problem is to switch the user back to Internet Explorer 8 and clean up the computer. The client is more than happy to continue to use Internet Explorer.
The message displayed is because Google will cease to support Internet Explorer 8 on November 15th.
According to the Google site, Google Calendar will only display in read-only mode, Gmail users will be redirected to the basic HTML interface and in Docs, drawings and presentations won't display properly. These are just a few examples listed as functions that won’t work.
For those who wish to continue to use Internet Explorer 8 you have some additional options apart those being promoted by Google. One is to stop using Google services. If you’re tied into Google services in some way (although most can be replaced), another option is to consider the low cost offer to upgrade to Windows 8 which includes Internet Explorer 10.
Personally I prefer to change when I’m ready, not because a company withdraws functionality and forces me to change. Of course Microsoft is doing the same by dropping support for Windows XP, but everyone has known it would be happening for years. Google’s change was announced on the 14th of September 2012. Not much time for people to plan ahead and certain to take many people by surprise.
The great thing about technology is you have lots of choice and many options you may not have considered previously.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
Friday, 19 October 2012
Google - You visited this page.
I’m helping a client obtain a good position on the internet. Their site is www.herdingdogtraining.com. If you search for “herding dog training” using Google, you’ll see I’ve already done a great job for the client. They are currently in the first position in the Google search results.
More recently we decided to try to get a better position for “dog training Melbourne”. A few changes and the site is gradually moving up. Then I get a telephone call from the client thanking me for getting them on the first page of Google. I check my iPhone and do a search and they’re still in position 13, which is on the second page.
I then go to my Windows XP netbook running Windows XP and there it is. The site is in second position. This should be a reason to celebrate, but unfortunately it isn’t. At the bottom of the entry Google has a line “You visited this page”.
The problem is this gives the client a false expectation that others are seeing their site near the top of the Google search results. Google is biasing results in a number of ways and you have to wonder if it is deliberate. People could think Google is a better search engine if they see their own sites listed on the front page of Google, or near the top of the results. I could understand if they left the result in the same position and added, “you visited this page”, but why move the result from position 13 to position 2. In any case this gives a false impression as to the position of the site in the Google search results.
I clear all the data from Internet Explorer include cache and cookies, make sure I’m not signed into a Google service and still Google remembers I’ve visited the page. This is getting somewhat spooky. I restart the computer. Still Google reports I’ve visited the page. Now it is time to investigate.
Google provides the following information
“If you aren't signed in to a Google Account, your search experience will be personalized based on past search information linked to a cookie on your browser. To disable these types of personalizations, follow these steps:
- Visit google.com/history/optout when not signed in to a Google Account. (If you see the Google homepage, try visiting the link again.)
- On the resulting page, click Disable customizations based on search activity. (Because this preference is stored in a cookie, it'll affect anyone else who uses the same browser and computer as you).
Or, if you'd rather just delete the current cookie storing searches from your browser and start fresh, clear your browser's cookies.
Note: If you've disabled signed-out search history personalization, you'll need to disable it again after clearing your browser cookies. Clearing your Google cookie clears your search settings, thereby turning history-based customizations back on.”
OK. Now I’ll use Disk Cleanup in Windows XP and see if that fixes the problem. This concerns me because it may mean there is an issue with deleting cookies in Internet Explorer 8. The suggestion by Google to clear the cookies doesn’t work.
I visit the following folder “C:\Documents and Settings\Acer\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files” on my computer. The user in this case is “Acer”, so change this for your computer to the username you use. Also if you don’t see this folder you have to change the folder options to show hidden system files.
The problem is now fixed. I no longer receive the message “You visited this page”.
In the end this is a problem with Internet Explorer 8. I’m not particularly fond of this feature which Google has provided, but others may find it handy. Personally I would have liked Google not to do this for me, but this is their choice and something I can’t control, short of using a different search engine.
For most people this won’t be a problem. For those who are paying a Search Engine Optimisation specialist to gain a better position in Google results, this may give them a false belief the work done by the Search Engine Optimisation specialist is working when it isn’t. I’ve seen some Search Engine Optimisation specialists use tricks to lead people to believe they’re better at gaining position on Google and this is another technique a disreputable SEO specialist may use.
Interestingly, after I’ve deleted the cookies, at this stage I’ve not been able to reproduce the problem by visiting the page a number of times. Even I find that strange.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if your require computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
As you can see, I also assist people with their internet presence.
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Alert: CatchOfTheDay.com.au - Ipad 3 Limited Offer
This is a fake and should be deleted immediately. Don't click on the link.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.
Apple iPad mini Australian release.
Apple have certainly picked their time well to do maximum damage to Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Windows RT Surface tablet launch by having an announcement on the 23rd of October (rumoured as nothing is confirmed), just days before Microsoft’s launch.
Whilst it is hard to compare the products because technically they serve different markets, if a consumer has some money to spare for a purchase they have a choice. Spending perhaps half the price on a fancy shiny new Apple iPad mini which is known to work like a regular iPad, versus Microsoft’s Windows RT Surface tablet which is no price leader and is a very restricted device, not able to run the range of software created for Windows, Microsoft will have a battle on its hands.
When Apple launched the original iPad I was extremely surprised with their aggressive pricing. This wasn’t something I’d seen from Apple. Microsoft in building Windows RT have produced a device which will confuse many consumers who think they’re buying a full Windows computer only to find out it has been restricted severely. It almost feels like Microsoft saw Apple’s success and copied their approach with a locked up restricted product. Software only available from their app store, bundled Office which has reduced functionality, at a price which only aims to largely match Apple.
Apple have an excellent return policy. If you’re not happy you can return the device within 14 days for a refund. Very easy to do because all you need to do is walk into an Apple store. I know because I did just that. Will Microsoft have the same policy. It certainly won’t be so easy because you’re buying over the internet from their online store, and if you return the unit, will you be up for costly postage including registered mail to protect against the return going astray. Again Apple makes it easy.
I should say from my own perspective I’m looking forward to the Windows 8 tablets running on Intel processors when they come out next year. Unfortunately Microsoft’s pricing probably won’t be aggressive. I hope it is because if it isn’t, Microsoft will find the market tepid to their new product.
Microsoft was once the company that came out with new products aggressively priced. Remember Microsoft Access when it was launched. Database products cost hundreds to thousands of dollars and Microsoft released Access 1.0 for $79 to buy market share and it worked. Microsoft needs to get aggressive and fast if they hope to keep market share.
The good thing for us consumers is the end of October will bring a good range of new devices for a bit of retail therapy. Apple’s launch date is a clever move.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Need help with your computer. Call 0415 910 703.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Australian dictionary available online for free.
Americans have lots of choices when it comes to using a free online dictionary. In Australia people end up using an American dictionary because they don’t realise there is a locally produced Australian English spellcheck dictionary available online for free.
I created the Australian English dictionary used by OpenOffice.org, Firefox and Google Chrome. The problem is when I started the work in 2003 I based the work on a British dictionary. I culled over 50,000 words and started rebuilding the dictionary which is used by the open source projects. However I still felt there was too much rubbish in the dictionary and the only way I could build the quality product I wanted was to build a dictionary from scratch.
The dictionary now covers 98% of words regularly used by Australians. The dictionary only provides the preferred Australian English spelling. There is no other resource available anywhere which is similar to the Australian English spellcheck dictionary I’ve created and no other online tool provides the preferred Australian English spelling.
A special feature of the preferred Australian English spellcheck dictionary is when you enter a word, if you don’t have the spelling correct, you’ll be presented with a list of suggested words. Ever had trouble looking up a word in a dictionary where you got the first letter wrong, well the spellcheck dictionary presents a list of words taking into account many variations and will often provide the word you are looking for. Once you have the word you know you are using the preferred Australian English spelling and can look up the meaning by clicking on the link.
Check out the preferred Australian English spellcheck dictionary and take your spelling to the next level.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au