Windows Experience Blog : Windows

Introducing The Windows Outreach Team and #WinWin7 on Twitter

Brandon LeBlanc — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:46:22 GMT

If you happened to be searching for “pizza” on Twitter Search yesterday or are following the @mswindows Twitter account, chances are you witnessed the kickoff of #WinWin7. The Windows Outreach Team kicked off 7 weeks of Windows 7 by sending 7 piping-hot pizzas to 7 lucky Twitter followers.

And it won’t stop there.

Throughout the next 7 weeks, @mswindows will be giving away prizes all based on the number 7 (for Windows 7). Winners must take part in the challenges and are encouraged to invite friends to join in on the fun which all culminates on launch day - October 22nd.

Make sure you’re following @mswindows and tell them Brandon sent you. Oh and watch for the official #WinWin7 hash tag too.

Speaking of the Windows Outreach Team, how about meeting the supporting cast? You may have seen them on some of your favorite blogs and forums and didn’t really know who they were. Let’s change that.

Jeff D, Cody G and Ron S, are a savvy team tasked with reaching out to users and creating a real resource within the communities on the Web.

Along with Josh T on the @mswindows account, these team members bring a wealth of knowledge (both consumer and even a bit on the “techy” side) to the table. Anywhere from gaming to watching your media across your home network, these guys have been there and tried out the fixes and know what works and what doesn’t. You can bet on them to offer advice and an open ear, not a sales pitch and a bottom line – oddly enough, none of them wanted to be a snake oil salesman growing up.

So, keep a lookout for the team on some of your favorite blogs and forums and feel free to say “hi” or just ask a question. They’ll be sure to help get you on the track to whatever it is you need.

If you have any questions for the Windows Outreach Team, just send a tweet to @mswindows. Or leave a comment here too of course.

NOTE: The Windows Outreach Team also runs the Windows Live Twitter account @windowslive too.

Updated Version of Windows Live Family Safety Released

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:02:29 GMT

With yesterday’s update to Windows Live Essentials (which included the final release of Windows Live Movie Maker), we also released an updated version of Windows Live Family Safety.

Windows Live Family Safety is designed to help parents keep their children safer online. It offers parents the ability to manage which websites their kids can visit, as well as the list of contacts they can communicate with when using the Windows Live services such as Windows Live Spaces, Hotmail and Messenger. It can also generate a report for parents so that they can monitor their children’s computer and online activity. The best part is it lets parents monitor what their kids are doing from anywhere they are online — from any Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC that has web access and that parents have administrative rights to (via http://fss.live.com).

The updated version of Windows Live Family Safety also offers deeper integration with Windows resulting in fewer log-in prompts and faster web surfing compared to previous versions of Family Safety while it’s running on the PC.

Windows Live Family Safety uses Windows accounts as the basis for storing settings. Parents are no longer required to have a Windows Live ID for each child who needs their own settings.

Windows Live Family Safety reads the Windows Parental Control (WPC) settings on Windows Vista and Windows 7 enabling parents to retrieve WPC activity reports from any Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer online. These reports include time spent on the computer, browsing history, and games and applications run. This monitoring is transparent to the end user, as a notification is displayed once on Windows account login when monitoring is enabled.

With Windows 7, there are new Windows APIs which provide software developers greater control of Windows Parental Controls UI and settings. Windows Live Family Safety takes advantage of the new Windows APIs. It’s now easier for users to access Windows Live Family Safety directly from the Windows Parental Controls Control Panel in Windows 7.Windows Live Family Safety is another good example of Windows Live “lighting up” the Windows PC.

With these improvements to Windows Live Family Safety, Microsoft demonstrates its continued commitment to helping parents keep their kids safe on the Web. You can download Windows Live Family Safety, part of Windows Live Essentials, at download.live.com.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Story, Family Safety, Security, Filters, Accounts, Family

Green Electronics Council Founder Talks Green PCs

Brandon LeBlanc — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:16:59 GMT

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Jeff Omelchuk, founder and executive director of the Green Electronics Council (GEC), to talk about the work that he, Microsoft, and the PC industry are doing to make sure that customers have easy access to green PC hardware. Jeff gave a lot of insight into GEC and their efforts to educate consumers, enterprises, government agencies and technology companies about why “going green” is so important. The full interview is below, and when you’re done, be sure to hit www.epeat.net to find yourself the perfect green PC!

Brandon: What is the GEC? What is your mission?

Jeff: I founded the GEC In 2005, in recognition of the need to redefine society’s relationship with electronics. The motivation was that stakeholders in the chain of electronics all have important roles to play in reducing the environmental impact of certain products. Designers, users, manufacturers, purchasers, all need to work together to reduce the impact of electronic products. We recognize that electronic products and the communications they enable, they are a key to future sustainability. Yet, pound for pound and ounce for ounce they are the most environmentally impactful products on the planet. They have the capacity for good and improving communications and social efficiency but they are also very environmentally taxing. It’s an interesting case to dig into.

Brandon: That is very cool. I really like that you take a holistic view of how electronics work and take a look at the big picture. That being said, with such a great vision and mission, what is the goal and what kind of programs are you running right now to accomplish those goals?

Jeff: The Long-term goal is to get a consistent vision and definition of what sustainable electronics looks like and develop mechanisms and systems to move our global society toward accomplishing that goal, so we can get the benefits of electronics without the environment being saddled with so much of a burden.

GEC’s biggest program is called EPEAT, which is a green purchasing program for electronics that currently covers laptops, desktops and monitors. Another program of GEC is a partnership with Yale University for a forum for defining sustainable information and communications technology - we want to figure out a definition and a model of what that might be.

We’re also launching an international green electronics awards programs with Yale and other national, very high-profile stakeholders. The great thing about that awards program is that there are multiple diverse stakeholders, and we’re very committed to not bashing anyone; rather, we’re working cooperatively with all stakeholders to move the whole ecosystem forward. It’s very indicative of how we work across the board.

Brandon: That’s great. It’s interesting, the breadth of the programs you’re undertaking. You started to talk about EPEAT, which I think is probably most relevant to our readers. We covered what EPEAT is, so now I’d like to dig into how you came up with the idea for the EPEAT rating system and why its so important to consumers?

Jeff: Great question. EPEAT is a green rating system for electronics and to be honest (Laughs), I didn’t come up with the idea of it, or how it works! That was developed from over 100 stakeholders from all different sectors – advocacy organizations, PC manufacturers, institutional purchasers of electronics, recyclers, government agencies – all working together to solve a common problem, namely that it’s really difficult to specify green in a sound way, and difficult to know what products would meet that definition. There’s a problem because from a manufacturer’s perspective, different customers define green differently. To design a PC that meets everyone’s differing specs for green was a challenge, so there was a real need to create one definition that gives a consistent design target. Out of that common need, EPEAT defined the rating system, which is giving a definition of green that is quantified in a standard, published by IEEE, which defines green by 51 criteria and a certification program to identify what products meet the standards.

Brandon: What’s the incentive for a PC manufacturer to get their products registered, certified and tested? Is there something in it for them other than trying to ride the “Green Wave”?

Jeff: The simple answer is that we have been successful in getting purchasers of electronics to only buy those products that are green certified by EPEAT. The 800 pound gorilla is the US federal government – they require that nearly all PCs that the government buys must be EPEAT certified, which has created a market of over $60 billion for green computers. The simple reason the manufacturers participate, and we have participation by all the leading PC companies on the planet, is that they want a piece of that $60 billion!

Brandon: Very cool! Is EPEAT only in the United States or has this moved internationally?

Jeff: EPEAT was born in the USA and developed primarily by and for US and Canadian stakeholders, but since EPEAT launched in 2006, its use has grown dramatically. It effectively solves the same problems for purchasers in Brazil and Mexico, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout EU and Asia that it has here. We see manufacturers all over the world registering with EPEAT, and purchasers like HSBC and Marriott International, large government and public purchasers, all looking for EPEAT certified hardware.

Brandon: Do I have to spend a lot of money or can I go green at any price point and any form factor?

Jeff: There is no evidence that we can see that green PCs cost more. There are more than 1200 laptops, desktops and monitors that are EPEAT certified today, so there’s something for everyone. I don’t think there is a discernable price difference, meaning that there are PCs all over the spectrum of performance and form factors and style that are EPEAT registered. When I travel, I carry the Toshiba Portege R500; it’s one of the greenest PCs out there. It is a slim, sleek laptop and weighs about 2.2 pounds. Going small isn’t the only way to go green though.

Brandon: What are the different ratings EPEAT certifies? What tools are there to help me buy the greenest computer? I’m out looking for a green PC – what should I be looking for and what tips and tricks are there to make sure I’m buying the best green computer?

Jeff: First, EPEAT rates products as bronze, silver or gold, sort of like green, greener and greenest. It is not a subjective rating system where we think about it and decide what’s greenest; it is based 51 criteria quantified in an IEEE standard. 23 criteria are defined as required – all EPEAT registered products must meet all 23 - and then some meet the 28 optional criteria,

Products that meet these requirements are listed on the website, www.epeat.net. It’s an easy way to identify EPEAT registered products – sort of the “green electronics bible”. That database is maintained by each manufacturer, so it’s always up to date. It’s literally refreshed every few seconds.

The best way today for a consumer to identify green computers is to go to the EPEAT website; the cool thing it’s a fully searchable database. Click on anything and explore which of the criteria any product meets. It’s a deep database with complex search capabilities so you can look for a specific product. At that point, having done your research, you can go online or in stores. You won’t see EPEAT-registered products identified with stickers or labels in most brick and mortar stories yet, but they are often identified online. CDW, Best Buy and Office Depot and others identify EPEAT registered products, either as part of the technical specs or with an EPEAT logo. More and more you’re seeing the EPEAT specified rating in the online performance technical sheet.

Brandon: Let’s say I’ve done my research, I’ve gone out bought my green PC. How can I make my computer greener to own? Are there ways I can conserve power to maximize its greenness?

Jeff: There are three primary decisions purchasers have to make about a PC: First is what to buy second is how to use it and third is what to do when they are done using it. Each has environmental aspects. EPEAT is intended to answer the first question – what to buy. When you buy, you help create an incentive for manufacturers to keep designing greener products.

What are my recommendations to optimize a PC’s greenness? The first and most important aspect is to enable power management features of leading operating systems like Windows. Windows has very good energy management features, [Note: click here to learn about Windows 7 power management] and your best bet is to let the PC manage its own power. It does quite well on its own. It’s sort of an old wives tale from the dark days of legacy computing that computers don’t like to be turned off. That’s totally not true anymore - if you’re not using it turn it off!

I put most of my office electronics on a plug strip. After I shut down my computer and turn it off, I turn off the strip, because a little known fact is that computers and other electronics still draw power even when the device is in an off state. Just by unplugging, you can save a ton of energy.

The third thing I mentioned is how to dispose of your PC when you’re done with it. It takes a lot out of our planet to manufacture electronic products, so trying to get the most use out of products is important. The idea of buying a new product that’s greener to replace an old product seems intuitive but in reality, its not a very green idea because it takes so many natural resources to manufacture that new device. If you want or need new, the best thing you can do is extend the life of the original machine. Do what you can to use them as long as possible. When you’re done using it, try to find someone who can make use of it.

When it’s really at the end of its useful life, recycle it appropriately and be careful to recycle with a responsible recycler. That last part is particularly important, because sometimes it’s difficult to identify responsible recyclers. There was a great article that came out the other day from a group called the Basil Action Network, who followed a batch of PCs that the recycler had said were going to be recycled responsibly, and it turns out they weren’t recycled at all! There have been numerous cases of irresponsible recycling where machines are exported to countries in Africa or to China where they are “recycled” under the most terrible conditions, or at best are tossed in a landfill and left to be a public health hazard. It’s a serious failure of policy and legal control, both in the US and the receiving countries and we can avert that by making sure our recyclers are responsible.

Brandon: Is there anything else you want readers to know about EPEAT, about green PCs?

Jeff: I guess the one thought would be, when you go into a retail store or online, or interact with people about electronic products, ask salespeople if there are any sound ways to determine a computer’s greenness and if they don’t know, point them to the EPEAT website. It is a tool that can be used by salespeople in stores, and you can help spread the word!

Additional Links:

Whitepapers:

State of the Blog – A Little Update on Where We Are Today

Brandon LeBlanc — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:03:59 GMT

We are in an exciting time for Windows. We’re about to launch our best version of Windows yet – Windows 7. In between all the Windows 7 awesomeness, I wanted to take a moment to talk about The Windows Blog and where we are today with the site.

We’ve come a long way since 2006 when we launched as the Windows Vista Team Blog. This last fall we re-launched the site as The Windows Blog. When we re-launched, the focus of the site was to be the ultimate resource for Windows through the use of blogging – and to grow.

In the site’s design, we put an emphasis of multiple blogs existing under The Windows Blog “umbrella” that would cater to different audiences. Our original blog, Windows Vista Team Blog, became one of several blogs under that “umbrella” and we also launched the Windows 7 Team Blog which is where you will find all the latest Windows 7 news and announcements. Also in the fall, we launched the Windows Security Blog featuring blog posts focusing on Windows security from Paul Cooke. Paul blogged live from RSA earlier this year.

And in the last few months, we’ve grown quite a bit to cover a broader array of audiences with several other new blogs joining our site:

Windows for your Business Blog: Launched in February by Gavriella Schuster, this blog focuses on our commercial customers for Windows. Most recently, Rich Reynolds who is a GM on the Windows Commercial Marketing Team posted a blog about how our business customers provided early feedback for Windows 7.

Windows 7 for Developers Blog: At the end of March, we launched the Windows 7 for Developers. This blog is run by Yochay Kiriaty from the Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) Team here at Microsoft. Yochay blogs about all the really cool things developers can do with their applications to take advantage of Windows 7 features like the new Windows Taskbar. If you’re a developer – this blog is a must read.

Springboard Series Blog: This blog launched in early June and is run by Senior Community Manager Stephen Rose. The Springboard Series is a TechNet portal and is the ultimate Windows resource for IT Professionals. The Springboard Series Blog focuses on calling out those resources for IT Pros. Just recently, a Virtual Roundtable (VRT) discussion was help with Mark Russinovich on Application Compatibility – check it out here!

Soon, my friends over on Windows Mobile will be blogging on The Windows Blog too! Their blog can be found here.

And of course I continue to focus on my Windows experiences on the Windows Experience Blog as well.

What’s great about growing the blogs under The Windows Blog “umbrella” is that we have blog posts talking about a variety of Windows topics relevant to a broad set of audiences.

However what if some of the content being blogged about isn’t relevant to me?

All blog posts from all blogs automatically appear in our main RSS feed. Some people want to see and read everything. This is likely how they are doing so or going to our frontpage. But if you only care about content from a specific blog, you can subscribe to the individual RSS feed for that blog. Here are the RSS feeds for each of the blogs here on The Windows Blog:

Tags we use for blog posts also have their own RSS feeds. If all you care about is our announcements, you can subscribe to the RSS feed for the Announcements tag.

If RSS isn’t your thing, you can also follow The Windows Blog on Twitter and get all our latest blog posts too.

So what’s coming up for The Windows Blog? Well – lots more awesome Windows 7 blog posts of course. We’re also going to be introducing a new menu system in the coming weeks and introducing more new blogs – including some localized blogs in a variety of different languages.

I’m very proud of the community of Windows blogs we’ve built up here on The Windows Blog. Thank you to the millions of visitors who read our posts each month and continue to be excited for Windows!

Top 6 Things to Consider Before Buying a Small Notebook PC

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:24:58 GMT

With small notebook PCs (sometimes called netbook PCs) now accounting for about 10% of PC sales worldwide (up to 20% of PC sales in some geographies according to leading retail sales analysts), I’m starting to get more and more questions about what a buyer should look into as he or she is shopping for a small notebook PC.

Ultimately, it depends on how you need to use your small notebook PC. While a small percentage of people are choosing to use these devices as their only computer, most are finding them better suited as a “companion PC” to a traditional desktop or notebook (for example, I use my Dell Mini 9 as a “companion PC” to my desktop PCs at work and at home). They are great for staying more conveniently connected on-the-go (for example: browsing the web on the train home from work, sending email from a coffee shop, or just getting office and/or personal tasks done).

There’s a small notebook PC out there for everyone depending on budget and hardware needs – but sometimes the different choices can get a little overwhelming.

To help out, I’ve pulled together a “checklist” of basic questions that you’ll want to think about before handing the cashier your credit card:

1. Is it easy to use?

This question may seem obvious, but when you think about it, it’s probably the most important one on this list. How are you going to be using your small notebook PC? Are you using this as a companion to your primary desktop or laptop PC? If so, then you’ll want it to have the same interface and experience as your primary machine so you can seamlessly move back and forth without any confusion or hassle and easily transfer and share files between your computers. You’ll also want to be sure that it can easily connect to a wireless or 3G broadband network so you can instantly get online wherever you are. And of course, make sure that there’s a built in tool, like Windows Instant Search, to help you instantly find your, music, photos and files…after all, your computer isn’t very handy if you can’t find your stuff on it!

2. Will it work with my stuff?

Think about what software you expect to use on your small notebook PC. Check for compatibility with your cameras, printers, music players, webcams, and anything else that you expect to connect, such as a GPS unit or mobile phone. Windows supports nearly 3,000 printers, over 700 digital cameras, 240 webcams, and 180 digital video cameras, as well as hundreds of more specialized devices. It also runs more than 10,000 applications, and it’s the only OS that runs Microsoft Office, iTunes and Quicken. This means that whatever it is you use, chances are it works with Windows. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your computer works with free, easy to use tools for email, blogging, chatting, working with photos and movies, online storage, and syncing your stuff between your PCs. I use Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live SkyDrive to do these things on my computers.

3. Is it the right size?

While screen and keyboard size are personal decisions, I can tell you that many of today’s small notebook PCs come with 9” or 10” screens for a good reason. Machines this size offer a better balance between lightweight portability, having a screen big enough to be productive with more than one window at once, and a keyboard that’s comfortable enough for most people’s hands. My Dell Mini 9 has a 8.9” screen. The size doesn’t bother me much but if I were to go out and buy another small notebook PC, I would likely go with a 10” screen. If you find that even 10” is still too small for you though, there are a number of larger but still lightweight notebooks at pretty affordable prices that may work better for your needs over a small notebook PC. If you do decide to go that route, check out the Windows Laptop Scout, which will help you find exactly the right machine for your needs.

4. Does it have the hardware horsepower I need?

When it comes to hardware, there are four key areas to consider – screen & keyboard size, processor speed, RAM, and storage. Screen and keyboard size we covered earlier, but in terms of the processor, look for a machine with at least a 1GHz CPU, and for RAM, get at least 1GB. 1GB of RAM is what my machine came with, but I added another 1GB to it for an extra performance boost. Many models allow you to add at least an extra stick of memory. If you buy a small notebook PC and want to give it more power down the road, having this ability is quite nice.

Storage is largely a personal call, and how much you need really depends on what you expect to do with your small notebook PC. If you want to put your pictures and music on it, then you probably want a 120GB or larger Hard Disk Drive. If you’re just looking to do basic email and web browsing, you might go for a smaller Solid State Drive (typically, these are 8-32GB). SSDs often run cooler and quieter, and may use less power, which means they can potentially get you a bit of boost in battery life. My Dell Mini 9 came with a 16GB SSD, but I found that it wasn’t enough space for me so I replaced it with a 32GB SSD. I also purchased a 320GB My Passport Essential from Western Digital I carry around with me everywhere as well for the added storage.

I recommend checking out CNET’s reviews, as well as the great information, reviews and tips on Liliputing to help you find a small notebook PC with exactly the specs you want.

5. Will I be safe online?

You’re probably going to be online quite a bit, so you’ll want to make sure you can browse, chat, and share safely. Key security features to look for in both your OS and browser are comprehensive phishing and Cross-Site Scripting filters along with ClickJacking protection to help guard against identity theft, built-in spyware and malware protection, comprehensive parental controls, a built-in firewall, and a private browsing model. As an FYI – Internet Explorer 8 in combination with Windows Live Family Safety can do all these things for you.

6. What level of support do I need?

Making sure that you can get the right kind of support when you need it is critical. It’s a good idea to get a small notebook PC that has built-in features to keep your gear up and running, such as automatic self-diagnosing tools and a comprehensive built-in system to help you automatically get security, OS and software updates, without having to track them down yourself and manually install them 1-by-1. When you do run into a need for assistance, you’ll also be better off with multiple support options including online resources, a call-in tech support center, or in-person help at a repair shop or retailer.

Hopefully, if you’re on the market for a new small notebook PC this checklist of questions will come in handy in helping you with your buying decision!

Find The Windows Blog on Facebook!

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:02:01 GMT

You can now find The Windows Blog on Facebook and become a fan! Just click on the button below to go to our Facebook Page.

Remember, you can also follow The Windows Blog on Twitter as well.

Windows on Small Notebook PCs: The Momentum Continues in the US and the UK

Brandon LeBlanc — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:42:55 GMT

On the eve of the Computex, the largest computer exhibition in Asia and the second largest in the world, we got word that PC World, the largest electronics retailer in the UK, is de-assorting (i.e., getting rid of) all of the Linux small notebook PCs in their stores and going all-Windows. It’s pretty big news from across the pond that they’re making this move, but what’s even more important is the “why” behind the decision.

In April I wrote about why Windows market share on small notebook PCs has jumped from under 10% in February 2008 to 96% a year later (that number has increased since then...more on that below), and PC World agrees with our thinking. You can read the entire PC World press release, but to save you some time, I’ve pulled out the key points:

PC World is removing Linux small notebook PCs and going all-Windows in their stores in response to customer demand. They want Windows because it’s the only OS that gives people the choice, compatibility, familiarity and simplicity they need.
Most consumers today are looking for a small notebook PC in the 10” range because it offers a great combination of portability and usability (as in, it’s small enough to take anywhere, but big enough to work on comfortably).
The last year has shown that small notebook PCs are NOT replacement PCs; rather, they’re companion PCs that consumers use to get a full PC experience on the go.
Windows 7 will make small notebook PCs even more compelling and more attractive to consumers because it makes connecting with other PCs, working with documents, and enjoying pictures, music and movies easier than ever before.

Jeremy Fennell, Category Director at PC World, sums things up perfectly at the end of the release:

Despite initial hype that netbooks would move more users onto the Linux platform, Microsoft has emerged as the preferred operating system because Windows makes it easier to share content, and provides customers with a simpler, more familiar computing experience on the move. Based on this insight, all the netbooks in our stores will feature Microsoft Windows, larger screens and keyboards, and greater colour choices to satisfy customers demand for performance, design and familiarity.

Customers demanding Windows for its ease of use, compatibility and simplicity isn’t unique to the UK – it’s happening here as well. The latest data from NPD’s retail tracking service showed that Windows now account for a whopping 98% of all small notebook PCs sales at retail in the US.

I think it’s important to note that all of this momentum is happening before Windows 7 is even out! When Windows 7 does arrive (and brings slick new stuff like HomeGroup, Aero Peek/Snap, PlayTo and Remote Media Streaming, Windows Media Center that lets you watch and record TV, and more), I think the demand for Windows on these devices will increase even more. What do you think?

A Look at Improvements to Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:41:57 GMT

Windows Easy Transfer is an application designed to help people move their important files, user accounts, and application settings from their old PC to a new PC. The new version of Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7 comes with improvements based on feedback received from Windows Vista customers. I wanted to take a closer look at these improvements.

For the new version of Windows Easy Transfer, people can move their files from PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista.

NOTE: For the Windows 7 RC, Windows Easy Transfer can also be used to move files from a Windows 7 Beta PC to a PC running the Windows 7 RC.

The first thing people will likely notice about the new version of Windows Easy Transfer is that is has an updated, cleaner and much simpler UI.

People can transfer files 1 of 3 ways:

Using a Windows Easy Transfer Cable (direct PC-to-PC)
Over a network
External hard drive

Many folks have PCs in their homes that are used by multiple family members and thus may also have multiple user profiles. The new version of Windows Easy Transfer detects all user profiles on a single PC and allows customers to pick and choose which of the user profiles they want to transfer files from. The idea behind enabling this scenario is that it permits users to “split” a PC. For example, let’s say a family PC becomes a kids-only PC after the purchase of a new laptop for the parents. With the selectivity Windows Easy Transfer now offers, selected user profiles can be migrated to one PC and other user profiles can be transferred to another. The UI also displays the size for each user profile.

Windows Easy Transfer also allows for enhanced selectivity of what is to be transferred. It is now possible to see every file that is selected for the migration and make changes on a per file basis. Do you have a big file (like a video) you don’t want to transfer to your new PC? You can now prevent that file from being transferred.

The same “enhanced selectivity” I spoke about above for gathering files also applies when restoring files. It is now possible to see every file that is pending restoration and make changes on a per file basis. Did you include a file in the transfer that you don’t want to migrate to your new PC? No problem – just deselect that file.

We are also introducing a new feature with this version: Windows Easy Transfer Reports. Any time after a migration has been completed it is now possible to view a report that details everything that was moved during the migration, where it was moved to, and a list of programs that were installed on the old PC complete with links for more information including where to re-download if possible.

If you are an IT professional and have multiple PCs you would like to migrate, check out the User State Migration Tool for Windows 7 and new features like hard-link migration and migration from windows.old.

Give Windows Easy Transfer a try if you haven’t already!

Talking About Windows

Brandon LeBlanc — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:24:28 GMT

I get the extreme pleasure of exclusively revealing a new Microsoft community website on Windows today specifically designed for IT Professionals: Talking About Windows.

Talking About Windows is a new website that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Windows 7 from the Microsoft engineers who helped build product as well as showcasing real IT Professionals talking candidly about their implementations and experiences in considering a more modern OS. This is done through a series of videos hosted within the Talking About Windows Website.

Through Talking About Windows, IT Professionals can listen as our engineers discuss why certain product decisions and feature trade-offs were made in Windows 7 from the likes of Mark Russinovich – a Technical Fellow here at Microsoft (and founder of Windows Sysinternals) - as well as Jon DeVaan, Senior Vice President for the Windows Core Operating System. A great line-up of videos with the people behind Windows 7 can be found at Talking About Windows to with more on the way!

I thought it would be neat to also showcase a special viral video for Talking About Windows I think you will enjoy (feel free to embed on your site!):

Talking About Windows – BitLocker to Go

Talking About Windows also features videos of IT Professionals offering real-world commentary on their Windows deployment and adoption experiences as well.

If you’re an IT Professional, you can also take part in conversations on the Talking About Windows website via the comments section for each video. After all – it’s about “talking about Windows” right? If you then want deeper information I recommend you visit probably one of the single best resources on the web for IT Professionals on Windows – the Springboard Series on TechNet.

In combination with Talking About Windows and the Springboard Series – IT Professionals have a great deal of resources to help them consider their options and learn more about Windows 7!

By the way Stephen Rose, who sits down the hall from me and is our community manager for IT Professionals, helps you to navigate the site when you get there.

Avoid the Apple Tax – Cash in on the value of Windows

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:57:19 GMT

With the ailing global economy, I am looking at ways I get better value for my money. One way I can do this if I need to replace a computer is by avoiding the “Apple Tax.”

Microsoft sponsored a new whitepaper (PDF) from Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates which takes a look at the tax from a tech analyst’s viewpoint. His paper shows the “Apple Tax” is the combination of what people pay up front when purchasing a Mac and what people pay over the life of their computer – the hidden tax.

Roger looked into both aspects in his whitepaper, and has discovered some interesting findings around the “hidden tax” of owning a Mac – using the scenario of a hypothetical family of 4 and their costs over a five year period. Knowing that Tax Day is just around the corner here in the US (April 15), I decided to have a little fun with his findings by building a mock up tax form using Roger’s numbers that show the whopping difference this family would get purchasing Windows PCs over Macs: $3,367.

I know taxes are calculated annually but I thought it would be more interesting to look in terms of total savings Roger outlined in choosing 2 Windows PCs over 2 Macs in that 5 year period.

So what could you do with that $3,367 savings by avoiding the Apple Tax?

If you want to get some exercise you could get bikes for the whole family, and still have money left over (All via Performance Bicycles)!

Schwinn Sid Coasting Bike ($499.99)
Schwinn Nancy Ladies Coasting Bike ($499.99)
Performance Girls 24” Kids Mountain Bike ($299.99)
2008 Mongoose Amasa Comp Mountain Bike ($679.99)
4 helmets: 2 Bell Ukon Sport Helmets @ $34.99, 1 Giro Women’s Kaya Helmet @ $39.99, and 1 Ascent Cruise Youth Helmet @ $29.99)

Take the family out for a night at the movies - 117 times (4 tickets @ $7.18 = $28.72)!

Make your home green, and save even more money!

Generate your own free power with an all-included 260 Watt Solar home kit ($2,319)
New energy efficient Andersen Windows (6 @ $140) that will help you save up to 35 percent on energy bills.

It is human nature to focus on the up-front price. The coverage around our Laptop Hunters ads jumps right to that (“PCs are cheaper”). The harder thing to capture is the overall cost and the VALUE. Roger’s paper does a great job illustrating this. Cost is getting something cheaper. Value is a function of getting more of what you want, regardless of what you spend. And you’re a lot more likely to find that with a Windows PC.

Shoppers rarely do a lifetime cost of ownership calculation for a new computer (even though that’s the real cost and makes the PC advantage even greater) but they intrinsically calculate the value for a new computer. That’s what we see in the market every day and what we see in the choices made by Lauren and Giampaolo as they each selected a PC that met their own unique criteria (features and budget). They wanted the right value for them. And that’s the beauty of Windows PCs – the diversity of choice and options that exist so that people can find what’s right for their own needs, not someone else’s. You’re never forced to buy more than you need or give up features you want like Blu-ray, Mobile Broadband, Firewire, and more. And, Windows PCs offer this across a broadest range of price points and performance from low-end netbook PCs to high-end gaming rigs.

But let’s limit ourselves to the narrow scenario where Apple does have offerings. We get questions about this all the time so we asked Roger to take a look at the comparison chart that we’ve used before to outline features, specs and price points across Macs and PCs. Part of his conclusion is, “Holding the price constant and examining specifications only serves to exaggerate the better deals on the Windows side.”

Note: The chart splits the Mac and PC laptops in to 3 categories: Value for basic models, Mainstream for average models, and Performance for high end models to illustrate options where Apple has machines. Of course the full spectrum of PC laptops is much broader.

What do you think about the concept of value? And what would you do with a $3,367 “Apple Tax Return”? Sound off in comments. In a few weeks I’ll showcase what people say they would do with their “Apple Tax Return” in a follow-up blog post.

UPDATED 4/13

Have Your Windows & Windows Live Blog Posts Showcased - Join The Clubhouse

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:08:15 GMT

Are you using your blog to talk about using Windows and Windows Live? Do you want to get your post showcased on Microsoft websites? You should join The Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is a place that brings together people using their blogs to help others how to use the best parts of Windows and Windows Live.

How does The Clubhouse work?

You first need to apply to join The Clubhouse. There is a small review process in order to insure that there is a good fit for people applying and the rest of The Clubhouse.

Once you’re approved, you continue to write fantastic Windows and Windows Live content on your blog and use special tags that help identify what you’re writing about as it relates to either Windows or Windows Live. Your posts are brought into the Clubhouse via your RSS feed (having an RSS is a requirement to take part in The Clubhouse). Once you tag your post for The Clubhouse using the special tags, it gets pulled through your RSS feed into The Clubhouse.

In order to use the special tags needed to identify your contributions for The Clubhouse, you will need to add a new Tag Provider in Windows Live Writer. Right now, The Clubhouse has special tags for Windows Live and Windows Vista, with a set of special tags launching for Windows 7 later this month.

Once your post is published with the special tags – it appears within The Clubhouse where members of The Clubhouse rate one another’s contributions, so the top rated content can be showcased on Microsoft websites, newsletters, and even tweeted from @MSWindows and @windowslive. So it’s up to your peers to choose which content is good enough to get showcased.

So where is your content showcased?

After you get enough good votes inside The Clubhouse – depending on the type of post (Windows Vista or Windows Live) your stuff will show up on 1 of 2 Microsoft websites:

Explore Windows Live:

Discover Windows Vista:

Outside of the really cool opportunity to get your content from your blog showcased on Microsoft websites, The Clubhouse offers several other “perks”.

As you continue to write your own content – you will earn Club Points and Badges. When you earn a certain amount of Club Points, you get Badges. Each Badge you earn will appear next to any of your content showcased on Microsoft websites. You also can earn special-recognition Badges as well. These Badges are a great way for people reading your content to see how much you rock.

Because I am a Microsoft employee, for any of my content you will see this Badge:

If you blog quite a bit about using Windows and Windows Live – I suggest giving The Clubhouse a look and applying! It can be a great way to gain more exposure of your content!

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Story, Windows Live, Windows Vista

Laptop Hunters: Meet Giampaolo

Brandon LeBlanc — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:30:04 GMT

I’m probably not going to make it a habit to blog about each and every TV ad we do but I thought it would be nice to highlight the next ad in our Laptop Hunters series. This time we’re introduced to Giampaolo, a recent college grad and engineer. Giampaolo is looking for a laptop that has portability, battery life, and is powerful – for under $1,500. Here’s how his “hunt” went:

Laptop Hunters #2 - Giampaolo

In case you missed my introduction to Laptop Hunters (and the first Laptop Hunters ad with Lauren) – you can read my post here.

Windows on Netbook PCs: A Year in Review

Brandon LeBlanc — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:08:59 GMT

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we first started to see netbook PCs running Windows come to market.

Little did we know that these devices would evolve so much in such a short time. A year ago, they were Internet-centric devices defined mainly by their tiny size and low cost. An interesting concept perhaps, but sales didn’t really take off until the category evolved into the more capable small notebook PCs we see on the market today.

For example, early Internet-centric models typically offered a 7 inch screen, very small keyboard, slow legacy processors, 512MB of RAM or less, and 1-4 GB SSD storage, whereas typical configurations today have 9 and 10 inch screens, near full-size keyboards, 1GB RAM and up to 160GB storage. Netbook PCs have now extended far beyond Internet browsing to be truly full-functioning small notebook PCs.

Initially, some in the industry viewed low-cost netbook PCs as a new challenge for Microsoft and an opportunity for Linux to make inroads in the consumer market. Some believed consumers wouldn’t want or need their netbook PC to be a full-featured PC. In fact, the exact opposite turned out to be true – a number of analysts and researchers following the space see ample evidence indicating customers really DO want netbook PCs to work like their larger brethren – and that the way the vast majority of consumers make that happen is by buying a netbook PC with Windows.

As a result, the growth of Windows on netbook PCs* over the last year has been phenomenal. We’ve seen Windows share on these PCs in the U.S. go from under 10% of unit sales during the first half of 2008 to 96% as of February 2009, according to the latest NPD Retail Tracking Service data.

*Netbook PCs are small notebook PCs with a screen size 10.2" and smaller and a price under $500.

Not only are people overwhelmingly buying Windows, but those that try Linux are often returning it. Both MSI – a leading netbook PC OEM – and Canonical – the vendor supporting the commercial distribution of Ubuntu Linux - stated publicly they saw Linux return rates 4 times higher than Windows. Why such a disparity? Because users simply expect the Windows experience. When they realize their Linux-based netbook PC doesn’t deliver that same quality of experience, they get frustrated and take it back. Here’s a telling stat: In the UK, Carphone Warehouse dropped Linux-based netbook PCs, citing customer confusion as a reason for a whopping 1-in-5 return rate.

Why are consumers choosing Windows? Because its’ easier to use, just works out of the box with people’s stuff, and ultimately offers more choice.

It’s easier to set up, easier to use, and easier to maintain – Over the last 25 years, we’ve learned a lot about what people want out of an OS, and we’ve built Windows to meet those needs, including:

There’s a wizard to help with just about anything, so you’ll never need to go to the command line and manually configure things.
Techs all over the world speak Windows, which means it’s easy to get help either online or in person.
It’s easy to stay up-to-date since Windows releases updates, patches and fixes on a regular, predictable schedule. And you can set your machine to download and install them automatically!

It just works with people’s stuff - A few examples of Windows unmatched compatibility are:

Windows supports nearly 3,000 printers, more than 700 digital cameras, more than 240 webcams and more than 180 digital video cameras.
Windows supports the broadest array of PC applications and games.

There’s more choice - 90+ partners ship Windows-based netbook PCs today, so you can get exactly the machine you want at exactly the price you are willing to pay.

Looking forward, we can confidently say that no matter how netbook PC hardware evolves, we’re gearing up to ensure that Windows 7 will run great on them. As we mentioned at PDC, we’ve been testing Windows 7 on netbook PCs since before Windows 7 was feature complete, and our plan is to enable these small notebook PCs to run any edition of Windows 7. From what we’re hearing, our partners are excited to get Windows 7 on these PCs as well.

The last year has been an interesting one, and seeing what’s happening in the marketplace already, and what we’re expecting in the next year, we fully expect the next generation of small notebook PCs will deliver even richer experiences and greater utility. That means that more than ever you’ll be able to find a small notebook PC that exactly fits your lifestyle and interests, just like you can with any other kind of Windows PC.

Vote for us on CNET’s 2009 Webware 100!

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:29:49 GMT

13 Microsoft Products have been nominated in CNET’s 2009 Webware 100 including several from Windows Live (Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live SkyDrive, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Sync and Live Mesh) and Internet Explorer 8.

My colleague Antonia over on the Windows Live Team Blog has all the details including links on where to cast your vote. Voting voting ends on April 30, 2009 (12pm Pacific Time) so vote now!

Laptop Hunters: Real People Find Windows PCs A Better Fit For Their Lives

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:22:10 GMT

Today we’re introducing the next chapter in the ongoing Windows Brand Campaign - an exciting new series of ads called Laptop Hunters. These new ads trace real people as they go on a hunt for a new laptop. For many people looking to buy a new computer today, it is likely that if they make purchase it will be a laptop. Laptop sales increased more than 20% last year.

The Laptop Hunters are not told they are taking part in an ad campaign by Microsoft. Instead, they think they are participating in market research. Each participant set their own budget for a laptop to meet their own unique needs. We then provide the participant with cash and sent them out to find and purchase a laptop – all in a single day. We followed them with a camera crew throughout the course of their hunt and recorded their experiences. Everything is completely unscripted. Once the participant finds and purchases their perfect laptop – we inform them out in the parking lot that it’s actually Microsoft and this was part of our Windows brand campaign. The participant can of course decline to be part of the ad series if they so wish.

In the ad making its debut today, we’re introduced to Lauren who is on the hunt for a new laptop under $1,000, a budget she set herself. She is out to find a laptop that has “speed”, a comfortable keyboard and a 17” screen. Here is Lauren’s hunt:

Laptop Hunters #1 - Lauren

Lauren’s hunt is a good example of real people finding Windows PCs a better fit for their whole lives with the right value.

We define the right value as simply benefits + cost. Windows PCs offer more “bang for the buck”. Competitors offer laptops that often cost quite a bit more, even though they have less powerful hardware, and can’t offer technologies such as Blu-ray, HDMI, eSATA, and 3G wireless broadband connectivity. When buying a laptop, after all, purchasing a laptop is an investment right?

The current state of the economy is forcing people to cut costs and save as much as they can, which means that people are looking for laptops with the most value at the lowest cost possible. According to NPD data as of February 2009, 74% of people looking at buying a new computer rated price as their most important purchasing factor.

Windows PCs have the benefits people want at the price point they like. They also offer choice and flexibility. If a person is a gamer, they can get a gaming PC for example.

In the coming weeks, you can expect to see more from Laptop Hunters as we follow real people on the hunt for a laptop.

Be sure to check out the Laptop Hunters website on Windows.com too!