Ed Bott Resources on ZDNet

ZDNet Author Biography: Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He's served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million...; more about Ed Bott »

ZDNet Resources

Cast your vote in the Windows 7 release date prediction pool: When will Windows 7 be ready for release? The tech blogosphere seems to have interpreted Microsoft's latest carefully parsed announcement as pointing to a January 2010 release. But I agree with my colleague Mary Jo Foley that a 2010 date doesn't make much sense. And I don't need any inside...; Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Rule, Tech Blogosphere, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-04-09
Vista SP1 reboot bug fixed: Remember that issue where trying to install Vista SP1 would result in a hard-to-break reboot cycle? Well, the Microsoft Update blog says the problem was caused by "a few unknown and rare events" during the installation of one of the prerequisites to installing SP1: KB937287, the Servicing Stack Update (SSU)....; Tags: Update, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-04-07
Windows Media Center meets cable TV in HD: Six months ago, after years of waiting, I finally had a chance to switch my Media Center setup over to a fully digital, cable-compatible, high-definition configuration. How has it worked out? Let's just say you'd have to pry the Media Center remote from my cold dead fingers. ...; Tags: Cable Television, Dell Computer Corp., Windows Media, Media Center PC, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Media Center, CableCard, Media Center PCs, Cable, Network Technology, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Telecommunications, Networking, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-04-04
The Vista license "loophole" that isn't: Software licensing is often hard to understand. But that's no excuse for so-called Windows experts to deliberately publish sensational stories that turn the facts upside-down. I'm talking about the fuss that Scott Dunn and Brian Livingston kicked up in yesterday's version of the Windows Secrets newsletter, in...; Tags: License Agreement, Clean Install, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Edition, Scott Dunn, Nothing, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-04-04
MaxWin to supersize Windows: Yesterday, I wrote about Microsoft's efforts to reduce the size of the Windows kernel as part of its MinWin project. Early today I learned of a top-secret parallel development effort being run by a separate group at Microsoft. The hush-hush project is called MaxWin, and if my sources are correct...; Tags: Microsoft Corp., MaxWin, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-04-01

Is MinWin really the new Windows 7 kernel?: In my post about Windows 7 back in January ("Windows 7 = Vista Release 2"), I ended with a statement that deserves some follow-up: Those who are predicting that Windows 7 will include some radically stripped-down kernel (the so-called MinWin project) or a new file system are missing the...; Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Kernel, MinWin, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-31
What Microsoft can teach Apple about software updates: Last summer, I looked at Apple's announced plans for its Safari web browser and wondered out loud, Is Steve Jobs planning a hostile takeover of the Windows desktop? Apple's decision last week to begin aggressively pushing Safari to any Windows user running iTunes (in other words, anyone with an iPod or an...; Tags: Security, Apple Safari, Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Apple iTunes, Updates, Microsoft Windows, Tools & Techniques, Operating Systems, Digital Music, Software, Management, Personal Technology, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-24
Sony drops its $49 "no crapware" fee: The blogosphere is buzzing today with contempt for Sony, which just outlined its Fresh Start program and immediately ran into a buzzsaw of criticism for its plan to charge $49.99 for the privilege of getting a crapware-free PC. The echo chamber at Techmeme is working overtime, led by Engadget: "Sony has the...; Tags: Sony Corp., Sony Vaio, Desktops, Hardware, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-21
Your turn: Readers choose their 10 favorite Windows programs: Two weeks ago, I published a list of my 10 favorite Windows programs of all time. The response was overwhelming and refreshingly enthusiastic. As the title made clear, that list reflected my personal preferences; I certainly don't expect all my choices to be essential for every Windows...; Tags: Program, Microsoft Office OneNote 2003, List, Requirement, System, Screen Shot, Quick Macros, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-20
Want Vista SP1? Here's what to expect: When Microsoft released Windows Vista Service Pack 1 to manufacturing on February 4, they promised to make it available for the general public in mid-March. Today they delivered on that promise, making SP1 available to Windows Vista users through Windows Update and as a standalone installer package from the Microsoft...; Tags: Microsoft Windows Update, Version, Driver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, SP1, Installer, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-18
Speeding up a sluggish Sony: Last week, Jeremy Toeman's accursed Sony Vaio arrived here, and over the weekend I had a chance to get my hands on it for the first time. (If you missed the back story, read the first installment that I posted earlier this month.) The short version: Jeremy, a digital media expert and...; Tags: Sony Corp., Sony Vaio, Backup, Microsoft Windows Vista, Jeremy Toeman, VGNSZ460N, Desktops, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Hardware, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-18
Process Explorer: Main view (Ed Bott's 10 Favorite Windows Programs ): Process Explorer: Main view (Ed Bott's 10 Favorite Windows Programs )I like this one betterSystemExplorerhttp://systemexplorer.mistergroup.org/Favorite Windows Utilities non-u$oftKeyText, TUT (The Ultimate Troubleshooter), ReGet, IconSaver.RE: Process Explorer: Main view (Ed Bott's 10 Favorite Windows Programs )It's easily the best of its type. I have been using it 4 years.jrmelb; Tags: Microsoft Windows, Favorite Windows Programs, Process Explorer, Ed Bott; Discussion threads 2008-03-04
The 10 best Windows programs of all time: Ed Bott has been using Windows for nearly two decades, and he's tried hundreds of programs -- both good and bad. Here's his list of the ones that have stood the test of time, adding features, solving problems, and boosting productivity.Each program comes from a company that has proven its...; Tags: Ed Bott, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Software; Download resources 2008-03-04
My 10 favorite Windows programs of all time: I've been using Windows for nearly two decades, and during that time I've tried hundreds of programs. Most come and go, but a handful have stood the test of time for me by solving a particular problem particularly well. In this article and accompanying gallery, I list...; Tags: Program, Folder, Password, Page, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Product, Microsoft Windows Vista, Search Technology, Microsoft Corp., Requirement, RoboForm, FeedDemon, FinePrint Software, Process Explorer, Clipboard, Updates, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-03
A real-world Vista challenge: Can this Sony Vaio be saved?: I've been reading Jeremy Toeman's LIVEdigitally for ages. He's got impressive digital media credentials (former VP of Sling Media, co-founder of Mediabolic) and geek cred (self-described "marketing guy" for Bug Labs, which won a CNET Best in Show award at CES this year). Jeremy has done an excellent...; Tags: Sony Corp., Sony Vaio, Microsoft Windows Vista, Laptop Computer, Jeremy, Mossberg, 30-120, 10-60, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Desktops, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Software, Hardware, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-03-02
Remembering Windows XP's early days: I am amused by the current lovefest going on with Windows XP. It's the greatest operating system ever, in the minds of some, especially compared to the allegedly bloated, slow Windows Vista. In fact, InfoWorld has gone so far as to kick off a "Save XP" petition drive. ...; Tags: Microsoft Windows 2000, Operating System, Microsoft Windows Vista, Hardware, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-02-25
Microsoft removes another one of WGA's fangs: This morning Microsoft announced another noteworthy change to its flagship Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program - an update to be rolled out later this month to all Vista users that will display a WGA warning dialog box when it detects either of two common Vista activation cracks. In the same announcement,...; Tags: Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Dialog Box, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-02-21
How do you benchmark real-world work?: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes and I have been focusing lately on a tiny aspect of PC performance. He ran two sets of file management benchmarks on a test PC in his lab, I performed similar tests on a machine in my lab. Results? Inconclusive. But are both of us...; Tags: Usability, PC, Microsoft Windows Vista, Usability Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Desktops, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-02-20
Another take on Vista vs. XP benchmarks: As anyone who's ever worked in a PC performance lab knows, the #1 rule of benchmarking is: Your mileage may vary. I remembered that rule when I read my colleague Adrian Kingsley-Hughes' epic account of his benchmark tests of Windows Vista SP1 versus Windows XP SP2 (Part...; Tags: Disk, Performance, Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2, Problem, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Performance Management, Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Software, Human Resources, Workforce Management, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-02-19
More Vista SP1 answers: Earlier this week I posted a FAQ on Windows Vista Service Pack 1. In the Talkback section of that post and via e-mail, I got a few additional questions. Here are the answers. Does SP1 need a product key? The service pack doesn't require...; Tags: Disk, CD, Microsoft Windows Vista, Service Pack, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, SP1, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott; Blog posts 2008-02-14