Microsoft has just released Windows 7 – the latest in a long line of Windows operating systems.  This article will help you understand how Windows 7 can affect you, what you should do about it, when you should buy, it and more.  Read all the way down to find out how you may be able to get Windows 7 for free.  If you have more Windows 7 questions, feel free to contact us anytime.

Windows 7 – Better Than Vista
The first thing you should know about Windows 7 is that it is better than Windows Vista, in just about every way.  Many of you have heard us (and others) say that Windows Vista was a flop.  Many of you are still running Windows XP, the previous version of Windows, because it is generally still respected as a quality (if a bit dated) OS.  Windows 7 has the performance of Windows XP with a user experience close to that of Apple OS X.

Vista was a total disaster, Windows 7 is a success.  Vista is slow and crashes frequently.  7 is fast and stable.  Vista created massive problems for 3rd parties, 7 is highly compatible.  Vista is expensive, 7 is affordable ($30 for students, $120 for upgrades, $200 for new home copies, $300 for businesses).

What’s Important About Windows 7 To You?
Windows 7 has many new features.  Some are helpful, some are pleasant, some will become necessities in the future.  None of the new features, however, are worth the upgrade alone.  So should you upgrade?  Easy answer:

Windows XP users do not need to upgrade to Windows 7. You’ll get 7 on your next computer, and it will run beautifully.  In the meantime, there’s no direct upgrade from XP to 7 (you have to purchase a full copy, then reinstall).  If you have a fast computer and you want the upgrade anyway, we can do it for you, just contact us.   If you’ve been waiting to buy a new PC at the store, it’s now is a fine time.  Though you might want to contact us first to get our free suggestions and buying tips.

All Windows Vista users should upgrade to Windows 7.  Vista is a problem.  7 is the solution.  The cost of the software upgrade is $120 for homes, $200 for businesses.  The upgrade process is fairly easy, we can do it for you or you can do it yourself.  This upgrade will make your system run better and faster for many years to come.

Businesses should continue to use Windows XP until getting a consultation.  Your business operations are critical to your income and you shouldn’t take any chances.  If you think your company is ready for the upgrade, contact Computer Courage to schedule a consultation so we can analyze your hardware, software, and needs before making the jump to Windows 7.  It’s not a matter of “if” with Windows 7, it’s just a matter of “when”.

Windows 7′s New Features
Windows 7 is not just a fix for Vista’s problems, it also brings some new features and tricks to the table.  You can see a whole feature list here, but below are some of our favorites:

• New taskbar – The new taskbar is somehow simpler, prettier, and more powerful.  It reminds us of the OS X Dock, but with innovative improvements such as Aero Peek, which lets you easily see open window previews.
• Better Networking – The new HomeGroup feature of Windows 7 makes it easy for you to share your pictures, video, and music with other computers in the house (even non-7 machines)
• Better Power Management – Stay greener and keep your utility bills down with improved sleep and resume functions.
• Support for Netbooks – We’ll see how well it runs, but 7 promises to be the future of those little mini-laptop “netbooks” you’ve been seeing around.

Is It Too Early For Me?
Remember, there is no rush.  Some people don’t like to run an operating system when its just come out – maybe it will have problems with your hardware or software.  If you wait, those problems might get hammered out for you before you buy.  Companies like Dell are still selling new computers with Windows XP on them, so you don’t have to make the transitions yet.  If you have a business with a network, make sure to contact Computer Courage for a consultation before moving forward with Windows 7 upgrades.

Free Upgrade If You Bought After June 26, 2009!
If you purchased a full copy of Windows Vista, or got it preloaded on a PC from a major manufacturer, you are likely eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 (with some tax, shipping, and handling).  We strongly suggest you claim your upgrade disc.  You don’t have to upgrade now, but you might as well take advantage of the offer (which won’t last forever).  Note, even if you bought a PC with Windows XP on it, it’s likely to have been a copy of Windows Vista with an XP Downgrade, so you’re still probably eligible.

To find out if you are eligible for a free copy of Window 7, go to this page on Microsoft’s website.

This month’s article is all about wireless. We’ll answer some common questions about wireless, and then tell you about an amazing new solution. We came up with the name “Wireless Heaven” because it’s the first solution that really covers all the bases – it’s reliable, fast, affordable, and can cover a very large area.

Wireless Security – Do I Need It?
People ask us all the time about wireless security and whether or not they need it. The answer is absolutely. Your home network needs to be secured to keep unwanted snoops out and to keep your data in. Without security, neighbors could use your internet connection to do anything, and their activity would be traceable back to you. Beyond this, a savvy person with a laptop could break into an unsecured network and potentially access or damage your files.

The good news is that security is easy – we only needs to log into your router and set up WPA (or WPA2) security with a password. After that, any device that wants to connect to the network will have to enter a password and you are secure. If you need help setting up security, contact us or call your router’s manufacturer.

Wireless Reliability – I Keep Losing My Connection!
If you are suffering from a loss of connection on your wireless, it’s time to troubleshoot. Computer Courage is happy to come to your door and do the work for you, but we’ve also got some tips on how you can troubleshoot it yourself.

First, try plugging your computer directly into the router via a wired connection. If you still get drops, then the problem is not actually with wireless. If that’s the case, you can try troubleshooting your modem with your ISP or replacing the router.

If the problem is a wireless one, you may be suffering from interference from a phone, especially 2.4Ghz cordless phones. Try unplugging cordless phones and see if the connection improves. It may be a distance issue – try connecting when you are right next to the router. Finally, it may be a software or computer specific issue so try multiple computers – try a Mac if you have one available. If none of these steps help you to find the problem give us a call

Wireless Heaven – The Ultimate Solution
Computer Courage is proud to announce a wonderful new wireless solution. We call it Wireless Heaven. In a nutshell, it is affordable, secure, reliable, and can cover a very large area. If you have areas of your house that are not covered by wireless, if you have dropped connections, or if your network is unsecured, Wireless Heaven is the solution for you.

Features of Wireless Heaven:

• Very reliable
• Super fast – you can stream movies over it
• Scalable – Cover a small apartment or a huge house!
• No more “dead spots”
• No wiring necessary

Big House? Wireless Heaven Can Cover It
No matter how big your house is, we can cover it with seamless wireless internet. We do this by simply adding more units to the network and placing them strategically through the building. No wiring needs to be done, the units communicate wirelessly to each other. This is a great way to get wireless to your basement, upstairs, cottage, etc. It also works with any internet connection.

Call To Set Up Wireless Heaven
If you think this wireless solution is right for you, contact us online or call us at 510-525-2226 and we can have a technician at your house to get you connected right away.

Written by Adam Schwartz

Google’s products have always been terrific, but in recent months the internet juggernaut has made unbelievable progress in developing its offerings.  Computer Courage strongly recommends many Google products such as Gmail, Search, Picasa, Calendar, and more.  For businesses, we’ve been strong supporters (and users) of Google’s business-class mail/calendar/document system Google Apps (if you run a business, and you don’t know about Google Apps, call us immediately – there is a lot to learn!)

Recently, Google has made some really important improvements to its services, and we’d like to outline a few of them for our loyal readers today.  There are so many fantastic features that we are splitting this newsletter into two parts.  In our second installtion of “Google Applications Grow Up” we’ll explore more powerful and time saving features for you and your businesses. Read the rest of this entry… »

Photo by Gayle Laakmann (www.technologywoman.com)

Google’s products have always been terrific, but in recent months the internet juggernaut has made unbelievable progress in developing its offerings.  Computer Courage strongly recommends many Google products such as Gmail, Search, Picasa, Calendar, and more.  For businesses, we’ve been strong supporters (and users) of Google’s business-class mail/calendar/document system Google Apps (if you run a business, and you don’t know about Google Apps, call us immediately – there is a lot to learn!)

Recently, Google has made some very important improvements to its services, which we would like to review with you today.  There are so many fantastic features that we are splitting this newsletter into two parts.  You’ll receive part two in about a week after this one.

Google Mail and Calendar Go Offline
One of the main complaints about Gmail and Gcal have always been accessibility; until now there has been no obvious way to access your Gmail or calendar offline without 3rd party sync tools, but this week that all changed.  Google has created Offline Mode to allow you to access your information when you’ve got no WiFi, or you’re on a plane, or in a location with a bad internet connection.

Read the rest of this entry… »

Finals Days of Windows XP

This month’s article is short and sweet – but ever so important. As many of you know from our previous articles, we at Computer Courage prefer Windows XP to the newer and slower Windows Vista. Due to the general unpopularity of Windows Vista, Microsoft has been extending the shelf life of Windows XP – we’ve been able to buy computers preloaded with XP long after Vista was released. Sadly, this all changes very soon.

On June 30th, Microsoft will officially ban manufacturers such as Dell, HP, etc. (also called “OEMs”) from selling PCs with Windows XP preloaded on them. This means that now is a good time to buy a PC if you were planning on doing so in the next several months.

Read the rest of this entry… »