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Windows 7 will be here October 22, 2009, and this time it looks like Microsoft got it right.

The last version of Windows, Vista, was not well received, largely because it was really only about half-way done. But developers have been hard at work: fixing bugs, making performance gains, and adding polish. Their work looks like it’s really paid off.

Before you upgrade, check your computers to see if they’ll be compatible with Microsoft’s Upgrade Advisor tool.

One of my biggest disappointments is that there’s no supported upgrade option for those who are using Windows XP. But a fresh install is always an option, or if you’re willing to buy a commercial tool, for $40, PCMover allows you to upgrade Windows XP computers.

Download and install this open source Image Resizer to resize photos “on the fly” in Windows (XP, Vista, and 7).  Once installed, simply right-click on a photo, and click resize from the dropdown menu.  A new window will open where you can chose the dimensions you want and click ok.  The new file’s name includes the original file name and the resized dimensions at the end.  Enjoy!

E-retailing has comprehensively changed the landscape for the consumer.  Shipping time and costs can still be disadvantages, but if you’re a price conscious consumer, online deals can be extraordinarily good–especially when you’re not under time pressure.

Some of you have probably had bad experiences buying online from disreputable companies.  Others of you might be wary going for that “great deal” unless you’ve bought from the seller before.  As the internet develops, more resources are being built to equip the consumer with accurate information so that they can buy with confidence.  I’ve found the website, Reseller Ratings, to be incredibly helpful for scoping out E-retailers.

Once I know what I’m wanting to buy, I check Price Grabber, Froogle, and Google to find deals.  If I find a low price from a website I’ve never heard of before, that’s where Reseller Ratings comes in.  On the Reseller Ratings website, I can enter the store’s website address, and it returns helpful info about the company.  The store is given a rating on a scale of 1 to 10, and usually there are also reviews from previous customers.

Another option for “hard to find” items is Ebay.  However, I usually try to stick with Power Sellers, unless I’m willing to take some additional risk.

Many of you have probably heard of RSS, a technology that helps people keep up with new blog entries and news articles.  RSS works by updating a feed when new content is published.  It’s a lot easier to keep up with a single feed than constantly browsing all of your favorites sites to see what’s new.

Even more groundbreaking than RSS, in my opinion, is a rapidly growing service called Twitter.  There’s a lot more to Twitter than first meets the eye.  Meaningful updates from friends and family are nice, but its ability to quickly feel the pulse of the internet is incredible.

Today when Google went down, I logged into Twitter and noticed by looking at the right sidebar that #googlefail was the most active topic this morning.  When I clicked on #googlefail, I was able to see other Twitter users’ updates talking about the failure– updates that were only a few seconds old.  Amazing!

So, go ahead and sign up, and when you do, be sure to follow KentComputers!