A surreal marvel on the Hudson, a formidable homage to life!

Today was an unforgettable day in this New York where we live and survive and enjoy life. What happened is all over the media and the Internet, around the globe. Strangely enough, after digesting the news of what actually happened during this unusual episode in the midst of a chilly winter and an eerie economic recession, I felt a powerful jolt of energy, a swell of gratitude not before being profoundly moved by the miracle that took place over the murky and bitterly cold waters of the Hudson river. A formidable homage to life, no less! Another overwhelming proof that nothing should be taken for granted. [Photo: REUTERS, Brendan McDermid]

Windows 7: ushering in the convergence of new media

From what I've seen of Windows 7 so far I can draw some conclusions (some obvious and some not so obvious): • First of all, for those unsuspecting users, Windows 7 is a revamped, improved, slimmed down, beautified (as if it was necessary) Windows Vista • Windows 7 is the OS that will shut up Linux and Mac zealots, simply because it has the best of those worlds plus the already mature Vista technology; whatever you found 'cool' there, you will find it here, and then some. However, don't get me wrong, I will continue to follow and appreciate all the improvements (and innovations) you may find in Linux and Mac systems. • Windows 7 is the convergence of new media into one operating system, this time consolidated, refined and ready for the masses, namely, Internet TV, Windows Media Center with Touch, and easier Home Networking, among many others. We're living in interesting times, believe or not and, as keynote speaker Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, put it at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), when he introduced Windows 7 Beta, "despite the economy, I hope you all agree with me, that our industry has an incredible, incredible opportunity ahead of us. I'm certainly incredibly excited to be a part of this industry." These trying times are the breeding ground for innovation and new developments. Let's embrace the challenges! See what's new in Windows 7.

Will 2009 be the year of Windows 7?

Making a quit recap, Windows Vista was released back in January 2007 and spent a troublesome year mostly because of hardware and software compatibility issues. Not because of the operating system capabilities. Then, in 2008, Service Pack 1 (SP1) came along and Vista started to show its real strength and beauty, but the damage to the image of the product was already done. However, Vista overcame successfully a nasty and biased smear campaign by the media and the competitors (read, Mac and Linux). Back to the present, 2009, and you have a big and strong multitude of followers everywhere. No doubt this will be the year of Windows Vista. But looming on the horizon is Windows 7, now getting closer and closer to the launch pad and it is just fair to ask if 2009 will be the year of Windows 7, as well. I like what Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, the PC Doctor, says of Windows 7, when he compares it to XP and Vista: if you’re looking for a solid OS then Windows 7 seems ready to deliver just that - a fast, reliable, relatively easy to use platform for your hardware and software.

Start 2009 with the best 2008 laptops running Vista

I came across an interesting review of the "2008 most impressive laptops" presented by senior editor Darren Gladstone of authoritative PCWorld site. Other than the Apple MacBook Air, a thing of beauty, practically all of them run, guess what?, Windows Vista. No Windows XP in sight! Gone with the wind, like 2008, which ends today. HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2009 for everybody!

SOLUTION: When login password doesn't seem to work

PROBLEM: You can not log back in to your locked computer. This may happen when you a) block your computer in the middle of work using WinKey, the key to the right of CTRL key, and the L key; and b) you have more than one keyboard layout selected. In my particular case I have English (EN), as shown here, French (FR) and Spanish (SP) and depending on the language you are using, apparently Vista automatically switches to that layout. The trick is to make sure, before you type in your password, that you have selected English (EN) or the default language you chose when you installed Vista. Each language has its own keyboard layout and not all keys have the same value. If you know this you will save yourself a big headache.

Winter solstice

There is an infinite supply of energy beneath the beauty of winter, its snowy-white clarity, its darkness and short days and long nights and glacial reality. As the Northern Hemisphere is ready to embrace the unequivocal change of season, amidst the traditional rituals of the Winter Solstice, the Unconquered Sun, let's embrace this newborn period, in which new poems and books and magazine articles will be written, and paintings painted and buildings built... perhaps new friends, and new jobs, all conspire to make of winter a cozier and warmer season. Simply a communion with kin, work, Creator and creation.

Windows Vista SP2 Beta, don't hold your breath

Do you need to get all the cumulative updates for Windows Vista SP1 (yes, SP1 is a prerequisite this time) in one place as SP2? Well, if you need to test something that's definitely bothering you, your company, your IT project, then go ahead and download the Windows Vista SP2 Beta. Microsoft informs that this "SP2 will contain changes focused on addressing reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards." However, I would say, if it's not broken, don't fix it. Wait for the final release. SP1 has been the redeemer of Windows Vista and it works really well. Of course improvements are all welcome.