hardware

Ever since Microsoft released Kinect , its hands-free motion control system for the Xbox 360 console, enthusiasts have been trying desperately to use it on the Windows operating system (OS). Given their determination in the matter, it appears ... Microsoft has concluded that if you can't beat 'em, you may as well join 'em. The Kinect system uses what is effectively a robotically-mounted camera to identify humans and track their movements. This allows players to take part in games without the need for any controller: the player simply makes the appropriate movement for the game situation. Using ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'Gene' writes: " Dear Dennis, Regarding the Windows 7 super discount (set to expire soon) -- I see that the Windows 7 bundle being offered is for 3 (three) licenses for Windows 7 Home Premium. Can you tell me, is there a similar ... discount / offer for Windows 7 Pro? The reason why I ask, is because I'm told Windows 7 Home Premium isn't as compatible with XP software. Is that true? " My response: This isn't a simple yes and no answer, so allow me to answer this in detail. First: only Windows 7 Home Premium is being offered in bulk (3 licenses, discounted), and not for any ... (view more)

It seems that while the highly-acclaimed Windows 7 could ease headaches for IT professionals, installing the new operating system (OS) will prove costly for companies making the transition from the decade-old standby, Windows XP. Industry analysts ... Gartner in a recent study predicted IT budgets will balloon as more businesses make the switch to Windows 7. The report says many companies may need to divert finances from other sectors in order to help negate the cost associated with upgrading their OS. Software, Hardware Upgrades Out of Sync The big problem is that many firms will upgrade their ... (view more)

IE9 Hardware Acceleration Demo Internet Explorer 9 is said to have many improvements, including the ability to offload rendering jobs to the graphics processing unit (GPU). This will improve performance and general responsiveness of viewing web ... pages by a significant margin. Hardware acceleration is going to be the next big thing for web browsers, so check out this demo. http://www.instantfundas.com WinBubbles-Lite In just few clicks, WinBubbles-Lite will let you access the most important Customization functions of Windows 7 and Vista easily. The powerful utility includes a built-in Graphical ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Bob G. writes: " Dear Dennis, Thanks so much for your excellent, timely newsletter and for informing your readers about Microsoft's decision to extend its Windows 7 Free Trial download . Question: I can't decide if I should ... download the 64-bit version of Windows 7 or the 32-bit version. Is a reformat necessary if I decide to change from 32-bit to 64-bit later? I have not been able to find a definitive answer for this. " My response: Yes, you would need to reinstall Windows 7 if upgrading from Windows 7 32-bit to 64-bit. Windows 7 64-bit uses 64-bit software drivers to ... (view more)

Steven Sinofsky Microsoft's president of Windows Live division yesterday discussed Microsoft's highly-anticipated Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) at the MIX10 conference in Last Vegas. Building hype was clearly at the top of his agenda, but not escaping ... the presentation was this tidbit: IE9 won't run on Windows XP. "We've built Internet Explorer 9 from the ground up on top of the Windows 7 platform," Sinofsky giddily reported to his Sin City crowd during Internet Explorer general manager Dean Hachamovitch's keynote address. (Source: seattlepi.com ) Internet Explorer 9: New Graphics Engine Sinofsky ... (view more)

In electronics and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote fixed programs and data structures that internally control various electronic devices. Typical examples of devices containing firmware range from end-user products such as PCs, ... laptops, netbooks, remote controls and calculators, and even include scientific instrumentation and industrial robotics. More complex consumer devices, such as mobile phones and digital cameras, contain firmware to define the device's basic operation as well as implementing higher-level functions in the future. Firmware Versus Software Technically, ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Pat M. writes: " Dear Dennis, I just upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7 Home Premium. Where can I find find drivers for my printer? My original CD ROM disc for printer doesn't work with Windows 7. " My Response: Unfortunately, ... this is a common problem when upgrading to a newer Windows Operating System. Some hardware device drivers are not compatible with Windows 7, and the hardware vendors do not release updated drivers, which renders the hardware unusable. Making your Old Printer work with Windows 7 There are a few things you can do to work around the issue. First and ... (view more)

Thanksgiving weekend proved a huge success for many retailers, particularly those with web sites -- Amazon.com and Wal-Mart.com cleaned up on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as techies proved unwilling to brace the long lines and nasty parking ... lot traffic jams. Unfortunately, not everyone fared well this past weekend, including previous holiday season heavyweight, Nintendo. Nintendo Console Sales Dip 31% Nintendo's problem is its Wii console, which between Christmas 2006 and Christmas 2008 virtually swept aside all other toys and tech devices in stocking-stuffer popularity. However, it ... (view more)

NOTE: Be sure to grab my supplemental report '10 Key Concepts of PC Optimization' at the end of this article for more great tips like this one -- or click here to download now! Infopackets Reader 'lde4' writes: " Dear Dennis, I'm currently using ... Windows XP Home Edition SP2 (32 Bit). I ordered a new computer with Windows Vista Home Premium (64 Bit) with Service Pack 1. Question: Can I use all my old XP programs and games with my new computer using Vista 64bit? " My response: The quick and short answer: not all XP programs are compatible with Vista (32bit or 64bit, for that matter). As for ... (view more)