At a Glance:   * Make Windows 7 faster * Get more done with Windows 7 * The best Windows 7 shortcuts * Securing Windows 7       Windows 7 may be Microsoft’s most anticipated product ever. It builds on Windows Vista’s positives, and eliminates many of that OS’s negatives. It adds new functionality, too—all in a package that is less resource-hungry than its predecessor. And whether or not you're upgrading from Vista or skipping it altogether and moving up from Windows XP,

InfoWorld's J. Peter Bruzzese takes an admin look the key decisions and options you'll have to address to ensure a successful migration to Windows 7. Bruzzese's guide -- which includes a hands-on video tour of Windows 7 and a deep-dive PDF report that provides Windows 7 benchmarks -- examines hardware and software compatibility issues, addresses the licensing question, and lends insight for those Windows shops considering the virtualized desktop route.   via > http://www.osnews.com/story/22

"Thanks to everyone's feedback, we're happy to announce that Windows XP Mode has RTM'd today. We expect to make the final release of Windows XP Mode available via the Microsoft Download Center on October 22nd. OEMs will be able to offer Windows XP Mode on their PCs based on their manufacturing schedules."   via http://www.osnews.com/story/22272/XP_Mode_Hits_RTM_Status

Windows 7 will be released October 22, and the pricing information for both the full and upgrade versions have been known for a while. However, as most of us geeks will know, there's a third variant you can buy, apart from upgrades and full versions: OEM or system builder releases. NewEgg has leaked the pricing information for these releases too.     In stores in the western world, you'll be confronted with three Windows versions: Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate (although that last

Microsoft have released their free anti-virus and anti-malware software (codenamed 'Morro') to the public, under the name of 'Microsoft Security Essentials'.   Microsoft's intent to release free anti-virus software has been known for as long ago as 2004 when Microsoft bought out GeCad and Pelican Software.   Microsoft also purchased Giant Antispyware (which was generally considered to be a good product at the time) and later became Windows Defender, as well as being built into Windows Vista

ActiveWin has published their usual in-depth review of the new Windows release, in this case, Windows 7. It's 70 pages long, and divided up into 26 sections. "Should you upgrade? Most certainly, there is no on the fence, if’s or buts about it. This is a major upgrade both Windows XP and Vista users will certainly see benefits from. Vista was of course a hard sell because of the major architectural changes it introduced, Windows 7 reaps the benefits."   via > http://www.osnews.com/story/2221

"Starting October 1--and for a limited time--those in the U.K. will be able to preorder Windows 7 for 30 British pounds, according to a Microsoft Web site. In a Twitter posting, Microsoft said that U.S. college students will be able to get the software for $30, but the Web site it linked to does not yet have details on the offer. 'This offer is specifically designed for those students who are not planning to purchase a new PC this year but would still like to take advantage of what Windows 7 off

While we often focus on the desktop offerings from Microsoft, the company of course also plays a role in countless other markets. The most prominent of those is probably the server market, where Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 are now facing a number of support changes - important stuff if you manage Windows servers. The biggest news? There will be no third service pack for Windows Server 2003.   Let's start with 2000. Windows 2000 Server will reach the end of its extended support