I wanted to let everyone know that I've added a new Windows 7 hub to the site. It's a section that aggregates the Windows 7 information on the site, breaking it down by category. Think of it as your Windows 7 command center.

If you have Windows 7 topics you'd like me to tackle here, please let me know. I want to make this an indispensable site for you, but I can't do it without your help!

New Windows 7 Section Added originally appeared on About.com Windows on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 19:55:29.

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Computerworld is reporting on an issue in which a Microsoft January update for Windows 7 users is causing some systems to crash.

The problem is being addressed in a support thread on Microsoft's TechNet website. Users on that thread are reporting bluescreens -- unrecoverable crashes -- as a result of the update. Microsoft said it is working on the problem; Computerworld was told by a spokesperson that the problem doesn't seem to be widespread. From the story:

"We are aware that some customers are having issues and are working to identify the cause. At this point, there is no indication that this specific update is the cause of install, stability or reliability issues with Windows 7."

If you're having similar problems, tell me about what's going on, or share your story on our forums.

Reports: Windows 7 Update Makes Some Systems Unstable originally appeared on About.com Windows on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 18:08:21.

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I've posted a new article about using the Windows 7 Action Center. The Action Center is a great way to get the status of your computer, and learn -- ahead of time -- about issues that may affect you in the future.

Microsoft has gotten so much right with Windows 7, and Action Center is a perfect example. The information it presents is scattered all over the computer, but it's been brought into one location now. And it lets you know about potential issues without annoying you with popups or other screen clutter.

Check it out.

Windows 7 Action Center originally appeared on About.com Windows on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 14:33:03.

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There's a fascinating article over at CNET, in which a reporter asks a bunch of security experts which operating system is more secure: Windows or Mac. She quoted them at length, and got some real insight, I think.

If I were to sum up the general gist of the comments, it's that you're at less risk of being hacked or attacked if you use a Mac. But not because Macs are inherently safer than the last two versions of Windows -- Vista and Windows 7. According to most of these experts, it's because of Windows' larger market share; you can simply do more damage (or get more computers on your "botnet" -- networks of computers that bad guys use without the knowledge of the users themselves).

Toward that end, I strongly encourage you to check out About.com's antivirus site. It's got tons of great information on keeping yourself safe on the 'Net.

Another interesting point was that the experts pointed to what they felt was the greatest avenue of risk, and it wasn't either OS, but instead, the web browser. This was true whether it's Internet Explorer on Windows, Safari on Mac, or Firefox or Chrome, other competing browsers.

Remember, whether you're a Windows or Mac user (and there's plenty of room for all of us!), you can keep yourself much safer by taking some standard precautions.

Windows vs. Mac: Which is Safer? originally appeared on About.com Windows on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 18:04:55.

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Agam Shah 09 February, 2010 07:43 IBM on Monday launched its latest Power7 processor, which adds more cores and improved multithreading capabilities to boost the performance of servers requiring high up time.

Allegations of cheating at Stanford University have more than doubled in the past decade, with the largest number of violations involving computer science students.

As a new decade opens, more and more data center operators find themselves struggling with an enterprise bottleneck not of their own making.

Veracode today released Blackberry-specific spyware, which the code-review specialist intends as a call for defensive research to show that the BlackBerry is vulnerable to spyware problems.

Image Courtesy HP Inc.

HP's Pavilion Elite series of desktops have always been their high end consumer desktop lineup. They offered some solid performance in a value price bracket. With the release of the latest Intel processors and chipsets, HP has redesigned the internals of the systems and change the numbering to the new HPE series. Prices have dropped somewhat over the past versions but what about the other features beyond the processor? Find out in my review of the HP Pavilion Elite HPE-150f desktop.

• HP Pavilion Elite HPE-150f Desktop Review

HP's More Affordable, Core i5 Based Elite Desktop originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 09:00:59.

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Image Courtesy Lenovo

While netbooks may be extremely affordable, there are often much more capable full size laptops available for just slightly more. Take for instance the Lenovo G550 laptop available from NewEgg for just $450. This laptop features a Pentium Dual-Core T4400 processor, 4GB memory, 250GB hard drive, DVD burner, 15.6-inch LED backlit screen, Intel GMA 4500 graphics, 802.11b/g wireless and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. The big downside of course is that it is much larger and heavier than a netbook but it is also much easier to type on and view the screen.

Disclaimer: All deals are those advertised by the retailer in question and may have rebates or other conditions of purchase for the products. Please be sure to read all disclaimers from the seller before purchasing.

Computer Deal of the Week originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 08:00:14.

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Image Courtesy Lenovo

Netbooks have done extremely well in the market thanks to their portability and their low price. The big problem is that they lack the performance to do a variety of different tasks. Intel developed the Consumer Ultra Low Voltage platform as a bridge between netbooks and higher performance laptops. Lenovo has taken this new platform and placed it into a 11.6-inch laptop frame not that much larger than a netbook. This promises to give a much better computing experience while still providing portability and battery life. Do these promises live up to the higher $750 price tag? Find out in my review of the Lenovo IdeaPad U150 11.6-inch laptop.

• Lenovo IdeaPad U150 11.6-inch Laptop Review

Lenovo's CULV Based 11.6-inch Ultraportable originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 09:00:14.

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Image Courtesy AMD

The desktop processor market is very confused right now. Intel has added additional Core i7 and new Core i5 and i3 processors to the market, but they use a different socket from the original Core i7 processors. They have also revived their Pentium name with a new G6950. AMD keeps adding new products with the AMD Athlon II series and expanded Phenom processors, most of which are priced under $150. If one is looking to build or even buy a new desktop computer, how does one know if they are getting the right processor? Find out more in my article that explains the various desktop CPUs available on the market.

• Desktop Processor Buyer's Guide

Desktop Processor Buyer's Guide originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 08:00:54.

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