This is a special post dedicated to a very deserving soul. A big round of applause for Ines over at Ines’ Crib for helping me into the Windows Messenger Live Beta Program..
Well, you can be sure of one bit of beta testing, because we got in on a condition: that we test away, all day and all night long! Expect regular reports containing as much as I can let you guys know (with screenshots!) without breaking the NDAs or the Beta Agreement.. All I can say right now is: its awesome! :D

Too much talk, too many misconceptions; too much bragging, to much false info.

That just about sums up the rumors about the Vista December CTP. So here is to some clarification!

• The December CTP is not Code Complete.
• The December CTP is not Beta 2
• The December CTP is not a Public Beta
• The December CTP is an almost Code-Complete build. Microsoft has verified that it will be closely followed by an internal code-complete build, and only then will Beta 2 (in code-complete stage) be released.
• No one knows the Build Number of the December CTP. Yep, not even Paul.
• A CTP is simply an internal build that goes through a series of steps and preps to convert it to a code-complete build.
• Any build can (if MS so pleases) be made into a CTP. It probably does not take too long to convert a build to CTP, relatively speaking.

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First, no, I am not talking about Microsoft making money… Notice the ‘$’ sign is not in Microsoft’s name :D

After a landmark ruling by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) against Microsoft Wednesday, speculation is rising over whether the firm will go through with its threat of pulling the Windows operating system out of the local market.

I’m not going to bother going into the specifics, there is Google and CNN for that… But in short:

• South Korea wants Microsoft to either remove all Windows Media Services & Instant Messaging from Windows XP, sell them separately, or package (in their words) “competing products” with Windows!!
• $. Korea has fined MS $32 Million for violation.
• South Korea claims that “As a result, programs such as open-source Linux, which has been choked by the predominant status of proprietary Windows, will be able to carve out a niche” he added.
• In late October, Microsoft threatened it might stop servicing Windows here or delay the release of new versions should the FTC require it to remove code or redesign Windows uniquely for South Korea.
• Microsoft Spokesman Kwon Chang believed that the ruling does constitute a request to “remove code or redesign Windows uniquely for Korea.” But he said the firm will try to appeal it via litigation instead of pulling Windows out of South Korea.

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I’m incredibly impressed by the new Microsoft R2 releases.

For those of you that haven’t heard (a year long vacation?), R2 is a new concept being championed by Microsoft wherein a series of huge and important updates, new features, and practically new software ships in.

I fortunately had the oppurtunity to be in the R2 Beta for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Server, and here are my thoughts, more or less in the order they occurred:

• To me it seems like R2 is something that could have easily been shipped as Windows Server 2005.
• It looks like R2 is basically a new OS, minus the price tag..
• So why would Microsoft do this??

I mean, its true, Microsoft could have easily released this as a new OS, and every big corporation likes to keep up to date with server technology, after all, it is the core of the network. Microsoft is due to release Vista within a year (or so they say), and with it comes a new Server OS. So WHY???

I mean, everyone has been asking why Microsoft is releasing all of these supposed Vista-Only features to XP, but they are all coming individually as far as I can tell. R2 is packed to the brim (of the CD ;) with features that replace 2rd party softtware, save companies money, and make MS proud. Just now I am talking about the new backup system in R2.. I have used it, and it is absoloutely invaluable.

This all makes a man (or a robot, I guess) wonder, where is MS taking this? The obvious answer is what those happy-go-lucky liberals have been shouting all along “Microsoft is going Shareware!”

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I’m back.. :D
I could not resist posting with this title.. So, just to justify, I am going to say "See, I’m back. 5259 is not lethal, and I can live with Office 12!"

Now, to the topic at hand… This post is supposed to be titled "R2s, the Future of Microsoft?"  But I just realized how important of a post this is.. So I’m starting a new topic. Sorry!

The NeoSmart Blogs (aka Ramblings of a Computer Guru) section of our website has just been updated to WordPress 2.0 Beta.

We have been actively testing this software and aiding in its development off of local servers, now we are just getting to the point where we take it to the production-level line.

While WordPress claims that this will not raise the quality-level of posts, we believe otherwise. Stick around and check out the difference for yourself :)

Most differences at the moment are in the Admin “Dashboard,” therefore not visible to the public. However, if you choose to comment you will notice some very nice differences. Hopefully the final or other betas will contain more hands-on updates for our faithful viewers.

In other news, our inbox at NeoSmart (NeoSmart@Gmail.com) has been recently (why all of a sudden??) flooded with questions about our use of the default themes on the forum and the blog. Just like to let you all know that these are temporary, until we get our new site design (check out the forums for more details!) up for the main website, then we will go from there to make matching skins for the other sections..

-CG

The following took place on November 25th, 6:50 PM GMT.
It is a transcript of a conversation between Me (Computer Guru) and the Encarta AI Instant Answers Bot, on MSN.

If nothing else, it was a very interesting conversation.

Me: Who is the Computer Guru (:P)
It: I don’t think I know The Computer Guru. Let’s try an Encarta search.
[Prompts me to open Encarta]
[I decline]
It: You should accept my invitation! I won’t be able to show you maps, pictures or articles otherwise.
Type “Invite me!” at any time and I’ll send you another invitation.

Me: Who is Bill Gates
It: I know Bill Gates. Let me try to find an article for you. =>
I can’t show you the results since you don’t have the Encarta application open. Type “Invite me” to open it.

Me: What does MSN stand for?
It: MSN Messenger is the application you’re using to communicate with me. :) [dumb ass!]

Me: Who is Linus?
It: Unfortunately I don’t think I can answer this, even with the help of a good encyclopedia.

[At this point, I lost all motor coordination for 10 minutes, it was just too much…]

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