The Smart Way to Reach Your Customers™

Email marketing is an easy and affordable way to grow your business

Get in touch

Phone: 01573 44 03 55

Fax: 0844 44 37 0 27

Email: ask@web-workshop.net

The Trefoil Guild (UK)

National organisation for
those involved in
Scouting and Guiding
...See more

dotBiz

Quick Guide to Windows Vista

dotBiz logo A few months ago I dedicated this column to the arrival of Microsoft's latest incarnation of Windows - Vista. This month I'm bringing you an update as well as going back in time.

Windows XP basically came in two versions: Home and Professional. When it's finally released in January next year, Vista will be available in no less than six: Business, Enterprise, Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate and Starter, so take your pick!

The way that it works is very different from XP, and if you're thinking of upgrading your business's machines to Vista, you'll need to make sure they have what it takes. Microsoft has put together a list of minimum and recommended requirements, and I've put a link to it on the dotBiz page on my website for you.

So, Vista is the future, but from this month we say farewell to a piece of the past as Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 98. They are urging the 70 million people who still use '98 to upgrade.hmm, any coincidence that Vista is on the way? If you still use this version of Windows, you can no longer get telephone support from Mr Gates, and security updates have ceased as well.

To give Microsoft their dues, they were due to stop support in 2003, but relented after much outcry from customers. Free support was discontinued, but paid for help was available, as well as critical security updates. Versions that are affected by this move are Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (Millennium Edition). If your business runs any of these, you could become more vulnerable to many security risks as 'fixes' for loopholes exploited by hackers will no longer become available.

Don't panic, though. Most of the nasties that are out there are designed to exploit Windows XP, and won't affect '98 machines. Nevertheless, if you want to be safe, you should seriously look at upgrading your systems. According to computer security firm Secure Science at least one hi-tech crime gang based in Eastern Europe specialises in Windows 98 and produces viruses that prey on the software's weaknesses. This is because users of it tend to have little knowledge of potential dangers and are older so are more likely to have substantial financial assets worth stealing. If you're in doubt as to what to do, just speak to one of the many business suppliers in our area who are ready to help you.

Click here for a list of useful links