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Venkatarangan TNC

June 2009 - Posts

  • Benefits of Windows 7 over Windows XP

    Today in one of the groups I am a member, there was a question on the cost benefits of Windows 7 over Windows XP. In these recessionary times, everything is about cost and RoI. No CIO is interested to spend on an upgrade just for technology sake. With that background this was an interesting question, so I set out to answer him, which I have reproduced below.

    Windows 7 benefits over Windows XP (Windows images and logo are copyright/trademark of Microsoft Corp) 

    The first answer for such a question is that any new version of any software product improves “productivity” by XY%, where XY are dependent on how you feel on that day.

    Jokes apart, in my opinion I think the upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 saves cost by the following:

    1. Productivity, certainly. Common tasks are easier and faster. For example with the built-in Windows Search, finding documents really saves you time. And for techies tasks like IPConfig /Renew can be done from GUI itself
    2. Avoid recreating lost documents. Built in version-control and transaction file-system in Windows 7 (Vista has this too)
    3. Avoid bandwidth costs by some Spammers using your Windows XP as a SpamBots or Zombies with better stateful firewall (Inbound and Outbound) in Windows 7 (Vista has this too)
    4. Data Theft, Security and reinstall time spend with UAC in Windows 7 (Easier to use than in Vista)
    5. Less power consumption through better sleep/hibernate support
    6. Save time by building web standards Web Applications with built-in Internet Explorer 8.0
    7. Save time and cost with built-in CD Burning, DVD Maker (Vista has this too)
    8. My personal favourite is an enhanced System Restore (life saver) and time saved with fixing a rogue software install (Vista has this too)
    9. A superb Windows Backup (this alone is worth every dollar of Windows 7). Third party products purchased separately for Windows XP store in proprietary backup file formats, where as Windows 7 (as in Vista) uses open VHD file format. This VHD files can be mounted and read/write natively in Windows 7
    10. Built-in hardware enhanced virtualization free – Windows Virtual PC, which helps you to continue to run older applications
    11. Save time with the more powerful task scheduler (so you don’t need to keep your machine switched ON or be there to run a program)
    12. If you are a games developer, Windows 7 saves time by better 3D hardware accelerated graphics support/DirectX
    13. Built-in applications like Snipping tool to take screen shots and so on (Vista has this too)

    Microsoft has published a "Windows client features comparison chart" between Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 here.

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  • Update to XBOX 360 AC Adaptor story

    This is an update to the earlier post on my experiences with getting my XBOX 360 US version work in India, it was basically how I got a 220V Power Adaptor for XBOX 360 in India.

    There are two options to get a 220V (India) Power Adaptor for your XBOX 360:

    1. The XBOX 360 220V Adaptor I was using stopped working, may be because of the frequent voltage fluctuations in Chennai for last few months. Hence I went back to Ritchie Street and bought a new one. This time I made it a point to note down the shop name for benefit of others (and may be for myself again) as this was most asked in the comments I received for the earlier post. I purchased a new XBOX 360 220V Power Adaptor (without warranty) for Rs.2500 + VAT from "Shah Trading Co.", 15, Narasingapuram Street, Off. Mount Road, Chennai - 600002; Phone: 044-2841 5874.
    2. After this, I contacted Microsoft Support in India and asked whether they have a solution now?. Surprisingly this time around, they right away offered a solution. They asked me to go a near by service center in Chennai and drop the original 110V (USA) power adaptor. Within 20-30 days of doing this, I received a replacement of a new 220V power adaptor absolutely free. Great service by Microsoft, keep it up. You can contact  Microsoft support in India at toll-free 1800 102 1100 and select Option 7 for XBOX support. Please keep your XBOX 360 Serial number, original purchase invoice handy with you when you call and request them for a replacement to make your XBOX 360 US version to work in India. Considering that officially XBOX 360 support is available only in the region you bought I was lucky to get this replacement in India. I feel this replacement offer is a nice gesture by Microsoft and note that it is available only for original XBOX 360 accessories (not third-parties made).
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  • HOME – Documentary Movie

    Home the movie

    I just now watched this documentary movie “HOME” by Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand (a french photographer and world renowned environmentalist). The full movie is available in HD Quality free in Youtube from yesterday till 14th June 2009. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch this must see movie.

    I came to my office on a Saturday today so I can watch the movie in High Definition (HD) with the high-bandwidth that is available in the office – the privileges of being the CEO :-).  The quality was amazing, unbelievable it was playing over the Internet. Like I mentioned last year when I watched “Casino Royale (1967)” in HD from Hulu.com, the availability of these high quality content over the Internet is now becoming more and more wide stream than ever. These compel me to predict that in next 10 years we will see the end of distribution of entertainment content (movies and songs) in any physical form – it will happen much faster than the best of Internet evangelists have dreamed of and it will happen even in developing countries like India at nearly the same pace.

    Coming back to the movie “HOME”, the documentary chronicles how life on earth came into existence 4 Billions years back, how we humans came into existence 200,000 years back and how we started farming 10,000 years back. This background helps you to understand and appreciate the destruction we are making on our planet, after the discovery of OIL and our dependence on it. The movie emphasizes the fact of how all organisms and the Earth are linked in a "delicate but crucial" balance with each other, and how no organism can be self-sufficient. I really liked the fact, the movie didn’t end with a pessimistic note of all being lost on climate change, but on a positive note that worldwide change is happening (though in pockets) and we can reverse the trends.

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