Here's an interesting post by Jeff Atwood about solid-state hard drives (thanks David!). SSDs have been around in various forms for a long time, but only in recent years have manufacturers started seriously marketing them to consumers as an alternative to traditional hard drives. In early 2008, both Apple and Dell started shipping high-end laptops with SSDs only; others have followed suit since then. As Kevin points out in Should You Upgrade to Windows 7?, Windows 7 improves performance for solid-state drives markedly over XP and Vista.

A drive with no moving parts should be faster, more energy efficient, and less susceptible to failure, right? In theory, yes, but the reality might be more complicated. From Atwood's article:

I was an early solid state (SSD) drive adopter with my last laptop purchase, and it was a profound disappointment. Those first and second generation SSD drives turned out to be slower than their magnetic equivalents, despite the eager promises of vendors. On top of that, they were incredibly expensive, and of limited capacity. Running Windows Vista on an early 32 gigabyte SSD was an exercise in pain and frustration on so many levels. What's not to love? A lot.

• Read more

TechRepublic, an IT resource of the publisher ZDNet, has a good summary of the security features of Windows 7 which are especially pertinent to system administrators.

While some features like BitLocker, a drive and volume encryption mechanism, and DirectAccess, a VPN-like remote access implementation, are available in the Enterprise edition only, Windows 7 generally adds more security measures than Vista in a less obtrusive manner. Although operating system security is no substitute for vigilance and user training, it's an important componet and defense against present and emerging threats.

Since Windows 7 launched last week, there has been a flurry of activity from nonprofits and libraries looking to start using the new operating system. TechSoup has written a bunch of articles, blog posts, and forum threads to help people figure out whether to upgrade and how to do it. One thing we haven't really mentioned here yet, is the cool contest that Microsoft is hosting right now — specifically to benefit nonprofits and other social benefit organizations.

Organizations are encouraged to create a short video submission to tell the world how Windows 7 could help them change the world. For example, if you've got smoother running systems, maybe that leaves more time for you to do your real work of providing domestic violence counseling to women, children, and families in need. Or maybe upgrading the public computing lab you run for local lower-income community, will help people access job-hunt, language learning, and healthcare information easier. Whatever it is, tell your story. Here's more, direct from Microsoft:

As many may know, Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system became available last week worldwide and through TechSoup's Microsoft Donation Program. Our customer service representatives have been plowing through the donation requests, helping nonprofits and libraries register and place their requests, and answering questions about whether to upgrade and how to do it. They're working as hard as they can to meet the demand and overflow of queries, so please be patient if you've called or emailed since they have a lengthy queue (even with additional staff support). Our community forums have also experienced a flurry of discussion on the operating system and lots of questions are being answered there.

To help bring some of the more frequently asked questions to the forefront (and hopefully answer some of your lingering questions), we've compiled this short list of Q&A to help you navigate.

• Read more

In these tough economic times, there are a few relatively easy steps you can take to reduce waste in your IT systems. These measures will not only make your systems more efficient; they'll also save money and reduce your impact on the environment.

Why is it important to reduce your computer power use? Power plants are the largest source of CO2 emissions in the US, creating approximately 40% of emissions. Of course computers get their power from the power grid, but did you know that computers waste nearly half the energy they pull from the wall as heat?

Starting this month, most new PCs will have Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system on them. Windows 7 is much more advanced in power conservation than its predecessors, both for end users and for IT administrators. The new operating system makes it easier both to reduce power consumption and to minimize hardware obsolescence.

For those who want to try the software, TechSoup already carries Windows 7 upgrades for nonprofits and libraries; even those that have already made a Microsoft request this year can order.

In case you've missed all the hub-bub in the mainstream media, all the tech junkies blogging their reviews of it, and the cutesy commercials touting the greatness of Windows 7, today is the day Microsoft's new operating system officially launched.

If your organization is an eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit or public library listed in the IMLS database, you may be eligible to request donated Windows 7 Enterprise or or Professional versions through TechSoup or to upgrade at no additional cost from your XP or Vista operating systems if you still have valid software assurance.

Check out the details of Microsoft's donation program and see a variety of reviews, articles, and resources to help you decide whether it's time to upgrade and whether Win 7 is the system you'd want to use. If you've already requested a Microsoft donation through TechSoup this year, you may be able to receive a special extra donation in order to request Windows 7 between now and January 31, 2010.

If you have questions about whether or not it's time for you to upgrade, how to request a donation, or want to share your opinions and thoughts on Windows 7, feel free to join the active discussion in our Software Forum.

• Read more

As a follow-up to our earlier post on The Wall Street Journal's recent review of Windows 7, we'd also like to offer the following links to other relevant and interesting articles and reviews. You might be want to check them out if you're weighing whether or not to switch when it becomes available on October 22:

The Wall Street Journal's influential tech blogger Walt Mossberg just posted his latest and most comprehensive review of Windows 7, two weeks before its official release on October 22. A lot of his observations are based in comparison to Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS' Snow Leopard (which is somewhat a moot point because you can't install Snow Leopard on any computer other than an Apple computer).

After testing Windows 7 on 11 computers, "ranging from tiny netbooks to standard laptops to a couple of big desktops," he concludes that Windows 7 ran swiftly and had faster boot-up and shutdown times compared to Vista. He argues that the visual enhancements such as previews, navigation, and taskbar enhancements even beat those of the Mac OS, which traditionally is known for a more user-friendly interface.

• Read more

While looking for anything to watch other than Tom Delay shake his bum on Dancing with the Stars the other night, I came across one of the new commercials from Microsoft about their upcoming release of the Windows 7 operating system. The commercial featured the cutest little spokesperson you've ever seen. Since Microsoft will be donating Windows 7 upgrades to eligible nonprofits and libraries through TechSoup beginning on October 22, this reminded me to post this little "save the date" announcement, as well as give you a heads up as to what you can expect to see from TechSoup as we approach this launch. If you're interested in checking out reviews of Windows 7, the commercial featured a couple of interesting ones from Gizmodo and CNET, though there are many others online and they're overwhelmingly positive. If you want to check out the cute ad, you can see it here.

What to Expect from TechSoup:

• Windows 7 upgrade products will be available for donation to qualified nonprofits and libraries through TechSoup on October 22 –  specifically Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise upgrades (32 and 64 bit).
• Your organization can request Windows 7 through TechSoup even if you've already received a Microsoft donation this year. Microsoft is allowing organizations to place one extra order this year for ONLY Windows 7 (or Vista) up until January 31, 2010. Learn more about Microsoft's donation program through TechSoup.
• The team at TechSoup is putting together information and resources to help nonprofits and libraries make the best decisions for their organization, so check back soon for more resources to help you evaluate.
• In the meantime, as you evaluate whether Windows 7 is right for your organization, here are a few things you should know about your current system and computers:
  
  • Read more