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Where are my Contacts in Windows 7?

January 30th, 2010, 2:46 am by

Hi folks! PC Club is moving to Saturday publication with this post. Thanks for reading!

Stump the PC Club is a free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club, which has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. And don’t forget to stop by the Gadgetress’ home for the PC Club, at ocregister.com/link/pcclub, to find out how to ask a question and read past answers.

QUESTION: I notice that the Contacts folder in Windows 7 does not match the Contacts in Windows Live Mail, however, in Vista the Contacts folder does match the Contacts in Windows Mail. What happened?

PC CLUB: The Contacts feature built into Windows has changed with each new version of Windows including XP, Vista and now, Windows 7. This is related to how the built-in support for e‑mail has changed. Windows XP uses the term Addresses and subsequent versions use the term Contacts but the terms are interchangeable. The implementation in each version is as follows: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Stump the PC Club • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

AT&T U-verse coming to Xbox universe

January 14th, 2010, 1:08 pm by

CATCHING UP: Xbox univerese heading to AT&T U-verse.It’s true, AT&T U-verse subscribers with a Microsoft Xbox will soon be able to access all those U-verse TV activities on the game console.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive officer, mentioned the union during his keynote speech at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (yes, file this in the way-too-much-to-miss-at-CES folder). Gaming site Kotaku has been writing stories about it, see “U.S. Xbox 360s Get IPTV Through AT&T Uverse This Year.”

AT&T just confirmed the news to me so I wanted to share with readers, especially those interested in U-verse TV, an Internet-based TV service available in several cities in Orange County. See the list of Orange County cities HERE.

According to an AT&T  spokeswoman, U-verse TV subscribers will be able to use their XBOX 360 console as a TV set-top box.

“You’ll be able to watch U-verse TV programming using your new or existing XBOX receiver, including live, on-demand, HD and Total Home DVR content. It will enable the same viewing experience and same features that you get today with a U-verse receiver. As we’ve done with all the new apps and features we’ve added for customers over the years, we’ll make the rollout or upgrade option quick and simple for customers. We plan to make this option available to customers in 2010, later in the year,” Katie Keating  responded in an e-mail.

No mention on whether this will cost extra. Currently, AT&T charges $7/month for extra TV receivers. The first HD receiver is included with the plan.

For those wondering why AT&T teamed up with Xbox, that’s not a huge surprise. Microsoft’s  Mediaroom is the software inside U-verse set-top boxes. What’s next? Watch U-verse TV on Microsoft mobile phones?

Earlier on AT&T U-verse:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Windows 7 part II: How to upgrade

November 5th, 2009, 3:55 pm by

This is a special Windows 7 edition of Stump the PC Club, the OCRegister’s  weekly free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club. Since Windows 7 has arrived and there have been many questions about it, these articles are devoted to answering some of those questions.

Earlier in the series:

How to upgrade to Windows 7

Once you decide to take the plunge, users must choose how to upgrade to Windows 7.

The majority of Windows users out there can opt for the Windows 7 upgrade, rather than paying the full-version price. But there’s more work for Windows XP users than Windows Vista users. XP users must use the Custom Install rather than the easier In-Place Upgrade. As long as you have a licensed copy of XP or Vista installed, you can purchase the upgrade version of Windows 7 and avoid the more expensive full version.

There are two ways to move to Windows 7:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • Stump the PC Club • • • • | 3 Comments »

All your Windows 7 questions answered, part I

November 3rd, 2009, 3:17 pm by

Stump the PC Club is a free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club, which has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. And don’t forget to stop by the Gadgetress’ home for the PC Club, at ocregister.com/link/pcclub, to find out how to ask a question and read past answers.

This is Part 1 of a multi-part article about the new Windows 7 operating system. Since Windows 7 has arrived and there have been many questions about it, this article is devoted to answering some of those questions.

Let’s start with this: What is Windows 7?

Windows 7 is the new operating system Microsoft released on Oct. 22, 2009. It’s the successor to Windows Vista. You can buy the software in stores on a DVD and upgrade older PCs or buy a new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed.

This is the third version of Windows since Windows XP launched on Oct. 25, 2001. Windows Vista arrived on Jan. 30, 2007 but software issues led many users to switch back to XP. Microsoft put development on the next operating system in fast forward. Enter Windows 7. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • Stump the PC Club • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

What does a PC guy think about the new Microsoft store?

October 29th, 2009, 4:22 pm by
Ed Schwartz, Stump the PC Club contributor

Hi, I'm Ed

Gadgetress’ weekly Stump the PC Club answer guy Ed Schwartz ventured into the crowded new Microsoft store that opened in Mission Viejo today. We already know what Apple fanatics think about the store and we saw that many of the folks in line overnight were just waiting for the free rock concert (watch the opening video).

Now, Schwartz, he’s a loyal PC guy. I was curious to know what he thought about the store. He’s not anti-Apple, by the way. He admits to venturing inside the Apple store occasionally to see what’s new

Schwartz stopped by the large, bright store around 11:30 a.m. today because, “Oh, curiosity. That’s my thing. I just want to know what’s going on,” he said.

Plus, he said, any store’s first day is likely to be full staffed. He immediately went to find help to get some readers’ Windows 7 questions answered. This is where he learned the difference between the blue shirts and the red shirts. If you have a tech question, ask someone wearing a red shirt.

“It took me three employees before I found one who could confirm some Windows 7 questions. They all had blue shirts until I got to the guy with the red shirt,” he said.

Microsoft opens first store in Mission Viejo. Photo by Ed SchwartzApparently, the red shirts work in the back and help out when tech questions get too hard.

Schwartz couldn’t help but compare the Microsoft store with the Apple store, starting with the shirts. There’s also Microsoft’s Answer Desk, which is very similar to Apple’s Genius Bar. Anyone can bring in their Zune or other Microsoft-related device and get help. There are also free lessons and there are special one-on-one sessions where for $99, you can get one hour of face time with a Microsoft expert every week for one year (that’s the same price as Apple’s One To One sessions).

He spotted laptops from HP, Dell and Lenovo, but that’s it. There were netbooks from Asus, Samsung and others, and all-in-one PCs from Sony. But what about Fujitsu, the brand he uses? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • news • • • • • | 35 Comments »

Who is in line at the Microsoft Store?

October 28th, 2009, 11:47 pm by

Who's in line for the new Mission Viejo Microsoft store?

For the couple hundred people camped out in the parking lot at the Shops at Mission Viejo for the opening of California’s first Microsoft Store, the question isn’t Apple or Microsoft. The real question is: Microsoft or Justin Bieber?

As early as 3:45 p.m. Wednesday people began lining up for the grand opening of the store, only the second one in the nation, which opens at 10 a.m. Thursday.  Lines are expected to swell to over 1,500 people.

Lured by tickets to a parking lot gig by Bieber, a Canadian tween pop sensation, kids and their parents are huddled in lawn chairs and blankets, trying their best to stay warm.

“I have a 15-year-old daughter who is a die-hard fan of Justin Bieber,” said Stefanie Tran, an Aliso Viejo mom gadgetresssmallwho is camping out for daughter Nicolette. “We’re here for her … but I’ve heard about Windows 7 so I’m kind of excited about that. I want to see how it is.”

Not everyone is here for the show. Navid Zamani, of Laguna Niguel, will wait through the night with the hope that the Microsoft Store will stand toe-to-toe with the Apple Store.

“I’m just happy that they’re finally standing up against Mac. I’m surprised it took them so long to figure out that the Apple Store is the key to their success, to a degree,” he said.

There are advantages to coming early. Patrons including Kevin Pamittan, of Lake Forest, were already rewarded by Microsoft for their efforts.

Pamittan, pictured at top, recieved a Microsoft Zune HD for answering a simple Microsoft-related question. Employees also came to the line with a wheelbarrow full of free copies of Windows 7.

“It makes it worth while, coming out here. Not only just to see the store, but getting all this free stuff will make me a Microsoft fan even longer,” he said. ”I appreciate that they gave out Windows 7 because it shows their appreciation for people who are dedicated and spent the night.”

For information about opening day giveaways and the story behind the store, read the Register’s story about the Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo.

Follow the link to view a slide show showing who is in line a the Microsoft Store and what they had to say about the wait.

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Brightcove video.

Posted in: news • • • | 41 Comments »

Microsoft’s first O.C. store opens Thursday — will you be there?

October 27th, 2009, 11:59 am by

Microsoft plans to open second-ever store in Mission Viejo.Microsoft is taking a stab at selling its own software and toys directly to consumers. In a store. In Mission Viejo.

This will be the company’s second store nationwide. The first opened last week in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Our Mission Viejo reporter Niyaz Pirani is covering Microsoft’s attempt at brick-and-mortar retail. It’ll be the first to go head-to-head with an Apple store at The Shops at Mission Viejo. Here are some of Niyaz’s past stories.

Niyaz plans to camp out with everyone Wednesday night and blog about his experience right here.

Will the new Mission Viejo local store be as popular as the Arizona one? According to one report, “hundreds of people who waited as long as 12 hours,” showed up for the opening last week. Those folks appeared to be eying the goodie bags and free entertainment  a la pop singer Ashley Tisdale. Some words to describe the new store: “Really cool,” “about time,” “really cool” again, and “one last shot” for Microsoft.

Here are lots of photos of the new Arizona store from Destructoid.com.

As for the new one in Mission Viejo? Who out there will be going on day one? Let us know because we want to interview you! Leave a comment below or e-mail thegadgetress@ocregister.com.

Posted in: news • • • • | 16 Comments »

Windows 7 — Do you really need it?

October 22nd, 2009, 7:02 am by

Windows 7Microsoft’s latest version of Windows — Windows 7 – launches today.

But after 2007′s ill-fated upgrade from Windows XP to Vista, consumers have reason to be wary. That bloated new operating system was released before it was really ready. Should consumers bother with Windows 7?

Since my focus shifted to TV services this year, I’m leaving it up to the rest of the tech world to offer consumers advice. The answer: Yes. Windows 7 is so much better than Windows Vista. But should you upgrade today? Only if you cannot stand Windows Vista. You’ll upgrade eventually, anyway.

Do you want to read more? Ed Schwartz, who answers readers’ computer problems in the Stump the PC Club column has been playing with Windows 7 for months. Here is his experience, plus some technical details and reviews from around the web:

Ed’s Windows 7 highlights: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • • • • | 28 Comments »

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