CompUSA will guarantee that customers are satisfied with their Windows Vista update or the retailer will refund the purchase price and reinstall the PC’s original operating system, the company announced Monday.

The program is part of the electronics chain’s Windows Vista rollout, which will begin 12:01 a.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 30. Customers who buy Vista or Microsoft’s new Office 2007 application suite along with in-store installation of the software are eligible for the satisfaction-guaranteed refund and reinstall.

Customers who bring their PCs to a CompUSA store before 3:00 p.m. Jan. 29 will be able to buy Vista or Office installation for US$19.99 (just installation, not the software), and retrieve the computer as early as 12:01 a.m. Jan. 30. From Tuesday on, installation fees will climb to US$49.99 (in-store) and US$149.99 (in-home).

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Source: InformationWeek via MSFN

FileMenu Tools lets customize the context menu of the Windows Explorer. It lets configure the following aspects:

- Add some build-in utilities in order to do operations over files and folders.
- Add customized commands which let run external applications, copy/move to a specific folder or delete specific file types.
- Configure the “Send to…” submenu.
- Enable/disable the commands which are added by other applications to the context menu.

The built-in utilities are the following:
- Synchronize Folders
- Extended Delete
- Delete Locked File
- Join File
- and more…
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Microsoft has finally pulled it off, the longest product name ever: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE Limited Numbered Signature Edition, or MWVUULNSE for short. Regardless of how long the name is, I’m sure you can figure out what it all means, but in case you cannot, let me break it down for you. This flavour of Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate is only available as an upgrade, meaning you need to own a previous version of Windows. “Limited Numbered” means there are only 20,000 copies available. “Signature Edition” refers to the fact that the box is signed by Bill Gates. This unique version of Vista is priced at US$259 and will become available January 30 along with all the other Vista Editions (minus Business, of course). Microsoft fanboys, I wish you luck in getting your hands on this one.

Amazon describes the product: “Signed by Bill Gates himself: Windows Vista Ultimate is Microsoft’s powerful new operating system for the home and business user. Thinking of upgrading? Get this limited-availability Signature Edition signed by the world’s richest man and own a little piece of history.”

View: Product Box
Source: Amazon via Engadget

As Internet access becomes vital to all business organizations, network security and privacy affects everyone. Comodo, a leading global provider of trust and assurance services for the Internet, provides the highest level of protection for networks and home users alike.

Comodo Firewall is one of the smartest firewalls you can ever see. While providing answers to firewall questions, users usually do not understand the complex questions which involve complicated connection details like IP addresses, Ports, Application paths etc.

Download: Comodo Firewall Pro v2.4.16.174 Final
View: Comodo Home Page
View: Screenshot
Source: In-House

After the acquisition of ATI Technologies by Advanced Micro Devices the latter started to force out ATI’s brand-name and emphasize AMD brand for graphics cards. However, there are still many fans of ATI, who are very addicted to this name and who would like to get something related to it. Especially for 500 of such people AMD is selling Radeon X1950 XTX Uber Edition bundles signed by Dave Orton, the former chief executive of ATI.

ATI Radeon X1950 XTX Uber Edition is two Radeon X1950 XTX graphics cards (one of which is a master edition version required for multi-GPU CrossFire mode) with clock-speeds of chip/memory increased to 670MHz/2100MHz from 650MHz/2000MHz on default graphics cards. Each of 500 of such bundles is supplied in a special suit-case equipped with a combination lock. Every Radeon X1950 XTX Uber comes with certificate of authenticity signed by ATI’s former chief executive officer David Orton.

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Source: Xbit Labs via Neowin

Motorola’s first Linux handset for the US market, the RIZR Z6, is also likely to be the first in the industry to run an “open” operating system - Linux, Symbian OS or Windows on a single- rather than dual-processor architecture. This shows that Linux is making significant improvements in its suitability to be an operating system for mobile devices, and could give Motorola a significant headstart in the battle to create low power, low cost smartphones.

It is also significant that Motorola said it had worked closely with Microsoft in the creation of the handset. This was primarily to allow it to sync with PCs running Windows Media, but indicates the gradual softening of Microsoft’s attitude to working proactively with non-Windows platforms, as well as its growing closeness to Motorola.

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Source: The Register via Neowin

Nero 7 Premium Reloaded, the ultimate PC and home entertainment solution, is now Windows Vista Ready and has everything you need to manage your digital multimedia lifestyle. With free VoIP telephony, unlimited MP3 support, Blu-ray and HD DVD disc data recording, a media center for mobile devices, and free monthly updates, Nero 7 Premium Reloaded brings you into the digital future with state-of-the-art technology!

Download: Nero Burning Rom 7.7.5.1 (Trial)
Download: Nero Burning Rom 7.7.5.1 (Multilanguage)
Download: Nero Clean Tools
View: Nero Home Page
Source: Neowin

The music industry opened up a new front in the war on online music piracy yesterday, threatening to sue internet service providers that allow customers to illegally share copyrighted tracks over their networks.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, or IFPI, said it would take action against internet companies that carry vast amounts of illegally shared files over their networks. It stressed that it would prefer not to pursue such a strategy and is keen to work in partnership with internet providers.

John Kennedy, the chairman of the IFPI, said he had been frustrated by internet companies that have not acted against customers involved in illegal activity. He warned that litigation against ISPs would be instigated “in weeks rather than months”. Barney Wragg, the head of EMI’s digital music division, said the industry had been left “with no other option” but to pursue ISPs in the courts.

The IFPI wants ISPs to disconnect users who refuse to stop exchanging music files illegally. Mr Kennedy said such activity is in breach of a customer’s contract with the ISP and disconnecting offenders the IFPI had identified would significantly reduce illegal file sharing.

Source: The Independent via Neowin

A man faces a sentence of up to 101 years in federal prison after being the first person in the U.S. convicted under a federal anti-spam law, authorities said. Jeffrey Brett Goodin, 45, of Azusa, was found guilty Friday of running a “phishing’” scheme that tricked people into believing they were giving personal information to a legitimate business. Prosecutors said Goodin then used the information to go on a spending spree.

Goodin is the first person in the nation convicted under the 2003 CAN-SPAM Act, the U.S. attorney’s office said. The law forbids e-mail marketers from sending false or misleading messages and requires them to provide recipients with a way to opt out of receiving future mailings.

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Source: Mercury News via Neowin

Norton Removal Tool is a program that can remove some Norton software from your computer. Norton Removal Tool runs on Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Norton Removal Tool should be used only if you have tried to uninstall the Norton program using Windows Add/Remove Programs and that did not work.

Will Norton Removal Tool work for you?
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