Microsoft site gives Vista answers |
Register here for our next TechFlash Live networking event, March 23, featuring an expert panel discussing the future of online advertising.
Today On Techflash
- Doerr to step down from Amazon.com board
- Amazon warns Conn. over sales tax bill
- Why Windows Phone manager decided to leave
- AppStoreHQ rolls out Android app service
- New WTIA CEO on the state's tech industry
- Grisham changes tune on e-books
- IE9 preview: HTML5, accelerated graphics
- VC Susan Sigl to head tech group
Tech Events
Mass High Tech
Microsoft site gives Vista answers
A tip for anyone who unwrapped a new PC over the holidays: Microsoft recently launched a new site that offers answers to common Windows Vista questions and problems. Targeted to a general audience, the Microsoft Answers beta appears more user-friendly than the existing Microsoft Support page. But making the most of it will still require more than the average level of technical knowledge.
Take, for example, the User Account Control windows that pop up to confirm that a user wants to make a system-level change to the machine. For security reasons, Microsoft would recommend against disabling those pop-ups. But say a user wants to go ahead and do it anyway. To find the answer on the site, a person would need to know that those pop-ups are part of the User Account Control system, and search for that term. Searching for "popups" or "pop-ups" wouldn't do it.
Another alternative would be to ask a question in the site's user forums, which require a Windows Live ID login.
At a broader level, it's interesting that the site is called Microsoft Answers, rather than Windows Vista Answers. I've asked a Microsoft representative if the company plans to expand the site beyond Windows Vista, and I'll update this post depending on the response.
[Via Ars Technica]
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Technology Tax Planning – Did You Take The Deduction?
Technology companies require professional advisors who can assist in all aspects of the business. The BDO Technology Practice provides a full range of services tailored to help address the changing needs of domestic and international companies. In addition to core audit and tax services, BDO professionals can assist technology companies with:
· Revenue recognition
· Business combination accounting
· R&D tax credits
· Compensation and benefits
· Business valuations
Backed by 38 national offices and an international network in 110 countries, we have the domestic and global footprint to serve growing technology companies. Contact sphilpott@bdo.com (audit partner), mreeves@bdo.com (audit partner), psmith@bdo.com (tax partner), tzambito@bdovaluation.us.com (valuation), tfiscus@bdo.com, Director, 206.624.2020
Join the Microsoft WebsiteSpark program and get software, support and visibility – at no upfront cost. You’ll benefit from fast and easy access to current Microsoft development tools, platform technology and server products including Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Silverlight, Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Web.
Seattle-based Adhost is a WebsiteSpark hosting partner providing dedicated servers with free Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 licensing for three years to Web developers enrolled in WebsiteSpark. Servers are located in our secure data center with SAS 70 Type II certification, 24x7 technical support and 24x7 client access.
Job Listings
- Sr. Capture Manager - Civil Security Market
- Raytheon
- Dir-Physician Practice Information Services
- Overlake Hospital Medical Center
- Manager, Ops. Engineering - External - 713296
- Microsoft Corporation
- Senior Program Manager
- Microsoft Corporation
- Senior Software Development Engineer-Scientist - Core Speech - 711872
- Microsoft Corporation
