Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category

Are you like technology writer Andy Ihnatko? The writer never imagined he would ditch his iPhone. As he writes in a recent column for the Tech Hive Website, he obtained his first iPhone when Apple was launching its first-generation versions. And he has raved about the gadgets in his tech writing. Nevertheless that didn’t stop Ihnatko from switching just recently to a Samsung Galaxy S III. The reason? The Android operating system that powers the phone. In Ihnatko’s opinion, this operating system has grown to be more efficient, powerful and intuitive compared to the system powering iPhones, iOS.

Making the move toward Android

Ihnatko writes that he’s long been considered an Apple fanboy. He purchased the first-generation iPhone long ago. And stayed with the iPhone brand until switching, very recently, to a Galaxy S III smartphone from Samsung, a phone powered, of course, by the Android operating system. And just why did Ihnatko decide to switch? Put simply, he considers the Android operating system of today to be the superior choice.

A great operating system?

Ihnatko writes that the Android operating system has simply grown into what he calls a great operating system. Simultaneously, the hardware that runs this system – the smartphones themselves – have become more powerful, too, he writes. That combo has steered him away from iPhone and toward Android-powered smartphones. Ihnatko is so enamored of his Galaxy smartphone, he has even given up on the unlimited data plan he held with his iPhone, a plan he had since he had joined iPhone nation so early.

Two crucial factors

So, what makes Android better, as stated by Ihnatko? First, Android phones come with better keyboards, he writes. This is very important for someone who answers several e-mail messages and sends out several Tweets every day. Then there’s screen size. Ihnatko states that the screen on his iPhone now seems tiny in comparison to the screen on the Samsung Galaxy S III. In today’s mobile world — when we spend a lot of time watching video and accessing the Web with our smartphones, that larger screen means a lot.

The news about Windows 8, the new Windows operating system, is that it will hit the market later this year. But an amazing number of businesses have not yet launched Windows 7 on their machines. About 70 percent of businesses are still running Windows XP, which was launched way back in August 2001. Many organisations, though, are now contemplating upgrading to Windows 7. This makes sense: Microsoft will not offer formal support for XP as of April of 2014. Businesses, then, who want support from Microsoft, have to upgrade at the very least to Windows 7 by that date. But before businesses make the move to the Windows 7 operating system, they’ll have to take some steps to make certain their computers are prepared for the change.

Analyze hardware and compatibility

The initial step for your IT department or MSP is to assess the hardware’s capacity to run Windows 7. Businesses can do this by using the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 7.0; this will enable you to assess your existing equipment. Moreover, your Manage Service Provider will need to make sure that the company’s applications will work well with Windows 7.

What OS images to deploy

The next step to take before deploying a new OS is to determine what applications you’ll need on your computers and the order they must be installed in. Should you install all of the current applications at the same time as the OS? Should you take the time to determine what applications are necessary to what departments and only install the essential ones after installing the OS? The second option is probably the best, as it allows users to then install whatever programs they think will be useful later and it quickens the deployment process.

Choosing the right image deployment tool

Once a company has settled on a deployment strategy, they must choose which tool they’ll use to create, manage, and deploy the Windows 7 image. There are lots of tools that can assist with this including Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 or 2012.

Upgrading to Windows 7, then, is a process that takes meticulous planning. Fortunately, those companies who use MSPs or their IT departments to plan their deployment will increase their chances of a stress-free deployment.

You see them everywhere. In less than a year in existence, nearly 10 million have been sold. And while Apple has the lead and may remain the leader for a long time to come, there are several other alternatives coming out, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Dell Streak (both running Android) and Windows 7 tablets from several other vendors that we will see in 2011. Read the rest of this entry »