As many of you have noticed, Microsoft has been pushing really hard to get people to upgrade to it’s latest operating system. This is a blog post I wrote to present my take on why they are trying so hard.
What I Wish I Had Known Part 2
A little over a year ago, I wrote an article titled, “What I Wish I Had Known” that included specific feedback customers shared with me shortly after taking delivery of a new Puget Systems computer. Since that time I’ve talked to hundreds, if not thousands of customers, who have passed along more feedback that might be valuable to those who are configuring or considering a new computer.
With that in mind, here are a few more items our customers would change, if they could go back in time:
Windows Backup Options
Backing up your computer is very important. This post covers the various types of backups you can do on a Windows-based PC, with a few specific examples of related software and services.
Please, please, please – backup your data!
One of the most painful things to hear about from a customer is lost data. Whether it is hours or days of lost work for a business, irreplaceable family photos, or important financial records – data loss hurts. And it can be caused by many things: viruses / malware, file system corruption, physical drive failure, theft, fire, flood… the list goes on. Unfortunately some people don’t think about this till it is too late, so I am here with a public safety announcement: Please, please, please – backup your data!
Product Announcement – New Traverse Mobile Workstation
Over the years I have worked here, our laptop line has changed a lot. We’ve had massive gaming-oriented models with 19-inch screens, tiny 12-inch models for the ultra-portable market, and everything in-between. We even had a touchscreen model for a while, since lots of people asked about that tech… and then it sold only a handful of units. We have just launched another update to our laptops, though, and I wanted to talk for a moment about our direction and goals.
If Processors Were Cars
Around Puget Systems, I think it is pretty common knowledge that I can’t turn down a good comparison between PCs and automobiles. I talk about car branding, car service, car problems…I make a lot of analogies. I think it is because I appreciate cars, but I am definitely not an expert in that field. Making car analogies helps me see the PC industry from the outside…from the customer perspective.
My 4-Month Test Drive of Windows 10
We are now less than a week away from official arrival of Windows 10: the operating system that’s so extraordinary, Microsoft to give it a higher number.
I’ve been the unofficial guinea pig at Puget Systems running Windows 10 Insider Preview builds for over four months now. In the past, I’ve installed beta builds of Windows in a VM or setup a dual boot system giving me an eject button in case of disaster. But that’s not what I did with Windows 10. Instead, I went five blades. No VM, no dual-boot, no parachute.
Windows 10 – What to Consider Before Upgrading
Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade for computers running Windows 7 and 8.1 through July of 2016. Many people are going to want to upgrade as soon as possible, but there may be some reasons to hold off from jumping on the bandwagon right away… or at least worth considering before you take the plunge.
Actual CPU Speeds – What You See Is Not Always What You Get
Clock speeds on modern Intel processors are not straight-forward, a fact that is attested to by the several articles we have published on that topic in recent years. This can lead to confusion over what CPU to pick when configuring a new computer, especially for higher-end workstations and servers with high core count processors. I am hoping this blog post will shed a little light on that subject, and help readers be better able to select the right CPU for their needs.
Why to Choose a Xeon
Despite Intel directing the Xeon processor line toward specific types of computers – primarily servers and workstations – there has been some confusion over when they are the appropriate choice versus a more mainstream processor. I’ve had gamers ask about Xeons because they thought they were more powerful, and likewise I have had businesses ask about running servers on Core i7 processors. So when does a Xeon make sense, and what do they really bring to the table?
