NetMeeting in Windows 7: Where Is It?

You have just installed a brand new Windows 7 operating system on your computer. Windows 7 is indeed a great OS and almost certainly you are enjoying many of its features.

Sooner or later you decide to share a PowerPoint presentation with you colleague. You type "conf" in the Run menu to fire up a good old NetMeeting. You hit Enter anticipating a new and improved interface and... nothing happens. Wait, is my Windows installation broken or did they rename the software again?

Where is NetMeeting?

Let's make it clear right from the beginning - there is no NetMeeting in Windows 7. Microsoft removed it from their latest OS. Why? They are pushing companies to deploy fully-featured unified communication solutions such as Microsoft Lync. But what about those of us who are not ready or just don't need the complexity of such solution? All is not lost and there are some options available.

What are the alternatives?

Let's take a quick look at some tools that can be considered a NetMeeting replacement for Windows 7.

Microsoft official solutions

NetMeeting in XP Mode - essentially you run a Windows XP virtual machine within your Windows 7 OS.

Pros:

• Free (in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate).
• You get full functionality of NetMeeting.

Cons:

• Only available in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate.
• Heavy - running a separate OS just for one application seems like overkill to me.
• Requires non trivial installation and configuration - might be a problem for end users.
• Microsoft SharedView - cannot be considered a direct replacement for NetMeeting since it doesn't allow you to connect to another machine's IP directly. That is, it's not using a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection.

Pros:

• Microsoft's official alternative for Windows 7.
• Free.
• Improved functionality.

Cons:

• Works over Internet and therefore requires Internet connection.
• Less secure - your data leaves your private network.
• Slow on local network since it's not P2P anymore.
• Requires Windows Live ID creation.
• Limited to 15 participants.
• Requires installation.
• 3rd party solutions

Tools like WebEx, LogMeIn, etc are readily available from numerous vendors. Functionally-wise they are even farther from NetMeeting than Microsoft SharedView and can be described by many users as "too much". The only situation in which I would recommend using such a tool for NetMeeting replacement is when your organization has already implemented it and pays for it.

Pros:

• Rich functionality.
• Your organization might have them already deployed.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Most of them are web-based.
• Usually complex user interface - functionally overloaded.
• Require Internet connection and ID creation.
• Not P2P and often slow.

HTC Titan: The Ultimate Windows Phone 7 Experience

Move over Android phones because the new HTC Titan is here to give new meaning to the word "innovation." These yet to be released smart phones from HTC Corporation are one of the few handsets to run in a Windows 7 operating system.

The imposing name of these smart phones is a clear indication that HDC Titan offers more than just a stunning display. The 16M colors S-LCD is big yet not that unpleasant to the eye at 4.7 inches. This screen is multi-touched enabled and has a gyroscope sensor that comes in handy when changing screen orientations. The display resolution is at 480 x 800 pixels.

Users will be surprised that even though HDC Titan is big in terms of size and weight, the candy bar designed unit is surprisingly thin at 9.9mm. Not bad since it is close to the iPhone 4 white model which has a 9.5 mm thickness, a 0.2 mm extra from its black counterpart.

The HDC Titan retains the comfortable rectangular shape its predecessors have since it has smooth, rounded corners that fits well in the hands of the users. The unit exudes a feel of minimalism with its carbon gray exterior at the back and black framing on the front side. Users will also notice that this hefty but solid handset is made with aluminum housing.

When it comes to HTC Titans battery, it is not far off from the recent Android phone releases. It has an average continuous talk time capacity of 11.83 hours while at standby mode, the handset can last for as long as 360 hours.

One thing that smart phone users will love in HDC Titan is the high camera resolution that most competing Android phones lack. With an 8MP resolution, users can capture lifelike photos of stunning moments. Video conferencing is also possible via Skype.
Unlike traditional point and shoot cameras, HDC Titans camera features a f/2.2 lens with dual LED flash and BSI sensor. The images produced from these cameras show almost life-like colors and are not blurry. There are instances though that the exposure of the images is too short, resulting to shaded details being lost.

When it comes to the software, HDC Titan boasts of its capacity to run in a Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS. It also has a 512 MB RAM and a single core 1500 MHz processor. These features give HTC Titan users smoother experience in loading a variety of multimedia like games and videos. HTC Titan has a built-in internal memory of 16 GB to enable users to store their favorite movies and songs. Not bad for a mid-range phone!

The HTC Titan supports different avenues for connectivity. It has a 2.1 Bluetooth version and is Wi-Fi enabled. Connecting to personal computers for data and file sharing is possible with the microUSB port found at the bottom part of the phone. Users will also notice that this latest HTC phone model includes a DLNA connectivity option. This can be useful in connecting to a television or any external display for streaming of photos, videos, and music.

With all the features mentioned, smart phone users can give the HTC Titan a try so they can get that Windows Phone 7 experience in their phone.

Windows 7 Versus Snow Leopard - What to Choose For Your Business

Because of the issues Microsoft users encountered with Windows Vista, many people have been reluctant to consider Windows 7. Many are concerned that Windows 7 is just a patched up version of Vista. Microsoft insists that this is not so, but instead they took what was good about Vista and made it better. Windows 7 has been receiving many good reviews and is considered a strong competitor of Mac's OS X and Linux.

What Are Some Of The New Features Of Microsoft 7?

Windows 7 has touchscreen capability even for programs that were not originally designed to be touchscreen. All you need is a touch screen monitor. Homegroup allows you to easily share files, photos, music, etc. with other computers in your network. Windows 7 offers faster startup and faster performance. Windows 7's new Taskbar is touted by some as even better than the Snow Leopard Dock. The Taskbar allows you to "pin" your favorite programs to it and preview open windows.

Snap lets you easily move, minimize, maximize, and resize windows so that you can view more than one window at one time. Windows search is as easy as searching on the internet Windows 7 is faster and doesn't require as much memory and processor usage.

The Ultimate Edition offers Bitlocker data encryption that prevents hackers and thieves from accessing your important files.

Jump Lists lets you easily access the programs and files you use most often.

You can still run many Windows XP programs in the XP mode.

The Professional Edition costs about $200 for the upgrade and $300 for the full version. The Ultimate Edition costs about $220 for the upgrade and about $320 for the full version.

Equipment to run Windows 7 can start at around $300.

The Downside Of Windows 7

Some reviews have reported spotty performance with Windows 7, but probably the biggest downside is that this operating system needs to be time tested to evaluate its performance and reliability over the long haul.

How does Mac OS X Snow Leopard Compare?

Apple's Macintosh operating system already enjoys a reputation as easy to use and reliable, and offers users fast performance and stability. The standard software such as Safari, iPhoto, iChat, and Garageband is well liked by Mac users. Windows 7's new taskbar is very similar to Mac's standard Dock. While Snow Leopard is perhaps more like an upgrade than a new operating system, Apple has added some new features to Mac OS X Snow Leopard:

Snow Leopard offers faster performance and speed, and the new OS uses less disk space.

Upgraded Expose makes it easier to view all of your open windows while in the Dock.

Zoom Slider lets you take a closer look at the application before opening it.

Stacks now has a scroll bar so that you can see all of your applications.

Exchange support allows you to connect with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

The Downside Of Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Lack of business applications

A bug in Snow Leopard caused some users to lose data. The problem has since been rectified, but it is still a cause for concern, especially for business owners.

While snow leopard only costs $29, you must already be a Leopard user and own a Mac computer, which generally start at about $600.

The bottom line in this debate is that Windows is still the most commonly used operating system in the business world and the most business friendly. While Mac continues to maintain a solid reputation and is frequently used for publishing and graphic design, Windows has more to offer business owners.

Windows run personal computers are also more economically priced, and Windows 7 Ultimate Edition is specifically designed to keep business files safe and secure. Even though Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate Editions are more expensive than Mac's Snow Leopard, it still offers businesses a wider choice of business applications and available programs.

Ultimate Guide For Windows 7 Gadgets Download

Gadgets are the most useful mini application that is used on the desktop of the computer. Few people prefer gadgets on their desktop while others hate gadgets as they like clean desktops. But some of the gadgets are quite inevitable on the desktop. You can download these gadgets for the Windows 7 from online resources. Although there are different sites to download, the official Microsoft web site will be the perfect choice for you.

They are helpful in making your system more productive and the desktop appears lively. The Windows 7 gadgets download is quite popular among the gadget lovers as they always look for some handy ones for their system. You can select them from the Windows 7 gadgets download section of the official web site according to your needs. The system monitor is considered as the most useful one and in Windows 7, it appears as multi-functional so that you can keep track of the CPU, memory usage, IP address and battery level with a single gadget.

The Facebook and Twitter explorer are the most innovative gadgets that are incorporated with the Windows 7. When you go for download, you will definitely choose this one as it makes yourself updated with those social networking sites. The Twitter explorer makes it easy to tweet and you can keep yourself updated with the Twitter messages. Among the Windows 7 gadgets download, you will certainly notice the "ultimate explorer" that helps you to search sites from the desktop. This handy application can be used easily to search Google, YouTube, Yahoo and many others.

How to get into the Windows 7 gadgets download window? You can find a gadgets window in your system and at the right bottom you will notice a link which is named as "Get more gadgets online". If you click on this link, you will be automatically taken to the Microsoft site from where you will get the official gadgets. From there, you will see a link to get more desktop gadgets. Select the desired gadgets and when you click the download option, you will get a warning window if it is not created by Microsoft. The official site will make the Windows 7 gadgets download more secure and safe.

Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional, and Home Premium - The Hidden and the Obvious Difference

What is the big deal in having one version of windows 7 over the others? Which version do you even need? On the other hand, which one is best for you?

In this article, my aim is to show you the hidden and the obvious difference among the three versions of the windows 7, which includes the followings: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate.

First, I will like to start with the obvious before the hidden. The most obvious is the color of the packaging (The Home Premium is orange, the Professional is green, and the Ultimate is black) and the price. The Ultimate version is the most expensive among the three, followed by the professional then the Home Premium.

The Ultimate is the most versatile and powerful of Windows 7. It combines remarkable ease of use with the entertainment features of the Home Premium and the business capabilities of professional, including the ability to run XP productivity program in Windows XP Mode. For added security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker. And for extra flexibility you can work in any of the 35 languages.

Let's now talk about the functionalities of the Window 7 and which version can perform such functions.

The Windows 7 make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation which helps you to open files you use regularly in just two clicks. Navigations like- Snap, which allows you to arrange two widows side-by-side by just dragging them opposite sides of your screen. The Aero Peek, which lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop. And finally the Windows Search, which allows you to open virtually any file on your PC, from documents, to e-mails, songs, right from the start menu. These functions are contained in all the three versions of the Windows 7.

Now the next function is... it makes your web experience faster, easier, and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8. All the three versions also can handle that.

Watch many of your favorite TV shows free when and where you want with Internet TV. You can even pause, rewind, and record TV programs. This feature can be obtained in all three versions too.

Another features the three share together in common is the ability to create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.

Now that is where the three share common functionalities and the difference start to come in.

The ability to run many Windows XP productivity applications in Windows XP mode stops in Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.

Connecting to company networks is made easy and more securely with Domain Join, and that ends on the Professional and the Ultimate.

Easy data recovery with automatic backup to your home or business network can only be found on professional and Ultimate also.

Now, what they don't share in common are the followings:

The ability to protect your data on your PC and Portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.

Work in the language of your choice or switch between any of the 35 languages.

These last two functions can only be found in Window 7 Ultimate.

Now let's talk about the hidden difference... obviously there is no other obvious hidden difference as all the vital functionalities have been explored. The only thing that I will like to add is that, if you do not intend to encrypt your hard drive now or in the future and work with multiple languages that can only be found in Windows 7 Ultimate, then I will advise you to stick to Windows 7 Professional , which has all the media capability of Windows 7 Home Premium and the business functions of Windows 7 Ultimate.