win Vista Ultimate 64-bit English 1pk Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, this is an OEM software. That means it is intended to be installed on a new computer build NOT upgrade an existing copy of Windows. It is possible to install it on an existing computer by formatting an existing or new hard drive, but that would violate the license for this particular incarnation of Vista. If you want to install it on an existing computer, buy a full retail copy, or an upgrade copy.
I love Vista 64-bit. It is fast, easy to use, and the best Windows to date. Anyone who is still ripping Vista at this point doesn't own Vista, or is an inexperienced computer user, or a Mac fan that just wants to pour oil on a fire. Vista, the much belated and maligned 6th incarnation of the Windows operating system had real problems a year ago. Almost all of those problems have been fixed. Some of what users describe as problems are in fact less a problem with Vista than they are with computer buyer's perceptions and expectations.
So why is Vista beat up all the time? The most frequent complaint I hear is that it is a 'memory hog.' Honestly, this is a perception, not a reality. Vista does require more ran than XP, as XP required more than the previous windows, etc., etc. The reality is that RAM has gotten remarkably cheap, and using RAM liberally is a GOOD THING. The bottle neck in computing has been 4GB of ram on all 32-bit systems, but even with 4GB (3-3.5GB accessible to the system) almost no one will use all of the ram. With the 64-bit version, it is possible to run 8Gb of ram on a decent motherboard, and it is also possible to buy 8gb of RAM for $150! Why, in these days of super inexpensive RAM, don't those who feel Vista is too slow, just buy more? Honestly?
Another complaint is that drivers don't work or are not available for a particular software or hardware. There was a lot of truth to that a year ago. Now, after service pack 1, and over months of running Vista 64-bit exclusively, I can say that I have zero, yes zero, driver issues. Everything runs like a champ. I should note that I have a high end gaming computer, and have a lot of software installed. To not have a single driver issue is amazing, and something I could not say about XP one year into it's release.
If you know about computers, and are ready to make the switch to Vista, there has never been a better time. Most of the kinks are worked out, and while I can't promise you won't have any issues with drivers, it's getting less likely by the day. Programmers are catching on that Vista is not just going to disappear and everyone go back to XP, and that waiting for the next Windows will not put any money in their wallets, and have started to produce software written for Vista. Hardware manufacturers are also getting a clue and releasing solid Vista and Vista 64-bit drivers for their devices.
Frankly, this is the most powerful windows yet. 64-bit computing is hitting it's stride, and in another year or so, we'll all be looking back at 32-bit with the same derision as when the transition was made from 16 to 32 bit computers. 32 bit's days are numbered. It's time to move on.


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Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVDPrimary InformationOperating System:Windows Vista UltimateHeader / Localization:EnglishOS Provided / Media:DVD-ROMUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43233004Product IDUPC:882224352574Manufacturer Part:66R-00838

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Wireless Review

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(More customer reviews)I have just upgraded from Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 to 10. I am happy to report that so far, after a couple of days trial, this upgrade seems to have been well worth it in terms of increased accuracy. (BUT SEE LATER!) At the same time I was tempted into purchasing the alleged integrated Calisto Bluetooth microphone, attracted by the special price, the convenience of a wireless headset, and the promise of increased accuracy.
However, I have run into two problems, either of which makes the Calisto currently useless. In the first place, the Bluetooth insert device for the USB port cuts out after an hour or two of usage. Its function is only restored after completely rebooting the computer.
The second problem is far more serious. Once the Plantronics Calisto is activated, Dragon Naturally Speaking demands that you " prepare this user for dictation". You would probably be encouraged to note that the accuracy level of the new Calisto is rated very high. You are then required to read a passage from a selected text. When Dragon is satisfied with your reading, it will present you with a dialogue box telling you to wait while your user files are being adjusted for your reading. In my case my computer then simply hung up, and could not be started up again without a complete reboot. Two different Dragon phone techs attempted to solve the problem unavailingly, the second one promising I would get a call back from a top expert capable of solving the problem. No reply over the last two days, and similarly no reply yet to an email I sent them yesterday informing them of the Bluetooth insert failure.
I started dictating this review with DNS 10, but, sadly it first began reverting to a habit Id seen before with DNS 9, that is, starting up a new sentence or phase one letter too early. Finally, it gave up altogether and refused to accept any dictation from my old and otherwise commendable Plantronic DSP 400 mic.
So I can hardly recommend purchase of any of this Nuance equipment right now unless you're willing to pay good money for what amounts to a rather unpromising Beta version. But if they had waited to get the bugs out first, they might well have something really to get excited about. Maybe wait six months, a year?
Lesson: I should have paid attention to earlier negative Amazon reviews. (I trusted Nuance on the basis of good experience with earlier versions.)

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DRAGON NATURALLYSPEAKING

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Sound Forge 9 Review

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(More customer reviews)appearantly the last reviewer doesn't understand the simplicity of what a fully featured "audio editing" program is.
as of soundforge 1.0, you could mix vocals into music, ...all you do is copy it onto the clipboard, ...and highlight the area in the audio you want to mix the vocals into, ...and move it also to the cliboard, ...then choose the "mix" setting on the clipboard, ...make any required adjustments inside the dialogue box, ....and click paste.
the cursor should still be left precisley at the point you extracted the audio segment to be mixed.
this is "not" a multi-track recorder.
this is an "audio editing program", ...mainly oriented towards sound designers, ...audio engineer "mastering" specialists. ...and people who use hardware and software samplers who want to get closer, spiritually with the essence of their samplers.
you 'can' sync to video, ...but vegas might be a better option.
soundforge 9 also excepts any VST plugins, ...an insane value if you are already into music production/recording/engineering.
not to mention "noise reduction", ...how else would you get all that vynil onto your hard drive, and capture its origional sound quality?
this editing program is by far more powerful than "ANY" editing program featured in any software multitrack recording program or DAW, ...as well as "ANY" hardware sampler.
although it is meant to "edit" with the entent of dispersing its results onto other working software/hardware applications.
don't get pissed cause you bought a high quality turntable needle, but can't be a full fledged dj without two turntables and a mixer.
the only competition is Steinberg Wavelab.
i haven't used it, ...but it costs twice as much, ...and steinberg has caught up to its features with surround sound mixing, ...video audio syncing, ...vst implementation, ...noise reduction 2.0, ....as well as CD Architect, ...what a great program to create RED BOOK STANDARD commercially professional cds?
soundforge + waves plugins? ....full fledged mastering studio for the price of a few hundred dollars? ...incredible!

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Sony Sound Forge v.9.0 SF9000 Audio Engineering Software

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Microsoft Windows XP Pro X64 Edition SP2B for System Builders Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently bought an AMD dual-core processor that uses a 64-bit architecture, and wanted to enjoy the full benefits of that. In addition to loading Linux, I also purchased a copy of Windows XP Professional 64, the 64-bit version of the OS.
First impressions are that I have a slightly different default desktop wallpaper, but nothing else seems radically divergent from the 32-bit UI. It sees the 2Gb correctly, as expected, and I'm curious to see what it'll show when the other stick of RAM are installed to bring it to 6Gb.
I haven't loaded most of the usual bloat, restricting this machine's use to games and some development tasks I'll bring from work. I might run Office, I might not, but I want to offer some words of advice to potential buyers.
One, good luck finding a 64-bit firewall. As of 22-May-2007, only Ghost Wall works under XP64. Zone Labs (now Checkpoint) has no plans to build one in the near future, Sunbelt's Kerio product is not slated for a 64-bit release either (choosing, like ZoneLabs, to focus on Vista), and Tiny Software (now CA) didn't have a 64-bit version either. So, you can use the stock firewall or Ghost Wall, or roll up your sleeves and build a Linksys router with firewalling capabilities.
Better news from antivirus vendors, though: Alwil's Avast product does work fine under XP64. Since I'm long-removed from running Norton or McAfee at home, I strongly suggest doing your homework before adopting XP64 if you have current licenses of those products. You might be out of luck. Avast is very good, so you aren't losing anything by switching.
The OS runs well, I don't have any crashing or lockups but I haven't really attempted to blue-screen it yet either. I really like the fast boot times and quick response, and while I might be running Linux a bit more on this box for non-gaming purposes, I still like having an MS OS available for helping out friends and family with their MS problems.
Worth buying? Yes, but only if you have a 64-bit CPU and you don't mind searching for native 64-bit apps and utilities.
-Fred


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Microsoft Windows XP Pro x64 Edition SP2C w/ MUI for System Builders - 1 pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought XP64 because I wanted to be able to address 8Gb of RAM and this was the cheapest solution. The install went fine although there were a lot of Windows Updates to install after I had finished.
My biggest problem is that a lot of the software I own won't run on XP64. This includes my Dell A960 printer drivers, F-Secure, iTunes (kinda), and more. I'm planning on building a dual-boot system to deal with this so I can run on XP most of the time and XP64 when I'm gaming.

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1PK OEM WIN XP PRO SP2C X64

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