Don Zeigler dot Info

Your next PC will probably be pre-loaded with Microsoft Office Starter 2010, a free version of Office 2010 that will only include Word and Excel, capable of exchanging documents with the full Office 2010. But there's a catch per Microsoft:

"As part of Office 2010 software that will be pre-loaded by the PC manufacturers on their PCs, we're introducing Microsoft Office Starter 2010. Office Starter 2010 is a reduced-functionality, advertising-supported version of Office 2010, available exclusively on new PCs. Office Starter 2010 will provide new PC owners with immediate exposure to the Office 2010 experience on new PCs right out of the box."

What's your thinking? Could you live with, and use, an ad-supported limited version of Office? And by the way, I had to LOL at this graphic when I saw it.

I have noticed a local computer shop or two promoting a “special” which consists of reinstalling a user’s Windows operating system for a flat fee.

Let me just say that any shop that pushes a full reinstall of the operating system as a fix to ordinary problems should not be in business. Sure, it’s an ideal means to restore a computer to pristine running condition, but unless the shop is also going to back up your existing data, and then reinstall it along with all your needed extra applications, don’t fall for this scheme.

Any decent computer technician should be able to clean viruses and spyware off your machine, or replace any essential Windows system files that are damaged or missing, without having to wipe your disc drive clean and start from scratch.

Shame on any computer shop that advertises a full operating system reinstall as an easy fix to what ails your PC.