Thursday, June 28, 2012

Release of Atlantis 1.6.5.9

Atlantis Word Processor 1.6.5.9 has been released.

This version of Atlantis Word Processor is a minor release with a number of changes and improvements to the "Save as eBook" command. Click here for details.

There are multiple ways to upgrade your copy of Atlantis Word Processor to the latest version.

If you do not have Atlantis Word Processor on your computer yet, you can install this new version of Atlantis by running the latest setup file of Atlantis. Click here to download it.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Is it time to dump Windows XP?

Here is from a Cloudeight Newsletter:

Jen wants to know if it's time for her to dump Windows XP:

Hi! I love your newsletters. I bought my Windows XP computer in 2003 and other than putting in a new hard drive I haven't had any problems with it. But I know my computer is getting old and I'd like your opinion on whether you think now is good time to buy a new Windows 7 computer or should I wait for Windows 8 to come out? I'm sure there are others like me who are wondering the same thing.

Our answer:

This is a personal choice. Windows 8 Release Preview just came out yesterday -- so it looks like Microsoft is on track to release Windows 8 to the public in October (2012). They've announced that anyone who buys a Windows 7 computer this summer will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $14.95. If you wait until late August when manufacturers are dumping their Windows 7 machines and building new Windows 8 machines for the October market -- you'll get big discounts on brand new Windows 7 computers and a coupon that will allow you to upgrade it to the best version of Windows 8 (Pro) for $14.95. Keep that in mind.

Now for the other side of the coin. Here are some reasons you might want to stay with Windows XP:

1. You will still have free support! Microsoft will support Windows XP until April 2014. The reason they have to do this is because of the netbook craze. Microsoft was caught by surprise when netbook sales soared and Windows Vista wouldn't work on netbooks because it's too resource hungry. Microsoft had to retreat and re-release Windows XP because it was all they had that would run on netbooks. Netbook sales were excellent in 2009 even in a slumping economy. Netbook sales have plummeted though -- tablets have stolen their thunder.

Since many of netbooks sold came with Windows XP, Microsoft, by policy, was obligated to provide support for XP for 5 more years. Hence, anyone who's using Windows XP will continue to get updates, security patches and service packs until April 2014. So although XP might be old it's still a fully-supported operating system.

2. All your programs will keep running: You don't have to worry about program incompatibilities. What runs on Windows Vista will (normally) run on Windows 7, but that's not true of Windows XP. Programs that run well on XP may not run well, or at all, on Windows 7. Plus, those of you using XP have one of the best all-around email programs ever made: Outlook Express. You won't have to deal with "Windows Live Mail" unless you're a masochist and decide to install it on your XP computer.

3.You won't have to learn a new operating system. There's a steeper learning curve jumping from Windows XP to Windows 7 than from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Sticking with XP means you won't have to spend your time getting used to a different operating system.

4.You'll save money: Microsoft makes billions of dollars without being innovative. Windows is Windows and both Vista and Windows 7 could have just as easily been updates to Windows XP - but Microsoft can't charge you $120 for an update, nor can it sell updates to PC makers. Microsoft once was an innovator and a leader, but those days are gone. Microsoft hasn't released anything really new in years. Microsoft is still a money-mill though. Microsoft knows how to make money, that's what they do best. If you like Windows XP, save your money.

5. Does your XP computer do what you want it to do? If your XP computer does everything you want it to do with a minimum of fuss or aggravation then stick with it. By the time Microsoft support for XP expires, Microsoft will be working on "Windows 9" - meaning you'll have saved money by not upgrading to Windows 7 and then to Windows 8. By the time support for Windows XP ends, your computer will be as old as some of those characters in the Bible and you'll be ready for a brand new computer -- maybe with Windows 9 on it. If not, then Windows 8 will have most of the bugs worked out of it by 2014....we hope.

For those of you who want to upgrade, it's all good. We could give you some good reasons to upgrade too. But if you're a Windows XP user who's satisfied, keep on keeping on - there is still much to be said for the last really innovative operating system Microsoft ever produced. It's true, Windows Vista & Windows 7 are not innovative, they're just evolutions of Windows XP. Windows 8 is an innovative operating system -- but it may be a little too innovative for many peoples' tastes.