Looks like things are changing, though. Just last week I went shopping for a new model as my 20 pairs looked kinda beat up (weightlift 200lbs and see how your shoes last!) I mosied by Mizuno at the mall and my eye rested upon that really high tech looking blue affair with springs that looked akin to the Nike Shox. I went in the store.

It was called the Wave Creation 10- Mizuno’s top of the line. It cost a mere $89- some $30 less than what I used to pay for a Bounce or Airmax.

The clerk handed me a size 9 for size. God, that was one light shoe. Almost like air. In fact it was far lighter than my $130 Airmax360.  I slipped it onto my foot and began bouncing around. Words can’t explain the comfort and stability. Felt like I was wearing memory foams, but the response was amazing. I bought it!

It’s now almost three weeks since the purchase and my legs are loving it. Initially it felt stiff on the first runs, but the bounce kicked it. Looked like it just needed a breakin period. Now that the shoe fully adjusted to my running style, I noted how long runs don’t leave my legs feeling wrecked. I can run 10km and still feel great. On the Airmax360, my upper thighs tend to squeal and creak by the end of the day. Not so with the Mizuno WaveCreation10

Looks like I have a new baby!

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While a few review sites complain that AntiVir suffers major problems with its update server, I find this not the case. Downloading the virus signature library updates is speedy and integration takes a few minutes.

Dumbos need not despair.GUI is excellent and fool proof. The primary window displays the state of AntiVir Guard, a persistent anti-virus engine that constantly monitors your system, simultaneously with the dates of your last scan and update. Easily commence a scan from here. Next to the Status display in the main Overview tab are the Events and Reports tabs, which provide a simple interface to view and export the program’s log files. Down the right-hand menu bar, you’ll find the Local Protection tab, with its Scanner and Guard sub-menus. Here you can scan specific files or directories and get details about recently detected threats.

For those who like nit and grit, there is an Administration tab that provides access to quarantined files and the scan scheduler. You can also dig up an advanced Configuration menu nestled next to a text link here, which empowers you to alter the behaviour of the scanner and guard by instructing them to scan archive files or to scan files only with specific extensions.

Free usually means lack of features. By opting to pass up on payment and registration you forgo on browser or drive-by download protection. A few bits of malware got by Avira through the web browser, but thankfully got neutralized when run off the PC. But no sweat. Merely installing the popular antimalware Threatfire that relies on heuristics, you plug the hole. In fact, combining the freeware Avira and freeware Threatfire gives you more protection than a purchased suite from Norton!

Grab Avira Now!

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I love techsupportalert.com. Apparently, the site was started by one guy who had a passion for quality software that didn’t cost an arm a leg. Well- structured by categories and populated with amazingly written reviews, techsupportalert may prevent you from ever spending on software spending again. Need a virus scanner? Check out his list of AV software that trumps even costly paid versions. What about complete office suites? It’s right here. You don’t need to bleed for M$ Office 2010 when you have an array of options that do the same thing. At no cost.

I’ve bookmarked this site. So should you. It WILL save you over a thousand dollars with its recommendations

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1. Restrict the number of start-ups. Why have programs starting up when you don’t really use them. Even those you use can always be started manually by clicking on the. I personally prefer not to have ANY startups. So decide for yourself which one’s you really need as start-ups. Do also remove any pre-installed crapware which may have come pre-installed on your new Vista machine, as many a time its these craplets that cause a machine to crawl !

One small and simple tip ! Restart your PC at least once a week, especially if you use it a lot. Restarting a PC is a good way to clear out its memory and ensuring that any errant processes and services that started running get shut down.

2. Windows Vista has around 130 services installed ! Disable services which one may not require. For example, if your pc is a stand-alone one, there may be several services which you can disable or switch over to manual mode. Auto-starting and closing down of services takes time & resources. These can be saved. BlackViper’s Vista Service Configurations is an excellent guide to follow.

3. Reducing visual effects (eye candy). Right-click on “My Computer” > Properties > Advanced > Performance-Settings > Visual Effects > Adjust for best performance > Apply > OK.

To allow the themes and the glass effects, you may have to check on the boxes : enable transparent glass and use visual styles; this way atleast the spirit of Vista will be preserved- else be prepared for a really bland Vista ! Use your discretion. I know disabling all can actually negate the purpose of ‘eye-friendly’ Vista.

4. Ensure that boot defragmentation is enabled, so that files used during start-up are clubbed together. Start Regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Dfrg\ BootOptimizeFunction . Select Enable from the list on the right. Right Click on it and select Modify. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable. Reboot.

5. Disable : “clear page file on shutdown” option, if enabled. Cleaning the page-file on every shutdown means overwriting the data by zeros, and it takes time.
To clear/not clear page file you can apply this reg tweak. Back up registry before trying this. Start > Run > Regedit
GotoHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Control\ Session Manager\ Memory Management
Modify (if not present, rt click in open space and create) the Value Data Type/s and Value Name/s :
Data Type: REG_DWORD [Dword Value]
Value Name: ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Setting for Value Data: [0 = Clear Page File Disabled / 1 = Clear Page File Enabled]
Exit Registry and Reboot.
6. Defragment your System Disk & Fine Tune your Registry. If you find the Vista’s in-built defragger slow, you can try freeware Auslogics Disk Defrag which works on Vista too ! Use the freeware CCleaner to clear up your PC Junk and clean up the Registry. This is good house-keeping. Compacting the Registry occasionally is a good idea too !
7. Generally people also recommend emptying the Prefetch directory once in a while. But Windows uses this directory to speed up launching applications. It analyzes the files you use during startup and the applications you launch, and it creates an index to where those files and applications are located on your hard disk. Using this index, Windows can launch files and applications faster. Utilities like CCleaner too have an option to clear the prefetcher. Should you choose to use this option of ‘clearing prefetcher’, be ready to run an ‘un-optimized’ windows for a little while. The Prefetcher is best left alone ! In any case, Windows cleans it at 128 entries down to the 32 most used application’s prefetch files.

8. Go to BIOS settings, by pressing Del key during boot-up, and disable ’seek floppy drive’ option. This saves time for those who do not use floppy drives. There are also some BIOS hacks like Enabling Quick Post, Disabling Boot Delay, etc but best to refrain from these.

9. Change Boot-Order Sequence : Normally, the Bios is set to boot from floppy first, then CD and then Hard Disk. Changing the Boot-Order to be: Hard Disk first, then maybe CD/Floppy, could possibly “shave” a second, I guess !

10. Disable windows startup/shutdown/logon/logoff sounds. Go to control panel, sounds & audio devices, sound tab, in program events select ‘no sound’ for these events.

11. Disable the ScreenSaver if you don’t need it. Rt-Click desktop > ScreenSaver > None > OK. Useful esp if have any tasks running in the background.
12. Fonts take time to load. Removing some can save on resources. But one must be careful in deciding which fonts to remove. If you delete some system fonts, you may b in for trouble. Tweak VI Pro is a good shareware to manage fonts. It uninstall’s fonts without physically removing them. Open its help file. It lists down the system fonts which must not be deleted ! use the list; and then decide what to delete and what to keep.

13. To REALLY reduce your shutdown time. Start Regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control. Click on the “Control” Folder. Select “WaitToKillServiceTimeout” Right click on it and select Modify. The default value is 20000. Setting it to a lower 4 digit value, (say 5000) will make your PC shutdown faster, but you could end up losing data, so use this tweak judiciously. Remember, Windows does not in any case, recognise a 3-digit numeral here.

14. Get rid of all the extra programs Windows Vista installs. You may not be using some like WLM, Calculator, Games, Meeting Space, Fax, etc. Go To Control Panel\ Programs\ Programs and Features > Turn windows On or Off and do the needful. But wait, before you rush, exercise a little caution here ! For instance you may want to turn off “Tablet PC Components etc”; but then get set to miss the Clipping Tool too !

15. Disable Transient Multimon Manager (TMM) : The Transient Multimon Manager (TMM) is a Microsoft Windows Vista operating system feature targeted at improving the user experience of connecting and disconnecting displays, particularly for the mobile user.
When you start Vista, you see a 2-3 sec delay followed by a blank black screen. This is the time Vista searches for external monitors. So if you dont use an external monitor, you could always safely turn this off!
To do so, Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Task Schedular.
On LHS, expand “Task Scheduler Library” then expand “Microsoft”, then expand “Windows” and finally click “MobilePC”. You will see a task called “TMM”. Rt-Click on it, and select “Disable”.

16. Go To Control Panel\System and Maintenance\Performance Information and Tools. On the LHS you will see options to Adjust Indexing options, visual effects, power Settings, etc. These all help directly and indirectly.

17. One of my favorite programs for XP was freeware DriverHeavens TuneXP 1.5, which had several uncommon tweaks. One rather useful one was “Ultra Fast Booting-Rearrange Files”. I tried it on my 32 bit Vista Ultimate and was pleasantly surprised to see that it worked smoothly !
Download it from the link given and install it. It will ask you to confirm on which disk your Windows is installed. Please do so. Then from the ‘Memory & File Systems’ tab, at the bottom you will see ‘Ultra Fast Booting-Rearrange Files’. Click on it. You will get a windows, where you can see the progress. On its completion, a black windows will pop up. This process could well take upto 5 mins, so please be patient. Beneath this window, you will see a new small window asking you to, not re-start till the process is over’. Click OK and Wait !

18. The default power setting in the “Power Saver” plan limits the CPU to 50 percent. Open the Power Options control panel and change it to “High Performance” to give your CPU full throttle.

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I’ve had a word with their software engineers. An entire devision had sprung up to create protection technologies light years beyond what’s already available.  The tech team now has prototype  anti-hacking technologies that are being cooked right into Windows code.

Here’s what they have to say:

“Our group is on a mission to build a rich, powerful platform to help protect Microsoft products against piracy. Here is your chance to join a team of exceptional developers as we build an extensible cross-company platform to support this vision. This is a fast-paced group that rewards smart and motivated individuals. We are looking for an experienced software developer to help us design and build new anti-hacking mechanisms, hack detection, and work on the security processor driver,” the job post notes.

You may not be aware of it, but subsets of the new anti-copy tech is already leaching into the market. Microsoft released the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7 earlier this year, providing a refresh designed to identify and render useless over 70 cracks used to illegally bypass the Windows 7 activation mechanism.  Many of my pals saw their lappies go blue screen with the unwitting integration of these updates. Tsk tsk.

The update wastouted as a standalone download, and subsequently delivered via Automatic Updates to all Windows 7 users. The company stressed that the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7 was a voluntary update, designed to be deployed only by users that wanted to make sure their copy of Windows 7 was real deal.

He continues: “The work touches many layers of the operating system and includes opportunities for partnership with MS Research and other security teams at Microsoft to productize exciting innovations and ideas that help shake hackers and crackers off Microsoft products. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the diversity of the problem space in this area is rich in growth opportunities just waiting for the right candidate. You will have ample opportunity to diversify your skill set and grow. In this position, you’ll get a chance to work on many aspects of the platform, starting with an assignment to drive the design of our application and Operating System (OS) virtualization support.”

Know something? Microsoft wouldn’t have such a big problem with crackers n hackers if they priced their products more intelligently. $300 for Windows Ultimate? Come on! Who’d pay $300 for something that’s buggy all the way until final version??

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Intuition fell flat.

You see, myAcer  Windows 7 notebook comes standard with 4GB of RAM. It’s a 64Bit system, so all memory is used. Prices for RAM keep falling these days, so I got an extra stick for $80. It was cheap. I spend more on starbucks for a week. I plugged in the memory and expected a few things:

-Faster boot

-Quicker load times

-Rapid shutdowns.

Guess what? None of that happened. The PC took longer to boot, to load software and to shut down. That was puzzling. The only thing that improved was reloading apps or multitasking amongst myriad windows.

My first guess was that the ram was bad, but that theory went out the window after thorough testing. Hmmm… what do you think could account for this? IS more memory actually detrimental?

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Canned bacon is different. Pop the can and you get actual strips. Yep. Fried bacon strips.

Yum

A can lasts 10 years. But heck, I ain’t touching one more than 3 months old. That’s really dead pig.

Wanna buy it?

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Penis enlargement devices, patches, pills, surgery or exercises – all of these methods claim to do the same thing of increasing your penis size, stamina and sexual satisfaction.

Yet where is the proof? The only way to safely determine which is the right one for you is to research into how they work and what they can offer you in the long run.

Do that and you’ll be surprised by the differences there are between what they say they can do and what they can actually offer your body.

Penis enhancement pills

These ones are a clear example of a product claiming to do one thing whilst doing another. Made from natural ingredients and extracts, the link between penis enhancement pills and their ability to increase penis size is minimal.

These pills focus more on offering you an aphrodisiac quality to your sexual experience of increased stamina, firmness and blood flow. None of which can be attributed to credibly increasing penis size:

• Damiana –improves erectile function and length of orgasms
• Tribulus Terrestris –boosts your stamina, staying power and drive
• Epimedium Leaf Extract –libido enhancer
• Red Ginseng – notably an aphrodisiac qualities, red ginseng is also recognised for increasing your energy levels as well as erectile dysfunction

Patches

Similar to penis enhancement pills, these patches take the above mentioned ingredients and administer them directly into your blood stream using a transdermal technique.

Jelqing

Used for centuries by men in the Middle East, Jelqing is based on a combination of 100-200 penis exercises spaced over a 20 minute period.

The exercises themselves are incredibly easy to do and can produce results of 1.4 extra inches to your length. The only drawback to this method is that it is only a short-term solution. Without regular sessions, these extra inches will not last.

Penile Surgery

Possibly the most risky procedure, phalloplasty consists of a simple surgical release technique that cuts the suspensory ligament – found in the pubic bone region of your body – and increases your penis size by 2.5-4 inches.

Whilst this procedure may sound simple, penile surgery does run the risk of removing your ability to hold an erection, due to your penis losing the support of your suspensory ligament when it is cut.

In terms of enlarging your girth, lipo sculpture could offer you that support.

Here fatty tissue – taken from your body – is injected into your penis, before it is remoulded and smoothed to suit your shape. With this procedure though it is recommended that you use it with care as it can result in a build up of fatty deposits under your skin, that can make the appearance of your penis look uneven.

Penis Enlargement Devices

Easily the most reliable of all these procedures, the use of a similar technique seen in orthopaedic surgery means users can expect to see results within 7 days of applying this penis traction device to their penis.

Designed to stimulate the replication of tissue cells within the penis chambers, penis traction devices can develop your penis naturally – and more importantly, permanently – growing your penis up to 30% in both length and girth.

During a 24 week period, users can also expect to experience longer orgasms; harder erections; penile curvature corrections of up to 60% and increased stamina levels.

Making the right decision for your body

Whilst penis enhancement pills and patches can contribute to better sexual satisfaction, in terms of penis enlargement the use of penis traction devices is the safest route.

Medically backed by CE standards and made from Medical Type 1 materials, users can wear these penis enlargement devices confident that they will experience a permanent increase in penis size of 2-3 inches, with no risk of harming their body.

A guarantee you cannot ignore.

Size Genetics – One of the More Credible Penile Enlargement Systems

If you are looking for quick, effective penis enlargement without the hassles or risks associated with other methods, then our number 1 recommendation for you is the SizeGenetics system.

Providing you with a doctor endorsed, clinically proven medical type 1 device, this system offers you:

• Extra inches fast – in both length and girth

• Straightening of curved or bent penises

• Improved erection hardness

• More control over your ejaculation for longer sex sessions

• Increased self-confidence no matter what the situation

By combining the powerful device with a targeted penis exercise program, I’ve found that SizeGenetics allows you a massive chance to build a longer and thicker penis quickly. This means you can start enjoying life to the full faster with your new found confidence levels.  Imagine all the powerful thrusting you’ll have next week! Yeah baby!

Be aware of this: Pills do not enlarge the penis on their own, pumps and weights are too dangerous, surgery is too expensive and cheap devices put your health at risk. SizeGenetics relies on none of these. By utilizing the ancient theory of traction that is used in many surgical procedures, this device is able to not only enlarge your penis but also straighten out any curve you may suffer from.

With the SizeGenetics system my really cool package came with a:

• A clinically proven, medical type 1 device for safe enlargement

• The official PenisHealth exercise DVD for faster growth

• Access to PenisHealth online for all-round sexual fitness

• A quality travel bag for enlargement wherever you go

• 100% 6 month money-back guarantee

• 24 hour trained customer support

The exercises that are included in the system to got me about an extra 1.5 inches in length. It obviously also provides indirect benefit to impotence and premature ejaculation. (Not that I suffer from that though)

Let me ask you. Imagine you’re sat at a bar alone. The cold taste of beer runs down the back of your throat as you hear the door open and close behind you. You turn around and standing there is a tall, sexy blonde. She walks over to the bar and sits down next to you. This is your chance.

You casually turn to face her, she glances towards you. Rather than shying away from her like you normally do you smile, look in to her deep blue eyes and say “Can I buy you a drink?”. She accepts and before you know it you are leaving together, heading back to her place for an evening of heated passion.

This is the kind of situation confident men find themselves in time and time again. It may seem hard to believe you could be this man. But the truth is that with a larger penis you can be so supremely confident that you won’t even think twice about making that first move.

It is time to take action. No more putting things off until tomorrow, that is the exact attitude that stops you from becoming who you want to be. No more excuses you want to have a larger penis, you want to be more confident and starting today you can be.

Want to be confident? Do something about your tiny schlong.

Check out sizegenetics and you’ll see why I loved the damn thing!

PS

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Windows 7 Professional Test Drive website provides a simple way to try and test Windows 7 Professional. You just need to have Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8 with JavaScript and ActiveX enabled. Once you engage the site, it’s like you have Win7 installed. Bottomline, Windows 7 Test Drive website lets you to enjoy Desktop Aero interface, Taskbar and various other features like Windows XP Mode, Remote Desktop, Location aware Printing etc.

It’s a great service by Microsoft… sort of like Win7 in pseudo shareware mode. http://win7pro.vlabcenter.com/

As for me, all my PCs are already on win7. Even the netbooks!

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KB971033 is already live on Microsoft Support, namely the patch for the Update for Windows Activation Technologies. The resource also contains two download links, one for Windows 7 for x86-based systems, and one for Windows 7 for x64-based systems.

According to their spokesman:

“Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features,” an excerpt of the update’s description reads. ”

I’ve tried the update on some machines. Guess what? It fails on test machines that run the bios level crack. Bill won’t be able to beat the cheapskate hackers who use such bypass.

I think there’s only one way for Bill to beat the Pirates. It won’t cost him thousands of manhours developing antipiracy code. Know what it is? Simply drop the price from $150 to $39. He’d have millions of happy buyers in no time.

Think VOLUME BILL. Not Margin.

I’d rather be a Toyota than a Benz anyday.

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