Chris Pirillo » touchsmart

What’s New in Windows 7: A Lot!!

Chris — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:20:32 +0000

What’s New in Windows 7: A Lot!! is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Yes, I’m now running Windows 7 on my HP TouchSmart PC, instead of using Vista. I knew that the Beta had been released, after hundreds of you had come pouring into our chat room asking if I had used it yet – and what I thought of it. I gotta say – so far it’s running very well!

I wasn’t able to get Windows 7 to recognize all of the hardware. I had to install it twice. The first time, it wouldn’t really work well. The second time, I did the same thing and it worked great. The only thing I cannot get to work still is the multi-touch feature of the TouchSmart. I was surprised to see that things I hadn’t expected to change have done so – and for the better! A lot more features have been fleshed out.

There are a few things I think will plague Windows for all of eternity. Once again, this version of Windows is chock full of the Tahoma font. For that reason alone, I could never think of any version of Windows as more than a Beta. I just can’t stand to have to look at it! I don’t think any self-respecting designer would release an operating system that had the use of MS Sans Seriff Tahoma throughout the UI. It’s kind of sloppy in my book.

However, if you can look past something like this, then Windows 7 will likely be an excellent upgrade for you. It’s definitely a lot faster than Vista. There isn’t any lag at all when doing a search from within the start menu or elsewhere on the system. When I plug in a USB device, it is recognized immediately.

A lot of the things that I appreciate are the things that they’ve seen through. A lot of what we saw added into Vista were taken out even more. They’ve added even more functionality without overwhelming the users. If you’re a power user, my recommendation is that you download Windows 7 Beta and give it a shot. I don’t know that I’d use this yet as your primary system, but it’s definitely worth trying.

I do plan to do a small series on Windows 7, to prepare people for what they’ll see. I am going to focus small videos on things that I have found within this new operating system that I already like. Windows 7 isn’t enough to make me want to “switch back” and away from Mac OS X. But I do like it, yes. It’s an excellent experience so far, and I know many of you are going to be happy with it. It feels so much more complete than Vista – it feels like what Vista should have been. There isn’t a lot of “wow” factor, but they have taken a lot of time to develop features that are important.

If you want to send feedback to Microsoft, you can download the Beta. Inside of every window, there is a direct feedback link. You can give it a star ranking, type in your feedback, and more. Allegedly, Microsoft will be taking a serious look at everything you have to say.

Keep in mind, you will likely run into issues as you begin to use Windows 7. Remember – you’re using a Beta, not a final release! Identifying and fixing bugs and issues is what a Beta is all about. Let me know what your experience is like so far – both positive and negative. If you have excellent tips and tricks already, let us hear from you!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Giving the Gift of Magic

Chris — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:52:07 +0000

Giving the Gift of Magic is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Our HP Magic Giveaway contest has officially ended, and we have chosen our winner. After many headaches and stresses during the contest period, it was all more than worth it when I called the winner live on the stream to congratulate her!!

I never thought it would be so difficult. We had several hundred entries sent in to us, and ended up editing nearly 170 of them to post. We also had to keep up with moderating the hundreds upon hundreds of comments to the posts. We then discovered at the end of the contest that there were discrepancies with the top few comment-receivers. You have no idea how boring and difficult it is to scan through IP addresses to check for proxies. However, after all of this… we have our winner!

I called up RoguePuppet to let her know she had won. I think I nearly gave her a heart attack. What a lovely woman she is. My assistant, Kat had tears in her eyes while listening to this call unfold, and notes that this made the entire past week worth the nightmares. RoguePuppet was just so sweet, happy and grateful to have won. She had written a few amazing blog posts her own blog that are well worth taking the time to read.

Her winning entry was excellent. She taught us how to eat well for less money… something that more people need to learn how to do. In today’s economy, eating out often just isn’t an option for most people anymore. Even the cost of buying groceries to cook at home has gotten to be difficult to manage for many.

I have to take a moment to thank Kat, Ryan and Jamie for helping me this past week. There’s no way I’d have made it through without their help. Their patience and humor made the job at hand much easier to manage, and of course… all the many hours of work they did just to make it all come together. You guys absolutely rock!!

Congratulations, RoguePuppet, and thank you HP and Microsoft for this Magical Giveaway.

FirstRSS+ThunderIT AWS HMAC ERROR: "http://xml-us.amznxslt.com/onca/xml?AWSAccessKeyId=05G128QTRXN0J06J6PG2&ContentType=text%2Fxml&Keywords=hewlett%2Bpackard&Operation=ItemSearch&ResponseGroup=Large&SearchIndex=Blended&Service=AWSECommerceService&Signature=dyaSc91sD2jFPaL9%2FA48qT3KocWcjQ8K0zpf3Axp7Ys%3D&Style=http%3A%2F%2Ftagjag.com%2Fcss%2Famazon.xslt&Timestamp=2009-11-25T10%3A09%3A26Z&Version=2005-07-26" NOT FOUND!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

How to Get a Computer

Chris — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:26:25 +0000

How to Get a Computer is a post from Chris Pirillo

About a week ago, I announced our part in the HP Magic Giveaway. HP and Microsoft are asking you to consider giving the magic of HP and Windows. All winners are encouraged to “pay it forward” by giving the gift of magic themselves. Why keep all of these great items under one roof? Finally today, our contest begins! Our contest begins today, December 4th, and the winner will be chosen on December 10th. We’ve come up with what we feel will be a fun and interesting way to enter… so here are your rules!

Be registered on Geeks. Be sure to include your profile link in your submission.
Write an original how-to, what-is, or top-five article on ANY subject. You’ll submit your entry through my contact page. Submissions should be made ready to be pasted into a new entry on this very blog. Use HTML sparingly.
The work must be at least 500 words long, with proper punctuation, grammar, usage, spelling. Remember your PUGS.
Articles will not be accepted if they require editing, so have someone you trust proofread for you first!
Whichever post gets the most comments by December 10th at 10pm CST is the winner. Submissions will be taken all the way through that day.
Insipid, short, pointless comments, as always, will be deleted.
Get people to comment on your article, but spamming will not be tolerated.
Plagiarists will be flagged and automatically disqualified from any future contests we run here.
Participants can be of any age, but must be residents of planet Earth.

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

So, if you are the winner, what do you receive? All sorts of goodies! Just take a look at this list:

I sincerely hope our winner will abide by the spirit of the HP Dream by paying it forward, in the form of sharing a portion of their prize with others. To keep track of entries, simply watch the information category of posts. I’ll also keep a running list here (updated every day or so):

And the Winner of an HP TouchSmart is…

Chris — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:22:38 +0000

And the Winner of an HP TouchSmart is… is a post from Chris Pirillo

HP was an amazing sponsor this year for Gnomedex. Anne Finney and her team did a fantastic job. On day 2, they announced a giveaway of one TouchSmart PC to a lucky attendee. In order to enter, people had to write a Limerick that dealt with Gnomedex in some way, and record it. We then uploaded the videos and Limericks to my blog, and opened a poll for two weeks.

The results have been tallied, and the winner was chosen by simple majority vote. That winner is our very own Kat!!

The WordPress poll plugin that we used kept track of votes by cookie and IP address both. A full disclosure of the results will be available upon sending me an email request.

Congratulations to Kat, and thanks to everyone who entered for such a fun contest!

Gnomedex: Why do Geeks Gather Here?

Chris — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:47:11 +0000

Gnomedex: Why do Geeks Gather Here? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

On the opening night of Gnomedex, I took a few moments to highlight the new theme of the convention and explain exactly what Human Circuitry really means. We had an amazing time this year, and are thinking of spreading out into four events next year, all over the country!

Human Circuitry is going to be our general theme from here on out. It’s not just about Technology, nor about a relation to technology. It’s about the relation between humans and technology and how it all kind of comes together. Forget the “social media” stuff, what’s it mean anyway? Human Circuitry is simply Technology and Humanity coming together and working together.

It’s too bad if you weren’t with us at the conference. HP was an amazing sponsor, and provided many excellent prizes to attendees! We already gave away an HP Notebook, and an HP Mini. Right now, the voting is in place for one lucky attendee to win an HP TouchSmart. So get out there and cast your vote!

Obviously, you’re human, and you’re using Technology. Hopefully next year, you can join us at Gnomedex and find out what the connection between the two is all about.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Which Limerick Will Win the HP TouchSmart PC?

Chris — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:13:38 +0000

Which Limerick Will Win the HP TouchSmart PC? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

HP was one of our sponsors for the Gnomedex conference this year. Ann Finney and her team did an amazing job of being there, integrating with everyone, and even giving things away! This last giveaway of theirs is a doozie… and you guys will be deciding the winner!

Anyone at the conference who wished to enter to win this contest had to write a Limerick of their own, that focused somehow on the Gnomedex conference. Their Limerick had to be recorded into a short video on the TouchSmart, while still present at the conference. We’ve had a couple of late submissions which I will include at the end of this post. They are not, however, eligible to win. Ann has stated that the rules were very clear. It had to be a Limerick… and it had to be recorded at the conferece. Also, duplicate entries are not allowed, as well as anything that didn’t follow the AABBA pattern of a Limerick.

All of the Limericks have been mashed together into one video, to make it easier for you to watch. Below this, you will find a list of all of the participant’s names, along with the words to their Limericks. It’s up to you to choose your favorite, and vote! The poll will stay open for one week, and the majority vote holder will win.

What do they win, you ask!? How about a brand-new, decked-out HP TouchSmart!!

The HP TouchSmart PC is the next-generation, touch-enabled PC. It combines a 22″ diagonal hi-def widescreen with a powerful energy efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processor into a single, integrated design. It includes HP TouchSmart software, a webcam, a media card reader, and premium speakers for fast, easy access to photos, videos, music and applications.

Without further ado, here are the entrants and their submissions:

Beth Grigg
We had a good topic from Lacey
who used to wear skirts that were racy.
She asked us if blogging
had turned into flogging
and drove all the Gnomedexers crazy.
Jeremy Wright
There once was some Gnome-like sex
That Miss Lacey attempted to hex.
She showed some leg.
They attempted to beg.
But she couldn’t hear through her book checks.
Seth Strump
You’ve engaged and inspired the masses.
You’ve replaced the old chattering classes.
Great content will flourish
if you take care to nourish
your instinct to keep kicking asses.
Shawn Rogers
There once was a Chris from Seattle
who dreamed Techies would follow him like cattle.
He created an event
where we all could vent
and where Winer and Calacanis could do battle.
Cheryl Allen
There once was a Geek Fest called Gnomedex
Thrown by Pirillo, who’s matchless.
No speakers were bland
all the comments were grand.
Will I be here next year? Oh hell yes.
Kat Armstrong
Speakers and Cyborgs and LOLCats… oh my!
Bloggers and HP and Igniters I spy!
From Andru and @spin
I learned Tweeting can be a sin.
Yet, I’m not quite ready to say Goodbye.
Mark Carras
There once was a Gnome from Seattle
who gathered together Geeks from all levels.
With too much good food and drink
one could honestly think
Chris Pirillo is really the devil.
J.P Taylor
Racing down 249 in Houston
I passed the compound of HP
Late for my flight
My heart stricken with fright
I nearly shorted my Human Circuitry.
Eric Lin
There once was a wee little Gnome
who moved to call seattle home.
He brought Gnomedex here
so we need not fear
that our lattes would have velvet foam.
Beth Goza
Chris once was a locker gnome
who made many a locker his home.
til he got famous one day
making “the Internet pay”
and now has a conference of his own.
Chris Brogan
Gnomedex is better than TED
but if I say that I might be struck dead.
From cheeseburgers to Kanter
and good hallway banter
I’m tired. Now I’m going to bed.
Shelly Farnham
While my Blogosphere angst at an Apex
I once haz a cheeseburger at Gnomedex.
On Twitter I followed
our host Chris Pirillowed
and on stage Matt Harding and I flexed.
Steve Fisher
There once was a conference named gnomedex
whose content is better than TEDs.
I’ll be here next year
cuz the biggest thing I fear
is that all I hear is “did you hear what they said?”.
Kathy Gill
Here we are at Camp Gnomedex
where the iPhone thinks we’re all about sex.
But if you’re enraptured
by community and captures
Follow Pirillo! It’s not that complex.
Duncan Riley
Gnomedex is really curious.
Sometimes it’s not even quite serious.
Mag.no.lia tried
it’s been quite a ride.
I just wish I wasn’t so tired.
Drew Olanoff
There once was a conference called Gnomedex
with a small guy at the helm who couldn’t flex.
I came and I saw.
I ate some cole slaw.
Then at lunch, Sarah Lacey and I parasailed.
Alex Williams
I hope that this Limerick doesn’t get banned
It was just a song from the band
who came with me on the Gnomedex bus
no, it was no fuss.
that magic bus.
Josh Quarles and Trisha Gerber
TouchSmart is so slick that it hurts.
It’s as sexy as a hot girl in a skirt.
The Touch Screen though is hard to clean.
That’s ok. HP has thought of that meem
and given us all free shirts.
Michael Turpin
There once was a man from DesMoines
who had more ideas than coin
So he took his garage
turned it into a lodge
and asked all his Geek friends to join.
This visionary’s real name is Chris
And one thing I can tell you is this:
Just Google the same
He’s #1 for that name
Human Circuitry’s given him bliss.
His cartoon alter-ego is Gnome
Who no longer calls Iowa home
So he picked up and moved
With wife Ponzi he grooved
Into the land of Starbucks and Kingdome.
Now his annual soiree’s called Gnomedex
The author Charlene Li did text
Late at night all alone
With her trusty iPhone
She mis-Twittered and called it “GnomeSex” (true story… google it!)
The first day inspired with ways
Nonprofits could Twitter and raise
Money for causes
Yet most the applauses
Was for ICanHazCheezeburger strays.
Some sessions they need referees
As it’s built around the attendees
Sarah Lacey-dot-com
Dropped her Blogosphere bomb
About the A-Lister’s ad-backed disease.
Francine Hardaway and Mark Bao
Discussed Boomers, Gen X, Y and how
As a mere High School Soph
The Facebook Apps he’s sold off
Made the audience audibly “wow”.
Now this year, there’s a sponsor HP
With their famed birthday girl Anne Finney
If you like my video
Vote right now so they’ll know
And give a cool Touch-Screen to me.

So now it’s in your hands. Which of those 18 people do you feel should win the HP TouchSmart? Who has the best Limerick? Remember… you may only vote once, so get your vote in today!Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.