How To Get Windows 8 For The Lowest Possible Price

Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system means change – with a capital “C” – for anyone interested in purchasing new PCs and laptops in the coming months.

The introduction of the Metro UI – now apparently known simply as “Windows 8” – has proved controversial. Designed primarily as a touch-based user interface, the tiles and hidden menus of the new Start screen and the relegation of the old Windows desktop seems to have dismayed many people.

However, Microsoft believe they are playing catch-up to Apple in the tablet computer and UI stakes. They’ve already announced the Windows 8-powered Surface tablet, and the whole touch interface aspect of Windows 8 is influenced by the touch-based changes Apple introduced in Mac OS X Lion.

Whether the mixed reviews of the preview releases of Windows 8 have influenced pricing or Microsoft are simply taking a leaf out of Apple’s book isn’t quite clear, but the price of a new copy of Windows 8 will be noticeably lower than a comparative copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Indeed, there is a chance of purchasing Windows 8 for under $15!

The Apple Model

Have Microsoft based their new operating system pricing on the relatively low prices offered by Apple?

Mac OS X 10.8 costs just $19.99 when downloaded from the App Store (currently the only option) while the previous Mac OS X 10.7 was available for $24.99 on DVD.

This is in stark contrast to Windows 7; upon release, this popular operating system was a massive $154 for the Home Premium version!

It doesn’t look as though this is a one-off, either – the inclusion of the Microsoft Store in Windows 8 means that subsequent releases can be made available via download. Will users accept much higher prices for downloadable updates? It is unlikely, so it could be that future versions of Windows stay around the $39.99 upgrade price rather than the brand new disc option at $69.99.

Hmm, $39.99 doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Upgrading from Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7

While not the lowest price on offer on this page, the prospect of getting a new copy of Windows for $39.99 is pretty tempting. Sure, it might have the touch-based user interface formerly known as Metro, but it also has a desktop view and full backward compatibility with Windows 7 applications.

Additionally, Windows 8 is designed to run apps – many of which are free – from the Microsoft Store.



So how do you get a copy of Windows 8 for $39.99? The secret is to already run a legal copy of Windows XP, Vista or 7 and use the upgrade path. There are three versions of the new OS: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 RT. The latter is for ARM tablets, while the former has fewer features (but should be fine for the vast majority of users). As there were so many versions of Windows 7 (six main editions alone) this will make choosing a copy much easier.

Note that while the operating system might be relatively cheap, the amount of time it takes for you to upgrade from Windows XP might not be. Vista and 7 can be easily upgraded, meaning that vital data and applications will be retained during the process (although anything you don’t wish to lose should be backed up, of course). For Windows XP users, however, backing up all vital data is necessary before installation of the new OS.

If you’re using Windows XP, the chances are that you’ve had your computer for five or six years. Upgrading for just under $40 therefore is an opportunity not to be missed!

Bought a Windows 7 PC Recently? No Problem!

Remarkably, $39.99 isn’t the cheapest option for purchasing Windows 8. If you are buying a Windows 7 computer before January 31st 2013, Microsoft will offer an upgrade for a super-low $14.99! It isn’t just any upgrade either – this option also offers Windows 8 Pro!

All you need to do to qualify is buy a new computer with a legal copy of Windows 7 preinstalled, head to Windows Upgrade Offer and register your details.

When the offer is available, Microsoft will then email purchase instructions and require payment, and you’ll then be able to download your copy of Windows 8 Pro for that super low price!

Use The Windows 8 Release Preview

If all of this seems a bit too much trouble and you’re not all that bothered about buying Windows 8 until you have got used to it, the Windows 8 Release Preview will be available to use until January 16, 2013.



This means that you have plenty of time to head to Microsoft’s download site and grab your copy of the preview which can be installed as an upgrade, as a dual-booted OS or as a virtual machine.

After all, what’s the point of spending money on an operating system as radically different as Windows 8 if you don’t like it? Try before you buy!

Conclusion

There are three ways in which you can get a copy of Windows 8 without breaking the bank. Whether you choose to take the upgrade path from your current version of Windows or you’re buying a new PC, laptop or hybrid tablet now and want to have the option to upgrade when the new OS is released or even if you want to try it for free first, there is an option to cover any budget.

What is most interesting about this whole Windows 8 upgrade scenario however is that is seems to signal a sea-change in pricing from Microsoft.

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How To Setup Messages + Facebook Chat In OS X Lion [Quicktip]

Messages is one of the features is offered in the recently announced OS X Mountain Lion, it allows you to integrate Facebook Chat so you can chat with your Facebook friends without using web browsers. But you might need to wait a while for Mountain Lion. Still, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the fun Messages has to offer before the release.

You may wonder how to set up Facebook Chat on your Mac, which is quite a good idea so you don’t have to always log in to Facebook every time you want to chat with your friends. There is no installer available or provided by Facebook that will allow you to install only its chat on your computer.

That’s where Messages come into play. Messages Beta is a cool messaging client made for Mountain Lion, which will allow you to send messages accross many Apple products, for free. It also allows you to add Facebook Chat so you can directly chat with your Facebook friends. Messages Beta is now available for download, so why wait?

Install Messages Beta

Before you can set up Facebook Chat on your Mac, head over to Messages Beta page to download and then install. When installation is done, you will see the Messages icon on your Mac’s Dock.

Set Up Messages Beta

Now you already have Messages Beta installed on your Computer. Since this is your first time installing, you will be prompted to register with Messages Beta. Click ‘Continue’.

Now to complete the setup process, fill up your Apple ID and password, then click on the ‘Sign In’ button.

That’s it, click ‘Done’ and your Messages Beta is now ready for use.

Set Up Facebook Chat On Messages Beta

While Messages is still open, go to the main menu then ‘Preferences’.

The Preferences window will appear; click on ‘Account’ and then the plus (+) button to add new chat account.

Now there will be a form for you to fill up, use the following information;

1. Account Type: Select ‘Jabber‘
2. Account Name: Fill with username@chat.facebook.com (don’t forget to replace ‘username’ with your own Facebook username)
3. Password: Enter your Facebook password
4. Server: Use chat.facebook.com
5. Port: 5222
6. You can leave both ‘Use SSL’ and ‘Use Kerberos v5…’ unchecked.

Once completed, click ‘Done’ and you are now ready to chat with your Facebook friends. Open your Messanger Beta chat window and you will see your online friends on the list, and ready to chat with you.

Conclusion

With Messages Beta and Facebook Chat integration, you can now chat with your Facebook friends without even logging in to your Facebook account. You can also add Google Talk, Yahoo! and AIM chat, and handle everything using one simple messaging client from your Mac.

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How To Setup Messages + Facebook Chat In OS X Lion [Quicktip]

Messages is one of the features is offered in the recently announced OS X Mountain Lion, it allows you to integrate Facebook Chat so you can chat with your Facebook friends without using web browsers. But you might need to wait a while for Mountain Lion. Still, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the fun Messages has to offer before the release.

You may wonder how to set up Facebook Chat on your Mac, which is quite a good idea so you don’t have to always log in to Facebook every time you want to chat with your friends. There is no installer available or provided by Facebook that will allow you to install only its chat on your computer.

That’s where Messages come into play. Messages Beta is a cool messaging client made for Mountain Lion, which will allow you to send messages accross many Apple products, for free. It also allows you to add Facebook Chat so you can directly chat with your Facebook friends. Messages Beta is now available for download, so why wait?

Install Messages Beta

Before you can set up Facebook Chat on your Mac, head over to Messages Beta page to download and then install. When installation is done, you will see the Messages icon on your Mac’s Dock.

Set Up Messages Beta

Now you already have Messages Beta installed on your Computer. Since this is your first time installing, you will be prompted to register with Messages Beta. Click ‘Continue’.

Now to complete the setup process, fill up your Apple ID and password, then click on the ‘Sign In’ button.

That’s it, click ‘Done’ and your Messages Beta is now ready for use.

Set Up Facebook Chat On Messages Beta

While Messages is still open, go to the main menu then ‘Preferences’.

The Preferences window will appear; click on ‘Account’ and then the plus (+) button to add new chat account.

Now there will be a form for you to fill up, use the following information;

1. 
   
   Account Type: Select ‘Jabber‘


2. 
   
   Account Name: Fill with username@chat.facebook.com (don’t forget to replace ‘username’ with your own Facebook username)


3. 
   
   Password: Enter your Facebook password


4. 
   
   Server: Use chat.facebook.com


5. 
   
   Port: 5222


6. 
   
   You can leave both ‘Use SSL’ and ‘Use Kerberos v5…’ unchecked.

Once completed, click ‘Done’ and you are now ready to chat with your Facebook friends. Open your Messanger Beta chat window and you will see your online friends on the list, and ready to chat with you.

Conclusion

With Messages Beta and Facebook Chat integration, you can now chat with your Facebook friends without even logging in to your Facebook account. You can also add Google Talk, Yahoo! and AIM chat, and handle everything using one simple messaging client from your Mac.

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6 Simple & Effective Ways To Speed Up Your Mac

We are all impressed with the smooth running of the Apple Mac OS X as we compare with the contemporary Windows OS like Vista or Windows 7. However, there are times when your Mac might be slowing down as you put in more stuffs in your hard drive and work the system hard. That is perhaps a good time to evaluate where the bottleneck could be and clear it.

In this post I’ll be sharing tips I found useful in speeding up the Mac. While most of the tips do not cost you extra bucks, they also help you to clean up your Mac to not only make it run fast like cheetah, but also keep it as powerful as lion. So spend some time to get really well with these tips, then you’ll be smiling happily as you run your Mac smoothly!

If you are not only looking to optimize your Mac but also seeking to optimize your workflow in Mac, below we’ve got posts with 200 useful applications introduced to you

1. Clearing Your Desktop

Your desktop plays a part in how long it takes for you to boot the system because it’s the first screen that it has to load up. As much as possible, try to keep it simple by minimizing the number of icons from the dock and clearing up the amount of files you can see. You can eitherdelete them or put them into folders so that the operating system doesn’t have to waste additional resources to load them upon starting your computer.

Doing this will take the toil away from your memory, especially if you’re using an older Mac system. This will not only ensure that your boot time will be shortened, but also improve the performance of your Mac in general.

2. Managing Startup Items

When you install some applications, they automatically configured your startup setting such that these applications would be loaded up when you boot up your Mac. Depending on your usage, such a setting can either make it convenient for you (if the first thing you want to do when you boot up is to use that application), or slow down the booting time with no additional convenience for yourself.

Leaving such applications can also draw some valuable resources away from your Mac such that it slows down the system. As much as possible, try to remove those which you rarely use. For Mac OS X Lion’s user, all you need to do is go to System Preferences > System > Users & Groups > Login Items, and uncheck the application(s) you want off from the startup.

3. Cleaning Up The Hard Drive

Mac operating system actually utilizes whatever free space you have on your hard drive as ‘virtual memory’, which plays a significant role in the performance. In other words, the more data you have in your hard drive, the lesser the amount of memory you would have for the smooth running of your applications. The obvious solution to a slow-running Mac operating system is to free up hard drive space to make room for the ‘virtual memory’.

I’m sure you know where to begin when you’re cleaning up your hard drive, such as emptying your Trash, removing rarely used applications, etc. Alternatively, you can also remove languages that you don’t use through programs like Monolingual. This would save at least several hundred megabytes of disk space. It may not be much, but why waste resources?

4. Monitor Your Activity Monitor

Sometimes you wouldn’t know what’s taxing your memory and slowing down the system in the process. This is where the Apple’s Activity Monitor comes in handy. You get to see the CPU usage, Random Access Memory (RAM) and virtual memory usage from the monitor, which the info will help greatly in optimizing your Mac!

When you notice that there’s a spike when you use certain applications, you can infer that these are the ones which are draining away your memory and making your system sluggish. That way, you can either choose to minimize your usage on these applications or make room in your memory like closing down other applications when you’re going to use them.

On top of that, the monitor lists down in details all the applications which are currently in use. You can see how much each application is eating up your CPU, real & virtual memory. You may choose to quit those that are consuming an awful lot of your system’s resources to speed things up.

If you need more explanations on the Activity Monitor, do check out this comprehensive guide.

5. Embrace Cleaning Utility Tools

Perhaps the most straightforward way to optimize your system’s performance is to runmultifunction utility tool like OnyX. What it basically does is that it conducts system maintenance and cleaning functions to smoothen the running of your system. Temporary files stored as caches are cleared so that they don’t ‘jam’ up the performance of your system.

If your goal is to sustain a top-notch performing Mac, then such utility tools can be programmed torun as scheduled routines. This way, unnecessary files and browser history or any other cache files are regularly removed from your system so that it will run at its best most of the time. In fact, it is highly recommended that all Mac users do such consistent maintenance.

If OnyX doesn’t seem to cater to your maintenance needs, you can also try out others likeCleanMyMac and MacKeeper.

6. Getting Hardware Upgrade

Worse comes to worse, if the above tips didn’t significantly improve your Mac’s performance to your liking, you can always consider purchasing hardware that would more or less guarantee a speed boost. This would, however, require you to throw money to resolve the issue, as compared to the previous tips which are all free.

Upgrading your RAM is probably the simplest way to ensure a faster computer. As compared toupgrading your processor, it is also much cheaper. If you only have one piece of RAM attached in your Mac, consider getting another one.

At the very least, your Mac should have a 2 GB RAM minimum, and 4 GB RAM is recommended for web designer who run premium graphic editor like Adobe Photoshop which eats up a lot of memory and hard drive space. If you are using 2GB/4GB ram and still finds it running slow,consider getting an additional 2 GB RAM that would logically speed up the performance by 50%. Of course, this depends on how much memory your Mac can support, so ask the professionals before you proceed.

Another alternative is to get a faster hard drive or use a Solid State Drive (SSD), but they don’t come cheap. One way is to get the SSD to run only your operating system and other applications, while leaving the other data on your old hard disk. Here is a good site on how to set up a SSD drive.

That’s all from us! What’s your personal secret to speeding up your Mac?

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