I am currently using a 3 year old Windows XP laptop and am planning to buy a new laptop. Could you please suggest to me whether I should go for a Mac or a Windows 7 laptop? I would really appreciate your analysis.

- Aman

The "what should I buy" question is getting more complicated with each advance made by both Apple and Microsoft.

Apple's commercials seem to present compelling reasons to switch, but no 30 second commercial can really cover all the issues in making this very significant decision.

At the end of the day, the actual operating system (Windows 7 or Mac OS X) is less significant than the applications that you plan to run on the computer, so that's where everyone struggling with this decision should start.

Since you're coming from the Windows world, one of the first questions to ask yourself is are you prepared to re-buy some or all of your primary productivity programs such as word processors, spreadsheets, photo editing, etc?

If you already own Microsoft Office, Photoshop Elements, Quicken for Windows or a number of other common Windows programs, you will have to add the cost of purchasing the Mac versions to your calculations.

Additionally, you will need to be prepared for the learning curve of switching to new programs and operating systems (not really that big of a deal if you possess a little patience).

If you don't have any legacy software to consider, you don't do much more than surf the web and shoot off e-mails or you're starting over anyway, then these issues are irrelevant.

If you have existing printers, scanners, digital cameras or other hardware peripherals that you want to continue using, you must determine if they are Mac compatible as well. If not, you may also end up replacing some items that are still working but not compatible in the Mac OS.

The next consideration is whether your computer (and the associated programs and data files) need to interact with other computers, such as your work computer or other computers on your home network.

If, for instance, your company requires you to connect to the office network through a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you must ensure that your IT department supports a remote Mac on the corporate network.

If you need to constantly exchange files with other Windows users, you need to make sure that your new Mac OS programs can exchange files without a lot of complications or conversions (most common files like word processing and spreadsheets are no problem).

Another major consideration is your circle of support. Most of us call a friend or family member when we encounter a computer issue, so if you have others you rely upon to help you, make sure they can help you with the Mac before you make the switch (or be comfortable that all of your questions can be addressed by Apples various support mechanisms, which generally receive high ratings).

One of the main drivers for switchers is the very effective messaging about how the Mac OS is safer than Windows, which at this point in time is absolutely true.

The primary reason the Mac OS is safer is because the number of users worldwide is still in the 5%-6% range while Windows is used by over 90% of users ( details at http://bit.ly/1HbdQx ). Pirated copies of Windows are also widely in use around the world and tend to be missing security updates, making them easy targets.

If you were a cyber-criminal and wanted to exploit others, why would you waste time on the small group when your chances of snaring someone are exponentially higher by targeting the majority? Security experts are warning that an acceleration in exploiting Mac vulnerabilities is forthcoming as the market share grows - http://bit.ly/dRP9l .

Additionally, we are seeing more sophisticated attacks these days that don't rely so much on the operating system, but target browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.) which can be exploited on any platform.

Fooling users into giving up information (phishing scams) isn't specific to operating systems either, so be sure to manage your expectations on the constantly evolving safety issues if you decide to switch.

The Apple commercials have done a great job in planting the "should I switch?" question in peoples minds, but now you know how complex this question really is, so do your homework before deciding!
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The holiday season accounts for a large percentage of the revenue for retailers and manufacturers and doing whatever it takes to make sales is the order of the day.

Gimmicks and confusing offers are very common this time of year and not understanding the details is what they count on!

In virtually every category of technology, the primary yardstick for most consumers is price and the retailers & manufacturers prey on those that only look at the price.

Listen in as the Data Doctors expose the most common retailing tricks that you will be confronted with this holiday season.
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What are some of the traps we should watch for when shopping for technology items this year?

- Ben

The holiday shopping season brings out the bargains and the gimmicks, especially when it comes to the confusing world of technology.

Retailers and manufacturers know since most consumers can't decipher the technical details when making a decision, most default to the price.

In technology especially, often times the price you see advertised is not what it will actually end up costing you.

Here are my top 5 tech shopping 'gotchas' that you should be aware of:

Be Cautious of the 'cheapest' In order for any item in technology to be the cheapest in any category, corners have to get cut. In some cases, those corners aren't important on the surface, but the biggest games are played with the cheapest items in tech, so be suspicious and do your homework. If it sounds too good to be true, there's probably a catch, so be alert.

Beware the Battery Batteries are a profit center for manufacturers and retailers. Low cost technology often comes with low capacity batteries. For instance, a cheap laptop may run for less than an hour on the battery that comes with it, forcing you to buy the upgraded battery at a premium. Always ask if an 'upgraded battery' is available for any device you are buying, and compare the difference. This can quickly expose any tricks being played in this area.

Avoid the 'Premium Cable' Cables are another big profit center for retailers, which is why you will see really cheap printers advertised that don't come with a cable. Unlike analog cables (like speaker wire) there is no improvement when buying 'premium' cables for connecting digital devices. Digital signals are either on or off; there is no 'quality' improvement possible. O's and 1's either make it across the cable or they don't, there is no in between.

Bypass the 'B.S.' - Bundling & Subsidies A very common ploy in recent times is the use of 'bundling' or 'subsidies' to attract customers that aren't paying attention. Bundling is the practice of requiring a customer to purchase the 'bundle' in order to get the price on the base item. For instance, you may see a digital camera advertised at a really low price, but the fine print disclaims that only a handful of units are available at the price unless you also buy the optional carry case, memory card & spare battery bundle along with it.

Subsidies are how the cell phone industry has tied their customers to long term contracts for years and now we are seeing computer 'deals', especially in Netbooks that are using the same tactic but with caps and overage fees if you use the Internet too much!

Eyeball Extended Warranties Extended warranties continue to be one of the most confusing purchases for tech buyers because the 'what's covered & what isn't covered' isn't that clear at the point of purchase. Let's be very clear on this; Extended Warranties are a big profit center for retailers.

To make things worse, the salesman that sells you the warranty has nothing to do with executing the warranty (and probably won't even be working there anymore when you try to make use of it down the road.)

That is not to say that all extended warranties are bad, after all it's like any other insurance policy; it's great if you have a problem and a waste if you never end up using it.

In computers, extended warranties typically cover the hardware but not the most common problem you will likely have: operating system corruption, infection or other software related issues.

Expensive laptops are one of the few exceptions to the rule, since laptops are proprietary, expensive to repair and more likely to suffer physical damage because of their portability, but make sure you understand the details.

Bonus tip: Don't get Flogged!

The Internet is a great resource for researching your potential purchases and getting recommendations from others is a great help. The popularity of blogs has created a new category of 'informational' sites known as 'flogs' (fake blogs). What appears to be a personal recommendation for a product or service is nothing more than a clever marketing strategy by some organizations.

One of the easiest ways to spot a flog is if the only topic being discussed in any of the postings is this one product or service, especially if there is only one post. Most bloggers generate new posts on a regular basis and discuss a variety of topics.
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The Information age has changed many aspects of our personal and business lives, mainly for the better.

'Going to work' has always meant getting dressed and driving to a physical location, then spending more time driving home at the end of the day.

Teleworking opportunities and telecommuting tools have continued to change the employment landscape as the Internet becomes more pervasive.

Whether you are looking for a new opportunity or wanting to explore telecommuting for your existing situation, listen in as the Data Doctors discuss the latest tools and resources for educating your self on this new business paradigm!
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What exactly is Windows 7's XP mode and what's it used for?

- Brian

Microsoft knew that it was going to have a tough time convincing hardcore Windows XP users to migrate to Windows 7 because some older applications and hardware (like scanners) that required Windows XP could not be updated to work in Windows 7.

This scenario is more likely to play itself out in business environments, but some consumers may also have special software or older peripherals that would benefit from this feature.

For those that tried to migrate to Windows Vista in the past and ran into a compatibility issue, this feature was specifically added to address your situation.

Certain versions of Windows 7 have an optional feature called Windows XP Mode, which unlike the 'XP Compatibility mode' that was in Windows Vista, is an actual complete copy of Windows XP with SP3 (Service Pack 3) that can run as a 'virtual' system within Windows 7.

This means that older or outdated applications and peripherals that would only work in Windows XP can run in a virtual session that will appear as just another icon in Windows 7 (and it's really cool how smooth it works!)

But, before you get too worked up about this creative approach to migrating older users and applications, there are some 'requirements' that you should know about.

If you have old XP based applications, then you probably have old XP level hardware, which isn't likely to support this new feature.

In order to support XP Mode, you will need a newer computer with a processor capable of 'hardware virtualization' (AMD-V or Intel VT), at least 2 GB of RAM and a recommended 15 GB of free drive space.

Note: Hardware virtualization support must be turned on in the computer's BIOS, which is generally off by default.

If you want to see if your computer is capable of supporting Windows XP Mode, you can run Microsoft's Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection tool here: http://bit.ly/1qPcbl .

In addition, the only versions of Windows 7 that support XP Mode are Professional, Ultimate & Enterprise edition which means that if you get the Home Premium version, which is the least expensive, you don't have this option.

The reality is, you won't need this feature to simply surf the web, exchange e-mails and write some letters; it's only for those will special programs and older peripherals.

Microsoft did a much better job of addressing the compatibility issues that were created when they released Vista and has an easy to use Windows 7 Compatibility Center that allows you to check the compatibility of most popular hardware components and software programs here: http://bit.ly/uD96n .

The XP Mode feature is a godsend to corporate IT departments as it provides a much more comprehensive way to migrate to Windows 7 without the expense of updating old custom programs that were designed to run in Windows XP.

What is very important to understand is that this is not a replacement for Windows 7 and should only be used for specific programs or devices that won't work in Windows 7.

For instance, if you plan on using XP Mode, you wouldn't want to surf the Internet from within the XP session because it would expose you to all of the vulnerabilities that Windows XP has.

Windows 7 is significantly more secure for web browsing in today's hostile Internet environment (keep in mind, Windows XP was designed to deal with security threats that existed in 2001), so minimizing what you do in XP Mode is prudent.

As you may have already realized, this feature is not designed to be setup by the casual user, so if you think you might have a need for the feature, consult a knowledgeable technical resource or your local computer expert to review your specific situation before you spend the money on something you don't actually need!
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While there are competing thoughts on the actual event that is deemed 'the birth of the Internet', everyone agees that it all started in 1969.

On Sept. 12th, the first two remote machines of the DOD funded ARPAnet were connected.

On October 29th, the first message was sent between the remote systems; "The day that the Internet uttered its first words".

Regardless of the details, the Internet has become the most transforming technology in the history of mankind.

This week, the Data Doctors take a look back at the road that led to what we all take for granted today as we celebrate the Internet's 40th anniversary.
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64-bit Windows (7) is a must for me as I bought a quad core PC for its power, only to discover that this power is limited by having a 32 bit OS. Do I need to buy the full version, or can I buy the upgrade version since I have Vista 32 bit?

- Jesse

Before you get too hyped up on the 64-bit revolution, let's make sure you aren't "buying a car based on the tachometer".

Without question, the future of personal computing is in the 64-bit realm. 64-bit processors and operating systems have been out for quite a long time, but primarily only useful to very knowledgeable techies that had specific tasks they needed to address (such as video editing, computer aided design, graphic design or gaming).

Windows 7 is poised to change all of that for even casual users, but in my opinion, if you commit to it right now, you are on the back end of the 'leading edge' (which is often translates to the 'bleeding edge' because of the problems that come with new technologies).

Here is why I view 64-bit computing in the late stages of the leading edge:

- 64-bit Operating Systems require 64-bit processors (which you have, but most older computers don't)

- In order to take full advantage of the 64-bit platform, you must also have 64-bit applications, which are few and far between for the casual computer user

- You must have 64-bit drivers for all of your hardware and peripherals (forget about support for really old components, printers, scanners, etc.)

- You must have 64-bit Anti-Virus software & other vital security software

- You're wasting your time if you don't have more than 3Gb of RAM (and actually 4-8 Gb to really make it worthwhile)

- You must be willing to put up with companies that are still trying to get their drivers and software compatible with 64-bit operating systems (which, thanks to Vista, is becoming much less of an issue)

While having a 64-bit operating system can be viewed as 'future-proofing', the question you have to ask yourself is: are you willing to take the chance of compatibility problems in order to be ready for the future? (iTunes seems to be a common configuration issue for many 64-bit converts on Internet forums.)

For most folks, seeing any appreciable difference between a 32-bit & 64-bit system while surfing the Internet, checking e-mail & writing letters is likely to be slim to none. Power users, hardcore gamers and vertical application business users are a different story, but that's not who reads my column.

None of the 'average user' tasks really stress a properly configured 32-bit system. With all the 64-bit hype, too many users are improperly blaming the '32-bit limitation' as the reason why their computers are running so slow.

The reality is that most folks don't properly maintain their computers and are inundated with unnecessary programs, hidden malware and cheap hardware (that wouldn't have a prayer of running a 64-bit OS anyway!)

For those buying a new computer with lots of 64-bit friendly hardware and lots of RAM, you're in a much better position to make the transition than those with older systems that have just barely enough hardware to run a 64-bit OS.

As to your upgrade question, you can purchase the upgrade version of Windows 7 64-bit, but you will have to do a 'clean install' (wipe everything out and start from scratch) as you cannot perform an 'in-place' upgrade going from Vista 32-bit to Win 7 64-bit.

In review, 64-bit is absolutely the way to go if you can verify your hardware, peripherals, drivers and programs are all compatible with a 64-bit environment.

If you are technically incapable of determining these things, too lazy to do the homework or don't want to have to wipe out your existing Windows Vista installation, stick to the 32-bit version (or consult a knowledgeable professional).

If you are somewhere in-between, wait a little while so that more of the issues can be discovered and you can benefit from the learning curve forged by others.
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In 2006, the EPA estimated that personal computers consumed 2% of all the electricity in the United States.

3 years later, you can bet that number has gone up, because the number of computers in use has gone up.

If we all made some small adjustments to our computing devices and behaviors, we could collectively safe a substantial amount of power.

Listen in as the Data Doctors put on their Birkenstocks and wrap their arms around a few trees while discussing power saving tips as well as some common misnomers about technology and power.
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