Happy New Year! Like every year, there is no shortage of news to share as it relates to personal and business computers. For the defenders of Windows 7 & 8 & the resisters to Windows 10, NOW is the Time to Act if you want a new or previously owned computer using Windows 7 & 8. We have a couple options for you. While the resistance to Windows 10 is primary related to the fact we don’t like to spend time learning or incorporating new things into our lives when it doesn’t seem necessary, Intel’s Compute Card is one item sure to be embraced. The Compute Card is a PC the size of a credit card that should be available to buy by the middle of the year (Andrew Cunningham, Arstechnica, Intel’s Compute Card is a PC that can fit in your wallet, January 5th, 2016, https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/01/intels-compute-card-is-a-pc-that-can-fit-in-your-wallet).
Windows 7 & 8
Last November Microsoft confirmed the “End of Sales” for Windows 7 & 8 (Gordon Kelly, Contributor, Microsoft 'Ends' Windows 7 and Windows 8, November 3rd, 2016, https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/11/03/microsoft-stops-selling-windows-7-and-windows-8-1/#765e42726b9c). To paraphrase their own words; “End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba—PC manufacturers who often pre-install Windows software” (Gordon Kelly, Contributor, Microsoft 'Ends' Windows 7 and Windows 8, November 3rd, 2016, https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/11/03/microsoft-stops-selling-windows-7-and-windows-8-1/#765e42726b9c). As a result, every new Windows PC will come with Windows 10 and users will no longer have ‘downgrade rights’ to attain it with a previous edition. Further, although Microsoft will provide ongoing updates support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 until January 2020 and 2023, they will stop its extended support for Windows Vista on April 11, 2017 (J.D. Biersdorfer, How to Live Without Windows 10, March 25, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/technology/personaltech/how-to-live-without-windows-10.html?_r=0).
Options
To continue working with Windows 7 & 8, RB’s Computer Service has access through our distributor to NEW computers with it, but inventory is growing scarce. Take action today if this the best option for you. The other option is to purchase RB’s Computer Service Monthly Managed IT Service Agreement. Considering the average small business owner’s need, we can put together a service plan that helps you upgrade to Windows 10, plus provide other critical IT support at the same time, like anti-virus protection.
PC the Size of Credit Card
This could be out of a sci-fi movie but it is real. This week Intel demonstrated their new Compute Card. In previous blog posts I wrote about the Compute Stick, noting it is not “like a PC computer, it is a computer….the size of Snickers Bar” (see blog page for December 2016; https://rbsmn.com/blog).
Like the Compute Stick, The Compute Card comes with USB and HDMI connections (Andrew Cunningham, Arstechnica, Intel’s Compute Card is a PC that can fit in your wallet, January 5th, 2016, https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/01/intels-compute-card-is-a-pc-that-can-fit-in-your-wallet). The Compute card is just 95mm by 55mm by 5mm; it is small enough to slip into your pocket and has more than enough power to handle a number of everyday tasks. This tiny computer could also fit into your wallet. Imagine the possible applications; connect and build out your smartphone to do more computer like activities with it, or use it with your home appliances, “working in field,” and finally with your smart TV. Intel expects the Compute Card to launch in the middle of this year, and says it has already signed up partners including Dell, HP and Lenovo to integrate the new hardware, so be prepared for a new dawn in computing sooner than you’d think (Andrew Cunningham, Arstechnica, Intel’s Compute Card is a PC that can fit in your wallet, January 5th, 2016, https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/01/intels-compute-card-is-a-pc-that-can-fit-in-your-wallet).
We will update our blog mid-summer with pricing and availability of the Compute Card. But, if you need a solution for Windows 7 & 8, call us today for availability of NEW PC’s with either one, or get started upgrading to Windows 10 using RB’s Computer Service Managed IT Service Agreement.
RB’s Computer Service has prided itself over the years providing uncomplicated, inexpensive, and seamless computer and network support solutions. Feel free to contact me via phone or email; 763-441-3884, randy@rbsmn.com. RB’s Computer Service sells the Intel Compute Stick as well as the best laptop computers, best desktop computers, business computers, computer parts and computer monitors. We also provide managed IT services, computer repair, iPhone and smartphone repair to customers and clients throughout central Minnesota and St. Cloud.