Windows 8 Total Fail

from Greg
Microsoft announced at CES they they are releasing Windows 9 in 2015 due to significantly poor reviews of Windows 8 and slow acceptance from commercial customers. HP has highlighted the problem by offering a line of Windows 7 computers. The Windows 8 operating system is actually hurting HP's computer sales. The computers run $480 to $999 which includes a $150 price reduction.

from Business Insider
Read the full story HERE
This weekend HP brought in a blast from the past in an attempt to boost its PC sales.

Windows 7.

In promotional material on its website and email blasts, HP says it'll start shipping PCs with Windows 7 again due to "popular demand." And that's not a good sign for Microsoft, which still bets that its touch-based Windows 8 operating system will reinvigorate the PC market.

Many agree that one of the contributing factors to the PC market's implosion is Windows 8, which can be hard to operate on the traditional desktops and laptops that many people still use. Despite manufacturer's best attempts, PC sales continue to decline year over year. In fact, 2013 was the worst year for PC sales, according to research firm Gartner.

Meanwhile, there are a slew of other options for people to choose from, including Chromebooks, the cheap laptops that run Google's Chrome operating system. Chromebooks are gaining momentum with customers, causing Microsoft to launch some very negative ads. HP has started making a bigger push in Chromebooks too.


Finally, Microsoft is reportedly working on a new version of Windows called Windows 9 that will fix many of the gripes people have with Windows 8. We'll likely get a tiny preview of Windows 9 at Microsoft's Build developers conference in April.


from HP
Read about the deal HERE.
Back by Popular Demand


Featuring genuine Windows 7 Home Premium for a familiar and intuitive environment.


All-around perfect fit
With convenient expandability options, the HP Pavilion 500 is the versatile PC that grows as your needs do. With a sharp, modern design, it fits seamlessly anywhere you put it. Top that off with powerful performance, strong graphics, and generous storage, and you’ve found your ideal PC.

Proven and powerful
Choose the latest Intel processors and multitask across more programs—including your favorite immersive games, HD3 videos, and photo editing software. Enjoy smooth and seamless life-like gaming with NVIDIA discrete graphics, or choose AMD ultra-high performance graphics for a thrilling experience. The options are yours.


Internal specs
Operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium 64

Processor
4th Generation Intel® Core™ i3-4130 processor dual-core [3.4GHz, 3MB Shared Cache]
4th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-4570 processor quad-core [3.2GHz, 6MB Shared Cache]

Memory
8GB DDR3-1600MHz [1 DIMM ]
10GB DDR3-1600 MHz [2 DIMM ]
2 DIMM

Hard drive
1TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
2TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
3TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

Graphics
Intel HD Graphics [DVI-D]
1GB Nvidia GeForce GT625[HDMI,DVI,VGA via adapter]
1GB AMD Radeon R5 235 [DVI, HDMI, DVI to AVG Dongle]

Optical drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner
Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner

Wireless technologies
802.11a/g/n; Bluetooth

Networking
Wireless-N LAN and Bluetooth (1x1)
Premium Wireless-N LAN card and Bluetooth(R )(2x2)

Ports
4 USB 3.0; 4 USB 2.0; 1 headphone; 1 microphone
3 PCIe x1; 1 PCIe x16; 1 mini PCIe x1
7-in-1 memory card reader

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• AMD Develops Behemoth Chip with Sixteen Cores on Single Die
• Microsoft Is Going To Try And Save The Imploding PC Market With Another New Version Of Windows
• Windows 9 could see a complete 180, return to glory days
• Microsoft employees reportedly call Windows 8 'the new Vista'

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What is Steam?

From Greg
I have been using Steam since it was introduced in 2002. It isn't perfect. It feels like software made during a Microsoft hackathon. However it works. If you love video games you need Steam.

If I buy a game on Mac and there is a Windows version I get a free copy. If I buy a new computer I can automatically download my games and get back to Call of Duty.

Valve is now make a console system that will compete with the new Playstation and  XBOX. It will let you play games without a PC. You just need to hook the Steam Box to a TV.

See Steam's collection of games HERE

Steam Box Example

From Valve
Steam is a digital distribution, digital rights management, multi-player, and communications platform developed by Valve Corporation. It is used to distribute games. 

Though initially developed for use on Microsoft Windows, it has expanded to include OS X and Linux , and limited functionality on the PlayStation 3 console and for both iOS and Android mobile devices. 

As of October 2013, there are over 3000 games available through Steam, and over 65 million Steam accounts. In December 2013, Steam surpassed over 7.1 million concurrent players. In October 2013, it was estimated that 75% of all digital games purchased for the PC are through Steam.

Through Steam, fans can easily buy, play, share, modify, and build communities around Valve products as well as titles from other independent game studios. Steam is available in 237 countries and 21 different languages.

Here is a Valve promo video for the Steam Box.

The Steam Controller

A different kind of gamepad
We set out with a singular goal: bring the Steam experience, in its entirety, into the living-room. We knew how to build the user interface, we knew how to build a machine, and even an operating system. But that still left input — our biggest missing link. We realized early on that our goals required a new kind of input technology — one that could bridge the gap from the desk to the living room without compromises. So we spent a year experimenting with new approaches to input and we now believe we’ve arrived at something worth sharing and testing with you.

The Steam Controller is designed to work with all the games on Steam: past, present, and future. Even the older titles in the catalog and the ones which were not built with controller support. (We’ve fooled those older games into thinking they’re being played with a keyboard and mouse, but we’ve designed a gamepad that’s nothing like either one of those devices.) We think you’ll agree that we’re onto something with the Steam Controller, and now we want your help with the design process.


Traditional gamepads force us to accept compromises. We’ve made it a goal to improve upon the resolution and fidelity of input that’s possible with those devices. The Steam controller offers a new and, we believe, vastly superior control scheme, all while enabling you to play from the comfort of your sofa. Built with high-precision input technologies and focused on low-latency performance, the Steam controller is just what the living-room ordered.

Related articles

• Valve's Gabe Newell Not Fazed By Xbox One Sales Figures
• Why Valve thinks you'll want a Steam Machine
• PC Game Maker Valve Announces Steam Machines Made by Dell Unit - Businessweek
• What It Will Look Like To Play Games On Valve's Steam Box (Videos)
• Steam Machines are here: how Alienware is realizing Valve's game console dream

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