Microsoft have reportedly given away free laptops pre-installed with Windows Vista Ultimate, to numerous bloggers whom covered the Vista production.

These laptops were state of the art, including one of AMD’s 64bit range of processors. These “gifts” were supposedly designed to allow these bloggers to test the RTM version of Vista. However, although Microsoft have stated that “you [blogger] are welcome to send the machine back to us” the bloggers whom received these fine gifts have said that they hadn’t seen such a message.

The question here is that, is it truley a kind remark on Microsoft’s part to send out such an expensive gift for somebody to “test”, or instead a gift to bribe the blogger into giving great comments regarding Windows Vista.

Think of it this way, the people who received the laptops didn’t have to do any of these:

• Install Vista
• Worry about drivers (inc. 64-bit)
• Actually purchase the software
• Worry about the system requirements

If you received Vista installed on a state-of-the-art PC/laptop and were asked to test the Vista software, you wouldn’t have any performance issues would you? Simple answer is no. Most customers don’t have $2,000+ to purchase such a laptop.

Now that explains the issues regarding the laptop, but here’s some mysterious information that should keep you busy for a while: Take a look at www.vanishingpointgame.com and you’ll see a countdown leading to the 8th January 2007. Now you’ll also see a text box asking for a “key”. Searching google will show you that each blogger who received the laptop also received a box which contained a USB disk that had 3 files on it. These are clues which are leading to something very misterious! So far, these are the keys that have been found and cyphered out:

• wh0isl0ki
• iw4nttwinyou (If you call the number given, the PIN number is 35813)
  
• 3scap3grav1ty
• imm0rtaliz3m3
• wh3r3t0g0
• 3akix3ozidd1b

Please let me know if you know of any more keys! Now all we can try and do is wait until the lock finally opens and shows what promotional stunt Microsoft have played on us, if thats what it is; promotional.

Microsoft Vista has gone RTM (Release To Manufacture ) and everyone has been curious as to if their PC will support Vista. Well, Microsoft have finally updated their website and here is the minimum specifications:

This is very hefty concluding the fact that these are XP’s System Requirements:

In my opionion it’ll be a while until XP is obsolete, and good luck to Microsoft when they attempt to do so!

The Moon is made of cheese, or thats what Google Images seems to think!

If you go to the Google Images Moon site, and then use the scroller to zoom right in, instead of seeing the usual “can’t be found” error, you’ll see “cheesy” dots. So we finally have satellite proof that the theory that the moon is made of cheese is correct! Thanks to Google for proving the theory!

The Google Moons site was created in recognition to the first moon landing in which took place in late July 1969.

For those who think I”m serious in saying that these cheesy dots are true satellite images, you’re wrong. They were created as a joke.. or were they?

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Public Beta is now available to download.

I just attempted to download it and it is currently coming down now. The size of the file appears to be 337mb, and you don’t require an earlier version of Adobe as far as I can see so far. As I’m only downloading it now, I can’t be sure but I’d appreaciate anyone letting me know via the comments below.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Yes, finally we have a proper Live Help system for the website.

Thanks to Stardevelop we now have a Live Help system that I can manage more often. I have tried many free systems which haven’t worked out very well as it either didn’t come with an application or did, but wasn’t effective. Stardevelop’s Live Help System is a perfect addition to the site, and if its online just hop on and we’ll give you FREE Technical PC help and assistance.

I would like to thanks Nathan for his help with testing the new system, and I’d like to thank Stardevelop who not only gave me the software free, but also assisted me with a few errors upon installation.

So if you ever need help, just head over to www.miccas.net and if I’m online, click the live help image and ask away!