Several of these programs can be downloaded for free, like Microsoft’s Security Essentials, others can be purchased for relatively low prices, like WinZip 14 Standard. How essential these programs are depends on how you use your computer.

Using data collected from its free security products, Microsoft claims Vista is far less apt to be infected with malware than WinXP.

DirectX 11 for Vista and Windows Server 2008 is now available as a "Recommended" update.

Xiant Filer is an Outlook add-on that works with both Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007 and recommends filing options based on your filing habits. You can download a 60-day trial version.

Patch Tuesday included a couple of problem patches. A Windows CryptoAPI patch causes Communication Server to crash and an Office update causes Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to give bad scan results. New patches are being released.

Not all the features of Windows 7 were completed before it was released to the public. One of the partially finished items is "Virtual Wi-Fi" which allows you to share your wireless connection with another device.

Installing Win7 to a clean hard drive is legal, according to Microsoft, under some conditions. Basically, if your PC came with OEM version of Windows, even if you’ve lost the disks, you can install Win7 legally.

Family Guy has been around since 1999. This should have given Microsoft execs plenty of time to research the show before saying they’d sponsor an episode. So. Why were they so shocked? They are the same company that came up with a series of questionable ads for IE 8.

Microsoft products are a favorite target for illegal copying. But. Microsoft has its own definition of "illegal" which may make your installation of legally purchased software "illegal".

Junk-ware, those pre-installed programs you didn’t ask anyone to install on your new PC but are there anyway, has been lessened for machines offered through Microsoft’s new stores.