Gmer Download Locations

Gmer, a popular rootkit detection software, has been unavailable for download since some time in December, 2006. It appears that the rootkit scumware writers found the software too effective. The server hosting Gmer has been under a heavy and violent DDoS attack that successfully and completely blocked access to the download site. The host has deactivated the domain.

Other mirrors quickly underwent the same attack and had to remove the download. However, as Marco Giuliani reported, Gmer is available for download at MajorGeeks and here.

Windows Vista Business Test Drive

Microsoft Virtual Labs is providing an opportunity to "test drive" Windows Vista without installing it on your computer. The requirements are minimal:

-- a valid email address
-- IE 6 or later
-- a browser plug-in
-- a broadband connection

Although most home users will probably not be upgrading to Windows Vista Business and will not have all the features that Business has, this is still a great way to see what Windows Vista has to offer.

Windows Vista Home Page
Windows Vista Business Test Drive

Important Notice from Test Drive Page:
· The test drive is intended for evaluation purposes only.

· The test drive requires Internet Explorer 6 or later, a browser plug-in, and a broadband Internet connection. A minimum 1024 x 768 screen resolution is recommended.

· There is no product support for the test drive. You are welcome to participate in a Microsoft Windows Vista newsgroup to share your trial experiences with others and ask for advice. Find a Windows Vista Newsgroup.

· The Windows Vista version hosted in the test drive contains most of the functionality of the regular versions, but browsing the internet is not enabled.

· You may notice a slight delay or pause as you experience the product. This is due to the fact that this is a hosted trial and is dependent upon your bandwidth, local machine resources, etc. This does not necessarily represent the actual experience you will have with Windows Vista if it were installed on your PC.

Wow Starts Now -- Microsoft Across America

As announced at the Windows Vista Blog, IT pro's, developers, or business decision-makers are invited to free business launch events for Microsoft Office 2007, Windows Vista and Exchange Server 2007. The events will be held between January 16 and March 1, 2007 in 74 locations across the country.

You can find out if there will be an event near you from http://www.microsoft.com/business/launch2007/signup/default.mspx. Videos and additional information are available at the launch site, "Ready for a New Day".

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If that isn't enough to wet your appetite for more information on new technologies from Microsoft and, like me, you won't be at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), you can have a virtual seat right from your computer. Be ringside when Bill Gates provides the keynote address at 2007 CES. Tune in to Microsoft at CES where "Microsoft at CES" will follow the action with in-the-moment video from the show floor. The show starts Sunday, January 7, 2007. Catch Mr. Gates at 6:30 PM Pacific time (GMT -8.5).

Updates:

If you miss the broadcast of the CES keynote address, it will be available "on demand" tomorrow (08Jan07) from Microsoft at CES and Microsoft.com/ces. Also, transcripts and view-on-demand portions of the keynote address will be posted to Microsoft.com/PressPass beginning Monday morning.

Added 08Jan06: Transcript of Keynote address: "Bill Gates: 2007 International Electronics Show"

By the way, you can easily track some of your favorite bloggers at CES Blogs, a feeds aggregator set up by Long Zheng of istartedsomething.com. In addition to Long Zheng, included are Mary Jo Foley, Ed Bott, Robert McLaws, Josh . . . well, you get the picture. No sense in my listing them all, hop on over to CES Blogs and see who is there and what they have reported.