Sims 3 and Microsoft .NET Framework

If you've read our latest BrickGamers LEGO® Gaming Comic, you'll notice we poke fun at Sims 3, or rather, the users (or players) of Sims 3 - which could be you! Are you one?

Anyway, since this is BrickTech, this is more about what goes on BEHIND Sims 3, in particular, Sims 3 requires Microsoft's .NET Framework (specifically version 2.0), a software framework that needs to be installed on Microsoft Windows XP operating systems but comes as a part of Microsoft Windows Vista (version 3.0) and of course, the RC (Release Candidate) of Microsoft Windows 7. But did you know you don't have to install the latest version of .NET to play Sims 3?

While the latest version of .NET is 3.5 Service Pack 1 (250MB), with .NET 4 Beta 1 in the works, Sims 3 was designed with .NET 2.0. This means if you're running Sims 3 on Vista or Win7 RC (yes it works!), the installer (or you) won't have to install any .NET versions, but if you're using XP, the installer will put in .NET 2.0, unless you've already installed .NET 3.0 or 3.5.

However, .NET will slow down your XP since it's adding a whole new software framework to an OS. Even version 1.0 and 1.1 of .NET needs to be installed on XP - it doesn't come with it. So the wise thing to do is to upgrade or run Vista (or even Win7 RC) instead, as it comes with .NET already. Of course you don't have to do this if you're not playing Sims 3 (or any other game or software which requires .NET). However, if you are, you're better off running the speedier Win7 RC or the slow Vista, rather than the slower XP with .NET.

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Windows 7 Anti-Virus

If you're using (or testing) Windows 7 RC, you should also have an Anti-Virus present, and just like with Win7 Beta earlier, where you had a choice of 3 AV, Win7 RC also comes with a choice of AV to use - even more now actually - 7. Coincidence? Not actually! Lately 2 more were added to be 9. You can see them here. So perhaps more might be added in the future. Read on to see the free duration of each offering.

The List:

• Kaspersky (6 months free)
• Panda (3 months free)
• Trend Micro (only 1 month free)
• AVG (only 1 month free)
• Symantec Norton (registration required and only 2 weeks free)
• McAfee (registration required)
  
• F-Secure (registration required)
• WebRoot (not free)
• BullGuard (unknown)
  

Just like before with Win7 Beta, only ONE AV offers the longest free duration of usage on Win7 RC - Kaspersky. They continue to offer half a year (6 months) of free usage for their Win7 AV 8 Beta.

No this post wasn't paid for by Kaspersky. You do the research yourself and see who offers the best deal for testing or using Win7 RC. As gamers will say, do we hear a "Mother Russia"?

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Vista Service Pack 2

If you're using Windows Vista, Service Pack 2 is out recently. If you've never installed Service Pack 1 on your Vista before, you can skip SP1 and go to SP2 directly. SP2 corrects any bugs and problems that have come out since SP1. To download Vista SP2 (350MB), you can get it directly from Microsoft's site via this link. Alternatively, you can get it from Microsoft's page here. But did you know there's 2 versions of SP2?

That's for the x86 (32-bit) version. If you're using the x64 (64-bit) version, you can get it here (570MB). The direct link is here. To know if you're using the 32 or 64 version, just right-click your Computer icon on your Vista Desktop and select Properties. Chances are if you have less than 4GB of memory, you'll be using the 32 version. 64 only works well once you got more than 4GB of memory as 32 can only use up to 4GB of memory.

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Windows 6.1 Version

Don't believe Windows 7 is Windows 6.1? Here's the proof you can find out yourself:

You can get this Windows version box via 2 ways - by clicking Help on the menu of any Windows Explorer window (like an opened Folder) and selecting About Windows, or clicking the Run command on the Start Menu - or its shortcut of Windows Key and R together on your keyboard, to open the Run box. But why did Microsoft have 2 versions for this Windows?

First, let's continue. Type "winver" (without the quotation marks) and hit the Enter key or click the OK button in the Run box you've opened. This method works in all Windows.

You can also use the Command Prompt. You can find it on the Start Menu under Accessories, or use the Run box and type "cmd".

So why would Windows 6.1 be called Windows 7? Well, would you prefer Windows XP to be called Windows 5.1? Because that's what it is! Let's face it, Windows Vista sounds so much more better than Windows 6.0 (because it is), so unless you can think of a better name for Windows 7, you have to admit, Windows 7 does sound like a nice name doesn't it? Besides, with all its touch support and new Superbar Taskbar, not to mention Libraries content Shortcut, it doesn't really warrant just a .1 upgrade, don't you think so?

We'll highlight more Win7 features later that you might not know about, for those of you who might think Win7 is just an enhanced Vista. In many ways, Win7 is to Vista what Win98 was to Win95 - back then Win98 really did prove itself better. This isn't a Win98 to WinME yet again.

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A Man Can Dream...

Apparently some people have no idea what RC (Release Candidate) means. RC is not RTM (Release To Manufacturing). To many people who are not in the technology line, RC is a good as any to be used as an operational computer - which isn't the case. Read on to not be duped.

Don't be surprised if you go to your local Pasar Malam and find people hawking Windows 7 (or even Windows 7 RC) as the real thing. You shouldn't have to pay for Win7 RC - it's free to download from Microsoft's site.

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The Machine Speaks The Truth

No prizes for guessing where the quote from last panel originated from :)

If you're still in the dark to what we're talking about, then perhaps you missed this news that came out on the New York Times recently, and was mirrored by many sites elsewhere. Too complicated for you? Not to worry, BrickTech has got it all summarised for you. Just click the More Data? link below to find out.

In essence, The Pentagon plans to create a new military Internet command, to basically protect the computer network that runs stock exchanges, global banking transactions, and air traffic control systems. It will be under the military's Strategic Command, which controls nuclear operations. Of course this might ring alarm bells when you consider so what happens if the Command gets hijacked? Or worse, what happens if the Command turns into Skynet?

So while you're watching the movie Terminator 4 - Salvation, you can refer to this real-life news and wonder if this is another case of science-fiction will turn real one day. After all, in the 1960s when Star Trek came out the crew of the starship Enterprise used handheld communicators which then became the mobile phones of today :)

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It's About Time...

So says the Terran Marine in Blizzard's StarCraft 2 Trailer.

As the minifigs (LEGO® miniature figures) in the comic below illustrate, BrickTech was supposed to be up but never got around due to...technical reasons...true to its nature of being...BrickTech :) So what are we going to do about it? Read on to see our Vision.

We're going to kick off BrickTech via another way - helping users of technology. Specifically, computers. Narrowing it further, Microsoft. Why? Because we can.

Well, okay, that's a real lousy excuse. Because technology is a very vast topic and amongst all technologies (the human electronic kinds, not alien!), computers are the most problematic - though the irony is that they were designed to solve our problems!

Lastly, why Microsoft? Because it's the most widely-used software on the planet, ergo, the most amount of users encounter it, and when you put both together you get...the need to know more about Microsoft software.

Mind you we're not talking about just knowing new Microsoft software here - we're talking about how to solve the problems you encounter with Microsoft software, or how to use such software.

Now while many will have jokes about how Microsoft is the source of all problems - the fact is even Mac and Linux and others have problems - the issue is that they're not the majority used in the world and hence, you hear less about them.

True, to a certain extent Linux and Macs are better in certain and many ways, but like how there's different beers for different markets, there's no one-all solution for everything and for where it does matter, Microsoft does have its benefits.

Think about it - you're probably reading this on Windows. Yes you might be a Mac or Linux user, but Google Analytics will reveal that the majority of visitors to BrickTech use Windows :P

Anyway, BrickTech won't only be just about Microsoft, so take it easy - it's BrickTech, not BrickMicrosoft ;) If there's something worthy about Google or Linux or Mac or Mobiles or Intel or NVIDIA or AMD or ATI or Wireless or Bluetooth or...well, you get the idea.

We'll talk about it.

Windows 7

This is the Windows 7 RC Logon Screen wallpaper (or what Microsoft now calls as Desktop Background). You can get it from here.

Let's start by what's hot in Cyberspace right now - Windows 7, or Windows 6.1 if you want to be technical about it. Win7 is the replacement for Windows Vista (or Windows 6.0 if you want to be specific again).

Both are meant to replace Windows XP (Windows 5.1, Windows 2000 was Windows 5), but it seemed that Vista did a poor job of it and Microsoft have obviously finally admitted that going by how Win7 does a much better job than Vista. In fact, Win7 is the "Vista that should have been".

In summation, Win7 has all the bells and whistle and eye candy of Vista - and then some more - but coupled with the speed of XP, which was what people wanted in the first place anyway!

So if you're using XP, never wanted to go Vista, and wondering if you should with 7, then you'll be glad to know with the help of Sun's VirtualBox 2, you can sample 7 without the hassle. For your information, Microsoft released Beta of 7 early in the year and they just recently released RC (Release Candidate) 7, with 7 slated for release before the end of the year, around October.

While Beta could only be used till about now, RC can be used till June 2010 - that's a whole year of free usage! Of course you'll have to activate the installed copy online to enable that, otherwise you can only use it for a month, but the Key required can easily be obtained from Microsoft's 7 download site.

So coming up next - how to sample Win7 RC on VirtualBox right on your current XP Desktop :)

And yes, we'll try to include Jack and the rest of the BrickWorld figs in comics to keep true to the name of BrickTech! We aim for weekly updates (if we didn't get carried away playing LEGO® and tech doesn't get in the way!) - and as usual - updates without warning in between!

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Houston, we have a Technical problem

Been wondering? Read on to find out more.

Wonder no more :) Yes it's been more than half a year. Yes we'll update this comic soon. In the mean time, might we invite you to enjoy BrickGamers and BrickLives? :)

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