Microsoft Might Layoff H-1B Visa Holders First

Rai    Microsoft     citizen, crisis, economy, h-1b, layoff, Microsoft, visa, vista

Inforworld.com has an article that states that Microsoft might give priority to American employees rather than those who are working on visas.

The H-1B visa allows non-Americans to work in the U.S for a limited time, and now that Microsoft was told that it has “moral obligations”, it might come to a point where visa-holders may have higher chances of getting laid off. Although visa holders and U.S. citizens are required by law to be treated equally, the “moral obligations” part might be considered in the selection process.

Those who were unfortunate to be included in the layoff process will have to leave the country if no other job opportunity is present, according to H-1B visa law. However, the visa can be converted to a visitor’s visa, as long as the holder can provide proof that they have sufficient funds to continue their stay. Those who returned to their countries may come back to the U.S. under H-1B visa if a job opportunity is present and the visa is still valid.

Windows 7 Features Preview

Rai    Microsoft     Microsoft, ubuntu, vista, windows 7, xp

Windows 7 is getting quite a lot of stirs nowadays. But I am a bit skeptical how Windows 7 is going to be any different from its predecessor Windows Vista. What I want to know is its security features and features that are usable for IT administrators. Actually, when it comes to Windows, I am still biased on its security features. My rule of the thumb for Windows OS’es is “wait for SP2 before buying and installing”. I am still using Windows XP in my computer at home but my Ubuntu still kicks XP’s butt, IMO. But that’s just me.

Anyway, maybe this video will help you get excited for Windows 7.

Hide Files Inside An Image File

Rai    Microsoft     archive, hidden files, Microsoft, windows

Did you know that you can hide files inside an image file like jpeg? A simple image when opened or previewed looks like an innocent JPEG or any image file, but when uncompressed using any archiving software, it extracts files that were hidden from plain view.

However, in this video, Windows was used. I have yet to discover if this is possible in Linux.

Unpopular But Useful Windows Shortcut Keys

Rai    Microsoft     alternate, command, fast, keys, Linux, shortcut, windows

I may be a Linux user but from time to time, I use Windows since I have it as my workstation OS and my Linux runs as VM. Then I found these tips from technotraits.com that should make my work in my Windows machine a little faster and more efficient.

The best thing about these shortcuts? Some are also applicable to Linux machines.

Windows Explorer

1. F2
Rename files by highlighting the file and pressing F2. Same goes to Linux.

2. F6
Lets you move across various panes of Windows Explorer.

3. Alt + Enter/ Alt+Double Click
Highlight a file in Windows Explorer and hit Alt+Enter or Alt+Double Click to view the file properties.

4. SHIFT+Right Click
Show the right context menu listing alternative commands.

5. SHIFT+Double Click
Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the right context menu).

6. BACKSPACE
Move one folder up.

7. Ctrl+Double Click
Open a folder in a new explorer window.

8. SHIFT+Click Close Button
When using Shortcut #7, pressing Shift while closing the window will close the parent windows as well.

9. SHIFT
Autorun will not start if Shift is pressed while inserting CD/DVD.

10. F3
Hit F3 in Explorer and Search will open to search for files and folders.

11. Ctrl
Press Ctrl Key and drag files to another folder to copy the selected files.

12. Ctrl+Shift
Press Ctrl+Shift and drag a file to another location and shortcut will be created.

13. ALT+SPACE
Open up the active window’s system menu.

Windows Management

14. CTRL+ESC
Open the Start Menu.

15. Windows Key+M
Minimize all open windows.

16. Shift+Windows Key+M:
Maximize all open windows.

17. Windows Key+D
Same with Shortcut #15

18. ALT+F6
Press F6 to switch between windows of the same program.

19. F5
Refresh. Same with Firefox, IE and Linux

20. CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Switch between tabs of properties window.

Miscellaneous

21. SHIFT+F10
Opens up right context menu. Similar with right click.

22. Windows Key+Pause/Break
Open System Properties Box.

23. Windows Key+L
Lock your current screen.

I tried most of the commands here and they work! If you find these shortcuts useful or otherwise, you can use the comment form below.

Bundled Windows OS is Refundable

Rai    Microsoft     customer care, eula, hp, laptop, Linux, notebook, vista, windows, xp

Choosing notebooks is becoming difficult to do because of so many choices and options to weigh. And if choosing hardware is not hard enough, notebook manufacturers bundle their products with softwares that are usually junk or something that you do not need.

One very common example is Windows Vista OS. Vista comes with every notebook, or computer for that matter, and buyers usually have to pay for it even if they do not want it. Some prefer to downgrade to Windows XP while some just have no other choice but to purchase the OS license only to wipe it off from their notebooks and replace it with Linux.

As a consumer, we have the right to choose which products we want to buy. And in some cases, notebook manufacturers do not seem to give buyers to choose if they want to buy OS or not. That really sucks because Vista OS licenses can cost at least $100, and customers are only paying for the license, therefore do not own the software. Why would you want to pay for something that you do not, and will never, own?

Fortunately, there are some people who actually read the End User License Agreement or EULA of Windows licenses and use it to their own advantage. Take for example uncle_benji, the author of equiliberate.org, who bought an HP notebook bundled with Vista. He chose to waive his purchase of Windows Vista license in favor of using Linux, and got his money back, almost the same amount of the retail price of Vista.

Read his full story here.