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Windows 7 complete

Even at the best of times an operating system is a work in progress that requires frequent updates to stay current with other software and to patch security holes and incompatibilities that hackers are always turning up.

Even at the best of times an operating system is a work in progress that requires frequent updates to stay current with other software and to patch security holes and incompatibilities that hackers are always turning up. I’m currently running three OS versions on different computers, Ubuntu on an old laptop, OSX Tiger and Windows Vista SP1, and all of them require almost weekly updates.

That’s why I greet the announcement that Microsoft has finished Windows 7 in time to make the Oct. 22 release date with a lukewarm “meh.” I happen to know that Windows 7 will never be finished and that by the time you get it home and load it on your computer there will probably be a few hundred megabytes of updates already waiting in the wings. That’s just how these things work.

In fact, Microsoft is already shipping out Windows 7 to partners and vendors with the understanding that a lot can happen in three months and things will need to be patched. If anything it’s probably better this way, as a limited release of the program in Beta and Release Candidate builds has already helped to uncover bugs and security holes.

I’m personally excited about Windows 7 as there’s no way I can afford to buy a Mac laptop at this time with the kind of bells and whistles I’d like to have. In fact, some of those bells and whistles aren’t even available on Mac laptops right now, such as HDMI out ports, Blu ray players, etc.

And as more than one tech columnist has pointed out recently, the operating system isn’t really that important anymore to the average consumer who is doing most of their computing on the web. If you use your computer for e-mail, Facebook and hockey boxscores it doesn’t really matter what kind of operating system you have.

Gaming is still better on PC, video editing is probably still better on Mac, but otherwise the difference between platforms — as the average person sees it — is getting smaller all the time. And while each system has proprietary software that is unique, all the good software out there is compatible with both systems.

Other than concerns about viruses I have no reason to stick with Mac, and even then Windows is taking the step of releasing free anti-virus and spyware software. Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/security_essentials) is now available in beta form, and early word is that it works. It’s also small, and won’t drag on your system performance like other security software out there.

At this point I seriously have to wonder why Apple hasn’t taken the next step and started to sell its critically acclaimed operating system separately from its computers, thereby allowing you to run it on any desktop or laptop. Apple would still have a high-end market for laptops — their hardware really is good — but they could also overtake Microsoft for market share in operating systems.

For some reason Apple seems content to leave Microsoft with 90 per cent of that market, a difference of hundreds of millions of computers. Microsoft was on the ropes when Vista crashed on delivery, giving Apple a few years to take advantage. Now Microsoft is coming out of the corner swinging with an operating system that, while not as good as Apple OSX, is at least no longer a reason to avoid buying a PC.

Good for your brain?

A few studies have now shown that video games may actually be good for your brain, if not for your body. Some test your agility and reaction time, others your puzzle-solving ability, and others your ability to plan and execute strategies in real time.

A growing number of games also test your skills in math, physics, language and logic, higher brain functions that you usually have to be in a classroom to exercise.

This week I stumbled upon a list of seven games that are good for your brain on a site called www.conceptispuzzles.com.

The first game is Sprout (www.smart-kit.com/games/sprout) a crudely animated puzzle game with no instructions. You have to click your way through as a seed that can grow into different types of vegetations, figuring out what should happen next in the chain reaction you’re trying to create.

Next up is Splitter (www.king.com), a popular physics game where you chop boxes into sections to move a ball around the screen. Just when you think you have the hang of it the game gets a lot harder.

Factory Balls (http://home.scarlet.be/~bbonte/factoryballs.htm) is a Belgian game where you have to match your packing balls with the example provided to pack them into a box. It will take a few run-throughs to get all 14 levels.

Pickies (www.smart-kit.com/games/pickiesIQtester) is speed puzzle game where you have to assemble “pickies” out of the parts that drop from the ceiling. It’s actually pretty hard with the clock ticking.

The other three games are Blocks with Letters On (www.gimme5games.com), the Tetris-like puzzler Perfect Balance (www.armorgames.com), and River Crossing Puzzle (http://freeweb.siol.net/danej/riverIQgame.swf). The latter is essentially an I.Q. test, an adaptation of those logic puzzles where you have five people, one boat and two of the people are cannibals or whatever. Hours of frustrating fun.