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1. 
   Review - Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows Vista/2008

   8.0 Beta 1 (Mar 13, 2008)

   Wow, it seems many reviewers here either haven't actually used this browser, or don't understand what a "developer only" release means. Clearly, this browser is not so good for your joe average user.
   
   Here are the primary reasons why the average person does NOT want to install this:
   
   *The rendering engine is now pretty much fully compliant with most of the latest html/css standards (in stark contrast with any other version of IE!). This is great, but... A majority of sites have incorrect methods of browser detection and feed the same old broken, proprietary, we're-dealing-with-the-fscking-broken-ie html/css that needs to be fed to ie6/7. This kind of code displays in an "interesting" way on IE8, interesting in the sense that it's not as the developer intended and probably not how the user likes. Welcome to the feeling a lot of us get (less and less often :) ) when browsing with Opera, Firefox, Seamonky, etc... :)
   
   *It's a code base that has had many parts that are substantially rewritten. So, it might be kinda unstable (seems stable to me though).
   
   *Umm well, that's about it :)
   
   Now, as for the *intended* audience, this is clearly a great (yet not perfect) piece of software.
   
   *Developer tools applet greatly speeds debugging your xhtml/css. Hello! Finally something to compete with the firefox developer add-ins! Ahh, and you don't even have to go trawling about looking for add-ins :)
   
   *Easily switch to IE7 rendering mode. This is a very good idea, but it requires a restart of the browser, so it's less than totally useful. However, many sites don't have as severe a problem and can be made to wirk on the fly by using the developer tools->view->change compatability mode->[pick one] Gmail and google maps can be fixed in this way. The new yahoo mail is another matter, but that doesn't even work in Opera these days so fsck them ;) Another way to get around the restart to change compatability mode is to simply run two different processes of IE8. Unlike Firefox, IE starts a new process when you click the icon so you can change one of them to be compatible and one to be standards based.
   
   *IE8 is noticeably faster than IE5.x/6/7 when doing general browsing.
   
   *The new web slices and web activities are good ideas and will likely take off as more sites develop them
   
   All in all I can recommend it being very worthwhile to install IE8 beta1 in the following scenarios:
   
   *You use Opera/Firefox/etc... as your primary browser
   
   *You are a web developer primarily using IE and can live with some sites not working as expected.
   
   If you are in the target audience I rate a 4. If you aren't then I would wait a 6mos-year or so and take another look. :)

2. 
   Review - Staff-FTP

   2.93 (Feb 4, 2008)

   This client has lots of nice features BUT, it is incompatible with many ftp sites and has a quirky/buggy interface in places.
   
   It's probably great if you're in warez. NOT so great for the average user. The focus of the software is obvious...

3. 
   Review - Screenshot Captor

   2.30.02 (Feb 8, 2007)

   Nagware is nagware and is not freeware. This is nagware and would be better described if it was in the shareware catagory. It is a functional program, and works well, but not any better or easier than many other shareware screenshot programs.
   
   If you're looking for freeware, something you can roll out to a large network without any headaches in maintaining it or "achieving" free use, without going through purchasing, look elsewhere. If you have to go through purchasing, then there are better commercial products.

4. 
   Review - µTorrent for Windows

   1.6.1 Beta Build 481 (Sep 25, 2006)

   This is, quite simply and by far, the best BT client available. Highly recomended.

5. 
   Review - BitSpirit

   3.2.1.210 (Sep 25, 2006)

   Reasonably decent interface and features but, contrary to what they state, this program is not at all "lite" or easy on system resources. μTorrent or even bitcomet is a much better choice. If you're one of those who doesn't mind more resource usage and wants lots of features then save your time with this and just get the java based azureus

6. Comment - Palm Pre gets iTunes sync again

   3.2.1.210 (Jul 28, 2009 - 9:24 AM)

   It's not about what the software does; it's about what the user does.

7. Comment - It's Office 2010: First technical previews due in Q3

   3.2.1.210 (Apr 16, 2009 - 11:51 PM)

   One of the nice things about Exchange 2010 OWA is that the premium experience will be enabled on browsers other than IE. Specifically, they are committing to supporting OWA premium on Firefox and Safari. Since Safari's there I'd bet Chrome will work too :)
   
   It's been a long time coming!

8. Comment - It's Office 2010: First technical previews due in Q3

   3.2.1.210 (Apr 16, 2009 - 11:47 PM)

   It should be in SP2 for 2007. ODF is all well and good for compatability, but most people in corps probably won't use it by default due to missing features.
   
   The 2007 version of OOXML has worked great for over a year now where I work and now the managed APIs are coming around which will be great for dynamically generating, updating, and merging content on servers with no office installed.

9. Comment - Next-generation FireWire finalized, but USB 3.0 will be faster

   3.2.1.210 (Aug 2, 2008 - 6:24 PM)

   Hmm, I'm uninformed WRT this improved efficiency but I'm guessing this fact still remains: USB is CPU bound and 1394 isn't.
   
   Still any improvments to USB 3.0 they make will be welcomed :) I wonder if there's still the Intel vs. World situation going on with it?

10. Comment - Next Office 2007 service pack will include ODF, PDF support options

    3.2.1.210 (May 22, 2008 - 10:54 AM)

    People may want to read this blog about some of the "whys":
    http://blogs.technet.com...007-service-pack-2.aspx
    
    It's pretty funny to read, "There are really two central catalysts for these actions. One of these is the feedback we have received from the regulatory environment." Regardless of where the feedback came from, it is nice to see things moving in the right direction. :)