The Latest News In Windows, Office, MSSQL & More

Behind the public hype around the release of Windows 11, on the same day, Microsoft quietly launched the latest version of the standalone version of their productivity suite, Office 2021.Unlike the subscription-based Microsoft 365 service, this product is for customers who prefer a one-time purchase.It is important to note that current Microsoft 365 customers do not need Office 2021, as they already have all the functionality. Supported Operating Systems Office 2021 supports Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS Office 2021 versions The latest office client comes in two flavors: Office 2021 or Office 2021 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). The...

Changes to the Microsoft Open License program In September 2020, Microsoft announced that they were discontinuing the Open License model. Initially announced for commercial users only, Microsoft has extended this to include government, education, and non-profit customers.Let's have a look at what this truly means to any existing users of this model wishing to purchase Microsoft licenses in the future. What is the Microsoft Open License program? To understand the change, we need first to know the history of the program.Microsoft first launched this program over 20 years ago to accommodate organizations of up to 750 users, requiring a minimum...

Microsoft officially launched Windows Server 2022 on August 18, 2021. Let’s dive right into all the new features that come with this latest edition. Security This latest version of Windows Server has a multi-layered approach to protecting your infrastructure against advanced threats. Secured-core server Utilizing certified hardware from your OEM partner, this feature uses a combination of drivers, firmware, and hardware to protect systems against highly sophisticated attacks. The extra protection is beneficial for mission-critical loads and in industries with high data sensitivity. Hardware root-of-trust Secure chips, such as Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0), store data to ensure that...

Ten years ago, when we were just starting out, we had a dream: to be one of the few tech companies in the United States that offers amazing products at low prices. My Choice Software, an American-owned and operated computer hardware and software eCommerce retailer was founded. Our story had humble beginnings, but soon our hard work and excellent, US-based customer service started to make our brand stand out.  As more customers sought our services, we worked hard to ensure that they were completely satisfied with our products and services. We evolved every day and, more than that, we created...

The Click-to-Run feature in the Microsoft Office product suite is an auto-update service that aims to provide a hassle-free office installation experience for most versions of Office 2013 and newer. Click-to-Run uses a streaming and virtualization technology that allows users to use Office programs even before they are installed on your Windows computer.  While many users find the Click-to-Run feature helpful as they can edit documents, presentations, Excel sheets right away while the download and installation process continues in the background, some have complaints and concerns as the service is always running in the background and slowing down the PC....