How To Help Kids Deal With Social Media Cyber Bullying

Cyber Bullying happens 24/7

From Facebook, to Twitter, to Foursquare, social media sites are everywhere and full of virtual land mines for our teens. They can quickly become a victim of cyber bullying.

Anything they say can and may be used against them by a bully at school, a college admissions counselor or a future boss. There are numerous ways they're exposed to the world, from harsh life lessons to predators and scam artists. It's important for parents to teach them how to navigate social media safely, and avoid cyber bullying.

Our mom used to say, "Never put anything in writing that you don't want published on the front page of The New York Times," and this warning definitely applies to present-day social media. That photo of your teen doing something exceptionally dumb can be used against them: by a schoolmate playing a prank, or worse, school administrators - even the police.

A few tips:

1. Caution them not to post anything that could trace them back to their location offline or allow a criminal to take advantage of them, like their full name, Social Security number, address or phone number.


2. Make sure their screen name does not contain any personal information such as email address or birth date.


3. Remind them that under no circumstances should they post anything sexually oriented about themselves or anyone else.

Just as we teach our kids to be polite members of society, there are social ramifications to not using their manners online. It's really difficult to convey tone in text, so be especially careful when you're joking. "Please" and "thank you" (pls and ty if you're texting) go a long way in electronic communications. They help the recipient feel that you're not demanding when you make a request.

Also, teach them to avoid the "rant." No one appreciates being yelled at in the real world, and using bold fonts, lots of exclamation points or all caps is the Internet equivalent.

The best resource we've found for parents to help their kids stay safe on Facebook is "A Parents' Guide to Facebook". It's written by the co-directors of ConnectSafely, a nonprofit organization designed for kids, parents and educators to join in a public discussion about online safety. It's intended to help parents have more meaningful discussions about Facebook, including how to best use it and its built-in protections.

For example, did you know that Facebook has extra protections in place for users between the ages of 13 and 18? That's one reason it's important for your child to report her birth date correctly. In this pamphlet, you'll learn how to gain greater control over your child's Facebook account without being too intrusive into his privacy.

OnGuardOnline , managed by the Federal Trade Commission in partnership with over a dozen government agencies, is literally a treasure-trove of information. The OnGuard Online Blog has up-to-the-minute articles on everything from preventing victimization by online scammers to teaching your kids how to protect themselves online.

Several videos are laugh-out-loud funny (under the Video and Media tab), designed to engage kids with animation and humor while teaching them about online safety. Check out the hilarious one-minute videos about "phishing" (titled "Phishy Home," "Phishy Store," etc.) about criminals trying to obtain personal information to steal your identity.

If you think your teens may be getting themselves into real trouble, trust your instincts. Our primary recommendation is to talk to them first about their experiences. Encourage them to tell you if they feel anxious, uncomfortable or threatened.

We've mentioned this product before, but if you feel like you're not getting the whole story and have exhausted all other options, Spector Pro 6.0 from SpectorSoft can be a useful tool. Designed to document every keystroke, website visited, email sent and received, chat and IM, and all their social media activities, it runs in "ghost mode" so it's undetectable by your child. One word of caution: since it's only installed on your home computer, it's easily circumvented by accessing the Internet from a mobile device or friend's computer.

If stalking your kids on Facebook still isn't keeping them safe, email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com for more tips to protect your kids from social media dangers.

Want a New Computer? What You Need to Know Now!

Everything you need to know about buying a new computer.

Buying a new computer can be almost as stressful as buying a new car. How do you find the best fit for your needs without blowing your budget? If you sign on for all the bells and whistles, or have your heart set on a top-of-the-line Mac, that new computer could set you back more than a down payment on a Civic. Before you pull out your credit card, let’s review some options so you can pick the right machine.

New Computer: The Best PC:

Desktop: A desktop PC is usually the most appropriate PC option for a family in which more than one person will regularly use it. The good news is that desktop PCs are relatively inexpensive, endlessly customizable and will likely run just about any software program you throw at them. The bad news is that once you get the desktop home and set up, it’s not going anywhere (without you risking a lower back injury).If price and personalization are more important than portability, I’m a fan of Dell’s “build-to-suit” options. Dell Inspiron i570-9114BK Desktop ($399-$450) is a great bargain PC! Just keep in mind you’ll still need to budget for a monitor. If you aren’t sure that a Desktop computer is your best fit, continue reading. Our guide to buying a new computer has a lot of helpful tips.

Netbook: Often confused with a tablet (think iPad), this is more like a miniature, pared-down laptop. Netbooks are cheap, tiny and, well, cheap. They offer inexpensive, portable access to the Web, with the ability to do some word processing. The price point is alluring — typically $200 to $400 — which is certainly less than a tablet with a keyboard add-on. However, netbooks aren’t very powerful so programs tend to run very slowly, their screens are small (typically around 10 inches), and you won’t get the cool touch screen you would with a tablet. If price and portability trump functionality, consider Acer Aspire One ($270) we think it’s the best notebook for the price.

Laptop: If you need a fully functioning computer that can run a multitude of software programs and still travel with you from home to school or office, a laptop is likely your best bet. You can customize your options much like a desktop, which means that prices can vary greatly. Expect to pay around $500 for a basic, fully functioning laptop. The basic system I like is HP g7-1310us Laptop ($500).

New Computer: The Best Apple Computer:

The Mac vs. Windows debate rages in many households, even mine. While the Mac user’s “I don’t get viruses” claim is not entirely true (Mac computers can be infected with Malware), only a handful of infections have attacked Mac systems in the last decade. With prices starting as $1,000, Macs are certainly more expensive than Windows PCs, and they’re typically pre-built — so don’t plan on much customization. However, Apple commands a higher price because Mac hardware typically is superior to that of an entry-level PC; a similarly equipped Windows machine would cost around the same. And many argue that the Mac’s software better accommodates graphic design and video editing.

The 27-inch iMac Desktop Is an extremely powerful computer. This Mac is perfect if you are a graphic designer, Video Editor, other digital creative fields. The screen is so large, that it is perfect for people who work with multiple windows opened at once. Because Apple iMac 27-Inch Desktop ($1,900) is geared for graphics, it’s fast processor makes it a good gaming computer as well.

13-inch Apple Macbook is an awesome laptop computer, if your budget allows, this laptop will last for a long time and accommodate almost any project you will encounter. Apple iMac 27-Inch Desktop ($1,100) computers are even capable of running the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. If you are looking for the best all-in-one laptop, consider a Mac Book.

WANT MORE HELP? If you’ve narrowed down your choices but still have some questions about upgrades, components or where to get the best deal, ask us a question in the comments, and I’ll spill all my insider secrets to help you buy the ABSOLUTE BEST COMPUTER for your needs and budget.

[transcript]Hi. I'm Ryan from Nerds On Call, and today we're going to be talking about how to buy a new computer. Well, these days, computers come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. From desktops to laptops to netbooks, and then there's that crazy Apple. So, what do you do when you're looking for a new computer?

Well, let's talk about desktops first. That's the main computer that's out there. When you buy a new desktop, you don't want to buy the highest, most expensive computer you can find because it'll out date quickly. So, what you want to do is look for a mid range PC, something that's affordable, around the $300-$500  range, because you can upgrade just about anything inside of a desktop tower fairly easily. Where you really want to spend some extra dough though, is probably on a monitor. That's what you're going to be looking at all day, so you want to make sure it's crisp and clear, and easy to see.

Another kind of computer is the netbook. Now, these are usually really small, about 11 inches or so, and they're nice because they're really portable and easy to use. Right now, tablets are starting to take over the market though, so a netbook is kind of becoming outdated. The keyboards are a little small, they're under powered, and their battery life isn't the greatest. These days, I would probably stay away from a netbook and look more at a tablet.

Laptop computers are probably the most dominant kind of computer to buy these days because they're so easy and portable and they're getting cheaper and cheaper. When you look at a laptop, generally what you want to do is buy is the highest end that you could afford. The reason why? You can't really upgrade them very easily. Sure, you can add some ram or hard drive if you know what you're doing, but usually it's going to take a specialist to fix things from the keyboard to the screen to just about anything else in it. So you want to spend a little extra money on a laptop to make sure that you get the best one that's going to last the longest.

So, one of the biggest arguments at my house is weather you go Apple, or weather you go PC. It doesn't really matter these days. It really depends on your support group. If you've got a lot of friends and family that are using Apple products, you should probably go Apple. But if everybody's using Windows that you know, use Windows. You're going to need some support  to make sure you get help when you need it.[/transcript]

Computer parts: CPU, Hard Drive, Giga...what?

Computer parts - do they have to name them such dorky names?

Going Back to school is a great time to take advantage of retailers competing for parent's dollars, and finally upgrade from that old Windows 98 machine limping along in your basement. In fact, please do yourself a favor, if you still have windows 98, please upgrade!

However, between gigabytes and megabytes, the component descriptions can be harder to decipher than your teenager's last six text messages. From RAM to hard drive to software, how does the non-nerd decide what's worth upgrading, and what to forego to save a few bucks? Allow me to demystify some of the tech terms so you can confidently tell that sales rep exactly what you want.

Tech Term #1 What is a CPU: The CPU is like your computer's brain. It controls every action your system performs, so spending some upgrade dollars here is a good way to ensure your new computer stays viable longer.

You are most likely to see the CPU described in terms that may look like gibberish to the average consumer. Intel or AMD will be your most common choices, and while I could make arguments for the benefits of both processors, for the sake of simplicity I like Intel because it is easier to decipher descriptions. Most Intel systems will come with the option of i3, i5, or i7 and speed and performance of your system will increase as you go up in number.

Tech Term #2 What is a Hard Drive: The size of hard drive you select determines how much data you can store on your computer. When deciding whether or not to pay more for a larger hard drive, think of your planned usage. The larger your hard drive, the more Gigabytes you can store.

Tech Term #3 What is a Gigabyte: To give you some perspective, you can store 150-200 high quality photos in 1 GB. Video files vary greatly based on length and quality, but storing an average standard definition DVD on your drive will take about 2-5GB. Documents and drivers don't take much space.


Tech Term #4 What is RAM: For most users, RAM will be the most noticeable upgrade. The amount of RAM in your system is the primary factor in how fast it can boot up, launch a program, navigate between them, and generally respond to your inputs.

If you have too little RAM for the amount of tasks you ask your system to perform, it will run slowly, freeze, or crash. Based on the demands of current operating systems and software, I would recommend aiming for 4GB of RAM and upgrading as your budget and system permits. Windows 7 32-bit can't recognize more than 4GB (more on that in a minute). It's cheaper to upgrade now than later, and while you may not need all that speed now, software upgrades you install in the future will require more RAM than that same program does today.

Tech Term #5 How Many "Bits" Do I Need: While the lion's share of new PCs will come pre-loaded with a Microsoft Windows operating system, you may be presented with the choice of Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit. If you don't have many programs to install after getting the new system home, we'd recommend selecting the 64-bit version of Windows as it's the newest architecture, what all computers will eventually run standard, and currently somewhat less attacked by virus writers.

If you need to run older software on your new system, they will likely run more smoothly on Windows 7 32-bit. While the 64-bit operating system has an emulator that promises to allow older software to run, there may be compatibility issues.
If the tag on the new computer you're considering still looks like it's written in a foreign language, send me a note at www.callnerds.com/andrea for help deciphering the code.

[transcript]Hi, I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call, and today we're going to be talking about decoding PC specs. One of the first things we want to talk about is the processor. It's usually made by Intel or AMD. Now when you buy a processor for your computer, or when you are looking at a processor for your computer, you want to make sure you get the fastest one available for your budget. This is the main part of your computer where all the thinking is done, so all of the things that you open or close or programs you run, they're all going to need a fast processor in order to do it, so you want to pay close attention to what that is.

The next part of your PC that we want to talk about is your hard drive. Now your hard drive is long-term storage, that's where everything is stored. From your pictures, to your movies, to your documents. So you want to make sure you have a nice large hard drive to store all your stuff. One of the most important but often overlooked specs on a machine, is the RAM. You want to make sure you get as much RAM as you can. Now RAM is your short- term memory, so every time you open a program, save a document, look at photos, all of it has to load into RAM first, as it's going to the processor. So, the more RAM you have the faster your machine will seem, so get as much RAM as you can possibly afford for your machine. These days when you buy a Windows machine you get a choice between a 32-bit operating system or a 64-bit operating system.

I usually recommend that people go to the 64-bit operating system, because that's sort of the wave of the future. It's where everything's going, so if you get something in a 32-bit, in a few years there's not going to be very many programs written for 32-bit. Plus, 64-bit is a little more secure. Not a lot of virus writers are writing 64-bit code just to infect your machine. Hey, thanks for watching. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call.[/transcript]

What To Do Before You Call Tech Support

Simple fixes could keep you away from tech support

I am clueless when it comes to appliances. More than once I have called out a repair person to fix my dishwasher or dryer, only to discover that the power cable is loose, or that the exhaust is clogged with lint. A little basic troubleshooting could have saved me $100 or so (luckily for you, Nerds On Call doesn't charge for estimates), if only I'd known what easy things to try before having someone out. Over the years at Nerds on Call I have discovered that there are some simple things that fix a surprising number of computer problems, and trying them before you call a computer repair company could save you time, money and frustration.

Shut Down your computer and Restart: Shutting down is a good first step for just about any electronic device that is frozen, has stopped functioning as it should, or has given you a cryptic error. From computers to printers, routers, even personal electronics like MP3 players and cell phones, you'd be surprised how often a random problem just never returns after a system re-boot. If your system is frozen, resist the urge to pull the plug. Pressing and holding the power button for five to seven seconds should cause your system to do a hard shut down. Make sure you restart the tower, not just the monitor.

Having Trouble With Your Internet Connection: When your internet network goes down, there's a specific order in which you should restart the various parts. If you have a high speed internet connection and more than one computer, you likely have a modem and a router. If one or all of the systems on your network can no longer get online, try a network 'power cycle' before you spend the next few hours on hold with your internet provider. Shut down all systems that can't get online, the modem and the router. Shutting off a modem or router often requires disconnecting the power cable. You'll know you've got it when the lights on the unit turn off. Turn them back on in the following order, allowing each device a few minutes to connect before moving on to the next: modem, router, and then computer(s).

Power Off: If restarting the system or device doesn't work, try shutting down and unplugging the tower from the wall before plugging it back in and restarting. If you have a laptop or other portable electronic device, remove the battery (if possible) to ensure that your system has fully re-booted.


Recreate the problem: This probably sounds counter-intuitive. Unfortunately, it's common for computers to encounter a rare series of circumstances that causes something to malfunction, and after restarting you may never see the error or behavior again. In order to fix a problem, any technician is going to need to be able to see it happen. If they can't recreate the problem, they won't be able to find the cause which will waste your time and possibly money, so make sure that you know how to show the tech exactly what's happening.

Google the error message: While this may result in an even more confusing wave of codes and cryptic information, some easy to fix problems result in really bizarre error messages. You may just need to change a printer cartridge or load more paper, or re-install a driver. If the solution to your problem seems to confusing, then at that point, you can call a computer repair company.

Run your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs: I know, I know, you hear this from me over and over. If you're encountering an odd error, pop-up, or slow system, updating and running your protection programs certainly isn't going to hurt.

If these tips don't keep you away from tech support, at least there's a good chance that it's worth calling a professional. If you (gasp!) are having trouble with your Mac computer, drop me a note for my list of what to try before calling Apple Care.

Video Transcription:

Hi everybody. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call and today we are going to be 
talking about what to do before you call tech support.

So, one of the first things you want to do is turn off the device, whether 
it be a computer, a phone or a tablet. Turn it off and get all the way 
powered down first and then restart it. See if the error or the problem still
 exists.

The next thing you want to do is check the cables, if it's a computer and you
r monitor suddenly turns off or for some reason a USB device is no longer
 working, just go into the back of the machine and make sure everything is
 still plugged in, make sure they are nice and tight. One little error every
 now and then isn't that big of a deal but if Windows consistent errors keep 
coming up, that tells you that something's wrong.

So, if you get an outlook error or if your hard-drive suddenly gives you
 some beep or noise, you want to see what you can do to try to get that happen
 again. That way when you hire a professional to come look at it, you can 
tell them exactly what's happening.

Figure out what the error code is and type that in Google. Often times, you 
will figure out really quickly what the problem is. Whether it is hardware 
or software like for example, Photoshop just crashed and you got a blue
screen, then maybe you just have to re-install Photoshop and not have the
 hire a professional to fix it for you.

Best Computer Repair: Secrets They Don't Want You To Know.

Best Computer Repair Company, How To Choose Wisely.

Computer repair is like taking your car to the mechanic, at least for most of us. As much as I depend on my car, it's a mystery how all the parts work together to get me down the road. This lack of fundamental understanding of the car's inner workings makes me feel vulnerable and out of control every time the mechanic tells me what's wrong, and what needs to be done to fix it. If he tells me it's the flux capacitor, how would I know if I was being taken for a ride? That makes it especially hard to find a mechanic and finding the best computer repair professional puts most people in the same uncomfortable position. Here's my guide to the questions you should ask to ensure your trusty PC is in good hands.


#2 Who will fix my computer? Many larger chains outsource repair work overseas to reduce their overhead. This can make it difficult to get questions answered after service. Anyone who has spent an hour searching for their music files after having Windows reinstalled can attest to how frustrating this can be. If you're considering an independent repair person, what happens if they encounter a question or problem they don't know the answer to?

#3 Can I get a free fixed estimate? It frustrates me to pay for an estimate. In know it's broken. I want to know how much it will cost to fix it, not pay someone else to confirm it's broken. When I started my company, it was rare to find a computer repair person willing to look at your computer without charging something, but these days there is so much competition in the industry that free estimates are much easier to come by. What happens if the technician's original estimate or what he/she thinks the computer will require isn't going to work? This is not uncommon. When will you be provided with a new or revised estimate and can you decline at that time without charge?

#4 Do you charge by the hour, or do you offer flat pricing? If you pay by the hour, a computer repair technician is inherently motivated to work slowly. If they aren't initially familiar with your problem and need to research or work through trial and error, you pay for their inexperience.

#5 What happens if I have a problem after service? This is especially important if you are considering a small or one-man operation. If there's only one person doing the work and they're likely to be busy with another customer when you call, how long are you going to have to wait to get help? What sort of guarantee or warranty do they offer on parts and service? Make sure that the company stands behind their work before you give them your trust.

If dropping your laptop off at the shop makes you as nervous as leaving your child at their first day of preschool, contact me for more tips to select the best computer repair professional!

[transcript]Hi, I'm Ryan from nerds on call, and today were going to be talking about how to hire a computer repair professional. We came up with a list of things to look for when you're when you're hiring a computer repair guy. Now if you take your entire computer apart and haul it into a shop you might think that they're going to fix it there. But not always, especially if you go to a large retailer. A lot of times they will take it in and they will either ship it out to someplace else to be fixed, especially if it's a laptop or they will connected to the Internet, and somebody from another country will fix it.

Well if you're like me, I'm going to be a little bit more leery about somebody else but I've never seen before touching the stuff inside my computer. Like my pictures and my documents and things that I don't everybody seeing. Always ask who's going to be fixing it, where is it going to be fixed and how is it going to be fixed It's really frustrating to have to pay for an estimate. You already know it's broken, so why pay some body for the details. Basically, you want to make sure that when you get your computer fixed, you find out up front how much it is going to cost before they even start work.

Next you want to find out what happens after service is there warranty or some kind of guarantee? You want to make sure that after your computer comes back to you 30 or 60 days later, if the same problem occurs. What is the computer repair shop going to do about it? You want to make sure that you get it in writing or at least speak to somebody like a manager and find out exactly what is going to happen, if something goes wrong in the future.[/transcript]

Computer Upgrades: Hard Drives, Part 1

Hard Drives can be an easy computer upgrade.

My computer repair company services thousands of PCs each year.  In my experience, there are some constants: no one’s computer or Internet speed is ever fast enough and all hard drives will eventually fail.

Hard drives physically fail more than any other internal component: no surprise, given it’s the workhorse of your PC or laptop.  This data-storage and data-retrieval device consists of one or more “hard” discs that spins really fast and a read/write spindle that accesses and records data on the disc.  I liken it to a record player (remember those?).  Now ponder that the ability of your system to boot up, run Mine Sweeper, and give you access to your precious data is resting on this somewhat tenuous structure.

As with every internal component in a computer, manufacturers have developed a series of acronyms and codes to describe everything from size, to speed, to capacity.  While I can’t tell you why the industry seems devoted to confusing consumers, I can help breakdown the specifications so that when the day comes to replace your drive (see how I say that as an inevitability?) you’ll be prepared.

Form Factor: This is the physical dimension of the hard drive.  The most popular size is 3.5 inches – the standard size for desktop (tower) PCs.  Laptop hard drives are typically 2.5 inches.  Hard drives that are physically larger accommodate more storage space while the smaller drives consume less power and produce less heat, key factors in the notebook environment.

Capacity: Anyone familiar with computer-speak has probably heard of "megabytes" and "gigabytes," possibly even "terabytes," but it’s hard to guess how much space you’ll really need.  Documents and device drivers don't take up much space.  You can store 150-200 high-quality photos in 1 GB.  A standard-definition DVD takes about 2-5GB.  The main wild card is if you take a lot of high definition home videos, as the higher the quality of the image, the larger the file.  HD content can eat up hard drive space quickly and it will vary with the length of video.  If you're a "gamer," you’ll probably need lots of space for the data-heavy files that make big games run smoothly.  I typically tell the average user not to upgrade capacity beyond the standard 500GB drive likely to come installed in a new PC, but these days it depends on your photography habits.

RPM: Just like with your car, this means revolutions per minute.  As you’d expect, the faster your drive’s RPM, the less time it takes your computer to access stored data.  Higher RPM may sound nice, especially when you've dealt with slower computers in the past, but keep in mind that it comes with a price.  Higher RPMs can equate to louder-sounding machines and more heat generation (and thus less energy efficiency).  They can also fail more often, given that they're living under a higher-stress environment.  The average desktop user should be comfortable with a 7,200 RPM hard drive, though speeds in the industry can go as high as 15,000 RPM.  Laptop users will find 5,400 RPM to be more typical.

Cache: Cache is a small area of faster memory within the hard drive used as a buffer between the CPU, memory (RAM) and hard drive.  Think of it like a carryon bag – the bigger it is, the more stuff you can get to quickly without having to dig into your suitcase.  You'll typically find cache sizes of 2MB, 8MB and 16MB in the standard 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch drives.  Larger cache size equates to faster performance and tends to cost more.

Stay tuned next week for the lowdown on the next generation of hard drives for a computer upgrade: solid state drives and hybrid drives.  Is it worth the cost to upgrade?  You’ll have to wait and see!

Why You Should Upgrade Windows NOW!

Upgrade Windows now, seriously, we can wait...started yet...?

Your computer’s operating system is the most integral part of how your machine functions. It determines how you view and launch programs, how stable software runs, and how your desktop looks and functions. Whether you’re nursing a trusty Windows XP machine or have resigned yourself to living with Vista, the prospect of "upgrade windows" can be daunting. There are a number of reasons to consider making the leap.

Let’s face it, change isn’t always good. Anyone using Windows Vista can attest to that. It seems Microsoft is doomed to release a dud every decade; before Vista it was ME (Millennium Edition). No one would blame you for being wary of Windows 7, but it’s legit – I promise. If you’re one of the millions that still haven’t made the leap to Windows 7, here is why you should consider a windows upgrade:


New software programs are written for Windows 7. If you haven’t already found a program that isn’t compatible with your older operating system, that day is coming. Every piece of hardware that runs on your machine, from internal components like graphics cards to external components like monitors and printers, have software (known as “drivers”) that allows it to be recognized by your operating system. When the time comes to replace a piece of supporting hardware, you may find that there are not drivers to make it run on your machine.

Many users that are resistant to upgrading windows live with annoying errors and system crashes. These are often caused by bugs that are no longer a priority for Microsoft to fix, or incompatibility between a newer software program or device and your older operating system. Upgrading windows will typically fix these glitches.

More and more programmers are moving to Windows 7’s 64-bit architecture. Comparing XP’s 32-bit to 64-bit is like comparing a go-cart to a car. Both get you where you need to go, eventually, but the car will be more stable, faster and last you longer.

You may be wondering why I’d suggest you move to Windows 7 when Windows 8 is slated to release before the end of the year. When it comes to Microsoft operating systems, there’s no prize for being an early adopter. Windows 8 is dramatically different from all previous versions of Windows in appearance and functionality, being more like the interface you may be used to seeing on a mobile touch screen device (think, tablet or Smartphone). There are inevitably going to be early holes and bugs. Why give yourself the headache of finding them for Microsoft?

Finally, there is a small risk that the release of Windows 8 will make it harder to upgrade to Windows 7. When Microsoft released Vista it immediately stopped shipping XP. Consumer anger eventually persuaded them to allow Dell and other distributors to offer buyers a choice between XP and Vista when buying new machines, but if they follow the same model with Windows 8 you may miss out on the stability of Windows 7 if your system requires upgrading after the release of the new OS.