I'm pretty manic about my laptops. It drives my wife nuts because I need to buy a new laptop every year. The reason is simple - technology. Or better put - Moore's Law. Each year technology evolves, making each new laptop more powerful , lighter, and with more storage and a brighter, higher resolution screen. Man, I love it.

The initial analysis of our February 2008 Processor Survey results.

Systems with multi-processors, once found only on servers and other extreme high end performance systems, have found there way into the general consumer arena. The percentage of systems running PC Pitstop's on-line diagnostics and having multiprocessors grew from just over 1% in January 2006 to almost 30% in January 2008. The percentage of portables that have multi-processors has reached almost 40% in January 2008. A comparison of Intel to AMD shows AMD with a slight edge in both desktops and portable platforms as a percentage of their respective number of system with multi-processors.

Blame it on the chewing gum.

Double the processor cores means twice a fast, right? That's what a lot of people are mistakenly thinking. In the past three years, starting with the AMD Opteron, both major producers have been serving up dual core processors like they were tater chips. Manufacturers have been incorporating them into their latest and greatest portables and desktop offerings. Intel has confirmed this as a great decision by following suite with their version of Dual and even Quad core processors. The general public is snatching them up like chips for dip.

PC Pitstop has long been a source of information about unwanted software and how it spreads. Now we're using our test results database to give you weekly updates about which programs are the most prolific. The prevalence numbers indicate the percent of PCs tested at PC Pitstop where we detected that file running. Our detection works by file name, so some products may be listed multiple times if they consist of two or more files. To check for spyware, adware, unneeded programs, and many other common PC problems, try PC Pitstop Exterminate or our full system scan.

Long time no see. What? It's past Ground Hog's Day? Man, I feel like I've been buried in a hole. The reason is because I have been working non stop on a (w)hole redesign of our world renowned Full Tests. We are renaming the service, PC Pitstop OverDrive Beta. Our plan is to run the beta for as long as necessary to weed out any last bugs. The product has already undergone substantial testing, but it is not possible to foresee every situation without a formal and public beta period. Once that is over, our plan is to move our signature Full Tests to OverDrive. Vrooom!

The initial analysis of our January 2008 Photo Printing Survey results.

All Brand New and Ready to Roll

Yep, when I plunk down $500.00 to $1200.00 or more, I'd like to think I'm getting the latest and greatest. We all know electronics become outdated faster than potato salad at a Texas picnic, but I would at least expect to get the darned thing out of the box before having to update it. Our recent comparisons found just the opposite.

Dual Core Doldrums
PC Pitstop OverDrive BETA
Bits from Bill: Virtual 3D
Dual Core - Double Delicious
Music Video Contest
Research: Multi Processor Trends
Processor Survey Results
Survey: SPAM
Tip: Clean Photocopy & Scan
Tip: Disable Vista Auto Update
Tip: Surf the Web Your Way

100 Million Tests & Counting
New PCs Burdened with Old Drivers
Bits from Bill: Winpatrol 14
Vista Blues Vocalized
New Full Test Tip
Research: Tax Prep Software
Photo Printing Survey Results
Survey: AMD vs. Intel
Tip: Total Copy move files faster
Tip: Noisy Fans, and how to fix them.
Tip: TinyURL