One plus One Equals Two Care
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This afternoon Microsoft released Windows Live OneCare 2.0. Finally, the company's consumer security software supports Windows Vista 64-bit. |
I wanted to post about the software based on first-hand experience, but the sign-up link from the beta page is busted.
In a PR e-mail, Microsoft laid out the new features of Windows Live OneCare 2.0. The big change is the multi-PC approach, where the software performs maintenance functions for other computers on the network, centralizes backups and provides monthly reports for networked computers. The multi-PC functions do not require extra copies of OneCare; one account covers all of the multi-PC capabilities.
The new version apparently focuses more on proactive than reactive care, with major emphasis on protecting personal content. The new version is supposed to work with Windows Home Server, which I expect to be the case in this beta with the centralized backups. Consumers willing to pay extra for online backups will eventually be able to use the recently announced Windows Live Folders to save their photos.
Other new features include setup of printer sharing, increased Wi-Fi setup ease and security and proactive tune-ups, which recommend fixes for configuration problems.
The software is available in 17 countries. Windows Live Folders synch isn't supported in the first 2.0 beta and, upon release, OneCare 2.0 will be a free upgrade for existing subscribers. The software also now supports the Windows Vista 64-bit edition. Most other security developers already support the 64-bit Vista. It's better late than never, right?
When I can get my hands on the software, I may blog about the experience.
Related Posts:
- Ballmer is the New Gates, Microsoft Watch, July 9, 2007
- Channeling Microsoft Hosted Services, Microsoft Watch, July 9, 2007
- Which Comes First, Software or Services?, Microsoft Watch, July 9, 2007
- Live Lives, But How Well?, Microsoft Watch, June 27, 2007
- I'm Getting More Concern than (One)Care, Microsoft Watch, May 15, 2007
- Who Pays for Software Plus Services?, Microsoft Watch, March 15, 2007
- What Is Microsoft's Services Platform?, Microsoft Watch, March 1, 2007
- There Will Be More Love and OneCare, Microsoft Watch, January 23, 2007
- Next Release of OneCare Won't Support Vista x64, Microsoft Watch, January 23, 2007
- Sorry, but Live Isn't Dead, Microsoft Watch, December 12, 2006
Comments (4)
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Posted by jackie113 | July 12, 2007 1:24 AM
lol
2.0 already
lol
~
puppet1991.com
Posted by puppet | July 12, 2007 7:38 AM
Great! Yet more bot invasions.
"Most other security developers already support the 64-bit Vista."
Actually, for a long time, the #1 free antivirus, AVG wasn't available for x64. I've seen too many computers infected while AVG was supposedly "protecting" them to recommend it anyway. Avast was always a superior product, and has had x64 support for quite some time now. While I was testing Windows Vista x64 Beta 2 and RC1, that's what I used and it worked well.
I still prefer OneCare for it's ease-of-use, and centralized management of services, as well as it's negligible impact on system performance. Although Vista itself has much of the same service functionality, there is no centralized management. On XP, it's just the best security suite out there because of the above reasons.
I would recommend this to any small business with 6 computers or less that doesn't necessarily have a server, and similarly can designate a non-IT person (if they don't have an IT staff on hand) to manage security tasks from the hub PC.
The new security and manageability technologies that Microsoft is rolling out, like the System Center, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Forefront technologies seem to have worked their way into the home platform - OneCare and Windows Home Server.
Of course Windows Server 2008 is on the way, but the only thing left that Microsoft hasn't talked much about are Codename's "Cougar" and "Centro" - the new version of Small Business Server, and a new mid-sized server SKU, respectively. Cougar supposedly is based on Windows Server 2008 (a given), and includes SQL Server 2005, Exchange 2007, Sharepoint Services 3.0, System Center Essentials (SCE), and WSUS 3.0 (assumed because of SCE).
I have yet to read anything that mentions whether or not ISA Server 2006 will be included, or whether or not it's even needed with Windows Server 2008 setups what with the new security technologies....
Posted by Waethorn | July 12, 2007 4:31 PM
Article doesn't make it clean enough that this is the BETA for 2.0, not the final release.
Posted by Xepol | July 14, 2007 12:57 PM