A month after a record-setting batch of updates, the November ‘Patch Tuesday’ package will contain just six updates. Of those, at least three appear to be revisions or repetition of updates from the October release.

Two weeks after the launch of Windows 7 and I think we can safely say it went rather well. There was a successful build-up to the launch, a huge buzz created around the new operating system, and despite a few upgrade hiccups very few technical difficulties for end users. And first week sales figures suggest consumers responded by opening their wallets.

Microsoft has announced another 800 job cuts. The cuts appear to be across the board rather than through specific departments being axed.

Just a fortnight after announcing the deal, Microsoft got its knickers in a twist and pulled out of sponsoring Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show. But never mind, because another sponsor has stepped into the breach. Microsoft, meanwhile, has been shown to have what most people would consider double standards when it comes to which shows to advertise on.

Worms are the quickest growing security problem for Windows PCs this year according to Microsoft. It comes as “drive-by downloads” and adware become less of a problem.

The Windows taskbar has always been where you found your open programs.  You could easily move from one to the other just by left clicking icons on the taskbar.  The Windows 7 taskbar works the same way, but it has a few handy features of which you might want to take advantage.

When Microsoft announced Microsoft Security Essentials, its new free antivirus software designed to replace Windows Live OneCare, it was treated with contempt by the vendors of both other free antivirus software and the paid-for security suites. But a recent testing of the most popular antivirus products placed MSE on a par with the paid-for products and above its free competitors.

Microsoft has found a solution to a problem which caused some Windows 7 upgrades to freeze up before completion. But the firm has yet to solve a separate problem where machines are caught in a reboot cycle.

It took Microsoft a long time to decide to enter the retail sector and open stores of its own. But it’s finally doing so, and going head-to-head with bitter rival Apple in the process. With the opening of its second store, in the same mall as an Apple Store, the war is finally on.

One of the leading players in the Linux world has described Windows 7 as “excellent”. But some of Mark Shuttleworth’s other comments are a perfect example of the phrase “damning with faint praise.”

Two weeks ago, Microsoft proudly announced it was to be the sole sponsor of Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show. Now, all of a sudden, it has pulled out due to issues over the content. Has no one at Microsoft ever seen Family Guy before? Because it looks as though someone made the decision after finally watching an episode of the hit show.

The advance hype is over and Windows 7 is now out in finished form (well, as finished as constantly updated software can be). Should you upgrade? That’s a question only you can answer, but we’ve got some tips and suggestions to help make that decision.

The release of Windows 7 went well, with just a few problems marring an otherwise perfect launch. It succeeded where Vista failed two-and-a-half years ago. But there was one strange addition to the Windows 7 launch that I don’t recall ever being present at the launch of any other operating system, Microsoft or otherwise. That’s right, burgers seemed to be the order of the day for some inexplicable reason.

Associating different programs with certain file types makes those files easy to open or listen to.  For instance, associating Microsoft Word with .doc files allows you to quickly open word files when you download them.  Other files can be associated with a variety of different programs.  Gif files, a type of picture file, can be opened by many different programs like Internet Explorer, Paint, Windows Media Player, Picasa and other photo/picture viewers.  What happens if your pictures or music don’t open in your preferred program? When that happens you need to change the file type association.

It’s not been a bad week for Microsoft. Thursday saw the release of Windows 7, and Friday saw the company announce its quarterly results. Although not fantastic, they are better than expected and the market reacted positively, with Microsoft shares rising by 9 percent at one stage of the trading day.