If you’re thinking of skipping the next expensive Microsoft Office upgrade, you can begin preparing today for the move to a free Office-like suite or Web service.

Break from MS Office with free alternatives.

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• How do you beat free? (ibeentoubuntu.com)

On Tuesday, the company unveiled Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook. With it, users don’t have to switch from the familiar Microsoft Outlook interface for calendar, contacts, and e-mail functions. They can continue to use Outlook while connecting directly to Google’s servers. It eliminates the need for an Exchange mail server to be in the loop.

Google Unveils Potential Exchange Killer — Campus Technology.

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• Google Takes Another Swipe At Microsoft. Enterprise Apps Now Sync With Outlook. (techcrunch.com)

You may have heard about a particularly nasty problem with Internet Explorer that was recently discovered by Microsoft.  While the computers are school are protected, you might not be at home.

Please take a moment to download the security patch for your version of Internet Explorer.  This problem affects versions 5, 6, and 7.  To see what version you have, click help on the menu bar and choose “About Internet Explorer”.  This will tell you what version you have so you know what patch to download here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-078.mspx

If you are having trouble with this at home, email me and I can give you more details.  Remember to keep your home computers up-to-date using Microsfot Updates.