Hasta La Gadget!

There’s no two ways about it — Microsoft has moved a truckload of Windows Vista licenses. That said, just 10 percent of all PCs within enterprises in North America and Europe use Vista, with the vast majority sticking to what has worked for years: Windows XP. Company CEO Steve Ballmer had quite the zinger on this topic during a recent interview at an NYC interview to mark the extension of Microsoft’s collaboration with EMC, and we’re certain you’ll love it. Here goes: “If you deploy a four or five-year old operating system today [Windows XP], most people will ask their boss why the heck they don’t have the stuff [Vista / Windows 7] they have at home.” Of course, a one-off remark from some chap that’s not at all pertinent to the day-to-day operations of a company isn’t apt to make a business owner rethink their approach to running their own show, but we’re sure it’s fun for Steve to think that only a handful of consumers out there are still relying on WinXP.

[Via PCWorld]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Ballmer to businesses: deploy WinXP now and face concerns from employees originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been nearly a year since we were first confused about what this whole Moblin thing was going to be, but now here it is released to the wild, roaming about in alpha form and looking to find a home for itself in your netbook. If you haven’t been following along, Moblin is a custom flavor of Linux that Intel has been whipping up for installation on devices using its chips, particularly the Atom but Core 2 processors as well. It’s based on Fedora and, as of this release, is confirmed to work on Acer’s Aspire One and Dell’s Mini, though Eee peeps can check it out too — so long as they don’t mind living without WiFi. Mind you, this is still a very early version and there’s a ways to go before a final release, so feel free to sit this round out if you’re not into the whole bleeding edge thing.

[Via Ars Technica]

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Alpha version of Intel’s Moblin OS released for brave netbookers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already knew that Acer was signed on to load Phoenix Technologies’ HyperSpace instant-on OS onto some of its machines, and we had a hunch that ASUS would be next in line. Today, the aforesaid outfit has affirmed our suspicions by announcing that the company responsible for the overpopulation of the Eee will “incorporate HyperSpace into its next generation laptops.” Oh, and we get the idea ASUS won’t be the last to join in, so you Gateway fanboys can feel free to hold out just a bit longer.

Filed under: Laptops

Phoenix Technologies HyperSpace instant-on OS coming to ASUS laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good news, Windows 7 fanatics — Microsoft has decided to nix that 2.5 million download limit in order to a) calm everyone down and b) enable its servers to relax just a wee bit. After the Windows 7 Beta download was launched, it took just hours to bring the servers to a screeching halt as consumers ’round the globe attempted to get in before the 2.5 million mark was hit. Now, however, the team has removed that barrier for the next fortnight (through January 24th, being that it was decided on Saturday) in effort to make the download experience more ideal. Crisis averted. Just in case you’ve forgotten how good it looks, we’re including a gallery, and don’t remember how much fun we’ve all had running it on the MacBook Pro and the VAIO P.

[Via InformationWeek]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Microsoft temporarily removes Windows 7 Beta download limit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nice going, guys and girls. You had officially brought the servers that Microsoft used to host up Windows 7 Beta on to their knees. According to a statement received from the company by ComputerWorld, Microsoft had to put things on hold for some time in order to “add some infrastructure support to Microsoft.com properties.” The spokeswoman continued by saying that the company “wanted to ensure that customers had the best possible experience when downloading the Beta.” Now, however, we’re receiving word that everything is back in action, so we’d suggest getting those bits and bytes a-flowin’ before we end up in the very same position again.

[Via Digg]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Microsoft puts full-scale Windows 7 Beta back in action originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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