As Nicholas Negroponte told us a few months back, One Laptop Per Child’s (OLPC) XO laptop will be getting a Microsoft Windows XP operating system. It will not, however, completely replace the Sugar Linux OS that has been on the systems to date.

A joint press release from Microsoft and One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) revealed that trials of the XO running Windows are planned to begin as soon as in June in select emerging markets. The release also mentioned that the intent is to create a version of the XO laptop that provides the ability to host both Windows and Linux operating systems. Finally, a Sugar/Windows XP Boot Camp?!

Then again, what’s the use of having the Sugar interface if XP will be able to support the laptop’s e-book reading mode, standard Wi-Fi networking, camera, writing pad, and custom keys as well as power-saving and other features of the XO hardware? Next week we’re heading up to Cambridge to get some hands-on time with the new system. Stay tuned for our initial impressions.

Mini-notebooks, such as the Eee PC 900 and the HP Mini-Note, could be the hottest things around since those nude pictures of Lindsay Lohan. But how about the real temperature of these little guys? Do they toast your legs while sitting in bed? Do your fingertips get warm while typing on the keyboard?

After some heated time with the HP Mini-Note, I took it upon myself to do some scientific testing of the small systems. Using a Raytek Mini Temp Non-Contact Thermometer Gun—our new favorite toy in the office—I’ve been testing the heat on four of the most popular mini-notebook models: the Eee PC 900, the Eee PC 701, the Everex CloudBook, and the HP Mini-Note. I also threw in a normal Dell Latitude D630 notebook as a standard laptop variable.

Since laptops have a few different heat-sensitive regions, I took readings on the the underside of the notebook, on the keyboard between the G and H key, and on the touchpad. Each of the readings on the system were taken after the same usage pattern. Our extended usage patterns consisted of three different tasks with the system running on battery power: transferring of 2GB of files from an external USB drive, surfing the Web and playing the same House episode on Hulu.com, and making a Skype video call.

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Garmin today announced a new GPS plan for BlackBerry users called “Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry.” The software will allow customers with GPS-enabled BlackBerrys to use Garmin GPS software for a one-time $99.99 payment. If you don’t have a GPS-enabled BlackBerry, you can use an external device, such as the GPS 10x, a portable GPS sensor that will communicate location data to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth.

Garmin Mobile will provide BlackBerry users with voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, weather, traffic information, and gas prices. Users can also use the software to find points of interest during trips, including local restaurants or entertainment destinations such as bowling alleys and more. The software will also reroute you, should you miss an important turn while you’re driving, no thanks to the screaming kids in the back of your 1996 Chevy Astro.

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As it happens, we have access to a few different Eee PC models here at LAPTOP. So, when we started examining the Pearl White Eee PC 900 we received last week, we plunked it right down next to our original Eee PC 701 (in white) and our Galaxy Black Eee PC 4G Surf. After we peered at its 8.9-inch screen, we compared the Eee PC 900’s keyboard with prior Eee PCs.

Touching the different keyboards, we found that the two white keyboards (on the 701 and the 900) were identical in size and feel. It seems like nothing has changed keyboard-wise between the 700 series and the 900 series. However, when we touched the keyboard on our black 4G surf, we had a startling revelation: the black keyboard feels different than the white keyboard!

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I am a fan of ASUS’ Xandros tab-based desktop, but for everyday advanced users, it just isn’t cut out to do the dirty work. I much prefer working in the more Windows-reminiscent Xandros full-KDE Mode with a Start Launch button and easier access to utilities and programs.

I figured enabling the advanced desktop mode on the Eee PC 900 would be a cinch if I just followed the step-by-step directions for the 700. But there’s the rub. I followed our instructions for the 700 extremely closely; however, when I got to the step to type in “apt-get update” in the terminal, an error message popped up saying the files could not be located.

Thanks to some helpful EeeUser.com forum members I was able to solve the problem by following these steps.

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This morning, while perusing Gizmodo I came upon this video from the Onion, embedded above. The video entitled “Historic ‘Blockbuster’ Store Offers Glimpse Of How Movies Were Rented In the Past” is funny because it’s so poignant. With online rentals that come in the mail from Netflix (and even Blockbuster itself) and with downloadable rentals from services like iTunes and Vongo, who on earth wants to rent videos off a shelf? It’s hard to imagine this antiquated business model continuing for long, and yet Blockbuster appears to be doing well enough to purchase Circuit City. Within a few years, though, retail video rental will go the way of the Fotomat, and no one will miss it.

This got me wondering: What other business models are about to be displaced by technology?

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Last week the long-awaited Eee PC 900 arrived at our office. After it underwent the Ellis Island sign-in process—okay, rather our laptop tracking database—it was greeted by some eager onlookers. Like a great big bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, we passed the system around, and I think many of us licked our fingers clean. After we were done pawing at the new system and making comparisons to its older, inferior brother, I sat down to review it.

My initial impression of the system was that, though minimally different from its predecessor, it had come a long way. The 8.9-inch screen is so much easier on my eyes; I don’t think twice about storage space when it comes to downloading files or applications, and a multi-glide touchpad adds a touch of class to a budget system. Sure I had my reservations: two hours of battery is less than ideal and the system goes into a power-saving mode that affects performance. But overall, I was damn pleased.

Will my high regard for the system live on? Can the Eee PC 900 make me forget about all the other notebooks in the world and be the one I promise to love and cherish? I intend to find out over the next few days. Join mEee on the ride.

Earlier this morning, Verizon Wireless announced that it has joined the LiMo Foundation, and that it has taken a seat on the board of directors. LiMo was created in 2007 by Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Samsung Electronics, and Vodafone with the goal of creating an open mobile Linux platform for mobile consumer electronics.

In late November, Verizon Wireless announced that its network would be open to qualified handsets and other consumer electronics that met its standards. Then in March of this year, the FCC revealed that Verizon Wireless had won the coveted C-block of the 700MHz spectrum, which by law, is required to remain an open network. Given the tensions between Verizon Wireless and Google, it doesn’t shock us that the carrier has chosen LiMo, first, over Google’s Android platform in its quest for openness. Here are the highlights from today’s press conference.

• LiMo will become the preferred OS for Verizon Wireless’ handsets, starting with lower end feature phones and scaling up to smart phones later.

• The first LiMo-based devices will take “many months” to develop, and they will debut in 2009.

• Verizon Wireless will be dedicating resources to this initiative above and beyond what the carrier already does for OSes like Brew, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry, and during the call it was explained that this would require that Verizon hire more talent that has an expertise in open-source software (which is a good sign).

• Android isn’t off the table by any stretch, but it seems that at least for the immediate future LiMo will be the platform of choice for devices Verizon Wireless itself rolls out, while Android will be more of a back door offering through the carrier’s separate Any Apps, Any Device initiative. Although that could change if there’s enough demand.

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It seems that our interview with MSI’s Andy Tung still leaves many wondering about the detailed specs of the MSI Wind. Here are the complete specs for the system, courtesy of MSI. We hope this will answer any and all questions about the Wind, that is until we get our review unit in and we report back on how it runs.

Editors note: This post has been updated with the correct weights of the system.

Linux Version ($399)
CPU:1.6GHz Intel Atom
Operating System: Linux Novell SUSE
Chipset: 945GMS+ ICH7-M
Display: 10-inch/ 1024×600
Hard Disk Drive: 80GB / 2.5” SATA
VGA: UMA
Memory: 512MB DDR2/ 667MHz
Card Reader: 4-in-1 (SD,MMC,MS, MS Pro)
USB Ports: 3
Mic-in/Headphone
Webcam: 1.3 MP
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth: No
Battery: Three Cells / 2.5 hrs
Dimension: 10.23 x 7.08 x 0.748 inches
Weight 2.3 lbs Read the rest of this entry »

In our mini-review of the Acer Aspire 8920G a few days ago, we mentioned we were impressed with the machine’s gorgeous Gemstone Blue design, Media Console touch controls, and powerful 5.1 CineSurround audio, but many wondered how it would fare under more rigorous testing.

The results are in. We put the Acer Aspire 8920 through the paces, and it emerged as one of the best notebooks of 2008. Drooling yet? Check out the full review of the Acer Aspsire 8920G.