Windows Vista

We knew Dell was planning on updating its first-ever tablet—the Dell XT—with multi-touch capabilities from N-Trig, and now the wait is over. Though many were under the impression that we would have to wait until Windows 7 for multi-touch on a laptop, N-Trig and Dell today released the multi-touch firmware update for the Vista running XT. Over the last few weeks, I have been trying out the new multi-touch capabilities and can confidently say that it sure beats the multi-touch trackpads of the Eee PCs and the MacBook Air.

Check out the updated full review of the Dell XT for our impressions of the multi-touch capabilities. To see it in action, check out our video below.

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Goodbyes are always tough. And today we say goodbye to a dear old friend, Microsoft Windows XP. Kind of. Today is the last day to buy Windows XP from retail channels, but many notebook vendors with the help of Microsoft will still offer Windows XP on select systems. Mostly thanks to the ill-received successor, Windows Vista, Microsoft has agreed to keep XP running in certain situations.

Earlier we put together a full FAQ on the future of Windows XP. The key takeaways: Windows XP will still be available from PC vendors as a “downgrade” option from Vista Business and Ultimate as well as on mini-notebooks. Because Vista is just too chunky to run on a mini-notebook, like we saw with the HP 2133 Mini-Note, XP will continue to be sold on what Microsoft calls ULCPCs (ultra-low-cost PCS) until June 30, 2010.

Mini-notebook lovers can only hope that Microsoft replaces Vista with a less chunky operating system by 2010. Something tells me Windows 7 won’t be the answer. Maybe by then we won’t need an OS, and we can simply live in a Linux system or even in the Cloud.

HP should begin selling XP versions of the Mini-Note any day now, but some of us eager beavers couldn’t deal with Vista any longer and “downgraded” to Windows XP ourselves. If you have been following my Mini-Note tales, you know that installing XP is simple, however the issues begin after XP is up and running and you discover all the missing drivers.

HP has finally updated its Web site with the needed drivers for XP, including the all-important Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver. My Mini-Note was without any wireless access for a few days and I have been tethered to an Ethernet cord. Not anymore. I simply downloaded the driver to the notebook from this site and the wireless network tool popped up in my system tray.

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Lots of my fellow Mini-Note troopers, including JKOnTheRun and Brad Linder, have found installing Windows XP on the Mini-Note to solve lots of the speed and performance issues. But as my colleagues know, I am a believer in Vista. So as a last chance for Vista on the Mini-Note, I decided to increase the preloaded 1GB of RAM with a 2GB stick.

Unfortunately, the Mini-Note has only one DIMM slot so if your system comes with less than 2GB and you want to upgrade, you’ll need to throw out the factory-installed RAM.

You can check out the video below for the full process of changing the RAM. It was pretty simple and only cost me $52 for a stick of Corsair branded DDR2 SO-DIMM Memory.

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Today, Toshiba announced the availability of five additions to its business-centric Satellite Pro line that are designed to offer mobile professionals and students a variety of display sizes and configurations to fit their computing needs. All five models (totalling 9 different configurations) feature DVD SuperMulti drives, widescreen TruBrite displays, ExpressCard slots, Windows Vista or XP operating systems, and embedded support for Computrace notebook recovery and protection system. Read on for breakdowns of the new systems.

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We’ve written about the pros and cons of businesses purchasing Linux notebooks, but what about individual users? You won’t get saddled with crapware, for one, but you will get a more secure platform. But although Linux operating systems are open source, you’re not necessarily saving money by configuring your notebook with Linux instead of Windows. The example that got us thinking is the Eee PC, which costs $399 regardless of whether you choose Linux or XP.

We asked Charlton Ho, ASUS’s oft-quoted spokesperson. As it turns out, the company isn’t marking up the Linux OS; they’re just crafting bargains for Windows customers. “We want to give people the choice and not base their decision on price,” he said. “Generally, the Eee PC’s margins are very small. We’re not getting a lot of money because the price is so low already. As for the XP Eee PC, you could say we’re getting a bit less [than we would if we raised the price].”

As it turns out, more mainstream vendors aren’t offering you a bargain for ditching Windows, either. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve given the Everex CloudBook a thorough once-over and, frankly, found it a rather subpar derivative of the Asus Eee PC, but we have to admit that the news that’s just crossed the wire is quite intriguing.

Today, Via Technologies announced that Everex has adopted the Via C7-M ULV processor for its new 2.2-pound CloudBook Max, a 9.4 x 6.8 x 1.0-inch mini-notebook sporting an integrated Mobile WiMAX solution for use with Sprint’s Xohm network.

But wait, there’s more. Lots more.

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Just over a year after its much-anticipated release, Windows Vista will receive the equally anticipated Service Pack 1, which will address the bugs and agitating issues users have experienced with Microsoft’s most recent operating system. Although SP1 doesn’t possess any immediate, eye-catching changes like the ones seen in Windows XP SP2, the tweaks to the underlying code are designed to make Vista a faster and more stable operating system.

Most users will receive SP1 via Windows Update sometime this March, but we got our hands on an early copy courtesy of the fine folks at Microsoft. It took us just shy of an hour to install SP1 onto a Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV690 notebook (your download time may vary, depending on whether or not you’ve installed the various updates that comprise elements of SP1 over the course of the past few months). During that time, the computer was off limits as it rebooted itself several times.

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As the cheap-laptops-for-kids market is now brimming with overkill, yesterday Samsung announced its next iteration of the Q1 Ultra, which is neither cheap nor exactly a laptop but proudly jumps on the Eee PC–rival bandwagon, according to U.K. gadget blog Pocket-lint. The company will gear this version of the Window Vista–running, touchscreen UMPC toward educational markets, but it’s only slated for a U.K. release thus far.

If it’s competing for some of Asus’ mini-notebook market share, this contender probably won’t make much of a splash on this side of the pond: It’s selling for £399, or about $800—drastically cheaper than previous Q1 Ultras but a $300-plus premium over other mini-notebooks. It does have a few unique selling points for this growing market, though.

The OLPC XO and Intel’s Classmate PC are built for tiny paws, but you certainly wouldn’t put a Q1 into the hands of a sixth grader. The Q1 also one-ups the Eee PC by sporting a touchscreen display, and it probably beats out Everex’ CloudBook in, well, everything. But cost is a mountain of a trade-off. We’re not sure how many British academies will be able (or want) to dish out for such a pricey educational accessory; then again, we have seen more useless stateside efforts. But hey, it’s for the children.

Pocket-lint via Engadget

If Amazon.com is to be trusted Vista Service Pack 1 will be arriving very soon. This listing for Windows Vista Business with SP1 Upgrade appeared on Amazon.com today. There are also listings for all four versions of Vista with SP1. Amazon.com is currently taking pre-orders, and says the boxed software will start shipping on Wednesday, March 19. According to Associated Press, “the retailer is selling copies of Vista without the service pack and advising customers that they can download the free SP1 upgrade starting Tuesday.”

As a current Vista user, I have to say I am not all that excited for the “upgrade” since many of the fixes in Vista SP1 have already been released as part of regular monthly updates during the year. Sure, I have had my handful of issues with Vista over the last year, but time and time again I have called Vista my little sister. She is a real pain in the ass, but over the years you just learn to get along and love each other.

What will SP1 improve? Microsoft says Vista’s reliability, security and performance. Looks like we will just have to wait and see.