Steve Ballmer has been known to make some rather colorful comments on everything from the iPhone to the Xbox 360’s Project Natal. This time however, Ballmer has kept his cool giving some comments on Google’s recently announced Chrome OS.

When question about the operating system Ballmer was quoted to have said, “I will be respectful, who knows what this thing is? To me, the Chrome OS thing is highly interesting.” Of course, what would a Ballmer comment be without just a dash of hostility? He then went on to say, “I don’t know if they can’t make up their mind or what the problem is over there, but the last time I checked, you don’t need two client operating systems. It’s good to have one.”

But wait Mr. Ballmer, aren’t you the CEO of a company that currently Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows CE and Windows Mobile on the market? No? OK, just checking.

Read (Yahoo!)

Tags: Android, Cell Phones, CEO, Chrome OS, Desktop PCs, Laptops, microsoft, Mobile Software, software, Steve Ballmer, Windows CE, Windows Mobile, windows vista, xp

Windows 7’s October 22nd release date is quickly approaching and in luei of that Microsoft has decided to release the official pricing scheme for the new operating system.

To upgrade from either XP or Vista, consumers will have to pay $119.99, $199.99, or $219.99 for Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate respectively. However, those who don’t want to upgrade are looking at a price tag of $199.99, $299.99, or $319.99.

Furthermore, Microsoft is opening a limited number of upgrade pre-orders at a discounted price ($49.99 for Home Premium and $99.99 for Professional).

Tags: microsoft, operating system, pc, software, upgrade, vista, Windows 7, xp

Are you sitting down folks? Because this is going to be legendary! That’s right you heard me right the first time. Microsoft is going to sell its famous Windows XP all the way through 2011. The company doesn’t seem ready to discontinue it especially since so many netbooks are using the OS and probably some netbooks to come are going to also keep using it. Microsoft was going to discontinue XP after April 23, 2010 but it looks like that it’s all history. The Windows XP downgrade option will be available to everyone interested in it. That way Microsoft is making sure that besides Windows 7, which isn’t out yet, it will have a pretty dependable OS to offer. After all, nobody will want to get a Vista downgrade if they don’t like 7, will they?

Tags: 2011, 7, delay, microsoft, microsoft, Mobile Software, netbooks, vista, xp

It looks like the first Windows Mobile 6.5 running device is the Samsung i910 Omnia and not the Touch Pro2 or Touch Diamond2 from HTC. How is that possible you ask? Well it seems that a cooked up Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM is out there available to install on the Omnia. The custom ROM will strip the Verizon Wireless Samsung Omnia of some applications like VZ Navigator, VZ AppZone, Digital Frame, Shozu, Silver Inbox and more but it cludes various apps like Google Maps, the YouTube player and the WM 6.5 Facebook application.

In order to properly flash your device you’d better get your hands on an XP-powered machine with USB 2.0 port. Simply follow the link for specific installation details.

via modaco

Tags: microsoft, Mobile News, OMNIA, Portable Devices, ROM, Samsung, Samsung, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, Windows Mobile 6.5, xp

Let me start this one of by saying I am really surprised that Windows 7 didn’t win this test. I mean I shouldn’t be, should I? It’s still Microsoft we’re talking about. But lately Windows 7 has managed to pretty much come ahead of XP and Vista in a bunch of benchmark testing.

XP still rules at multicore performance. It beat both Windows 7 and Vista. Well there’s really no surprise with beating Vista is there? Or should I say that XP beat Vista and Vista 2 at multicore performance? It seems this test has proven that for now, Vista and Windows 7 have performed similarly. Even more surprising is that Vista and Windows 7 are both optimized for multicore performance while XP isn’t. Well what do you know folks, XP is doing good at something it shouldn’t! It sounds like a regular day at those Microsoft Windows plants.

There’s some good news with all that; Windows 7 will overtake XP when we’ll have 16 or 24 cores. Great! Talk to you about that in a few years!

via InfoWorld

Tags: microsoft, Mobile News, Performance, software, vista, Windows 7, xp

The Windows 7 beta is out in the open despite Microsoft’s wishes? Or are we to assume that build 7000 has been leaked on purpose by Microsoft itself? You know, just to have us test it and possibly say nice things about it?

Until now it looks like Windows 7 beta is doing just fine. The OS has managed to come in first in various tests against its older brothers, Vista and XP. By tests we mean common stuff like booting up, shutting down, installations and file maneuvering. The systems used were powered by the AMD Phenom 9700 and by the Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2200 and in both cases Windows 7 was better. Are we to understand that the final version will do even better in tests?

Tags: Beta, microsoft, microsoft, vista, Windows 7, xp

Windows XP was supposed to retreat to where OSes go to die. January 31st 2009 was supposed to be the day when Microsoft was shutting down Windows XP sales. Don’t get me wrong people, the deadline still stands but that’s the final day for distributors to order Windows XP OEM licenses. That means any distributor can still order plenty of licenses. Orders will be filled by May 30th.

I guess Microsoft is pretty upset it had to decide not to cancel XP already. Vista won’t be the only Microsoft OS option when purchasing a new PC next year. On the other hand Microsoft will keep making money off the good old XP. They’d have to make at least $300 million in my opinion. That’s how much money they wasted on a crappy campaign that failed to deliver the needed results.

via CNN

Tags: microsoft, OS, software, vista, xp

In case you are thinking about getting Windows XP PC from Dell, you will have to pay more for it starting today. An older model Windows XP PC will sell for $150 more than it used to sell for. Does this mean you have to give Vista a try? Well why pay $150 more as Vista 2 is around the corner. Might as well get used to Vista and adapt your budget for the future Windows 7.
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Tags: 7, Dell, microsoft, microsoft, software, vista, windows, xp

Not that we necessarily care to worry about Windows 7 right now, but we might as well peak into the inevitable future. The video above is quite old but still funny. It’s a banned commercial which showed us yet again the fatality that awaits any Windows user, the blue screen of death.

Getting back to Windows 7 here, and hoping that it won’t bring us any future blue screens of death, we found out that the new Microsoft OS is faster than Vista or XP.

Tested on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at 3.16GHz, with 4GB of RAM the three Windows versions pulled of the following numbers:

• Test Set 1: From Boot Choice to Fully-loaded User Desktop
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (Preview, PDC edition, 32-bit): 32 seconds
  • Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit, SP1): 33 seconds
  • Windows XP Professional (SP3):40 seconds
• Test Set 2: From Boot Choice to User Login Screen
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (Preview, PDC edition, 32-bit): 23 seconds
  • Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit, SP1): 24 seconds
  • Windows XP Professional (SP3): 29 seconds

So it looks like Windows 7 is faster than Vista and XP. Oddly enough, I am looking forward to checking Windows 7 myself.

via lifehacker

Tags: Desktop PCs, Laptops, microsoft, microsoft, vista, Windows 7, xp

Windows XP was supposed to be officially discontinued starting with January 31, 2009. According to a leaked email from a PC OEM, Microsoft has decided to postpone the XP retirement. The new rumored date is July 31, 2009. That gives us a whole six extra months to buy XP instead of Vista. After that you will probably be more likely to choose the future Windows 7 instead of Vista. That’s a nice trick Microsoft is pulling. Especially since they are working hard on promoting Vista.

Tags: Desktop PCs, Laptops, microsoft, microsoft, software, vista, Windows XP, xp

Well that’s surely no wonder! Microsoft is inflating Vista Sales and HP declares publicly in an APC Magazine. As you remember, Microsoft XP got canceled officially more than a month ago with some computer sellers. XP comes now only with netbooks and UMPC officially.
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Tags: Desktop PCs, HP, Laptops, microsoft, microsoft, Mobile News, pc, vista, xp

Is this a joke? And I certainly don’t mean the color. Red is not bad, RED is event better. I’d support a RED anything. But take a look at this XO. Is it a joke? It’s not that funny no matter what color you’d paint the XO Laptop in.
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Tags: laptop, Laptops, OLPC, Portable Devices, xo, xp

I think you should hurry and get that Dell laptop packed with Windows XP you wanted. Microsoft is going to discontinue XP while trying to shove Vista down our throats. I have nothing against that, after all Microsoft stands for monopoly right? But for God’s sake please make an OS that won’t crash and slow me down. How many times did you say that? How many times did Windows made your PC life miserable?
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Tags: Dell, microsoft, microsoft, vista, windows, xp

Remember that June 18th deadline for getting a Dell laptop/notebook with that cool, close to perfect, Windows XP? Well if you just missed it and you’re thinking of getting a ripped off version when your new Vista packed Dell PC arrive then just hold that thought for now.
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Tags: Dell, desktops, Laptops, Laptops, microsoft, Portable Devices, Ultra Mobile PCs, vista, xp

Toshiba unveiled the new dynabook Satellite T31 notebook PC featuring a 15.4 inch display. The Satellite T31 comes in two models: one is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2GHz processor and GM965 Express chipset with on-board video, while the other features a Celeron 540 (1.8GHz) GL960 Express chipset configuration. The laptop comes bundled with Windows Vista Business, but you can choose to use Windows XP if you want.

The display, at 1280×800 pixel resolution, is a widescreen LCD. The RAM leaves a lot to be desired for, at just 512MB, as is the 80 gig hard drive. But then again, this appears to be the entry-level model. For optical media, you get CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. Rounding up the feature list are 4 USB 2.0 ports, an SD/MMC/xD/MS PRO memory card reader slot, S-Video output and IEEE 1394. The Li-ion battery offers a life of 1.3 hours (for the Core 2 Duo model) or 0.9 hours (for the Celeron model).

Measuring 362mm x 267.8mm x 33.5mm, the Toshiba Satellite dynabook T31 weighs in at 2.8 kg.

Prices:

T31 200E/5W with Core 2 Duo: ¥206,850 (US $1,853)

T31 186C/5W with Celeron: ¥175,350 (US $1,571) (more…)

Tags: celeron, Laptops, notebook, pc, Satellite, t31, Toshiba, vista, xp