Vista successor, Windows 7 to be released next year?
October 30, 2008You won’t have to wait as long for the next version of Windows as previously imagined, with Microsoft bringing forward the expected release of the successor to Vista, Windows 7.
A recently-release roadmap for the next major Window release – Windows 7 – indicates that Microsoft is planning to release the new operating system in the second half of 2009, rather than the anticipated release date of some time in 2010.
There are apparently three “milestone” builds planned for 2008, and the first one – M1 – has already shipped to key partners for code validation. M1 is for the English language build only, but is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 will most likely be the last Windows operating system available in 32-bit, and given the rapid advances Windows Vista is making in the 64-bit computing market, this seems a sensible decision.
 is this Windows 7: this screenshot, floating around on online forums, purports to be from an alpha of Windows 7. Probably fake, but interesting nonetheless. |
M2 should ship around April/May, and M3 some time in the third quarter of 2008. There’s no available roadmap information about further milestone, beta or release candidate builds, except the updated RTM release date of H2 2009.
If Windows 7 is released in the second half of 2009, this will be three years after Windows Vista which went RTM in November 2006. A three-year major product cycle would take the Windows operating system out of cycle with Windows Server, which is on an approximate four-year cycle.
The big question is who in the market will respond to an early release. The transition to Windows Vista seems to have caused a lot of angst amongst users, but I think has far more to do with moving out of the Windows XP comfort zone, rather than any indication of Vista’s quality or stability. In which case, perhaps a shorter product cycle from here on in will get users and businesses thinking ahead much quicker, not to mention the hardware vendors who were the major contributors to Vista’s shaky start.
Top Ten Notebooks You Couldn’t Do Without
October 8, 2008
Mobile computing has conquered both the high-end and the mainstream markets and analysts claim that the number of sold notebooks will outpace desktop systems by 2010. Mobile gaming is still a niche market, dominated by bulky notebooks with significant price tags, but most of the general-purpose laptops deliver optimal performance at a reasonable price tag.
The first entry in the mainstream notebook line-up is the Acer Aspire 5920 model, that comes rigged with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 chip running at 1.6 GHz. The system also packs 2 GB of DDR2 memory and runs Windows Vista Home Premium. The 15.4-inch LCD display sports anti-glare technology that boosts the video output and offers a comfortable computer experience. The system sells for about $910 via the company’s retail outlets.
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Y510 notebook is a consumer-oriented model, especially suitable for the fashion-concerned users. The device is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 at 1.67 GHz, packs 2 GB of system RAM and a beefy, 250 GB hard-disk drive. The Y510 is a close competitor of Acer’s Aspire 5920, yet it comes with a lower price tag of $749.00.
The HP Pavilion dv2660se model may not be as bold as the previous models, but its aesthetics, battery lifespan and a more-than-decent price tag make it the ideal candidate for general-purpose mobile users. The 14.1-incher is especially designed for multimedia users and comes with an AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core TL-62 Processor, 3 GB of system RAM and 250 GB of storage space. According to the manufacturer, it offers a battery autonomy of 6.3 hours. The unit is available on retail for an estimative price of $999.
Dell’s Inspiron 1525 is one of the all-time favorite notebook models when it comes to general purpose computing. The sleek device comes with a 15.1-inch WXWGA display, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 processor running at 2 GHz, 2 GB of DDR2 memory and 120 GB of storage space. Dell’s champ is available in a wide range of colors and can be purchased for about $649.
Lenovo strikes back on the chart with its ThinkPad R61 office notebook, a general-purpose model equipped with a 2.2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 processor from Intel, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory and 100GB of storage space on a 7,200rpm HDD. The notebook is available for purchasing at a starting price of $1,299.
Fujitsu’s LifeBook A6120 notebook is a multimedia-oriented machine that does not quite manage to stand out of the crowd. The 15.4-incher is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 chip, clocked at 2.1 GHz, but a 2.4 GHz T8300 CPU is also available. The notebook also packs built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, fingerprint reader, Bluetooth, Intel 4965AGN wireless and sells for about $1299.
Toshiba enters the general-purpose top with its Satellite Pro A210-EZ2201 notebook model, a system powered by an AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 Dual-Core processor. The laptop comes with basic options and hardware configuration, but sells for an incredibly low price, starting at $699.
Sony’s VAIO VGN-SZ791N notebook takes general computing to another dimension, thanks to its Intel 2.5-GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 CPU and its nVidia 8400GS graphics card. Its solid hardware configuration is completed by a sleek case and a plethora of additional functions, such as multiple monitors and brightness adjustments.
Another interesting notebook model from Sony is the VAIO VGN-FZ180E/B, with its large and bright LCD display. The slender notebook is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 running at 2.5 GHz, 4 GB of DDR2 memory and a 250 GB hard-disk drive. However, it comes with a price tag of $2,250 which might be a little discouraging.
Last, but not least, Toshiba’s Tecra M9-S5514 laptop is aimed mostly at business users. It features a 2.2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 processor, paired with only a single gigabyte of system RAM. The system is available for about $1,650.
