CNET News - Microsoft

Windows 7 may get a 'Family Pack'

Ina Fried — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:22:00 PDT

Microsoft appears likely to offer a "Family Pack" version of Windows 7, according to language in a leaked test version of the operating system.

This week enthusiasts started buzzing over wording in the license agreement in the test build that suggests Microsoft will have an option to buy a license ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Microsoft chucks vomit ad

Chris Matyszczyk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:57:00 PDT

Update at 8:50 a.m. PDT: The video has now disappeared from the ad agency's site as well.

Earlier this week, we were all rather intrigued by the appearance of a Microsoft ad, in which a wife borrows her husband's laptop and suffers a technicolor nightmare when ...

Originally posted at Technically Incorrect

Microsoft 'mega data centers' to support Azure, Bing

Matthew Broersma — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:55:27 PDT

Microsoft on Wednesday launched a new data center in Dublin, describing it as the largest it has built outside the U.S.

The site is what Microsoft calls a "mega data center", a class the company has constructed previously only in the U.S. The company plans to open another ...

Some Vista users say they're getting the Ultimate shaft

Ina Fried — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

Microsoft promised that by purchasing the pricey Ultimate edition of Vista users would get all kinds of extras.

However, for many, those extras turned out to be little more than a few screensavers and a poker game, prompting some significant grousing.

Now, that frustration has turned to anger after Microsoft ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Microsoft resorts to vomit to market IE 8

Chris Matyszczyk — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:56:00 PDT

Editor's note at 10:25 p.m. PDT: Since this blog was published, the video has been removed from the hosting pages. But this copy of the video remains on YouTube.

I know a girl who gets somewhat uptight when she's in the passenger seat of a car ...

Originally posted at Technically Incorrect

Touch in Windows 7: Just for show?

Ina Fried — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

There's a reason the first thing in Windows 7 that Microsoft chose to show publicly was its support for touch input.

That built-in ability to use two fingers to rotate, scroll, and zoom offers tangible proof that the operating system is different from ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Looking to browse the Web and get a Nickleback?

Ina Fried — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:16:00 PDT

Internet Explorer 8 now comes with a Nickleback.

No, Microsoft isn't again offering cash to get people to download the browser. This time it has partnered with Live Nation and the band to offer a custom version of the browser.

(Credit: Amazon.com)

The software maker is sponsoring Nickleback'...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

FAQ: Making sense of Windows 7 upgrade options

Ina Fried — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT

While it's true Windows 7 doesn't arrive on retail shelves and new PCs until October, Microsoft has announced two programs designed to give a head start to those who know they want the new operating system.

The Windows Upgrade Option, which runs through early next year, allows those ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Windows 7 preorder a hit--on Amazon

Ina Fried — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:08:00 PDT

Amazon has been taking quite a number of early orders for Windows 7. The $49 preorder version of Windows 7 Home Premium is now the top seller not just among software products, but among all electronics items at the online retailer.

(Credit: CNET)

Microsoft's program for preordering Windows 7 ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Humor video highlights Bing's challenge

Ina Fried — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:08:00 PDT

There's a funny video making the rounds that mocks Microsoft's huge Bing ad campaign.

In the video, embedded below, CollegeHumor.com suggests that folks start "Googling with Bing."

It's a funny parody of the Bing ads, but it also shows how big Microsoft's challenge is in ...

Originally posted at Beyond Binary