vista

Windows SideShow at CES 2007: A new Dell MP3 player?

It's amazing the little tidbits you can pick up when you're in close proximity to Microsoft headquarters. While I was staying in Redmond, Washington briefly during the last week of December, a little birdie began to tell me about a Windows SideShow device that is supposedly in development. If you don't know much about SideShow (I didn't, until a couple of weeks ago), there's an MSDN page that offers some excellent illustrations. Anyway, the device in question supposedly is a pocketable gadget, to be manufactured by Dell (with Windows branding, I assume). It will have … Read more

Be Vista ready

The launch date of Microsoft Windows Vista is right around the corner, and we want to help you get ready for this new and highly anticipated operating system. In a joint effort between CNET and System Requirement Labs, we've put together a tool to help you test your computer's ability to run Vista. If it turns out your computer is not yet Vista ready, check out these desktops and notebooks that are, so you can use the famous OS as soon as it is launched.

Times Reader (beta)

Developed in concert with Microsoft, the New York Times Times Reader (still in Beta) is a hybrid RSS feed reader and XPS desktop publishing system that runs as a standalone applet on your desktop. Like RSS, the Times Reader updates itself with the latest content from the New York Times. But going beyond traditional RSS, the Times Reader offers the look and feel of the print version of the Times. That's in part because of the new graphics system within .Net Framework 3.0 architecture available within Windows Vista and downloadable for Windows XP SP2 users.

The Times Reader … Read more

HP's all-in-one Vista PC: Bold new design with touch screen

HP is cooking up an all-in-one PC that--if the images on Engadget are any indication--looks to be a surefire hit with small, blonde children. It's hard to say where the images sprang from, because Engadget provides no source, and when pressed for comment, HP politely declined our advances. According to Engadget, it's called the IQ770 Crossfire, and it's set to launch along with Vista on January 30. It features a 19-inch touch-screen display and laptop components, including an AMD Turion X2 TL-52 processor and Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 graphics. Along with 2GB of memory and a 320GB … Read more

Vista is here, and Microsoft means it this time (sort of)

Robert Vamosi has taken the just-announced RTM (Release to Manufacturer) version of Windows Vista for a spin, and he's got the First Take, video, and photo gallery to prove it.

Usually, the RTM label means development is all done. But Microsoft's still working on fixing a few bugs before Vista's business release on November 30 and its retail release in January 2007. However, this version is the best indicator yet of what to expect from the final four Vistas: Windows Vista Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

A few highlights from … Read more