Business

Although most of us are aware that Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows Vista, is an improvement to yesterday's XP, few are convinced it's worth the pain of upgrading. Further hurting Microsoft's efforts have been a plethora of ... sensationalist reports on Vista shortcomings, many of which overlook the available improvements. Despite the negative light, Vista appears to be shining on the global stage, accounting for some 20 million licenses sold in a month. Still love XP? It's worth noting that Vista's initial sales are double that of XP, Microsoft's previous operating system. By ... (view more)

Research carried out by analyst Vanson Bourne shows that UK firms have little enthusiasm for the new Windows Vista operating system. Nearly 6 out of 10 businesses say they have no plans to deploy it. (Source: Techworld.com ) 100 IT directors and ... chief technology officers at UK companies employing more than 1,000 staff were surveyed. 1 percent of those surveyed planned to deploy Vista immediately. 58 percent of those surveyed were not. In larger companies that employed more than 3,000 staff, 68 percent of those surveyed said they had no plans to deploy Vista. 78 percent of respondents across ... (view more)

When Sony's Chief Executive Sir Howard Stringer recently sat down for an interview, one common theme kept coming up: Apple. Stringer revealed that his company blew it on the digital media front and lost out to the Apple's iPod, but swore that he ... would not repeat the same mistake when going head to head with the iPhone. When Stringer took over as head of Sony in 2005, he says that every branch of the company was a silo -- operating independently and sheltered from one another. This compartmentalized structure, he says, let to some serious delays in the company's digital music efforts. Stringer ... (view more)

Ever sit, stewing in mixed emotion as entertainment journalists report on those grab baskets bestowed upon celebrities for attending the Academy Awards? It just seems as though the rich get richer, or at least offered expensive gadgets and ... moisturizers. Now, tech fans can get that very same feeling, with recent word that Microsoft chief Bill Gates will be presented an honorary doctorate from Harvard University, some thirty years after he dropped out of the world-famous college. Gates will be given the doctorate at Harvard's 356th Commencement, which takes place on June 7. He'll also be the ... (view more)

Hewlett-Packard's (HP) newest energy star PCs won't ship with Windows Vista. In order to comply with the new Energy Star 4.0 business desktop computer standards, the Compaq dc5700, dc5750 and dc7700 will be loaded with Windows XP Pro, despite the ... fact the HP recommends Windows Vista Business. Ted Samson, a writer with InfoWorld , interviewed Todd Kruse, the global desktop product manager at HP. "We will introduce Windows Vista configurations that are Energy Star 4.0-ready in the near future. Because we were able to begin testing all the components including the 80% efficient power supply with ... (view more)

Without a doubt, the most important product release in the computer and general tech world in recent memory has been Vista, Microsoft's latest operating system (OS). In development for a decade, it's meant the employment of some 10,000 MS workers, ... laboring day and night to iron out the many bugs inherent to such an upgrade. However, as hyped as the January 2007 home release of the operating system was, sales have been low. Is this the result of a poor product, or simply the economic and logistical circumstances of the global business environment? According to many insiders, it isn't the ... (view more)

Usually, embarking on a corporate upgrade path that involves fresh software is an expensive venture. It can take millions of dollars to update company computers, pay IT overtime, and train those who might use it. However, with Microsoft's recently ... unveiled Live Search technology, the Redmond-based company is actually offering to pay corporations who integrate it. The handout is rumored to include a $25,000 base provision, with an additional $2 to $10 for every PC using the Live Search. For the time being, Microsoft is looking to try the incentive program with 30 companies in North America, ... (view more)

The recent release of Microsoft Vista and Exchange 2007 has IT managers and system administrators taking a long hard look at upgrading their organization's infrastructures reports. (Source: processor.com ). While there may be some advantages to the ... new products such as enhanced security features, optimized mobility functions and integrated searching, there are just as many if not more challenges, including hardware upgrades and compatibility issues. Keith McCall, founder and CTO of Azaleos, a company that builds appliances with Microsoft software preloaded and preconfigured then provides ... (view more)

Some versions of Windows Vista can be run for at almost a year without being activated, says Brian Livingston . Livingston, who publishes the Windows Secrets newsletter said that a single change to Vista's Registry lets users put off the operating ... system's product activation requirement an additional eight times beyond the three disclosed last month. With more research, said Livingston, it may even be possible to find a way to postpone activation indefinitely. Despite the fact that Microsoft has online documentation spelling out the pertinent Registry key, Microsoft promptly labelled the ... (view more)

Apple has enjoyed a healthy share of the digital media player market, thanks to the iPod. Moreover, the iPod and iTunes have set a new standard in the digital music industry -- a standard that many have tried to imitate but no one has surpassed. ... However, a new music service dubbed "Slacker" has got many industry buffs talking about whether or not this new device can knock Apple off its podium. Broadband Instruments has just launched a beta version of Slacker. Users can register for a beta account to receive free, ad-supported access to the company's 10,000 music stations. Users also have the ... (view more)