iPad Killing Netbook Sales

By DustinPosted on

In the Strange But True department, a Microsoft exec actually admits that the iPad is cannibalizing sales of Windows 7 powered netbooks. They seem similar: quick, portable way to browse internet and get email. But, I think the netbook is more of a computer than a toy like the iPad. There may be a lot of “apps” on the iPad, but netbooks can claim they have real applicati0ns! You can get real work done on a netbook, if you can get used to the specs and the small screen.

Other factors have been attributable to the decline of the netbook, including a lack of meaningful performance upgrades from Intel and a tough economy that has discouraged buying non-essential computing hardware, but Apple’s relatively strong iPad sales have suggested at least some buyers have switched form factors. The choice could be a significant concern for Microsoft as it has no direct answer to Apple’s design in the short term. Tablets using Windows 7 and Intel’s Oak Trail platform aren’t due until early 2011, and the more mobile Windows Embedded Compact 7 also won’t arrive until the same time.

Windows Phone 7 Selling Fast in Europe & Australia

By DustinPosted on

There were a lot of naysayers out there that said the Windows Phone 7 would be a flop. If the sales numbers in Europe and Australia are any indication, I’d say it was just the opposite.

According to a report in Digitimes based on reports from Taiwanese manufacturers, stocks of HTC’s HD7 are currently gone at German carrier O2, and Australia’s Telstra is out of the HTC Mozart. Last week, U.K. carrier Orange warned its retail managers about likely shortages of the Mozart and Samsung Omnia.

New Server Lines Announced

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft has announced a few new Server line products. They have been in beta for a while now, and I’ve had the awesome experience of trying out Aurora. I plan on running it instead of my Windows Home Server in a domain environment at home. It is already a very nice product, even in beta. A little pricey, however, but just outstanding features that would work great for any small business with 25 PC’s or less.

  • Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (formally Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora”) is ideal as a first server for small businesses, providing a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution to help protect data, organize and access business information from virtually anywhere, support the applications needed to run a business, and quickly connect to online services such as Office 365, hosted e-mail, collaboration and CRM.  Windows SBS 2011 Essentials can be used by up to 25 users, requiring no CALs for user access and is expected to release in H1 2011. SBS 2011 Essentials will be available through all current Microsoft server licensing channels and estimated retail pricing is $545US.
  • Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard (formally Windows Small Business Server “7”) is designed and priced for small businesses with up to 75 users, delivering enterprise-class server technology in an affordable, all-in-one solution. Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard helps protect business’ information from loss by performing automatic daily server backups and greater productivity through on-site features like e-mail, Internet connectivity, internal Web sites, remote access, and file and printer sharing. Licensing for Windows SBS 2011 Standard is consistent with previous versions of Windows SBS 2008 Standard, which required both a Server License, plus CALs for each user. Estimated retail pricing for Windows SBS 2011 Standard is $1,096US, with CALs approximately $72US. Windows SBS 2011 Standard will be available through all current Microsoft server licensing channels and is expected to release in December 2010. Further availability through OEM’s and System Builders is expected starting February 2011.
  • Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on, consists of an additional server that provides support for SQL Server based LOB applications and access to Window Server 2008 R2 technologies in a cost effective solution for a small business environment. The Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on includes Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, and SQL Server 2008 R2 for Small Business and can be added to both Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and Standard editions. The Premium add-on provides the ability to run a vast number of line-of-business applications on an additional server and the capacity to make more informed business decisions with rich analysis and reporting technologies. It is ideal for role based deployments such as LOB application support, Remote Desktop Services, Backup domain controller, and Virtualization though Hyper-V. The decision to move to an add-on model was taken to provide our customers with more flexibility and deployment options providing the ability to purchase additional servers either up front or as needed. While access to the Windows Server components for the Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on will be covered by the Windows SBS 2011 CAL model, users will still require Premium Add-on CALs for access to SQL Server. Estimated retail pricing for Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on is $1,604US, with CALs approximately $92US. The Premium Add-on will also be available with the release of Windows SBS 2011 Standard in December.

    • XBox Live Family Pack Now Available

    By DustinPosted on

    According to Major Nelson, the XBox Live Family Pack is now available. I’ve been trying to get to the site for the past week to check the status of the family pack, but found that I keep getting the same error. Hopefully they can get this resolved today, as this is a great deal! I’m going to pick it up and go in quarters with my family to make it an even better deal. UPDATE: The site now works!

    You can now get four 12-month Gold memberships for less than the price of 2 with the Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack which is now available*


    In addition to being a great deal on Gold, Family Pack members enjoy the following exclusive benefits:

    • Family Center: an easy-to-use destination accessible on Dash and Xbox.com to manage your family’s memberships and online settings
    • Gift Microsoft Points Allowances: give an allowance of Microsoft Points to family members
    • Activity Reports: sign into Xbox.com to view reports on your family’s activity on Xbox LIVE
  • Family Pack Deal: enjoy discounts on family-friendly games and more

    • Update To Silverlight Strategy

    By DustinPosted on

    Yesterday we reported that Microsoft may be moving away from Silverlight except for developing with Windows Phone 7. Apparently, they are not. They are changing their strategy in the Silverlight realm, but not moving away from the PC and Internet. A new version of Silverlight is in the works, as well.

    During the conference, I gave an interview where, among other things, I talked about the great work we’re doing with Silverlight – in particular, support for Windows Phone 7, which we featured heavily at the conference. The interview was accurately reported. I understand that what I said surprised people and caused controversy and confusion. As this certainly wasn’t my intent, I want to apologize for that. I’d like to use this post to expand on what I said, and talk about the very important role Silverlight has going forward.

    IE9 Tops Tests in HTML5

    By DustinPosted on

    The browser wars continue, with all major browsers pushing for full compatibility with HTML5, which is amazing. Surprisingly, Internet Explorer 9 is in the top spot as far as compatibility goes. Remember, though, that HTML5 still isn’t an approved standard and is still in development. But, from initial tests HTML5 can do some amazing things!

    Yes, the HTML5 spec has yet to finalized. And yes, these tests cover only a portion of the spec. But we can still marvel at just how much Microsoft’s browser philosophy has changed in recent months.

    The W3C tests — available here — put IE9 beta release 6 at the top of the HTML5 conformance table, followed by Google Chrome 7, the Firefox 4 beta 6, Opera 10.6, and Safari 5.0. The tests cover seven aspects of the spec: “attributes”, “audio”, “video”, “canvas”, “getElementsByClassName”, “foreigncontent,” and “xhtml5”:

    W3C HTML5 tests

    Microsoft Scoots Away From Silverlight

    By DustinPosted on

    Microsoft has hinted that they are moving from their own Silverlight to HTML5 for web applications. Silverlight is Microsoft’s alternative to Flash, and will remain the top developer tool for Windows Phone 7. Netflix streaming runs on Silverlight, so it does have some major support, but just not widespread on the general Internet yet.

    When Microsoft first showed off Internet Explorer 9, its most HTML 5 compliant version of IE to date, in March of this year, questions began to arise about the company’s commitment to Silverlight. Officials insisted that the two would coexist and that Silverlight would be Microsoft’s cross-platform development platform for mobile, Web and PC platforms for a number of years to come, as HTML 5 was far from becoming an accepted standard.

    Microsoft’s Secret Patch: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

    By DustinPosted on

    Microsoft released a patch last Tuesday via Automatic Updates, and quickly retracted the patch. However, the damage was already done. Those with Automatic Updates set to automatically install had the patch installed, yet cannot uninstall it. How it works, or if Microsoft will release details or an uninstaller is yet to be known. For now, it doesn’t appear to hurt your PC, but it really has no purpose other than be required for a future patch.

    People who view Microsoft patches with a bit of skepticism tend to distrust patches that can’t be removed, and I certainly fall into that category. Then there’s this claims to be a patch that may be required prior to installing future patches. Wuh? Why would Microsoft ship a patch in anticipation of another patch, when they could ship both patches together? So I clicked the link to the KB article — and was greeted with a 404-Not found.

    I wasn’t the only one.

    3D Technology Bought By Microsoft

    By DustinPosted on

    Microsoft has acquired a new 3D sensing chip designer, Canesta. Kinect could be the new beginning of 3D interaction with your video games. Call me old school, but with MOST games, I prefer a standard controller. I’m sure they could design games that work better (exercise games, especially) with the 3D interaction, but FPS’s and platformers will never be better on it for me.

    Canesta’s principal products are 3D image sensor chips which form the heart of Camera Modules which may be integrated into electronic end-use products from cars to personal computers. Designed to the specific requirements of a given application or set of applications, Camera Modules made with Canesta’s 3D image sensor chips are small and cost effective in high volume

    Office For Mac 2011: Now With Activation!

    By DustinPosted on

    My biggest gripe against Microsoft products is their WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) and their activation scheme. While I do agree that it helps with anti-piracy, it is a buggy, in your face, non-transparent way of doing things. I’ve never been a fan. The people that have the problems with it are the ones that legally paid for the software, and are using it legally. I’d say 99% of people don’t want to call Microsoft to activate the software if it fails, to be treated like a pirate by a customer “support” agent across the world. If it worked correctly, 100% of the time, I’d have less of a problem. But, there are times when a legitimate Windows Update causes my Windows to suddenly become a pirated copy. Or a hardware upgrade requires a reactivation… by phone.

    Now, Apple Mac users will suffer the same fate. Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 requires activation. Have fun, guys! I look forward to the support emails and posts in forums! As many of you know, I support Microsoft products, I like Microsoft as a company. But, they don’t do everything right, just like any other company (unless you are an Apple user… Even Steve Jobs poop is perfect). This is just one of the problems I have with their products. And it’s a minor issue, but it’s still an issue. Windows is still an awesome product, as is MS Office. I still highly recommend them!

    Office for Mac 2011 comes with a 25-character alphanumeric activation key that must be entered within 15 days of running any of the suite’s applications for the first time. During that grace period, the software works as if it had been activated.

    At the end of the grace period, Office for Mac 2011 refuses to launch. “[It] becomes unusable,” a Microsoft spokesman said in an e-mail reply to Computerworld’s questions Wednesday.