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Windows XP Mainstream Support now officially retired

As planned for today, the Microsoft officially retired Windows XP mainstream support. However, extended support will continue till the year 2014. One would wonder, what are the differences between mainstream support and extended support? Well, there are not much. Both offer (free) security updates and phone/web support to the users. However, after today, any new bug-fixes or updates will require extended support contract.

Also, this effects all the versions (excluding Windows XP Embedded). Since, there are not any problems to be solved with the XP (except security holes), we do not need to worry about anything for our netbooks. However, it is encouraged to update to new version of windows (I recommend Windows 7).

Note 1: If Microsoft releases SP4 too, it will retire support for SP3.

Note 2: this deadline is also valid for Office 2003

[Microsoft]

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EEE PC T91 for just $549! – ASUS to redefine the price range of Tablets?

Looks like ASUS is really going to make the tablets finally popular among the consumers. Let’s face it, tablets have always been confined to the executives and businessmen. The main reason that the tablets were not received nicely in the consumer market was due to high ‘price’. But, with the $549 price tag, ASUS has hit the sweet spot between functionality and price.

Also, we have heard that ASUS has added few really exciting utilities that are very finger friendly. This is already looking like a winner to me.

Here are full specifications:

Screen: 8.9″ LED Backlight / Resistive Touch Panel
Resolution: 1024 x 600 (WSVGA)
Weight: Under 2 lbs.
Battery: Li-polymer, 5 hours runtime
Processor: Intel Atom Z520 – 1.33GHz
OS: Windows XP Home
Memory: 1Gb (DDR2); 2Gb Maximum
SSD: 16Gb-32GB (TBD)
SD Card: 16Gb Maximum (not included)
Online Storage: 20Gb (free for 18 mos.)
Audio: HD / Stereo Speakers / Digital Array Mic
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: Built-in
Camera: 0.3 Megapixel Built-in
GPS: Built-in (TBD)
3G Module: Optional (TBD/Model specific)
Digital TV Tuner: Built-in (TBD)
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Taupe, Pink (only BLACK will be available initially – other colors may not be available in the US)

[via netbooknews(german)]

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MSI U123, U123T and U123H netbooks launched

MSI U123 is the successor of now aging U100. The U123 comes with 2GB RAM and uses the N280 Intel Atom processor. The MSI has also launched MSI U123H, which is similar to the U123 except for the fact that it comes with built-in 3.5G. The U123T comes with a built-in TV tuner card, which will let you watch (and record) TV programs on your netbook.

However, it is not a huge upgrade. I was looking forward to higher resolution. 1024 x 600 is nice but 1280 x 800 is something I would have really appreciated.

One piece of information that the MSI is repeatedely mentioning in the news release is the massive capacity of U123, which is 160GB. What? We have been using the 160GB HDD in our netbooks from quite sometime. In fact, it is a standard feature in netbooks these days and there is no need to mention it 4 times in the news release.

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Meet ApoTheTech’s sister site – NokiaViews.com

From the past few months, you must have noticed that the ApoTheTech.com has become more of a netbook website and less windows mobile news is published (other than hardware reviews). Well due to the requests of windows mobile users, now I’m presenting to you all a dedicated website about windows mobile AKA windows phone, Nokiaviews.com. This website will be the only place that you need to go if you want to know anything about windows mobile.

Continue reading “Meet ApoTheTech’s sister site – NokiaViews.com”

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Packard Bell DOT M and DOT S netbooks going to be launched in Europe

New Acer models (10-inch D150 and 11.6-inch one) will be made available under Packard Bell brand at the end of April. It is definately good to see Packard Bell coming up with new netbooks as Packard Bell stopped selling 8.9-inch Aspire One netbook sometime back.

The 10 inch model will known by DOT S and 11.6-inch model will be known by DOT M. The DOT S and DOT M will be priced at 299 Euros and 399 Euros respectively.

[via electronicpulp]