October 22nd, 2009

Windows 7 killer deals commence; 7 days of PC specials, $30 OS upgrade

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 9:07 am

Categories: Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: PC, Operating System, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Andrew Nusca

Along with Windows 7’s launch comes “7 days of Windows 7,” a week-long Microsoft deal extravaganza for Windows 7 hardware, software and support.

Here’s the scoop for Day One:

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October 16th, 2009

Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard: Benchmark performance showdown

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 6:19 am

Categories: Mac OS X, Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: Performance, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Andrew Nusca

CNET’s Dong Ngo decided he wanted to pit Windows 7 and Snow Leopard against each other to see which operating system has more oomph. The results may surprise you.

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September 18th, 2009

Gadget Gal's daily deals: Windows 7, Apple TV, Maximo isolation earphones

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 6:55 am

Categories: Apple, Computers, Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, Headphones, Home Theater, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Software, Toybox Highlights, Windows

Tags: Apple Inc., TV, Apple TV, Earphone, Apple TB 160GB, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Jennifer Bergen

A deal on Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium for students, a pair of Maximo iMetal isolation earphones, and a sale on 40GB and 160GB Apple TV media players. Here are your daily deals for Friday, September 18, straight  from the Gadget Gal:

1. Students can get the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Operating System for only $29.99 through Microsoft. But, you can’t just use an old student ID from 1970. If you say yes to the following, then you can qualify for the upgrade: You have a valid .EDU e-mail or an e-mail address through one of the educational institutions listed here; you are enrolled in coursework; your PC is able to run Windows 7. Check out the link below for more details.

[read the review] [find the deal]

2. Get a pair of Maximo iM-490 iMetal Isolation Earphones for $12.99 at Woot.com today. The earphones are selling for $69.99 over at Amazon. They offer powerful bass and come in a nice little travel pouch. A 2-foot extension cable for extra length is also included.

[read the review] [find the deal]

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September 14th, 2009

Lenovo introduces multitouch for business with ThinkPad X200 tablet PC, T400s laptop

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 9:01 pm

Categories: Computers, Laptops, Lenovo, Windows

Tags: Screen, IBM ThinkPad, PC, Lenovo Group Ltd., Tablet PC, Laptop Computer, SimpleTap, Notebooks, Tablets, Hardware

Lenovo on Tuesday announced its ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC and ThinkPad T400s laptop, both with capacitive multitouch technology for business users and “SimpleTap,” a proprietary interface for touch applications.

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August 19th, 2009

Report: Windows 7 to sell in U.K. for half U.S. price

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 8:48 am

Categories: Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: Pricing Strategy, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, CNET UK, Microsoft Windows 7, Pricing, Microsoft Windows, Marketing Research, Marketing, Operating Systems, Software

Full versions of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost half as much for British consumers as it will for their American counterparts, CNET UK reports today.

Full, not upgrade, versions of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost around £65, or approximately $108. Meanwhile, a Home Premium upgrade costs us Yankees $120, while a full version runs $200.

Fish and chips, anyone?

CNET UK writes:

An Amazon.co.uk spokesperson told us to treat this pricing as “indefinite”. We asked Microsoft for comment on the pricing disparity, but it’s yet to get back to us. Our best guess is that it’s honouring its pricing for Windows 7 E, which was cheaper because an upgrade wasn’t possible.

So what’s the deal? Why the difference? (Temporary UK promo?) Leave your 2c in the comments.

August 10th, 2009

Sony laptops can't use Windows 7 XP mode thanks to disabled hardware virtualization

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 8:27 am

Categories: Computers, Laptops, Operating Systems, Sony, Windows

Tags: Sony Corp., Sony Vaio, Virtualization, Microsoft Windows XP, Laptop Computer, VT, Microsoft Windows 7, Desktops, Microsoft Windows, Hardware

Are you a the brand new owner of a $2,000 Sony Vaio laptop?

Were you planning to run Microsoft’s XP virtualization technology in Windows 7?

You’re out of luck.

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June 26th, 2009

Quickfire Deal: Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade, $49.99; Professional, $99.99 (today only)

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 9:38 am

Categories: Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Andrew Nusca

Amazon is pre-selling Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for $49.99 instead of $119.99 — that’s 58 percent off.

[Today-only or until supplies last]

Amazon is also pre-selling Windows 7 Professional upgrade for $99.99.

May 18th, 2009

Is Windows 7 really too expensive?

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 4:34 am

Categories: Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Driver Preparation, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Andrew Nusca

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May 5th, 2009

iPod touch Web share triples; Windows reaches new low

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 7:15 am

Categories: Apple, Linux, Operating Systems, Windows, iPhone 3G, iPod touch

Tags: Web, Device, Apple iPod, Microsoft Windows, Apple iPod Touch, 3G, Digital Music, Digital Media, Wireless And Mobility, Cellular Phones

Web browsing market share for the iPod touch has tripled in just five months, outpacing the iPhone and other mobile devices, according to new statistics.

Though the iPod touch accounted a tiny 0.05 percent of all web traffic in November, according to Net Applications, the device’s use has seen steady gains that put the touchscreen Wi-Fi device at 0.15 percent — still tiny, but a 300 percent increase in its footprint in less than six months.

Clearly, more people are discovering the iPod touch as an inexpensive portable Internet browsing device.

To compare, iPhone share also grew substantially during the period but grew 150 percent (from 0.37 percent to 0.55 percent of all Web traffic), despite having always-on 3G capability.

Make no mistake: the iPod touch is a hot piece of device, and it’s a wonder why there hasn’t been a serious Wi-Fi-only contender to the device from any of Apple’s competitors. Sure, 3G devices are immensely lucrative for their limitless data plans, but what do consumers really want — particularly in an economic downturn?

(Hint: not another contract.)

Also of note: Microsoft Windows’ share, while still the lion’s share of the market, has dropped to its lowest point since tracking began, falling to 87.9 percent. (By comparison, Mac share dipped slightly to 9.73 percent.)

Alternatively, Linux passed the 1 percent mark for the first time. [via]

April 21st, 2009

Why Apple's new ad campaign is genius, and why Microsoft can't win as 'PC'

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 6:39 am

Categories: Apple, Consumerism, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Windows

Tags: Advertisement, PC, Operating System, Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Desktops, Operating Systems, Hardware, Software, Andrew Nusca

I just got off the air with KCBS San Francisco, speaking about Apple’s new ad campaign against the PCs of the world (which I wrote about yesterday) on the morning show. I made a few points about Cupertino’s strategy in the short segment, but I thought I’d flesh out my view a bit more here.

The most notable takeaway from Apple’s new ad campaign is that it completely ignores Microsoft’s own “Laptop Hunter” advertisements. Instead of chasing Microsoft down the path of absolute cost, Apple is staying above the fray — and taking potshots from above.

Many people forget that Apple is, especially with regard to their PC arm, a premium company. The branding of the company is supposed to feel “cool” and “exclusive” (but not out of reach exclusive….think “coveted”). We all know this, and yet we debate endlessly about an Apple tax. It doesn’t make sense.

Neither does it make sense to pit Apple’s ads against Microsoft’s, foremost because each company is attacking the other on different fronts. Microsoft is spotlighting value, while Apple is spotlighting quality. They’re nearly at odds with each other — apples and oranges, as the old saying goes. Both companies are debating straw men.

Microsoft’s take

Is it any surprise that Apple is being attacked right where it enters the laptop category — $1,000-$1,500? By that measure, the company only has one model to offer — while there are a veritable army of PCs with different configurations and price points. Thus reveals Microsoft’s straw man: the $1,000 Apple laptop. It doesn’t exist, but Microsoft wants you to think that Apple is too snooty to fight at that price point. In a sense, it is — because it fits the company’s brand and portfolio not to.

But Microsoft Windows doesn’t have that option. It must be everything to everyone.

The unspoken sentiment is that you can buy a sub-$1,000 PC that has the capabilities of a $1,300 Macbook. Perhaps that’s true part-for-part, statistic for statistic. But as has been previously noted by other critics, there are the unsaid costs of service, quality, design — all of which are undeniably in Apple’s favor at the moment.

However, it’s too difficult to put a price on those elements. Those are Apple’s signature touches. So…

Apple’s take

What Apple wants you to believe is that, whatever the price point (but especially if it’s lower), PCs do not deliver on quality. Sure, you get the parts you get on paper, but you’ll be loaded with trialware, a million confusing configurations, probably poor design and doubtlessly a shorter lifespan.

But Apple can pull of taking potshots at PCs and still seem like it rises above the fray. Why? It is attacking a non-entity; the company “PC,” which is really an amalgamation of vendors.

No doubt that Macs are made from other manufacturer’s parts. But Apple stands behind it all, from OS X to the keyboard. Microsoft can’t do that — it can only stand behind Windows.

This is why Apple’s ad strategy that ignores the Microsoft ad campaign is genius. Because if it engages in a fight over just the operating system — and why would Apple do that, when it has so much more to offer? — it may very well lose.

Windows vs. Mac in terms of operating systems is simply a matter of preference, barely more.

It’s at this point that KCBS anchor Stan asked me, “But is it machine versus machine, or operating system versus operating system?” noting that Apple is a closed system. Both companies are looking at that fact to their advantage — Microsoft is attacking Apple because it won’t give the consumer freedom of choice (and thus cost), and Apple is attacking Microsoft because it can’t ensure quality control like Apple can with a closed system.

Both sides of this point is true.

The same goes for the inverse problem: Microsoft only makes the operating system, and can’t vouch (beyond an agreement) for the quality of the umpteen million PCs out there. That goes to show how hard Microsoft’s job is — it must guarantee a quality experience on a zillion different configurations with a zillion different parts without having any say in the process. But it also goes to show how misleading each company’s argument is against the other.

The reality

The problem for both Apple and Microsoft (as stand-in company for “PC”) is one of image, not actual quality — though PC manufacturers are understandably less consistent than Apple. Apple has cemented its image and brand identification because it has more to control, from OS to system to service to stores. To date, Microsoft has only the OS: it doesn’t manufacture systems, it doesn’t service PCs that run on Windows unless the problem is distinctly with the OS, and it doesn’t have a store presence (yet…).

Again, that shows you how hard Microsoft’s fight is, but it also shows you why Microsoft can’t win if it argues about hardware or service or physical presence.

Simply stated: Microsoft can’t win if it embodies the PC role. Big as the company is, it simply doesn’t control enough of the process to make arguments on behalf of OEMs.

Which is how we arrived at the price point argument. Problem is, Microsoft doesn’t set the prices for PCs…just its own operating system. So it’s a bit of a false pretense; a valid point shouted from the room next door. Which is why the “value PC” argument may stick with consumers, but the “value Microsoft” argument does not. Microsoft is simply not enough PC to make the argument versus Apple, through and through.

Which brings me to my last point: by the end of this year, we should expect to see next-generation operating systems from both Microsoft, in the form of Windows 7, and Apple, in the form of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Both versions are “updates,” and not radical reinterpretations of, their predecessor OSes.

If Microsoft wants to make up some ground, it should attack Mac OS X, and leave HP and Dell to assault Apple hardware.

The problem, of course, is this: when you’re on top, the only place to go is down. Microsoft has everything to lose. The biggest argument it can make is by simply maintaining the quality of Windows and insisting on the quality of the systems it ships on.