Windows Starter gets new market: Netbooks

For many years now, Microsoft has offered a "starter edition" of Windows aimed at first-time PC buyers in emerging markets. Though low-cost, the starter version has limitations such as only working on low-end processors, smaller screen resolutions and a cap on the number of programs that can run at one time.

Similar restrictions will remain with Windows 7, but Microsoft will allow the operating system to be used in a new way--to power low-cost computers, particularly Netbooks, in developed countries.

Microsoft confirmed its plans for Windows 7 Starter as part of its announcement that it will offer six different versions of the operating system. Although Windows Starter will be an option for Netbooks, its limitations mean that computer makers will probably also offer models that run Home Premium.

"For (computer makers) that build lower-cost small notebook PCs, Windows 7 Starter will now be available in developed markets," Microsoft Vice President Brad Brooks said in an article posted on Microsoft's Web site. "For the most enhanced, full-functioning Windows experience on small notebook PCs, however, consumers will want to go with Windows 7 Home Premium, which lets you get the most out of your digital media and easily connect with other PCs."
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Chatty laptop tries to talk sense into thieves

Various security systems help you keep your laptop safe from thieves. But a new feature added to Front Door Software's Retriever product lets your machine give audible and visual warnings that can be activated remotely.

For example, if your laptop is stolen, you can activate The Retriever's talk feature to shout something like, "Help! You are not my owner! This laptop is stolen! Please call the police!" and at the same time display related information on the screen instantly. Or you can customize the warning to your liking.

The program also includes a standard start-up preventive warning message. For users with multiple laptops, there's a way of sending customized warnings and messages to more than one laptop at once.
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Fancy a US$20 laptop from India?

The Sakshat laptop has been in the works for three years now and, at this time, the only information we have is that it will come with 2GB RAM, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. Oh, and did we forget to mention that this government-backed project is slated to cost a mere US$20?

Honestly, we do not see how this can be done without a major manufacturing subsidy. Perhaps one can skimp on the internal components, use recycled cardboard for the chassis and forget about a touchpad. However, the LCD screen is one of the most expensive parts of a laptop and a cheap enough display alternative is not currently available. Cost obstacles notwithstanding, Shri RP Agrawal, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development, suggests that the first units will retail within six months. According to officials involved in the project, half a year after it goes into mass production they expect the Sakshat laptops to hit the US$10 price point.
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Transcend makes portable solid state drive

If you like your thumb drive for the durability, you'll like what Transcend has to offer. It's a new breed of compact external storage device that's based on 1.8-inch solid state drives (SSDs), the SSD18M.

Unlike traditional external storage devices that are based on harddisk drives, the SSD18M is made of reliable NAND flash memory that contains no moving parts. This eliminates the possibility of mechanical failure due to shock or vibration and also provides substantial weight savings and reduced power consumption.

The new drive features both both eSATA and USB2.0 interface options. This means when portability is not required, people can use the eSATA interface, which requires a separate power adapter, to take advantage of the high throughput speeds of up to 90Mbps in reading and 50Mbps writing.
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Mac tidbits: 17-inch MacBook Pro shipping, new iMacs soon?

A couple of tidbits surfaced related to Apple's current and future Mac lineup.

First of all, the 17-inch MacBook Pro introduced at Macworld 2009 is now shipping, MacNN discovered. Apple is quoting a 7- to 10-day lead time for shipments from its online store, which means it won't arrive until February, but Apple had only promised to start shipping the notebook by the end of January and it doesn't seem to be available in Apple's retail stores yet.
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