“We take compliance with our decisions very seriously,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Tuesday. “And I trusted the company’s reports were accurate. But it seems that was not the case. If following our investigation, the infringement is confirmed, Microsoft should expect sanctions.”

Under the terms of a 2009 antitrust settlement with the European Commission, Microsoft was to present Windows users with a ballot screen offering them an opportunity to swap out Internet Explorer for one of 11 other browsers from rivals like Mozilla, Apple, Opera and Google. And it did do that, initially. But with an update to Windows 7 rolled out in February of 2011, Microsoft eliminated the ballot screen, and didn’t realize it had done so until it was alerted by the EC on July 2.

“Due to a technical error, we missed delivering the Browser Choice Screen (BCS) software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7,” Microsoft said in a statement. “… While we believed when we filed our most recent compliance report in December 2011 that we were distributing the BCS software to all relevant PCs as required, we learned recently that we’ve missed serving the BCS software to the roughly 28 million PCs running Windows 7 SP1.”

Microsoft says it is scrambling to address the error, and has offered to extend its BCS compliance period by another 15 months to make good on it. But it remains to be seen whether that gesture will fly with the EC. After all, this is not the first time the group has taken Microsoft to task for noncompliance, and Almunia said today that if the EC investigation confirms the company’s failure to comply, there will be “severe consequences.” The EC can impose fines of up to 10 percent of annual revenue.

“This is in my view a very important case to ensure all the citizens and all the companies operating in the market that competition law requires a real serious enforcement,” Almunia said. “[We will] use all legal instruments with all the capacity to deter and to punish.”

The company had already said that its goal was to hit the holidays, but Microsoft finally made the commitment to deliver it on Monday at its partner conference in Toronto.

Windows 8 is a huge bet for the company, which is counting on the revamped operating system to not only boost PC sales but also to help counter the iPad. The company is also being extra aggressive on pricing, allowing Windows 7 customers to upgrade to the new version for just $40.

Windows unit CFO and marketing head Tami Reller also noted on Monday that Microsoft has sold more than 630 million Windows 7 licenses, and that more than half of large-company desktops are running Windows 7. Microsoft needs lots of Windows 8 users quickly, in order to spur developers to write a new class of “Metro-style” apps that run only on Windows 8.

Microsoft first showed the look for Windows 8 at last year’s D9 conference, and then offered up a developer preview at its fall Build conference. A consumer preview version launched in February, with a near-final “release preview” issued last month.

The $40 price applies for those running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, and who download it from Microsoft’s Web site before the end of January. A version at retail stores will cost $70, at least through Jan. 31, Microsoft said in a blog post.

Microsoft is characterizing this as a special promotion and not its official pricing for the software. The company has run limited-time offers in the past with new Windows versions. With Windows 7, for example, it offered three copies of the software in a “family pack” for $150. The promotional pricing for Windows 8 can be used to purchase up to five copies for $40 apiece.

The company would not say what its pricing will be once the promotion ends, nor what it will charge for the full copies of the software needed for running it on virtual machines (including when using Windows on a Mac).

Microsoft hasn’t given a firm date for the arrival for the major Windows update, but it has issued a near final “release preview” version, and said it is aiming to have it on new PCs and retail shelves by the holidays.

Apple has been leading the way toward cheaper operating system upgrades, charging just $20 or $30 for recent updates, including Lion and Snow Leopard.

Microsoft always has incentives to get existing users to update to the latest version of Windows, although this time around it quickly needs as large a base as possible to encourage developers to create new-style Metro apps that only run on Windows 8.

Typically, most users of a new version of Windows come from those buying a new PC, though it gets a nice boost to its bottom line from the initial boxed sales of a new Windows version.

Depending on which version of Windows is being moved to Windows 8, users will have the option of doing a clean installation or keeping their past files and applications. With Windows Vista or Windows XP, only a user’s personal files will be maintained, and programs will have to be reinstalled.

Is there a way to turn off the automated, instant search results that appear rapidly when doing a Google search?

Most of the time I find them very annoying.

A:

Google says you can turn off the feature by clicking on the gear icon at the top right of any search results page and selecting “Search Settings.”

From there, go to the section called “Google Instant Predictions,” select “Never Show Instant Results,” and then click the “Save” box at the bottom of the page.

Q:

I am thinking of buying a Droid smartphone from Motorola and am concerned about the privacy of my personal data.

I was told by a Best Buy salesman that Android phones only back up their data to the cloud and don’t store it on one’s home PC like my current phone or the Apple iPhone. Is this true?

A:

Most, if not all, Android phones I’ve seen can optionally back up your personal data, such as contacts, to the cloud and don’t come with a computer program like Apple’s iTunes that does so. In fact, even Apple is now optionally allowing online backup, instead of backup to a computer. There are some third-party apps, which I haven’t tested, that will back up an Android phone to a PC. One is called Wondershare MobileGo for Android, and is at http://bit.ly/MTYaGJ.

Q:

I am looking at buying a well-equipped Windows 7 laptop, but wonder whether it would it be better to wait for the newer models to come out, especially as I worry that it might be costly to upgrade to Windows 8?

A:

Unless your current laptop is unusable, or you fear it’ll become so soon, I’d wait. Not only will you have more choices in the fall, they will be much better designed for Windows 8.

Write to Walt at walt.mossberg@wsj.com

Dell XPS 14 Ultrabook

Lest we forget, manufacturers like Lenovo and Dell have been marketing thinner, lighter laptops with extra features like mobile broadband services and, in Dell’s case, longer battery life.

Dell today introduced two new models to its XPS family: The XPS 14 Ultrabook and the XPS 15, which adds some premium features but doesn’t fall within the Intel-driven specifications of an Ultrabook.

The XPS 14 Ultrabook measures 13.2 inches by 9.2 inches, with a super-bright 14-inch diagonal display, and is just .81-inch thick. It’s made of machined aluminum, while the display is coated with Corning Gorilla Glass. It’s got two USB ports, an HDMI port and a mini DisplayPort with a built-in card reader.

In terms of its guts, the XPS 14 comes with either a third-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, as well as optional Nvidia graphics, four gigabytes of memory and solid-state drive options of up to 512 gigabytes.

And the XPS 14 weighs 4.6 pounds — heavier than even some of the bulkier Ultrabooks out on the market.

But where it’s really meant to stand out is in battery life. AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg reviewed the predecessor to this Ultrabook, the XPS 13, in February of this year, and found that its biggest drawback was “subpar battery life.” In Walt’s test, it fell an hour short of another Ultrabook he tested, and two hours short of the 13-inch MacBook Air. The problem with super-slim laptops is that they often sacrifice substantial battery life for size. With the XPS 14, Dell is clearly looking to bridge that gap, claiming more than 11 hours of battery life, compared to the XPS 13’s claim of nine hours.

On the heels of Lenovo’s announcement that the China-based PC maker is adding mobile broadband service to its computers, Dell is offering something similar, called Dell NetReady. So, when Wi-Fi is in short supply, users can rely on cellular service provided through the laptop (at a cost, through a pay-as-you-go plan).

The XPS 14 Ultrabook goes on sale today, at a starting price of $1,099.

The XPS 15, meanwhile, will start at $1,299, with specs similar to those of the XPS 14 — made of machined aluminum with a Gorilla Glass display, Core i5 or i7 chips and optional Nvidia graphics — but it’s a bigger beast, with a 15.6-inch display, a .91-inch thick body, and a starting weight of 5.8 pounds. It also boasts more memory — and a shorter battery life of eight hours and 11 minutes — than the XPS 14. And, of course, it’s not technically an Ultrabook.

The new Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 series comes in 14-inch and 15.6-inch versions, and is thinner than earlier models, measuring 0.81-inch thick and weighing just 4.3 pounds. For comparison, the 14-inch Timeline Ultra M3 comes in at 1.1 inches thick and weighs 4.2 pounds.

The M5 also gets upgraded with Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors (either Core i3 or Core i5, depending on the configuration) and Nvidia’s next-generation graphics processor, so you can use it to play games and watch movies.

Acer promises up to eight hours of battery life, as well as fast boot-up and connection times. The company says that the M5 can wake from sleep mode in less than two seconds, and from a deep sleep in six seconds. A 20 gigabyte solid-state drive is onboard to help return the Ultrabook to the state that you last left it.

Other notable features include a built-in optical drive, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port so you can connect to a monitor or TV and a 1.3-megapixel HD Webcam.

Pricing for the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 series will range between $680 and $830. The Ultrabooks will be available from Acer’s online store and at retailers nationwide.

Something else to note: If you purchase an M5 running Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate, Acer is offering an upgrade program to Windows 8 Pro for $15 till Jan. 13, 2013.

After announcing it at CES 2012, Vizio officially debuted its new line of personal computers today, which includes two thin and light notebooks, a 15-inch laptop and a pair of all-in-one PCs. All will be available later this summer, with prices for each system starting at $898.

In a market that’s already crowded with competition from the likes of Apple, HP and Dell, Vizio is hoping that it can lure new customers by offering products that combine high performance and stylish design.

For those looking for something ultraportable, the company’s Thin + Light series can meet those needs. You can choose between a 14-inch or a 15.6-inch HD display; both models sport a slim aluminum unibody design.

Designed for use on the go, Vizio promises up to seven hours of battery life, and the inclusion of a solid-state drive should also help speed up boot times.

The Ultrabooks also have HDMI ports, so you can connect your laptop to a TV to view your content on a bigger screen.

However, for more of a multimediacentric laptop, there is the Vizio Notebook. It offers a 15.6-inch HD display and is slightly thicker than the Thin + Light models, but it also packs in a more powerful graphics processor.

Last but not least, there are the 24-inch and 27-inch all-in-one PCs. Each model has a 1080p HD display and comes with a wireless keyboard and touchpad with multi-touch support.

Surround sound audio is also onboard, as well as dual HDMI ports, so you can connect your cable box, Blu-ray player or gaming console and turn it into a mini entertainment hub.

All of Vizio’s laptops and all-in-one PCs feature Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors and ship with the Signature Edition of Windows 7, which means you won’t get any bloatware or unnecessary applications.

The computers will be sold at major retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and Amazon.

That’s the word from Microsoft’s corporate vice president of OEM, Steven Guggenheimer, who announced the metric during a keynote address at Computex. According to him, Windows 7 is now running on more than 39 percent of Internet-connected devices worldwide. Which is impressive — remember, Windows 7 was first introduced in October 2009.

Windows 7’s sales appear to be accelerating, which is great news for Microsoft because every Windows 7 sale is a potential Windows 8 upgrader. And the company has been putting a lot of effort into that forthcoming OS.

“This is the biggest launch time in Microsoft’s history,” Guggenheimer said. “In addition to updating Windows client, Windows Server, phone and embedded platforms, there’s a massive wave of software and services coming to market that we think will delight customers, from Windows Azure, to Office 15, Xbox games, Skype and Bing.”

The news was reported by CNET earlier this month, with additional details, including the cost, trickling out in recent days. Our sources confirm that Microsoft will offer $15 Windows Pro 8 upgrades to those buying a new PC with Windows 7 Home Basic or higher.

Redmond has offered these kinds of coupons with the past several releases, so it is not a shocker.

But with Windows 8 coming this fall — possibly as late as November — and with current license sales slowing, and Microsoft losing share to both Macs and iPads, the upgrade program could be even more important this time around.

Redmond and the PC makers are hoping that the promise of a guaranteed and easy upgrade will convince back-to-school shoppers to stick with Windows, rather than head to the competition.

The upgrade program is important for another reason: Microsoft needs Windows 8 to get off to a fast start in order to convince developers to write new Metro-style apps that only run on Windows 8. Getting more Windows 7 users on the new operating system would help that cause.

A big change this time around is how the program will operate. In the past, Microsoft has been the driving force behind the cheap upgrades, but the company left it up to computer makers to handle the specific pricing, timing and fulfillment. With Windows 8, Microsoft will handle all of those items, sources say.

Microsoft declined to comment on its upgrade program plans.

The other piece of preparing for Windows 8 is what is taking place on the hardware side. Windows 8, with its Metro user interface, is tailor-made for touch devices, though it will also work with a keyboard and mouse.

So far, this summer’s laptop offerings are punched-up versions of the same PCs that have been on the market for months, with upgrades to Intel’s Ivy Bridge chip line, and PC makers all trying to put their stamp on the trend toward thinner, lighter laptops.

Lenovo has announced more consumer-friendly versions of its business-minded ThinkPad laptop. Hewlett-Packard, meanwhile, has expanded its Ultrabook line and has slapped the term “Sleekbooks” on another set of new laptops that fall into the ultra-thin-and-lightweight category but have innards that don’t meet Intel’s specifications for Ultrabooks. Sony’s new Ivy Bridge-equipped Vaio laptops will be made with lightweight materials, include larger displays, and offer optional accessories such as an extended battery.

But PC makers will clearly be gearing up for Windows 8 so that they can start pitching the new operating system as soon as it is ready.

This fall, some hardware makers will introduce convertible PCs that function as both tablets and laptops, as noted here, or will add things like touch sensors to existing displays, in order to bridge the two operating systems.

One company that has already announced a Windows 8 laptop is Lenovo. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January of this year, the China-based PC maker showed off the IdeaPad Yoga, a laptop with a 10-finger touchscreen and a full range of motion at the hinge so when fully folded it turns into a 13.3.-inch tablet.

Overall, one can expect a lot of Windows 8-ready machines to be part of the back-to-school lineups. But expect most PC makers to hold off on design overhauls for the Windows 8 launch.

One consequence, in the eyes of these Microsoft executives, is to confer an advantage on the company’s main operating-system rival, Apple.

Now, Microsoft is doing something about the situation. In a program unknown to most computer users, the company has been using its small chain of retail stores and its online computer store to sell customized versions of popular PC models that have been streamlined for a cleaner look and better performance. It calls these machines “Signature” PCs. They retain the maker’s brand, but sport a special Signature desktop and configuration. And they cost about the same as the identical stock version of the machine sold elsewhere.

Microsoft also offers a program that, for $99, will turn users’ Windows 7 PCs into Signature versions, if the owner brings the computer into one of its 16 stores, due to grow to 21 outlets in coming months. All Signature computers come with 90 days of free phone support, as well as help at the stores’ “Answer Desks,” which are like the Genius Bars at Apple stores.

I’ve been testing three Signature models and comparing them with the same machines as sold elsewhere without the Signature modifications. I found the Signature versions much cleaner and easier to navigate and faster in a variety of tests.

A Folio 13 model PC desktop, as shipped by Hewlett-Packard, shows a cluster of third-party software icons.

I’d recommend that prospective Windows PC buyers who live near a Microsoft store, which are mostly in the West, or are willing to shop at the company’s online store, consider a Signature machine. Information on store locations, as well as a link to online PC shopping from Microsoft, is at microsoftstore.com. Information on Signature is at signature.microsoft.com.

Some important caveats are in order. The hardware makers presumably believe, and some consumers may well agree, that the extra software, utilities and settings, which Microsoft removes or buries, are beneficial. Some of these, like offers to join game or music services, may be viewed as welcome bonuses. Others, like customized networking utilities, or launchers for the PC makers’ own media software, may be viewed as better matched to the hardware, or superior to Microsoft’s approach, even though they duplicate Windows functions. Many can be turned off, or removed, by a user with sufficient skill and time.

Also, Microsoft loads Signature machines with its own add-on software, such as its free email, photo and video programs, its Zune music and video program, and a stripped-down “Starter” version of Microsoft Office, that includes only Word and Excel, plus ads, and an offer to buy the full version.

However, the company says the stores will remove any of these a customer doesn’t want and even help the customer install competing software, such as Google’s Chrome browser, or Apple’s iTunes for Windows.

The same PC as sold by Microsoft in its Signature configuration.

At my request, Microsoft supplied me with before-and-after laptops from Hewlett-Packard, Sony and Samsung. Over the past few days, I’ve been comparing the stock and Signature versions, and testing how much time it takes to set them up, start them and restart them in daily use, resume them from sleep, and shut them down.

The Signature desktop, which is labeled “Microsoft Signature,” features a picture of a sunset over a lake as its wallpaper. It contains no icons other than the recycling bin. The Taskbar contains only icons for Internet Explorer, the Explorer file browser, and Microsoft’s free email, photo and moviemaking programs. The system tray, to the right of the Taskbar, contains only the bare minimum of items, such as the network and battery indicators.

Signature machines are also configured with battery, audio and touch-pad settings Microsoft considers optimal. The usual third-party security software—which is typically provided for only 30 to 90 days, makes you go through some setup, and nags you to subscribe—is replaced by Microsoft’s own Security Essentials program, which is free, required no registration or subscription and updates itself automatically.

By contrast, my test HP Folio 13 had eight icons besides the recycling bin, including several that were come-ons for music and game services. It also featured several HP utilities.

A Sony EH37FX included an app from Best Buy that launched every time the PC started (though you could turn this off). Both stock machines festooned the IE browser with two space-hogging toolbars, including one from Microsoft’s own Bing search service; the Signature machine had none.

The Samsung Series 7 I tested came with 10 extra icons and a bunch of special utilities.

Signature isn’t the same on every machine. In most cases, it strips out some of the added software and utilities, and retains others, but hides them in a folder buried in the Start Menu. In some cases, however, where a utility is deemed essential for a computer’s particular hardware, it retains these.

Such decisions, and indeed all of the Signature settings, are controlled by a team of engineers housed in Microsoft’s retail division.

In my speed tests, Signature beat all the stock machines on all my trials, but the margins weren’t dramatic, usually from a few seconds to 25 seconds. On the HP, the differences were especially minimal. Across all three machines, the biggest differences were the time it took to set the PC up out of the box and the time it took to shut down the PC.

One Microsoft official told me that Signature represents “Microsoft’s perspective on Windows,” rather than that of the hardware maker.

In my opinion, although it may generally benefit Microsoft at the expense of the hardware maker, it also makes for a better experience for the user.

Email Walt at mossberg@wsj.com.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120515/microsoft-gives-windows-a-clean-sweep/feed/ 0 http://allthingsd.com/20120502/german-court-backs-motorolas-injunction-against-microsoft/ http://allthingsd.com/20120502/german-court-backs-motorolas-injunction-against-microsoft/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 13:30:02 +0000 Friedrich Geiger and Harriet Torry http://allthingsd.com/?p=202351 A German court Wednesday upheld Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.’s request for an injunction to halt sales of Microsoft Corp. products, including Windows 7 and Xbox 360, over alleged patent violation, the latest twist in a case that has spanned courtrooms across the Atlantic.

A Microsoft spokesperson, however, said Motorola is prohibited from acting on the court’s decision because a U.S. court granted Microsoft a restraining order on April 11 to prevent Motorola Mobility from taking action based on the Mannheim court’s ruling.

Read the rest of this post on the original site »

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120502/german-court-backs-motorolas-injunction-against-microsoft/feed/ 0 http://allthingsd.com/20120501/samsung-hits-play-on-series-7-gamer-laptop/ http://allthingsd.com/20120501/samsung-hits-play-on-series-7-gamer-laptop/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 21:45:47 +0000 Bonnie Cha http://allthingsd.com/?p=202030 Samsung is dialing it up a notch or four with its new gaming laptop, the Series 7 Gamer.

First introduced in January at CES 2012 and available today, the Series 7 Gamer features a unique dial that allows you to switch into four different modes and optimizes the laptop’s performance, depending on whether you’re using the computer for gaming or less intense tasks, such as creating documents.

For example, in Gaming mode, the main gaming keys are highlighted in red, and the lights around the speakers pulsate to the sounds of the game. Meanwhile, General mode turns the Series 7 into more of an everyday laptop, on which you can surf the Web, work on documents or view photos.

There is also a Quiet mode that disables the fan and all sounds, as well as a Power Save mode designed to save battery life by turning off all non-critical components.

Gaming is at the core of this device, however, and the Samsung Series 7 Gamer has some of the latest technology to power the Windows 7 laptop. This includes Intel’s new Ivy Bridge i7 processor (2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM CPU), Nvidia’s latest Geforce GTX 675M graphics, 16 gigabytes of memory and a 1.5 terabyte 7200RPM hard drive.

Games should look spectacular on the Series 7’s 17.3-inch full-HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) display, which Samsung promises will offer 50 percent more brightness than traditional PCs. Samsung also packs in a Blu-ray player, Dolby Home Theater v4 speakers and a built-in two-megapixel camera.

A heavyweight in features, the Series 7 gamer is also just plain old heavy. At 13.34 pounds, this is definitely not a device for toting around town every day, especially with its rated battery life of 3.7 hours, but it could be an attractive option for gaming enthusiasts looking for a powerful, portable solution.

The Samsung Series 7 Gamer costs $1,900 and is available now through a number of retailers, including Amazon, Newegg and TigerDirect.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120501/samsung-hits-play-on-series-7-gamer-laptop/feed/ 0 http://allthingsd.com/20120417/permission-to-procrastinate-wait-to-get-a-new-laptop/ http://allthingsd.com/20120417/permission-to-procrastinate-wait-to-get-a-new-laptop/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:13:10 +0000 Walt Mossberg http://allthingsd.com/?p=197568 If you’re thinking of buying a new laptop this spring, my advice is to think again. Unless your laptop is on its last legs and you have to move quickly, there are compelling reasons to wait until at least the summer, and probably the fall, to buy a new machine, especially if you are looking for a Windows PC, but even if you are in the market for a Mac.

That makes this annual spring buyer’s guide a bit different. People always worry that buying tech products today carries a risk of obsolescence. Most of the time, that fear is overblown. But this spring really is a bad time to buy a new laptop, because genuinely big changes are due in the coming months.

On the PC side, Microsoft is set to introduce Windows 8, the most radical new version of Windows in years, probably in the fall. PC makers will be introducing new laptop designs to take advantage of it. While Windows 8 will work with a mouse or touch pad and a keyboard, it will be heavily oriented toward tablet-type touch-screen navigation. Many PC makers are planning convertible Windows 8 models for the holiday shopping season that can act as either tablets or regular clamshell laptops.

If you buy a traditional Windows 7 laptop now, Microsoft says it will very likely be upgradable to Windows 8, but you won’t find the new styles of laptops on store shelves now. Even if you buy one of the rare touch-screen laptops now, Microsoft says it will likely work with the touch features of Windows 8, but it may not be optimized to do a great job with the new software. Also, in my view, it is always better, especially with Windows computers, to buy a new machine if you want a new version of Windows.

On the Mac side, Apple also is bringing out a new operating system, this summer. Called Mountain Lion, it won’t be as big a change as Windows 8, partly because Apple already has integrated a lot of touch gestures and tablet-type features into the Mac using the touch pad, and has given no indication it plans touch screens.

While current Macs will most likely be upgradeable to Mountain Lion, you risk missing out on new hardware if you buy a machine now.

However, Apple is overdue for redesigned laptops, especially in its MacBook Pro line, and it is a good bet that new, possibly heavily redesigned, models will begin appearing later this year. Current Macs will likely be upgradable to Mountain Lion, but if you buy now, you’ll miss out on the likely new hardware.

There is another factor that calls for waiting. Intel, whose processors are used by most Windows PC makers and by Apple, is on the verge of introducing a new family of chips, called Ivy Bridge, which the chip maker claims will offer much faster graphics performance without sacrificing battery life. While some Ivy Bridge laptops will be available very soon, the new chips won’t show up in large numbers of consumer laptops until around June. So, even before Windows 8 appears, many consumer laptops you buy now will be outclassed by similar machines that will be introduced this summer.

There is a silver lining. If you watch prices carefully, you may find bargains on Windows 7 laptops running the current Intel processors — which are plenty capable — as the newer models get closer. And PC makers are likely, at some point, to offer free upgrades to Windows 8.

With all of that in mind, here is a cheat sheet to choosing a laptop now, if you must. As always, these tips are for average consumers doing common tasks — email, Web browsing, social networking, general office productivity, photos, music, videos and simple games. This guide isn’t meant for corporate buyers or for serious gamers and media producers.

Tablet or laptop

Tablets can reduce your reliance on a laptop and allow you to wait to buy a new one. Tablet users often find they use their laptops less often for daily tasks like email, Web browsing, or social networking.

Windows 8, the most radical new version in years, will likely be out this fall, accompanied by new PC designs.

Price

Windows PC makers are trying to nudge up the price of their laptops, since they feel they make too little profit on them. You can buy a stripped-down Windows laptop for under $300 and an adequate model for around $500. But a well-equipped model typically runs between $600 and $900. The cheapest Mac laptop, the 11-inch MacBook Air, costs $999, and prices quickly climb to $1,200.

Windows vs. Mac

Windows 7 laptops offer more variety in styles, and often more ports and larger hard disks, at less cost. But Apple laptops are sturdy, sleek and offer better built-in software. They have excellent customer support and can even run Windows, at an extra cost.

Also, Mac users have only the rare virus to contend with, while Windows users must worry about hundreds of thousands of potential attacks. Finally, Apple’s slim, light, speedy MacBook Air, which starts at $999, is a gem. It isn’t only a great traveling machine, but it can be used as your main machine.

Ultrabooks

Nearly every PC maker now has a MacBook Air-type model called an Ultrabook. I have yet to find one that is quite as good as the Air, especially on my battery tests. But I like the ultrabooks a lot, and think most consumers will, too. The main downsides to the ultrabooks are that they are relatively pricey — some top $1,000 — and have less storage. Like the Air, most use fast solid-state drives instead of hard disks, and these top out at just 256 gigabytes.

Memory

Get at least 4 gigabytes of memory, or RAM, on a new Windows computer. On a Mac, you can get away with 2 gigabytes, but 4 GB is better.

Processors

Intel’s chips — even the new ones coming soon — are called the i3, i5, and i7. An i5 is fine for most consumers, and even an i3 will do. But a laptop with chips from AMD is also fine.

Graphics

Usually cheaper machines have weak graphics hardware and costlier ones have better graphics. Better graphics can make a machine faster.

Hard disks

A 500 gigabyte hard disk should be the minimum on most PCs, except bargain and very light models. As always, be wary of sales pitches and don’t buy more laptop than you need.

Email Walt at mossberg@wsj.com.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120417/permission-to-procrastinate-wait-to-get-a-new-laptop/feed/ 0 http://allthingsd.com/20120417/microsoft-opts-against-31-flavors-for-windows-8-but-still-adds-unfamiliar-tastes/ http://allthingsd.com/20120417/microsoft-opts-against-31-flavors-for-windows-8-but-still-adds-unfamiliar-tastes/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:30:07 +0000 Ina Fried http://allthingsd.com/?p=197047 Microsoft plans fewer different packages of Windows 8 than it has offered with past incarnations of its flagship operating system.

In a blog post late Monday, Microsoft said it will offer only two main options for Windows 8 on traditional PC processors — Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Microsoft will also have an enterprise version for large businesses with volume-licensing deals.

The big change with Windows 8 is an all-new version for computers running the ARM-based chips more commonly found on smartphones and tablets than in full-fledged computers. That flavor, known as Windows RT, includes a version of Office, but won’t be able to run other traditional Windows apps.

All flavors of Windows 8 will be able to run new-style Metro apps designed for the new operating system, but only Intel- and AMD-powered machines will be able to run older programs.

Microsoft didn’t disclose how much it will charge for the new Windows, nor would it confirm when the operating system will arrive, though it is widely expected later this year.

While still presenting consumers with several options, the move is a notable slimming down for Microsoft, which has in the past also had options like Home Basic, Home Premium, Starter, Ultimate, Media Center and Tablet PC Editions.

Redmond has come under fire in the past for offering so many different pricing options with Windows. Windows 7 had nearly as many versions as Windows Vista, though most customers were steered toward the Home Premium or Pro versions of the operating system.

And while it won’t have a “Starter” version of the operating system as such, Microsoft is doing much the same thing with Windows 8, adding it would have a “local-language-only edition of Windows 8” for China and “a small set of select emerging markets.”

That option gives Microsoft a way to offer cheaper prices in high-piracy areas while maintaining its profit margins in its more mature markets.

Microsoft also reiterated in the blog post that Windows RT will have many of the features consumers tend to expect from Windows, but won’t have some key business-oriented features, such as the ability to join a corporate domain.

That version also won’t contain Windows Media Player, the music- and video-playing app that has been a staple of Windows.

Windows 8, in all its versions, will come standard with Metro applications for managing email, calendar, photos, instant messaging, music and videos. In general, developers will have to distribute their Metro apps using a new Windows Store that is built into the new operating system.

A consumer preview version of Windows 8 was made available at Mobile World Congress in February and a near-final release candidate will follow at an unspecified date. Developers were given an earlier test version last fall.

]]> http://allthingsd.com/20120417/microsoft-opts-against-31-flavors-for-windows-8-but-still-adds-unfamiliar-tastes/feed/ 0 http://allthingsd.com/20120410/alternatives-to-the-iphone/ http://allthingsd.com/20120410/alternatives-to-the-iphone/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:03:20 +0000 Walt Mossberg http://allthingsd.com/?p=195105 Q:

I’ve been using the iPhone since it came out in 2007. And while I’m satisfied with the way it works, I’m considering changing phones just to have something different—in particular a larger screen. What, in your opinion, are the best alternatives to the iPhone? I use mine primarily for email, along with checking stocks and weather.

A:

I would go with an Android phone, which has plenty of apps that are similar to what you are used to, and which typically these days come with larger screens, some exceeding 4.5 inches. There are always new models coming out, and there are so many that it can be hard to recommend one. But, in my tests, I’ve been especially impressed with the Samsung Galaxy models.

Q:

I’m a Verizon user currently on 3G and we’ve been promised 4G in our area by end of 2013. Do you have any indication Verizon is actually going to continue with LTE service or is this just a smoke screen? Are they really going to roll out new 4G (LTE) service or is this just chosen markets?

A:

I don’t know where you live, or when or whether Verizon Wireless plans to offer LTE, the fastest cellular data network, in your particular area. But I can say that, for Verizon, LTE is anything but a “smoke screen,” and I’d be stunned if the carrier didn’t continue rolling it out. Verizon has deployed it in over 200 markets and says it plans to cover 400 markets by the end of 2012. It’s a key part of the company’s competitive strategy.

Every carrier that deploys a new network starts with a few “chosen markets,” and there are always some areas left out, even years later, for various reasons. But from everything I know, Verizon is planning a broad national LTE network.

Q:

I run Windows 7 on a Mac using Parallels Desktop. Can I use the normal Windows update process to keep Windows 7 up to date or will it compromise the Windows setup through Parallels?

A:

Your virtual copy of Windows inside the Parallels software is designed to work just like Windows on a physical PC. That includes the Windows update process, which I have used many times on Windows via Parallels. This is separate from any updates made by Apple to the Mac operating system, or updates to the Parallels program itself.

Email Walt at mossberg@wsj.com

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