It wasn’t long ago, that we reported on MSI discontinuing the hybrid netbook, the MSI Wind U115. Using both an SSD and HDD, Microsoft requested that the company cease production of the netbook, most probably due to Microsoft Windows XP operating limitations. The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is another example, mysteriously removed from the Dell website . When Windows 7 is released, only netbooks with a display of up to 10.2 inches, will be given the cheaper version of Windows 7, while anything above that, while still a netbook, notebook licensing will be charged.

There’s also other netbooks, which due to the licensing limitations from Microsoft are going down and not as successful as they could be. Archos 10 features a 500GB HDD and 2GB, which is above the maximum of 160GB HDD and 1GB of RAM, so the higher spec model is only available with Ubuntu. This is also the case with the Dell Mini 9 with 2GB of RAM, Windows XP can not be run on it, only the 1GB model.

The final netbook which broke Microsoft’s rule, is the Everun Note. From the outside, looks like a typical netbook, 7 inch display. But inside it packs a dual core processor, where as Microsoft view netbooks as having single core CPUs. The netbook is available for $599 but it doesn’t include any operating system, which is where the netbook gets even pricier.

On Dell’s website, there are two Dell Mini 10Vs listed. One with an 8GB SSD and Ubuntu and the other with a 160GB hard drive and XP. But due to an error on the listing under the specifications, both were listed as having a “Microsoft Operating System”. Under the 160GB model, it was listed as XP, while the 8GB SSD model was listed as Ubuntu. This caused many message boards to jokingly claim that Ubuntu was now a Microsoft product. This isn’t the case though fortunately and word must have got to Dell as the specifications have now been modified to say just “Operating System”.

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The UK branch of MSI have put their word out on what they will be doing about the ban on XP being installed on Hybrid devices. The MSI Wind U115, which uses SSD and HDD for storage will not be recalled from stores in the UK, but rather, stay on the shelves until the stock is gone.

From the end of July, MSI will stop producing the U115 by request of Microsoft. Whether any more will be produced before then, Richard Stewart, UK Marketing Manager for MSI didn’t specify, except that production will cease at the end of July. So if you haven’t picked the hybrid netbook up yet and it appeals to you, nows the time before it’s too late and becomes a high priced ebay item.

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Microsoft is planning to offer customized versions of Windows 7 to users in Europe that lack Internet Explorer, according a report from CNET. There will be at least two versions of Windows 7 without the said browser, one version being Windows 7 “E”, which will be distributed in all members of the European Economic Area as well as Croatia and Switzerland. Another version is supposedly called Windows 7 “N”, which will also lack Microsoft’s Windows Media Player. Since a Web browser is a very important part of any operating system, Microsoft is trying to arrange different ways of giving users access to a Web browser. It is possible that Internet Explorer will be offered in a separate install disk. In an update on Microsoft’s blog, it was also mentioned that there could be a “‘ballot screen’ that would prompt users to choose from a specific set of Web browsers.” In any case, this is good for the user, because ultimately the more choice he has, the better.

Via CNET

Bit-tech.net is reporting that Microsoft does not want netbooks running their Windows XP to have hybrid storage, that is thouse with both SSDs and HDD.

It was not really mentioned why Microsoft is enforcing such ruling, although it is quite obvious that this has something to do with industry competition. We all know that netbooks with dual storage would have option to run both Windows XP and other Open-Source OS.

The good news is, there is only one netbook which was affected by this Microsoft ruling – the MSI Wind U115 which was recently outed with both SSDs and HDD.

Now, MSI was given until the end of June to pull-out the U115 from store shelves.  And MSI has no choice but to follow Microsoft’s ruling to avoid possible issues with Microsoft which could mean their netbooks forever running without Windows XP.

The question is what will happen with those pulled out U115 netbooks? Will MSI re-manufacture them with either SSD or HDD only? Or remove Windows XP to some of them?

While most people still haven’t even tried running Windows 7 on their precious little netbooks yet, Viliv will boldly showcase their S5 MID during Computex running Microsoft’s up-and-coming next-gen OS. Yes, a full-blown desktop OS on a teensy-weensy mobile Internet device. It’s going to be a sight for sore eyes, I’m sure. Or at least, I hope so. It sounds like a pretty daunting task, if you ask me. And quite an uncomfortable one, at that (running a desktop OS on a MID, that is). That said, I’m aware of the saying, “to each his own.” And I’ll be looking forward to seeing evidence of the Viliv S5 MID’s prowess (or lack thereof) with Windows 7 when it goes on display.

Via MyViliv

According to Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, “the Linux netbook market is not realizing its full potential” because the manufacturers are “employing an outdated business model.” Overall, he noted, the only thing the sorry state of Linux on netbooks is doing is giving Microsoft a chance to gain even more market share in a new category besides laptops and desktops, while the open source alternatives are being overshadowed as usual.

Zemlin mentions that with open-source code such as that in Linux, manufacturers are free to customize what can and can’t do in specific markets, and that they can “bundle a mix of services and web APIs, or have fulfillment mechanisms and set up a business relationship between operating systems makers, device makers and carriers” to make the most out of the open-source opportunity. Zemlin will continue to promote this idea at the Open Source in Mobile (OSiM) conference in San Francisco this week, where if it gains more traction, we just might see a change in the Linux netbook market soon.

Via The Register

Since Microsoft already dabbles in the business of making accessories for computers like mice, it should be no surprise that they’ve also prepared a notebook cooling pad for those who enjoy long hours of computing with their notebooks on the desktop. Microsoft boasts that this notebook cooling pad measures only 1.16-inches thick, and while its overall size can’t be confirmed to be netbook-ready, we suppose it can accomodate such devices without problems just the same. This is expected to go on sale in July for $29.95.

Microsoft via Engadget

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer recently spoke about his company’s plans for the future, and he quite nonchalantly revealed that they’re waiting for Google to release a netbook version of their currently for-smartphones-only Android mobile OS. Google’s Android already competes with Windows Mobile in the worldwide smartphone market, and if this happens, then the two companies will have yet another arena to fight each other to the death in. At the moment, Windows XP has succeeded in wiping out Linux from the netbook space little by little, but Android, although also open-source, is expected to be a different story. Google probably didn’t have making a netbook version of its OS in mind when it started out on Android, but companies like Asus have already confirmed that products with this open source operating system are already in the pipeline.

Via Guardian

In case you buy a netbook ‘puter that’s got Windows Vista already installed on it on or after July 1st of this year, you should know that you will be eligible for a direct upgrade to the newer Microsoft OS, Windows 7, once it’s finally released. The whole Vista to Windows 7 upgrade scheme may have been confusing before, but it won’t be after now. The above mentioned information relating to Vista to Windows 7 upgrades came from a Microsoft issued draft that the guys from over at Tech ARP somehow got their hands on. So, if you were eyeing a new PC with Vista installed on it, you may want to stall buying for now and wait until the upgrade scheme for Windows 7 is finally clear.

Tech ARP