Google’s Chrome operating system has been talked about for months and now it’s finally launched…with a few key hoops to go through if you want to run it.

Google isn’t supplying any pre-compiled binaries or images for their OS, they’re keeping that for their hardware partners to build suitable machines around. If you want to get in on the action you’re going to have to download the source code and build it yourself.

If you’re expecting a full OS experience you’re bound to be disappointed. It’s meant to be something of a portal to Google’s services and sites but, of course, you’ll be able to surf whatever webpages you desire.

Its been a long time coming. As of October 22nd you could pick up your very own copy of the polished good stuff. Microsoft’s Windows 7 has promised to make your computing usage a kinder, gentler experience and it has the shiny icons to prove it. But with the “dark cloud” Vista hung over the Windows brand can they get their house back in order?

We’ll be taking a look at Windows 7 and how it handles the day to day rigors of PC usage. Its changes are many but no matter how you use your computer there are improvements to be found for all users.
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Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 7 operating system is the most polished OS to come from the company, of course it’s going to have to be compared to Apple’s highly polished Snow Leopard operating system which means plenty of fodder for both sides to sling at each other.

CNET has tested out both operating systems on a model year 2008 MacBook Pro with some interesting results on both ends. Here’s a peek:

First off, the test machine is a 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro with a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM, and a 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT video card. This is the 2008 model of the computer that comes with a removable battery and doesn’t have the SD card slot. (This is not the latest 2009 model that comes with a nonremovable battery, which packs a lot more juice.)

A test on the same hard drive would be much preferred given that they do go for the time based benchmarks and drive performance can differ especially when using drives from different manufacturers.

When netbooks were introduced they saw a number of restrictions if they wanted to run the Windows XP operating system which, given Vista’s hefty requirements, was the only usable Windows choice. This time around they’ve eased up.

Microsoft is allowing netbook manufacturers to preload whatever version of the Windows 7 OS they’re content with no matter the machine’s specs. Of course you won’t likely find a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate on a bargain basement netbook so they’re somewhat safe on the hardware requirements front.

Good news for those fearing hardware requirements that would stop their shiny new netbook from running the best version of Windows 7.

Source: TG Daily

CableCARD is the cable industry’s standard for getting digital content to supported devices such as TVs, and in a few rare cases PCs, instead of having to rely on a large and clunky cable box. Unfortunately the PC option saw very limited usage due to Microsoft only allowing OEM PC builders to create CableCARD compatible computers.

Things have changed with Microsoft’s announcement that Windows 7’s Media Center will be able to natively handle a CableCARD so long as your hardware can decode all of the digital goodness. Here’s a few details:

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC’s ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer’s PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

A great boost to those home theater PC users which should see adoption rates improve quite a bit. Hit the break for the full PR.

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Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system is being touted as the best reason to upgrade from your old XP install clearly trumping the company’s Vista OS by quite a wide margin when it comes to user friendliness and system response.

Up until now there has been a hidden angle to the operating system, power consumption.

The company has done some optimizing with Windows 7 which sees it offering a better battery life compared to Vista, as reported by CNET, and in our own testing of the OS we saw much improved battery life compared to Windows XP.

Markedly so.

Perhaps it’s making better usage of power saving features or it’s doing more with less whatever the case is if you’re going to stick to Windows land and want to save a bit on the electric bill then the upgrade may be a little more tempting.

Microsoft’s Windows 7 has a slew of performance and user friendliness improvements under the hood but figuring out which OS version is right for you or if it’s even worth upgrading your PC to the new operating system gets a bit tricky.

The company has prepared a number of helpful links and utilities that can help you choose the right OS version, whether a retail or upgrade version is the correct choice for you, or if you should even bother installing it at all.

Most new computers sold in the last 4 years should be able to handle the OS but if, in general, a copy of the software costs more than your computer is actually worth an investment in a new computer with Windows 7 preloaded wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Microsoft had been planning to launch a Windows 7 version, dubbed E Edition, for the European Union which lacked any sort of preloaded web browser which would force the user to find a way to get one on to their OS.

Their recent Browser Ballot "innovation" has been well received by the European Commission so they’ve decided to drop their plans for the browser-less OS. The company’s "Issues" blog has more details:

Shortly after new Windows PCs are set up by the user, Microsoft will update them over the Internet with a consumer ballot software program. If IE is the default browser, the user will be presented with a list of other leading browsers and invited to select one or more for installation. Technically, this consumer ballot screen will be presented as a Web page that can be updated over time as new browsers become available.

A nice compromise and one that keeps the company’s browser loaded on to the system as well as giving the competition a bit of exposure.

Microsoft had been planning to go for a browser-less version of their Windows 7 operating system for Europe given their browser litigation issues with the European Union Competition Committee. The company has seemed to reverse their position and is accepting a proposal.

Windows 7 in Europe will feature a browser ballot that will allow a user to choose a browser to be installed with the OS. The major competitors are a given (Firefox, Google Chrome) but one has to wonder if there will be a limit on how many browsers will be offered.

A ballot with dozens of alternatives to confuse users is about as bad as no browser at all.

Source: Ars Technica

Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system has hit its second to last major milestone today as the company has hit RTM status which means it’s off to some DVD pressing plant where millions of discs will be burned and packaged for your inevitable purchase on October 22nd.

I’m sure the developers are celebrating.

Also of note is the news that Windows Server 2008 R2 has also been RTM and customers should be on the look out for their upgrade path starting in August.

Quite a busy day for Microsoft.