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.

If there’s a gadget out there you can bet Dell will eventually get around to taking a crack at it, their printers and PDAs sure were a hit weren’t they? Despite some hiccups along the gadget road the company is planning on launching their mini 3i smartphone in the US sometime early next year.

As for details…well you’ll be able to pick it up on the AT&T network and it’s somewhat based off the Google Android OS platform so there may or may not be a decent number of apps for your future smartphone consideration.

It’s too early to tell how it’ll play out but you can look forward to seeing that lovable Dell branding out in the wild.

Source: eWeek

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

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’s Windows 7 users in Europe may have to jump through a few more hoops than normal when it comes time to install their operating system. "E editions" of the OS won’t include a web browser at all so it’s up to customers to make sure they have their software ready once they go for it.

Seeing as they don’t want their IE8 software to migrate forward with an upgrade installation the company is only allowing clean installations with the European version of the software so backing up your data, while always a good plan, takes on an extra sense of urgency.

A painful set of hoops to jump through but a fresh install isn’t the worst thing in the world, at least it gets rid of the nightmare mess most home systems become over time.

Source: Installing E editions of Windows 7 (Microsoft)

There’s been a whole lot of internet rumblings about Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system hitting the RTM phase (Release to Manufacturing aka burn to DVD put in boxes). Apparently it’s not quite there yet according to Microsoft’s official Windows Blog.

The company expects the OS to hit RTM later this month so those leaked torrents / downloads purported to be floating around are’t final at all, and should be avoided as a general rule of thumb regardless.

The operating system is still slated to be launched October 22nd.

Google’s Android operating system is moving off of the cell phone and into the netbook thanks to the efforts of their manufacturers and eWeek’s Don Reisinger thinks it has the capability of snatching a good chunk when it comes time to compete with Windows 7 in the marketplace.

He makes some fair points in that it can gain some traction but contradicts himself at certain points when he notes that:

Plus, those apps can be downloaded from the Web, so the need for a DVD drive in the netbook — a major complaint for Windows-based netbook users — won’t be so great. That will, once again, contribute heavily to the affordability of the netbook.

Then goes on to spout off the features Windows 7 Starter Edition won’t have including DVD Playback which doesn’t really matter as netbooks don’t have DVD drives and waxes poetic about the Android App Store when, I’m pretty sure, Windows has the largest software library around.

It’s nice to be excited about a new OS alternative but lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Otherwise it’s a nice OS to keep an eye on as competition is always good.

Netbooks have become an increasingly popular way to get your computing done and could have been a platform where the nimble Linux OS could have flourished, unfortunately that hasn’t been happening and you’re likely to see the bulk of new netbooks sold with some Windows OS.

Intel is hoping to improve on the user’s experience with Linux with its work on the Moblin v2 operating system. They’ve released a beta for it on their project site and, from the looks of things, it sports a slick looking interface with everything the normal user would neet to get the most out of their Atom powered netbook.

As for how popular it’ll be? Well people aren’t too keen on changing their computing habits so we’ll that the good old wait and see approach.