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Microsoft’s Windows XP
Mode for Windows 7 Professional or higher has RTM’d (Release to Manufacturing) today and will be available for download from Microsoft Download Center on October 22. OEM manufactures will be able to offer Windows XP Mode on their PC’s, based on their shipping schedules to consumers.

The design purpose for Windows XP Mode is to help put businesses minds at ease when upgrading to Windows 7 to ensure their applications are backwards compatible. Windows XP Mode will allow any program to run smoothly in Windows 7 Professional or higher just as it does in Windows XP. This also includes USB peripherals such as printers and pen drives, when they are run through the Windows XP Mode application.

Windows XP Mode offers users a free virtual-PC based edition of Windows XP SP3 on Windows 7 Professional or higher. Windows XP Mode is now compatible with not only Windows XP software but Windows Vista software too. Windows 7 integrates XP Mode into the desktop so applications run just like any normal application would.

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We just caught a glimpse of ASUS’ EeeBox EB1012 nettop last month, but it looks like the company is already doing things one better with its new, redesigned EB1501 model. As before, this one packs the increasingly common one-two punch of NVIDIA’s Ion chipset and Intel’s Atom 333 dual-core processor, but makes its mark by being the first EeeBox (and one of the first nettops) to come pre-loaded with Windows 7, which also means it’s not shipping until the end of the month. Otherwise, you’ll get the usual 2GB of RAM (expandable to 4GB) and 250GB hard drive, a built-in DVD burner, and an HDMI port to make it feel right at home in your home theater. No official pricing over here just yet, but it looks like this one will start at €399 (or about $580) when it hits Europe.

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As reported by Ars Technica, beginning July 1, 2009, Windows 7 users who are still on the beta (build 7000) will begin to receive bi-hourly shutdowns reminding the user to upgrade to the release candidate (build 7100). On August 1, 2009, all Windows 7 beta licenses will expire triggering the non-genuine experience for any user still using the beta. The user’s wallpaper will be removed and a message with the words “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will be displayed in the lower right corner above the taskbar.

Users who would like to continue testing the next Microsoft operating system are asked to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate that was released to the public in May 2009. The release candidate will be available to download until August 15, 2009 when the software will no longer be offered by Microsoft. Windows 7 users who are currently on the release candidate will not have to worry until March 1, 2010 and June 1, 2010 when bi-hourly shutdowns and license expirations will begin.

With the given dates taken into consideration, Windows 7 users will have an ample amount of time to move over to the RTM build that is rumored to be released on July 13.

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Back in March we reviewed the System76 Serval Professional notebook and found it to be an excellent contender at the time. This notebook, which shipped with Ubuntu 8.10, had packed an Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor with a GeForce 9800M GTS graphics card and other great hardware, but since then System76 has rolled out notebooks with newer and better hardware. One of the new notebooks to recently leave the System76 facilities is the Bonobo Professional, which packs an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor and an impressive NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M discrete graphics processor. In this article today we are seeing how this high-end notebook performs with Ubuntu 9.04.

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Quick swap Hard Disk Drive bays have been around for a long time. The reason is becuase many companies can not afford to have their servers down for an extended period of time, so they clone the drive and put in a brand new working drive to keep the system up. It is a fact that many of us are not buisness owners, so what use would we have of this technology? If you happen to have tech savy friends, this is very easy to answer. You can all get the same hot swap bay and swap HDD’s to share the latest game update without downloading the same file multiple times. This can save a lot of time in the long run.

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No matter how resistant USB flash drives are compared with mechanical drives, they can still be damaged or corrupted by serious physical abuse. The circuitry of a flash drive can even be harmed by improper wiring of a USB port. And while USBs flash drives are appreciated for compact size, at the same time they can be easily left behind. This brings us to the biggest issue of the DT200. While most of us will love having 128GB of highly portable storage at hand, that’s a heck of a lot of data waiting to get lost or stolen. Individuals and small-business users should question whether carrying around so much data is wise. In spite of the security issues, the DT200 is a very good drive that could be put to a wide range of uses. It’s not the fastest or most individually styled but it’s practical and functional. Having said that, I’d have liked some auto-backup software included in the bundle. The biggest drawback is price, which is shockingly expensive considering you can buy an external 500GB hard drive (2.5-inch) for under £100. Still, this is far pocket-friendlier. It is backed by a 5-year warranty and 24/7 tech support.

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Some users just like really tiny keybaords. Personally I am an ergonominc fan, so the wider my hands can be apart, the better. For those who like tiny keyboards (programmers love them for some odd reason), then you’ll be glad to know that there’s finally one that’s built like a tank: the Enermax Aurora Micro. This review was actually written using this keyboard entirely, in addition to some all-day testing.

At first look, the keyboard is very attractive. While the bottom of the keyboard is a sturdy plastic, the top frame is brushed aluminum, which has been anodized pitch black.

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CloneCD is a sweet tool to make backup copies of your music and data CDs. It’s easy to use and is mostly effective at removing and emulating today’s game copy protections. If you are looking to create high quality backups of your favourite games, data CDs and DVDs quickly and easily, CloneCD is one – if not the – best tool on the market. Downsides are that it can’t create a Virtual Drive, there’s no built-in copy protection scanner, and it can’t (currently) bypass SecuROM copy protection. In this case, BlindWrite or even Alcohol 120% are a better choice.

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PhotoPlus X3 is a very powerful program that’s up there with Adobe’s Photoshop Elements and Corel’s Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 in its ability to cater for digital photographers of all levels. While most of the editing can be done via the various tools in the toolbar, to the beginner the toolbar is overwhelming. That’s where PhotoPlus X3’s Quick Fix Studio comes in handy. You’ll love the way you can view your changes in real time with the Before and After pane enabled, and the Export Optimizer is great for getting the right balance between size and quality for both Web and print output. Sadly, organising your photos is clumsy as it relies on a second program, AlbumPlus SE Pro, and there isn’t a way to automatically publish your photos to image sharing sites like Flickr, Picasa, etc, or back them up to an off-site server. If you are an existing PhotoPlus user, PhotoPlus X3 is a major improvement and worth the upgrade. While Serif has done its best to cater for beginner and advanced users alike, PhotoPlus X3 isn’t as intuitive as some. If you’re not afraid to spend a little time following the 25 or so PDF tutorials, PhotoPlus X3 is one of the most powerful and flexible – if sluggish – image editors in its class. For a better all-round package, Adobe’s Photoshop Elements 7 or even Corel’s Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 are better choices.

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The Western Digital My Book World Edition II 2 TB network storage system uses RAID 1 (Mirrored) technology to automatically and continuously maintain a second copy of user’s data using supplied software that you need to install on each computer that you want to keep backed up. When running in RAID 1, if one drive in the two-drive system ever fails, the system continues to run and the data is safe. The My Book World Edition II storage device can be run in RAID 0 (Striped) mode as well if speed over redundancy is required. All My Book World Edition II’s ship in mirrored mode, though, as the main purpose of this drive is for data security. As a result, that means you can only use half the rated capacity for file storage since one drive is used for a mirror…

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The 212 Plus is the larger brother of the TX3, though there are several differences between the two. The 212 Plus is aimed at the individual who is looking for a little bit more performance, but doesn’t want to give up the bank to do it. Coolermaster accomplished this by giving the 212 Plus more surface area and four heat pipes to conquer the dreaded enemy named heat. We know this is enough to outperform the smaller brother, but is it enough to compete against the other big dawgs on the market?

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USA have pulled off one of the upsets in international football after beating Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semi-finals. The United States put in an energetic performance as goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey saw them dump the European champs out and advance to the final…

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Simple, Clean and Easy To Open…

We approached the packaging for Windows 7 the same way we approached the product – by listening to what our customers told us they wanted: make it a simple clean design, easy to open, and reduce waste.

Simple Design

Customers told us they liked the big bold Windows logo and how it clearly communicates that it’s Windows 7. They like larger typefaces to make it easy to read. They also like the background colors for each edition that make it easier to differentiate between Windows 7 Home Premium all the way to Windows 7 Ultimate. In their own words, the “clean” design gives off a “fresh” feel.

Make It Easy To Open

We’ve reduced the number of elements in the package down to three: the plastic case, the paper sleeve, and a simple Getting Started Guide. The plastic case opens easily like a standard DVD case and it will have a single easy-to-remove seal at the top – and that’s it!

Reduce Waste

The plastic case protecting the Windows 7 disk is lighter and is recyclable. The packaging itself has a 37% weight reduction and the econometrics score has improved by 50% over it’s predecessor.

Essentially, the packaging is what customers told us they were most interested in picking up to learn more about Windows 7. We hope you do the same.

Look for the new Windows 7 packaging to hit this fall!

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Although the fans are still awaiting the announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, reports indicate that his Santiago Bernabeu presentation is already arranged. Monday July 6 has been earmarked, with 25,000 expected to attend…

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
GT Pop-Block: E3 09 Trailer
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: Q4//2010

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Microsoft is looking for family, student or home business users of their successful Office suite to participate in the beta program for Office 2010. As part of the program, users will be loaned a laptop for at least six months and receive a free copy of the final Office 2010 suite when it is released.

It’s all part of a “real life stories” campaign that aims to tell the story of how you use Office to help you in your every day life, whether that be for your work, school or college assignments, or just household tasks. Microsoft will then use some of the best stories as part of a publicity and marketing campaign when the new version of Office is released, which apparently “can mean everything from being featured in case studies and videos to acting as a press reference or even just letting us share your testimonials about the software.”

If you are accepted onto the program then you will not only be given a laptop to borrow for the duration of the testing (with an Office 2010 beta version installed on it for you to use for your daily tasks or work) but you will also be given access to the new web-based versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel. As well as this, you will be able to access unlimited email and phone support and a specialised community site, along with Q&A sessions and free monthly training through webcasts. At the end of the program you will receive a free copy of Office 2010.

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As an ATI user myself, I can not dismiss the fact that one of the most versatile computer components that is out today, is a Nvidia 9600GT based video card. Reason for me saying this, well it is cheap enough for just about any one on any budget for light to moderate gaming, can be used in a HTPC for Blue Ray play back, and finally can be used as a dedicated Physx card for those who wanting or needing that extra little bit in our Ageia Physx based games.

We at Bjorn3d, are going to look at ASUS’s offering of the 9600GT video card.

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Running Ethernet cable can be a hassle. Join Chris as he checks out an electrifying new product from Netgear that can help with your networking needs. The all new Netgear XAVB101. This handy little device lets you easily run ethernet all over your house using the already in place power lines. Will this Ethernet adapter be the biggest thing since Wi-Fi, or will it not even make it to the history books. Join us as we take a look…

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Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics Inc., has a new set of compact computer speakers made to conserve desk space and still pack an audio punch. Tailored toward the budget crowd, this setup features two small footprint satellite speakers and an oblong subwoofer meant to use as little space as possible underneath your desk. Can this set of speakers really help save space and still sound great? Keep reading to find out how they stack up to the competition.

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BenQ’s GP1 is a joy to use. It is compact and light, and setting it up takes only a few seconds using either the on-board controls or the supplied remote control. Designed for the home – the GP1’s brightness levels just aren’t good enough for presenting in the daytime – the projector displays a crisp image that contradicts its compact dimensions. It even comes with its own carrying case and a 2GB USB flash drive. And with a 20,000-hour rated lamp life it’s easier on the pocket compared to a regular projector. At 60W power consumption, the same amount of power in a well-lit room, the projector is also easy on your electricity bill. If you’re after a tiny projector that’s well equipped and performs suitably without breaking the bank, the GP1 is a good choice.

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One of the things that makes the DataTraveler 101 interesting is that the Flash drive was built with simplicity in mind, which helps keep the price low. The 4GB version (DT101C/4GB) of the DataTraveler 101 that we are taking a look at today runs just $11.99 shipped, which is more than a fair price as the DataTraveler 101 is backed by a five-year warranty and free tech support. Other companies like Crucial, Transcend, and RiDATA offer just two year warranties, so be sure to keep the warranty length in mind when pricing USB 2.0 Flash Drives.

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Wow, Microsoft has been on a roll lately. First the company unveiled Project Natal at E3. Then came the dreams of fantastic controller-less games, giggling like idiots at a weird, digital boy and squealing like children as we pretended to drive a car. And now, guess what kids? Project Natal is yesterday’s news, as Stephen Colbert somehow managed to get the green light from Microsoft to unveil its next Xbox console, the ExXbox.

Honestly, we’re at a loss for words. Forget Project Natal. Put away MotionPlus. Shelve the PlayStation Motion Controller. The level of innovation here is simply through the roof. Rather than attempt to describe how incredible it is, allow us to direct you past the break, where you can see the future unfold before your eyes (look for it at 1:40 in the video).

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Thermaltake have always been known for making some of the wackiest cases, with some of the best airflow features known to man. They always try to do things bigger and better than anyone else, usually creating some very unique and easily identified cases in the process. Generally speaking, you will not find another product on the market similar, but then the V9 Black Edition gaming case landed with us. At first glance however, I have to admit that the V9 looks strangely like the Antec Nine Hundred.

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In the end this little keyboard exceeded my expectations. The construction is very solid, the orange backlighting looks awesome, and it has a nearly full 103-key lineup so it’s perfect for just about any task. Gaming is what it’s designed for and it works great for that, but the soft and quiet keys also work well for general computer use.

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Along with AMD’s launch of the Phenom II and Athlon II processor families this year, we’ve also witnessed a steady shift in focus from their AM2+/DDR2 platform to a full AM3/DDR3 platform. The good news is that these newer AM3 processors support both DDR2 and DDR3 memory, allowing consumers to upgrade without replacing their whole system. Still, that leaves many wondering if they’re missing out by not making the jump to DDR3 memory. To help answer that question, today Benchmark Reviews puts Gigabyte’s DDR2-based MA790X-UD4P motherboard to the test.

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Today it´s once again time for a laptop review, Asus sent us a sample of their brand new Pro61s laptop. With features as a Cire T5850 cpu, N Wifi, 16 inch screen, and 4850 videocard this really seems to be a killer. We are going to look at the screen, performance, and battery time in this review so lets have a closer look at what we can squeeze out of it.

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With most new product introductions on the market, usually the first generation is a prototype which they then improve on and then release a better product after they have ironed out all the design bugs. But with Cresyn and their CS-HP500, they definitely buck that trend. With exceptional audio and build quality coupled with a foldable design and comfort, the CS-HP500 can easily be summed up as a safe buy for people needing a good set of foldable headphones that won’t break the bank.

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MSI should be applauded for bringing Intel’s X58 chipset to the masses at a sub-£150 price point. Sure there are full-size motherboards that offer better performance and overclocking features, but for mainstream users building a MicroATX-based machine the X58M is fantastic value. The motherboard offers an almost perfect balance of features and performance, and would make a great choice for a high performance small form factor multimedia (HTPC) or gaming system. Zotac’s GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi impressed me a couple of months ago, but it is restricted to Intel’s legacy LGA775 socket and DDR2 memory. If you want a bleeding-edge MicroATX motherboard at an amazing price, the X58M is a no brainer.

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LS and MX are sister power supply series from BFG, with models from MX series coming with a modular cabling system, a 120-mm fan and an auxiliary 80-mm fan on the rear, while models from LS series use a 135-mm fan and no modular cabling system or second fan. Initially both series used the same internal design, however this is not entirely true anymore. All models from MX series are manufactured by Fore Point (one of the factories from Fortrex), but LS-450 and the new version of LS-550 (marked as “LS-550 (New)” on their website, being the model currently available on Newegg.com) are manufactured by Enhance Electronics. The old LS-550 and LS-680 are manufactured by Fore Point with the same design as models from MX series. According to BFG they will move all models from MX and LS to Enhance in the future, and when this happens units will be either released with new wattages (e.g. LS-700 instead of LS-680) or will have the name “New” added to their name.

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We’ve just posted our latest review and would love it if you linked to it. Thanks greatly!

“Initial impressions of the CF-19 are that it’s an ugly beast that doesn’t cut it in terms of raw specifications, especially given the high price. But it’s not until you fully appreciate the technical complexities of manufacturing a fully rugged laptop that you look past the design. There are less expensive laptops in the market, but when they drop, they break. However, Panasonic’s CF-19 can withstand a fall from 90cm without damage. There’s also a ton of other protection features and it is even resistant against water, dust, dirt, heat, humidity and cold temperatures. Its daylight-readable touchscreen is another standout feature, along with its bevy of tucked-away slots and ports and a massive battery life. The CF-19 doesn’t come cheap, and there are far more powerful machines for less money, but if your outdoor mobile computing needs are extreme, you’ll struggle to beat the Toughbook CF-19. This laptop begs for abuse.”

Popularity: 20% [?]