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.
