Pick an OS: Uncool Robots or Snooty Evangelists?

It's ' the Methuselah of desktop operating systems': Harry McCracken

(NEWSER) - Despite upgrades like Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft's most popular operating system remains the clunky, security-plagued, 10-year-old Windows XP. But why? "I'm fascinated—and, in a peculiar way, inspired—by XP's astonishing longevity," writes McCracken in Time . Microsoft is mostly at fault, he says, because Vista was glitzy, "had an unfinished feel," and lagged on many computers. Some users simply "went back to XP; many more who never bought Vista in the first place decided not to go there." More»

Could be released as early as this holiday season

(NEWSER) - It seems like only yesterday that Microsoft released Windows 7—and indeed, most of us haven't gotten around to upgrading to that version—but already, Windows 8 is nearly upon us. Web forums were filled with news and rumors last week after PC manufacturers and equipment makers got "early beta" test versions of Microsoft's latest PC operating system. Why so soon—just 17 months—after Windows 7 hit shelves? Tablets, CNNMoney reports. More»

Ubiquitous OS seen as security risk

(NEWSER) - Google has had it with Windows. Ever since the company's Chinese operations were hacked in January, it's been trying to tighten up security, and the Microsoft OS is the first casualty, workers tell the Financial Times . “We're not doing any more Windows,” said one, “It's a security effort.” New recruits can choose to work on a Mac or a PC running Linux, and the CIO must give special permission before employees can get a new Windows machine. More»

Mossberg offers his annual shopping guide

(NEWSER) - It's time once again for Walt Mossberg's annual computer buying guide, in which the Wall Street Journal 's tech guru runs down the bare minimum the average person should know when buying a laptop. His advice:

• Processors: Intel has a shiny new wave of Core chips, the i3, i5, and i7 models. They're faster, and the i5 and i7 have nifty power-saving features, but there's nothing wrong with older chips for bargain shoppers. Speaking of which...

No fines assessed, thanks to deal to add browsers on Windows 7

(NEWSER) - The EU formally ended its decade-long antitrust battle against Microsoft today, consummating a deal made this summer. Microsoft has agreed to include rival browsers, including Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome, on European releases of Windows 7. In exchange, it won’t be assessed yet another fine—EU regulators have fined the big M more than $2 billion for various antitrust infractions. More»