Microsoft plans to offer six different versions of Windows 7 when it ships later this year, but OEMs that sell netbooks will likely offer a slimmed-down number of versions.  HP recently told Computer World they will offer three different versions for their Mini line, which is keeping in line with current Vista offerings.

HP will offer the new Starter Edition for those who are price-conscious, and Home Premium and Professional Editions for those wanting more power.  Home Premium is the version that will likely make it on most netbooks such as the HP Minis, which is most like the Vista versions currently shipping on lower-end notebooks.

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This year has started differently for me than most as I am already in the middle of my third trip this year.  In just over a month I have been on the road and in hotels for almost half the year.  The trips have gone very well with the exception of one single thing that has continued to drive me mad.

I use GMail which in and of itself is not a problem.  GMail is… well, GMail and it just works, the web version anyway.  The problem sets in when you use the IMAP ability in GMail so you can use a client email app or a mobile phone to keep up with the GMail.

I have been confronted on all three trips with significant stretches when my notebook mail app cannot connect to the GMail IMAP server.  When this happens my normal mail work is dead in the water and I have to resort to using the web version.  Don’t get me wrong, the web version is fine it just means that I have an interruption in my normal work routine which is aggravating.

The real problem is that when my mail app can’t access the IMAP server then my iPhone can’t either as it uses IMAP too.  That’s a real problem for someone on the road as it means you can’t get your email on the run.  That’s a big no-no.

These outages are pretty commonplace I’ve discovered given all this travel.  I usually see it happen at least once a day without rhyme nor reason and the outage lasts for variable lengths of time.  Sometimes it’s only a little while but other times it can be for hours.  This throws a monkey wrench in my normal work routine when typically I am trying to jump on, get stuff done and then jump off again.  I have to change my routine during the outages and it’s enough to have me cursing Google frequently.  I sure wish Google would learn to do IMAP correctly so it would just work.  I suppose this is why Google keeps GMail classified as beta.

Late last year we were covering the news that Psion was informing folks that they owned the trademark for the term “netbook” and that it should not be used generically.  Psion subsequently responded to our coverage and stated that they were only going to go after those who were using the term “netbook” in ventures for profit.

It’s been quiet for a bit about this but today Psion let us know that Google has investigated the trademark claim and determined that “netbook” is indeed a protected trademark.  Google does these investigations as they are impacted when they run ads on their network. The determination by Google that the term “netbook” is duly registered and protected has prompted them to inform their ad customers that the term can no longer be used in Google ads.

It will be interesting to see how Intel reacts as they are openly using the netbook term in their promotional material and in fact run a web site at that domain.  Can I hear a mini-notebook from the crowd?  Or sub-note?

Is it me or does each day bring either a new social network or a new feature to an old one? I simply can’t keep up. I’ve embraced Twitter, but later moved on to FriendFeed since it consolidates many of my online shenanigans. I was thinking about installing Loopt on my iPhone to offer my location info and find others, but I didn’t get around to it. Today I see that Palringo added similar location features, so do I get an account with them instead of Loopt?

All of these services are useful in their own right, but they’re scattered and that causes me to be scattered: “Did I tweet that last bit or did I post it to FriendFeed?” “Oh, I better check my Twitter replies in case any responders aren’t on FriendFeed (or if they didn’t check the box to send a tweet from FF).”

I’m only on a few of these services and my head spins. OK, sometimes it spins of its own accord, but the social scene isn’t helping. FriendFeed comes the closest for me today, but it lacks some interesting features like Location Based Services. I can’t see FriendFeeders around me for example. I could merge in data from Brightkite… but not Loopt or Palringo. Ugh. Which do you pick?

How are you managing these? Do you have accounts with a dozen social networks and services or have you decided to limit your activity? I still see huge value and potential in these but all of the disparate networks are diminishing that value for me. I spend more time trying to figure out “which” friends (i.e.: which social network) I want to interact with. Doesn’t that ironically sound anti-social?

Verizon Femtocell unit

I’m still not sold on this whole femtocell approach. These devices offer better cellular phone coverage in your home, which is great for you. They also offload voice traffic from the carrier’s network to your broadband connection which is good for them. I’d call it a wash in terms of benefits, so why does it cost you, the consumer? That’s the question you’ll need to answer before you plunk down $249 for Verizon’s Femtocell.

Stacey thinks it’s pretty lame and I tend to agree. It’s not going to do a whit for any 3G data services, so don’t expect to get a better EV-DO signal with one of these. For improved data, you’re better off using the integrated WiFi on your phone… yet another reason to make sure that your handset includes WiFi as a feature.

As someone who’s considering a dump of the landline, I’m all for better wireless coverage in my home. I just don’t think I should have to pay $250 to essentially subsidize Verizon’s network. Or anyone else’s for that matter. At least VZW isn’t charging a monthly fee; that would be adding insult to injury. (Any Sprint AIRAVE customers want to chime in here?) Maybe this whole model is a play on the wireless subsidization method. After all, the carriers routinely pay some of our handset price so they can rake in monthly service fees. In this turnabout, we’d actually be offering them a similar benefit with a femtocell, no? The least they could do is offer a $10 monthly discount on FiOS or DSL internet service since that’s where the calls get routed.

Apple blew it with the MobileMe launch last year and rapidly stepped in and extended the free trial period that many had signed up for.  They kept doing so until recently when they notified those who had not signed on for the paid membership that their trial account would be going away.

Said accounts went away as promised and those who did not disable syncing from their computers soon found that all their local data had disappeared.  It seems that syncing to a closed account was still possible and said sync would replace the local user data with nothing which was now in the cloud store.

Say what?  How can Apple let something like this happen?  I would say that Apple owes a few folks something big time for wiping their data for ending a free trial.  This is Apple’s responsibility no matter how you look at this, user data cannot be destroyed when a free trial of anything ends.  This points out the vulnerability that cloud storage brings when the cloud fights back.

This also makes it clear how important it is to disable syncing on all your computers before canceling MobileMe for any reason.  It seems that the Apple bites back if so.

(via TheAppleBlog)

Drew Carey

I just happened to be near an OQO display and so was Drew Carey. He was fondling the new OLED Model 2+… and so I couldn’t. Sheesh! After hearing him as a bunch of technical questions, he made the critical mistake of asking “how much?”

Of course, I couldn‘t miss the opportunity presented, so I did what any self-respecting geek would do. I shouted out “Drew, it can be YOURS…. if the Price is Right!” He laughed, the crowd laughed and….  I still didn’t get to touch the new OQO.

I’d never cut it in Hollywood… but then again, if we were at my home in the sticks, I think I’d get even odds against Drew.

Here in the U.S., the first 3D movie trailer will be shown at some point during the Super Bowl. If you can’t find funky red-and-blue glasses in time for that, maybe the Minoru 3D Webcam package will suffice. Priced at $89.95 for pre-order, this webcam offers two cameras for a stereoscopic effect. Yup, you’ll need those same 3D glasses for the full effect, although a few martinis might offer a similar experience.

I’m not sure what worries me more: the way the Minoru looks like two eyes constantly staring at you or the possibility of seeing James in 3D during one of our Skype video chats. I kid… I know I’m no prize to look at either.

I’m really scratching my head over the “new” T-Mobile Dash. Perhaps it’s because my Dash offered me one of the best Windows Mobile experiences in a phone back in the day. Sure, for some it might not compare to the newer HTC offerings like the Touch HD and Touch Diamond, but HTC had a winner in the Dash from where I stand. The device was thin, well designed with a usable keyboard, and was rock solid; especially after it saw an update to Windows Mobile 6.

So why am I bewildered and confused now that T-Mobile has a brand new Dash available for $99 after rebate and commitment? Let me run down the new features and you’ll see why: the small silver plate from the front is gone so the handset is now all black. To quote a famous cartoon line: “That’s all, folks!” OK, it has Windows Mobile 6.1 instead of Windows Mobile 6, but all that’s going to do is enrage current Dash owners if they can’t get the update or don’t know about the XDA-Developers site.

It wouldn’t have been too much of a stretch for some under-the-hood improvements like a camera sensor bump or the like, but there’s one missing update that shouldn’t have been ignored: 3G. The Achille’s Heel of my old Dash is no 3G support: you get WiFi and EDGE. After years of playing the 3G laggard, T-Mobile finally got their 1700MHz network going in 2008. You’d think that in 2009, they’d leverage it a bit by adding more 3G handsets to their stable of devices. With such a great device in the Dash, this looks like the first missed opportunity for T-Mo in 2009.

The screams of anguish you might have heard today are the natural reaction of owners of 30 GB Zunes.  They started bricking world-wide last night at midnight and nothing can bring them back.  No word from Microsoft or anyone else what caused the 30 GB Zunes to all fail at once.  Sounds like a massive DRM failure to me.

(via All About Microsoft)