Eric Ligman of Microsoft is sending a message this week to bloggers that although it is technically possible to install a full version of Windows 7 using a Windows 7 upgrade version, it does not mean that it is legal.

“For those of you without an existing Windows license to upgrade from, you should be aware that an upgrade license by itself is not a license to install and run Windows on your computer,” he wrote in a blog post.

“In order to upgrade, you need to have a qualifying license to upgrade from. Again, that’s why it is called an ‘upgrade,’” he added.

Source: Channel Web

Sophos has detected a scam about Fedex. The message notes that someone has sent a package to the user but it was not delivered in time since the address of the user is wrong. Therefore, it wants the user to print an invoice that is attached on the email.

Prashant Kumar, the writer of the article at Sophos, notes that the message is exactly the same as last year’s Fedex scam. However, the attached malware is different. The file is detected as Mal/EncPk-KP and it is the most recent incarnation of fake anti-virus according to Kumar.

Source: Sophos

An Intel spokesman said, “We have been contacted by users with issues with the 34-nanometer Intel SSD firmware upgrade and are investigating. We take all sightings and issues seriously and are working toward resolution. We have temporarily taken down the firmware link while we investigate.”

No comment has been made by the spokesman on when the company will release an update.

Source: PC World

“Apple will support Microsoft Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate) with Boot Camp in Mac OS X Snow Leopard before the end of the year. This support will require a software update to Boot Camp,” the company said on its website.

Those who have Intel-based Macs that were manufactured in 2006 are out of luck since the company would not support them in this issue.

Source: The Register

Apple has updated two of its products, the Time Capsule and Airport Extreme Router.

There is no press release but the company posted information about product improvements on its website.

The router “uses the latest 802.11n wireless technology, so you can enjoy up to five times the Wi-Fi performance and up to twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks. And improvements in antenna design give you up to 50 per cent better performance and up to 25 per cent better range than with the previous-generation AirPort Extreme Base Station,” according to the site.

Source: The Register

Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader is on the way for PCs according to an announcement yesterday. Today, Amazon added that it will also be available for Mac users.

The reader is slim and its color is white. Consumers can access 350,000 books with this hardware. It costs $260 but iPhone and iPod Touch users can get it for free since they would just need to get the software version of it instead of the hardware. This marks the first time that consumers can access Amazon’s library without owning a separate hardware.

Source: PC World

The Washington Post’ website has an article about five things that users should know when upgrading to Windows 7 from XP.

First, users need to know that XP cannot be upgraded directly to 7. Second, since users could not make a direct upgrade, they could first upgrade to Vista then to 7. By doing it this way, they would avoid a clean install of the operating system.

The third thing on the list notes that users should use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor tool to scan for hardware and software compatibility issues. Next is about making a backup and the last thing is about the new firewall application in 7.

Source: The Washington Post

Lenovo has released ThinkPad laptops that are equipped with Windows 7. They are designed for small- to medium-sized businesses.

High resolution webcams and clearer microphones are a couple of the features. The SL410 and SL510 higher-end configurations include a 3G broadband internet via AT&T mobile broadband. The configurations range from $500 to $700.

The higher-end configurations also comes with a 250GB hard disk drive instead of 160 GB that are installed for lower-end configurations.

Those are interested on purchasing a Lenovo laptop can do so at retail stores such as Tigerdirect or online stores such as Amazon.

Source: PC World

Apple has introduced new iMac models. The cheapest model is listed at $1,199 and it comes with a 21.5″ screen.

“We’re really happy to announce the final products of our holiday lineup,” said Tim Cook of Apple. He is the company’s chief operating officer.

The 27-inch model starts at $1,699.

All iMacs will include Magic Mouse, Apple’s new mouse based partly on the multitouch technology that is included in iPhone. Consumers can buy it separately for $69.

Source: Bloomberg

A PC user asked for a refund on Windows Vista after he bought a Dell computer that is built with the operating system.

“Have you ever actually read the Microsoft Windows End User License Agreement? It’s pretty scary what you commit yourself to. If you buy Dell, then as soon as you start Windows then you agree to a second set of scary software terms. So reject them,” he said on his blog.

It took 14 email exchanges with Dell until he got his money back. The time that it took was two months.

Source: The Register