Will You Use an Ultra Mobile PC?

There was a lot of hoopla a couple weeks ago about a new product that was going to be introduced by Microsoft. It was code named Origami and information started to show up a couple of days before it was officially released. The official name is now the Ultra Mobile PC and it is not actually a product that Microsoft sells. It is a new PC that is smaller than a laptop and larger than a PDA. It runs Windows XP Tablet PC version and can run all Windows XP applications unlike the PDA.

The device has no mechanical keyboard. Instead you can write on the screen or use an electronic keyboard that can appear on the screen. It has several methods of communications including WiFi and Bluetooth in addition to the standard 10/100 network adapter. Several manufactures are releasing these devices in about a month. They will weigh less than 3 lbs and will sell for between $600 and $1000.

I'm not sure how new this idea is. I have a Hand Held PC from several years back that is rather similar although it did not run a standard Windows operating system. I think that was a big draw back. Hardware has gotten much better and now that the UMPC devices run Windows XP, there might be some traction here. I think our Health Care Clients might just fall in love with this device for their Point of Care needs. I will be evaluating a unit as soon as they are available and will post my findings here. What do you think? Check out some information here and here and let me know.

Deja Vu ?

AT&T is bidding to buy Bell South for $67 Billion. They certainly have lots of billions floating around don't they?. They spent $41 Billion in 2004 to buy AT&T Wireless. (I know it's confusing, but in 2004 they were still Cingular and then SBC and now AT&T. Those marketing people are so smart!) And those financial people.... it is expected that the buyout will save $2 Billion a year, after layoffs of course! They cut around 7000 jobs after the AT&T Wireless buyout. And the ROI is what?

I wonder when the next telecommunications monopoly investigation will be triggered and exactly how much will that cost us. I am running short on my Billions!

RIM Gets The Message

RIM has settled a long running patent lawsuit filed against it by NTP. The lawsuit threaten to potentially shutdown the Blackberry email service that millions depend on. The $612.5 million dollar settlement insures that email junkies will still be able to get their fix on their Blackberries.

I believe this is just the beginning of troubles for Blackberry. Their monopoly on push email services is over. Microsoft has built push email services into their Exchange email servers. It is easy to install and setup and costs nothing more once you have purchased the Exchange Server. The Blackberry solution costs more and is much more difficult to setup. I setup a remote salesperson for one of our Clients yesterday to be able to receive his Exchange email on his cell phone. It took a total of 15 minutes.

I think RIM has won a battle but the war isn't over.

Never Happen!?

VoIP Watch: Clinton in Redmond..Is Ballmer Stepping Aside

Now here's one for you! This article rumors that Bill Clinton may be taking the President's position at Microsoft, replacing Steve Ballmer. Is it April 1st already?

Critical Windows Flaw Being Exploited

The cyber-idiots are at it again. A flaw in a Windows Graphics function has been discovered and the instructions on how to exploit the flaw have been posted on the Internet. There have already been a good deal of reports of computers being affected by various exploits.

Basically, the problem involves how Windows processes certain types of graphic images. When the image is loaded via an infected website or an infected image in an email, the hacker can take control of the computer with the same security rights as the user of the machine. At this point the hacker can do a wide range of damage from destroying data on the computer and/or server to monitoring for personal or sensitive information.

Microsoft has posted more information here. Users are advised to be vigilant and to keep anti-virus and anti-spyware programs up to date. We will continue to post pertinent information here.