I don’t know how you guys will take this recent news from Microsoft.

In a recent seminar on corporate philantrophy, Bill Gates said that the new version of Windows could be released anytime within the “next year or so”. This statement seems to back up the new corporate strategy of releasing far more regular updates of its dominant operating system. This means that we can expect the next OS upgrade to Vista to come to market far earlier than what was previously thought.

The new strategy seems to be to release a new Windows version within 3 years of the last version. What Gates said, therefore, actually fits into the development cycle that Microsoft has identified. Of course, this could just mean test versions coming out and not the final release product yet. Nevertheless, this development cycle leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. The cost of software upgrades is just too steep and now, the expectation is that every four to five years you have to upgrade again? It would have been a good thing if consumers can decide for themselves when to upgrade but with Microsoft’s policy of stopping support for older OS and bundling important features exclusively to the new OS (like Vista and DirectX 10), we are being forced to upgrade at gunpoint.

This is just unacceptable.

I’ve been on the hunt the past few weeks. I’ve been obsessively calling all of the computer stores in my area (and even beyond), trying to track down one unit of the ASUS EEE. I don’t even care if I get the 4gb or 8gb Surf version, I just want my laptop fix and I want it now!

Actually, I really need an ultraportable this week. I’m going out of town for a trip and I really need to bring a spare laptop with me to continue working while I’m away. Unfortunately, every single unit of the EEE has been snapped up faster than the stores can replenish their stocks. I am actually quite surprised by the massive popularity of ASUS’ new money making gadget. I know that the EEE has respectable specs at price point that is insanely cheap but I’ve always thought that it will still remain a niche product because it is too small and it has a Linux OS out of the box. The fact that it’s selling like hotcakes could mean that ultraportables have really established itself as a legitimately viable sector and that this is the magic price point for electronic gadgets — most especially for laptops that have been traditionally seen as very expensive.

Hopefully, I get my EEE this week…

Have Laptop Will Travel will not be complete without the occasional dig at the RIAA and what the morons in the organization are doing to stop “piracy”.

Take for example, this statement from Jennifer Pariser, chief of litigation for Sony BMG, which was uttered during the trial of Jammie Thomas, a woman from Minnesota who was ordered to pay $220,000.00 by the court for sharing 24 songs online. Pariser testified that: “When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song.” He added that when one makes that copy, it’s “a nice way of saying ’steals just one copy.’”

Pariser just said that even if you own a CD, copying it to your hard drive for your own personal listening purposes constitutes to stealing. Isn’t that just stupid? I’ve heard the RIAA has already modified their statements regarding this topic but nevertheless, that earlier statement just shows how blinded the RIAA can get just to protect their interests. They don’t even care if they alienate legitimate CD buyers.

I wish 2008 will bring the geriatric geezers at the RIAA to their senses.

Yesterday, talk here in HLWT centered on the contentious issue of net neutrality. Well, you have to give it to the presidential run-up in the United States to really roil the technology pot. Now, the issue is about ODF or OpenDocument Format.

Recently, Sen. Barack Obama — showing his very progressive stance on technology issues — said that he will put government data online in a format that is universally accessible should he be elected president.

I’d rather not paraphrase Obama’s very persuasive and well articulated statement so here it is: “We have to use technology to open up our democracy. It’s no coincidence that one of the most secretive administrations in history has favored special interests and pursued policies that could not stand up to sunlight. As president, I’ll change that. I’ll put government data online in universally accessible formats.”

Obama made this statement in a speech he delivered at the Google campuse in California. In the event, he also revealed his detailed IT plan that revolves around a more open and technically progressive government. Obama’s stance is being hailed by technology experts and activists. Obama’s move can really open up the government and make information more accessible to everyone. There will be no more need for proprietary formats just to open important documents or to access information.

Of course, you should expect conservatives to oppose this move because they see a democratic approach to information is tantamount to practically giving so called sensitive information to enemies of the state. Let’s see how the debates will fuel this issue.

Marino Marcich, managing director of the ODF Alliance, applauded the move.

“Public information that can be read and downloaded by anyone without need of a particular brand of software is central to the mission of the ODF Alliance and a key feature of the OpenDocument Format,” Marcich said. “We are excited that leading American officials are joining the growing chorus of international and domestic voices that have already recognized

I think it is safe to say that laptops are the new must-have, status symbol accessories. Forget about mobile phones, laptops are the new neck-turners. To prove my point, just go to any restaurant, cafe or coffee shop and I’ll bet the moment someone whips out a cool sub-notebook or the newest “IT” item from Apple and you’re bound to look at the person with envy or wonder how the hell he or she could afford such a great gadget.

I admit I’m one of those guys who can’t look at a new Macbook Pro or Fujitsu Lifebook without drooling. The bad thing is that I go all metaphysical because of it. I begin to wonder how THEY can afford it and I can’t. Am I destined to forever be relegated to the group of people who always have to settle for low-end or low-midrange laptops?

In my envy, I also start mocking these people. I look at the websites they surf (Ha! Plain old Yahoo! Entertainment. What a bore!) or even the kind of information that they look for (Beyonce! Josh Groban! What atrocious music tastes!). I know that I’m being unfair and that my desire to have a really cool laptop has made the worst come out of me. But I also know that I am not the only one who feels the same way. I guess the best thing to do about it is just ignore them, be happy with what I do have — and try to “accidentally” spill cafe latte on those damn Macbooks.