Microsoft takes aim at Lindows 'free PC' deal

Microsoft and Lindows CEO Michael Robertson have got into a slanging match over a Lindows offer to Californians who claim compensation under an antitrust settlement. Lindows has set up a site to make it easy for people to claim and in return receive a free PC and Lindows software. The spat started when, as part of Redmond's class action antitrust settlement in the state of California, Microsoft agreed to pay $1 billion in compensation to people who bought MS software, between February 18, 1995 to December 15, 2001. ...more

iPod supply may dry up, Apple warns

Steve Jobs turned up at the opening of his local Apple mini retail store last week, half of which is dedicated to the iPod, and warned potential buyers that they had better get their's soon as the supply might dry up as the holiday season approaches. 'We've taken our best guess, and we're building a lot, but the demand may be even larger,' the Apple CEO said. 'So if you want to be sure to get an iPod this holiday season, I'd get one soon. ...more

McAfee launches new email security outsourcing service

Security firm McAfee is offering a new email protection service aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. McAfee Managed Mail Pro is an outsourcing service which promises to guard companies from the dangers of malicious viruses and email. Companies which sign up to the service have their email redirected in the background to McAfee's own servers which scan the email and attachments for spam or malware. ...more

E-mails banned on Friday

I don't know about you but when it comes to e-mail, I'm a real Norman No-Mates with my mailbox just visited by the usual selection of pornographic spam. But electronic mail has caught on faster than SMS messaging and some companies believe that it is affecting productivity and actually stifles creativity. Already companies such as Nestle Rowntree and Camelot have told their employees not to read their e-mails on Fridays. ...more

The 'cost conscious' get faster

AMD has upped the speed of the Duron, its processor for the 'mainstream' desktop market. Now clocking 1.3GHz, the new Duron - optimised for Windows XP and supporting Double Data Rate (DDR) memory - is priced at $118 in 1,000-unit quantities The release follows that of the Athlon 2000+, which hit the 'virtual' 2GHz mark hot on the heels of Intel pushing out its 2. ...more