Star Office free no more

Sun Microsystems has launched version 6.0 of StarOffice, and for the first time fettered it with a price tag, $75.95 (about ?52). ...more

Adobe chastens Windows-favouring author

Adobe has disowned the anti-Mac comments made by one one of its employees in a recent book. In the recently-published Illustrator CS for Dummies, Ted Alspach, Adobe's Group Product Manager for Illustration Products, wrote: 'As of 2003, Windows systems have taken a decisive lead over Macs when it comes to performance. The difference is most apparent with graphics applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator, but you'll notice it with other applications as well. ...more

Microsoft bids to improve Wi-Fi Hot Spot access

Microsoft has signposted the release of new Windows software for managing user interaction with Wi-Fi Hot Spots. Essentially, the software allows wireless network providers to send configuration information to clients seeking to connect. The idea is to make the 'sign-up' process seamless, if not automatic, and generally make the user's experience more uniform. ...more

Online Tiny support

PC vendor Tiny is hoping a new support section on its Website will reduce the number of enquiries and service calls it receives by up to 90 per cent. The support element of the site features five sections for Tiny customers: 'Contact Tiny', which is self-explanatory, 'Services', which has customer-service-related FAQs, 'Downloads', for drivers and software updates, 'Technical Assistance', which has a how-to section and various user guides, and 'System Details', which itemises the contents of Tiny PCs. The quality of after-sales support is important for PC consumers and Tiny will be hoping that the easy availability of online information will reduce overall support costs. ...more

Toshiba unveils 200GB 2.5inch hard disk drive

Toshiba's Storage Device Division has unveiled a new hard disk of staggering proportions. The company has developed a 2.5-inch hard disk drive capable of storing 200GB of data. ...more