News Bits: HP and Netscape, OneNote 12, Office Laptop Theft, ToughBook CF-18

HP to Include Netscape Browser On Laptops in 2006

It's back to the future we go, as HP will start bundling the Netscape 8.0 browser with laptops that ship next year (2006). Users will be given the option between choosing Internet Explorer or Netscape as their main browser. HP decided to make this move because Netscape offers two rendering engines - IE or FireFox (selectable), and Netscape is also more secure and less targeted by hackers.

Right now Netscape only has about 2% of the browser market while IE has about 86% and FireFox has 8%. The Netscape browser will only be included on U.S. and Canadian HP laptops to start with.

Anyone remember the days of Netscape domination and the following splash screen?

Netscape Navigator 2.0 logo from mid-90's -- the good old days of the web

More: http://news.com.com/HP+to+ship+Netscape+browser+on+new+PCs/2100-1032_3-5887648.html

Microsoft OneNote 12 Details Emerge

Microsoft is revealing, piece by piece, some of the new features that will be in the next versions of the products that comprise the Office 12 family. Company officials are sharing a surprising amount, via their blogs, especially about the note-taking program, OneNote.

One of the biggest changes that can be expected in OneNote 12 is support for multiple notebooks, allowing the program to be used by small and medium groups, not just individuals.

Tentatively called "shared notebooks," the new SharePoint-based OneNote 12 feature will be designed to allow users to come and go as they please; work by themselves; or work with a limitless number of people in a group. And shared notebook users will be able to work online...

Link to Full Story: http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1865568,00.asp?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535

Office Laptop Theft

We all take care of our laptops when travelling and would never leave a notebook unattended in a coffee shop or other public area. But according to reasearch by Credant Technologies, it's the workplace you should be most worried about. The office is the most common place laptops are stolen, making up for 29-percent of all laptop disappearances world-wide.

More: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051004/datu021.html?.v=28

Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 Tablet With EV-DO

Beloware a few shots of the updated Panasonic Toughbook rugged CF-18 we took at the Fall CTIA Wireless showin San Francisco last week. Panasonic has integrated EV-DO communication into this machine and EV-DO service is offered through Verizon. This unique machine features resistance to "drops, shocks, altitude, vibration, and dust, water and extreme temperature and is encased in magnesium alloy and feature a shock-mounted removable hard drivein a stainless steel case".

It is always fun to visit the Panasonic booth at these shows. Panasonic folks always letyou drop their demo models to the floor and stand on them. Even 200lb guys standing on them never cause a problem! These machines are geared towards a very specific consumer, such as those that work in the field or construction sites, but heck if I could afford and was still incollege, I can't imagine the possibilities! The great thing about Panasonic Toughbooks is that their displays are often outdoor viewable they're so bright.

 

Wow, Netscape is coming back after they were even shut down for a few months. If Netscape offers either IE or FF though, isn't it just a shell and not really a browser? I know they're pitching dial-up service as well, I guess the brand still has value.

 

The spacebar is tiny on the toughbook! But looks great...

Mmmmm Netscape gives me fond memories of my first use of the internet..