News Bits: Intel Atom Processors, Windows XP Still Lives, Nvidia Blamed for Vista Crashes

Intel officially launches five Atom CPUs

Intel today officially launched five Atom CPUs along with a single-chip featuring integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub. The Atom processor and System Controller Hub used together as part of Intel Centrino Atom tecnology, which will be used in Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs). The Atom processors have TDPs ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 watts and are manufactured on a 45nm process. The chips measure a mere 25mm^2 and have 47 million transistors each.

Full Story (Intel.com)
Secondary Source (Intel.com)

Windows XP sticking around for low-cost laptops

According to an unnamed source, Microsoft is extending availability of Windows XP for low-cost laptops beyond the date the firm stated it would stop selling licenses, June 30. Many of the new Mobile Internet Devices created on the Intel Atom platform will lack the specifications, specifically the space and memory, to run Windows Vista. Vista is not a practical operating system for systems running less than 1GB of RAM and only a few gigabytes of storage. Vista's cost would also push system prices past their intended $250 - $300 range.

Full Story (InfoWorld.com)
Via (YahooNews.com)
Special thanks to forum Super Moderator John Ratsey for submitting this bit

Nvidia drivers account for 30% of Vista crashes in 2007

(view large image)
Image courtesy ArsTechnica

A great deal of interesting information has been uncovered in the Microsoft documents ordered unsealed in the ongoing Vista-capable lawsuit. According to statistics in Microsoft's own documentation, Nvidia drivers were responsible for almost a third of all Vista crashes in 2007. Microsoft falls into second place with about 18 percent of crashes followed by the unknown category, accounting for about 17%. AMD-ATI and Intel had 9.3 and 8.8% respectively, and percentages rapidly taper off after that.

Full Story (www.crn.com)
Via (RegHardware.co.uk)
Via (ArsTechnica.com)

New device sniffs out passwords in memory

A company has been testing out a new technology that sniffs out passwords, documents, and other sensitive data from memory in only a few minutes. DaisyDukes, a series of scrips, operates on memory dumps or live memory with a USB-based memory dumper. It can be plugged into an unattended machine, even if it is locked, and still grab data by booting off the device. Windows and Linux both hold large amounts of passwords in memory.

Full Story (TheRegister.co.uk)

 

Well, well, well. XP sticking around for a bit is not a bad idea, unless everyone plans to use Linux on their older machines.

Nvidia crashes =

Well, I guess it's a price to pay for high performance. I personally can't think of more than one crash caused by nVidia for me.

 

I guess this proves that Vista is bloated at the core and that there was no way for MS to come out with a leaned out vista for mobile devices. This sort of shows vista will always be a hog. And if MS keeps building more bloated OS's in the future we might all be running linux on new machines.

 

I have never used Linux before but if the next-gen Windows is anything like Vista other than looks, I'll be transitioning.

The Atom processor is really cool, such a low TDP and it's much smaller than an American penny. And that integrated graphics System Hub that comes with it can do 1080i decoding.

 

Vista can be tweaked to where it feels like XP or Linux, but when I see how much space it takes up (read: bloat), I just wonder, "Why, Microsoft, why?" Let's see an OS that can run on a computer a couple years old. Take a lesson from Linux.

 

Heck even the first two quarters of vista shipments (just over a year ago) could not run the aero on the 915 or 950 chipset. Well the 950 could but not decently. It wasn't until the x3100 that the hardware finally caught up with vista. If MS screws up that huge again its really going to get people looking for alternatives. But you know if MS could, they would have made a leaner version of vista to run on the mobile devices. MS really wants to end of life XP and shove vista down our throats. I know businesses are going to put the pressure on MS in June to continue XP on business machines. Business don't care about eye candy and bloat. They look at productivity and thats it. Vista will only add to the load on servers and hardware upgrades. Personally, I think MS will have to extend XP until windows 7 arrives. Windows 7 will probably be better then Vista. I just don't see MS telling businesses that Vista is their only option. MS will lose if they do.

 

I want Windows XP SP3 already!

 

If SP3 is as good as they say, it will make Vista look that much worse.
Maybe thats why MS is taking their time releasing it.

 

ATOM = AWESOME. Finally, something to compete with freakin ARM, though VIA has been doing some interesting stuff lately as well. The ultra-low voltage market is a facinating one, and often research in that area results in great gains for mainstream processors. I mean, consider that the only reason we have our fantastic Core2 processors today is because an Intel team in Israel developed the Pentium M chip, for use in laptops. All Core and Core2 designs have stemmed from Pentium M, it is what saved Intel from burning in a firey, Netburst heated hell.


They do have a leaner version of Vista to run with, its called Vista Basic. Too bad it is lean because it is devoid of the first several Vista bullet point features.

Honestly, If they removed the deeply embedded DRM routines from Vista, it would probably reach parity with XP on all fronts. That is where I believe most of the Vista issues come from in the first place. But Microsoft can't escape DRM if they want the support of major media companies....so who to choose?

The consumer, who uses your product.
OR
The media corp, who produces content for your product?

Microsoft, go for the former, all the way.

 

Agreed 100%.

 

Linux is a great! Except when you need to run a the commercial apps. Then, it's a not so great.

Yay, for XP!

 

I was a bit worried about Atom's initial specs. Then I though to myself, I said, "Self, you have an old Dell lappy with a PIII 1.2ghz running XP that in use occassionally and it's still snappy."

But, if VIA's Isaiah lives up to the hype especially if coupled with Chrome 400's DX10 capability, I think they'll have a winner. But with Intel's fat profit margin on those Atoms, VIA's really going to have to pull out the stops.

And don't remind me of the P4 days. I still hear fan noise in my head whenever it's really quiet.

 

I hate Linux, so difficult to set up and use, its so complicated and incompatible.

I'll stick with Windows.

Linux sucks, unless you have nothing else to do.

 

I assume this could mean that companies won't offer the choice of XP anymore?

 

Ubuntu is great, just like installing XP, but easier. Sure, you have to install drivers(like any other OS), but there easy to get.

 

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Server 2008? I mean, the license for a single user is about the same as XP Pro...and if you set it up correctly it is Vista with XP's speed and leanness.

 

while I don't mean to take attention away from the Windows business, does that little password-seeker worry anyone else as much as it does me? That sounds like a huge invasion of privacy.

 

This is true except in the case of wifi that uses broadcom chips. You can make it work but it's a PITA. A few other things too. But no probs with Intel wifi chips though. Other than that, everything else works just fine with Ubuntu. And it gets better all the time.

Wine's a good emulator for many windows programs. Runs all the office stuff and some games.

But I have some proprietary stuff that prevents me from running Ubuntu full time. If I don't have to virtualize, I like to avoid it. Know what I mean?

 

I agree that Windows Xp is better than Vista but this is mostly a shallow reason for me, there is better visual style out right now to download! Yes, I will never go back to ugly luna.

 

... UBuntu... I just tried that a couple of days ago... I could not get the screen magnifier to work at all(I can't see well so I NEED it). so I deleted it and gave vista back the 10gb I had give to linux... after squinting at my screen for 3 hours... I LOVE MS.

 

QFT!

I didn't mention it, but I thought about it when this discussion started; that's what I'm saying: MS should use that sort of design in their main OS, and then maybe have an "Ultimate" version that has all the bells and whistles. Let's forget Vista Basic, OK?

 

hmmm, has it ever occurred to anyone that a large portion of the Nvidia based vista crashes are due simply to people screwing around with graphics drivers/overclocking?

 

It's widely known that good graphics drivers for Vista are severely lacking.

 

right, but I'm sure plenty of enthusiasts have BSOD'd their vista machines from excessive overclocking as well

 

This is right on target. Let's all remember that NVidia has been using the unified driver architecture for years. Microsoft wants them to get away from that when it comes to Vista and DirectX10. No wonder NVidia-related crashes are so prevalent. They're being asked to completely throw out their current business and driver models in favor of hardware-specific ones to satisfy the DRM needs of Vista.

Vista reminds me of Crysis. If I get into a fight in Crysis there's a 1 in 5 chance the game will crap out, stutter, freeze, and feature reduced FPS with sound distortion. I get to save and that's about it. Vista with its multiple booting/loading screens and difficult-to-run software requirements makes me wonder who in Microsoft (and the game's industry too) is making the decisions about what hardware they want to target their operating system for? PC's are not the Xbox. You can't expect people to shove off their old computers just because some shiny new piece of software came out. It doesn't always work that way.

I'm glad to see that Windows XP is still alive and kicking. I have no intention of moving from it (now that I've tried Vista) until Microsoft minimizes their hardware demands and their software.

Btw, the new Intel processors are interesting. More competition on different fronts is welcome. Via should start making desktop/notebook CPU's again.

 

Vista isn't bloated at its core, infact its core kernal is probably less bloated and more efficient then Linux and Apple ones, its the crap they load in with it that bloats it so much because the consumer demands it, just take the calculator for example, everyone has a use for it now and again, spend 1 min to find one yourself? No way! Says 90% of people buying a computer so Microsoft packages one in. Its like that with almost all their extras added to the OS, the average consumer doesn't want to take 1 minute out of their life to find a program on google that will do the job they want, so they want MS to package it with their OS (for example, MS firewall, spy ware search, hard drive defrag, which most of us know perform worse and take up more spce then the average 3rd party program), unfortunately that leaves the enthusiasts (us) with an operating system that is 50-60% useless to us since we all have our own programs that do the jobs we need.

And I can't wait to see how Intel Atom performs, but i also would like to see more information about Lincroft, Intel's system on a chip idea, and so far they've got an entire small system with memory controller and graphics processing, on a chip about the size of a credit card.

 

Hmm? I got mine working in about 5 minutes & it works better then under XP????????

 

Fwcutter and all that mess? That sort of thing isn't for the masses though.

Hey, I got mine to work but I thought about the average user probably not being able to figure these kinds of things out. With windows, just load the driver and you're good to go. Well mostly.

 

You download 2 files.
fw-cutter & the firmware.
Install fw-cutter.
Locate the firware.
Enjoy wireless.
Pretty easy.

 

Yep, pretty easy.

But not as easy as inserting a disc that came with the product and clicking a few onscreen buttons. That there... that's for the masses (AKA, your average computing Joe).

Don't even mention "sudo" to 'em. I've witnessed a fainting first hand.

 

Same here. XP is going to be my main boat for awhile, untill Windows 7 or w/e its going to be called. I've dabbled in red-hat...but i've never seriously considered using it day to day. But it windows 7 becomes the next vista, then i'll look into linux, and possibly mac-OS

 

You know what they say...If ya can't beat'em, join'em

 

Well, I haven't given up, and I don't plan to. I say, if you can't beat 'em, laugh at them. Or ignore them. Those are both preferable to joining them (shudder).

 

Pixel, how dare you, a linux user, insult OS X, another, brother OS

 

There is no ''sudo'' involved. You install one package & find the firmware.

 

I know, I was referring to other things one may need to do that involve using it from terminal shell. Can't say it's never necessary. Getting closer to it never being necessary but aren't there yet. Had to use it add additional resolution choices.

 

Sometimes you do, but rarely ever.

 

OSX is not and will never by a brother OS to me.

 

Will never by a brother OS???
You have to give it to them, they can make money with half the source code posted on the web.

 

ubuntu noob here, and frankly ive been amazed with how much easier alot of stuff is to do on ubuntu. The dreaded sudo/terminal issue that seems so scary, is honestly the source of much of this ease. When i need to find a program, file, whatever, i dont need to be guided through 15 different steps some forum can say "type this in the terminal" and it finds and installs the thing i need. The terminal is incredibly effective for helping others fix problems.

I honestly believe that linux is at the point where there is no question that it is better than either OSX or windows. However it is still not better for many because it does not get the support other os's do. the problems with drivers, etc. is not the fault of linux, but the companies that sell the products. If hardware manufacturers included linux, it would be outright simpler than osx or vista.

gaming wise, its just a matter of games being written for linux, and the whole direct x fiasco being killed off. once again not a fault of linux but of the industry.

 

And Compiz Fusion escalates Ubuntu above OSX like no other.

Proof.

 

I don't know. It doesn't seem correct to blame the industry. The industry doesn't really have an incentive to give away something for nothing.

Por gratis isn't a word in a capitalist's vocabulary unless it's a frivolous chotsky to remind you where to make your next purchase.

It's a catch 22. Linux is relatively unpopular so there's no incentive to support it commercially. But if Linux were supported commercially, it might become relatively popular. In the desktop space (that is to say other than business and server market), Linux's stigma is one of that it's best suited on cheap, low spec hardware (e.g. Eee PC, old gear, broke a$$ gear, etc.) or for do it yourself, highly political, anti-Microsoft, free is best, geeks.

I mean, just look at Walmart's repeal of store sales of low spec Linux PC's. They cited as a reason that it was just incompatible with their consumers. I admit I laughed when I read that news. I could just see them buying a copy of Quicken or Turbo tax, taking it home, and BAM! WTF?!?!

And let's be honest, how many average computer users are going to go to wikis or forums to learn things? Even your average Windows folks don't.

Yeah well anyway, you know, as they say, "time will tell. But the past speaks for itself."

 

You can even make it look exactly like OS X.
Compiz-Fusion is so good......

 

I have to agree, from what I've read DRM is ingrained pretty deeply in Vista and causes quite a few issues. Audio problems, all kinds of checks to make sure things match up with DRM specification (but can of course throw false alarms), requirements for hardware to meet DRM requirements to play media at full definition even when there's no technical barrier to full-definition playback (though Vista is far from the only culprit there) - and it all contributes to much higher overhead as well. And of course problems for consumers.

I can see why DRM is popular with media companies, and for some things, like time-limited movie download-rentals, it makes sense. But it still is a hassle for the consumer, and the more integrated it becomes with operating systems the more of a hassle it will be. And who are they fooling - it's not like it's that difficult to circumvent most forms of DRM, certainly not difficult enough to stop the pirates.

I admit all the sudo bash stuff intimidates me. I know it's just a command prompt, but the terminology is so different from Windows or DOS. At least the DOS commands make decent sense when extended beyond their short versions in most cases (and usually there's even help when you type /?), but what in the world is a Sudo in English?

Same here. XP might well be end-of-the-line for Windows for me. If Windows 7 is XP 2 I'll go with it most likely, but if it's Vista 2...ugh. Then it'd be either stick with old hardware, go to another operating system and have to run my Windows programs on old hardware, or buy XP on EBay. Which could be quite expensive if Microsoft actually does quit licensing it.

 

Who said anything about giving something away for free? There are only two companies in the entire world that make money off selling an operating system. Other companies sell software that runs on an operating system. Just because the OS is free doesn't mean the software has to be. You think all those fancy animation and CAD software is free?

How did they learn to use a computer in the first place? Knowing how to use windows is not instinctual to humans. They got shown how to. It's no different with Linux.

"Super user do" sounds pretty right to me. As for DOS, I dunno how to use it past navigating directories. Also, Linux does have manuals for its software too. Try the "man" command. Might help.

People are just too afraid of learning new things. It's the tech equivalent of grandpa on the front porch, complaining about those new cars.

 

It's implied. The Linux community doesn't appreciate closed source proprietary software. Most software developer's software is closed source. They don't like to go open source because then they're essentially giving away something of value, por gratis. And that's one of the huddles to commercial support for Linux.

Of course there are a few companies out there that sell software for Linux, but on the whole, their number relegates them to a small, almost insignificant niche.

Actually it is different. There's far more commercial support for learning how to use Windows and software that runs on Windows. Also a significantly larger community of support. And most people do not go online for their computing problems. Or read a book. They pick up the phone and call someone's customer support line. OR they take their computer somewhere. That's just the nature of most people. They're not geeks or nerds. (I prefer to be termed a geek - it's chic.) Nor honestly, have the free time to invest in problem solving.

Yep, but that's ok. So we need to make Linux more user friendly for the masses and move it away from the stigma of it being an experimental pastime for the anti-Microsoft penguin-heads in the land of geekdom.

It's a great OS to be sure. But the elitist "it's so easy you're dumb and a Microsoft tool if you don't get it" attitude of many Linux users has been cited for holding it back more so than Microsoft and their capitalist pig shenanigans.

I'm just reporting as it is and as I've seen it to be. Not trying to start a flame war. I know how sensitive this subject can be for some.

 

Does the windows/dos command line come with a built in manual?

 

Multitasking is generally the same as far as performance in linux right?

I sometimes do some heaving multitasking especially with video projects. I do 3 pass video encoding, audio program, dvd authoring program, instant messenger, winamp, photoshop, utorrent, firefox with 10 tabs....all of these programs open at the same time.

So linux would be pretty intriguing if it could handle all this with no slowdown at all.

 

Well, with a decent swap(256MB+) & good RAM(a good CPU also helps) & a little program called wine, you *might* see an increase in performance. But yes, I run FF with 20+ tabs, GIMP, uTorrent(under wine), Gwget, Pidgin, gDesklets, & Compiz Fusion with no problems. When Wine 1.0 comes out it will have support for PS as well.