Articles tagged with: windows vista

Parallels Desktop 4.0 is available from today – the virtualisation application that lets Mac users run Windows natively, as just another windowed Mac application.

The new version is purportedly 50% faster than the previous version and adds support for 64-bit operating systems, DirectX 9 (with PixelShader 2.0) and OpenGL 2.1 (with up to 256Mb of video RAM).

More information about Parallels Desktop 4.0 new features, plus some screenshots, after the cut.

New laptops should have a high enough specification to run Windows Vista at a reasonable speed, but if you’ve upgraded your existing laptop from XP and are starting to regret it, there’s some help from an unlikely source – Microsoft. It’s published a 14-page PDF document that details how to improve Windows Vista’s performance and while much of the information has been common knowledge for a while, it’s good to get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

This is the first we've seen of Sharp's plans for Intel's new Atom processor. The WS016SH is an ultra-mobile PC with a 5in touchscreen and full slide-out keyboard that can stay flat or lie with the screen tilted.

Inside is a 1.33GHz Atom processor and 1GB memory capable of running Windows Vista. It's also able to display an entire standard desktop, thanks to the screen's impressive 1024x600 resolution.

It has a slot for a SIM card and calling features built-in, alongside Wi-Fi and MicroSD expansion. There's also a docking cradle for hooking up a monitor and keyboard or other USB gadgets.

It'll be out in Japan in the summer, costing £650 with a two-year contract. We're starting the petition to bring it over here pronto.

[Electonista]

If it seems like the HTC Shift has been around forever without actually being available, that’s because it was – HTC first unveiled this foray into the UMPC market last October, but the device has been coming “real soon now” ever since. A mere five months later, however, and the Shift has finally hit the shelves – has it been worth the wait?

Nokia has released a beta version of its new Text Messenger application for Windows Vista and it’s now gadget that sits in the Vista Sidebar. Nokia reckons it’ll work with all Nokia handsets that are compatible with its free PC Suite application, but you’ll need version 6.85 or later installed and running.

There's a quick guide on getting it up and running after the cut.