AT&T is going to start offering Mobile Hotspot capability for some of their smart phones beginning with the HTC Inspire 4G Android phone on Feb. 13.

The AT&T Data Pro Plan will cost $45/month and come with 4GB of data/month instead of just 2GB as was the previous cap.

The launch comes in time for their release of the HTC Inspire 4G, but it does not mention whether the iPhone or any other smart phones will be able to use this feature as well.

Verizon is launching the iPhone 4 with a mobile hotspot feature, which allows users to tether up to five other devices to the phone via Wi-Fi, something only possible on AT&T via a USB connection or Bluetooth and with only a computer.

Customers who previously had the 2GB data plan won’t have to do anything to get this new plan. AT&T will add it automatically, according to the press release. But we advise that users check anyway just to be sure before using more than the previous 2GB limit. Going over the limit will result in a $10/GB fee. A text message from AT&T will inform users of the new additional data.

AT&T Announces Mobile Hotspot Pricing and Data Limit Increase is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

This may sound like a lot, especially if you plan to use up to 3GB of data, which would cost an extra $40. But remember that this is still cheaper than the price for a monthly contract on the Verizon Mi-Fi which offers the same capability with an extra device. So it would still be cheaper to use an iPhone 4 on Verizon with the Wi-Fi hotspot tethering feature than it would for a Mi-Fi, not to mention the convenience of only having one device.

Verizon iPhone Hotspot Pricing Released is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

November 11 the Tab will be available for $599 without a contract making it $100 more than the Apple iPad which is its biggest competitor. For a 1GB data plan from Verizon customers will have to also pay an extra $20/month.

The Tab will come pre-installed with typical Verizon mobile apps like V CAST Music, Song ID, VZ Navigator as well as other Android apps like the Kindle app and the game Let’s Golf. For more info go to their coming soon” page at VZW.

The $100 price premium over the iPad might be justified since the Tab does have a camera on both the front and back and also plays Flash content.

If you are stoked about reading more about the Tab, a user guide for the device was leaked and can be downloaded now.

Thanks to Gottabemobile for the heads up on this announcement.

Samsung Galaxy Tab for $600 on November 11 from Verizon is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Unlike past versions, there are just four retail packages compared to five for the 2007 version. None of them are upgrades. Microsoft has done away with upgrade pricing and the primary way of getting Office 2010, aside from having it preinstalled on a new PC, is via download. Most people will either buy it directly from Microsoft or buy a package that has a keycard” that entitles you to download and install whichever version you purchase. If you want a backup disc you can get it for a little extra. For a limited time Microsoft is waving that charge, but who knows how long it will last. Each of these will be also be available as either 32-bit or 64-bit versions, both of which come on a single disc. Some retailers will still sell the traditional disc in a box but at a premium, according to Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott.

Each suite will also allow access to the Office Web Apps, online and trimmed down versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. These will be available after the June 15th consumer launch date.

Office 2010 Home and Student – $149.99

This is intended for families and students and offers the lowest price. Included in the package are Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. One of the biggest differences between this package and the others is the fact that you can install it on up to three computers. If you get just the key card version you will only pay about $120 but will only be able to install it on one PC.

Office 2010 Home and Business – $279.99

Home and Business has all that the Home and Student version has plus Outlook for email and personal information management. If you are a heavy Outlook user, this might be a good upgrade as it now has the ribbon.

Office 2010 Professional – $499.99

This version has everything the above packages have but adds Publisher and Access. Publisher is a simple to use desktop publishing application. And Access is for creating databases.

Other Versions

There are a few other suites but the average user won’t be able to buy them. One is an Academic version of the Professional suite and it will only cost about $100. However, you will have to prove that you are a student or teacher by submitting an email address with a .edu extension. Starter edition will only be sold through OEMs preinstalled on a new low end PC. It only has a very limited versions of Word and Excel.

The other suites are sold in volume for businesses. Because they are only available in volume licenses we do not report pricing. They are as follows:

• Office Standard with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and Publisher
• Office Professional Plus with all the above plus Communicator, InfoPath and SharePoint

Individual Programs

The stand-alone Office 2010 packages are for people who only want that single program. They are not really a good deal, since it is much cheaper to buy one of the above packages. For example, if you just want Word, Excel or PowerPoint, they are each $139.99. But for just ten bucks more you get the Home and Student version with all three plus OneNote. If you only want to install it on one PC it is cheaper to get the keycard version for only $119.99. But if you do only one a single program, here is what you will have to pay.

All of the following are listed at $139.99 retail for the basic version. The programs with an asterisk also have a Home and Student version for $119.99 if you have a .edu email address:

• Word*
• Excel*
• PowerPoint*
• Outlook
• Publisher
• Access

OneNote is $79.99 unless you have a .edu email address. Then you can get it for ten dollars less. The other prices are as follows:

• InfoPath – $219.99
• Project Professional $999.99
• Visio Professional – $559.99
• Visio Premium – $999.99
• SharePoint Workspace – $149.99

TechNet Pricing

One of the hidden secrets of Microsoft is that you can actually get all of these high end programs for much less if you are willing to pay for a subscription to Microsoft TechNet. TechNet is a service for IT professionals. With it you get access to the latest software and technical information as well as some special forums and support sites.

One of the best benefits is a full library of software ready for legal downloaded. The licenses allow you to install them for testing and training purposes on as many PCs as you like. For example, you can get every version of Windows including 3.1 and the old DOS. You can also get the Office Professional as well as the extra programs like Visio, SharePoint and more. The price for this is $349 for the first year and $249 thereafter.

While this may seem high, add up the above costs times the number of PCs you have and it may be worth it. I have three desktops and three notebooks. With six PCs even if I buy two copies of the $150 version of Home and Student which can be installed up to three times I still pay more than than the renewal fee. Plus I get copies of Windows and early access to software. The general public cannot get Office 2010 except in beta form. But I’ve been running the release versions since they were made available on TechNet a few weeks ago. There is a similar program for software developers called MSDN. However, it is much more expensive.

Microsoft Office 2010: What’s In Each of the Suites is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

There are 6 different models available- the cost varies depending on the SSD size and whether or not 3G functionality is included. Depending on your configuration, the iPad device can cost between $499 and $829. However, if you’re opting for a model with 3G capabilities, you’ll need to sign up for a separate data plan through the oh-so-unreliable AT&T service. An unlimited monthly plan runs for $29.99 and a 250 MB one is $14.99. Either way you look at it, getting a 3G model means adding a recurring yearly cost of $359.88 or $179.88.

Since the iPad is meant to be an Internet ready device, opting for a 3G experience makes a lot of sense. However, this changes the pricing scheme a little: if you get the base 16GB 3G model with the 250 MB plan, your iPad will cost you $808.88 for your first year (opting for unlimited data increases the price to a little under $1000). While Steve Jobs was eager to announce the low price for the cheapest model, in reality, most buyers will end up spending significantly more.

So the real question is, does the iPad justify this high price? The price make sense on some level. However, the $130 difference between the 3G and non-3G models is a little hard to swallow, especially as consumers will be limited to AT&T as the service provider. Even though the iPad is unlocked, the only alternative carrier, T-mobile, won’t be able to provide a 3G experience. However, the main issue that I think will prevent the device from going mainstream is its actual functionality. You can read the nice laundry list of complaints our friends at Gizmodo put together, but here’s the real problem: the iPad doesn’t fill any consumer need.

Jobs tried to market the iPad in a third category between smartphones and laptops, however, it doesn’t really fit anywhere. It’s fails to appeal to eBook fans who can choose the cheaper Kindle and enjoy an e-ink experience, avoiding having to read on a LCD screen. There’s a reason that digital books aren’t widely read on computers, even portable ones. The iPad isn’t a replacement to netbooks either- it can only run one application at a time and lacks key features such as an optical drive or USB port. It can’t even be compared to a smartphone because there’s no calling capabilities or camera!

As noted by The Onion, the iPad is essentially a large version of the iPod Touch. At the event, Jobs hinted that’s there’s a large market for the product, i.e. anyone who’s owned an iPhone, but it’s unlikely that those folks will want to splurge for an iPad. It doesn’t add any significant features. More so, knowing the iPad’s actual price point, consumers can snag a better equipped netbook for a lower price. The iPad is nothing magical- while it’s a neat device, it’s certainly not revolutionizing tablets or the way people use computers.

Determining the iPad’s Value is a post by Bogdan Semida from Notebooks.com.

Today Apple unveiled their “latest creation” the Apple iPad. The new Apple Tablet device is a very multi-function device; you can read with it, listen to music, watch a movie, use iPhone Apps, browse the web, create documents in iWork and more. While the iPad may have left out some of the things that many analysts and pundits expected, most notably a webcam, Apple was able to offer the iPad at the relatively affordable starting price of $499 without a 3G connection.

Still, when you look at it $500 is a good chunk of change, especially these days, but since the Apple iPad isn’t going to be available to order for another 60-90 days you have plenty of time to make yours affordable by trying out the a long lost trick — saving for it. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages; with a little forethought you can buy the most expensive Apple iPad for just $9 a day!  That’s almost as cheap as the per day savings needed to get the 16GB WiFi only iPad thanks to the extra 30 day waiting period for 3G enabled models.

Compare this to not saving and putting the iPad on your credit card for a year, which inflates the cost of the entry level iPad to $568 assuming a 13% APR and it’s clear that saving for an Apple iPad a day will keep bill collectors at bay!

But wait! Start saving today in a high yield savings account like HSBC or ING Direct and you might even have enough to cover sales tax!

How to Make the Apple iPad with 3G yours for just $7 … a day is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Editions

I mentioned that Windows 7 is available in 3 editions, true, but there are still 6 editions. No, I wasn’t lying, its just how Microsoft is marketing the editions. If you go into a Best Buy or wherever software/computer products are sold you will see only 3 mainstream editions in pretty product boxes, but Windows 7 is available in the following 6 editions:

Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

Starter: Broad app and device compatibility, unlimited application support, Safe, reliable, and supported. Ability to join a Home Group, Improved taskbar and Jump Lists. Windows 7 Starter will be distributed only on new systems that meet a certain requirement: 10.1″ screen display with 1024×600 resolution, 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N280 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 250 GB hard disk – otherwise known as Netbooks.

Home Basic: Another OEM only version of Windows 7 will available on new systems in emerging markets. Microsoft describes this edition as a product for cost concious consumers. Users should note, that Home Basic is 32 bit only, (Vista Home Basic had a 64 bit edition). Home Basic includes enhanced visual experience, Advanced networking support (ad-hoc wireless networks and internet connection sharing), Mobility Center.

Home Premium: Now this edition is probably the sweet spot for many consumers who decide to move to Windows 7. You get all of the cool user interface features: Aero Glass & advanced windows navigation, Easy networking & sharing across all your PCs & devices through HomeGroups, Improved media format support, enhancements to Windows Media Center and media streaming, including Play To, Multi-touch and improved handwriting recognition. Windows 7 Home Premium is available in both 32 and 64 bit editions supporting up to 16 GBs of RAM if you have such a configuration (both disks are included in the product box too). If you have multiple PC’s, you can purchase the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack Upgrade for 3 PC’s. This entitles you to upgrade 3 computers for just $149.99, great value. Learn more here

Professional: If you consider your self an advanced user, then Professional would be the right choice for you. Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista Business users, if you are running those editions, its most likely you will need this one. Professional gives you the ability to join a managed network with Domain Join, Protect  data with advanced network backup and Encrypting File System, Print to the right printer at home or work with Location Aware Printing. In addition to this, Windows 7 Professional includes Group Policy Editor for controling access and behavior of your computer. Windows 7 Professional supports up to 192 GBs of Random Access Memory and includes support for multiple physical processors and its also available in 32 and 64 bit editions.

Enterprise: This is a unique edition of Windows that you won’t find in stores. It is sold to businesses who need Windows licenses in volume to install on hundreds or thousands of computers. Basically, Windows 7 Enterprise is like Windows 7 Professional on steroids, you will find all the features of that edition along with some additional tools called BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go for encrypting your laptop hard disk or an external storage device such as Thumbdrive, in addition to this, Enterprise features World Wide Language support (Multi-Lingual User Interface or MUI’s) support, with up 35 available languages. Enterprise edition also works best when deployed with Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 R2 network operating system to provide unique features such as AppLocker support, Direct Access, BrancheCache, features that protect what type of applications employees have access to, speedy access to network resources and faster access to Virtual Private Networks.

Ultimate: Combining all the features of Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Enterprise, this edition of Windows 7 gives you every single feature available. Microsoft dubs it, ‘the most complete edition of Windows’. Feautures such as BitLocker data protection on internal and external drives, DirectAccess provides seamless connectivity to your corporate network.  (requires Windows Server 2008 R2), Decrease time branch office workers wait to open file across the network with BranchCache. (requires Windows Server 2008 R2), Prevent unauthorized software from running with AppLocker are all available in Windows 7 Ultimate. If you want it all, this is the Windows for you.

Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium, are the editions you will see in stores this October.

How much will Windows 7 cost?

Windows 7 will be available in 6 editions, but primary emphasis is being put towards Home Premium and Professional for mainstream markets.

Pricing:

• Windows 7 Starter Entry-level OEM SKU in all markets for cost conscious consumers.
• Windows 7 Home Basic Value SKU in emerging markets for cost conscious consumers on value PC’s.

Windows Anytime Upgrade makes it easier to get more features.

Anytime Upgrades allow you to move from one edition of Windows 7 to another without the need to reinstall from scratch or purchase the desired edition at retail upgrade pricing. Its great if you have exhausted the features of the current edition of Windows 7 installed and you need more. Another great thing about Windows Anytime Upgrade under Windows 7 compared to Vista’s, you don’t need a special disk and you don’t need to be online to do the upgrade, just have a key for the edition you want and you are good to go. Microsoft will be offering Windows Anytime Upgrades online in 13 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or the US. While the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack will be available in the US and 8 European countries (UK (£149.99), Ireland (£149.99), Germany (€149.99), France (€149.99), Switzerland (€149.99), Austria (€149.99), the Netherlands (€149.99), and Sweden (€149.99) on October 22nd 2009 while supplies last.

Which should you choose?

I have been reading through a number forums, and persons keep asking, which edition is right for me? Other questions that pop up, I have xyz amount of PC’s, how do I get to upgrade all of them. First of all, you need to evaluate your needs. A person who has 6 PC’s in his house hold used by four individuals in his family with 4 PC’s running Windows XP Professional SP3 and one system Vista Home Premium and the other Vista Ultimate would have to invest in a lot of licenses if they wanted to upgrade to corresponding editions of Windows 7. Considering that 4 of the PC’s are being used at home, do most of the PC’s running Windows XP Professional need the unique functionality of Professional (most of which are business oriented)? You probably could reduce the expenditure by investing in two Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack Upgrade Licenses for 3 PC’s. Home Premium features easier networking and sharing of resources such as Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos and even Printers. You can do things like stream music and videos to other PC’s and you get all of the major user experience features in that edition.

Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack provides an affordable way to upgrade multiple PC’s to Windows 7.

Another way to reduce the cost of licensing, if you have a student enrolled in college with a valid .edu, you could let them take advantage of Microsoft’s Student discount offer that gives you the option of purchasing either Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional for just US $30. Please note, these are upgrade licenses, meaning, you need to have a qualifying operating system such as Windows 2000 Professional, XP or Vista. Learn more here and here

Microsoft is putting less prominence towards Windows 7 Ultimate with this release too and you can see the reason why when you compare it to the Professional edition. The Windows Team has made each successive edition a subset of the other. So for instance, Professional is a subset of Home Premium including all its features and more. Unlike Vista Business which only included business only features, users will be pleasantly surprised to know functionality like Media Center is now available in Professional. The pricing is also another factor. Windows 7 Professional cost $300 (upgrade $200) for the full version, while Ultimate cost $320 (upgrade $220), this probably should be a time for reevaluating the need to upgrade from Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate or choose an edition that is more inline with your needs.

Upgrade paths

This is probably the tough part. Users of Windows XP and prior versions of Windows must understand you cannot do an in place upgrade to Windows 7. Windows Vista users too must also evaluate their upgrade paths, because certain editions cannot do in place upgrade to certain editions of Windows 7. An in place upgrade allows you to upgrade to Windows 7 while preserving your personal files, settings, applications and installed drivers.

Don’t let this surprise you, if your are running Windows 2000, XP or Vista you are eligible for upgrade pricing to any edition of Windows 7. Customers who are running Windows Vista that can do in place upgrades to respective editions of Windows 7 must ensure they have Service Pack 1 or later installed.

Netbooks

Prior to Windows 7 users had two choices for operating systems on Netbooks, Windows XP or Linux. Microsoft has really improved the performance in areas such as disk and memory foot print, making any edition of Windows 7 suitable for that form factor. Most manufacturers might pre-load their Netbook devices with Windows 7 Starter, but you will have the option of using Windows Anytime Upgrade to move to a more feature rich editions such as Home Premium.

Conclusion

The information provided in this article might come across a bit overwhelming, but that really is the case when it comes to choice. Microsoft develops multiple editions to meet different needs and market trends. Hopefully with a simplified retail line up and more value added features available in Home Premium and Professional, users can make better choices without feeling there are trade offs in the process.

Resources:

Windows 7 Compare Editions

Windows 7 System Requirements

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Purchase Windows 7 at the Microsoft Store

A Look at the Windows 7 Editions is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.