IBM releases new 1.7GHz PCs

IBM has announced 17 PCs based on Intel's new 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor. The new models include five IntelliStation M Pro workstations and 12 NetVista A60 (pictured) business and A60i home desktop systems. ...more

PC sales predicted to boom in next two years

PC shipments look set for double digit growth over the next two years according to IDC. 'PC market recovery seems to be in full swing,' said IDC's Loren Loverde. 'Aggressive pricing, improving business spending, and consistent growth in portables. ...more

Apple analyst plays down Google phone hype

Google is building software to run services on cell phones rather than gearing up to build a mobile device of its own, as many industry sources have speculated, one Wall Street analyst said on Thursday. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said in a research note to clients that Google appears to be building software for Web search on cell phones and location-finding services to work with Apple's iPhone and other cell phones. 'We believe Google is working with, not against, Apple in the mobile world,' Munster said. ...more

Microsoft buys time on EU deadline

The EU has given Microsoft an extra two months to comply with certain aspects of the 2004 antitrust settlement. Microsoft had been ordered to supply additional documentation by December 15, or face backdated fines of as much as €2mn per day. That deadline has now been extended to 15 February to give the EU more time to consider Microsoft's argument that disclosing more information would enable competitors to 'clone' parts of its Windows operating system. ...more

Microsoft settles up

Microsoft has settled two further class-action law suits brought by consumers in Columbia and Kansas for violating state anti-trust laws. Both settlements have been given preliminary approval and take the form of vouchers for hardware and software vouchers. Microsoft will keep half the value of any unclaimed vouchers and donate the remaining half to needy schools in the respective states. ...more