(AP) - Windows XP offers cost-conscious computer users an attractive package. For about $100, users can upgrade to a system that looks better, runs smoother and includes more consumer-oriented features than ever. But many consumers will be surprised to find that Microsoft's new operating system, due out Thursday, may prompt additional, unanticipated costs. Fun new features like video-enabled instant messaging, digital photo editing or the souped-up music and video player will require users on older computers to buy more memory - and perhaps even a bigger new hard drive among other upgrades, analysts say. And to benefit most from an operating system built for life online, users may also crave high-speed Internet access. The bill for the average user may end up running as high as $200 per computer, said Rob Enderle, an analyst with Giga Information Systems.
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(Reuters) Creative Technology Ltd, which posted another loss in the three months ended September 30, said on Wednesday it expects sales to recover in the current quarter. The company forecast revenues of $225 to $240 million in the three months to December 31 2001 compared with $182.3 million in the fiscal first quarter just ended and $234.2 million in the three months to June 30 this year. Singapore-based Creative, known for its Sound Blaster sound card and Nomad JukeBox portable music player, said it was targeting earnings per share of 25 cents, excluding write-offs, for the second quarter.
At 0401 GMT, Creative shares were up 35 cents at S$9.35 on thin volume. The stock has underperformed the broader Straits Times Index (.STI) by about 37 percent in the last six months. While Creative was optimistic about demand for its products, it remains cautious on its prospects.
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(Reuters) AMD has filed a motion with the U.S. District Court of Northern California to compel Intel to produce expert testimony and documents that allegedly shed light on how Intel handles PC makers that don't cooperate with the company. The documents and testimony were first propounded in an antitrust suit brought by Intergraph, which alleged, but did not prove in court, that Intel damaged it through selective withholding of technical documents. The evidence is sealed under a protective order. A hearing is set for Nov. 12. An AMD spokesman said the evidence will likely show that "Intel has selectively withheld information about computing interfaces for Windows computers."
An Intel spokesman said the company would fight the order. "The information protected is highly confidential; it involves trade secrets, and they do not relate to the EC inquiry," he said. AMD is also not an appropriate party to request the documents, the Intel spokesman added. Although AMD brought the complaint, only the EC can conduct discovery under its bylaws, he said.
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- ATi has released a new official Windows 9x & Windows Millennium driver for it's R200 based product the Radeon 8500. The driver is tagged with a version number of 4.13.7191. [Source Link: 3DChipset.com]
- VIA has released new audio drivers for the VIA AP266/KT266 chipsets. [Source Link: Electic Tech]
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