upgrades

Microsoft reveals Windows 8 upgrade path -- and $15 fee

Accompanying today's debut of the Windows 8 Release Preview, Microsoft has announced a steeply discounted Windows 8 upgrade path for people who buy Windows 7 computers between June 2012 and January 2013.

If you buy an eligible Windows 7 computer between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013, you'll be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99. Microsoft said that more details on the upgrade plan would be announced tomorrow, and that further upgrade options will be revealed for current Windows 7 computer owners in the coming months.

The company also said that … Read more

RAM upgrade considerations for iMac systems

When it comes to memory upgrades, Apple's CTO offerings for its Mac systems are options I recommend people avoid, not because of any quality issues, but because of the ludicrously high prices Apple charges for the upgrades. For instance, Apple ships its iMac systems with a standard 4GB RAM, but if you want the optional 8GB or 16GB RAM upgrades, you will pay $200 or $600, respectively.

These prices are more than four times the cost of most other similarly sized and specced RAM upgrade options, which are just as compatible with your iMac as Apple's RAM. While … Read more

Upgrading a new PC to Windows 8 will cost you... $14.99

Those who shell out for a Windows 7 PC in the coming months will receive a discounted upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $14.99, according to sources speaking to Paul Thurrott.

The deal could start as early as the first week in June at around the same time as the company gears up for its final preview of the next version of Windows.

The paid upgrade will apply to any new PC buyer with Windows 7 Home Basic or higher installed.

CNET's Mary Jo Foley first reported Microsoft's ongoing commitment to providing PC buyers with … Read more

Mountain Lion to arrive sooner than expected?

For the past couple of months Apple has been teasing the public with its upcoming version of OS X, called Mountain Lion. Earlier this year Apple released a sneak peek of the new Mountain Lion features on its Web site, and has since been releasing builds of the operating system to developers for testing. While Apple has claimed the OS will be released this summer, new developments suggests this date may be earlier rather than later.

In the past when Apple has promised software releases during the summer, it has waited until the very end of summer to release them, … Read more

Twitter for mobile Web gets standardized across the globe

Now people in far away or rural places and even those on low-bandwidth networks can use the newest version of Twitter for mobile Web.

The microblogging site announced today that "in an effort to give every person on the planet a consistent Twitter experience," it is standardizing Twitter for all devices, networks, and browsers.

This means that people in places where smartphones are inaccessible and Web access is slow can now use the same version of Twitter on their mobile device as anyone else.

The latest version of Twitter was introduced in December and included new features such … Read more

Google News gets the addition of Google+ comments

In the continued omnipresent integration of Google+ into all of Google's products, the Web giant announced some new features to its U.S. edition of Google News today. In addition to larger images on the main page and real-time news coverage, the tech company is also adding "relevant" Google+ posts to its news pages.

Google News product manager Scott Zuccarino wrote in a blog post today:

Many news stories inspire vibrant discussions on Google+, and today we're starting to add this content to both the News homepage, and the realtime coverage pages. This way you can … Read more

OWC releases dual drive upgrade kit for 2011 Mac Mini

In a recent update to its upgrade kit offerings, Mac-centric upgrade vendor Other World Computing has issued a drive installation kit for Apple's latest Mac Mini, which allows you to install a second hard drive in a system that shipped with only one.

The Mac Mini, being a cheap and low-power system, is fairly popular because of its low profile design that allows it to fit nicely in small areas such as bookshelves. It can serve not only as a desktop system, but also as a server, and even a media center. As a result of this, Apple offers … Read more

Verizon to start charging for phone upgrades

Verizon Wireless will soon begin charging customers for the privilege of upgrading to the latest and greatest phone. Here's the announcement from Big Red itself:

"On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract. This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect, which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever."

In case you didn't catch exactly what's happening here, Verizon will begin charging customers to be able to get their new phone at a discount. This is a 180-degree flip from the days when the company would offer an additional $30 discount to customers looking to upgrade once they'd completed at least 20 months of their two-year contract. … Read more

Cheap laptop fix: How I learned to upgrade my own RAM

Embarrassing admission of the month: before last Friday, I'd never replaced my own RAM.

Honestly, the explanation's simple: I tend to buy new laptops before I consider upgrading RAM. The last time I considered a RAM boost was probably a decade ago, and back then I paid to have it installed. I also found the idea of RAM slightly less immediately appealing. Upgrading a hard drive? Sure, lots of storage space. New processor? Faster speeds. But RAM...for many people, it might lack a certain sexiness or essential quality that justifies the upgrade.

It took my friend persistently reminding me that his RAM upgrade on the same laptop model (a late 2008 aluminum MacBook) paid huge dividends on performance to finally pull the trigger. I'm glad I did.… Read more