Don’t Like Windows 7? Downgrade To Vista…Or XP

By Digital Trends Staff Published October 25, 2009

Don

Microsoft has said that customers who buy new computers which have Windows 7 pre-installed will be able to downgrade to the Vista OS if they like – or even XP.

That all comes because of the license, which will apply both to businesses and individual consumers, the BBC reports. Although downgrade rights are common in Microsoft licenses, the inclusion of XP is a surprise, given that the company is withdrawing free mainstream support for the OS as of the 14th of this month. It’s already been given two reprieves and has proved exceptionally popular on netbooks.

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The general consensus is that Vista hasn’t been a hit with the public, although Microsoft disputes that theory. The company has said that the release candidate of Windows 7 will appear in late May, and although no date has been given for a final version of Windows 7, it’s expected next January.

Digital Trends Staff

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Computing

If you don’t mind buying used, you can get a Dell Chromebook for $70 at Walmart

The Dell Chromebook 3180 on a white background.

If you need a laptop but your budget's pretty tight, you may want to consider going for refurbished laptop deals. Here's an offer that's extremely cheap -- the Dell Chromebook 3189 for only $70 from Walmart, following a $90 discount on its original price of $160. You shouldn't expect this used laptop to arrive in pristine condition, but if you're fine with that, then we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible because there's no telling when stocks of this device will run out.

Why you should buy the Dell Chromebook 3189
The Dell Chromebook 3189 isn't going to end up in anybody's list of the best laptops, as it's only powered by the Intel Celeron N3060 processor, Intel HD Graphics, and 4GB of RAM. As a Chromebook, Chrome OS speeds it up a bit due to the low overhead of the web-based operating system. You still won't be multitasking between apps with this device, but if you'll only use it for basic activities such as browsing the internet and checking emails, then the Dell Chromebook 3189 will be more than enough. It's also pretty portable with its 11.6-inch screen with HD resolution, and while storage space is limited at 32GB, you can sign up for any of the best cloud storage services so that you can save your files online.

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This app promises to prevent OLED burn-in, but don’t fall for it

An OLED display with burn-in.

If you want to strike fear into the heart of any OLED monitor owner, just mention "burn-in." Although OLED displays have quickly infiltrated the ranks of the best gaming monitors, burn-in remains the key concern for adopting the display tech. A new app, called OLED Guard Pro, says it can prevent burn-in, resulting in "longer screen life, reduced power bills, and a viewing experience that feels fresh every day."

I use an OLED monitor daily, my trusty KTC G42P5, so I downloaded OLED Guard Pro to see if it would finally put my admittedly small burn-in fears to rest. And although the app works mostly as advertised, I'm skeptical that it will actually prevent image retention in the way the app claims.
Meet OLED Guard Pro

Computing

Don’t trust that Google sign-in — how hackers are swiping passwords in Chrome

Google Chrome browser running on Android Automotive in a car.

Hackers are swiping passwords from Google accounts in Chrome, and it can happen from the official Google sign-in page. The vehicle being used is called the AutoIt Credential Flusher, and it was discovered by the researchers at OALabs. The attack locks you into your browser at the Google sign-in page and doesn't allow you to leave, all while logging your email and password as you sign into your Google account.

The attack leverages "kiosk mode" in Chrome, which is a limited full-screen interface that doesn't have elements like the address bar or navigation buttons. It's used mainly for demonstration purposes -- think a laptop on display at Best Buy. And this attack is using kiosk mode to annoy users enough that they give up their passwords. It also blocks some normal commands to exit full-screen mode, such as Esc and F11.