If you have ever dual-booted Linux and Windows like I have, you would know that Amarok for KDE (a GUI for Linux) is far superior to Winamp and iTunes. Since it was only found within Linux, every time I used Winamp I would always wish that I could have Amarok instead because of great features like:

* Excellent support for scripts (plugins)
* Doesn’t support any audio formats (all formats are installed through engines)
* Has a better album display:

More info inside
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Starting March 27, 2007, Systemax PC will start selling a new version of their Pursuit 4155 laptop product line, now with the Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. The Systemax Pursuit 4155 laptop is already packed with some great features like a built-in 1.3 Mega Pixel camera, several input/output ports, up to 1000 Mbps LAN, and a great processor from the Intel Centrino Duo Mobile family, and with the addition of Windows Ultimate already installed, this laptop is a great deal.

Right now, the Pursuit 4155 laptop is being advertised at $999.99, which is a competitive offer that gives consumers the option to save money on a new version of the Windows OS while purchasing a powerful laptop.

Read the rest of the story for the full laptop specifications.
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Starting today, TiVo Series 2 and 3 users, as well as Windows Vista and XP users, can begin using Amazon’s new Unbox service. Similar to full-length movie and television show downloads on iTunes, Amazon Unbox will allow consumers yet another option to watch their favorite video entertainment. Those who already have a compatible TiVo DVR (unfortunately, Amazon Unbox does not support other DVR’s at the moment) can register their TiVo on Amazon and receive a free $15 to apply to videos from the Unbox service.

For users that use DirectTV TiVo or a Series 1 TiVo, or for those that have canceled their TiVo subscription, there is another option. People fortunate enough to use Windows XP or the shiny new Vista are able to use Amazon Unbox on their PC. In other words, no Linux or Mac support is available yet. Of course, there are minimum system requirements, since the videos are at near DVD-quality and could, in the future, become true 480p. Here are the specifications needed to run the Amazon Unbox Video Player:

Minimum System Requirements

OPERATING SYSTEM: The Amazon Unbox video player application is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (SP2 or greater), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, or Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise. The Amazon Unbox video player is not compatible with Apple/Macintosh operating systems.

COMPUTER HARDWARE: A PC with a 1.5-gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster, at least 256MB of memory, and a DirectX 9.0 compliant Video (64 MB Memory) and Sound Card.

INTERNET CONNECTION: Broadband internet connection capable of 800 kbps sustained transfer speeds.

Recommended System Specifications

COMPUTER HARDWARE: A PC with a 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster, at least 1 GB of memory, and a DirectX 9.0 compliant Video (128 MB Memory) and a Multi Channel 5.1 Capable Sound Card.

INTERNET CONNECTION: Broadband internet connection capable of 1.5+ mbps of sustained transfer speeds.

With quite a few videos to download and the main competition from AppleTV being nonexistent thanks to delays, Amazon’s Unbox may gain a lot of ground in the downloadable-entertainment market.

There is an apparent vulnerability in Microsoft Excel. The big M is releasing an update for it which should be available February 13.  The vulnerability is present in Office 2000, XP, 2003 and the 2004 Mac Version.

I figured it was good to let you guys know but I think NextLust readers are smart enough to avoid this problem, seeing as how you have to open an email attachment to get a malicious excel file.

[Via PC World]

I guess it’s sort of a guilty pleasure for me, but I actually like those Mac vs PC ads they run here in the U.S. I know I’m not supposed to and I’m too cool to even consider it, but I find it funny. Well, now I’ve decided I like the Japanese version even better. Nevermind the fact that I don’t know Japanese, there’s just a certain charm and whatnot that crosses those linguistic borders.

While Verizon users have had theirs for awhile, Sprint users can expect to see the Motorola Q hit stores in the next couple of weeks. The Moto Q is a a QWERTY Smartphone running Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, and packs a lot of features in a thin little package. The Sprint website is already taking orders for the Q, and offers it at the reasonable price of $199 with a 2 year contract. When I spoke with a Sprint rep, I was informed that the Moto Q was “selling like crazy”, which makes sense, as Sprint users have been somewhat cheated by limited phone selection in the past.

The above pictured is my Q. I received it a couple of days ago and am very pleased so far, although I admit I’m still in the ‘honeymoon phase’. The keyboard performs nicely and makes email and web on the go a snap. A good thing: this is easily, hands down, the best reception I’ve ever heard in a phone. The Q may not be the full office-on-the-go for a road warrior, but its email, web, scheduling, and sync features can make a lot of people’s lives a bit easier. I know its working for me.

So, besides the boring white guys, the Windows Vista launch event yesterday included a concert by Angels and Airwaves (one of my favorite bands, actually). Here’s the full concert, more or less — my camera’s battery went out on me near the end. Enjoy!

Bill Gates vs. Jon Stewart. Doesn’t get much more epic than that. Watch the vid, enjoy the stiffness.

Want to know what yesterday’s Windows Vista press event was like in NYC’s Times Square? Well, hopefully this little tour will give you some kind of idea. There was plenty of great free food and of course the all-important free booze.