...and it looks like we bought ours just in time!

Since launching their EeePc complete with a Micrososft Windows platform back in March, Asus' profits have soared as demand has rocketed and the first affordable notebook is set to double in price.  

Having just bought ours for a snip at £239 (4GB version) from Amazon last week, we were rather smug to notice the price hike to £380 through the same outlet yesterday.  That includes a delay period of 2 -3 weeks, presumably while they frantically try and make some more to meet the demand.

Compared to £1100+ RRP of a Macbook Air or its cheaper sibling, the Pro, that'll set you back around £700, it's no suprise that Asus' pared down PC appeals to the increasingly mobile, as-yet-to-be high-earning generation.  It's also smaller (see pic) and more robust, winning points all-round.

Actually, it wasn't even a twenty-something friend who first alerted me to the Asus phnomenon, but Stephen Fry.  

Yahoo sniffs at Microsoft's offer, then.  Are they waiting it out for more cash or is this the end of the haggling battle?

Source:  BBC

Todays fairly hefty news is confirmation of rumours that Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo.

Can't say it's the biggest surprise in the world, Yahoo was formerly the internet's favourite showpiece but in recent years has taken a good beating from Google, and Microsoft has been royally annoyed by Google expanding it's services into email and desktop software - pretty much monopolised by MS to this point.

We'll have to see what happens - my guess is given the valuation, timing and stalemate of Yahoo's current position, it'll be an offer they can't refuse. 

For those of you averse to the relentless march of technology - beware!

Microsoft intends to enforce an automatic browser update from IE6 to IE7 via Windows Server Update Services from February 12th 2008.  The company explain that this move was prompted by security concerns.

Anyone wishing to stick with IE6 must take the following precautions to avoid the automatic update:

"Specifically, administrators who have set WSUS to automatically approve Update Rollups will need to disable the auto-approval rule before Feb. 12 to prevent IE7 from infiltrating their infrastructure. After that date, they must synchronize the update package with their WSUS server and then switch the autoapproval rule back on."

Source: InfoWorld