Internet

Google Sites provides teams an easy way to set up a Web site for sharing content, and is free for Google Apps users.  The sites will be hosted on Google servers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080228/tc_nm/google_sites_dc_1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_hi_te/google_web_sites_10

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9065338

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Media/Google-Takes-aim-at-SharePoint/

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-Finally-Tucks-JotSpot-into-Apps/

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900666

Microsoft is beta testing hosted versions of Exchange, SharePoint, and Office Communications Server.  The services will be available to any business in the second half of the year; the services have been available to large companies since last Sept.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206901259

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Apps/Microsoft-Expands-its-Online-Services/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2272443,00.asp

Buzz is Yahoo’s entry into sites that allow users to vote on what news or stories are worth reading, and the site arranges the stories in order of popularity.  Digg.com is a similar site that has been around for a couple years.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search/Yahoo-Users-to-Create-Buzz-with-Favorite-Content/

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Apps/Use-Yahoo-Build-Buzz/

Software

 Microsoft launched Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900560

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Infrastructure/Microsoft-Enters-Virtualization-with-Windows-Server/

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Database/Some-See-Productivity-Boost-with-SQL-Server-2008/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2270959,00.asp

Windows XP Service Pack 3 is mostly security patches, a change to Windows Genuine Advantage, and a little performance improvement.  Network Access Protection is added, but there aren’t any visible changes to XP.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9064498

Windows XP performs most tasks in a test script faster than Windows Vista SP1 after coming out of standby.  Vista is slightly faster when the tests are run after a cold boot.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9065458

Beta testing of Internet Explorer 8 is expected to start in June.  Enhancements include better support for standards.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900309

When Service Pack 1 is released this month, Microsoft is going to drop the price of some retail editions of Windows Vista: the upgrade for Home Premium drops from $149 to $129 and the upgrade for Ultimate drops from $259 to $219.   Most people get Vista when they buy a new PC, so retail sales are for people upgrading existing PCs or building their own PC.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9065538

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Microsoft-Slashes-Some-Windows-Vista-Prices/

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206901018

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2271591,00.asp

Microsoft released more information on a data corruption bug in Windows Home Server that was discovered a couple months ago, with 16 more applications added to the original list of 7 applications that can have corruption problems.  The corruption problem only happens on home servers with multiple hard drives.  No release date for a fix has been announced.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9064879

Hardware

 Lenovo introduced the ThinkPad X300 laptop, which weighs 2.9 pounds, is 3/4” thick, and has a 13” display.  This is similar in size to a MacBook Air, which is a little thinner, but the ThinkPad is aimed at business users, while the Air is aimed at consumers.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9064781

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900288

Toshiba is coming out with the first 1.8” hard drives with a spin speed of 5,400rpm. The drives will be 80GB or 120GB, and will provide performance for thin laptops that is equivalent to the 2.5” drives used in larger laptops.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9064598

Business

 96% of U.S. government workers surveyed could work at least part time from home, and 79% could telecommute full time.  U.S. agencies are required to offer telecommuting as an option to many workers.

http://www.cio.com/article/185101

Legal

 The European Commission is fining Microsoft $1.35 billion for not complying with 2004 antitrust rulings.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Government/EU-Slams-Microsoft-with-Record-Fine/

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900497

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2270772,00.asp

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9065018

Reviews

 A look at 12 encrypted USB drives.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206900256