For countless generations students have complained about carrying around piles of enormous textbooks. The weighty tomes have become so much of a problem that more and more college kids are booking appointments with chiropractors because of an increase in student back problems (even as young as 19 or 20 years old) caused by carrying around loads of traditional textbooks.

But if Amazon.com has its way, the company’s new Kindle DX e-reader will replace those stacks of antiquated textbooks with a sleek, light weight digital “pad” capable of downloading and displaying thousands of electronic books at a time.

The new Kindle DX is larger than the original Kindle– and more expensive — but is otherwise practically identical to its forerunner. The larger screen is designed for periodicals (what used to be called “newspapers” back in the olden days), and textbooks. Amazon claims that the Kindle DX will be ideal for students, and will make college life a whole lot simpler, not to mention easier on the back.

But will college students embrace the Kindle? That is the $100 million question as far as Amazon is concerned.

Recently, e-books and e-textbooks have begun to be taken seriously on college campuses throughout the United States and Europe. While the idea of the e-book has been around for years now, it is only recently that they have become popular with students. And since students are carrying around their laptop computers anyway, why not keep all of their textbooks in digital format on their hard drive, and simply print out material on an “as needed” basis?

E-textbooks are already far less expensive than traditional tomes; usually available online for instant download at about 50% the cost of a paper textbook. And when you consider that the Kindle DX retails at nearly $500, cash strapped students could easily decide to forgo the extra piece of hardware and simply use their laptop as an e-book reader.

So while the idea of the Kindle DX is certainly a noble one, in practical use, it seems unlikely that students will be keen to fork over the extra money just to carry around another piece of digital hardware. Between laptops, smartphones and other school accessories, most students already have more than enough digital gear to keep up with; so the Kindle would have to offer some serious advantages in order to stand a chance on the college campus.

And therein lies the main problem with the Kindle DX: it’s a one trick pony. Laptop computers are capable of an endless variety of functions. You can read an e-book, store your music and video collection, surf the Web, download movies, play video games, or use word processing software.

Likewise, the humble cell phone has become a jack of all trades, featuring robust media players, cameras, GPS navigation and a plethora of other handy features. So where does that leave the Kindle? Basically, it’s just for reading books. It does one thing, and it does it pretty well; but will that be enough to convince college students it’s a must-have? Or to convince their parents to hand over $500 to purchase one?

Microsoft has announced that it may stop selling its flagship Windows Vista operating system just as soon as the eagerly awaited Windows 7 becomes available. Company representatives admitted they were “still not sure” if manufacturers will still be able to sell Vista once the new operating system officially hits the shelves.

The complaints against Vista have been many and often repeated, so we won’t go into that here except to say that the most common consumer complaints were that Vista was slower than expected, and more awkward to use because of a heightened security system which required permissions for a wide variety of everyday tasks such as moving or deleting files or folders.

The beta version of Windows 7, on the other hand, has received mostly favorable reviews within the industry, and from consumers who have been allowed to beta test the new operating system. Microsoft says that 7 is now in the final stages of development, and a full release of the operating system is imminent.

But when Microsoft Windows 7 finally hits the streets, is it going to be the end of Vista as we know it? Despite the ambiguity coming from Redmond, it appears that Microsoft is keen to put the Vista debacle far behind them. The company is placing all their hopes (and a considerable fortune) on Windows 7 being an unqualified success. Early reviewers suggest that it will be, though some have also remained cautious until the final version of Windows 7 can be properly tested.

In fact, it seems that Microsoft is ready to “ditch’ Vista as soon as possible. A spokesman for the company has already said it is unlikely that Vista will continue to be sold by certain computer retailers for months or even years after the release of Windows 7. This is exactly what was done when Vista replaced Windows XP. Computer manufacturers such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard continued to sell the (arguably better) Windows XP operating system for over a year after Vista’s debut. All indications are that things will be different this time, and that Microsoft plans to ditch Vista “sooner rather than later.”

It’s still too early to tell if Windows 7 will be plagued by any of the problems that caused some users to turn against Vista, but it seems clear, at least from those who have tested the beta version, that Windows 7 is a whole other kettle of fish, and compared to the release of Vista, Microsoft should find it a breeze to promote and market.

It is being reported that Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 7, will feature an “XP mode” that Mimics the look and feel of Windows XP. The feature will allow applications designed specifically for XP to run inside a virtual “box” in Windows 7. Appearance wise, it will simply look like the program is running on Windows XP, but behind-the-scenes there’s actually a lot going on.

There are plenty of applications that are not expected to run satisfactorily on Windows 7, so including a virtual XP feature is a pretty smart move on Microsoft’s part. That way, users will still have the capability of running their old XP only applications, inside the more flashy and feature-rich Windows 7. Best of all, it’s a free feature, so you certainly can’t beat the price.

The fact is Windows 7 takes advantage of what is coming to be known as “desktop virtualization.” This allows the operating system to mimic other operating systems (not just Windows XP) and run programs designed for other operating systems. So far, critics have been moderately impressed with the feature, though several have pointed out that it also has shortcomings.

For example in order to run the desktop virtualization feature, you need a PC that supports hardware virtualization. Even in PCs that already support hardware virtualization, often this is an extra feature located in the BIOS of the computer which must be switched on manually (virtually no home workstations or laptops are shipped with this feature active).

Besides a potential change in your computer BIOS, Microsoft also specifies a minimum of 2 GB of RAM to use the feature, along with at least 15 gigs of free hard drive for each “virtual box” you open. So on top of having to tinker around with the BIOS, you also need a fairly robust computer to take advantage of the desktop virtualization.

Some have compared Windows 7’s virtual desktop to Intel Mac’s ability to run Windows, but the experts say that when it comes to running other operating systems, Apple has a huge advantage over Windows 7. Namely, that the Mac “world” is a smaller and better connected group than the massive army of Windows users. This means that developers for Mac software also tend to be a small and tightly knit group, which is certainly advantageous when it comes to making sure an operating system will run any software designed for it.

Windows, on the other hand, is a bit of a free-for-all where development is concerned, and there is much less communication about what “the other guy” is doing when it comes to developing for Windows PCs. For this reason, the Windows 7 virtual desktop feature could potentially run into all sorts of “hiccups” trying to run different software designed for XP. If history is any judge, it will likely take several years to work out all the kinks.

Still, the inclusion of the virtual desktop feature shows that Windows is moving in the right direction, toward greater inclusion, and away from the exclusionary tactics the company has been accused of using in the past.

Large capacity external hard drives are nothing new. In fact, the price of external drives continues to come down, making it easier and less expensive to back up documents, media and even software programs. But Seagate is pursuing a new line of external drives designed to make upgrading your computer a snap. The company’s new Replica hard drives will back up not only your work and media, but every single file in a Windows-based PC, including the operating system.

The idea is simple but useful: create an exact mirror image of everything on the users PC, including operating system, preferences; and right down to the last incidental or nonessential file. But, and this is critical, Seagate is quick to point out that the Replica drives are not intended for backing up individual documents or other user files. In fact, the drives do not include a drag-and-drop feature to move specific files from the external drive to your computer — it’s a bit of an all or nothing deal!

The usefulness of the Replica series is obvious. By having a complete mirror image of your entire computer, you can avert disaster if your operating system should crash. The operating system and the entire contents of your PC can be effectively restored by the Replica in as little as 40 minutes (depending of course on how many stored files you have on your computer).

After restoring your PC, the Replica will automatically back up your system incrementally as your configuration or user preferences change. The smallest drive in the series is the 250 GB Replica. It is designed to back up only a single PC. There is also a 500 GB version that comes with a docking station and according to Seagate, will back up “multiple” PCs.

The 250 GB single PC version is priced at about 130 US dollars, while the 500 GB “multiple” PC version is priced (quite reasonably) at only $200, making the “Replica” and inexpensive and easy to use backup solution for PC users. It could also make the process of upgrading to a new laptop or home PC much easier by removing all the guesswork from the process, and ensuring that your new computer contains all of the files and user preferences of your old system.

Unfortunately, Seagate has not seen fit to develop a Mac version of the Replica — its PC only for now. But then again, Mac computers already have access to the Apple Time Machine software for backing up the contents of their drive, so perhaps there is less of a need for a complete mirror image drive within the Mac community.

But for PC Windows users, the Replica series could be just what the doctor ordered, providing security against lost files and configurations, while making it a breeze to upgrade your computer.

Whether you are a PC person or a Mac person, reliable customer service is critical when buying a new computer. Perhaps that’s why so many knowledgeable consumers seek out customer experience surveys and reviews by other users before purchasing. To help facilitate this research, Forrester Research has conducted an extensive “customer experience survey” of all the major American companies, from Apple and Dell, to American airlines and Citibank. The results of the survey are surprising in some ways, but one result in particular wasn’t a great shock: Apple continues to trounce PCs when it comes to so-called “customer experience.”

Significantly, Apple received an 80% positive score on questions of customer experience and satisfaction. PC computer manufacturers, on the other hand, did not fair nearly as well. Dell scored and a dismal 58% rating in the survey, while rival Gateway scored only 63%.

Overall, PC manufacturer’s received a D to F grade in customer satisfaction and overall experience, according to the Forrester survey. But experts believe that many of the complaints lodged against PC manufacturers are actually the fault of their software — Microsoft Windows. Research shows that many consumers do not distinguish between the computer’s operating system and the company who designed the hardware, which potentially accounts for the dismal ratings for PC manufacturers when one considers the number of complaints about Microsoft Vista, to name one example.

While Apple certainly scored much higher than any major PC manufacturer, they shouldn’t pat themselves on the back just yet. According to the customer experience survey, many companies received far better satisfaction scores than Apple, including Barnes & Noble (which ranked highest in the survey), Amazon.com, JCPenney, Target, and eBay.

In fact, even though Apple scored relatively well compared to other computer manufacturers, it’s still only managed to tie for 23rd Place in the survey alongside Macy’s, Staples and Walgreens in perceived customer satisfaction.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest PC manufacturers in the world, Dell, could only manage to rank 93rd in the survey, tied with Cox communications and United Airlines.

Overall, the survey shows that computer manufacturers have a long way to go when it comes to customer experience and satisfaction. A lot of huge companies, including many Web-based businesses like eBay and Amazon.com, are doing a far better job in customer support. And computer manufacturers are lagging well behind many other industries when it comes to customer satisfaction, including many banks and hotel chains.

So whether you’re a PC or a Mac, one thing is clear: you’re probably not terribly happy with the customer service you’re getting.

There was a time when being a “Mac person” meant being somewhat shielded from the usual onslaught of malicious software viruses and trojans lurking online. In fact, viruses targeting Mac computers were so rare that users probably became a bit too overconfident and boastful about the robustness of the platform.

But in 2009, the days of the carefree Mac user never giving a second thought to online security are long gone. Viruses, spyware, Trojans and other malware aimed at the Mac OSX operating system are becoming more common these days. For example, the dreaded Botnet trojan has now been ported over to attack Mac operating systems and steal sensitive information from users.

And while no one would deny that Windows PCs still have the greatest number of threats from online malware, according to recent research from Symantic, Mac viruses and trojans are becoming more prevalent, especially among users of peer-to-peer sharing sites. The company recently discovered two different versions of the Botnet trojan hiding inside pirated software for Mac OSX. Specifically, Adobe Photoshop for Mac, and Apple’s very own productivity software, iWork 09.

The cracked software provides an easy way for hackers to infiltrate a user’s computer — even a Mac. By downloading and installing the cracked software, the user winds up unknowingly installing the Botnet trojan as well, and placing the contents of their hard drive at risk, not to mention their sensitive information, such as passwords and even online banking login information.

So how can Mac users avoid contracting a software virus or trojan? While there are never any guarantees online, web security experts say that avoiding pirated or cracked software is the easiest way to minimize your chances of inadvertently installing malicious software on your Mac.

According to another online security company, Intego, as of January 2009, over 20,000 Mac users were known to have their computers infected with the Botnet trojan or other viruses. This, of course, is just a fraction of the number of PCs infected with malware; but it represents a sharp rise in the number of Macs affected over the past two years.

So the good news is, yes, Macs are still “safer” on average than PCs. The bad news? Malicious software for Macs is growing in number every year, and once infected with a virus or trojan, removing the malware from a Mac can be considerably more difficult than with a PC. And, unfortunately, as Apple continues to gain market share on Windows, it stands to reason that more and more hackers will begin targeting Mac computers.

As Microsoft Windows 7 nears final release, there is a growing consensus among reviewers and industry pundits that the new operating system will correct many of mistakes the company made with Windows Vista. The beta version has already received solid reviews, and even staunch Microsoft critics are conceding that 7 is a big step in the right direction. But ironically, the recent release of Windows 7 “Starter Edition” could actually threaten the viability of the full operating system when it is finally released.

The Starter Edition, because of its smaller footprint, is ideal for small laptops and netbooks, and may find a huge market among students and frequent travelers. In fact, netbooks are expected to grow in popularity significantly over the next several years. Their small size and easy Web access make them ideal for cash-strapped students on the go, especially during tough economic times.

And because Windows 7 Starter Edition is designed to run easily on netbooks, Microsoft could end up undercutting the viability of their own product by its release. According to ZDNet.com, Microsoft has yet to demonstrate that the full Windows 7 operating system will run seamlessly on the smaller netbooks, so the Starter Edition could be the only choice for many students and even business travelers using netbooks.

Officially, Microsoft is saying that Starter Edition users will be able to upgrade (for a fee of course) to the full Windows 7 OS; however, how well the full program will run on smaller netbooks is still a matter of some speculation. The end result may be that netbook users can either choose Windows 7 Starter Edition and maintain performance, or upgrade to the full operating system and sacrifice speed and performance. Not much of a choice really, is it?

This quandary has caused some in the industry to speculate that Microsoft may have, once again, “outflanked themselves” by creating their own toughest competitor. Of course, the Starter Edition lacks many of the features of the full Windows 7 operating system; but it covers the basics, and with the increasing popularity of web-based software programs, it seems less important than ever these days that an operating system offers lots of bells and whistles. Once you are online, you can access any number of web-based programs anyway, so what is the point in having a bloated operating system?

If current trends hold, netbooks will continue to gain ground against traditional laptop and desktop computers over the next few years. This could result in Microsoft selling fewer copies of its full Windows 7 operating system, and a lot more of the (cheaper) Starter Edition.

Adobe, the California-based software giant, is attempting to bring their Flash Web animation software to television. On Monday, Adobe announced that the latest version of Flash will be viewable on Digital TVs connected to the Internet, newer Blu-ray players, and several other home devices.

The company has partnered with a handful of the most powerful names in media, both online and off, to roll out the new “Flash TV” format. Everyone from the New York Times to Atlantic Records and Intel will be involved in rolling out the new format.

Until this latest version was released, Adobe’s ubiquitous Flash software had primarily been used on computers to render animation and video. For example, Google’s YouTube uses a variation of the standard Flash video player, as does Google video, and many other online media sites.

In fact, Flash has come to be the de facto standard in rendering Web video, animation or any hybrid of the two. Surveys show that more than 80% of all video streamed online uses some variation of the Adobe Flash software. But if Adobe has their way, Flash may soon become the de facto standard in the interactive TV arena, as well.

Though it’s unclear at the moment exactly how Flash will be integrated into Internet enabled digital television, the Company believes there is a huge market the software’s animation and video rendering algorithms. Adobe has already ported over a version of Flash for use in mobile smartphones with mostly positive results.

One clear advantage of using the Flash format with HDTV is that consumers could effortlessly switch between watching “standard” television, and web-enabled video (such as YouTube or Hulu) in the blink of an eye. Using Flash on televisions would also enable the creation of widgets especially engineered to bring Web applications to television and other portable communications devices.

But so far the exact plan for how to use Flash in an interactive TV setting is unclear. Adobe is playing their cards pretty close to the chest, and none of their partner companies have said much about potential usage, except that they expect Flash to open up a whole new world of interactivity to television viewers.

If it is handled correctly, Adobe could use Flash to finally bridge the gap between television and the Web, and give users the ability to seamlessly switch between the two. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and to see if Flash can become as ubiquitous on television as it already is on online.

The whole PC versus Mac debate is really starting to get old. Sure, it was fun for while, and whether you’re a Mac person or a PC person, there was at least some twisted pleasure in poking your finger in the other guy’s eye; but frankly, it’s just been done to death, and it’s time to move on.

But who can forget the popular, “I’m a PC, and I’m a Mac” commercials? As entertaining as the series was, it was also an effective marketing tool for Apple, who managed to stereotype PC users as clueless and “uncool.” But now, Microsoft is fighting back with a vengeance. The company’s new ad series attempts to attack Apple where they are most vulnerable — on price.

The newest Microsoft anti-Mac commercials equate buying a (traditionally more expensive) Mac computer with being pretentious, ostentatious and wasteful. During these tough economic times, it could be a message that resonates loudly with many consumers. After all, the pricing difference between a new PC laptop and a comparable Mac laptop can be significant. And in these lean economic times, who can afford to blow an extra $300 to $800 when buying a new computer?

Obviously, Microsoft is hoping that this message gets through to consumers, and that an association is made between the higher-priced Mac computers and some of the ostentatious, over-the-top spending habits that got us into all this economic trouble to begin with. For once, Microsoft’s counter-attack could actually work; especially as it comes at a time when Wall Street traders are taking undeserved bonuses, all financed by the American taxpayer, of course.

The mood of the country is not exactly sympathetic to big spenders and high rollers these days, and obviously, Microsoft is looking to equate buying the “cooler” but more expensive Mac computer, with being frivolous, irresponsible, or downright unethical. But will it work?

One of the new commercials in particular, features an artsy looking woman (the type you might often see using a Mac) attempting to buy a new laptop computer for under $1000. Obviously, she strikes out where the Mac laptops are concerned, and ends up buying a PC instead. The tagline for the commercial has her saying, “I’m just not cool enough to be a Mac person.”

The subtext is clear: the “cool” people are pretentious and wasteful, buying more expensive computers than necessary at a time when many Americans are struggling just to get by. It’s a cheap shot, to be sure. And no doubt, Apple will fight back with a new series of it’s own attack ads. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the PC versus Mac debate, it is a proverbial war without end.