Microsoft has sent a letter to customers saying that it will extend critical support for Windows XP until 2014, three years longer than is usual.

The company also pledged that its next operating system, Windows 7, will be available by 2010.

In the meantime OEMs will be able to supply systems with Windows XP preloaded as a ‘downgrade’ until 31 January 2009.

Given that Microsoft usually supports operating systems for only 10 years after their launch, the move can be seen as an admission that it is expecting some businesses not to bother upgrading to Vista.

“Windows Vista is a very significant step forward, but our customers have made it clear that they want broader support for devices and applications in order to enjoy the overall experience,” says the letter from Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Microsoft Windows Business Group.

“During the last year, we have worked diligently with our hardware and software partners to improve compatibility to remove the barriers that prevent users from taking advantage of the important advancements Windows Vista delivers. It has been a year of exciting and critical progress.”

The letter also promises that Windows 7 will be released “approximately three years after the January 2007″ release date for Vista.

Veghte acknowledges that there have been compatibility problems between Vista and peripherals manufacturers, and promised that lessons have been learned.

“You’ve also let us know you don’t want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista,” he wrote.

“As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7.

“Our goal is to ensure that the migration process from Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.”

The tiniest Bluetooth adapter we’ve seen

The Mogo Dapter is one of the smallest peripherals we’ve ever reviewed – it’s a tiny device, no bigger than the end of a thumb, with a USB plug at one end. Once plugged in it gives your computer full Bluetooth capabilities.

It’s true that most notebooks now come with Bluetooth, and if you’re using a desktop, saving space isn’t such a big issue. But for those with Bluetooth-less notebooks, the Dapter is an excellent idea. Since it hardly sticks out, it won’t get yanked out easily, and can be left in when the notebook is stored or carried.

It comes with the required software on a CD, which includes a nifty graphical display of nearby Bluetooth devices, and it will work with Mac computers as well as PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista. At £15 it’s certainly good value. If your notebook didn’t come with Bluetooth, this is about the best way to add it.

The Nintendo Wii is a next generation gaming console, which has appealed to many people across the world, as it makes you more involved with the game as you have to move your body to work with the game. On release it was outselling all of the other consoles and was out of stock due to customer demand.

The Wii is a small white box; with a RRP of around 179.00 GBP This is one of the cheapest next generation consoles. But you can get one for free It is small, but it still gives that brilliant gaming excitement that will keep you busy for many hours to come.

It has many fully interactive games, including sports and carnival games. These games get you to move your body as though you are actually at the current area. You would move your body as though you would hit a ball, and the game will detect that and will show that on screen.

The Wii’s specifications are not the best but it still produces the gaming experiences required to make it a hit. One of the best features is the Wii’s web browser which allows a player to browse the Internet whilst playing his or hers favorite game. The Wii connects to the Internet via a Wifi connection (wireless internet connection) this is good as it cuts down on cables, but it still limits a percentage of the population, which do not have an Ethernet cable, but you can get an Ethernet to USB adapter so you can still connect to the Internet.