PC Pro's review of 2007: July - December

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 17 Dec 2007 at 23:24

In sharp contrast, Firefox was busy turning Internet Explorer's browser monopoly over in grand style with its 400 millionth download. Mozilla, the company behind the open-source browser, would later claim it had around 125 million active users and had "caught Microsoft asleep at the wheel".

October

October was another bad month for Vista with DSGi, the group behind PC World and Currys, laying the blame for its mediocre sales squarely at the operating system's feet and accusing Microsoft of not doing enough to promote it.

Broadband was back on the agenda too, with Ofcom's Consumer Panel calling ISPs together to explain why customers weren't getting the speeds they paid for, just as researchers revealed the UK's broadband was among the slowest in Europe. The consultation would lead to the Consumer Panel recommending a mandatory code of practice for ISPs, including an obligation to move customers to a different package if actual line speeds "were significantly lower than the package they bought".

October's bright note arrived with the release of the Asus Eee PC, an ultra-light, ultra-cheap laptop that left reviewers in raptures.

November

November was a terrible month for the government which owned up to losing the personal details of 25 million child benefit claimants in the post. A feat it followed up by losing the records of three million driving test candidates just a month later.

November also saw Google take the wrapping off its Android mobile OS, which it envisaged "powering thousands of different phone models." A dream it intended to make a reality by forging partnerships with industry heavyweights including Motorola and Samsung, but which could be scuppered by the absence of Nokia, among others.