Oh Microsoft, when will you ever live down the Apple comparisons? It’s not all the mactards’ fault, you know—not when you are pulling stunts like this. Seriously, you have a “How To” page showing customers “how to” open the Vista software packaging—and it’s a 3-step process.

The Windows Vista box opens with a swing-out section that holds your DVD and manuals. The box has two security seals that need to be cut or removed before it can be opened. To open the box 1. On the top of the box, cut along the grooves on either side of the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label. 2. Peel the red tabbed label off the front of the box and discard. 3. Holding the box with the Windows logo facing you, grasp the red tab on the top of the box, and pull it to the right to open the box as shown here.

But how do we pull out the disc? There’s gotta be another instructions page. We’re sitting here with a half-finished Vista install opening and Microsoft wouldn’t let us down. [microsoft via wired]

So, the news is E-Lead has plans to exhibit a new UMPC that appears (not-so-) astoundingly like the Eee PC that managed to earn the warmth from everyone. The core point of difference is the dearth of flash memory, different distro of Linux, and some sort of bizarre input interface.

It features a 1GHz VIA C7 Eden processor, a 30 gig hard drive, and half a gig of RAM. It also comprises of a weird hinge that could make nearly 360 degrees of movement allowing you to type with a split keyboard touch interface. The Noahpad apparently runs the latest version of Ubuntu instead of some traditional distro. It is suggested to be used as a digital photo frame, for GPS navigation, video conferencing, and to watch video while you are busy frying dishes or boiling eggs. Price information is way behind as the only info available is that it would be unveiled at CES.

Via SlashGear