Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) has launched its new AOL dedicated Web destination in Mexico at http://www.aol.com.mx for review.

The new site combines free e-mail, instant messaging and localized content in Spanish. AOL has partnered with Alestra to provide distribution and Grupo Editorial Expansión for content. This also noted that AOL will leverage its distribution with Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to deliver a co-branded local language portal and search solution for Mexico, although the enhanced search looks to still be powered by Google (NASDAQ: GOOG).

The CIA World Factbook counts Mexico's population at 108.7 million as of a July 2007 estimate. It also estimated some 18.6 million Internet users in Mexico. The population throughout Latin America lends to only higher and higher populations throughout the region.

This isn't the first foray in Mexico for AOL, and this probably won't be the end of its Latin American efforts. This may be more of a ground-laying effort for the future, but if the new launch is successful then you can imagine this will be more and more of a gateway to enhance its current efforts throughout Latin America.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) closed at $47.54 Monday and is up 74 cents to $48.28 this morning (10:49 a.m.). HPQ is expected to report EPS on November 19. HPQ will host an analyst meeting on December 11. HPQ November 47.5 straddle is priced at $2.00. HPQ December option implied volatility of 42 is above its 26-week average of 28 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) -- strange bedfellows or enemies? The iPod and the Zune, the Mac OS and Windows. Is Microsoft really helping Apple selling Macs?

Well, not entirely. According to The Wall Street Journal, the ability of the new Intel Corp.- (NASDAQ:INTC) powered Macs to run Windows is winning fans [subscription required] with consumers, schools and small businesses. As the paper writes, "support for Windows on Apple hardware looks to be playing a key role in persuading some users to switch to Macs."

Apple really doesn't need the help. In the latest reported quarter, Mac sales rose 40% to $2.4 billion. Sales of portable Macs rose 79% to $1.455 billion.

The knock against the Mac at most companies is that its OS does not play nicely with Windows. No longer. Now, Apple computers run the stuff. Apple's marketing strength, however, remains directed at the consumer, due, in part, to the success of the iPod and the upcoming launch of the iPhone.

Perhaps Apple will actually put some sales effort against enterprise sales of the Mac. That could make things interesting for companies like Hewlett-Packard Co.(NYSE:HPQ).

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Why didn't Michael Dell replace Kevin Rollins six months or a year ago as the chief executive of the company that bears his name?

Dell Inc. (Nasdaq:DELL) has been in trouble for a long time. Did you ever think that Hewlett-Packard Co. (Nasdaq:HPQ) would ever gain the lead in the PC market? H-P made better machines. I replaced my Dell desktop with an H-P. It wasn't a tough decision.

Shares rose on news of the ouster of Rollins, who got the CEO job in 2004. Bloomberg News points out that in September, Dell called Rollins an "outstanding executive."

Somewhere along the line Dell lost its way. Maybe Michael Dell can restore it to its former glory but it won't be easy. Its accounting is under investigation by both the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the Justice Department. Wall Street is still seething that the computer maker has missed profit forecasts including the one for the fourth quarter.