Computer Shopper articles from April 2006

Computer Shopper archives from April 2006

Editor's note.
April 1, 2006... SOME BELIEVE THAT in the spring, a person's fancy turns to thoughts of love. Among our readers, however, geek lust is a bit more prevalent. That's because many of the high-tech products announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in...

The art of recycling.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I enjoyed the article "Give or Go Green" in the February issue (p. 83). Another idea for recycling old tech products is creating "computer art." I made a shadow box out of parts from an old PC I was going to toss--it looks great mounted on the...

Hello? eBay?(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... After reading Nancy Lang-Feldman's column about contacting online retailers ("Whom to Call When Things Go Wrong," February, p. 115), I was hoping you could help me get in touch with eBay. A few months ago, I was scammed out of merchandise by an...

Don't forget video editing!(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I was disappointed that you didn't include video-editing software in your "20th Annual Shoppers' Choice Awards" (February, p. 59). That type of application has driven all my hardware purchases over the last 15 years, and I was hoping to see...

Speedy startup step missing.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... John Woram wrote a terrific article about improving bootup speeds ("Kick-Start Your Bootup," February, p. 92), but he left out one major point. In step 3, he recommends scrolling through the list of startup applications "to see if you recognize...

Stylish customized laptops join PC modding craze.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... JUST AS Alienware, Voodoo Computers, and other boutique PC makers have successfully tapped the market for boldly colored desktops, a few computer companies--and several accessory makers and customization specialists--have figured out that...

The price is right.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Price Is Right A 99-cent price for a digital song download is... Fair 52% Not sure 10% Too expensive 19% A bargain 19% Source: Ipsos ...

IBM.(new products with standards)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... IBM has produced chips based on the evolving 802.15.3c wireless specification that will be capable of passing high-definition files and other content at distances up to roughly 30 feet. Current samples of the chip move data at more than...

Dell to bundle Google apps with new PCs?(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Dell and Google are evaluating a partnership in which the Google Toolbar, Google Desktop Search, and a Google-designed Dell home page could be included on new Dell PCs. The browser, not the desktop, has become the most sought-after piece...

Picture on cell-phone TV is getting clearer.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(forecast of mobile television)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... AFTER A lackluster start, mobile television is generating buzz again. Electronics makers, wireless operators, and cell-phone-technology firms are betting big money that consumers on the go will soon clamor for televisions they can tote in...

Turning notebook hard drives on their sides.(new product Momentus 5400.3 from Seagate Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SEAGATE Technology, the world's largest hard drive manufacturer, is shipping its first notebook drive based on perpendicular-recording technology, a shift that increases capacity by 25 percent. The Momentus 5400.3, a 2.5-inch-diameter hard...

Can the IRS tax online gamers' virtual assets?(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(United States. Internal Revenue Service)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... One April 15 in the near future, online garners may wonder how much they owe in taxes for virtual in-game "assets" such as weapons, character skins, and clothing. Today, virtual goods from World of Warcraft, Star Wars Galaxies, and other...

Video on hand.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Sleek and trim, Cowon's $449 A2 portable video player is a sight worth seeing. The A2 natively handles AVI, DivX, WMV, and XviD video files, as well as MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA audio. Still-image display (from BMP, JPEG, and PNG files) is...

The Great Q-mmunicator.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Motorola plans to overthrow the reigning smartphone king, the Palm Treo, with its new Q mobile handset. Running Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile operating system (version 5.0), the Q has a backlit QWERTY keypad and a 1.3-megapixel camera, yet...

Double shot.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... The $399 Kodak EasyShare V570 digital camera is less than an inch thick and features a sharp 5-megapixel resolution. What sets it apart, however, is its unique dual-lens construction. The V570 is equipped with both a 3x optical zoom lens and a...

Global power.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Be ready to charge your devices in any country your travels take you. Weighing just 2.5 ounces and small enough to pack as an afterthought, the $19.99 APC Universal Plug Adapter can be quickly configured to jack into power outlets worldwide....

Deadly strokes.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Accent your gaming rig with the $99 Razer Tarantula Gaming Keyboard. Known for its killer line of gaming mice, Razer has outfitted the Tarantula with features that will get gamers drooling, including fully programmable, backlit keys. Plus,...

Case closed.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Safeguard your shiny video-capable iPod with the $34.99 eVo 3 case from iSkin. Available in six colors and crafted from silicone, the eVo 3 guards against moisture and the occasional drop. Completely enclosing the ipod, the case even protects...

Velocity Micro Gamer's Edae DualX: a near-perfect, affordable gaming PC.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... THE "DUAL" in the Gamer's Edge DualX refers to a pair of graphics cards. Velocity Micro offers configurations of the DualX starting at $1,470, but the $1,999 model we tested came with just one card. It's a good one, though (a 256MB nVidia...

Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP: impressive 30-inch LCD redefines the meaning of value.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... AS A LARGE-SCREEN computer monitor, Dell's $2,199 UltraSharp 3007WFP is a bargain hunter's dream come true. It's several hundred dollars cheaper than its competitors, yet it offers more adjustability and better features. Dell should have added...

HP Pavilion a1250n: remarkable performance for the price.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... AT $899 (without a monitor), the HP Pavilion a1250n is one of the least-expensive dual-core PCs you'll find. The a1250n is a fixed configuration running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, but its low price means you won't get a couple of...

Cisnet NASCAR PC: themed desktop has lots for racing fans to like.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... CISNET, the retail arm of online PC vendor ZT Group, extends its desktop line with a fully branded NASCAR PC. From the power button to a custom Windows theme, racing elements are thoroughly integrated. Designed with entry-level home users in...

Maingear Prelude 64: one highly configurable gaming PC.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... MAINGEAR'S Prelude 64 makes a strong case for choosing two midrange graphics cards over one high-end card if you seek top performance with games that use the Doom 3 engine. More games use a BD engine similar to Half-Life 2's, however, and the...

ABS Ultimate M5 Vortex: older GPU, lack of SLI support mar overall package.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... CONSIDERING its dual-core AMD processor, 2GB of RAM, and high-end, if older, graphics card, the ABS Ultimate M5 Vortex should have been one of the fastest PCs in its class. It would have performed better in our tests, however, had ABS allotted...

Alienware Aurora 3500: speedy performance, disappointing peripherals.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... ALIENWARE'S entry-level Aurora 3500 is a competent, if somewhat unexciting, gaming PC. Our $2,019 review unit included components that delivered high-end performance, including a 256MB nVidia GeForce 7800 GT graphics card and a single-core AMD...

Acer TravelMate 8200: outstanding computing power, but limited battery life.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE $2,499 Acer TravelMate 8200, running Intel's new Core Duo processor, delivered swift performance in our tests, but its battery life was brief. The 8200 comes equipped with impressive components, including a 2GHz Core Duo T2500...

Dell Inspiron 710m: modestly equipped thin-and-light is a decent performer.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WHILE THE $1,649 Dell Inspiron 710m has what basic users need in a portable package, the laptop's older components may not satisfy your need for the cutting edge. Considering the price, we expected more high-end features than our test unit...

WinBook X610: snazzy ultraportable lacks power, longevity.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WINBOOK'S $1,399 X610 is a decent ultraportable for the budget-conscious, but don't plan on straying too far from a power socket with this laptop. Our test unit featured a mix of midrange components, including a 1.6GHz Pentium M 725...

Toshiba Tecra S3: tight security but slow, short-lived.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... TOSHIBA'S TECRA S3 is a durable business laptop equipped with security features, but it falls short on performance and battery life. Our modestly configured $1,507 test machine featured a 15-inch standard-aspect display with a native...

Alienware Aurora m7700.(FIRST TAKE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Long known for its powerful gaming desktops and notebooks, Alienware raises the bar for portable performance with the Aurora m7700 laptop. Upside: The m7700's impressive configuration options include AMD's latest desktop dual-core CPUs and...

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000: combo offers unique magnifying features.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... AS A KEYBOARD-AND-MOUSE bundle, Microsoft's stylish-looking Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 abounds with features. It's also relatively inexpensive at $99.95, but we dislike its cheaply constructed feel. The wireless keyboard and mouse each...

LaCie Slim DVD [+ or -] RW Drive With LightScribe: portable drive is lightweight but slow.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... AT JUST 12 OUNCES, LaCie's F.A. Porsche-designed Slim DVD[+ or-]RW Drive With LightScribe is a marvel of mobility. Though slower than its desktop counterparts, this $189 external drive's portability can't be beat. Equipped with a USB 2.0...

Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse: ergonomic mouse keeps track of e-mail, IMs.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... PERFECT FOR multitaskers and instant-message (IM) addicts alike, Logitech's $59.99 MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse uniquely alerts you to incoming e-mail and IMs. You'll need to install Logitech's included SetPoint software to take advantage of...

HP LP2065: a high-performance big-screen display for the office.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... DESIGNED FOR OFFICE USE, Hewlett-Packard's LP2065 is a 20-inch LCD with well-heeled looks. For a relatively inexpensive $649, you get a flexible stand, four USB ports, and two digital inputs. Like most corporate displays, the LP2065 is very...

Envision EN9600: budget 19-incher cuts corners but performs well.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WE GENERALLY frown upon analog-only LCDs, but even though the $299 Envision EN9600 lacks a digital connection, we think this 19-inch display still rates a look. Setup is a breeze, and the display requires no outside drivers. The base, however,...

Gateway FPD2185W: wide-screen LCD flexes multimedia muscle.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GATEWAY'S $639.98 FPD2185W is one of the least-expensive 21-inch LCDs we've seen, and its abundant connections, high-definition (HD) capability, and top-notch performance provide plenty more reasons to recommend it. The display offers...

Canon Selphy DS810: drab output mars photo printer's appeal.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WE HAD HIGH expectations for Canon's $149.99 Selphy DS810, but we couldn't overlook this printer's tank-like proportions, lack of battery support, and disappointing print quality. Like most photo printers, the DS810 is easy to use. Its top...

HP Officejet 5610 All-in-One: MFP offers impressive prints but lackluster scans.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S home-office-friendly Officejet 5610 All-in-One can print, scan, and copy, as well as send and receive faxes. Though versatile, this $149.99 multifunction unit has some significant flaws--it prints slowly and delivers...

Samsung CLP-300.(FIRST TAKE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Samsung, known for its reliable, inexpensive monochrome laser printers, recently unwrapped what it bills the smallest color laser printer ever: the CLP-300. Upside: Standing just 10 inches tall, this $299 printer is both compact and...

Palm Treo 700w Smartphone: Smartphone gets Windows, duller screen.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WITH THE TREO 700w Smartphone, Palm brings the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS and a number of useful features to its Treo franchise. It's available through Verizon Wireless for $499.99 when bought with a new two-year service plan. We still prefer the...

HP iPaq HX2790: pricey business PDA is a strong performer.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S $499 iPaq HX2790 is a PDA for those who seek a traditional, business-oriented approach to ultraportable computing and don't mind paying for it. At 4.7x3x0.7 inches and 5.8 ounces, the HX2790 has measurements typical for a...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9: sharpshooter fits easily in your pocket.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE $449.95 Cyber-shot DSC-T9, the latest in Sony's T-series of pocket-size digital cameras, is a boon for both casual shooters and serious photographers. Snapshooters will like the camera's ease of use, while discerning photographers will...

Olympus SP-350: high-res cam saddled with slow performance.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... ONE OF THE most affordable 8-megapixel cameras on the market, Olympus' $399.99 SP-350 is also one of the smallest. Packed with 24 scene modes, manual controls, a RAW-file capture mode, and custom settings, the camera covers the needs of a gamut...

Fujifilm FinePix S5200: hefty camera packs a big zoom.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... NOT ONLY does the 5.1-megapixel Fuji film FinePix $5200 showcase first-rate design and construction, it also delivers above-average image quality and performance. Weighing just over a pound, this $399.95 camera is bulky, but you'll reap the...

Philips 30GB GoGear HDD6330 Jukebox: sleek WMA player sounds great.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... STYLISH AND FEATURE-PACKED, Philips' $279.99 30GB GoGear HDD6330 Jukebox is the closest a player compatible with Windows Media Audio (WMA) has come to capturing the Apple iPod's design appeal. The HDD6330 measures a slightly chunky...

JVC HA-NC100 Noise Canceling Headphones: inexpensive headphones reduce outside noise.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... JVC'S HA-NC100 Noise Canceling Headphones don't block out ambient noise entirely, but they do a commendable job of reducing it, considering the low $79.95 price. The headphones have large, thickly padded earcups and a sturdy plastic flame....

JBL On Stage II: iPod speaker includes remote, lacks bass.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE $169.95 JBL On Stage II iPod speaker offers bright, detailed sound and is easy to use, thanks to its wireless remote. Its bulky AC adapter and lackluster bass response lessen its appeal, however. The sleek, ice-white On Stage II looks a...

Samsung HL-R6768W: rear-projection DLP set offers great performance--with one fatal flaw.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE $5,699 SAMSUNG HL-R6768W could have been the best 1,080p high-definition television (HDTV) we've reviewed, but a few flaws keep this massive 67-inch rear-projection set from earning our highest recommendation. Equipped with Digital...

Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1: sharp 40-inch LCD nearly rivals plasmas.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH NOT quite as fit for home theater as the best plasma sets, the expensive Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 delivers an impressive picture for a 40-inch LCD. A native resolution of 1,366x768 gives the $3,499 Bravia enough pixels to deliver...

Panasonic DMR-ES20: DVD deck provides high-quality recordings.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... PANASONIC'S entry-level DVD recorder, the DMR-ES20, offers excellent recording quality and easy camcorder dubbing, but its editing features fall short of expectations. The $199.95 unit records to all DVD formats except for DVD+RW. Most of...

Digital accountants: TaxCut or TurboTax: which is best for you?(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)
April 1, 2006... H&R BLOCK'S TAXCUT PREMIUM 2005 and Intuit's TurboTax Premier 2005 are solid, comprehensive tax-management programs that step you through filing annual taxes without demanding knowledge of IRS lingo. Their high-end versions now offer additional...

Macromedia Studio 8: complete tool kit for Web designers.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... MANY CREATORS of digital content can find their way around Macromedia software with little difficulty, but the up grade to Studio 8 makes common tasks easier for those without coding expertise. (Note: Adobe Systems recently acquired...

Roxio Easy Media Creator 8: huge range of features, unparalleled ease of use.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WHILE version 8 of Roxio's excellent disc-creation suite doesn't offer many surprises, it's exactly what we wanted. The $99.95 Easy Media Creator 8 keeps up with current formats, enabling imports and exports of DivX video (though not full...

LimeWire Basic: spyware-free P2P.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... NOT HAVING played with LimeWire, the popular peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing app, since it became infested with spyware a couple of versions ago, we were pleasantly surprised by our hands-on experience with the latest edition. The program...

InAlbum 2.5 Deluxe Edition: a near-perfect photo-sharing application.(DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... IN ALBUM stands as one of the best programs we've reviewed for creating photo albums and slide shows. Installation time for version 2.5 Deluxe Edition is brief, and setup is painless. It makes a good first impression, too: Its interface is...

File Scavenger 3: app digs deep for lost files.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FILE SCAVENGER 3 skillfully rescues lost files, even on spanned and striped volumes. This $45 application worked well in our tests, unearthing not only recently deleted files, but also items without names or paths. Plus, you can restrict...

Focus MP3 Recorder Pro 3.1.1: complete, cheap audio recorder and editor.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... WITH A wealth of tools for working with audio, Focus MP3 Recorder Pro 3.1.1 is an excellent value for its $29.95 price. This recording utility captures audio signals from a microphone or a sound card to MP3, OGG, WAV, or WMA files. The...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, LCD flat-panel televisions, input devices, and music-download services.
April 1, 2006... Top 25 This month's best desktops, notebooks, LCD flat-panel televisions, input devices, and music-download services. ALTERNATIVE-BRAND DESKTOPS Five high-end PCs that provide choices beyond the name brands. PRODUCT ...

This year's gear: it's springtime, and the gear is fresh. These 25 innovative new products will have you reaching for your wallet.(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... A SANYO VPC-HD1 Give your home movies the detail of Hollywood blockbusters with Sanyo's $800 high-definition camcorder. In addition to recording wide-screen 720p content, the memory-card-based VPC-HD1 also snaps 5-megapixel stills, which...

Smaller brands, bigger deals: five laptops from lesser-known makers deliver outstanding value.(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... MOST BUYERS WILL SPEND THE EXTRA CASH for a brand-name notebook, but if you're willing to take a chance on a lesser-known vendor, you could find some pretty solid deals. The trade-offs: You may not enjoy the same level of tech support you would...

Tech-support report: we call seven PC makers to test the quality of their help lines.
April 1, 2006... IT USED TO BE IF YOU HAD A PROBLEM with your PC, you called a toll-free tech-support number, and you were quickly connected to a friendly, helpful, and--most important of all--knowledgeable expert who quickly resolved it. Now, however, your...

Lose that login screen.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... How can I get rid of the "Log on to Windows" screen? I'm the only person who uses my computer, so I don't need to key in a password--all I have to do is hit Return. I'd love to skip this unnecessary step. TOM FRENCH The easiest...

Icon hide and seek.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... After adding too many Quick Launch icons, Windows XP has doubled the width of the launch bar at the bottom of my screen. Is there any way to avoid this? BILL BRUTZMAN Simply "grab" the right-hand edge of the Quick Launch area and drag...

Remote access made easy.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... I have a wired local area network in my office, and I've just added DSL service to my own PC there. I want a software company to be able to remotely support one of my office applications, but I'm having trouble connecting the local network to...

Futureproof your photos.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... I have CDs with family photos edited in Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, but I've changed computers, and my new image software is Microsoft Photo Editor. The old photos are PDD files; opening them is slow, and I can't send them to others. Is...

Phone as modem?(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... Is it possible to use my cell phone as a modem to connect to the Internet on my laptop? If not, how can I access the Internet wirelessly without my home phone line or TV cable? ALAN BRADY Many cell phones can be used as notebook...

Driving a hard drive bargain.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... I recently bought an old server for next to nothing, hoping to scavenge some useful hardware. I was pleasantly surprised to find three Ultra320 SCSI drives, two 147GB Seagate 10,000rpm Cheetah drives, and one 300GB Maxtor Atlas 10,000rpm drive....

Printing the old way.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... What is the most efficient way to print directory listings from Windows XP? CARL BERNOFSKY This question comes up periodically, and whenever I answer it, I get a flood of mail from readers sharing their favorite utility for this task....

Tip of the month: identifying your apps.(COMPUTER CURES)
April 1, 2006... When something goes wrong with your PC, one of the diagnostic steps is to close all "unnecessary" applications. Sure, it's easy to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open Task Manager, which shows all the current applications and processes, but what each...

Laptop lockdown: defend your laptop--and its data--from theft.(WEEKEND PROJECT: HARDWARE)
April 1, 2006... IF YOU'VE RECENTLY purchased your first notebook, you've probably already discovered the freedom of using it in places your old desktop could never go. But keep in mind that along with this new computing mobility comes greatly increased risk....

Rx for aging eyes: if you're starting to get nose prints on your monitor, it may be time for a few adjustments.(WEEKEND PROJECT: SOFTWARE)
April 1, 2006... YOU MAY STILL BE 18 AT HEART, but that prescription for corrective lenses--and your squinting at the computer screen--gives you away. Sure, you could just keep inching your monitor closer and leaning forward in your chair, but that causes other...

How to tell if a seller is faking it.(CONSUMER ALERT)
April 1, 2006... A FEW MONTHS BACK, a retiree from Oregon organized a group of fellow eBay users in an effort to stop counterfeiters from peddling their wares on the online auction site. A collector of antique costume jewelry, Jacqui Rogers had purchased a fake...

Midrange desktops ($750 to $1,499).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Don't choose an underpowered processor, but look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest for the power you need at a good price. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade of Intel 3GHz...

Budget notebooks (less than $1,000).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Most budget notebooks ship with a low-powered Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron processor. If you're lucky, you'll find a notebook running a robust Intel Pentium M. These mobile chips have a full 2MB of cache and advanced...

Home and small-office laser printers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW COLOR OR MONOCHROME With a few color laser models priced under 51,000, some small businesses might find a color model worth the splurge to add some extra pop to their printed materials. For the most part, however, monochrome...

17-inch flat-panel displays.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although some monitors that double as televisions have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition...

Digital cameras (6-meagapixel and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. An 8-megapixel camera, for example, should capture more image detail than a 6-megapixel model can....

Portable digital audio players (flash memory).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW STORAGE Flash players store digital music in internal flash memory, or on removable flash-memory cards in formats such as SD/MultiMediaCard, rather than on a portable hard drive. While they can't hold as many songs as their...

Tech products.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(acortech.com)(bestbuy.com)(circuitcity.com)
April 1, 2006... acortech.com Inexpensive PC accessories abound at Acortech*com* We found ]7-inch LCD monitors for under $300, flash drives for under $20, optical mice for less than $5, and other low-cost goodies for certified tech geeks. amazon.com...

Speakers and sound cards.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... harmankardon.com Harman Kardon builds high-end computer speakers that look as beautiful as they sound. Check out Soundsticks II, a sweet-looking, transparent three-piece speaker system for your PC, or the Bridge iPod Docking Station, which...

Cables and wires.(WEB BUYER: SHOPPING SITES)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... cableorganizer.com Visit CableOrganizer.com to corral that unruly mess of cables snaking from the back of your computer or stereo system. The site stocks wire ducts, cord clips, cable sleeves, and other tools for taming wild wires. ...

Direct PC vendors.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)
April 1, 2006... abspc.com Expect gaming, multimedia, and business PCs aplenty at ABS Computer Technologies. The company offers a choice of Intel or AMD processors, a three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty, and toll-free technical support. Visit the...

Software.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... atomicpark.com Free shipping is available for AtomicPark.com's entire selection of business and productivity apps. Plus, you'll never pay a restocking fee. The new Direct Downloads section lets you use new software in minutes, not days....

Tech-support services.(WEB BUYER: SHOPPING SITES)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... answer.google.com Type in your question, decide how much you're willing to pay for the answer, then wait for one of hundreds of Google Answers researchers to take a crack at it. You pay only when you're satisfied with the response. The...