Computer Shopper articles from April 2007

Computer Shopper archives from April 2007

Editor's note.(New Year resolution to maintain personal computer)(Editorial)
April 1, 2007... How are those new year's resolutions coming along? If cleaning up your PC and stream-lining your computing experience are still on the agenda, you've come to the right place. Senior editor Sean Portnoy has rustled up a list of 75 time-saving PC...

Hard drive makers to push new hybrids.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2007... FUJITSU, Hitachi, Samsung, Seagate, and Toshiba have announced that they will work together to promote and develop hybrid hard drives. The five companies have founded the Hybrid Storage Alliance, an initiative that aims to communicate the...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Vista )(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... It's no secret that the higher-end versions of Microsoft's Windows Vista are power-and graphics-hungry, but the demanding tech requirements might be both a boon and a bust to one group of users: gamers. Vista employs DirectX 10, the technology...

PCI Express 2.0 to boost speed, reduce heat.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) has finalized the specification for fast second-generation PCI Express 2.0 technology. Products employing the new spec--graphics cards will most likely be the first to roll...

AMD gets graphic in new marketing bid.(TRENDS TECH NEWS)
April 1, 2007... ADVANCED MICRO Devices' hopes for limiting rival Intel's surge in 2007 are coming into focus. The company plans to counter the positive reviews of Intel's chips by pointing out that the processor alone doesn't make the PC. Intel's Core 2...

Gizmo makes your browser a VoIP phone.(Voice over Internet Protocol)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... SIPPHONE, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider started by MPB.com founder Michael Robertson, is launching a service called Gizmo (www.gizmoproject.com) that allows people to make Internet phone calls without having to use a...

Microsoft touts its new photo format.(Adobe Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Microsoft is looking to supplant the ubiquitous JPEG image format with its own format, called HD Photo. With the HD Photo formar, the acronyrn "HD" does not stand for "high definition," although it is intended to connote the superior image...

Cast a spell.(Velocity Micro's new desktop computer, "ProMagix E2215")(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The new ProMagix E2215 from Velocity Micro is an enthusiast machine a computer lover can easily take along, thanks to the wheels mounted on its Signature LX aluminum chassis. A windowed side panel and blue interior light complete the machine's...

Hot and cool.(Shuttle Computers launched new desktop computers)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Powerful prestige systems aren't just for script kiddies anymore! With its new Shuttle 1337 SDXI system, Shuttle is indeed courting the "elite"--from the eyes on down. Decked out in a hand-painted design rendered in premium-grade glossy...

One out of seven ain't bad.(Voodoo Computers new laptop computer)(Voodoo Envy HW:201)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Voodoo is taking the concept of the desktop-replacement laptop to new extremes with the Envy HW:201. With extra-wide wrist rests and a 20-inch wide-screen display, this 17-pounder really is almost big enough to replace a desk. But it gets high...

Lose some weight.(Falcon Northwest Computer Systems Inc.'s new laptop computer)(Falcon FragBook TLX)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Falcon Northwest is pulling a major disappearing act with its new FragBeek TLX thin-and-light laptop. Though it includes a full-size 101-key keyboard (with a separate numeric keypad) and a panoramic 17-inch LCD running at a resolution of...

The new black.(Atriniti's new budget desktop computer)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Atriniti's new budget desktop, the Blackline, was designed to fit anywhere. In addition to its compact Antec Slimline Minuet 300 chassis, which makes it usable as either a tower or a desktop (and small enough to take up little space either...

High impact.(Gateway's new laptop computer, "Gateway NX270S')(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Designed for durability as well as efficiency, Gateway's NX270S has no shortage of rugged features. It's got a barrel hinge to keep the 14.1-inch wide-screen display stable (the has a maximum resolution of 1,280x800), a scratch-and...

Dell XPS 710 H2C: state-of-the-art power at a (relatively) fair price.(desktop computer)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... [check] EDITOR'S CHOICE THANKS dual-graphics-card technologies and the expensive, high-wattage power supplies required to run them, the average price of a very-top-of-the-line PC has ballooned to well over the $7,000 mark. That's why,...

Nokia N800 Internet Tablet: Web-surfing gadget lets you stay connected on the road.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... IT'S PRICEY--and it can't replace your PDA, smartphone, or laptop--but the $399 Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is perfect for on-the-go Web browsing and e-mail connectivity. It also delivers an excellent browser and decent multimedia playback in a...

Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition: powerful? Yes--but also pricey and loud.(personal computers)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE VELOCITY MICRO Raptor Signature Edition is the mid-size vendor's elite gaming PC. While our review unit's price of $7,395 is shockingly high, this desktop is as fast and carefully assembled as we'd expect an uber-PC to be. Our test...

Alienware Area-51 7500: distinctive PC's performance isn't quite worth its price.(REVIEW DESKTOPS)
April 1, 2007... AT $5,349, the Alienware Area-51 7500 is one of the costliest Core 2 Extreme QX6700-based desktops we've seen. But while Alienware packs in Intel's top-grade quad-core procassor and an nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX graphics card, competing PC maker...

WidowPC IX2 SLI: can you afford this fast, powerful desktop?(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE WIDOWPC IX2 SLI is a hyperbolic showcase of PC design and up-to-the-minute hardware. Alas, with its high price, it's also unattainable for all but the most dedicated--and wealthiest-of gamers. Our $7,361 test unit came with an Intel...

HP TouchSmart IQ770: get organized with Vista and a touch screen.(desktop computer)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... HEWLETT-PACKARD's $1,799 TouchSmart IQ770 is our all-in-one family PC of choice. You probably wouldn't want to make it your main PC for doing serious work or playing games, but if you're looking for a media hub with easy-to-use tools for...

Systemax Pursuit 4155: budget laptop offers competitive features, performance.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... FOR BUDGET-MINDED home users, the $999.99 Systemax Pursuit 4155 pairs decent performance with a feature set that's reasonable for the price. At 6.3 pounds, this midsize laptop is too heavy for everyday travel, though its case feels...

Fujitsu LifeBook P1610: Travel-friendly tablet hampered by poor performance, battery life.(laptop computers)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... THE $2,419 FUJITSU LIFEBOOK P1610 is one of the tiniest convertible notebooks we've ever seen, but its high price, poor performance, and meager battery life make it hard to recommend. Weighing a mere 2.2 pounds, the P1610 is very...

Lenovo 3000 C200: a solid business laptop for a budget price.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... IF YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT flashy extras or a wide-screen display, the $999 Lenovo 3000 C200 delivers solid performance and battery life at an impressively low price. Weighing 6.1 pounds, the C200's boxy case feels solidly constructed, though...

Asus W7J: MacBook clone marred by poor battery life.(laptop computers)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... WERE IT NOT FOR its short battery life, the $1,449 Asus W7J could have been the PC alternative to Appli's MacBook. Encased in a sleek black shell that resembles the MacBook's, the 4.4-pound W7J is small enough to carry around but big enough to...

Bluegears b-Enspirer: superb sound for borne theater and gaming.(sound cards)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... WITH MANY OF TODAY'S PCs featuring high-definition (HD) audio built right into the motherboard, you may think that stand-alone sound cards are growing obsolete. Bluegears' $109.99 b-Enspirer proves that the sound card still has a home in the...

Memorex MRX-525G 18x DVD Recorder: quiet and versatile-but slow at ripping DVDs.(DVD recordable drives)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... MEMOREX'S $69.99 internal MRX-525G 18x DVD Recorder boosts both speed and flexibility over earlier models, adding support for double-layer (DL) DVD-R media and 18x single-layer recording. This exceptionally quiet EIDE drive features ultrafast...

Linksys CIT400: make Skype and landline calls without a PC.(dual-mode cordless phone)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE $179.99 LINKSYS CIT400 is a dual-mode cordless phone that handles both landline and Skype calls.Whether you're a die-hard Skype junkie who wants to change completely over to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a home-phone replacement,...

Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000: a solid notebook Webcam for travel.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE $99.95 MICROSOFT LIFECAM NX-6000 is a suitable notebook travel companion that holds its own against similarly priced USB cameras on the market. But the NX-6000 is hobbled by poor performance at high resolutions. The compact camera...

Soyo DYLM1986: a basic monitor that performs well.(liquid crystal display monitor)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... WHAT THE 19-INCH wide-screen Soyo DYLM1986 lacks in design, it more than makes up for in performance. And, at $259.99, it's priced right. With a nondescript black casing, the screen is mounted on a basic stand that has only tilt...

Epson Perfection V700 Photo: flatbed scanner excels at digitizing slides.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... IF YOU WANT to get your old slides into a digital format, but can't justify buying a dedicated slide scanner, your best choice is a really good flatbed scanner. At $549,99, the Epson Perfection V700 Photo certainly isn't cheap, but it turns out...

Color laser printing made affordable: these two midrange laser printers give small offices and home users the option of color.(Dell 3110cn)(Lexmark C530dn)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... WITH PRICES DROPPING below the $500 mark, color laser printers are no longer a luxury peripheral found only in large offices. We looked at two midrange models: the Dell 3110cn and the Lexmark C530dn. Both are priced at $499 and offer generally...

CyberLink MagicSports 3.5: a great tool for preserving sports moments.(desktop video software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... HAVE YOU EVER watched a great sports match, then wished you could easily excerpt your favorite bits to revisit later? Enter MagicSports 3.5 from CyberLink. This $49.95 software tool analyzes the video recording of an entire game, then...

System Mechanic 7 Professional: excellent--but aging--set of utilities.(utilities software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... LOOK TO ITS BUNDLED MODULES to find what's substantive in the System Mechanic 7 Professional (SM7P) suite of utilities. Iolo Personal Firewall now employs a much easier-to-use setup, Iolo AntiVirus offers hourly updates, new algorithms allow...

Skype 3: internet-based phone software remains dependable, feature-rich.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... SKYPE'S LATEST RELEASE, Skype 3 for Windows, doesn't break any new ground in the low-cost, online-voice-communication arena. But you still get great-sounding free calls between Skype users, along with video calls, conference calls, and...

SplashID: a useful--but quirky--password and database program.(systems and data security software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... SPLASHDATA'S SPLASHID lets you collect and protect sensitive data--such as usernames, passwords, credit-card numbers, and banking information--on your PDA, PC, or smartphone. It uses 256-bit encryption for strong security, and it supports both...

Top 5 performance desktops: these top-of-the-line machines pack plenty of computing power.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... 1 OVERDRIVE CORE2.X-FIRE * www.overdrivepc.com $5,172 (as tested) EDITORS' RATING 8.5 [check] SPECS * 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 * 2GB DDR2 memory * 750GB hard drive; 150GB (10,000rpm) drive * Two...

Top 5 affordable laptops: these diverse portables combine performance, features, and budget prices.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... 1 APPLE MACBOOK www.apple.com $1,499 (as tested) EDITORS' RATING 8.1 [check] SPECS * 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7200 * 1GB DDR2 memory * 120GB hard drive * Double-layer DVD [+ or -] RW * Integrated graphics ...

Top 5 laser printers: say good-bye to slow inkjet output with these speedy lasers.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2007... 1 LEXMARK C530DN www.lexmark.com $499.99 EDITORS' RATING 8.1 SPECS * 1,200x1,200dpi maximum resolution * Rated print speed: 24ppm (monochrome); 22ppm (color) * 128MB memory * USB 2.0 Ethernet interfaces ...

75 Incredibly useful tips: these amazing shortcuts will help you do more (and work faster!) with your favorite programs and Web services.
April 1, 2007... A LOT HAS CHANGED since we last published a tips feature nearly two years ago. New versions of Microsoft's core software packages--Windows Vista and Office 2007--have been released, and the Internet has taken an even more central role in daily...

Vista pronto: a step-by-step guide to installing Microsoft's new OS in under an hour.(Microsoft Windows Vista)
April 1, 2007... MICROSOFT'S LATEST VERSION of Windows, Windows Vista, has been five years in coming--all for an upgrade, that, if it goes smoothly, you can complete in an hour. We'll help you make sure it does. That assumes, though, you've got all the...

Wireless USB cuts the cables: upcoming products will deliver the speed and convenience of traditional USB cables--without the tangles.(universal serial bus)
April 1, 2007... Wireless isn't a new concept for computer users. Wi-Fi connections to the Internet are everywhere. Wireless keyboards and mice are a hit with cordhating PC enthusiasts. Many gamers go for wireless controllers. So why is the area around your PC...

Computer cures.
April 1, 2007... GETTING A RISE OUT OF YOUR PC My new computer does not have enough expansion slots to suit my needs, and the PC maker tells me that I need a riser card. How many slots will this add? Am I limited to the ones offered by the manufacturer?...

Clean your PC inside and out: you'd be surprised at what builds up in and on your computer. Our cleaning schedule will keep your PC gunk-free.
April 1, 2007... IT'S NOT JUST your home that needs a good spring cleaning. Your PC and peripherals accumulate dust and grime at a steady clip, and require ongoing attention just like any other frequently used appliance. You need to clean the keyboard, mouse,...

The sound of cool.
April 1, 2007... The Austrian-designed Noctua NH-U9F promises to keep your CPU at remarkably low noise levels--as low as 7dB, the company claims. It's helped by its Ultra Low Noise adapter and the fan's oil-pressure bearing. This $49.90 cooler is compatible...

Two-by-four foundation.(Gigabyte Technology Company Ltd.'s new motherboard)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Harness the power of four cores--and two nVidia GPUs--with the $289 Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 motherboard. Designed to work with the latest Intel quad-core processors (with support for up to a 1,333MHz front-side bus) and based on the nForce 680i...

Front-panel finery.
April 1, 2007... Airlift in gratuitous front-panel bling by the 747-load with the $74.99 PowerWatch from AeroCool.US. This titanic drive-bay device eats two bays and provides a striking visual display of case temperature (at four locations, detected by wired...

A house for your cards.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS & TIPS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)
April 1, 2007... Two fire-breathing high-end video boards invading your PC's case tend to send temperatures skyward--but not if your case is ready for them. The $299 Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 nVidia Edition is the first PC enclosure specially certified by...

Radiators for your RAM.
April 1, 2007... Run-of-the-mill RAM coolers are simple metal sheaths that fit over a RAM module to wick away heat Thermalright advances that design with its HR-07 Memory Module Cooler, which employs twin elevated fin assemblies to shunt heat away from your...

Hard-core board.
April 1, 2007... The Abit AB9 QuadGT is ready for Inters quadcore processors--and a whole lot more. This $219.99 LGA775 motherboard, based on the Intel 965 chipset, is built using long-life solid-state capacitors and features a host of uncommon extras,...

ATX Motherboard.
April 1, 2007... 1 PREP WORK. Some major-maker PCs use proprietary designs, so check your case and power supply (PSU) for ATX compatibility first. If you're upgrading a motherboard--not building a new PC--you should reinstall your OS with it. Back up critical...

Budget desktops ($750 or less).(personal computers)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... PROCESSOR You'll pay a premium for the fastest processor, so go with a CPU a couple of cycles behind the top clock speed. You likely won't get a cutting-edge PC, but modestly priced dual-core-CPUs still have plenty of power for Windows Vista...

Ultraportable notebooks (less than 4 pounds).(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... PROCESSOR Intel's Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Pentium M and Core Solo CPUs deliver the longest battery life. For maximum power, opt for a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo CPU. These are your best choices for powering Microsoft's new Windows Vista OS. ...

Budget digital cameras ($200 and less).(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. A 6-megapixel camera, therefore, should capture more image detail than a 5-megapixel model. Still, whether you choose a...

The right graphics card.(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Whether you want to play the latest 3D games, improve video playback, or just enjoy Windows Vista in all its visual glory, a new graphics card could be the perfect upgrade. Here's what you need to know to pick the right one. SHOPPING SPECS...