Computer Shopper articles from December 2004

Computer Shopper archives from December 2004

Editor's note.
December 1, 2004... THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON seems to start earlier every year. Here in New York City, where Computer Shopper's offices are located, holiday hawking usually begins as Halloween decorations are taken down. But this year, I spotted a tinsel- and...

Sick of the rebate runaround.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... Thank you so much for Nancy Feldman's column about mail-in rebates ("When It Comes to Rebates, Think Twice Before Taking the Bait," October, p. 30). I am glad someone had the courage to tell the truth. I have written more letters than I can...

Build, don't buy!(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... Alfred Poor advised a reader asking for assistance in building a computer not to undertake such a task as a first-time buyer ("Computer Cures," October, p. 149). I realize Mr. Poor was trying to curtail the hours of frustration that may occur...

Ad-free mail.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I found your article on free Webmail services very interesting ("No Postage Due," October, p. 136) and would like to point out another good mail service I use. My Way (www.myway.com) is completely ad-free and is styled after Yahoo. You get...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2004... In our Tune-Up guide to building a compact entertainment system ("Big Fun in a Small Package," November, p. 132), we incorrectly stated that a previous installation of Windows is required to install a Windows XP upgrade on a new hard drive. The...

Intel predicts full workday from laptop batteries by decade's end.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AT THE LATEST Intel Developer Forum, the company predicted major innovations in mobile technology, including substantial battery-life increases. Executives covered new chip, battery, and display developments, which they said should add up...

Gamers looking for even-faster-refreshing LCD screens will be applauding the arrival of new displays from BenQ and ViewSonic featuring 8-millisecond (ms) response times.(Trendspotting)
December 1, 2004... Gamers looking for even-faster-refreshing LCD screens will be applauding the arrival of new displays from BenQ and ViewSonic featuring 8-millisecond (ms) response times. At press time, ViewSonic was planning on debuting 8ms displays by the end...

Holiday hits.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Plasma or LCD TV 29 percent PC games 25 percent Notebook PC 24 percent Flat-panel display 24 percent Digital camera 23 percent Source: Computer Shopper online reader survey

Linux PCs sneaking in Windows.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... PCs running Linux are growing in popularity in part because they can be loaded with a pirated copy of Windows, according to a recent study from research firm Gartner. The report states that about 40 percent of Linux PCs will be modified to...

A new way to hear radio on your MP3 player.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A STARTUP IS bringing downloadable radio to portable MP3 players, betting that digital audio fans will want a diet beyond their own music collections. AudioFeast (www.audiofeast.com) has created a subscription service that offers radio...

Many PC users see no evil.(Tech News)(personal computers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... CONSUMERS HAVE A casual approach toward online security and fail to grasp the pervasiveness of Internet threats, according to a recent study. More than a third of the 493 PC users surveyed by the nonprofit National Cyber Security Alliance...

Mini hard drives to make new connections.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A consortium of companies wants to build on the progress of the Serial ATA hard drive interface in PCs with a similar offering for consumer-electronics devices. The companies, which include Hitachi Global Storage, Intel, Seagate...

New MSN TV isn't its father's WebTV.(Microsoft Corp., set top box)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... MICROSOFT HAS released a new version of its MSN TV set-top box, this one aimed at Internet-savvy buyers instead of technology neophytes. Whereas the original WebTV and its successor, MSN TV, were targeted largely at older Americans who...

Internet2 is still stuck in the Ivory Tower.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... MANY PEOPLE are still just getting on the Internet for the first time, but others are already making use of Internet2. Internet2 was developed by a consortium of universities and technology companies in 1996 to provide vast improvements in...

Gaming on the go: number of people in the U.S. playing mobile games by 2009: 78.6 million.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Mobile-gaming services will be a billion-dollar industry by the end of the decade, says a new study. The research firm In-Stat/ MDR projects the number of games downloaded to wireless devices in 2009 will grow more than tenfold from 2003's...

Micro shooter.(New Products)(digital camcoder from Victor Company of Japan Ltd.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Extremely compact, JVC's new $1,299 Everio GZ-MC200 digital camcorder features a 2.1-megapixel still camera and can shoot up to 60 minutes of high-quality MPEG-2 digital video to its 4GB Microdrive hard drive. The Everio also sports a 10x...

Axim to the maxim.(New Products)(handheld computer from Dell Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... At $499, Dell's Axim X50v handheld costs as much as some desktop PCs, but with its 624MHz Intel PXA270 CPU, 128MB of memory, and accelerated 3D graphics, it's almost as powerful as one. Running Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile OS, the X50v...

A cooler case.(New Products)(SilverStone Software Corp., PC components)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Showcase your PC components in style using SilverStone's TJ06. This $149 full-tower ATX enclosure has five 5.25-inch and two 3.5-inch exposed drive bays, and comes slickly crafted in brushed aluminum. Better still, the TJ06 is outfitted with...

Radio waves for your MP3s.(New Products)(media player from Belkin Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The $49.99 Belkin TuneCast II connects to any audio device via its headphone mini-jack input and uses its digital tuner to scan for a clear frequency between 88.1MHz and 107.9MHz. Once it's locked on to a free channel, you'll be able to enjoy...

Dialed in to video.(New Products)(videophone from NEC America Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Shoot movies or shoot the breeze--it's your choice with the latest videophone from NEC, the $349 535 M HDM. The phone features MPEG-4 video capture, a 2.4-inch, 65,536-color display, and a 4,096-color external screen for picture Caller ID. You...

(Much more) data to go.(New Products)(hard disk drives)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The $249 Verbatim Store'n'Go USB HD Drive makes it hard to justify carrying around a 256MB key-chain drive anymore. With 2.1GB of storage, the 1.8-ounce Store'n'Go is equally tiny but holds roughly eight times the capacity. The hard drive also...

Membership has its privileges with this pricey performance PC: Alienware Area-51 ALX.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... EVERYTHING ABOUT Alienware's new Area-51 ALX desktop is big, including its $6,546 price. If you demand the ultimate in technology and customer care, you'll want this machine. Otherwise, the ALX didn't deliver on its performance promise. ...

Put audio, video, photos in the palm of your hand: creative Zen Portable Media Center.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $499.99 CREATIVE Zen Portable Media Center (PMC) is the first portable multimedia device of many to run Microsoft's Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Center operating system. The 20GB device is designed to work seamlessly with Windows...

HP Compaq X Gaming PC GX5000Z: a unique case full of high-end parts makes a better-than-mainstream gamer.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S $3,649 Compaq X Gaming PC GX5000Z marks one of the few times HP has delivered what the market wants, rather than dictating what it should have. Absent most of the flash associated with gaming boxes, our test unit carne...

Cyberpower Gamer Infinity 6800 GT: water-cooled performance system is gamers' elixir.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... EVERYTHING ABOUT THE $3,599 Cyberpower Gamer Infinity 6800 GT dazzles--not the least its 20-inch LCD, state-of-the-art graphics card, three-drive storage array, built-in Wi-Fi and 7.1-channel speakers. A 3.4GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition...

Polywell MiniBox 900VX-2800: Media Center's software hits all the wrong notes.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... WHEN IS A media-center PC not a Media Center PC? When it runs Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition and third-party digital video recorder (DVR) software instead of the Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) OS. Polywell's $1,550 MiniBox...

ZT A5305: This budget box is a processing lightweight.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... ZT GROUP'S $599 A5305 is basically a representative of sub-$1,000 PCs of years past. The budget components, including a new AMD Sempron 2800+ CPU, are fine but limited. With only 256MB of RAM--and integrated graphics stealing 32MB of...

MPC ClientPro 414 All-in-Ane.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Apple's iMac is at the top of all-in-one desktops, and rightly so. On the Windows side, PCs that include the computer and monitor in one box have, for the most part, been underpowered, clunky, and, quite often, ugly. MPC, however, impressed us...

Fujitsu LifeBook S7010: a well-designed traveler that can run with the best.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THINK OF THE $2,209 Fujitsu LifeBook S7010 as the Toyota Corolla of laptops. It won't turn heads, but if you're looking for a well-rounded, reasonably priced thin-and-light, it just might do the trick. The LifeBook offers fairly fulfilling...

Acer Aspire 2020: thin-and-light soars with great speed and stamina.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $2,299 ACER ASPIRE 2020 excels in just about every category. This beautifully designed notebook delivers high performance and nearly 5 hours of battery life. The Aspire comes equipped with a 1.8GHz Pentium M CPU, 512MB of memory, an...

Toshiba Qosmio.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Blurring the line between laptop, television, and personal video recorder CPVR), the Qosmio, Toshiba's new Media Center notebook, is hard to pigeonhole. The Qosmio E15 comes with an array of pleasure-focused features, including a 15-inch...

Averatec 6200: agreeably priced thin-and-light is slow but screens movies well.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... IT'S NO ACCIDENT Averatec bills its $1,249 6200-series laptop as a DVD player first. Outfitted with a large screen and able to play CDs and DVDs without booting, it's a good entertainment machine. As a basic laptop, though, it misses the mark,...

Sony VAIO VGN-X505: an eminently portable laptop with just enough features and performance.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... SONY'S VAIO VGN-X505 is certainly slim and attractive, but its exceptional design commands a high $2,999 price. The VAIO measures an amazingly svelte 0.8x10.1x8.2 inches and weighs just 1.9 pounds (2.4 pounds with its tiny travel adapter)....

Eurocom D870P Mirage: impressive speed lies under the hood of an unassuming machine.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... A MASSIVE 17-INCH display and real desktop-like power are hidden by the not-so-innovative design of the $2,200 Eurocom D870P Mirage. Measuring 1.7x15.5x11 inches, the 10-pound Mirage's wide-screen display has a high 1,680x1,040-pixel...

Creative MegaWorks THX 2.1 250D: a sound choice--provided you have room for the subwoofer.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... WITH 150 WATTS in the subwoofer and 75 watts per speaker, the $149.99 Creative MegaWorks THX 2.1 250D speaker system offers plenty of power, dwarfing competing three-piece systems. And because this model has been around for a while, the price...

Maxtor One Touch 160GB USB: quick and painless storage option makes backup a snap.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... CAPABLE OF BACKING UP your entire PC with the push of a button, the $179.95 Maxtor One Touch 160GB USB is a must for digital pack rats. Inside the large anodized-aluminum case is a 7,200rpm, 3.5-inch DiamondMax Plus 9 drive with an 8MB...

Logitech MediaPlay Cordless Mouse: wireless mouse doubles as remote control.(Logitech International S.A.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... COMPUTER MICE AREN'T the most coveted items in the gadget world, but Logitech's dual-personality mouse could change all that. The $49.95 MediaPlay Cordless Mouse functions just like an everyday mouse, but it doubles as a remote control for your...

Apple Cinema HD Display: this elegant 23-inch LCD may tempt PC users.(Apple Computer Inc.)(high definition)(Liquid crystal displays)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... IT'S LOW ON EXTRAS and high on price, but one look at Apple's $1,999 Cinema HD Display and you'll kiss practicality goodbye. This 23-inch LCD is so elegant and well-designed, it felt like a crime hooking it up to our comparatively hideous PC....

Planar PL1910M: decent display, but not for multimedia.(Planar Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $679 PLANAR PLI910M 19-inch LCD doesn't pack many features, let alone frills, but this middle-of-the-road LCD is sure to win the hearts of budget-minded shoppers. At first glance, the PL1910M doesn't appear to be much of a looker....

Sharp LL-T17D4: reasonable price, average performance.(Sharp Systems of America)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $499 SHARP LL-T17D4 is a solid, if unremarkable, budget 17-inch LCD, its only standout features being its DVI and analog inputs and built-in speakers. But the display comes with only an analog cable, and the speakers sounded faint and...

Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer: it's not always hip to be square.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PRINTERS AREN'T OLYMPUS' bread and butter, and the P-10 Digital Photo Printer is a case in point. At $179, it's lacking in both features and performance. Cute and simple, the cube-shaped P-10 stands just 6.5 inches high, and its...

Samsung CLP-550: disappointing performance detracts from feature-packed color laser.(Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... SAMSUNG'S $599 CLP-SS0 offers some extraordinary features for a budget color laser, but they can't compensate for its poor performance. The CLP-550's best point is the built-in duplexer for printing on both sides of a page. It also has an...

HP Photosmart 375 compact photo printer.(First Take)(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Upside: In the Photosmart 375, HP has incorporated its new Vivera inks and improved printheads, both of which should contribute to more-vibrant, longer-lasting prints. The company also claims to have shaved time from the printer's rated speed...

D-Link AirPlus G DI-524 Wireless Router: 802.11g router offers more security than performance.(D-Link Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... D-LINK'S $69 AirPlus G DI-524 Wireless Router works hard to keep your home network secure, but this 802.118 device's throughput leaves something to be desired. The DI-524 includes two nice design elements intended to get its antenna out in...

Zyxel Prestige 334W: a router only a networking expert could love.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $89.99 Zyxel Prestige 334W 802.11g wireless router is the perfect device for anyone obsessed with network security, but its configuration is too complex for those new to networking. Lacking a startup wizard to guide you through the...

Motorola Ojo Personal Video Phone.(First Take)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Motorola has recast the videophone as a broadband appliance called the Ojo Personal Video Phone, a $799 device that connects to a router and delivers full-duplex video calls. Motorola claims the Ojo is capable of 30-frame-per-second video,...

HP iPaq h6315 Pocket PC: this hefty cellular communicator packs features but not speed.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HEWLETT-PACKARD finally jumped on the smartphone bandwagon with the $599.99 iPaq h6315 Pocket PC. While it can't match the popular PalmOne Treo 600 ergonomically, it offers an amazing array of wireless features. At 4.7x2.9x0.7 inches and...

ParkerVision WLAN1500: expensive PC Card fails to deliver exceptional Wi-Fi reach.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PARKERVISION'S $99.95 WLAN1500 PC Card provides welcome relief to notebook users suffering from poor Wi-Fi signal strength. Though this handy add-in device may increase your wireless range, it's pricey for a mete 802.11b adapter. The...

Corex CardScan Executive: a swift and simple business-card scanner is plagued by inaccuracies.(Corex Technologies Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE $249.99 Corex CardScan Executive is easy to use, but it has a few quirks. Slip a business card into the scanner, which transfers information into an address book via USB (no AC adapter required). From there, you can move it to your...

LG VX7000: bright-screened cell favors movies over e-mail.(LG Electronics Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... LG ELECTRONICS HAS A HIT in the making with its new VX7000, the company's first video-capable handset. But the $249.99 phone's weak e-mail capabilities and lack of Bluetooth or infrared support will frustrate business users. With its...

Epox BT-HS01: chic Bluetooth headset offers superb ergonomics, easy listening.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THOUGH THE $60.95 EPOX BT-HS01 is not cheap, its price is still competitive for a Bluetooth headset. Targeted primarily to business users, its unique look will also appeal to consumers. Measuring 1.75x1x0.5 inches and tipping the scales at...

RIM BlackBerry 7100t.(First Take)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Research In Motion's BlackBerry products have always been business-class e-mail devices first and foremost. Set to change history is RIM's new 7100t, the first BlackBerry device to look and act like a real mobile phone. The 7100t is a quad-band...

Creative Zen Touch: this 20GB MP3 player is an ideal iPod alternative.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... FEATURING GREAT BATTERY LIFE and excellent sound quality, the $249.99 Creative Zen Touch is a legitimate challenger to the Apple iPod. To counter the fourth-generation iPod's Click Wheel, the Zen Touch offers a touch-sensitive scroll pad...

Samsung Yepp YP-T5H: a minuscule MP3 player that packs features, but not much memory.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE SAMSUNG YEPP YP-T5H offers solid features and performance in a small package, but at $119.99, it's a bit pricey for a 128MB music player. The YP-T5H includes an FM tuner and recorder, line-in recording, and a voice recorder. You can...

Sennheiser HD555: these headphones fit movies better than music.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SLEEK, COMFORTABLE, AND DURABLE, Sennheiser's $169.95 Euro-styled HD555 headphones weigh just 9.2 ounces and feel luxurious. They exerted minimal pressure on our ears, which allowed us to forget at times that we were wearing them--a big...

JVC HD-52Z575: this 52-inch HDTV set can't project a better image than competitors.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE $4,499 HD-52Z575 from JVC is a 52-inch rear-projection high-definition television (HDTV) that uses the company's Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA) display technology, which it claims is a robust variant of Liquid Crystal on Silicon...

Roku SoundBridge M1000: silver streamer transports your PC's audio files to your stereo system.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ROKU'S $249.99 SoundBridge M1000 is the latest device designed to wirelessly stream audio from a networked PC or the Internet to your home stereo system. The SoundBridge houses an Ethernet port for wired networks, plus a Compact-Flash slot...

Panasonic SC-HT05: speaker system rocks the house.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE $249.95 PANASONIC SC-HT05 is something special: a cheap home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) kit that offers respectable build quality and sound. The SC-HT05 includes an A/V receiver and a 5.1 speaker system, though not a DVD player. While...

All IM services are not created equal: AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger.
December 1, 2004... LIKE E-MAIL, instant messaging has become a part of our lives. But which service is the one to choose? We looked at four leading instant-messenger (IM) apps, all free downloads, to see which one is tops. AOL INSTANT MESSENGER 5.9 AOL...

Windows Media Player 10: new features and stores put more media at your fingertips.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... A SOLID, COMPREHENSIVE media-management program, Microsoft's Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10)--a free download--will please anyone running Windows XP who uses a wide variety of audio/video formats and portable devices. WMP10 integrates...

eTrust EZ antivirus 2005 6.2: fend off online threats with this budget-friendly virus fighter.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... QUICK TO LOAD AND EASY on the wallet, Computer Associates' eTrust EZ Antivirus 2005 6.2 is one of the speediest antivirus apps we've tested to date. Given its $29.95 price, it's also one of the cheapest. But can this budget virus fighter muscle...

Microsoft Works 8: computing neophytes will appreciate this sweet suite.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AS A $49.95 (before a $10 mail-in rebate) alternative to full-featured office suites, Microsoft Works 8 is a nicely integrated productivity package for home users. That said, Works' talents are limited. The word-processor app mimics Word's...

SpinSite: online app lets you easily build and maintain a Web site.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... SPINSITE IS A GOOD WAY for Web-publishing beginners to build and maintain a Web site with minimal effort. The $49.95 Express Edition includes your site and its online building tools, 25MB of storage space, five Web pages, hosting for three...

IMsecure: safe messaging for a song.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ZONE LABS, KNOWN FOR its popular ZoneAlarm firewall products, has brought security to instant messaging with its free IMsecure. Specifically intended to protect AOL, MSN, and Yahoo messaging users, it defends against buffer-overflow attacks (a...

Top 25: Computer Shopper editors handpick this month's best desktops, notebooks, televisions, smartphones, and security software.(Illustration)
December 1, 2004... Top 25 Computer Shopper editors handpick this month's best desktops, notebooks, televisions, smartphones, and security software. GAMING DESKTOPS >> Get your game on with one of these mean machines. PRODUCT ...

HP Media Center M1050Y Photosmart PC.(Second opinion: feedback from readers who buy and use the products we review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PRICE: $2,569 www.hp.com REVIEWED: November 2004, p. 34 EDITORS' RATING: 7.9 PROS: Impressive design touches; removable HP Personal Media drive; strong overall performance CONS: Expensive; cluttered interior; no expansion room...

Dell Inspiron 700M.(Second opinion: feedback from readers who buy and use the products we review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PRICE: $1,866 www.dell.com REVIEWED: November 2004, p. 45 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 8.1 PROS: Portable; beautiful design; eye-catching wide-screen CONS: Short battery life; cramped keyboard THE BOTTOM LINE: Drop a...

T-Mobile Sidekick II.(Second opinion: feedback from readers who buy and use the products we review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PRICE: $299 www.t-mobile.com REVIEWED: November 2004, p. 33 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 8.0 PROS: Built-in camera with flash; speakerphone; great keyboard; convenient e-mail, IM functionality; speedy Web browsing; world phone...

Nikon Coolpix 5200.(Second opinion: feedback from readers who buy and use the products we review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PRICE: $499.95 www.nikoncoolpix.com REVIEWED: November 2004, p. 68 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 7.4 PROS: Outstanding red-eye prevention; simple operation CONS: Noisy images; dark default exposures THE BOTTOM LINE:...

Great gadgets for giving: the hottest tech toys of the season--all you have to do is click.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... THE HOLIDAYS ARE ON THE HORIZON, and that can mean only one thing: It's line to shop! While browsing for high-tech gifts will entertain your inner geek, the ceaseless proliferation of gadgetry means that finding the perfect present can be...

PC presents: thrill someone this holiday season with one of these desktops or notebooks.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE SOMEONE an awful lot to spring for a new PC as a present--unless you selfishly intend to share this generous gift or are in dire need of brownie points. Whatever your motives, a PC is a major purchase that's not so simple to...

Photo shop: our complete guide to digital imaging products, from cameras and photo-organizing software to snapshot printers and camcorders.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... WHETHER YOU WANT TO CAPTURE memories from family gatherings or winter vacations, the holiday season is the time to think about digital cameras. But what kind to get? We've rounded up 20 cameras in four different categories based on how...

A viable resolution.(use of liquid crystal displays)
December 1, 2004... I have a 21-inch NEC MultiSync E1100+ monitor. What's the best screen resolution to use with it? Andy Kray WERE YOUR MONITOR AN LCD, you should run it at its native resolution to prevent having to scale the image, which could degrade...

Fix for favorites.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... When I add a new link to my Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer, it appears at the end of the list. I can't find any menu command that lets me sort the links alphabetically. I can drag the links one by one into order, but there must be an...

Start your CD's!(Computer Cures)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... I'm designing a software CD, and I want it to start up automatically when the user puts it in a computer's optical drive. I've seen other CDs that automatically launch fancy screens and start installation programs. How do you do this? Do you...

Hard drive Boondoggle?(Computer Cures)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... I recently returned a failed hard drive from a new computer that was under warranty. The company sent me back a drive labeled "refurbished." Also, the drive I returned was an EIDE drive, but the replacement appears to be an ATA model. Is EIDE...

How much is enough?(protection for using e-mail and the Internet)
December 1, 2004... I run an antivirus program and a software firewall on my PC. Is this sufficient protection for using e-mail and the Internet? KASH MILES AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, and harder to answer than it might appear. If you're going to use the Web...

Keep 'em rolling along.(Tip Of The Month)(repairing of HP LaserJet printer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Thousands of HP LaserJet printers are in service, many of them discontinued, unsupported models. Naturally, some parts wear out, but finding replacements can be challenging. This month's tipster has a solution to a common problem that applies...

One to bind them all: set up a universal remote that controls all your A/V components with ease.
December 1, 2004... NO DOUBT: Owning a well-endowed home theater system is a wonderful thing. What's not so enjoyable is the plague of remote controls that accompanies multiple devices. There's no need to fret, however. Simplifying your A/V life is easy with a...

Get the lead out: get your PC back in the fast lane with our four-step regimen.
December 1, 2004... DO YOU SEE your dentist regularly? Change your car's oil every 3,000 miles? Defragment your hard drive? Well, two out of three ain't bad, but if your PC isn't the speedster it used to be, chances are a bloated hard drive is to blame. Steer...

These colors don't run (or fade): a U.S. Marine seeks a sharp photo printer for long-lasting prints. Which one will remain semper fi?(buying advisor)
December 1, 2004... THIS MONTH, WE SERVED as advisor to our armed services--or at least one member. Cpl. Erik Aguilar, U.S. Marine Corps, currently deployed in Iraq, is pondering a tech buy in his downtime. Once he's back in the States, he plans to buy a Nikon...

That's entertainment! Or is it?(Portable Media Center)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... THE PORTABLE MEDIA CENTER, which promises to transform digital audio and video to full-on portable entertainment, is shaping up to be the "It" Gadget of the season. But is this It a hit or a miss? The answer depends on how much effort you're...

This Butterfly is a bother.
December 1, 2004... ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS about shopping online is suckers like me don't have to fend off the persistent pitches of commission-hungry salespeople trying to turn a $250 purchase into a $400 one. Trouble is, online retailers are realizing that,...

Midrange desktops ($750 to $1,499).(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... PROCESSOR Don't choose an underpowered processor. Getting a CPU that's one or two steps down from the fastest will give you the power you need at a good price. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade of Intel 3GHz and...