Computer Shopper articles from December 2005

Computer Shopper archives from December 2005

Editor's note.(purchasing management of consumer electronics)
December 1, 2005... THE PROBLEM WITH BEING A PROFESSIONAL GEEK is that while family and friends have started to expect shiny gadgets under the tree from me, nobody seems to remember that I too have gear envy. Wel], if you're listening, folks: Buy me something with...

New motherboard, new OS.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... One problem with PC vendors not including a backup OS on disc is, as Nancy Feldman pointed out, not being able to reinstall Windows if you upgrade your motherboard ("An OS on Disc Beats an OS on Disk," October, p. 122). But perhaps a bigger...

Scanner suggestion?(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I read John Burek's excellent Buying Advisor article on scanners ("Getting the Complete Picture," September, p. 120), and I would appreciate a suggestion for a nonbusiness setting. I have about $200 to spend, and I need a flatbed scanner that...

$100 laptop could offer cheap computing for world's children.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Nicholas Negroponte of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Media Laboratory)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A LOW-COST computer for underprivileged schoolchildren around the world is one step closer to realization. Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and co-founder of the Media Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in...

Triage Wireless.(new wristworn sensor AdvancedBPM)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Triage Wireless, a medical-technology company based in San Diego, Calif., has developed a wristworn sensor that continuously monitors blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital signs. The cuffless sensor, known as AdvancedBPM, then forwards...

Mini hard drives to be replaced in a flash?(development of new products Samsung Group)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Samsung has developed a new high-capacity flash-memory technology that could replace the tiny hard drives used in some consumer devices--and possibly even the drives in ultraportable notebooks. The company's new 16-gigabit density of NAND...

Top search terms.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... [1995 to 2005] 1. Pamela Anderson 2. Dragonball 3. Pokemon 4. Britney Spears 5. WWE 6. Tattoos 7. Las Vegas 8. NFL 9. September 11 attacks 10. Christmas Source: Lycos search-engine tracking

Are blogs freud for the 21st century?(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(survey)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... PUNDITS who dub most bloggers wanna-be journalists or budding political commentators may be off the mark, according to a recent survey. For nearly half of 600 bloggers surveyed, blogging is a form of therapy, reports America Online in its...

AJAX web interface technique shows muscles.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A LONG-EMERGING Web-development technique promises to shake up the status quo in PC software and blur the line between desktop and Web applications. A set of development techniques standardized over the past eight years, Asynchronous...

Hollywood joins Internet2 cast.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) have joined the Internet2 network coalition, a group of researchers, universities, government agencies, and corporations working on a...

Stone phone.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... Shaped like a flat river rock, Motorola's artfully sculpted, round-edged Pebl phone aims to provide a pleasing feel for your hand. The dual-hinged flip phone also features a vertical external display, a VGA camera, and Bluetooth. It can capture...

National navigator.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... Never stop for directions again, thanks to the $499.95 Navman iCN 320 in-car navigation system. This personal GPS receiver comes with a big 2GB of flash memory for storing U.S. and Canadian street maps. It also has an internal lithium-ion...

Sound tracker.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... The $139 Steel Sound 5H USB from Steel Pad is a combination of headphone, microphone, and sound card designed to give garners sonic stealth. By heightening important location-based sounds such as footsteps and gunfire, the 5H USB makes it hard...

Chill case.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... The $499.99 Thermaltake Tai-Chi case supports ATX and BTX motherboards and has plenty for every do-it-yourselfer to like. The case has an integrated water-cooling system for overclockers and a removable motherboard tray for tweakers, as well as...

Otherworldly grooves.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... Aggressively styled, Alienware's 1.3-ounce GE-IV digital audio player comes in 512MB ($129) and 1GB ($179) capacities; an SD/MultiMediaCard slot lets you add extra memory. The device supports MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) tracks. Plus, SRS...

Stow it all.(GEAR)
December 1, 2005... No ordinary laptop bag, the $169.95 Skullcandy Street Pack has room for a notebook, as well as for document folders. The bag also has pockets for an MP3 player and a cell phone in its straps, with a built-in mic and weatherproof speakers...

Hypersonic Cyclone OCX Limited Edition: a desktop that's as fast as it looks.(THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... EDITORS' CHOICE THE PC-AS-SPORTS-CAR analogy has never been more fitting than with the Hypersonic Cyclone OCX Limited Edition, a mega-desktop with the looks, horsepower, and price (relatively speaking--$4,585 in our test configuration) of...

Pioneer DVR-533H-S: the best hard drive/DVD recorder we've tested yet.(THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... EDITORS' CHOICE PIONEER GETS just about everything right with the $399 DVR-533H-S. Despite being no larger than most DVD players, this sleek hard drive/DVD recorder has a feature set longer than the marquee at a 24-screen megaplex. ...

Maingear F131 SLI-AMD: finely tuned desktop is a little rough around the edges.(DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... PERFORMANCE-WISE, the Maingear F131 SLI-AMD can certainly stand up to the big boys. It does, however, lack some of the polish we expect in a PC that costs nearly $5,000. Featuring the same Lian-Li case as a recent Editors' Choice winner,...

Dell XPS 600: versatile PC platform delivers performance, value.(DESKTOPS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... WITH ITS 64-BIT 3.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 670 processor and two nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards (a first for a Dell system), the Dell XPS 600 is a gaming and computing force to behold. And because it runs Windows XP Media Center Edition...

Falcon Northwest FragBox 2: a little box with a lot of power.(DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FALCON NORTHWEST'S small-form-factor (SFF) FragBox 2 delivers on performance and portability, but it'll cost you plenty. Because of its high price ($4,599, in our test configuration), we can recommend it only if its pint size is as important to...

Dell XPS 200: a highly configurable space-saver.(DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... DELL GAVE last year's Dimension 4700C compact desktop a complete makeover, both inside and out. The $1,169 Dell XPS 200 retains its predecessor's small footprint and offers a bevy of configuration options for consumers and businesses alike. Our...

Shuttle XPC M1000.(DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FIRST TAKE Shuttle makes a departure from its typical cube designs by flattening out with the component-style XPC M1000--a first for the company, which is known for its small-form-factor Windows PCs. Upside: The $1,899 M1000 is certainly...

Gateway NX250X: modest performer is long-lived and compact.(NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE WELL-DESIGNED Gateway NX250X will keep road warriors and students computing for hours upon hours--just don't expect blazing performance. Our $1,443 review unit featured Intel's current 915GM chipset and a 1.9GHz Pentium M 750...

iBuypower Battalion 101 G-600: heavy machine loaded with high-performing parts.(NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FORGOING slick design elements, the $1,545 iBuypower Battalion 101 G-600 is armed instead with fast components and a modest sticker price. Our machine was equipped with a powerful 2GHz Pentium M 760 processor and ATI's Mobility Radeon X700...

Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P: lightweight, with good connections.(NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... EDITORS' CHOICE THOUGH EXPENSIVE, the $2,599 Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P delivers long battery life and unparalleled connectivity in an ultraportable package. Our test unit included a number of modest components, such as a 1.2GHz Ultra Low...

HP Compaq Presario V2000Z: brief battery life, but the price is right.(NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S Compaq Presario V2000Z is attractively priced but offers so-so performance. Our $1,249 test laptop came with a 2GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-37 processor, 1GB of memory a slow 4,200rpm 80GB hard drive, and a double-layer DVD burner....

MPC TransPort U1000: small and durable, but doesn't run for long.(NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... EXTREMELY COMPACT, the pricey MPC TransPort U1000 is short on battery life. Our $2,277 test model came with a zippy 1.8GHz Pentium M 745 CPU, 768MB of 333MHz DDR memory, and a 5,400rpm 40GB hard drive. It also featured a DVD [+ or -] RW...

Microsoft remote keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition: a keyboard for your living room.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... MATCH MICROSOFT'S $104.95 Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition with your Media Center PC, and you may never leave your couch again. The device is a multimedia trinity, combining the features of a keyboard, a mouse, and a remote...

Asus DRW-1608P: solid DVD burner at a low price.(COMPONENTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... IT MAY COST just $66, but Asus' DRW-1608P double-layer (DL) DVD drive can handle a wide range of media, including both DVD+R and DVD-R DL DVDs. and performs relatively well, making it a steal for anyone looking to upgrade a PC's optical drive....

Logitech Z-5450 digital.(COMPONENTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FIRST TAKE No home theater or computer setup is complete without surround-sound speakers. Unfortunately, creating the optimal acoustic environment usually involves wrestling with spaghetti-like tangles of audio cables. Logitech looks to...

HP f2105: Massive LCD blends smart design with excellent performance.(DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... AT HOME or in an office, Hewlett-Packard's eye-catching f2105 looks more like a television than a monitor. Priced at $750, this LCD offers 21 inches of wide-screen glory that's just as good for screening movies as it is for crunching...

BenQ FP231W: 23-inch screen is big but lacks features.(DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... DESPITE its mOvie-friendly wide-screen display, design, the $1,499 FP231W lacks the features you'd normally find in an LCD this size The 23 inch which is otherwise sensibly designed, also lacks the ability to pivot. Its performance and image...

LG Flatron L1981Q: razor-thin display sacrifices performance.(DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... BEING ultrathin isn't just for supermodels anymore. Measuring just 1.5 inches thick, LG's $425 Flatron L1981Q is impossibly slim and has both digital and analog inputs. Its waif-like dimensions come at a cost, however--in this case, average...

HP PSC 1510 All-in-One: affordable MFP lacks speed.(PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... OWNING Hewlett-Packard's PSC 1510 All-in-One multifunction printer (MFP) is like having your own personal printing kiosk. In addition to its printing, scanning, and copying capabilities, this $99.99 device can also print photos via a handy...

Samsung ML-2010: entry-level laser packs the right stuff for home users.(PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THOUGH IT SKIMPS with a small 150-sheet-capacity paper tray and only 8MB of memory, Samsung's $149.99 ML-2010 is a reliable monochrome laser printer that's as suitable for a home office as for a dorm room. PC- and Mac-compatible, the...

Canon Selphy DS810.(PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FIRST TAKE Printers rarely register on our must-have lists, but the $149.99 Selphy DS810 has more going for it than most snapshot printers, like a large 2.5-inch preview LCD and the ability to print wirelessly. Upside: This book-size...

Plantronics Pulsar 590A: wireless phone calls and music.(MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... PLANTRONICS' $199.99 Pulsar 590A headset lets you listen to stereo audio--and make cell calls--without the hassle of cords. The Bluetooth-capable cellular headset comes in two basic parts. The main section is an over-the-head headphone unit...

I-mate SP3i smartphone: a trim Windows phone that's media-savvy.(MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE $399.99 I-MATE SP3i is a powerful yet compact multimedia-capable smartphone. Sleek for a phone running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, the SP3i measures 4.2x1.7x0.7 inches and weighs 3.6 ounces. A large 2.2-inch screen offers...

Kyocera Passport KPC650: speedy surfing-part of the time.(MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE KYOCERA Passport KPC650's performance is inconsistent, but its ability to provide wireless broadband access on the road is appealing. A standard PC Card for notebook computers, the KPC650 costs a reasonable $149.99 (with a two-year...

Nikon D50: a high-quality entry-level dSLR.(DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... ONE OF THE BEST entry-level digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) cameras around, the $899.95 6-megapixel Nikon D50 delivers performance and features that rival those of its more expensive brethren. Designed as a step-down model from the...

Olympus C-5500 SportZoom: poky low-cost camera takes great shots.(DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE 5-MEGAPIXEL Olympus C-5500 SportZoom, while not as adept at action photography as its name suggests, offers a 5x optical zoom, lots of features, and excellent image quality for a reasonable $279.99. At its best, the camera is a solid...

Pentax Optio S5z: shooter offers above-average features, average images.(DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... AT $299.95, the pocket-size Pentax Optio S5z offers 5-megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom, and a large 2.5-inch LCD. With the camera's 640x480, 30-frame-per-second movie mode, the S5z provides better-than-average movie captures, along with...

Iriver H10: feature-rich player has a few design flaws.(DIGITAL AUDIO)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... IRIVER'S LATEST VERSION of the H10 has a 20GB hard drive and nearly every feature you could want in a high-capacity player, including a built-in FM tuner, a voice recorder, and a photo-friendly 1.8-inch color screen. Available in four muted and...

Ultimate ears Super.fi 5Pro: earbuds deliver impressive sound, fit.(DIGITAL AUDIO)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... ULTIMATE EARS' $249.99 Super.fi 5Pro earphones don't just deliver excellent performance, they also fit more securely than most in-ear headphones do. Available in black and iPod-matching white, the high-end earphones are bundled with a slew...

Skullcandy MacGyver MP3 Watch.(FIRST TAKE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FIRST TAKE A portable music player with secret-agent appeal, Skullcandy's MacGyver MP3 Watch combines timepiece and tunes in one multifunction gadget. Disguised as a typical sports watch, the MacGyver is also a 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB...

Panasonic TH-42PX50U: impressive 42-inch plasma HDTV.(DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... PANASONIC'S $2,999 TH-42PX50U is a solid 42-inch plasma high-definition television (HDTV) in just about every performance aspect. While it lacks some of the features and connections of more-expensive models, it's a great bargain if you want...

Klipsch Synergy SLX: a suitable speaker for the flat-screen set.(DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE ONGOING flat-screen-TV boom is creating a strong demand for slender wall-mounted speakers, and now Klipsch has joined the fray with its new $349.99 Synergy SLX speaker. Because it lacks a flat bottom, the trim SLX can't stand on its...

Onkyo TX-SR503: lots of sonic bang for the buck.(DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... ONKYO'S $299 TX-SR503 is a full-service A/V receiver with more features, superior connection options, and better sound quality than you'll find in most home-theater-in-a-box systems. The TX-SR503 provides seven 75-watt power-amplifier...

The retouchables: budget photo editors: two inexpensive alternatives to Adobe Photoshop battle it out.(SOFTWARE)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... THE BAD NEWS: Too many digital photographers don't bother to organize or retouch their pictures. But take it from your audience--most photos could stand some touching up, whether it's as simple as eliminating red-eye or as serious as removing...

Fix-It utilities 6 professional: PC utility suite to cure your system ills.(SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... AVANQUEST'S Fix-It Utilities continues to improve by offering new and more-creative disk-diagnostic tools in version 6 Professional. With the full install (about 45MB), you get Recovery Commander (a repair tool that helps with unstable,...

Tweaki for Power Users: broad range of behind-the-scenes Windows tweaks.(SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... FOR AN OS that has always touted its configurability, Windows comes with a large number of fixed default settings. JerMar Software's $19.99 Tweaki for Power Users provides tools, ranging from basic to advanced, for fine-tuning those items. ...

CyberLink PowerDirector 4: solid entry-level video editor.(SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... CYBERLINK PowerDirector 4 takes novices from raw footage to a finished, carefully edited movie with minimal hassles and distractions. The timeline-based nonlinear editor lets you quickly stitch together video, complete with...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, high-resolution cameras, external hard drives, and combat games.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... Top 25 MAINSTREAM DESKTOPS Whether it's savings, entertainment, or power you're after, these PCs cover all the bases. PRODUCT PRICE SPECS/REQUIREMENTS WinBook PowerSpec MCE $999 3GHz...

PresentTech: these new hardware and gadget gifts are sure to please far into the future.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... THE HOLIDAYS ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING, and your mission is clear. Shop. Give. Collect over-whelming praise for your flawless gift-selection abilities. You have two ways to try and pull it off. The first: Wade through the crowds at your...

More go, less dough: these five laptops show how $999 can take you.(Acer TravelMate 2355, Dell Inspiron 6000, Gateway NX500X, HP Compaq Presario V2000Z, Toshiba Tecra A5-S116)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... PC MAKERS HAVE OFTEN been reluctant to submit "value" notebooks to us for review. That's because inexpensive laptops have typically been built from low-end components that don't turn in stellar benchmark-test results or pump out impressive...

Post & print: edit, share, and print digital images with these photo-sharing services.(Kodak EasyShare Gallery, Phanfare, PhotoSite, Picasa, Picturetrail, Shutterfly, Smugmug)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... TAKING PHOTOS with your digital camera is easy. Finding a way to share them with friends and family can be a hassle, especially if it involves e-mailing bloated 5-megapixel images to already overstuffed mailboxes. That's where Web-based photo...

Classifying components.(use of Microsoft Windows XP)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I inherited a Windows XP system to replace my aging computer, which runs Windows 98. I installed a few programs I use on the new system, but they won't run under Windows XP. I've thought about installing Windows 98 on the new PC, bat I'm...

Memory sources.(use of memory devices)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I'm buying a new computer through my company, and I want to increase the base amount of RAM from 512MB to 4GB. I can buy the extra memory with the computer, but, even with the company discount, the cost for the additional RAM is much higher...

Data-recovery check.(COMPUTER CURES)(data management by using utility software)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... My laptop failed, and I lost access to all my graduate-school work. A service recovered the data from my C: drive, but I'm not sure that they also recovered the information in the My Documents folder. Is there a way to tell if these files were...

Which Wi-fi?(standards of wireless routers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... My wireless router at home bit the dust today, and I need to replace it. Which Wi-Fi technology should I choose: 802.11b, 802.11g, or "802.11g with SpeedBooster"? The "b" and "g" indicate different versions of the 802.11 wireless...

A clean start.(COMPUTER CURES)(upgrade of Windows XP on Windows 98 system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I have decided to upgrade to Windows XP on my Windows 98 system so I can access the full capacity of the large hard drive. Should I just install Windows XP over Windows 98? I suggest you reformat your hard drive and make a clean start with...

Gone in a flash.(management of digital camera's memory card)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I lost approximately 200 pictures that I took on vacation with my new digital camera. Do you have any suggestions? The file system used on a digital camera's memory card is the same as that of any other PC storage device, including disk...

The parts for performance.(use of display adapters)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I need a new computer that can handle AutoCAD, Adobe Premiere Pro, 3DS Max, Form-Z, and Flash. What should I look for? These heavy computational and graphics-editing tasks place extreme demands on your entire computer system. Accordingly,...

Missing keys.(use of keyboard-decoding components on motherboards)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Whenever I play certain games on my computer, the Shift, T, and G keys don't work. Changing keyboards did not fix the problem. Do you have any ideas on how to solve this one? My best guess is that the keyboard-decoding component on the...

Tip of the month: photographic memory.
December 1, 2005... Most desktop computer cases are designed to allow easy access to the system's innards for repairs and upgrades. This is decidedly not the case with portable devices such as laptops, MP3 players, and external hard drives, however. If you do...

The beat goes on: convert an old PC into the ultimate music machine.(WEEKEND PROJECT: HARDWARE)
December 1, 2005... IT STARTED OUT innocently enough: a ripped CD here, a download there. Before you knew it, your hard drive was down to a couple of gigs and your resources were feeling the strain. If you're tired of forcing your PC to double as an ersatz music...

Mailing lists made easy: how to print labels with word's Mail Merge feature.(WEEKEND PROJECT: SOFTWARE)(use of Microsoft Word)
December 1, 2005... E-MAIL MAY BE the king of communication, but firing off electronic holiday greetings to friends and family is a little, well, tacky. Addressing stacks of cards doesn't have to be a chore, though. You might not realize you have an electronic...

Exit videotapes, enter DVDs: find out the fast way to turn clunky cassettes into DVDs.(BUYING ADVISOR)
December 1, 2005... DEBORAH GREEN wants hardware that takes the zzzz's out of burning home-movie DVDs. "We just bought a Handycam MiniDV camcorder," says Green, a Louisiana homemaker. "Now we need an easy way to turn our footage into DVDs." Simple, we...

Give generously but cautiously.(management of online charitable donations)
December 1, 2005... A DISASTER BRINGS OUT the best in people, but it also presents opportunities for humanity's dregs to capitalize on others' suffering. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit, more than 4,000 disaster-related Web sites cropped up, a solid 60 percent...

Media center desktops.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... Next month: Performance Desktops NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR You don't need the fastest processor to take advantage of Media Center Edition's (MCE's] features. Look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest. Upgrade: Expect to...

Thin-and-light notebooks (4 to 7 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... Next month: Budget Notebooks NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel's Pentium M processor, which provides long battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. Save a little by opting for lower...

Photo printers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW TECHNOLOGY Photo printers come in two flavors. One type uses thermal dye-transfer technology (also known as dye sublimation), in which solid inks permeate special coated paper. The second type uses inkier technology, adding...

Digital cameras (4- to 5-megapixel).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. A 5-megapixel camera, therefore, should capture more image detail than a 4-megapixel model. Still,...

Portable digital audio and video players (hard drive).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW STORAGE Smaller "micro" hard drive players range from 2.5GB to 6GB in capacity, while larger units can feature anywhere from 20GB to 100GB, good for thousands of songs and hours of video. FILE FORMATS SUPPORTED In the...

LCD televisions.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW Though plasma televisions were the first flat-panel sets to catch on with consumers, liquid-crystal-display (LCD) televisions are equally thin, and they're available in smaller sizes than plasma sets. LCDs also tend to be less...

Tech products.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... abtelectronics.com Do you crave a 400-disc CD changer or a surround-sound speaker system? Abt Electronics, in business for 69 years, has them. You'll also find big-screen televisions, home appliances, and computer products. ...

Consumer electronics.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... bestbuy.com Our readers voted Best Buy their favorite place to buy peripherals, handhelds, and storage, The selection in each department is comprehensive and impressive. The best part? You can have your gadget delivered, or pick it up at a...

Toys.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... amazon.com/toys Thanks to its partnership with Toys R Us, Amazon.com will inspire kids of all ages to create a lengthy wish list. Use the Toy Finder for recommendations based on age, the type of toy, and price. etoys.com From...

Direct PC vendors.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... 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)
December 1, 2005... 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....

Books and music.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... apple.com/itunes/store Pick your favorite songs for 99 cents each from Apple's iTunes Music Store. Browse the massive selection, listen to snippets before you buy, then use the handy shopping-cart feature to download all your tunes en...

The right digital camcorder.(BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)
December 1, 2005... Finding a great camcorder with all the correct features can be tricky. You have to consider issues like media formats, sensors, lenses, and the ability to take good still photos. Here's what you need to know to zoom in on the perfect videocam....