Computer Shopper articles from December 2007

Computer Shopper archives from December 2007

Letter from the editors.
December 1, 2007... IT'S THE AGE-OLD December dilemma: You've got a holiday gift list as big as a 42-inch plasma television, but a budget more the size of your iPod Nano's screen. Tech products make great gifts, but you need equal parts e-savvy and shopping smarts...

Google, Adobe take aim at Microsoft Office.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... INTERNET TITAN Google has put another chink in Microsoft's armor with the recent release of Google Presentations. The PowerPoint-like application officially completes the Google Docs family of free, Web-based productivity apps, which also...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(iPhone is a must-have item for teens, survey says)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Don't be surprised if your teenager lists an iPhone on his or her holiday wish list. A recent survey of 980 students conducted by Piper Jaffray found that 9 percent hope to obtain Apple's much-hyped device within the next six months. (Already,...

AMD to add three-core processors to its Phenom CPU lineup in 2008.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... RUMORS SPREAD across the Internet over the last few months that AMD was working on three-core processors as it developed its upcoming Phenom quad-core CPU. Eventually, the chip maker officially announced that its triple-core Phenom CPUs will be...

Blu-ray, HD DVD get a new challenger.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... BLU-RAY AND HD DVD don't have to stand down just yet, but there might be some new competition for high-definition DVD-player supremacy: the High-Density Versatile Multilayer Disc, or HD VMD. This proprietary format is the brainchild of New...

USB 3.0 to be 10x faster than predecessor.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... SINCE THEIR introduction in the early 1990s, USB ports have become ubiquitous features of modern computers, allowing you to connect (and sometimes power) all manner of devices without always having to fuss with driver and software installation....

Search engine hunts for free video downloads.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(MyMovo's online service)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Google is a great engine for doing general searches, but what if you want to focus just on videos that you can download? A new free service from FourSource Software, MyMovo, allows you to do just that. The video search engine scours the...

Studio scene.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Dell XPS 420)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Windows Vista has lots of built-in multimedia capabilities, but few systems have taken full advantage of them. Dell hopes to change all that with the XPS 420, a "studio in a box" aimed right at home entertainment...

That voodoo you do.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Voodoo Envy M:152 notebook computer)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For big game in a small package, look no further than the Voodoo Envy M:152. This stylish, compact notebook packs the zooming speeds of the latest Intel processors, the power of DirectX 10 graphics, and the punch of...

On the books.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Fujitsu LifeBook V1010)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For students, home-office workers, or anyone wanting a compact laptop with a price to match, Fujitsu's new LifeBook V1010 could be ideal. Starting at $799, the V1010 comes with a 15.4-inch wide-screen display, a...

The need for speed.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(gaming PCs)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Not up for figuring out how to overclock your PC yourself? Get Uberclok to do it for you. This Chicago-based company pushes each of its gaming PCs to the performance limit, so you get a faster system for less money--and each comes backed with a...

Quad acquaintance.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Gateway GM5632E)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A year ago, quad-core systems were prohibitively expensive for all but the most dedicated enthusiasts. Now, they're within reach of far more consumers, and those who shop at Best Buy will have the chance to get one...

Starting on the right foot.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Sony Electronics introduces laptop computers)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sony Electronics has just announced a new series of entry-level portable PCs: the VAIO NR series. Starting at around $750--the lowest-price laptop the company has ever offered--the systems all come with 15.4-inch...

Gateway One: all-in-one PC lacks some of the iMac's sheen.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... WHILE WE LIKE GATEWAY'S latest foray into the all-in-one category, we're not sure the Gateway One will stem the sales momentum of Apple's iMac anytime soon. What we can foresee happening, though, is Gateway's design innovations eventually...

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6: powerful organizing, editing features for nonprofessionals.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [EDITORS CHOICE] THE EXPLOSION OF the digital-camera market has provided Adobe's Photoshop Elements with the opportunity to distinguish itself from--and in some areas surpass--its high-level predecessor. Never have its differences,...

ABS Ultimate X Magnum Extreme: an investment-class gaming PC.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... TOP-NOTCH PERFORMANCE has been a constant with ABS's upscale gaming-PC line, and that reputation continues with the Ultimate X Magnum Extreme. Of course, at $5,999 for our test unit without a monitor, we would expect nothing less. The...

Lenovo ThinkCentre a61e: diminutive desktop provides only adequate performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... LENOVO'S THINKCENTRE a61e is the smallest entry yet in the company's ThinkCentre series. It weighs less than eight pounds and has very low power consumption, but you'll have to sacrifice performance and upgradability for these conveniences. ...

HP Pavilion Elite m9000t: entertainment PC boasts quad-core power.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHILE YOU DON'T NEED barn-burning performance to record and watch TV shows or serve up photos and music, we certainly don't mind having it at our disposal. If the Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor (overclocked from 2.4GHz...

AVADirect Gaming Cube: gaming PC is powerful and portable, not pricey.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... WE'VE ALL HEARD of desktop-replacement notebooks--but how about notebook-replacement desktops? In terms of technology, we're not there yet, but we might get there soon enough. And judging by the $1,887 AVADirect Gaming Cube, that might not be a...

Toshiba Satellite U305-S5097: budget thin-and-light has style but not speed.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... THE THIN-AND-LIGHT Toshiba Satellite U305-S5097 packs more style than your average budget notebook, but its sluggish performance and so-so battery life hold it back. Measuring 1.2x12.2x8.9 inches and weighing 4.6 pounds, this $899...

Fujitsu LifeBook T2010: ultraportable has convertible screen, delivers so-so performance.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... BUSINESS AND HOME USERS who need a lightweight, convertible machine will appreciate the $2,279 Fujitsu LifeBook T2010, even if it does come with a handful of caveats. The T2010's black exterior looks rather bland compared with more...

Acer Aspire 4710-2013: budget notebook offers some surprising pluses.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE $649 ASPIRE 4710 is far from the most powerful notebook around, but considering its bargain-basement price, it has better components and features, and a classier design, than we would expect. For the average home...

Asus W7S: MacBook look-alike is a strong performer.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... IT MIGHT NOT LOOK AS GOOD as an Apple MacBook, but the thin-and-light Asus W7S still shines with its pearly white (or black) case. Plus, it offers excellent features and performance. On-the-go students and business professionals will...

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000: big case, big performance, modest price.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] AT $199 without a power supply, Cooler Master's Cosmos 1000 isn't a budget case. But it does offer tool-less design, loads of expansion space, and features that enable quiet operation. The biggest challenge it presents is...

Asus P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @n Edition: a full-featured foundation for high-performance desktops.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... IF YOU NEED A MOTHERBOARD for a high-end PC, consider the $390 Asus P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @n Edition. This pricey board is one of the first to use Intel's new X38 chipset--and it's packed with a host of other features and options, too. The...

Dell multifunction laser printer 1125: a versatile bargain MFP--but unfit for images.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... THE DELL 1125 IS A SPEEDY black-and-white-laser multifunction printer (MFP) that doesn't skimp on features. It's equipped with a few standouts: stand-alone fax functionality, a color scanner, and an automatic document feeder. It's easy to use,...

Canon Pixma MX700: an all-in-one with nearly no compromises.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] CANON'S $199.99 PIXMA MX700 is an all-in-one home-office device--color printer, copier, scanner, and full-function stand-alone fax--that also does an outstanding job with photos. The only knock against it is its slightly...

Gateway XHD3000: a huge display that does double duty.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE SOLIDLY BUILT GATEWAY XHD3000 30-inch display offers impressive performance and can serve well as both a secondary television and a computer monitor. That's thanks to its wealth of audio and...

Acer P221Wd: good looks, but only adequate performance.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... THE 22-INCH ACER P221Wd is an attractive-looking wide-screen monitor, but beneath its shiny piano-black exterior lurks a merely ordinary display. The P221Wd's sleek black bezel is paired with an equally sharp silver base. The plastic base...

Apple iPod Nano: third-generation 'Pod is an all-around winner.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] WITH ITS REVAMPED FRAME, bigger screen, added video capability, and pleasing price ($149 for the 4GB version, $199 for the 8GB), Apple's third-generation Nano gets almost everything right. Available in five metallic...

Creative Zen: media-friendly flash player performs well.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... IT'S NOT THE MOST eye-catching player out there, but the nicely priced Creative Zen won us over with its beautiful screen, loaded feature set, and stellar sound quality. Available in 4GB ($129.99), 8GB ($199.99), and 16GB ($249.99)...

Vegas Pro 8: high-end video editing made accessible.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VEGAS PRO 8 IS A PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL video-editing and DVD-creation package that emphasizes using a single, customizable program for the creation process. Real-time playback of your edits, nondestructive editing,...

Microsoft Money Plus Premium: first-rate money management for first-timers.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... HOW DO YOU DISCUSS a perennially strong product that provides only a slim upgrade from last year's release--which, in turn, offered no improvements at all over the 2006 version? You praise what it does and caution people who already have either...

Top 5 budget desktops: these well-configured PCs define desktop savings.(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... 1 ZT Element 2005Xa www.ztsystems.com $499.95 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.2) Specs * 2.1GHz Athlon 64 X2 4000+ * 2GB DDR2 memory * 250GB hard drive * DVD [+ or -] RW * Integrated graphics * One-year...

Top 5 desktop-replacement laptops: ditch your desktop PC for one of these powerful portables.(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... 1 HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC www.hp.com $3,799 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.5) [check] Specs * 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo T7700 * 2GB DDR2 memory * Two 120GB hard drives * HD DVD-ROM/DVD [+ or -] RW combo...

Top 5 inkjet printer: expect sharp color output from these capable models.(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... 1 Canon Pixma MX700 usa.canon.com $199.99 Editors' Rating: (8.7) [check] Specs * 4,800x1,200dpi maximum resolution * Maximum rated print speed: 46 seconds (4x6-inch color photo) * USB 2.0, Ethernet interfaces Bottom...

Present-perfect tech: these wallet-friendly tech gifts will make holiday shopping a snap.(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... They say everyone loves the holidays but how many people actually love holiday shopping? Trolling the mall or the online marketplace for the perfect presents can be daunting and exhausting--especially when you have a limited budget and a long...

Rejuvenate an aging desktop: a Computer Shopper editor made an old computer into the entertainment PC of her dreams--for less than she'd pay for a new one. Here's how you can do the same.
December 1, 2007... When Computer Shopper associate editor Erin Kandel examined her home desktop recently, she saw it was starting to show its age. Though it's not her primary system, she didn't want to junk it, but merely tweak it to suit her needs for a couple...

The ABCs of HDTV: if the high-definition revolution hasn't reached your living room yet, now's the perfect time to take the plunge. Here s what you need to know when you buy your next television.
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] High-definition televisions (HDTVs), especially flat-panel LCD and plasma screens, have been at the top of holiday gift lists for a few years now. But most households are still watching bulky old standard-definition...

Computer cures.(HELP & HOW-TO: TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER)
December 1, 2007... EITHER/OR OPTICAL I'm building a PC based on a Computer Shopper article. My primary optical drive will be a double-layer DVD burner, but it would be nice to have a second drive so I can burn discs and play games at the same time. What's...

Install a print server: print from anywhere on your home network--even wirelessly. Here's how.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AS HOUSEHOLDS BECOME multicomputer homes in increasing numbers, more and more people need to figure out how to use one printer from two or more PCs. Sure, you can constantly plug and unplug the printer cable, use...

DIY dual-display mount.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... The ultimate workstation isn't complete these days without a pair of LCD monitors, taking advantage of the dual-display capabilities of most recent graphics cards. Fasten your pair of VESA-mount-compatible LCDs onto the $229 Atdec Visidec...

Expand-a-fan.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(SilverStone FN83 )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maximize the cooling in your case with the SilverStone FN83 case fan. The device is designed to install in the mounting holes many cases provide for 80mm fans, but the blades themselves are 92mm--the next size class...

Another fine mesh.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Enermax's Jazz DIY drive cases)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... With Enermax's Jazz DIY drive cases, you don't need so much as a screwdriver to assemble your own sharp-looking external hard drive from a leftover notebook or desktop hard drive. Plus, their rigid mesh exteriors allow for excellent drive...

Step up to the power bar.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Ultra Products m998 Midtower ATX Case)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The most vexing part of any PC build is always the cabling--specifically, keeping it from resembling a plate of fettuccini. Inside the $169.99 Ultra Products m998 Midtower ATX Case is an "aha!"-moment innovation that...

Data security? Mission: possible.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Seagate Barracuda FDE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Got data on your desktop that simply must never fall into enemy hands? Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to transfer it to a Seagate Barracuda FDE hard drive. This 1-terabyte, 3.5-inch desktop drive uses...

Power buffer.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Spire PowerFuse SP162)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Proud of that high-end, rip-roaring graphics board you just installed? Protect your investment with the $14.95 Spire PowerFuse SP162. This in-line cable/module assembly plugs in to the six-pin power line that...

Budget laptops (less than $1,000).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Many budget notebooks ship with a low-powered Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron processor. More-powerful processors, such as AMD's Turion 64 and Intel's Core Duo and Core 2 Duo, are starting to trickle down into budget...

Big flat-panel displays (20 inches or larger).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although most new monitors are shifting to the wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition television...

Inkjet printers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(buyers guide)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION Resolution figures refer to the maximum number of horizontal and vertical dots a printer can lay down within a 1-inch-square space. In theory, a higher-resolution printer can produce more-detailed text and images,...

The right gaming PC.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Often carrying hefty price tags, gaming PCs are built around top-of-the-line, cutting-edge components to yield maximum computing muscle. Here's how to score the best deal on a scorching desktop gamer. SHOPPING...