Computer Shopper articles from February 2007

Computer Shopper archives from February 2007

Editor's note.
February 1, 2007... FOR 11 OUT OF 12 ISSUES OF THE YEAR, Computer Shopper readers rely on the expert advice and informed opinions of our editorial team. Applying years of hands-on and objective testing experience with everything from high-end gaming rigs to mice...

Rating the rebaters.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... In your "Rating the E-Tailers" feature (January, p. 88), you should have touched on each vendor's reputation regarding rebates. Rebates are a big part of the online shopping experience, and, in many cases, consumers are drawn to a particular...

What about the batteries?(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Your digital-camera reviews are very informative and helpful, but I think they are missing an important element. Since a camera's performance depends so much on the type of batteries it uses, you should include reviews of the most common brands...

Bring on the bargains.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Thanks for the terrific roundup of realistically priced holiday gifts ("Thrifty Gifts," December, p. 95). Holiday stories in other magazines I've read include a couple of affordable things, but the bulk of the items are so insanely expensive...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2007... In "Triple Play" (December, p. 104), we incorrectly stated that the 20GB model of the Sony PlayStation 3 did not include a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port. We also misquoted the price of Microsoft's Xbox Live subscriptions: The...

AMD ships power-saving 65-nanometer chips.(Advanced Micro Devices Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... ADVANCED Micro Devices is shipping chips produced using the 65-nanometer (nm) process, a move that's rekindling its manufacturing rivalry with Intel. The first chips produced are for desktop PCs; notebook and server chips will follow in the...

Sprint Nextel.(will build its next-generation network using WiMax)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Sprint Nextel recently announced that it will build its next-generation network using WiMax, a fourth-generation wireless network, by employing equipment from Intel, Motorola, and Samsung. The Sprint Nextel network is expected to go live late...

Microsoft has designs on Adobe's creative suite.(Microsoft Corp. developing Expression Blend for Adobe Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Microsoft is building a suite of products for Web designers and creative professionals that should step up its challenge to market leader Adobe Systems. Kicking things off, the company released Expression Web, a user-interface design tool...

Epson cracks down on aftermarket ink.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
February 1, 2007... IF YOU LIKE saving money by purchasing third-party ink cartridges for your inkjet printer, you may want to stock up, because the business may dry up altogether. Inkjet giant Epson recently announced that it settled--in its favor--with...

Hollywood gets in bed with BitTorrent.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... PEER-TO-PEER file-sharing company BitTorrent (www. bittorrent.com) will begin distributing movies and TV shows for top entertainment companies this spring. The San Francisco-based company also recently received $20 million in financing. ...

Intel adds 802.11n to Centrino.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The 802.11n wireless spec, which promises to deliver greater speed and range than 802.11g, is getting a kick-start from Intel. The chipmaker has announced that it will include an early version of 802.11n in the next version of its Centrino...

Hands-on experience.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... Most of us have been told to keep our hands off the television and computer screen--but that's all about to change. Hewlett-Packard's new TouchSmart PC, an all-in-one Media Center machine that targets families, has a 19-inch touch screen for...

Nontrivial pursuit.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... Think a portable computer is beyond your price range? You might have to reconsider now that Systemax has busted the $1,000 barrier with its new Pursuit notebook. The sleek Pursuit, which starts at just $999.99, is Systemax's first notebook with...

Join the jet set.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... Not many desktops' designs are inspired by jet engines, but Dell's XPS 710 was, and it took home the CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering award for its inventive looks. Besides being Microsoft Vista Premium-ready, the Special Edition...

Gaming on the go.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... Asus has entered the gaming-notebook market with the debut of its G1 and G2 models. Based on Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, both offer impressive performance, 1.3-megapixel Webcams, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, and 160GB hard drives. They differ mostly...

Into orbit.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... Toshiba's latest high-end gaming notebook could be a must-get item for the garner on the go. The $2,899 Satellite P100-ST9742 has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, nVidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics with 512MB of GDDR3 video memory, Bluetooth...

A good omen.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)
February 1, 2007... VoodooPC is jumping on the quad-core speedwagon with its high-end Omen Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad Core machine. Thanks to its Intercooler cooling system, the Omen is one of the fastest near-silent PCs on the market. Yet it doesn't skimp on the...

iBuypower Gamer 640: great graphics elevate a pedestrian processor.(REVIEW: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... TO KEEP THE IBUYPOWER GAMER 640 perfectly balanced at $1,499, the company had to select components from both the bottom and the top of the parts bin. It's a strategy that worked very well. Intel's Core 2 Duo is a powerful and popular...

nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX: unparalleled graphics performance--with a price to match.(pc graphic cards)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] AS YOU'D EXPECT from the high-end entry in a new generation of graphics cards, the GeForce 8800 GTX delivers a significant performance boost over its predecessors. Though that should be plenty of enticement for most serious...

HP Pavilion Media Center a1640n: lots of computer--but little graphics--for the price.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... COME ON, HP, don't you know gray is the new beige? When you head to the store and find Hewlett-Packard's new Pavilion Media Center a1640n on the shelf, try to look past the bland, gray case design, because this $869.99 system delivers an...

Polywell Poly i680SLI Quad Core: powerful CPU, graphics for tomorrow's games.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... THE POTENT COMBINATION of high-end parts in Polywell's Poly i680SLI Quad Core makes it truly ready for next-generation gaming. While it might be a while before you can put all of its new hardware to the test, you should be able to shred through...

HP Compaq Presario Media Center SR2050NX: nice specs--but an outdated CPU.(pentium-based system)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... APART FROM ITS OUTDATED Intel dual-core processor, the fixed-configuration HP Compaq Presario Media Center SR2050NX features impressive components for a $659.99 budget PC. These parts include a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive and a double-layer...

Shuttle XPC P2 3700g: affordable, expandable enough for everyday use.(personal computer)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... SHUTTLE'S XPC P2 3700g is the new Intel-CPU version of the company's AMD-based XPC P2 2700, with some important upgrades. The P2 3700g employs Core 2 Duo processors. The tech specs of our $2,369 review unit--a Core 2 Duo E6700, 2GB of...

Toshiba Satellite M115-S1061: budget laptop falls short on battery life.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... AT $649, TOSHIBA'S SATELLITE M115-S1061 is a perfectly acceptable basic productivity machine, but weak battery life makes this fixed-configuration model less than roadworthy. The M115-S1061 is solid on some fronts, among them appearance....

Fujitsu Lifebook N6420: well-equipped multimedia laptop lacks longevity.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE $2,499 FUJITSU LIFEBOOK N6420 is one of the least-expensive laptops available equipped with an HD DVD drive. The trade-off is middling performance and weak battery life. At 9.7 pounds, the N6420 is too bulky for travel, but its...

Sony VAIO VGN-C140G/B: colorful laptop falls short on performance.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... SONY'S VAIO VGN-C140G/B comes in a range of hip colors and patterns, but better performance would make this Core 2 Duo notebook more attractive. While our $1,249 fixed-configuration review unit is available only in Espresso Black, Sony...

Apple MacBook: nicely priced notebook gets a boost from Core 2.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)
February 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] WITH INTEL'S CORE 2 DUO CPU, the new MacBook offers premium performance at a reasonable price--and even holds its own against Apple's high-end MacBook Pro line. Starting at $1,099, the MacBook line comprises three...

AMD ATI Radeon X1950 Pro: impressive but pricey graphics.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... AMD'S ATI RADEON X1950 Pro graphics card is designed to replace the former midrange Radeon-line stalwart, the X1800 GTO. The card features some impressive numbers: a 575MHz core clock speed, and 256MB of DDR3 RAM running at 1,380MHz, faster...

AMD ATI TV Wonder 650: a standout TV tuner for your PC.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... USING YOUR PC to watch and record TV programming is at best a messy affair. Even when everything works out perfectly, you're usually stuck with a picture that looks noticeably worse compared with that of a basic cable-box-to-TV connection. The...

ViewSonic VX2235wm: an affordable 22-inch display.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... UNLIKE OTHER BIG LCDs, the 22-inch wide-screen ViewSonic VX2235wm doesn't provide TV connectivity. Offering only VGA and DVI inputs, it serves simply as a monitor. But the VX2235wm's reasonable $399 price makes it a compelling entry in the...

Dell E207WFP: HDCP-ready big screen at a small price.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... WITH ALL THE BUZZ TODAY about extra screen space boosting productivity, you can now legitimately ask your boss to spring for a roomy wide-screen LCD like the Dell E207WFP. It won't win any awards for its average styling or lackluster...

Lexmark x5470: all-in-one is inexpensive, but output quality is poor.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE LEXMARK x5470 combines a printer, scanner, fax, and copier into one device for an enticing $99.99. Although it was quick at most tasks (except copying), the trade-off is a big one: poor print quality. For PC-free photo printing, the...

HP Photosmart C7180 All-in-One: MFP delivers on features, but not on performance.(multifunction printers)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... WITH THE HP Photosmart C7180 All-in-One, you get a multifunction printer (MFP) that prints, scans, copies, and (surprisingly) faxes. It's also both network-ready and Wi-Fi-enabled, and it features a PictBridge port, a flash-memory-card reader,...

Fujifilm FinePix S9100: a superzoom cam full of advanced features.(digital camera)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... FUJIFILM'S FINEPIX S9100, a 9-megapixel superzoom model, features raw-image capture, a 10.7x, 28mm-to-300mm (35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, and a host of advanced functions. But this $599 camera loses points for lacking one important...

Nikon Coolpix L6: slow performance hinders simple camera.(digital cameras)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... NIKON'S $199.99 COOLPIX L6 is fully automatic and simple to operate, but its glacially slow performance is a big drawback. The camera's specs aren't particularly notable, but they aren't bad for the price. The L6 has a 6-megapixel charge...

Cingular 8525: a powerful smartphone for mobile pros.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE CINGULAR 8525 PROVIDES the speed, power, and productivity tools to get your work done on the go. The only big knocks are its hefty price ($399.99, plus a two-year service contract) and chunky design (almost an inch thick, and weighing 6.2...

Microsoft Zune: despite limitations, Microsoft's player rocks.(MP3 players)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... THE $249.99 MICROSOFT ZUNE offers an intuitive interface and solid playback performance, though its lukewarm format support and limited Wi-Fi capability could use improvement. At 4.4x2.4x0.6 inches and 5.6 ounces, the 30GB Zune is thicker...

Fix-It Utilities 7 Professional: a solid PC-maintenance package.(System Suite 7.0 Professional)(Fix-It Utilities 7.0 Professional)(systems management software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... AVANQUEST HAS RELEASED a new round of its flagship Swiss Army knife products, System Suite 7 and Fix-It Utilities 7 Professional. The two are practically identical, but with one big difference: System Suite 7 includes a firewall and an antispam...

Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional for windows: updated PDF master has it all--but how much do you need?(portable document software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... ADOBE ACROBAT IS THE STANDARD bearer for creating and editing complex Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Version 8 offers enhanced security and data-sharing that less-robust PDF makers can't provide--perfect for people who deal with...

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007: manage your money for free.(accounting software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... GIVEN THAT IT'S FREE, Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is a good choice for morn-and-pop shops that need accounting software on the cheap. If you're new to accounting software in general, it's worth a try. In our tests, it took...

BitDefender Antivirus 10: inexpensive, feature-rich computer protection.(anti-virus software)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... BITDEFENDER ANTIVIRUS 10 offers its award-wining virus and spyware protection in one product. For $39.95, you get two user licenses with a two-year subscription--less than what competitors charge for one license and a year of updates. ...

Top 5 space-savings PCs: these powerful computers are packed into slick designs.(personal computers)(HP Slimline Pavilion S7600E)(WinBook JIV Mini)(Apple Mac mini)(Shuttle XPC X100)(Apple iMac Core 2 Duo)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... 1 HP SLIMLINE PAVILION S7600E www.hp.com $1,084 (as tested) EDITOR'S RATING 8.2 SPECS * 2GHz Athton 64 X2 3800+ * IGB DDR2 memory * 250G8 hard drive * Double-layer DVD+RW * Integrated graphics *...

Top 5 gaming laptops: frag on the go with these powerhouse notebooks.(Dell XPS M1710)(Hypersonic Aviator FX7)(Toshiba Satellite P105-S921)(Alienware Aurora MALX)(Alienware Aurora M9700)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... 1 DELL XPS M1710 * www.dell.com $3,622 (as tested] EDITORS' RATING 8.5 SPECS * 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600 * 2GB DDR2 memory, * 100 100GB hard drive * Double-layer DVD[+ or -]RW * nVidia GeForce Go 7900...

Top 5 inkjet printers: expect sharp color output from these capable models.(Epson Stylus Photo R2400)(Canon Pixma MP600)(Canon Pixma MP530)(Canon Pixma MP460)(HP Photosmart D7360)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... 1 EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R2400 www.epson.com $849.99 EDITORS' RATING 8.1 SPECS * 5,760x1,400dpi maximum resolution * Rated print speed: 1 minute and 47 seconds (11x14 color photo) * USB 2.0, FireWire interfaces ...

21st Annual Shoppers' Choice Awards: readers pick the best tech products from the past year--as well as the best places to buy them.
February 1, 2007... For over 20 years, we've been taking the pulse of our readership with our annual Shoppers' Choice Awards, to find out what your favorite products of the previous year were. Through the years, some companies have dominated certain categories,...

Drive-buy solutions: huge hard drives for peanuts. Tiny hard drives for pockets. Whatever your storage needs, here are the answers.(hard disk drives)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2007... ALTHOUGH BUYING A HARD DRIVE isn't rocket science, at times it can feel like brain surgery. Not only do you have to answer the all-important question of capacity, but you also have to weigh factors like buffer size, seek time, rotational speed,...

Web-based data application.(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... I'd like to find a way to keep track of my work projects so that I can have access to data wherever I have access to the Internet. I need to organize information about real-estate deals, so I can keep track of key details for each property....

DVD direction.(adding a DVD drive to personal computer)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... I'm thinking about adding a DVD drive to my PC. What should I look for? ANDY KRAY The first consideration is whether or not you want to use the drive to store data. If all you want to do is read CDs and DVDs (and watch DVD movies on...

Watch DVDs from a laptop.(compatible with television)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... I have a laptop with a DVD drive, and I'd like to use it as a DVD player for my large television. Is there a USB device I can use to output the sound and video using a composite or S-Video cable and stereo sound cables? MARK ARTEN ...

Stuck in drive.(using floppy disk drives)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2007... I am using an Imation SD USB M3 floppy drive with Windows XP Media Center Edition. We accidentally tried to shut down with a floppy still in the drive. The shutdown froze and had to be done manually. Now the computer won't boot with the Imation...

A limited outlook.(using Microsoft Outlook)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2007... I was e-mailing a big file--more than 6MB--with lots of pictures. The e-mail was taking forever to send even though I have a broadband connection. I went to sleep, and when I woke up, the e-mail was still in the Outbox and was about 97 percent...

File shuffle.(file transfers in new computers)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2007... I'm buying a new computer with a newer version of Windows than my current one. I only use a few applications, and I'm not sure that I want to move all my old data flies to the new system. What's the best way to handle the move to my new system?...

Tip of the month: curing laptop lapses.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Don't you just hate it when you're working on your laptop and you lose your wireless broadband connection? And you don't know why it happened--or how to fix it? This month's tipster has a cause that you may not have considered. I've...

Smooth system setup: configure year new PC for optimal performance.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)(Column)
February 1, 2007... YOUR OLD COMPUTER was becoming the PC equivalent of a 1984 Chevette: underpowered and unreliable, the messy hard drive resembling a back seat filled with empty snack bags and cola cans. Now that you've brought home your new desktop hot rod,...

Ace's case.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... Gaming-PC builders with big budgets can revel in the slick design of the Zalman Fatality FC-ZE1 case--while hoping some of its namesake's mojo rubs off on them. Named for celebrated PC-gaming ace Johnathan "Fatality" Wendel, this $369.95 ATX...

Drive-transfer helper.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... Relentless tweakers and PC builders will want to reserve space in their PC toolboxes for the Vantec SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter. This versatile $29.99 accessory lets you temporarily attach any Serial ATA or IDE internal hard drive (even a...

Two-fast RAM.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... Demanding performance hounds will get a jolt from PNY's Verto Extra Low Latency Performance Memory. These DDR2 modules support Enhanced Performance Profile (EPP) technology, which makes it easy to optimize memory settings when used with an...

Fans at your command.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... Make legions of your (case) fans do your bidding with the Scythe Kama-Meter. A $35.95 control panel that fits into a 5.25-inch drive bay, it lets you adjust the speed of up to four case fans and track the temperatures of four hot spots inside...

Chilled to the core.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... Kick that stock AMD cooler to the curb and silence your workspace (or play area) with Arctic Cooling's $34 Freezer 64 Pro. This Swiss-designed CPU cooler, compatible with Socket 754, 939, and AM2 processors, features an unusual vertical fan...

Maximum minitower.(NEW PRODUCTS: DIY)
February 1, 2007... In Win crunches a bunch of innovative design features into its $70 Alpha 360 case. Drives fasten in place with the help of plunger-like buttons, the hard drive cage swivels out 90 degrees for easy access, and the front door lifts up and over...

Desktop-replacement notebooks (more than 7 pounds).(NEED TO KNOW)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... PROCESSOR When choosing a CPU, configure your system with a robust processor such as Intel's Pentium M, a Core Duo, or AMD's 64-bit Athlon 64 X2. For maximum power (and longevity), choose Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU if it's an option. MEMORY...

Flat-panel displays (20 inches or larger).(NEED TO KNOW)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2007... ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-13, although some monitors have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition television (HDTV). RESOLUTION An LCD looks...

Home and small-office laser printers.(NEED TO KNOW)
February 1, 2007... COLOR OR MONOCHROME With a few color laser models priced under $500, some small businesses might find a color model worth the splurge to add some extra pop to their printed materials. For the most part, however, monochrome lasers are a far...

The right point-and-shoot digital camera.(BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2007... Point-and-shoot cameras promise sharp shots at the touch of a button, making them the best choice for amateurs. These digicams come in a dizzying array of pixel counts, features, and prices. Here's how to pick the perfect one. SHOPPING...