Computer Shopper articles from January 2003

Computer Shopper archives from January 2003

New Year, new choices. (from the editor).(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... Here at Computer Shopper, the annual turning of the tables in our January issue is as much of a New Year's tradition as watching the ball drop in Times Square. Though we spend most of the year telling you what we think of technology products...

A sensible spam solution. (Letters).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... I read with interest Rik Fairlie's opinion column "Campaign to Can Spam Heats Up the Debate" (November, p. 40), and I have a plausible spam solution. I'd like to see e-mail providers and ISPs offer an opt-in service that would decline to...

Why not roll your own? (Letters).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... I really enjoyed your December system roundup, "PC Profiles" (p. 128). I think computer magazines should do more articles on building your own system and on those you can buy in local stores from smaller vendors. My point, is that there are...

For AOL users, wireless doesn't always connect. (Letters).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... Great work on your wireless-networking Tune-Up article, "Wire-Free for All" (November, p. 166). But you missed one key point: Most wireless cable/DSL routers on the market are incompatible with AOL. As a result, setting up a wireless network in...

Correction.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2003... In the December Trends article "Is This What Women Really Want?" (p. 31), we incorrectly stated that Color-Ware manufactures computers for Alienware, the Miami-based vendor of high-end PCs. Color-Ware manufactures no computers or components for...

Broadband and gets its wings. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Although the airline industry is facing serious economic turbulence, some airlines are preparing in-flight broadband service for takeoff. Starting this month, German airline Lufthansa will be demonstrating Boeing's Connexion satellite...

Double your graphics pleasure. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Graphics-chip vendor ATI Technologies (www.ati.com) has completed specifications for a new memory format it claims is twice as fast as what's currently on the market. The new design updates double-data-rate (DDR) SDRAM, the most common type of...

Easing the pain of battery drain. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... As handheld computing devices and mobile phones add features designed to appeal to consumers, they're butting up against the constraints imposed by battery life. Allen Nogee, a senior analyst at the market-research firm In-Stat/MDR, notes...

Internet icebox gets cool reception. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Web-enabled refrigerator, once the exemplar of dot-com excess, is now available at a retail store near you. Korea's LG Electronics (www.lgappliances.com) is selling a 26-cubic-foot Multi-Media Refrigerator, with a built-in 15-inch LCD...

Yahoo offers broadband users games to rent. (Trends).
January 1, 2003... The next time you crave a new computer game, you might forgo buying a new CD-ROM and rent a game online instead. Yahoo's Games on Demand (gamesondemnand. yahoo.com) is a new service that lets players rent PC games by downloading them over a...

Whotooth? Consumers are bewildered by Bluetooth. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Despite all the hype surrounding Bluetooth wireless products, a recent InStat/MDR survey has found that a large portion of the general public hasn't even heard of the technology. But the more familiar consumers become with Bluetooth, the more...

Photo kiosks get exposure. (Trends).
January 1, 2003... Pop quiz for digital-camera owners: How many images have you taken with your camera? Now, how many have you printed? If figures from market-research firm InfoTrends are any indication, it's fewer than 12 prints out of every 100 pictures mapped....

Corel corrals Microsoft customers. (Trends).
January 1, 2003... In another blow to Microsoft's (www.microsoft.com) desktop dominance, four of the largest computer makers are now bundling WordPerfect Office from Corel (www.corel. com) with their low-end consumer machines. In recent months, Dell...

Sanyo doubles discs' capacity. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Sanyo Electric (www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/index_e.html) is attempting to fill the gap between CD-R and DVD-R storage capacity by boosting the amount of data that can be written to CD-R discs. Sanyo's new CRD-BPDV2 drive, featuring HD-Burn...

Opera phone browser upstages rivals. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Opera software (www. opera.com) says it has finally solved the long-standing problem of reading big, bulky Web pages on tiny cell-phone screens. Opera's new method cuts the scrolling in half by stacking the content of a Web page vertically....

Double trouble: spam will boost e-mail twofold. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... If you think you're getting a lot of e-mail now, brace yourself. Research firm IDC forecasts that daily e-mail will double between now and 2006, reaching 60 billion messages transferred worldwide each day. Not surprisingly, IDC attributes part...

Giving new meaning to trash talk. (Trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The realm of disposable diapers, cameras, and paper plates has welcomed a new member to its ranks--cell phones. Disposable cell phones come preloaded with a fixed number of minutes of talk time. When you've used the time, you can recharge the...

The palm gets pumped up: Palm Tungsten T. (Gear).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Palmtop payback: Time for die-hard Palm users to kiss their guilt pangs of Pocket PC temptation goodbye. Palm redresses the perceived inadequacies between the organizer platforms with its latest PDA offering, the Tungsten T. What's...

An uncommon box. (Gear).(Antelope Mobile Computer Core )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... There's no mistaking the Antelope Mobile Computer Core for a boring beige box. Rather, this g-ounce device from Antelope Technologies and partner IBM looks more like a black brick with a 5.8-inch screen. But underneath its staid exterior lies...

Snap-on freedom. (Gear).(Linksys Wireless Compact USB Adapter)
January 1, 2003... Need to go wireless in a hurry? The $79 Linksys Wireless Compact USB Adapter makes it a snap to add 802.11b [Wi-Fi] wireless networking capability to any USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer. Simply plug the device into a free port, and...

Model your music. (Gear).(Samsung's new Yepp YP-300S MP3 player)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Talk about making a high-tech fashion statement: Samsung's new Yepp YP-300S is a smartly styled, 2.2-ounce MP3 player that's designed to be worn around your neck as a pendant. The $149.99 Yepp has 64MB of built-in memory, as well as a...

Dampen the bin. (Gear).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... If you're hearing jackhammers instead of music through your personal audio system, it may be time to pick up Sony's new MDR-NC11 noise-canceling headphones. This $150 portable headset is designed to diminish external clatter by up to 70...

Robotic room service. (Gear).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Thought The Jetsons was just a cartoon? You may want to reconsider after you see the $199.95 iRobot Roomba Intelligent FloorVac, This futuristic neat-freak removes the human element from tedious floor-maintenance chores by diligently vacuuming...

Cellular chic. (Gear).(Motorola T720)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... With its slim, silver design and 4,096-color display, the Motorola T720 calls attention to itself when flipped open. But this phone is more than just another pretty face: The 3.6-ounce handset is compatible with high-speed 3G networks. You can...

The price for some rebates is months of aggravation: rebate offers can yield super deals, but getting the check is often much more difficult than it should be. (opinions).
January 1, 2003... THIS SEASON'S SHOPPING BLITZ is being fueled by a spate of rebates promising savings on everything from ink cartridges to servers. But before you whip out your credit card, be prepared to reserve a week or two of your new year's vacation time...

Can MSN knock out AOL in the eighth round? With its slicker software, MSN 8 indeed floats like a butterfly, but will that be enough to sting heavyweight AOL? (opinions).
January 1, 2003... FOR MANY EXPERIENCED USERS, choosing between the latest versions of AOL and MSN is like choosing between spinach and brussels sprouts: Do we have to? The buzz on message boards echoes that sentiment. One post, mocking Microsoft's "It's better...

Lessons learned from a plush toy: the Beanie Baby collectible craze should have been an early warning sign of dot-com mania, but we failed to make the connection. (opinions).(Column)
January 1, 2003... DURING THE RISE AND FALL OF dot-com mania, a lot of good ideas--and a boatload of bad ones--got lost in the shuffle. Many failed because they were ahead of their time; others because they were just plain dumb. The Internet helped feed one of...

Editors' top 5: Computer Shopper and CNET.com editors handpick this month's best desktops, notebooks, mobile products, hardware, and software.(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... DESKTOPS EDITORS' PRODUCT RATING PRICE SPECS Falcon Northwest 9.0 $3,995 3GHz Pentium 4; 512MB Mach V Exotix RDRAM; dual 100GB hard...

Versatile media hub targets entertainment convergence: HP Media Center 883N.
January 1, 2003... IT'S NOT OUR FIRST CHOICE AS either a PC or a media hub, but Hewlett-Packard's $2,748 Media Center 883n still delivers top-notch application performance and excellent multimedia functionality. The system ships with Microsoft's attractive yet...

Extraordinary performance in a custom-built PC: Falcon Northwest Mach V Exotix.
January 1, 2003... c|net Editors' Choice WANT A DESIGNER PC? THAT'S JUST WHAT FALCON Northwest provides in its Mach V Exotix. We looked at a $3,995 model, just one of the customizable possibilities. Though dauntingly expensive, it's physically stunning and...

A value model that lives up to name: iBuypower Value XP.
January 1, 2003... c|net Editors' Choice AT $899, IBUYPOWER'S VALUE XP IS ONE OF THE best values around. It's well-configured and offers plenty of room to expand. Upgrade some flimsy peripherals, and you'll walk away with a solid system that still costs...

Buttoned-down business PC has its playful side: IBM NetVista A30 831047U.
January 1, 2003... EVEN THE MOST DEDICATED WORKERS OCCASIONALLY unbutton their collars. That's why Big Blue designed the NetVista A30 83104715 to pull double duty as a hard-working small-office system and an adequately equipped entertainment PC. The $2,548...

Speedy DDR memory propels versatile PC: Dell Dimension 4550.
January 1, 2003... WITH ITS MYRIAD CONFIGURATION OPTIONS and strong performance, Dell Computer's $1,849 Dimension 4550 will suit your needs whether you're seeking to cut costs or stay on the cutting edge. Only the most serious garners and video editors will be...

A solid system for budget-minded buyers: Gateway 400 Series.
January 1, 2003... THE 400 SERIES IS THE 747 OF Gateway's laptop fleet. Our 400S test system delivered lackluster speed scores and weighed more than 7 pounds, but long battery life and low prices make any of the three systems in the 400 Series (the 400S, 400X,...

A slim-line portable that's thick on features: IBM Thinkpad R Series.
January 1, 2003... AS NOTEBOOKS GO, THE IBM ThinkPad R Series isn't a performance standout, but its attractive price and awesome battery life make this notebook line a smart choice for occasional home or business travelers on a budget. You can choose the R...

Light desktop replacement needs better endurance: HP Compaq Presario 1510US.
January 1, 2003... THE HP COMPAQ PRESARIO 1510US IS AN ATTRACTIVE desktop-replacement notebook designed to provide maximum bang for your buck, but what sets this notebook apart from others in its class is its relatively portable design. Even so, the Presario...

A high-speed Pentium 4 without the lofty price: Dell Inspiron 2650.
January 1, 2003... c|net Editors' Choice DELL COMPUTER'S INSPIRON 2650 IS AN EXCELLENT budget notebook and one of the least-expensive portables that you can buy with Intel's mobile Pentium 4-M chip. Though it's a little heavy and lacks some advanced...

A hip but experience way to connect: Handspring Treo 300.
January 1, 2003... HANDSPRING'S TREO 300 FOR SPRINT PCS SERVICE offers a slightly slicker user interface and better performance than its predecessors. Its $499 price and extra service charges, however, make for an expensive PDA foray. At 4.4x2.8x0.8 inches...

The humble handheld priced for the masses: Palm Zire.
January 1, 2003... WHILE OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE ADDING more memory, larger screens, and faster processors to their handheld PCs, the attractively designed $99 Palm Zire is about as basic as it gets. But if you're looking for a no-frills personal organizer, it...

The mobile master of your multimedia files: Archos Jukebox Multimedia 20.
January 1, 2003... PACKING A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF DIGITAL AUDIO-, image-, and video-related features, the $399.95 Archos Jukebox Multimedia 20 might be better classified as a 20GB portable entertainment console than just a mere MP3 player. The Multimedia 20...

Increase your potential for pocket PDA power: HP Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3950.
January 1, 2003... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S LATEST POCKET PC DEVICE, the iPaq Pocket PC H3950, features important upgrades such as a new, transflective LCD and a fast 400MHz Intel XScale PXA250 processor. But this $649 PDA reincarnation is expensive and lacks some...

Packed with features, but prints lack finesse: Canon S530D Photo Printer.
January 1, 2003... CANON U.S.A.'S $199 S530D PHOTO PRINTER OFFERS fast print speeds and an impressive list of features, including the ability to print straight from the unit, bypassing your computer. But serious photographers may find its image quality...

A 4-megapixel cam worth zooming in on: Olympus Camedia C-4000 Zoom.
January 1, 2003... OLYMPUS AMERICA'S $499 4-MEGAPIXEL CAMEDIA C-4000 Zoom is user-friendly and offers quick, efficient operation. But the camera's use of SmartMedia memory could diminish its long-term value. At just 1 pound, the C-4000 can fit into a jacket...

Extraordinary graphics for extreme gamers: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro.
January 1, 2003... SELLING FOR $399 AND PACKED WITH FEATURES that games don't even use yet, ATI Technologies' Radeon 9700 Pro is clearly geared toward early adopters with deep pockets. But that rare user is sure to be pleased with the investment. The...

Suitable for paper, trips over transparencies: HP Scanjet 3570C.
January 1, 2003... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S $149.99 SCANJET 3570C IS SUITABLE for casual uses such as scanning family snapshots and producing attractive scans from paper documents. But if you're seeking a bargain scanner for a business or other high-capacity...

Burn masterful movies to play where you please: Philips DVDRW228.
January 1, 2003... LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, PHILIPS' SECOND-GENERATION DVDRW228 drive is a spin master, reading and writing CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD+RW media. The new iteration adds support for DVD+R write-once discs. Philips rounds out the $319.99 package with a...

Budget-minded LCD deserves a second look: Sceptre X9G.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SCEPTRE TECHNOLOGIES' X9G 19-INCH LCD DELIVERS a fairly attractive display, built-in speakers, and three USB ports. At $749, the X9G is the least-expensive 19-inch LCD we've seen to date, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers....

Venerable zip drive takes on CD-size storage: IOMEGA Zip 750MB USB 2.0 Drive.
January 1, 2003... IOMEGA'S ZIP 750MB USB 2.0 DRIVE IS EASIER TO USE and offers greater storage capacity than a typical CD-RW drive. The $179.99 drive displayed mixed performance results, however, and its expensive disks, selling for as much as $14.99, can't...

Dual wireless bands empower your network: Intel Pro/Wireless 5000 LAN Dual Access Point.
January 1, 2003... FOR SMALL OK MIDSIZE BUSINESSES LOOKING TO invest in wireless networking technology, choosing between the 802.11b and 802.11a Wi-Fi standards can be a challenge. With Intel's versatile--but pricey--Pro/Wireless 5000 LAN Dual Access Point, you...

Contact manager gets its act together: Act 6.0.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ALTHOUGH THE $199.95 ACT 6.0 DOESN'T LOOK much different from its predecessor, ACT 2000, underneath you'll find lots of new customer-relationship-management (CRM) features. ACT still lacks the more sophisticated sales tools that the competition...

Let this media merger manage your playlist: Microsoft Windows Media Player 9.0.
January 1, 2003... TO OUR EYES AND EARS, THE BETA OF MICROSOFT Windows Media Player 9.0 looks and sounds better than earlier versions. The player now loads more quickly, and it crunches native Windows Media formats so that they're smaller and sound smoother. But...

Solid DVD-creation software doesn't dazzle: Sonic MYDVD Plus 4.
January 1, 2003... SONIC SOLUTIONS' MYDVD PLUS 4 USES NEARLY the same video-encoding technology as Sonic's line of high-end DVD-creation software. That's a plus, and, with a much-reduced feature set, MyDVD sets you back just $79.99. But while this latest version...

Keeping tabs on your Web browsing: Netscape 7.0.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... NETSCAPE 7.0 DELIVERS RELIABLE, FAST PERFORMANCE, ease of use, competent e-mail, and instant-messaging (IM) support. But the new browser sours the mix with too many ad-related bugaboos. Netscape is based on the open-source Mozilla engine...

Power partitioning for hard drive management: PartitionMagic 8.0.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... THOUGH THE $69.95 PARTITIONMAGIC 8.0 OFFERS few substantial improvements over its past two iterations, this version delivers powerful tools to manage partitions without the need to reformat your hard drive. Note, however, that you can...

Keep your system at peak performance: Norton SystemWorks 2003.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... NORTON SYSTEMWORKS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DO-IT-all program, bundling a powerful disk defragmenter, an automated PC-diagnosis and -repair utility, and, more recently, Norton AntiVirus. No matter which version of Windows you use, you'll find the...

File-swapping software filters out competition: Kazaa 2.0.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... VERSION 2.0 OF CONTROVERSIAL FILE-SWAPPING program Kazaa offers innovative new features to make your peer-to-peer searching smoother and safer. Even though you'll still have to contend with the adware that plagued earlier versions, Kazaa 2.0 is...

Easing the load for your dial-up connection: Propel Accelerator.
January 1, 2003... FOR YEARS, FRUSTRATED NETIZENS HAVE SOUGHT new ways to eke out a few more bits per second from their poky 56Kbps connections. Most speed-up schemes-modem doublers, caching programs, and Registry optimizers--generate a lot of hype but little...

A fetching addition: The Sims: Unleashed.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... Considering its ongoing success after three years, it's not surprising that The Sims has spawned five expansion packs. The latest, The Sims: Unleashed, adds several major features, including new landscaping options, outdoor lots, career paths,...

Won't get fragged again: Unreal Tournament 2003.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... While it manages to avoid the sophomore jinx, and in some ways is even better than its predecessor, Unreal Tournament 2003 disappoints with its lack of diversity, depth, or innovative gameplay. On the other hand, it delivers plenty of exciting,...

Beach blanket lingo: Virtual Resort: Spring Break.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... Its package suggests scantily clad co-eds and booze replacing management-strategy-game staples such as Ferris wheels and sodas, but the actual gameplay of Virtual Resort: Spring Break never strays far from the G-rated template of other...

Mission: delightful: No One Lives Forever 2: a Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way shares a similar story and setting as its highly acclaimed predecessor, No One Lives Forever. It's still the swinging '60s, you're still secret agent Cate Archer, and you're still fighting the...

The 2002 Shoppers' Choice Awards. (Readers' Picks).(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... SOMETIMES EVEN THE EXPERTS NEED A REALITY CHECK. We spend most of our time writing about what we love and loathe about the computer industry, but it's the annual Shoppers' Choice Awards that keep our feet on the ground. That's when our readers...

The right stuff: a complete guide to buying a PC in 2003; when purchasing a PC, it's a challenge to balance what you want and what you really need. We'll show you where you should splurge and where you can save. (Buying a PC in 2003).(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Somewhere between cheapskate computers and pricey performance PCs, there exists an abundance of affordable desktops that can keep you productive, entertained, and connected. To find them, you'll need to know what components you need and don't...

Broadband plans across the land: now that broadband has reached near ubiquity, you may have several types to choose from. These five popular providers could help you make the right connection. (Broadband ISPs).
January 1, 2003... Most users of broadband Net access will agree: Once you've made the move, you'd sooner trade the Honda for a horse and buggy than return to a dial-up connection. With its always-on convenience and sheer speed, a broadband connection makes...

The year in tech: what to expect: technology companies continue to push the envelope on performance and functionality. Here's a look at some of the most interesting innovations we expect to see in the coming year. (2003 Tech Forecast).
January 1, 2003... The crash of the Internet economy has taken its toll on the tech sector, slowing PC sales and, you would think, putting the brakes on product innovation. But look into the inventive lineup of new technologies that tech firms plan to unleash...

The Hard Edge: chip wars: AMD and Intel battle heats up; and will Motorola's bold new radio chips kill the satellite stars? (help & how-to.(Column)
January 1, 2003... IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE LAST January edition of "The Hard Edge"--can you believe it? Can you believe they're still trying to figure out something to do with Bluetooth? How about the fact that since 1997, the fastest Intel processor has gone...

Drive mirroring: safeguard your data automatically by installing a second hard drive and a RAID controller. (Tune-Up).
January 1, 2003... We knew we had to go ahead with this Tune-Up when it happened: Just days after arguing against drive mirroring as a Tune-Up topic because of today's hard drives' low failure rates, a certain writer found himself dealing with catastrophic drive...

Breaking the sound barrier. (computer cures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... When I try to listen to sound files on my notebook, they play for about 2 minutes and then stop. After I reboot, they play initially, then stop again after 2 more minutes. I've checked Device Manager, and it says the sound card is working...

Board room? (computer cures).
January 1, 2003... I have an 866MHz Pentium III system with the graphics circuitry integrated on the motherboard. I would like to upgrade to a better graphics card, but my computer doesn't have an AGP slot. Would a PCI graphics card improve performance? And would...

Back (up) in black? (computer cures).
January 1, 2003... My laptop's floppy drive will read or write only to solid-colored and translucent floppy disks. When I insert a disk with a black shell, I get an error message telling me the disk is not formatted. When I try to format the disk, it says the...

Hard drive here, hard drive there. (computer cures).
January 1, 2003... Can I swap my hard drive from one computer to another when upgrading to a new system? It contains all the cookies, applications, and OS data that I had installed on the old system. Moving over the drive would save me the hassle of having to...

A scan-tastic solution. (computer cures).
January 1, 2003... I have an old 16-bit parallel flatbed scanner that still works well. The manufacturer went out of business, however, and all I have are drivers for Windows 98, which don't work under Windows XP. As a result, I need to scan using my old Pentium...

Corralling chaotic cables. (tip of the month).
January 1, 2003... For road warriors, trying to extract that modem cable or mouse from the bottom of a laptop bag often requires the honed untangling skills of a fly-fishing enthusiast. But this month's tipster never has this problem--his cables always come out...

Tech shopping 101: economical PC perfection: a student in Texas searches for a low-cost desktop with minimal frills. His perfect PC might be closer than he thinks. (Buying Advisor).(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... JORGE SANTES, AN 18-YEAR-OLD college student studying business in Bay City, Texas, owns a poky PC--one definitely too slow to keep up with the searing pace of today's business. With some big school projects on the horizon, Santes knows he needs...

Tech shopping. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... abesofmaine.com Abe's of Maine Cameras end Electronics specializes in all types of cameras, with a healthy dose of audio and video electronics thrown in for good measure. You'll get a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on everything you buy,...

Whatis.com. (Computer Shopper site of the month).
January 1, 2003... If you've ever tried to research or shop smartly for a computer product, you know the amount of jargon to wade through can be daunting. The best shopping sites provide plenty of product details and specs, but usually don't back them up with...

Motherboards. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... aberdeeninc.com Targeting savvy consumers, Aberdeen features extensive specs on a wide variety of peripherals and accessories. Its catalog of motherboards spans nine major manufacturers. Motherboards purchased with a CPU are installed and...

Sites for tinkerers and techies. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... arstechnica.infopop.net If you're a computer geek drowning in a pool of wanna-bes, dive into the Ars Technica OpenForum, a collection of bustling message boards where the elite meet to chat about the nuances of hardware mods, operating...

Direct PC vendors. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... abspc.com Exceptional customer support on custom-configured desktop and notebook systems is the goal at ABS Computer Technologies. All systems include a 30-day money-back guarantee. adamant.com Adamant Computers' desktop and...

PC and workspace organizers. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... cableorganizer.com There are more ways of controlling the unruly mess of cables that snakes from the back of your computer or stereo system than you can imagine, and CableOrganizer.com might actually have them all. You'll find help in the...

PC resources. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... bizrate.com BizRate.com shares customers' opinions of thousands of online sellers, including reliability and ontime-delivery stats. The price-comparison tool shows the relative prices and availability of products at various Web stores. ...

Software sites. (Site Reviews).
January 1, 2003... academicsuperstore.com If you can produce a student or faculty ID, you'll qualify for big discounts on software at Academic Superstore. Each product-info page includes a chart that shows who's eligible for the discounted price. If you find...

Bargain software. (Site Reviews).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... arcamax.com Most of the software at ArcaMax costs $4.99 or $7.99 and includes free shipping. You'll find business, reference, entertainment, and personal-productivity applications. In the bargain-books area, stock up on tomes for winter...

Banner-ad banishment: developing a new Web portal that prohibits intrusive advertising, Bill Daugherty plans to bump banner and pop-up ads from My Way. (Newsmakers).
January 1, 2003... DOES THE WORLD NEED ANOTHER GENERAL-interest Web portal? That's the question put to the creators of the recently launched My Way (www.myway.com), which founder Bill Daugherty established as a commercial-free alternative to Yahoo. My Way, whose...