Computer Shopper articles from January 2004

Computer Shopper archives from January 2004

Picking this year's model.(from the editor in chief)
January 1, 2004... Buying a PC in 2004 requires level-headed expertise in selecting the precise balance of components that meets your needs without battering your budget. After all, it's easy to go with a high-end configuration that exceeds your needs (while...

Switch on your own dime.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I enjoyed Rik Fairlie's column "Hop on a New Cell Service Without Ditching Your Number" (December, p. 32), and I'd like to add my two cents. I do not have a cell phone and strongly object to having to pay a "tax" on my phone bill to provide...

The day the ink went dry.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Thanks for the noise about inkjet cartridges and the associated cost burden in "The Hard Edge" (October, p. 128). But I think Epson may be right about the need to have some ink sloshing around the bottom of the tank or in the pump. I know...

Closed off to open the source?(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I just read John C. Dvorak's column "The Open-Source Glacier Will Eventually Crush Microsoft" (November, p. 38) and was intrigued, as I find myself in the same situation. I am a Windows tech, but I feel surrounded by this open-source movement...

Crystal ball '04: DVD-R, mobile video and music.(Trends)(Industry Overview)
January 1, 2004... Like horse races, picking tech trends is never an exact science. But since it's the start of a new year, we're going to give it a try anyway. Expect to see many more DVD burners on store shelves this year. "This business will really take...

Billion-color (LCD) baby.(Trends)(from NEC Electronics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Recently, NEC Electronics announced that it has developed a new chip that will allow LCD screens to show more than a billion colors. So although plasma screens are all the rage, LCDs might be the better display technology in the long run. ...

In search of more click$.(Trends)
January 1, 2004... Hackers and mainstream Internet companies are beginning to take extreme measures to grab Web-search "clicks," confusing consumers and posing new challenges for search providers. Search experts point to domain-name registrar VeriSign's...

Phones to pack in the pixels.(Trends)(Samsung SCH-V420)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In the days when managing your contacts was the most arduous task your cell phone performed, you probably gave little thought to its screen resolution. But if you're now trying to view a Web page or digital photo on your phone, you've...

Reboot rage: worst PC irritants cited by U.K. computer users.(Trends)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... You might think of the British as models of serene civility, but according to a recent survey Symantec commissioned in the United Kingdom, they get every bit as annoyed with their computers as their Yank cousins. An overwhelming majority of...

Roll-up video screens are no longer science fiction.(Trends)(through use of electrowetting developed by Philips)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... For decades, science fiction has promised us a future filled with wafer-thin electronic screens displaying a never-ending stream of video. Now, science is starting to turn that fantasy into reality. Philips recently announced its...

Good networks make nosy neighbors.(Trends)
January 1, 2004... Percentage of Wi-Fi users who say they would peek at their neighbor's wireless network if they had the opportunity: 44% A survey of 200 Wi-Fi consumers conducted by networking company 2Wire round that you don't need to be a Peeping Torn to...

Search wars move from browser to desktop.(Trends)(Google Deskbar)(Industry Overview)
January 1, 2004... Search company Google is testing software that lets people navigate the Web without opening up an Internet browser, placing itself in a field that Microsoft has designs on--desktop search. The search company recently debuted the Google...

More users wise up to spam tactics.(Winners)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... They may be receiving as much spam as ever, but e-mail users are getting smarter when it comes to fighting it, according to a new study. The number of consumers deleting junk e-mail without reading it has climbed to 65 percent, from last...

Spammers slam antispam activists.(Losers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... If there's such a thing as an Internet mob war, this is it. For years, so-called antispam activists have employed guerilla tactics against spammers, collecting information about their servers, compiling black lists, and reporting them to their...

Have games, will travel.(Gear)(Tapwave Zodiac mobile gaming device)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Tapwave Zodiac In your stars: Your new favorite travel buddy, the Zodiac, has arrived. This mobile gaming device, based on an augmented version of Palm OS 5.2, is built by startup Tapwave with one purpose in mind: to be the best and...

1 Space case.(Gear)(AOpen H360A Slim PC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Cram a lot of computer into a tiny space with AOpen's H360A Slim PC chassis. Initially available in silver with blue trim, with more colors expected soon, the $74.99 H360A weighs 12.4 pounds and measures 3.9x13.2x16 inches. The sleek case,...

2 Bass player.(Gear)(Skullcandy Skullcrushers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Despite the name, the Skullcrushers don't hurt. In fact, these big, skull-studded headphones are designed to tightly cup your ears, effectively blocking out extraneous noise. Plus, the $89.95 headset's in-line bass-amplif Skullcandy...

3 Shot in the dark.(Gear)(Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Packing sophisticated digital-camera technology into a tiny package, the $699.95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 can capture images in the dark using its internal infrared sensor. It's also a highly capable digicam with a 5-megapixel resolution and...

4 Cool under fire.(Gear)(Nyko Technologies Air Flo Mouse)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Nyko promises to make those all-night gaming sessions a little less taxing. The company's $39.99 Air Flo Mouse is designed with a built-in fan and porous outer shell, allowing cool air to circulate through the controller. The result, Nyko...

5 A bridge to no wire.(Gear)(D-LinkSystems DWL-810+ Enhanced 2.4GHz)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Connect your home's network-ready electronics the easy way with D-Link's DWL-810+ Enhanced 2.4GHz Ethernet-to-Wireless Bridge. This $69 bridge allows you to quickly attach Ethernet-equipped devices such as gaming consoles, digital audio...

6 Road light.(Gear)(Iogear USB Flex Light)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Iogear's $19.95 USB Flex Light lets you shine no matter where you and your notebook may travel. Whether you're on a plane or in your favorite dimly lit java joint, the Flex Light plugs into [and is powered by] your laptop's USB port to cast...

R&D means recycling & design at the consumer electronics show; the Consumer Electronics Association has created a new department to encourage manufacturers to design products that can be recycled easily.(opinions)
January 1, 2004... THANKS TO AN UNUSUALLY tempting assortment of holiday products and an economy that is finally showing some pep, the technology buzzometer is bouncing into the red zone. And that's a good thing. But as this buzz gives way to buying, consumers...

A traveling network drive for your digital baggage; Ximeta's NetDisk is the first portable hard drive that also connects directly to your home network.(opinions)
January 1, 2004... FEW TOPICS KILL A CONVERSAtion faster than storage. Yet thanks to our PCs, cameras, iPods, camcorders, and other gadgets, we're drowning in data. In 2002, we amassed 5 exabytes of new information, according to a recent study by the University...

Technology's catalyst is about to implode; games have propelled the desktop to lofty heights, but a new delivery model could bring all that innovation to a grinding halt.(opinions)(Editorial)(Industry Overview)
January 1, 2004... GAMES ARE THE HOTTEST thing going in the world of computing. In the United States alone, the gaming industry generates $10.5 billion. It owes its growth to advances in desktop computing, which helped pare down the prices of components shared...

The Top 25: computer shopper editors handpick this month's best desktops, Tablet PCs, wireless routers, cell phones, and online photo service.(top 25)
January 1, 2004... HIGH-END DESKTOPS PRODUCT PRICE SPECS Apple Power Mac G5 $4,627 Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5; 2GB DDR; www.apple.com 160GB hard drive; DVD-R; no ...

Extraordinary computing commands extreme price: Velocity Raptor Extreme Edition.(Desktops)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... THE KEY WORD IN DESCRIBING Velocity Micro's Raptor Extreme Edition is "more": more CPU speed, more L3 cache, more memory and hard drive space, and more A/V panache than your average high-end PC. With all that power, and a mighty set of...

Stunning new Apple is sweetest of them all: Apple Power Mac G5.(Desktops)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... THE POWER MAC G5 IS A MONUMENTAL LEAP FOR Apple Computer, addressing such PowerPC G4 shortcomings as lack of CPU speed, choked bus architecture, and tired case design. Our dual-2GHz-processor unit came to a whopping $4,627 (not including the...

Capable multimedia PC won't break the bank: Sony VAIO PCV-RS430G.(Desktops)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... EVEN WITHOUT A MONITOR, SONY'S VAIO PCV-RS430G is nicely priced at $1,399. It packs a wealth of multimedia capabilities, including a multiformat DVD burner and a TV tuner, into a quiet midtower case. Although hot ideal for performance hounds,...

Low-profile desktop means (small) business: Gateway E-4100.(Desktops)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... PART OF GATEWAY'S FLAGSHIP BUSINESS SERIES, Gateway's $1,127 E-4100 is reminiscent in design of IBM's ThinkCentre S50. This one lacks the IT services big business craves, but its easy-to-manage case and excellent warranty make it a strong...

Dell's first Media Center comes dressed for work: Dell Dimension 4600C.(Desktops)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... BEFORE LAUNCHING ITS FIRST MEDIA CENTER PC, Dell waited for Microsoft to release the second version of its Media Center OS. Dell's reserve: is evident in its $1,949 Dimension 4600C. Although it features Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, it...

A ruggedized ultraportable that just won't quit: Panasonic Toughbook CF-W2.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... SMALLER THAN MOST MAGAZINES AND NOT MUCH thicker, Panasonic's $2,250 ToughBook CF-W2 exhibits one of the coolest design features we've seen in a notebook. Plus, this slick and durable ultralight's battery lasted almost 6 hours. Typical of...

Big, tough notebook brought down by battery: Sharp Actius RD20.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... THOUGH IT'S NEITHER A LIGHTWEIGHT NOR A screamer, Sharp Electronics' Actius RD20 has some definite strong points. For one, this $1,699 notebook is one of the sturdiest nonruggedized desktop replacements we've seen. The basic specs are...

Longtime tablet maker tries a new twist: Fujitsu Lifebook T3000 Tablet PC.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... FOR FUJITSU, THE WRITING WAS APPARENTLY ON the slate. In an effort to lure a broader and larger audience than its older, slate-based Tablet PCs, the company has unveiled the $2,049 Centrino-based LifeBook T3000 Tablet PC. The first...

A wide-screen laptop that's short on power: eMachines M5310.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... IF THE EMACHINES M5310'S STYLISH CASE AND MOVIE-friendly wide-screen display don't catch your eye, its surprisingly low $1,199 price will. The M5310 packs a 2GHz Athlon XP-M 2400+ processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a fixed...

A modest performer for thrifty workaholics: Gateway M305X.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... WITH ITS LOW-END COMPONENTS, THE GATEway M305 series is far from cutting-edge, but these affordable mainstream notebooks will give your wallet a break by offering bread-and-butter computing for not much dough. Configured with components...

Peewee PC delivers the basics on the go: Fujitsu Lifebook P1000.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... BUSINESS TRAVELERS KNOW THAT ON THE ROAD, computing power takes a backseat to portability Fujitsu heeds this reality with its $1,333 LifeBook Pl000, a supremely small yet functional ultraportable. Our test system came with an anemic 800MHz...

The PDA/phone advances from hype to handy: Handspring TREO 600.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE HANDSPRING TREO 600, AVAILABLE FROM A plethora of carriers that includes Cingular, Sprint, and T-Mobile for about $500 with service, is an impressive device that tackles all your mobile tasks with panache. A smidgen smaller than its...

Featherweight handheld includes bluetooth, Wi-Fi: HP IPAQ H4155 Pocket PC.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... SLIM AND TRIM, HEWLETT-PACKARD'S IPAQ H4155 appears at first glance to be the ideal Pocket PC. But look a little closer, and you'll discover that although this $449.99 ultralight PDA is perfect for frequent travelers, it won't please everyone....

Feel free to get lost: ALK CoPilot Live Pocket PC 4.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... ALK Technologies' CoPilot Live Pocket PC 4 is one of the easiest-to-use GPS mapping kits we've seen. (For information on similar products, see "Gear Up Your Chevy" in the Features section.) The $329 kit we tested included a 12-channel...

Bite-size player packs big audio storage: RCA Lyra Micro Jukebox RD2760.(Mobile)(Hardware Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... THE $249 RCA LYRA MICRO JUKEBOX RD2760 is a highly compact digital music player that can pack a ton of tunes despite its size. Measuring 2.3x2.3x1.1 inches and weighing 3.2 ounces, the Lyra is smaller than most hard drive-based players, but...

Advanced cell phone snaps good-looking pics: Sony Ericsson T616.(Mobile)(Sony Ericsson T616 cell/camera phone)
January 1, 2004... AFTER MONTHS OF ANTICIPATION, the $199 Sony Ericsson T616 cell/camera phone has arrived in stores. We're pleased to report that this small wonder lives up to the hype. Small enough for any pocket, the T616 cuts a fine figure. Measuring...

An elegant multifunction sans frills, fax, feeder: Samsung SCX-4016.(Hardware)
January 1, 2004... SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS' SCX-4016 LASER PRINTER/scanner/copier is a bare-bones multifunction unit with an easy-on-the-eyes design. Without fax functionality or an automatic document feeder (ADF), the $299 SCX-4016 can't accommodate a busy small...

Versatile VHS converter doubles as DVD drive: HP DVD Movie Writer DC3000.(Hardware)
January 1, 2004... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S DVD MOVIE WRITER DC3000 has a mission: the quick-and-easy conversion of VHS tapes to DVD. (HP estimates some 1.2 billion VHS tapes are collecting dust in U.S. homes.) And it delivers. Of course, you can also use the external...

Fast, cheap inkjet gives great output: Epson Stylus C84.(Hardware)
January 1, 2004... MOST BUDGET INKJETS ARE BESET WITH ONE OR more common problems: poor print quality, slow performance, or high ink consumption. The $99 Epson Stylus C84 has none of these problems. It's inexpensive and efficient, and its output looks great. Best...

Point-and-shoot power in a quick-snapping pixie: Canon PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH.(Hardware)
January 1, 2004... UNLIKE MOST MOVIE SEQUELS, THE RETURN OF the Digital Elph is a good thing. Canon's 3.2-megapixel PowerShot SD100 Digital Elph is all about style and technology, so don't look for manual controls. Still, this $499 digicam an excellent choice for...

LCD TV's affordable price offsets mediocre picture: Dell W1700 17-inch LCD TV.(Hardware)(Dell Computer)
January 1, 2004... DELL'S STYLISH NEW LCD OFFERS true 1,280x720 high-definition-television (HDTV) resolution, a built-in TV tuner, and enough inputs to satisfy most gadget-happy home theater/computer buffs. Although it masters neither computer nor TV images, the...

Digital media receiver is sweet-sounding deal: Hauppauge MediaMVP.(Hardware)(Hauppauge Computer Works)
January 1, 2004... DIGITAL MEDIA RECEIVERS ARE morphing from high-priced, nerdy curiosities into affordable, mass-market devices. Hauppauge Computer Works' first such product, the MediaMVP, delivers a full array of features and solid performance for just $99. ...

Pen and tablet for photo fixers: Wacom Graphire3.(Hardware)(Hardware Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... As more of us get into digital photography, we're discovering what professional artists already know: The mouse is a clumsy drawing tool. With the new $199.95 Graphire3 tablet, Wacom offers a different type of input device that lets you draw...

Simple wireless router delivers strong security: Microsoft Wireless Base Station MN-700.(Home Networking)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... MICROSOFT'S 802.11G WIRELESS BASE STATION MN-700 is designed so that even a novice tan expand a home network easily, but it does have some shortcomings. The $79 broadband router's range is excellent, and the setup utility automatically enables...

Dicey bluetooth adapter is best for experts only: Actiontec USB Bluetooth Adapter.(Home Networking)(Actiontec Electronics USB Bluetooth Adapter)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... BLUETOOTH IS POPPING UP ON PDAS, CAMERAS, and even printers these days, but what about PCs? Actiontec's tiny $39.99 USB Bluetooth Adapter plugs into a PC's USB port so that it can interact wirelessly with other devices. Its faulty setup routine...

Microsoft gives you a whole new outlook on office: Microsoft Office System.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... MICROSOFT HAS RELEASED not just a new version of Microsoft Office, but a family of interrelated applications called Microsoft Office System, made up of the various versions of Office 2003. This time, however, Office isn't a must-have upgrade...

Copying your DVDs with speed to burn: Intervideo DVD Copy Gold.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... INTERVIDEO'S $49.95 DVD COPY GOLD IS A SUPERBLY designed program that lets you back up DVDs and most types of CDs with just a few clicks. DVD Copy won't, however, back up copy-protected DVDs; only 321 Studios' DVD X Copy can make a legal backup...

Image editor favors effects over organization: Microsoft Picture It Photo Premium 9.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... WHILE IT'S CLEARLY NO ADOBE PHOTOSHOP Elements, Microsoft's $49.95 Picture It Photo Premium 9 is a fine program if you're looking for a simple way to make light edits to your photos and if you value fun effects over precise controls....

Is utility-suite standby stuck in the system? Norton Systemworks 2004.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... SYMANTEC'S $69.95 NORTON SYSTEMWORKS 2004 improves its lackluster predecessor with a new password manager, and the antivirus component now sniffs out spyware and adware. But other utilities in the suite remain unchanged, and new blood is...

Put your hard drive on a defragmentation regimen: Diskeeper 8.0.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... WONDER WHY YOUR SYSTEM RUNS SLOWER AND slower each day? It may be hobbled by disk fragmentation, when individual files are broken into pieces and spread across a drive. Even though a defragmentation utility is included with Windows, few people...

Movie-authoring app is competent but uncreative: Cyberlink PowerProducer 2.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... THE $39.95 CYBERLINK POWERPRODUCER 2 DOES A decent job of steering newbies through basic movie authoring. The program's interface is quirky, however, and it lacks commonplace extras such as motion buttons and motion-video backgrounds. Most...

Flash-forward to easier web animation: Macromedia Flash MX 2004.(Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... A CLEAR STEP AHEAD OF THE PREVIOUS VERSION, Macromedia's $499 Flash MX 2004 Flash-animation designer requires less programming, has a much improved help system, and offers new usability features. Though beginners might not find it as easy to...

Precision control targets fraggers: Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52.(Gaming)
January 1, 2004... Rabid shooter fans embraced Belkin's original Nostromo SpeedPad n50, a dedicated controller for first-person combat games. Now, the company takes aim at those same hard-core gamers with the new $49.99 SpeedPad n52. This updated version packs...

World War 2.0 sim is a sea change of pace: Enigma: Rising Tide.(Gaming)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... TODAY, FINDING A PC NAVAL SIMULAtion, let alone a good one, is rare, which is why Enigma: Rising Tide is such a pleasant surprise. Set during an alternate-history World War II, it's more Das Boot than dry naval history. In the 1937 Enigma...

A shimmering aura of shooter brilliance: Halo: Combat Evolved.(Gaming)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... HALO, THE 2001 XBOX BLOCKBUSTER, has finally been ported to the PC. Despite its age and the high standards for PC first-person shooters, Halo: Combat Evolved blows away most competitors. It's a true classic. Halo's single-player component...

A practical guide to buying the right PC: here's how to buy the desktop you really need at a price you can afford.(PC-Shopping Guide)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2004... TO GET THE PC YOU want--a luxury model with the best of everything and all the options--all you have to do is grab your credit card and phone. But to get the PC you really need--one that's affordable yet can handle a range of everyday...

Desktop, meet your replacement: these weighty notebooks won't serve jet-setters, but their blazing speed and solid configurations could send your desktop packing.(Power Notebooks)(Hardware Review)
January 1, 2004... WHEN YOU THINK "NOTEBOOK," YOU PROBABLY THINK "PORTABLE." As in racing-to-catch-the-plane portable. Or working-wirelessly-over-a-Grande-Latte-at-Starbucks portable. But a different breed of notebook, aptly called the desktop replacement,...

Function over format: the war over DVD-recording formats is over, and you're the winner. These five multiformat drives will quickly burn your DVDs to either major standard.(Multiformat DVD Drives)(including Iomega Super DVD Writer, LG Electronics GSA 4040B and Pioneer DVR-A06U)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... After years of fighting over which recordable DVD format--DVD-R/DVD-RW or DVD+R/DVD+RW--would dominate the marketplace, DVD-drive manufacturers seemingly woke up one morning and decided to heed john Lennon and Yoko Ono's call: "War is over (if...

Six prescriptions to combat viruses; your PC may be more vulnerable than ever to malicious attacks. Use one of these antivirus programs to safeguard your system.(Antivirus Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2004... YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO BE A technophile to be aware of the destruction computer viruses and their ilk can cause. In recent months, malicious bugs like the Blaster worm and the Sobig virus have been headline stories in the news around the world....

Online soapboxes: setting up your own blog gives you license to spill your guts on any topic imaginable.(Blogging)(services such as Blogger, DiaryLand and LiveJournal)
January 1, 2004... Want to mouth off about Microsoft? Or air your views about Athlons? Web logs, or blogs, give you the perfect opportunity to speak your mind on any topic you choose: security holes, conspiracy theories, next season's Yankee lineup. These...

Gear up your chevy: old Betsy may have lost her showroom sheen, but you can still load her up with everything you need to make your next road trip heaven on wheels.(Gear On Wheels)
January 1, 2004... Remember how much fun road trips used to be when you were growing up? Fighting like cats with your siblings in the backseat, Dad pulling the car over and threatening to thrash the next one who spoke, cruising past the same landmark five times...

The hard edge: ripping on the RIAA; why camera phones rock; and Alice and Bill's New Year's Resolution.(Alice & Bill)
January 1, 2004... WHEN PROFESSIONAL PHOtographers are asked how they managed to capture some award-winning moment, they almost always say, "I carry my camera everywhere." And they do. Problem is, most people (like Bill!--Alice) can barely remember to carry their...

New system, old files: migrating data from an old PC to a new one can be a pain in the apps--unless you have the right tools.(Tune-Up)( Detto Technologie IntelliMover)
January 1, 2004... Aside from the four-figure balance on your credit-card statement, the biggest downer of buying a computer may be transferring all those files and program settings. The mere thought of the endless parade of CDs you'll need to start swapping...

Stranger on a strange LAN.(computer cures)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... I spend much of my time working at client offices and in hotels. When I connect my notebook to a local-area network (LAN) to access the Internet, I can receive e-mail via Outlook Express, but I can't send messages. Instead, I connect to my ISP...

Blank and white.(computer cures)(inkjet printer)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My inkjet printer churns out a blank page after every printed page. I tried reloading new drivers, but that didn't fix the problem. What's wrong? Mary Brookstone Start by opening the Printers folder: Choose Start > Settings > Printers...

Burning questions.(computer cures)(for Sony MiniDisc recorder )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... I recently bought a Sony MiniDisc recorder with a stereo mic. Sony claims I need third-party software or a Sony system to burn the recordings to CD. Is there another solution? R.E. Brown MiniDiscs are propriety digital media, so you'll...

Psst ... What's the password?(computer cures)
January 1, 2004... My Windows Me-based PC prompts me for my username and password when I boot up, but you can easily circumvent this by clicking Cancel. How tan I set up a working password that will keep others off my system? Tom Swarn Most computers...

Dead-drive diagnosis.(computer cures)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... My PC's CD drive has stopped reading discs--data and music. How can I get it working again? Hugh Snow First, you should verify that the drive is getting power. Is the indicator light glowing? Can you hear the disc spin when you insert...

A dam in the stream.(computer cures)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... I recently tried playing a streaming-radio show from the Internet using Microsoft's Windows Media Player 7.1 on my Windows 98 PC, but I couldn't get any sound, and I received an error message reading "80040154: Class not registered." I...

Taking the show on the road.(computer cures)
January 1, 2004... I want to take my notebook on my next vacation so the kids can watch movies during the long drive. Will the vibration in the minivan damage the system's hard drive? Grace Kong I just did the same thing (though the entertainment was for...

Handle cables with care.(tip of the month)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... You're on the road, and you need to e-mail a critical document for your impending presentation. Your notebook's battery is low, so you plug it into a wall outlet and... nothing. The cables connected to the power brick may be the weakest link...

Wanted: PowerPoint pro, must work for peanuts; a nonprofit organization needs a no-nonsense digital projector to anchor its training sessions. Our advisor screens five low-cost options.(Buying Advisor)(including BenQ SL705S, Boxlight SP-45m and Gateway Projector 205)
January 1, 2004... FOR MICHELLE NEWMAN BERney, the writing is on the wall--but she's squinting to see it. A project director for a New York City nonprofit social-services agency, she frequently gives marathon PowerPoint presentations to senior-citizen volunteers....

Tech shopping.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)
January 1, 2004... allstarshop.com Set your sights high at AllstarShop. The company's comprehensive catalog of PC accessories includes graphics cards, motherboards, and peripherals. Prices are reasonable, and you'll find plenty of information about each...

Motherboards.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... bioscentral.com An upgraded BIOS can breathe new life into an old motherboard. BIOS Central is a technical reference site with information and free downloads for diagnosing your mobo ills. You'll also find pointers to bargains on...

Batteries and power.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... batteries.com Plug in and power up at Batteries.com, a site selling power for watches, hearing aids, two-way radios, and medical devices. You can also stop by to pick up juice for your laptop, portable phone, and digital camera. Check the...

Direct PC vendors.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)
January 1, 2004... 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. Every...

PC resources.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)
January 1, 2004... bbb.org The Better Business Bureau fosters honest relationships between businesses and shoppers. If you have a problem with a merchant, you can file an online complaint, and the organization will help to resolve the issue as an impartial...

Sites for tinkerers and techies.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... anandtech.com AnandTech's meticulous hardware reviews will appeal to hard-to-please shoppers. The site has been reviewing hardware since 1997, so it includes a monumental archive of older material as well as reviews of the latest...

Software sites.(Web Buyer: the best sites for online shopping)
January 1, 2004... freshmeat.net Bits into Freshmeat, the Web's largest index of open-source software for Linux and Unix. You can inspect the top 20 programs sorted by popularity, longevity, or ratings, then download ready-to-use binaries or source code. ...