Computer Shopper articles from January 2006

Computer Shopper archives from January 2006

Editor's note.
January 1, 2006... AFTER THE BUZZ of year-end holiday festivities finally dies down--and the ensuin8 "year in review" retrospectives have faded--it's time to start looking forward to the next 12 months. And if you're in the market for a new computer, there's no...

Desktop search is a worthy winner.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I believe desktop search engines should be recognized as Computer Shopper's "Technology of the Year" ("The Best in Tech 2005," November, p. 73). Thanks to these handy tools, you can put your work-related files and e-mails in one folder and all...

Best bet is to build.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... Nancy Feldman's column on return policies for defective products ("Lemon Return Policy a Sour Deal," November, p. 118) demonstrates yet another example of how big computer companies value making money more than striving for customer...

Too much music.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... In your November issue, Brian Bennett fails to provide sound advice for a large group of portable music fans ("Buying Basics: The Right Hard Drive MP3 Player," p. 160). While hard drive players may be perfect for some, most people only listen...

Chips Ahoy! Intel to greatly expand its CPU collection in 2006.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... FIGURING OUT which computer to buy will soon be a lot more challenging with the substantial expansion of Intel's processor line. A confidential Intel road map seen by CNET News.com reveals that the chip maker will market a dizzying hodgepodge...

Intel.(Robson)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Intel is showing off a cache technology called Robson that could shorten your PC's interminable bootup time. With Robson, a PC loads data and applications using NAND flash memory, rather than the PC's hard drive. Flash reacts more quickly...

Symantec wants to automate online storage.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Symantec is looking to use technologies acquired from Veritas Software to provide an Internet-based file-storage service that uploads your digital pictures for you. Consumers will be able to automatically back up--and remotely access--important...

Large-screen laptops have wide appeal.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... CONSUMERS' fascination with larger and wider screen sizes is changing the size and shape of the laptop industry, according to a recent report from market-research firm IDC. The wide-screen format, found in only 39.2 percent of laptops...

Cell phones, VoIP getting call over landlines.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
January 1, 2006... MORE AND MORE Americans are trading landline phones for wireless phones and Internet telephony, new data shows. By 2009, between 23 percent and 37 percent of wireless subscribers will use a cell phone as their primary telephone, according...

Live from Microsoft, it's Web apps.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
January 1, 2006... Microsoft plans to complement its two core products with two new Internet-based services--Windows Live and Office Live--that create opportunities for the company to sell online subscriptions and advertising. Windows Live is a set of...

Data center.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... With plenty of communication capabilities squeezed into a compact 6-ounce package, Sprint Nextel's $629.99 PPC-6700 packs a hidden QWERTY keyboard and runs Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile OS, version 5. The Wi-Fi-enabled device also has a...

Rock unplugged.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Pump your iPod's tunes throughout the house with Oregon Scientific's $299.99 iBall music system. The transmitter dock charges your iPod and syncs it to your PC at the same rime. The dock wirelessly broadcasts music to its stereo-speaker...

Roll with it.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... The $99.95 X-Arcade Trackball Mouse lets you enjoy all your favorite vintage games the way they were meant to be played. This rugged controller can also function as a three-button mouse and has a genuine trackball for making quick maneuvers....

Power on display.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Available in 500- and 600-watt flavors ($139 and $169, respectively), the MGE Magnum power-supply series features a nifty LCD screen that displays the unit's temperature, wattage, and voltage stats while in use. You'll also find modular cables...

Expert eye.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Step up to a serious digital camera with Sony's $999.95 Cyber-shot DSC-R1. This shooter features a 5x optical zoom lens and a sharp 10-megapixel resolution. The DSC-R1 also has an APS-class image sensor, which Sony claims is 12 times the size...

A better fit.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Slip on a cozier cellular headset. Jabra's new $119.99 BT500 Bluetooth Wireless Headset weighs under an ounce and is smaller and lighter than the company's previous models. Besides the headphones' improved audio quality, Jabra also claims that...

Creature HTPC Scylla S301: a media-expert PC with substance and style.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... CREATURE HTPC's $4,650 Scylla S301 is a monster of a media center. Despite its substantial cost, you get more gear for your money than with many high-end media-centric systems--including a GeForce 7800 GTX graphics card and more than 1 terabyte...

HP Photosmart 475 GoGo Photo Printer: compact portable printer packs a 1.5GB hard drive.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IN THE WORLD of photo printing, Hewlett-Packard's lunchbox-size Photosmart 475 GoGo Photo Printer holds rock-star status, thanks to its stylish design and covetable list of features. The $279.99 portable photo factory includes built-in editing...

Polywell Poly 939N4X2: drive setup yields fast performance.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... POLYWELL'S POLY 939N4X2 is a true overachiever that performs well due to the vendor's choice of hard drive formatting, which trades features for performance. The two 10,000rpm 74GB hard drives are already primed for speed, regardless of...

Dell Optiplex GX620: flexible line offers lots of options.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... DELL ADDS some flexibility to the business-PC market with its Optiplex GX620 line. At $1,527, our test model came in a small-form-factor (SFF) case that mounts behind its bundled 17-inch LCD. You can get the same configuration as a desktop,...

Gateway E-6500D SB: right mix of business performance and features.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... GATEWAY'S E-series PCs look just as buttoned-down as they act. Basic, boxy, and black, the $1,887 E-6500D we tested offers plenty of power and options for your money, including a 17-inch LCD and a dual-core CPU. You can't configure even...

Gateway FX400XL: attractive, well-priced PC for mainstream users.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... BY PACKING A dual-core CPU inside a BTX case, Gateway brings leading-edge PC technology to the mainstream with its $2,779 FX400XL. Add plenty of memory and a top-notch graphics card, and you have a premium desktop at an agreeable price. ...

Alienware Aurora 7500: double-strength desktop.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... ALIENWARE'S Aurora 7500 features the company's familiar alien-head case, but packs two 256MB nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards and a dual-core 2.4GHz Athlon 64 X2 4800+ processor. This means you get a multitasking and 3D-gaming rig for...

Sony VAIO VGX-XL1 digital living system.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... Sony takes advantage of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 with its big and beautiful $2,299 VAIO VGX-XL1 Digital Living System. The PC consists of two components: a Media Center PC and a 200-dise CD/DVD changer. Upside:...

Dell XPS M170: gaming laptop offers unprecedented performance.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... WITH THE XPS M170, Dell continues to dominate the gaming-notebook arena. This pricey laptop is unbelievably powerful, featuring nVidia's latest (and greatest) GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256 mobile 3D-graphics chip. Running Microsoft's Windows...

Acer TravelMate 4650: an affordable, powerful midsize portable.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE ACER TRAVELMATE 4650 provides more than enough power, battery life, and features to satisfy home and small-business users--for a surprisingly attractive price. Our $1,299 test model's respectable component mix included a fast 2GHz...

Gateway CX200X: hefty, speedy tablet with lots of screen.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE FIRST WIDE-SCREEN convertible Tablet PC we've seen, the Gateway CX2OOX gives users a DVD-friendly laptop that's also a tablet with plenty of writing space. Featuring higher-end components than most Tablet PCs, our $1,863 test model...

Sharp M4000 WideNote: light on security, but heavy on endurance.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE LONG-LASTING Sharp M4000 WideNote is perfectly sized for business travelers. Our $1,799 test unit came with a 1.73GHz Pentium M 740 processor, an 80GB hard drive, and 512MB of DDR2 RAM. The laptop also had a DVD-ROM/ CD-RW combo drive....

HP Pavilion DV4000: strong multimedia prowess, but weak battery.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... WITH THE PAVILION DV4000, Hewlett-Packard delivers a well-designed, if short-lived, multimedia laptop. Out $1,826 test model featured a 2.13GHz Pentium M 770 processor, 1GB of RAM, and an 80GB hard drive. The laptop also had ATI Mobility...

Asus Extreme N7800GT: costly card provides top-notch performance.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE LOOKING for a feature-rich graphics card, the high-performing Asus Extreme N7800GT is sure to satisfy. Based on nVidia's GeForce 7800 GT graphics processing unit (GPU), this card comes with everything you could want, including a...

Logitech Z-4i: solid speakers slouch on bass.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... LOGITECH'S $99.99 Z-4i is a great three-piece speaker set if you're looking for a balanced mix of sound with an emphasis on clarity. Gamers and film buffs who wish to rattle their walls with sonic thunder should look elsewhere, however. ...

Razer Copperhead High-Precision Gaming Mouse: near-perfect mouse is quick on the draw.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IT ISN'T CHEAP, but Razer's $79,99 Copperhead High-Precision Gaming Mouse is the first mouse to feature both a resolution of 2,000 dots per inch (dpi) and built-in memory for the best gaming performance around. The Copperhead's compact...

ATI Radeon X850 XT CrossFire Edition: dual-card tech takes a swipe at SLI.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IT WAS ONLY a matter of time before ATI dealt out its own dual-graphics-card technology for gamers, but the company's new Radeon X850 XT CrossFire Edition graphics card is simply no match for nVidia's Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology....

LaCie Safe Mobile Hard Drive: fingerprint-scanning drive keeps files safe.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IT'S BIGGER than most portable drives, but LaCie's Safe Mobile Hard Drive ($149.99 for 40GB, $199.99 for 80GB) offers fingerprint-authentication security, making it excellent for safeguarding files on the go. The fingerprint scanner is a...

Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510: stylish media bundle includes remote.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... MEDIA JUNKIES, TAKE NOTE: If you're looking for a way to control your PC from across the room. Logitech's Cordless Desktop S 510 is your answer. This $99.99 keyboard-and-mouse combo also includes a configurable remote for easy access to the...

Samsung SPP-2040: high-quality snapshot printer isn't portable.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... WITH ITS seemingly compact chassis, easy stand-alone operation, and multiple connectivity options, Samsung's $229 SPP-2040 sounds like a photo printer you'd want to take everywhere. This 300-dot-per-inch photo lab is deceiving in size, however,...

Konica Minolta DiMage Scan Elite 5400 II: reliable scanner is fast and intuitive.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... OFFERING THE TYPE of performance once limited to costlier film scanners, the $599 DiMage Scan Elite 5400 II features a maximum optical resolution of 5,400 dots per inch (dpi). In addition, its ease of use makes it a solid choice for...

Brother HL-5240.(FIRST TAKE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... Photo inkjets may be all the rage with trigger-happy shutterbugs, but when it comes to delivering professional-quality monochrome output, laser printers still reign supreme with their faster speeds and sharper text. Upside: With a...

Prismiq Commander Wireless Router: poky device monitors Web surfing.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO MONITOR your employees' Web use or your kids' online interactions? If so, Prismiq's $79.95 Commander Wireless Router With Internet Warning and Control Software (IWACS) Technology is for you. Not only does it offer a sneak peek at what...

Hawking HBB1 Broadband Booster: speed up streaming media on your network.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE devoted to your current router but want to improve streaming-audio or -video speed, the $69.99 Hawking HBB1 Broadband Booster could be a welcome addition to your network. The HBB1 streamlines data flow to the Internet through a...

WD Essential NetCenter: a simple network-storage solution.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE LOOKING to add shared storage to your home or small-office network, you won't find an easier way to do it than with Western Digital's Essential NetCenter networked hard drive. The NetCenter is available in 160GB ($229.99), 250GB...

Palm TX: fully loaded, Wi-Fi-enabled, and easy to tote.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE $299 PALM TX bundles a multitude of features, along with advanced wireless connectivity, into a slim, excellent-performing PDA. Instead of the metallic silver chassis of Palms past, the TX is clad in chic midnight blue. It has a...

HP iPaq HW6500 Mobile Messenger: smartphone lacks fast wireless, but offers convenient connectivity.(MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S latest Windows Mobile smartphone, the $599 iPaq HW6500 Mobile Messenger, offers many advanced features but lacks truly high-speed wireless access. Measuring 4.7x2.8x0.7 inches and weighing 5.8 ounces, the device is trim...

Fujifilm FinePix S9000: delivers big zoom, dSLR-like features.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... SLIGHTLY SMALLER and cheaper than compact digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) cameras, the $699.95 Fujifilm FinePix $9000 looks and handles much like its interchangeable-lens competitors, and, in some cases, tops them in features. The $9000...

Kodak EasyShare V550: decent point-and-shoot camera shows some style.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE 5-MEGAPIXEL Kodak EasyShare V550 brings much-needed finesse to the company's line of point-and-shoot cameras. The $399 V550 offers a long list of scene modes, including a custom mode for saving your settings. The camera offers manual...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5: mediocre images from sleek, colorful shooter.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... AVAILABLE IN RED, gold, black, or silver, the 5.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSCT5 is stylishly thin and light. The $349.95 camera offers less-than-stellar image quality, however. Featuring 10 scene modes and an easily navigable menu, the...

Apple iPod: sleek, sexy player is even better with video.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... MORE CHIC THAN its predecessors, Apple's fifth-generation iPod--complete with video playback--is the best iPod we've used to date. The new iPod comes in 30GB and 60GB capacities for $299 and $399, respectively. Measuring 4.1x2.4x0.4...

Archos Gmini XS202: tiny 20GB player improves on predecessor.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... BARGAIN-PRICED at $249.95, the 20GB Archos Gmini XS202 retains the merits of its XS200 predecessor, while adding some bonus features. At 2.9x2.3x0.7 inches and 4.2 ounces, the XS202 is still as small as many mini-hard-drive players, but its...

Logitech MM50 Portable Speakers for iPod: small system gets loud.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... LOGITECH'S $149.99 MM50 Portable Speakers for iPod offer sleek design and decent sound for a competitive price. Though the MM50 is a little hefty for a travel speaker, it includes features that enhance its portability, including flip-out...

Sony KLV-S32A10: price is too high for this LCD HDTV.(liquid crystal displays high-definition television)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... THE $1,999 KLV-S32A0 may be the least-expensive 32-inch LCD high-definition television (HDTV) in Sony's lineup, but it costs too much, considering several budget LCDs offer the same middling image quality for a few hundred dollars less. ...

Maxent MX-42X3: plasma HDTV delivers decent image, low price.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... MAXENT'S MX-42X3, a 42-inch high-definition (HD) plasma display, performs surprisingly well considering its $1,799 price. The MX-42X3 lacks an HD tuner or a CableCard slot, so you'll need an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box,...

Optoma MovieTime DV10: projector, DVD player, and speakers rolled into one.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... OPTOMA'S $1,499 MovieTime DV10 combines a front projector, a DVD player, and speakers in one compact package. The DV10 uses a Digital Light Processing chip with a native resolution of 852x480. That's short of high-definition (HD)...

PentaSuite Pro 8: one massive set of file-management tools.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... PENTAWARE'S $129.95 PentaSuite Pro 8 package offers a series of basic, well-integrated utilities that will help you organize your files, compress and encrypt archives, create PDFs, burn data CDs and DVDs--the list goes on. To set up...

Nero 7 Ultra Edition: expansive burning suite gets bigger.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... Nero, the 800-pound gorilla of disc-burning tools, is back with version 7 of its Ultra Edition software. You get more multimedia features this time around, support for newer technologies (such as 5.1 and 7.1 audio, Blu-ray discs, and...

StarOffice 8: impressive bargain productivity suite.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... SUN MICROSYSTEMS' StarOffice 8 ($99.95 boxed version; $69.95 download) is an able productivity suite that costs significantly less than its main competitor, Microsoft's $399 Office Standard Edition 2003. StarOffice includes the Writer word...

Laplink Everywhere 4: a flexible remote-desktop app.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... IN THE ultracompetitive world of remote-access apps, it's hard for venerable tools such as Laplink Everywhere to stand out. Although it lacks support for true-color display on a remote desktop, has limited support for remote printing, and is...

Macromedia Flash Professional 8: top-notch animation tools.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2006... MACROMEDIA Flash Professional 8 gives designers a platform to easily create animation, video, and games that make Web sites sing and dance. An evolution in the animated Web experience, this latest version of Flash ($699 full software; $299...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, Wi-Fi routers, inkjet printers, and digital-imaging software.(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... BUDGET DESKTOPS These well-configured PCs are easy on your wallet. PRODUCT PRICE iBuYPower Value-Pro $999 www.ibuypower.com Apple SuPerDrive Mac ...

Starting lineups: heading to the majors for your next desktop? Here's a line-by-line rundown of this season's offerings and the new technologies inside.
January 1, 2006... IF WE HAD TO SUMMARIZE the technology advancements in PCs over the past year, we could do it in one word: doubles. Dual-core processors, motherboards with two graphics cards, double-layer DVD burners--these technologies, though not 2005's only...

Flat-panel panorama: the LCD landscape is getting more diverse, whether you want a wide screen, a fast response rate, or just a great price.(Liquid crystal displays)
January 1, 2006... YOU ALMOST HAVE to duck these days to avoid the trajectory of low-flying CRTs hurtling from homes and businesses. In their place are sleek, sharp, and now eminently affordable flat panels. But while nearly all inexpensive models can handle Web...

Case study: update your desktop with one of these 12 cutting-edge cases.
January 1, 2006... TOWER Antec P150 (not pictured) This minitower's iPod-like exterior is further enhanced by blue front-bezel LEDs. Inside, it's just as attractive: Cable channels keep cords tidy, and the included power-supply unit (PSU) lets you...

Digital resolutions: these gadgets, software, and Web services will help you keep your New Year's promises.
January 1, 2006... ONLY 57 PERCENT of us keep the New Year's resolutions we make, according to a study conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion in December 2004. If you're among the remaining pledge-makers who are unable to stick to a diet or...

CD drive is a no-go.(use of the compact disk drives)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... I have a PC with a CD drive that won't read discs. When I put a disc in the drive, nothing appears on the screen. I can't even get it to play music CDs. Any idea what's wrong? HUGH SNOW Three possibilities stand out, all simple to...

Bugged by the Boings.(use of keyboard/video/mouse switch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... I recently got a KVM switch so I can share my two computers with one monitor. My old one used PS/2-style connectors for the keyboard and mouse, but this one uses USB connections. Every time I switch from one PC to the other, one machine...

Low-resolution solution.(use of graphics adapters)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... I recently formatted the hard drive on my PC and reinstalled Windows. Now I cannot increase the screen resolution. Any idea why? JIM LAND When you reinstalled Windows, the OS probably didn't recognize your graphics adapter. It then...

802.11G to go.(upgrading laptop computers wireless hardware)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... My laptop has integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi, and it works with my 802.11b/g wireless network. I'd like to upgrade the notebook to 802.11g to get 54Mbps throughput. Other than a USB adapter or a PC Card, is there anyway to upgrade the onboard...

Look ma, no labels!(use of label printers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Is it okay to use CD labelers that print directly on a CD or DVD, or could this damage the disc? CLIFFORD ADAMS CD printers work in one of two ways. Many inkjet printers can print directly on blank CDs that have a surface coating...

Fire up the overburners.(use of DVD recordable drive and CD recordable drive )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... What is overburning? Is it dangerous to your burner or media? YANG ZHOU Recordable CDs and DVDs have a section defined as the "lead-out," which is designed to provide a buffer area in case the drive's read head overshoots the end of...

Not seeing red.(use of graphics cards)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The display on my PC has suddenly changed colors. I'm able to adjust brightness, contrast, and fade for the blue and green channels, but the red channel doesn't respond. Is my graphics card bad? Should I replace it? HUBERT BUKAC ...

Now drive for old.(use of laptop hard disk drives)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The hard drive on my notebook just failed, and I want install a third-party drive. The original specifications say it is an ATA-4 drive, but all the new hard drives are ATA-6 or ATA-7. Can I use one of these drives as a replacement? LENNY...

Tip of the month: Favorites on the fly.(use of Microsoft Internet Explorer)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Every morning when I fire up my browser, I check out the same sites: first the weather, then my fantasy sports team, my favorite woodworking site, and a technology-news summary. Favorites stored in my browser make it easy to get to these sites...

Double up your data: increase your hard drive capacity and security with a RAID Level 1 array.(WEEKEND PROJECT: HARDWARE)
January 1, 2006... WHEN YOU PURCHASED your desktop, you were certain its hard drive was roomy enough to last. Astonishingly, that drive filled up in a flash, now home to an irreplaceable collection of data files, digital images, music, and home movies. But don't...

Moving made easy: got a new PC? Alohabob makes carrying over files from your old one hassle-free.(WEEKEND PROJECT: SOFTWARE)
January 1, 2006... NOW THAT YOU can buy a respectable computer for well under $800, the temptation to dump that ugly old beige box can be overwhelmin8. Chances are, all that's stoppin8 you is the thought of transferrin8 that monstrous accumulation of file...

A motherboard for today and tomorrow: get the best value by buying with the future in mind.(BUYING ADVISOR)
January 1, 2006... A 1953 Ray Bradbury-penned flick, It Came From Outer Space, chilled Eisenhower-era audiences. We propose 2006% sequel, sure to make any Shopper reader's blood run cold: It Came With Windows 98! So confessed reader Giovanni Moscol,...

eFax eats your free lunch.(CONSUMER ALERT)
January 1, 2006... IT SOUNDED LIKE a great deal: A free eFax number you can use to receive faxes in your e-mail in-box. You view and print them using the provided eFax software. All you have to do to keep the account free is limit the number of fax pages you get...

Performance desktops ($1,500 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Power users need the best. Go with a top-notch Intel or AMD processor. You'll have maximum power and the best protection possible from system extinction. MEMORY Start with 1GB, and make sure your motherboard...

Budget notebooks (less than $1,000).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Most budget notebooks ship with a low-powered Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron processor. If you're lucky, you'll find a notebook running a robust Intel Pentium M. These advanced mobile chips have a full 2MB of cache and...

Power PDAs.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(personal digital assistants)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW OPERATING SYSTEM The two common operating systems for handhelds are the Palm OS and Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 or newer Windows Mobile 5.0. The Palm OS is favored by many for its ease of use, while those who seek tight...

Internal hard drives.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW INSTALLATION Internal hard drives are fairly easy to install. If it's a second drive, make sure you set the jumper to Slave. If you're replacing an old drive, create a boot disk first. Position the drive in an available...

17-inch flat-panel displays.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although some monitors that double as televisions have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition...

Wi-Fi routers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW NETWORKING STANDARD 802.11b has been the standard for home networks for some time now, but it's being replaced by 802.11g. While 802.11b, rated at 11 megabits per second (Mbps), typically moves data at speeds up to 5Mbps,...

Digital cameras (6-megapixel and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. An 8-megapixel camera, for example, should capture more image detail than a 6-megapixel model. Only an...

Tech products.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(computer peripherals)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... acortech.com Inexpensive PC accessories abound at Acortech.com. We found 17-inch LCD monitors for under $300, flash drives for under $20, optical mice for less than $5, and other low-cost goodies for certified tech geeks. altex.com ...

Printers.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2006... dell.com Dell's selection of printers includes photo inkjets, handy all-in-ones, and efficient laser printers. If you already own a Dell printer, look for compatible ink cartridges, papers, and add-on software. epsonstore.com ...