Computer Shopper articles from January 2008

Computer Shopper archives from January 2008

Standby power reveals its dirty secret.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... TO CONSERVE POWER, you should turn off your electronics or put them into sleep mode. Sounds simple, right? Although you might think you're saving money on your energy bill and doing your part for the environment, many devices still draw...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(more people watching through net)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... More and more people are turning to their computers to get their daily TV fix, according to research groups The Conference Board and TNS. In a recent poll, they found that 16 percent of U.S. households watch TV broadcasts online in addition to...

Take control of your components.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... WHAT IF YOU COULD control and monitor all aspects of your computer, from the power supply to the chassis, in order to boost its performance? The concept isn't new to power users, who sometimes go to elaborate lengths to maximize their PCs'...

Will inkjet technology replace needles?(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
January 1, 2008... HATE GETTING SHOTS? In the future, receiving an injection of medicine could be pain-free, thanks to the same technology used in your inkjet printer. Hewlett-Packard has licensed its patented thermal-inkjet production process to Crospon, a...

New SD card adds Wi-Fi to digital cameras.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... FORGET USB cables or flash-card readers--now, you can wirelessly transmit your photos from your digital camera straight to your computer or to the Web, thanks to a company called Eye-Fi. The innovation that makes it possible: squeezing...

Alienware offers credit in exchange program.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Garners, take heart: You no longer have to pawn your valuables or sell your blood to afford one of Alienware's pricey gaming machines. The company recently announced a new program, AlienExchange, that will allow customers to trade in old...

All for one.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Dell XPS One)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not to be left behind in the all-in-one-PC game, Dell has released the XPS One. This stylish, gray combination TV-and-PC would look equally at home on a desk or as part of an entertainment center, and it's been...

Chain reaction.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Radioactive's Plasma desktop computers)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You would expect a company with a name like Radioactive to know something about heat. Radioactive's new Plasma performance desktop comes with a custom CPU liquid chiller and a SilverStone TJ10 chassis for keeping...

Back in business.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Enpower ENP545 )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you don't need all the frills that usually accompany performance laptops, the Enpower ENP545 from PC Club could be right for you. Weighing only 5 pounds and measuring just an inch thick, it's a thin-and-light...

Overdrive on the road.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(MSI GX600)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Overclocking is a great way to supercharge your system, but fussing with settings and cooling isn't everyone's idea of a good time. Realizing this, MSI has built a button-activated overclocking feature into its...

Q factor.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Poly Q3500)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For filling any of the computing gaps in your life, consider Polywell's Poly Q3500. Whether you need a machine for running Windows Media Center, a PC for your home office, or just one for everyday tasks such as...

Leaping lizards.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Gateway P-170L laptop)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Don't worry, Tokyo, you're safe--this time. Gateway's $1,299 P-170L is only nicknamed "Godzilla"; it's not really going to stamp out decades of technological progress or battle Mothra. Among its features are a Core 2...

Dell XPS 420: highly capable--if premium-priced--PC is a media master.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... WITH THE MAINSTREAM ACCESS it provides to its Media Center features, Windows Vista was set to inspire major changes in the entertainment-PC market from its January 2007 launch. It's taken nearly a year, but we're finally seeing systems that can...

Adobe Premiere Elements 4: much-improved editor for amateur videographers.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... ADOBE PREMIERE ELEMENTS has finally established an identity of its own with version 4, offering a revamped interface and new, amateur-friendly features that don't seem stripped-down from the higher-end Premiere Pro. But while the new version...

Polywell Poly i7150: entertainment PC thinks it's hip to be square.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... WE'RE USED TO having gaps to fill in our entertainment centers, but we have to admit they're not usually the size of the Poly i7150. That's one of the major issues we have with Polywell's new entertainment PC--at 9x11x14 inches, it's neither...

War Machine M1 Extreme: a nicely equipped--if unsettling--gaming desktop.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... WHEN WE ASKED WAR MACHINE to put together a gaming desktop for $2,000, we didn't know what to expect. We were at first a little taken aback by the black, all-metal case's dominant (and somewhat off-putting) cracked-skull motif. But given...

Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680: feature-loaded, media-friendly notebook is a hit.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] FOR BUYERS IN THE MARKET for a powerful, multimedia-focused notebook, the Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680 is an excellent choice. At $2,999, it's no impulse purchase, but the price is in line with other high-end entertainment...

Systemax Assault T72212P: a semi-rugged laptop at an affordable price.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... DESPITE A FEW design shortfalls, the built-to-order Systemax Assault T72212P is a good bet for small-business users who need a portable that can withstand some rough treatment. The 5.7-pound Assault comes in an attractive magnesium-alloy...

Vigor Artorius Pro Lite: gaming notebook costs less and performs well.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT MAY NOT BE ABLE to match the performance of upper-echelon gaming laptops, but for half the price, the Vigor Artorius Pro Lite offers an attractive option that will meet most garners' expectations. With its...

Fujitsu LifeBook U810: tiny tablet has nice design, but it's slow.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... THE FUJITSU LIFEBOOK U810 crams Windows Vista into a handheld, almost pocketable, notebook that doubles as a convertible tablet--and costs right about $1,000. Unfortunately, its versatile design and affordable price can't overcome a major...

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650: unmatched speed--for programs that can use it.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... GAMERS, VIDEO EDITORS, and other speed-hungry PC users, rejoice: The next generation of processors is here, pushing performance to an even higher level. Intel's $999 Core 2 Extreme QX9650 is the first desktop processor based on the company's...

ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo PCI Express: an excellent dual-tuner card for your home PC.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... THE $129 ATI TV WONDER 650 Combo PCI Express is one of the most flexible W-tuner cards you can install yourself. With both high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) support, Windows Media Center compatibility, and a compact design, it's...

Belkin N1 Vision: a strong wireless router that looks like no other.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE about Belkin's N1 Vision wireless router, starting with a sleek design featuring a cool LCD panel that displays what's going on with your network. More important, the router turned out impressive scores on our...

Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus (750GB): easy push-button backup drive with good performance.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... THE MAXTOR ONETOUCH 4 PLUS from Seagate is the latest offering in the company's line of simplified backup products that reduce saving your most important files to, well, one touch. The good news is that our evaluation model ($289.99 for 750GB...

Epson Stylus CX8400: a value-priced all-in-one that works well.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... THE $99.99 EPSON STYLUS CX8400 delivers printing, scanning, and copying functions that work well together but are inconsistent in quality and speed. Still, even though its components didn't all come up jackpot symbols, the CX8400 offers quite a...

Samsung ML-1630: a laser printer with both beauty and brawn.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... THE $199.95 SAMSUNG ML-1630 lets you add monochrome laser printing to your work area with style. Best of all, this shiny, piano-black printer offers excellent output quality, fast startup, and reasonably good speeds. The ML-1630 takes up...

HP w2408: a flexible, above-average, roomy LCD.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE $570 HP w2408 24-inch display doesn't offer perfect performance, but its balance of price, great looks, flexibility, features, and above-average test results makes it a good buy. Apart from the sleek...

BenQ FP241VW: a big LCD that doesn't like analog.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... IF YOU PLAN TO ADD the 2g-inch BenQFP241VW display to your setup, under no circumstance should you use it with an analog connection--this $905 LCD only shines when it's connected to a digital source. With its native 1,920x1,200 resolution, the...

Panasonic DMC-FX33: takes better photos than most pocket cams.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALTHOUGH MOST point-and-shoot cameras' automatic settings usually do a good job under typical conditions, they often produce substandard results in more-unusual shooting situations. Panasonic's compact DMC-FX33...

Canon PowerShot SD870 IS Digital Elph: small shooter is big on image quality.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] POWERSHOT SD870 IS Digital Elph from Canon is one of the very best point-and-shoot digital cameras on the market. It's a great choice for buyers in search of a compact camera that you can take anywhere. Clad in a compact...

Olympus Stylus 790 SW: ruggedized cam demands compromises.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... ON THE OUTSIDE, the $299.99 Olympus Stylus 790 SW is a tough guy. A new member of Olympus' line of shock-resistant and waterproof cams, this 7.1-megapixel model is rated to withstand falls as high as 5 feet, underwater immersion down to 10...

Canon PowerShot A650 IS: this value-price shooter acts high-end.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... THE $399.99 CANON POWERSHOT A650 IS won't woo users looking for a compact camera--it's bulky and heavy. But it has the chops to win over buyers who would otherwise opt for a high-end camera. Most notably, its image quality is superb. This...

Palm Centro: capable smartphone has a low price.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A SMARTPHONE FOR FOLKS on a flip-phone budget, the Palm Centro offers all the power of a Palm Treo in a smaller, more affordable package. You can pick one up for just $99 with a two-year service agreement and data...

Mio DigiWalker C230 GPS: budget navigation device is a solid performer.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT to spend on a GPS unit--and you can tolerate a small screen and limited features--Mio's DigiWalker C230 is one of the best budget GPS options out there. Measuring 3.5xB.3x0.9 inches and weighing just 5.1 ounces, the...

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard): an upgrade made for working better, faster, and smarter.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... LEOPARD, THE LATEST VERSION of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, continues the fine path Apple started on in 2001, and we'd gladly pay $129 for just a handful of the 300-plus features Apple touts in it. We certainly wouldn't be surprised if...

All for media: new suites from Nero and Roxio help you tame your photos, video, and audio.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, computers' media-file interactions generally stopped with JPGs and MP3s. But with the proliferation of digital cameras, camcorders, and Windows Media Center, arming yourself with a solid battery of media apps is more...

Top 5 alternative-brand desktops: these five models prove quality PCs don't only come from the big guys.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... 1 Cyberpower Gamer Infinity Ultimate* www.cyberpowerpc.com $3,999 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.6) [check] Specs * 3GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6850 (overclocked to 3.6GHz] * 26B DDR2 * 5DOGB hard drive; two 150GB hard drives...

Top 5 ultraportable laptops: the best featherlight portables we've seen for users on the move.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... 1 Lenovo ThinkPad X61 www.lenovo.com $1,754 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.3) [check] Specs * 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 * 2GB DDR2 * 100GB hard drive * Integrated graphics * 12.l-inch TFT * 3.4 pounds *...

Top 5 Wi-Fi routers: build a home network without wires around one of these capable devices.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... 1 Belkin N1 Vision www.belkin.com $199.99 Editors' Rating: (8.0) Specs * MIMO support * 300Mbps rated maximum throughput * Draft 802.11n, 802.11a/b/g * Three external antennae * Four wired Ethernet ports *...

Top 5 flash-based MP3 players: these digital audio devices are loaded with features.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... 1 Iriver Clix Gen 2 www.iriveramerica.com $139.99 (2GB); $189.99 (4GB): $239.99 (8GB) Editors' Rating: (8.5) [check] Specs * 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB capacity * ASF, MP3, OGG, WMA, WMA DRM support * 2.2-inch color display *...

Top 5 digital imaging software: perfect your photos with these image enhancers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... 1 Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended www.adobe.com $999 Editors' Rating: (9.0) [check] System Requirements * PowerPC 64165 or Core processor (Mac); Pentium 4 or later (PC) * 512MB RAM; 64MB video RAM * 2GB hard drive space...

Buy a PC that's great: 2008: the ultimate guide to buying the system of your dreams in the New Year.
January 1, 2008... If you've been putting off buying a new computer, 2008 is your year. Hardware prices on almost all fronts have dropped dramatically, helping you get more power for your dollar now than at any time in recent memory. Plus, Windows Vista has made...

Make it snappy: turn your home into a photo lab with one of these four snapshot printers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GETTING YOUR PHOTOS DEVELOPED used to be a chore--you had to drop off the film at your local photo lab or grocery store, wait hours or days for the turnaround, and drive back to pick up the prints. Digital cameras...

Cyber cops: these five software packages can help ensure your data stays yours.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... IF YOU HAVEN'T YET suffered a catastrophic loss of data, congratulations! But you will. No matter what kind of PC you own, or how careful you think you are, your system can be wiped out in just minutes by a seemingly random virus or...

Welcome to the big (slide) show.(COMPUTER CURES)
January 1, 2008... I'm planning to digitize over 2,000 old photo slides (35mm and other sizes). What options are available to store them on DVDs and view either a timed-advance or manual-advance slide show from the DVDs? Is this even possible? W.F. OTTO ...

Winken, blinken, and windows.(COMPUTER CURES)(blinking on computer)
January 1, 2008... My wife's PC (an HP Pavilion running Windows Me) has a hard drive activity light that flashes continuously every couple of seconds. Also, her DSL-modem connection light flashes periodically (but not at the same rate) even when she's not...

Slot savvy.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... I bought an nVidia GeForce 7950 graphics card to replace my old GeForce 5500, only to find they plug into different types of sockets. What I thought was a PCI Express port apparently is not. How do I fix this? Do I have to buy a new...

Print sharing made simple.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... I recently purchased a laptop with wireless capability, which connects wirelessly to my broadband router. My desktop is also connected to the router, but via an Ethernet cane. And my Epson C900 laser printer is connected by USB cable to the...

Tip of the month: dye job for printers.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Your October article "Is Cheap Ink a Good Deal?" on inkjet cartridges was a good one-but I can top it. In the annual maintenance of my hobby farm's pond, I add blue dye to prevent bottom-feeding plants from growing. (It prevents sunlight from...

Organize your digital audio: is your digital-music collection a mess? Get your files in harmony with these tips.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A COMPLETELY DIGITAL music collection has its perks. You no longer need to pull out your CDs, cassettes, or LPs to play music; it's easy to transfer songs to portable devices; and, if your computer is networked, you...

High-def power card.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Radeon HD 2900 Pro series)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... AMD's ATI division is ratcheting up the high-definition-graphics stakes with the Radeon HD 2900 Pro series of PCI Express graphics cards. These DirectX 10-compliant speedsters include High-Definition Multimedia Interface support (via a...

Cool innovation.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Thermalright VGA Backside Cooler HR-11)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite its snicker-inducing name, Thermalright's $27.95 VGA Backside Cooler HR-11 takes an unusual approach to cooling hot-running graphics cards such as the GeForce 8800 series. The card's graphics processor may...

Watt a beast.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Tagan ITZ 1300 power supply)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Today's maxed-out PCs draw an extraordinary amount of power--take twin high-end graphics cards and a quad-core CPU, tack on a pair of high-speed hard drives, and soon you've tallied some serious wattage draw. ABS, well-known for its...

Low down and cool.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Ninja Mini CPU cooler)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Cooling a tightly packed DIY Media Center PC requires quiet operation in a small space. Scythe addresses that need with the Ninja Mini, a low-slung aluminum-and-copper CPU cooler. At just 4.5 inches high and featuring a side-mount fan, this $49...

Tiny star.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(small computer casing from iStarUSA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The $3 from iStarUSA brings compact cases to a whole new level of small. At 3.8x7.9x10.7 inches, this small-form-factor case, not much bigger than the latest Harry Potter hardback, supports MiniITX motherboards,...

Power-PC palace.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(SilverStone Temjin TJ10 casing)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... High-end case design meets the unique needs of modern killer-watt graphics cards in SilverStone's Temjin TJ10. SilverStone, well-known for its top-shelf tower and Media Center enclosures, has created a $299 all-aluminum PC case that simply...

Need to know: midrange desktops ($750 to $1,499).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
January 1, 2008... PROCESSOR Don't choose an underpowered processor, but look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest for the power you need at a good price. A dual-core processor will help ensure solid Windows Vista and multitasking performance. ...

Need to know: midsize laptops (6 to 7 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
January 1, 2008... PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel's Core 2 Duo processor, which provides long battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. If you're interested in purchasing an AMD-based laptop, opt for the Vista-friendly Turion...

Need to know: budget digital cameras (less than $200).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
January 1, 2008... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. A 6-megapixel camera, therefore, should capture more image detail than a 5-megapixel model. Still,...

10 ways to shop smart online.
January 1, 2008... 1 AN ENCRYPTION PRESCRIPTION Before you submit any private information, be sure that the data will be encrypted and transmitted over a secure connection. Both your browser and the shopping site's server should support industry standards...

The right wide-screen flat-panel monitor.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's hard to find a new monitor these days that isn't a wide-screen model. These LCDs have a 16-to-9 aspect ratio, making them perfect for viewing multiple documents or Web pages at once. Prices on these space-saving...