Computer Shopper articles from January 2009

Computer Shopper archives from January 2009

"Free!" and "heresy!".(EDITOR'S NOTE)
January 1, 2009... "FREE!" AND "HERESY!": Cries of both roiled the Shopper ranks as our cover story, "The Best Free Software," took shape. Let's be frank: In tough--and, heck, even not-so-tough--economic times, free anything has major pull, and we conceived a...

Geek speak: M&J plan One Last Heist, spin a Core i7 fish story, and battle for the Best Keyboard ever!(BOOT UP: TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE WORLD OF TECH)
January 1, 2009... ON THE 10TH FLOOR of Shopper HQ, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, two enterprising editors on a diet of tech, talk, and cheese bring you their impressions of the connected life... in a disconnected way. FILCH NOIR Ever seen one of...

Q&A .. with Stan Veit.(Interview)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Stan Veit was Computer Shopper's first editor-in-chief. Before that, he was a pioneer in personal computer sales. On the eve of Shopper's 30th anniversary (see p. 98), we asked him a few questions about Shopper's--and the PC...

Lala brings music back to the Web-but will it bring dollars?(Clickable Culture)
January 1, 2009... IT'S BEEN A PAINFUL decade for digital-music fans. Since the early days of MP3.com and the demise of free-for-all Napster, we've suffered through Sony CDs that install compromising software on our computers, music files that work only with...

Find hidden money at home: make Craigslist and eBay pay the bills with these selling secrets.(Tech Mom)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... WITH LIVING expenses skyrocketing, saving money and coming up with extra cash are tasks that often fall to the room, but let's face it: Clipping coupons and severe budgeting are not for everyone. (Me included!) So how do we get from one...

Mitsubishi Diamond Series HC7000U.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mitsubishi is so proud of its latest multimedia projector that the company slapped the Diamond name onto it. Like the flagship Diamond LCD and rear-projection HDTVs, the HC7000U has a native 1080p resolution, perfect...

Rock Revolution.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Konami's Rock Revolution music-based video game)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Unleash your inner rock star with Konami's new Rock Revolution music-based video game. It includes more than 40 songs from various genres, and six players can play together online on the Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360. The game comes...

Apple LED Cinema Display.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're lucky enough to get your hands on one of the new MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air laptops, pair it with the must-have 24-inch LED Cinema Display from Apple ($899). The monitor uses an LED backlight,...

BlackBerry Storm.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The BlackBerry Storm is RIM's answer to Apple's iPhone, featuring a touch screen that supports multi-touch gestures and "clicks" when you type on the virtual keyboard. Unlike previous BlackBerry smartphones, the...

Iomega StorCenter ix2.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... If you're looking for an easy way to share digital media within your household, add the Iomega StorCenter ix2 to your network. The device offers up to 2 terabytes of storage ($479.99, or $299.99 for 1 terabyte), and Iomega focused on making it...

Sony Reader Digital Book.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Condense your library into the compact Sony Reader Digital Book ($399.99). The latest model (PRS-700) itself resembles a small hardbound book, with a soft cover and a weight of 10 ounces. A 6-inch touch screen allows...

HP Mini 1000: netbook has a killer keyboard, so-so speed.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... HP'S MINI-NOTE 2133 STOOD OUT with its high-res screen, Windows Vista OS--and high price. The new, low-priced Mini 1000 doesn't seem as distinctive, however, since its specs are almost identical to those of its competitors. [ILLUSTRATION...

Epson Artisan 800: quite possibly the perfect multifunction printer.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE EPSON ARTISAN 800 is as near a perfect all-in-one as you are likely to find. The Artisan 800's features read like a wish list: legal-size color printing and copying, six-color photo printing, 4,800-dot-per-inch (dpi)...

HP TouchSmart IQ816: touch PC is finally ready for HD.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... WHEN WE REVIEWED HP's original TouchSmart IQ506, we were very impressed by everything the touch-oriented all-in-one offered to those looking for a catch-all home media and computing solution. About all we thought was missing was satisfactory HD...

eMachines EL1200-05w: tiny desktop, tiny price, tiny performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE CAN UNDERSTAND the appeal of micropriced, micro-sized desktops: People want small, cheap, basic computers for doing basic things. With eMachines' latest entry in the small-form-factor category, the EL1200-05w,...

Dell studio desktop: media-ready machine has some limitations.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... DELL'S $1,129 STUDIO DESKTOP LOOKS and behaves exactly like what it is: an uneasy blend of midrange and home-theater components that results in a less-than-cohesive machine. Glossy black on the top and front panels and gunmetal gray on the...

Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet: deluxe tablet gets almost everything right.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [EDITORS' CHOICE] WERE IMPRESSED with the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 ultraportable notebook that debuted this past summer with Intel's Centrino 2 platform, and for an encore, Lenovo has a treat for the tablet aficionados among us: the ThinkPad...

Asus N10Jc: a netbook with pep.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE ASUS N10JC NETBOOK suffers from an identity crisis. Even Asus stumbled when categorizing it, first calling it an ultraportable and then a netbook. Now that we've had a chance to review it, we understand the conundrum. But its unclear...

Sony VAIO AW170Y/Q: packed with features, power, and a gorgeous screen.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE SONY VAIO AW170Y/Q is the latest desktop-replacement notebook to feature a breathtaking 18.4-inch display and a wealth of features. Break out this 8.8-pound eye-catcher, and you'll be the envy of the laptop-toting set. Plus you'll send a...

CTL IL1A PC: buyer beware: you can do better in a netbook.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CTL WENT FOR A MINIMALIST DESIGN on the IL1A--but not in a good way. At 1.7x9.6x6.8 inches (HWD) and 2.7 pounds, it's lighter than the 3.2-pound Asus Eee PC 1000H, but you pay for that with discomfort while typing....

Lenovo IdeaPad S10: a 3G ExpressCard-ready netbook.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... LENOVO'S IDEAPAD $10 DOESN'T STRAY far from the netbook pack, but its expandability features give it an edge. The 2.7-pound $10 has solid construction and precise fit-and-finish. Its attractive, matte-white shell closely resembles a more...

Asus G50Vt-X1: gaming on a budget just got easier.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... AVAILABLE ONLY AT BEST BUY, the Asus G50Vt-X1 offers one-touch overclocking and interactive lighting effects. Although it struggles with some 3D performance, it can run today's DirectX 9 gaming rifles with ease. The 7.2-pound G50Vt-X1...

Gateway MC7803u: beautiful outside, a little slow inside.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE MC7803U delivers stunning good looks and plenty of multimedia features. This 16-inch system appeals to buyers who take their media on the road, and at $999.99, the price is right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 7.1-pound MC7803u...

ATI Radeon HD 4550: budget graphics for media, not gaming.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ATI RADEON HD 4550 OFFERS superb video playback, multiple-monitor support, and usable-if-unimpressive 3D performance at an entry-level price. This compact card is a perfect addition to a home theater PC,...

Antec Skeleton: unique case offers unprecedented accessibility.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... IN A MARKET WHERE MOST CASES BOAST about features that isolate PC components from the environment around them, Antec's Skeleton case is unique: It leaves your PC's innards exposed to the open air. The Skeleton's two-level design allows room...

Antec micro fusion remote 350: compact home-theater case has some limitations.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE $239.95 ANTEC MICRO FUSION 350 REMOTE is an attractive home-theater-PC case with some design gotchas that give us pause. Measuring 4.5x15.1x16.1 inches, the sturdy, compact case accepts only MicroATX motherboards. We wish Antec had left...

Shuttle SN78SH7: bare-bones system primed for HD home-theater use.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... AS LONG AS YOUR NEEDS ARE--and will remain--limited, Shuttle's $299 SN78SH7 bare-bones system should suffice as the starting point for a smart, small home-theater PC. You have plenty of options for powering this 7.4x8.2x12.8-inch system:...

ZyXel NSA220: home server is a breeze to set up, but pricey.(REVIEWS: NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ZYXEL'S NSA220 IS A VERSATILE network-storage device that does more than let you store and share files across a network. It also offers built-in FTP, HTTP, and BitTorrent download services; acts as a media server and...

Netgear XAVB101 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit: extend your home network with existing wiring.(REVIEWS: NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... IF A WIRELESS NETWORKING setup isn't feasible in your home, and you want to bring wired-network connectivity to other parts of the house without having to run new Ethernet cable, consider Netgear's XAVB101 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit...

Iogear Wireless USB-to-VGA Kit: easy streaming from PC to external monitor.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... IOGEAR'S WIRELESS USB-TO-VGA KIT lets you display your laptop content on an external monitor--an HDTV in particular--without cables. But the unit carries a steep $229.95 price tag, so if you're looking to economize, you might be better off...

D-Link Wireless Internet Photo Frame: a photo frame that's more than a pretty picture.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... MOST DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES leave little to talk about: Plug in a memory card, turn it on, and watch it go. With its $250 Wireless Internet Photo Frame (DSM-210), however, D-Link ups the ante in the photo-flame market by adding a slew of features...

Gateway FHD2401: sleek-looking display fumbles with gray.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... WHEN WE SET UP THE FHD2401, we were instantly impressed. The silver-on-black bezel, hidden LED touch-sensitive controls, and bright 400cd/[m.sup.2] display make for a stunning addition to any desktop. Unfortunately, the FHD2401 doesn't perform...

Westinghouse L1916HW: big-screen resolution in a small package.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE AFFORDABLE WESTINGHOUSE L1916HW packs a 22-inch monitor's resolution into a 19-inch display. Unfortunately, ergonomics and gray-scale performance limitations limit the monitor's usefulness. The L1916HW's screen boasts an ample...

Canon Selphy CP770: snapshot printer is a mini photo lab.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE 3.2-POUND CANON SELPHY CP770 portable snapshot printer is a solid choice for those who print more than the occasional photo at home. It has some quirks, but once you see its image quality,...

Xerox Phaser 3300 MFP: fast but costly all-in-one is worth the coin.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE XEROX PHASER 3300 MFP delivers lightning-fast monochrome laser printing. Its $599 list price is steep, but that includes an ADF and an autoduplexing unit. At 18x18.3x17.1 inches (HWD), the 3300 is beefy. It has a 150-sheet output tray,...

Canon PowerShot 5D990 IS: quality and beauty in a small body.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... THE $399.99 CANON POWERSHOT SD990 IS packs a lot of power and beauty into a small body. Boasting a staggering 14.7 megapixels, this shooter is everything an amateur photographer could dream of. The SD990's curvy body is both attractive and...

Apple iPod Touch (Second Generation): welcome features make this second act even better as a digital player.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... APPLE CALLS ITS SECOND-GENERATION iPodTouch "the funnest iPod ever," and with a growing list of games, best-in-class media management and navigation, Wi-Fi, and a host of other plusses, there's no arguing that this is the best the iPod has ever...

T-Mobile G1: the Android smartphone is here, hut can it topple the competition?(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... ALTHOUGH IT SUFFERS from a few hardware flaws, the first smartphone to use Google's Android platform, the T-Mobile G1, outshines much of the competition thanks to a fun-yet-smart OS and a unique set of features. Aggressively priced at $179...

Spore: revolutionary game is evolutionary fun.(REVIEWS: GAMING)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SPORE IS A SPRAWLING, evolution-themed title from Electronic Arts. There's so much you can customize that virtually no two games will ever be the same, guaranteeing open-ended gameplay. To get a sense of what...

Crysis Warhead: Stirring actioner will shake your hardware.(REVIEWS: GAMING)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... EA'S FOLLOW-UP to Crysis, Crysis Warhead, delivers great first-person-shooter (FPS) action. But like its predecessor, it will also tax your PC hardware. The environmental settings and story will be familiar to those who've played the first...

Adobe Premiere Elements 7: HD and SD video editing for novices and hobbyists alike.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... NO, YOU DIDN'T BLINK and miss versions 5 and 6 of Adobe Premiere Elements. Adobe skipped a few numbers to bring the version number in line with its Photoshop Elements sibling. And with Premiere Elements 7, Adobe has also brought the $99.99...

Roxio Creator 2009: Plentiful media-management features come at a high price.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... IT CAN'T BE EASY for a mature software suite to remain relevant year after year, version after version, especially amid increasingly tough competition from commercial products and free tools. Such products must work ever harder to improve...

Top 5 input devices: interface with your pc in comfort with these well-designed peripherals.(Logitech diNovo Mini)(Logitech MX Air)(Enermax Caesar)
January 1, 2009... 1 Logitech diNovo Mini www.logitech.com $149.99 Editors' Rating: (8.2) [check] Specs * Keyboard alternative * USB interface Bottom Line The Logitech diNovo Mini is the first keyboard that truly feels at...

Top 5 notebooks: you won't feel weighed down with these tiny laptops.(HP Mini 1000)(MSI Wind U100)(Asus Eee PC 1000H)
January 1, 2009... 1 Asus Eee PC 1000H eeepc.asus.com $449 Editors' Rating: (9.0) [check] Specs * 1.6GHz Atom N270 * IGB DDR2 memory * 80GB hard drive * Integrated graphics * 10-inch TFT * 3.2 pounds * One-year...

The best free software: from desktop publishing to securing your PC, we show you how to do everything for free.(Cover story)
January 1, 2009... MONEY'S TIGHT, AND IF YOU NEEDED TO STRETCH YOUR BUDGET like Silly Putty to buy a new PC recently, the last thing you want to do is drop another bundle to buy new software. Thanks to the mighty Internet, you may not have to. Like the desire to...

Core (i7) competency: Intel's new processor family promises faster speeds at lower prices. Does it deliver? We put the first hardware to the test.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2009... If it seems to you that Intel's innovations are released like clockwork, you're actually not that far off. The company's "'tick tock" model ensures that every year sees either a new silicon process technology that packs in more transistors (the...

Flash dance: USB flash drives are ubiquitous--and come in a dizzying mix of shapes and speeds. We test 10.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FLOPPY-KILLING FLASH DRIVES are now sold nearly everywhere, from big-box retailers to the corner drugstore, and with good reason: They're a cheap, pocket-friendly, reliable way to carry important files between...

Timing is everything.(COMPUTER CURES: COMPUTER SHOPPER'S EDITORS SOLVE YOUR TOUGHEST TECH PROBLEMS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Whenever I turn my computer on, I have to constantly change the time and date at setup before I can log on. (I press F2 and have to change it.) Can you tell me why this is happening and what I can do to fix it? CARDELL GREEN Assistant...

Will print for food.(COMPUTER CURES: COMPUTER SHOPPER'S EDITORS SOLVE YOUR TOUGHEST TECH PROBLEMS)
January 1, 2009... I recently started printing grocery coupons from the Web, and I had to download a utility called Coupon Printer to do so. I like that the utility puts up to three coupons on a page, but I wish it let me change the print settings first. Every...

Media center mania.(COMPUTER CURES)
January 1, 2009... I'm currently building up an HTPC and need some info. How can I use the computer in one room while usin9 Windows Vista's Media Center on a television in another, using the same computer? Also, in order to take advantage of high-definition...

How deep is your sleep?(COMPUTER CURES)
January 1, 2009... When shutting down my home-office desktop for the day, is it best to leave it in the standby mode, hibernation mode, or simply shut it down completely? What's your recommendation, and why? PAUL SANSEVERO Managing Editor Jonathan...

A complex outlook.(COMPUTER CURES)(Outlook Express)
January 1, 2009... I'm upgrading my Microsoft Office 2003 Student & Teacher software to Office Home & Student 2007. Since the new version of Office Home & Student doesn't include Outlook, I'm going to have to change to Outlook Express for my e-mail. I've...

Tip of the month: a good tip bears repeating.(COMPUTER CURES)
January 1, 2009... A reader from Colorado elaborates on a tip submitted a few issues ago by "Tip of the Month" winner Ben Kim, and it's worth noting: Sometimes the simplest tweaks deliver big results. Here's a good heads-up for your readers. The tip in the...

Perfect your digital images: no need to splurge on pricey photo-finishing software--Vista's tool is all you need.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DIGITAL CAMERAS MIGHT BE the most convenient invention ever for preserving memories--lots of them. But going from snapping the images to sampling them isn't always easy. You can buy software with advanced editing and...

Get a grip.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)
January 1, 2009... Dropping screws into a PC case during a build is a pain. Worse, if you forget to fish one out before you power up, you can short out your motherboard and fry other costly components. The $10 Stanley FatMax Clip-n-Grip screwdriver averts...

Cool blue waterblock.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Waterblocks are usually built for performance, not looks, but EnzoTech's $69.99 Luna aims for both. A shiny silver mounting plate etched with hieroglyphics surrounds a pulsing blue LED ring, making your CPU cooler look like something straight...

Component chiller.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If your overclocked components are so hot they're bringing your water-cooled rig to a boil, give the Thermaltake Xpressar a look. It uses a microcompressor and coolant (like a fridge or air conditioner) to keep all...

Overclocked and vapor-cooled.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Sapphire's $350 HD 4870 Toxic Edition wraps AMD's already impressive pixel-pumping card in a vapor-cooled vacuum chamber, which allows the card to ship with a pre-overclocked GPU for more gaming enjoyment. It also includes 512MB of GDDR5 memory...

Living-room zoom.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Who wouldn't want to play Crysis from the couch? Antec's $250 Fusion Remote Max hopes to bring the gaming PC into the living room. A squat entertainment-PC case with an included remote for media playback, it supports MicroATX and standard ATX...

Direct copper contact.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The $50 OCZ Gladiator Max separates itself from the CPU-cooler crowd by mounting its four copper heat pipes under the base, where they make direct contact with your sizzling CPU. The heat is carried up to the Max's...

30 years of Computer Shopper!(SHUT DOWN: A LOOK BACK INTO THE COMPUTER SHOPPER ARCHIVES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... WHAT STARTED in the waning years of the 1970s as a paper full of classified ads for hobbyists interested in surplus or used computer equipment evolved through the years into the magazine you're holding today. To celebrate this, our 30th...