Computer Shopper articles from July 2006

Computer Shopper archives from July 2006

Editor's note.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... MY WORST COMPUTER CATASTROPHES have all involved notebooks. There was the time someone kneeled on my closed computer and cracked the LCD, the time I spilled hot coffee all over my laptop (and lap), and the time my hastily re-stashed...

Don't knock Apple support.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... In reviewing the Apple iBook G4 in your May issue, your reviewer reported that "Apple offers only the bare minimum in service and support" (p. 38). For a diehard Windows user, this sounds like justification to avoid any Apple product. Yet your...

Linux: not just for geeks!(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I was glad to see a cover story focusing on building an inexpensive home PC ("Build a Bargain," June, p. 64). But I believe you mislead readers by dismissing Linux as "not a start-from-scratch operating system for the average user." Linux is...

Rethinking your new GPU.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... In "New Life for an Old PC" (May, p. 102), Levy Vargas claims that when upgrading your PC's graphics card, you should look for a GPU with a faster core and twice as much RAM. To determine whether the GPU is faster, however, I suggest looking at...

Early tests dispute performance claims of draft-802.11n products.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Farpoint Group and eWeek evaluated Linksys SRX400 and Linksys WRT300N)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... TWO DIFFERENT groups testing new wireless products based on a draft standard of next-generation Wi-Fi technology are cautioning consumers against buying prestandard gear. The Farpoint Group and the technology trade publication eWeek have...

University of Toronto.(TRENDSPOTTING)
July 1, 2006... Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed paint-on lasers that could help create smaller computer chips once they reach maximum density using traditional manufacturing methods. At some point in the future, chips will be so...

Digital decisions.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... More people today than in 2002 say the Web has helped them... Help another person cope with a major illness 54 percent Pursue career' training 50 percent Make major investment/ financial decisions 45 percent Look for a new...

Researcher to create 10-gigapixel photo.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Michael Cohen of Microsoft Research)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Michael Cohen, a scientist with Microsoft Research, is trying to create a photo this summer that will contain 10 billion pixels, that's 10 gigapixels, not megapixels. He's already done 4-gigapixel shots of downtown Seattle. Cohen's...

Seagate unleashes 750GB hard drives.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Seagate Technology L.L.C. introduces Barracuda 7200.10 line and 750GB Pushbutton Back-up hard drive)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... SEAGATE is one step closer to the terabyte hard drive with new drives that hold 750GB--a record, according to the company. The company has started to ship its Barracuda 7200.10 line of 3.5-inch internal hard drives, along with an external...

Memory card to bring Wi-Fi to digital cameras.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Eye-Fi is developing digital cameras with SD flash-memory card )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... WHILE digital cameras with wireless networking capabilities are not new to companies such as Canon, Kodak, and Nikon, startup firm Eye-Fi wants to add Wi-Fi to cameras via another method--media cards. The company is developing an SD...

New display-standard plugs in.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(DisplayPort was approved by Video Electronics Standards Association)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... DisplayPort, a new standard poised to replace Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connections on PC displays, has been approved by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), an organization that includes Dell, Hewlett-Packard. Lenovo,...

The beat walks on.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... A true media maven, the feature-packed Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman cell phone can play MP3 audio files, record MPEG-4 video clips, and snap pictures with its 2-megapixel camera. Bundled with a 512MB Memory Stick Pro Duo card and stereo...

Power station.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Cooler Master's $119 Real Power 550W SLI not only pumps 550 watts of juice into power-hungry dual-graphics-card Scalable Link Interface (SLI) PCs, but it also keeps noise levels low, thanks to a silent, blue-backlit fan. The Real Power also...

Mighty mouse pad.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Discerning gamers will go for Thermaltake's $34.99 Tai-Chi M2, a sleek pad designed to maximize mouse performance. Bonded to a sheet of durable, high-density aluminum alloy, the M2's processed PVC surface ensures a high level of precision and...

Shareable storage.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Share and swap files on the cheap with Memorex's FlashDiscs. More spacious than floppies, but less expensive than most USB thumb drives, these colorful plastic discs come with 16MB of reusable storage and are compatible with both PCs and Mats...

Xtreme sound.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Altec Lansing's $149.95 XT2 portable laptop speakers pump up the volume on notebook audio. The two stylish, lightweight speakers have full-range micro-drivers that deliver big sound and booming bass. Thanks to fold-away stands and retractable...

Big in little.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Take more gigabytes on the go with LaCie's $399.99 Little Big Disk portable hard drive. This 160GB drive is small, silent, and FireWire-bus-powered, so you don't need to lug around an AC adapter. Encased in a sturdy aluminum body, it supports...

Overdrive Gemini.SLI: Overclocking yields top performer.(personal computer)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... OVERDRIVE'S Gemini.SLI is an expertly tweaked PC with performance that rivals that of similar systems with higher-end components. Equipped with a midrange 2GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ processor, our quiet $4,000 test unit kept up with Falcon...

Dell XPS M1710: say hello to the fastest laptop on the planet.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... WHEN DELL created the XPS M1710, the company aimed high and made no compromises. Crafted out of magnesium alloy, this hulking machine is fitted with the best components that (a lot of) money can buy, such as a fast 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo T2600...

Gateway FX510XL: a good-deal power PC, despite upgrade hurdles.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... FOR $3,881, our FX510XL review unit is a good example of Gateway's large-vendor muscle. You get a powerful desktop, an outstanding 21-inch wide-screen LCD monitor, and decent-sounding Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 speakers, all for a competitive price....

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo: Intel-based Mini is a decent home theater PC.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... MEDIA LOVERS will rejoice at the Apple Mac Mini Core Duo. It includes extras such as a remote control, flexible video and audio ports, and an improved ability to share media with other computers across a network. A media-rich software...

Shuttle XPC X100.(mini personal computer)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Long regarded as the originator of the small-form-factor PC, Shuttle joins the ultra-tiny-desktop fray--tussling with the likes of Apple's Mac Mini and AOpen's MiniPC--with its barely there XPC X100. Upside: The angular design may look...

HP Pavilion s7320n Slimline: a stylish and able budget performer.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... THE PAVILION s7320n Slimline delivers impressive goods in an attractive package at an approachable $549.99 (before a $50 rebate). The catch: You can't customize or expand the system. The s7320n's configuration is about as fixed as you'll find,...

Lenovo 3000 J105: business smarts with low overhead.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... AIMED AT BUSINESSES with 25 or fewer employees, the Lenovo 3000 J105, part of the company's 3000 J-series of PCs, trades impressive specs for a low price and a well-rounded support package. The higher-end models in the series, including this...

Dell Latitude D620: business system has the right connections.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... THANKS to its excellent wireless features, Dell's Latitude D620 will keep you connected wherever you roam. Add its fast mobile performance, extensive array of security options, and 2GHz dual-core processor, and you have the makings of a solid...

Lenovo 3000 N100: affordable laptop doesn't skimp on performance.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... LENOVO'S 3000 N100 is one of the few laptops to give you top value for your money. Its battery life may be average, and its one-year warranty paltry for a business system, but you likely won't find a better system for the price. Our $1,399...

HP Compaq NX9420: a powerful machine for the corporate crowd.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... YOU'LL FIND no shortage of 17-inch wide-screen laptops on the market, but only Hewlett-Packard'S Compaq NX9420 is designed with large businesses in mind. The NX9420 is pricier than HP's consumer notebooks, but it's also more powerful, thanks to...

Toshiba Satellite P105-S921: a solid gaming system at an affordable price.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... HARD-CORE garners who desire best-of-breed hardware, but don't have the sky-high budget to match, should seriously consider Toshiba's Satellite P105-$921. Built around a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 processor, the notebook may not be the...

Midrange-graphics matchup: ATI and nVidia spar with new value-price gaming cards.(NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT)(ATI Radeon X1800 GTO )(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... WHILE ATI AND NVIDIA have always competed vigorously for the championship title among high-end graphics cards, the companies have shifted some attention to the midrange arena with two upcoming releases: ATI's Radeon X1800 GTO and nVidia's...

ECS 945G-M3 (1.0b): Viiv-ready mobo hits the right notes.(motherboard)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... ANYONE WISHING to build a compact home-theater PC should consider ECS's $89.99 945G-M3 (1.0b). While we aren't overly keen on Intel's Viiv-technology marketing push, the Viiv platform guarantees the presence of a handful of important...

Creative fatality 1010 mouse: adjustable mouse appeals to gaming fanatics.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... NAMED AFTER infamous garner Johnathan "Fatality" Wendel, Creative's $49.99 Fatality 1010 Mouse offers a great set of features for aspiring cyberathletes. The piano-black mouse has a glossy shell, curved matte-finish buttons, and smooth...

Maxtor One Touch III Mini Edition.(hard drive)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... FIRST TAKE It may not be the flashiest portable hard drive around, but Maxtor's 60GB One Touch III Mini Edition is certainly one of the most affordable, Bundled with a comprehensive software suite, the $149 pocket-size Mini shows promise....

Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP: 20-inch wide-screen provides cheap thrills.(liquid crystal display monitor)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... AT $529, DELL'S UltraSharp 2007WFP proves you don't have to splurge to get a big LCD. This 20-inch wide-screen display is attractive, performs well, and handles video like a pro. With all the flexibility you could possibly want, the 2007WFP...

Envision EN2028: bland LCD falls flat despite attractive price.(liquid crystal display monitor)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE NO-FRILLS Envision EN2028, as basic a 20-inch LCD as you'll find, delivers average performance and modest adjustability. Although it's attractively priced at $549, you can find better options. With its sober, uninspiring design, the...

HP VS17: budget panel offers decent speakers, little else.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... WE WANTED to like the HP VS17. Despite its average performance, the 17-inch LCD scored points for its low $230 price, attractive design, and decent-sounding speakers. The analog-only display came up short, however, with its paltry one-year...

Canon Pixma iP6600D: photo-ready printer with extras.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... IDEAL FOR snap-happy shutterbugs, the $199.99 Pixma iP6600D delivers good photo output with lots of photo-friendly extras. Subpar text output and slow operation, however, make this 9,600x2,400-dot-per-inch printer more suitable for the home...

Epson Stylus Photo R2400: pricey inkjet yields outstanding prints.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... EPSON'S Stylus Photo R2400 isn't for everyone. It's a space hog, and, at $849.99, it's quite expensive for an inkjet printer. But if your images mean everything to you, this model's flexible paper handling and long-life, color-accurate prints...

HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo printer.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... FIRST TAKE Hewlett-Packard is counting on its .$699.99 Photosmart Pro B9180, which uses a new set of eight pigment-based Vivera inks, to please hard-core photo hobbyists and others who need top photo-printing performance and giant prints...

RIM BlackBerry 8700g: next-gen smartphone is consumer-friendly.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... T-MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS will find the RIM BlackBerry 8700g a robust, user-friendly messaging device and cell phone. (It costs $349.99 when purchased along with a two-year service plan, and before a $50 mail-in rebate.) At 4.3x2.7x0.7 inches...

LG F9200: a text-friendly phone with a flawed keyboard.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE LG F9200 is a nicely priced, feature-loaded cell phone that's great for sending text messages, though its keyboard is flawed. It's available to Cingular customers for $199.99 (when bought with a two-year service plan, and before a $50...

Tekkeon EZTalker Digital: quality headset has a few awkward features.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... TEKKEON'S $119.95 EZTalker Digital is a power-user Blue-tooth headset that offers excellent performance, though some features are a bit tricky to use. Compact and lightweight, the 0.9-ounce EZTalker Digital fits comfortably in your ear....

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1: high-definition video for under $800.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE SANYO XACTI VPC-HD1 has several innovative features: It records and outputs progressive-scan, high-definition video at 720p; it incorporates a dazzling 2.2-inch organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) screen; and it squeezes a 10x optical zoom...

Panasonic PV-GS300: three-CCD videocam makes manual control tricky.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... OFFERING SUPERB VIDEO quality under a wide variety of lighting conditions, Panasonic's $699.95 PV-GS300 is an excellent choice if you typically shoot in automatic mode. Advanced users may find its limited options and awkwardly situated manual...

Sony DCR-DVD505 DVD Handycam: a top-notch DVD camcorder.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... FULL-FEATURED but bulky, the $1,099 Sony DCR-DVD505 DVD Handycam camcorder rivals its MiniDV competitors in most areas, while offering the convenience of direct-to-disc recording. The DCR-DVD505 records video to 3-inch write-once DVD [+ or...

Pioneer Inno: the most portable satellite-radio receiver yet.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE $399.99 PIONEER Inno lets you enjoy both live XM Satellite Radio programming and your own music tracks on the go, but it lacks adequate battery life and storage space. (To use the Inno as a radio receiver, you'll need to subscribe to XM's...

Peony Bluetooth MP3 Headphone: a flawed MP3 player/headset combo.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... AN MP3 PLAYER and Bluetooth headset in one, the $129 Peony Bluetooth MP3 Headphone has numerous features and just as many flaws. The device has a built-in FM tuner and can play MP3 and WMA tracks, though not secure WMA files. It ships with...

SanDisk Sansa e200: high-capacity flash player has features galore.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE STURDY, compact SanDisk Sansa e200 flash-memory player offers copious features for a reasonable price. The device comes in 2GB ($179.99) and 4GB ($229.99) capacities, as well as a 6GB version ($279.99) that's currently the highest-capacity...

Dell W3706MC: pricey but slick 37-inch LCD HDTV.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE Dell W3706MC offers a slick-looking, versatile design with detachable speakers, an excellent input bay that includes two High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) inputs, and better-than-average image quality for an LCD set. At $1,999,...

Logitech Harmony 550 Advanced Universal Remote: sleek remote ably handles your A/V setup.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE PC-programmable Logitech Harmony 550 Advanced Universal Remote offers a sleek design and impressive features. The $149.99 remote crams lots of buttons onto its modest frame, including a numeric keypad, a four-way directional pad, and...

Roku SoundBridge Radio: sweet tabletop radio is also a wireless audio streamer.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... THE ROKU SoundBridge Radio successfully combines a high-end AM/FM clock radio with an 802.11b-based wireless digital audio receiver. We'd have liked to see a few extra features included, however, considering the $399.99 price. The device...

Norton SystemWorks 2006 Premier: top-selling PC-maintenance suite needs an overhaul.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... SYMANTEC HAS TRIED, for the past two years, to buttress its outdated hard-drive-tools package, Norton SystemWorks, by bundling it with Norton Ghost, an excellent backup and recovery tool. The inclusion of Ghost in the $99.99 Premier edition of...

Corel Painter Essentials 3: an inexpensive introduction to digital painting.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... COREL PAINTER ESSENTIALS 3 is a remastered, introductory version of Corel's powerhouse natural-media drawing program, Painter IX. The $69 download (or $79 for the boxed version) is a cost-effective way of exploring the world of digital art. We...

Registry Mechanic 5.2: strong registry-maintenance app.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... REGISTRY MECHANIC 5.2 by PC Tools scans and fixes errors in your Windows Registry the same way features in competing products (such as WinDoctor in Symantec's Norton SystemWorks, and Fix Registry Problems in Iolo's System Mechanic Professional)...

EmailTreo: easy, affordable push e-mail for the Treo.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... YOU CAN SET UP "push" e-mail service right from your Treo smartphone handset, without your IT department's help, by pairing Everyone.net's ChatterEmail client with its EmailTreo service. EmailTreo, which works with Treo 600s and 650s (Treo...

SiteAdvisor: browser plug-in sinks spyware.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... SITEADVISOR, a free browser plug-in, aims to keep your PC clean of spyware by providing clear, visible warnings for sites known to be spyware carriers. Installation is simple and straightforward. A script on SiteAdvisor's Web site detects...

Ashampoo Burning Studio 6: easy-to-use, robust disc-burning app.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... WITH THE COST of CD and DVD media so low, and inexpensive burners easy to come by, optical discs are now the preferred means of backing up, sharing, and transporting data. The good-looking, easy-to-use Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 comes with all...

Fresh UI 7.5: free Windows tweaker for intrepid users.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH Fresh UI can tweak and optimize dozens of Windows interface and system features, it's not a program for be ginners. Some of its features could use better descriptions, for instance, and a few well-placed wizards would greatly simplify...

Spytech SpyAgent 5: a vigilant computer-surveillance app.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... SPYTECH'S SpyAgent 5 is an almost-perfect solution for keeping an eye on a PC's activities while you're away from it. The program records keystrokes, IM conversations, Web sites visited, e-mail transfers, files accessed, windows opened, and...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, inkjet printers, network-attached storage, and digital-imagirig software.(Table)
July 1, 2006... Top 25 This month's best desktops, notebooks, inkjet printers, network-attached storage, and digital-imagirig software. MEDIA-CENTER DESKTOPS >> Slick PCs that add brains to your home entertainment system. PRODUCT ...

Drop, chill, bake, & spill: four laptops checked in for our torture tests. Only one checked out.(Dell Latitude D620, Gateway NX560X, Hewlett-Packard Compaq NC6420 and Toshiba Tecra M5-S4.33)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... WHEN YOUR LAPTOP CRASHES TO THE FLOOR, the first thing likely to flash through your mind is a vision of the wallet-wounding repair bill. Next up: all that data you just lost. Laptops lead risky lives, fraught with potential peril compared...

Camera panorama: find the pixel-perfect model with our wide-angle look at 66 of the latest digital cameras.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... Few technologies have been snapped up by the masses as quickly as digital photography has. Just a few years ago, digital cameras were early-adopter novelties; today they are so pervasive that many users are now updating their low-megapixel...

Snapshot printers.(photo printers)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2006... Once you have your new digital camera, you'll want a photo printer that can output your best shots. These compact printers make it easy to print photolab-quality 4x6-inch snapshots without leaving home. Snapshot Printers PRODUCT ...

Ask the editors: having issues with your PC or electronic devices? Our trouble-solving editors take on 20 of your toughest problems.(HARDWARE HELP)(data recovery, anti-virus software, preventing spyware)(Column)
July 1, 2006... VISTA-FRIENDLY HARDWARE I'm in the market for a new PC, but I would like to know what the new Windows Vista requirements will be before I commit to a purchase. The release of Microsoft's latest operating system is still months away, but if...

Swap in a flash.(COMPUTER CURES)(flash drives)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... I've used several different brands of USB flash drives, and I find that the drives are not "hot swappable" as most USB devices are supposed to be. I've found out the hard way that simply pulling a drive out of a USB port is a good way to ruin...

Memories immortalized.(COMPUTER CURES)(for editing black and white photos and storing in computers)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... I recently discovered a trove of old black-and-white family photos that should be preserved. Everything I read seems to discuss printing digital photos on color printers. I never see anything about black-and-white film photographs, however. I...

Let 'em be.(COMPUTER CURES)(folders and computer memory)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... Thanks for the April Tip of the Month about identifying all the programs running on my PC. I was able to clear out a lot of useless stuff, but I also have hundreds of folders inside my Windows folder with names like "$NtuninstallB896358$." What...

A width within reason.(COMPUTER CURES)(start menu)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... I'm running Windows XP Home Edition using the XP-style Start menu. Until recently, all my program folders were displayed in three columns that fit the screen, and I was able to see each folder entry. Recently, each of the three columns widths...

Hardware, unhinged.(COMPUTER CURES)(repair of laptop display)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... My laptop's display has broken off at the hinge, but the screen still works. Can it be repaired? DIPANJAN MITRA You're lucky the screen still works--the LCD is often the most expensive component to replace in a notebook. Plenty of...

Failure to launch.(COMPUTER CURES)(Microsoft Windows 2000)(shortcut keys usage)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... I have a problem with Windows 2000 that's driving me crazy. I assigned Alt+X as a keyboard shortcut for a particular program, but the app won't start when I use that shortcut. This key combo worked fine in Windows NT. Can you help? KEN...

Dial-up for DSL?(COMPUTER CURES)(digital subscriber line)(modems)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2006... I'm shopping for a new PC, and the one I have my eye on doesn't come with a modem. Will I need a modem if I use a DSL connection to access the Internet? SHELDON HOROWITZ Even though a DSL connection uses your phone line, you don't...

Tip of the month: sidestep windows' passwords--simply.(HELP & HOW-TO: COMPUTER CURES)(Microsoft TweakUI)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... In the April edition of "Computer Cures," I recommended using Microsoft's TWeakUI to set Windows to log in without requiring a username or password. TweakUI is free, but Microsoft provides no support for it, and a few readers have reported...

Shared data made simple: installing a network drive doesn't require a Ph.D. Here's how to get one running.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)(Network attached storage)
July 1, 2006... NETWORK-ATTACHED-STORAGE (NAS) drives--central storage drives for your entire network--make it easy to expand your storage space. Still, many users dread the thought of tweaking their networks. To save you from frustration, we added an NAS...

Photo-flub fixers: 10 digital-picture pitfalls and how to avoid them.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
July 1, 2006... THAT ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME shot you snagged looked great on your camera's LCD, but you loaded it up on your PC only to discover it's too blurry to even make out the faces. By remembering a few simple rules, however, you can increase your odds of...

Performance desktops ($1,500 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Power users need the best. Go with a top-notch Intel or AMD processor, such as the AMD Athlon 64 FX or X2 series, or Intel's Pentium D 800 or 900 series. You'll have maximum power and the best protection possible...

Ultraportable notebooks (less than 4 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Intel's Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Pentium M processors deliver the longest battery life. Save money by choosing a CPU speed a few notches below the fastest. MEMORY Because an ultraportable's system RAM often does...

Home and small-office laser printers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... COLOR OR MONOCHROME With a few color laser models priced under $500, some small businesses might find a color model worth the splurge to add some extra pop to their printed materials. For the most part, however, monochrome lasers are a far...

External hard drives.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... FORM FACTOR External hard drives come in all shapes and sizes, and most can even be rested vertically to save space on your desk. Some externals are small enough to fit inside your shirt pocket, but these tend to be more expensive and offer...

17-inch flat-panel displays.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... 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 television (HDTV) in...

Portable digital audio and video players (hard drive-based).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... STORAGE Smaller "micro" hard drive players range from 2.5GB to 6GB in capacity, while larger units can feature anywhere from 20GB to 100GB, good for thousands of songs and hours of video. AUDIO FORMATS In the audio realm, players will...

The best recently reviewed portable digital audio and video players (hard drive-based).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Cowon A2)(Archos Gmini 402)(Creative Zen Vision)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Creative Zen Vision: M * $299.99 * Editors' Rating: 8.0 [check] Creative's latest PVP has a better screen and more features than Apple's video-enabled iPod. Plus, the WMA-friendly player is compatible with most online music stores and...

amazon.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Amazon.com is an unparalleled superstore with a massive inventory equaled only by its special features, such as personalized product recommendations and mobile access. The Early Adopter Products pages show what's fresh in electronics, video...

askergoworks.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Ergo Works wants to turn your desk into a healthier workspace, its selection of keyboard trays, monitor risers, and ergonomic seating can make computing more comfortable. Check out the kid-friendly chairs, keyboards, and mice.

www.batterybarn.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... You'll get a charge from the selection at Battery Barn, which includes batteries for cordless phones, digital cameras, camcorders, and other power-hungry portable gadgets. The site also stocks hard to find batteries for tools and electric...

bestbuy.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Our readers voted Best Buy their favorite place to buy consumer electronics. The selection in each department is comprehensive and impressive. The best part? You can have your gadget delivered or readied for pickup at a nearby store.