Computer Shopper articles from July 2008

Computer Shopper archives from July 2008

Feel like your PC is running at its.(LETTER FROM THE EDITOR)
July 1, 2008... full potential? Think again. Even the most confident computer user--or technology editor--could stand to benefit from simple shortcuts, performance tweaks, and productivity pointers that make computing better, faster, more efficient, and more...

Tech Giants make big investment in WiMax wireless networking.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... WIMAX TECHNOLOGY could see a huge boost in the coming year. The emerging form of wireless networking, which delivers fast Internet speeds over long distances, will be the basis of a new partnership between Clearwire and Sprint Nextel. The...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Despite HD DVD calling it quits this February, Blu-ray has yet to see any major growth, according to market research firm The NPD Group. NPD's Retail Tracking Service found that standalone Blu-ray players showed only a 2 percent increase in...

Could new circuit element lead to instant-on PCs?(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... IMAGINE hitting a button on your computer and having it instantly boot up. It may sound like wishful thinking, but a new circuit element discovered by HP Labs researchers just might make that possible. This new device, called a memristor,...

PC gaming rebounds thanks to online play.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... GAMING ON THE PC has been losing market share to its console-based cousins for years. A recent report from the Yankee Group found that although gaming in general generated $20.35 billion of revenue in 2007, the PC sector-unlike--console and...

Automakers equipping more models with USB.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NOT TOO LONG AGO. CD players were the musthave, pricey accessones in car stereos. Now, however, automakers are increasingly aware that buyers have a new preference: the portable MP3 player. Car builders are finding new ways, in fact, to...

Microsoft withdraws buyout offer for Yahoo.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... Microsoft's pullout from a potential purchase of Yahoo has left many wondering what paths the Internet giants will now take. In the latest move in one of the more interesting tech industry chess games of 2008, Steve Ballmer, chief executive...

Falling satellites.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Toshiba has once again revamped its series of Satellite Pro notebooks, with new machines ranging from a 13.3-inch model to a hulking desktop replacement. The least-expensive entry is the $699 L300 D-EZ1001V, which...

Micro Magix.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Velocity Micro's CineMagix Essential )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... If you're looking for a new entertainment PC but want to have some money left to spend on movies, consider the CineMagix Essential from performance paragon Velocity Micro. For $999, you get a system designed for your home theater and loaded...

Vostro returns.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Vostro line has proven a popular, affordable, and durable desktop choice for small business owners, so it's no surprise that Dell has continued the line with the Vostro 410. Available with a choice of Intel Core...

Gee PC.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Not every notebook can be Asus' ultraportable Eee PC--and in the case of the company's new G70 gaming notebook, that's a good thing. This one comes with a 17-inch wide-screen display, running at an HD-ready 1,920x1,200 resolution. Inside, Intel...

Playing with power.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Lenovo's Ideapad U110 )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Priced at $1,999, Lenovo's 2.3-pound Ideapad U110 is certainly not an impulse purchase. But if you need a powerful notebook that's also super-thin, you might find it worth the price. It runs a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo L7500...

Landing in force.(NEW PRODUCTS PCs)(Vigor Force Retort )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Try to take advantage of the great weather this summer, but be prepared for indoor play, too, with the Vigor Force Retort SP. Starting at $1,899, it delivers some choice components as part of AMD's new Spider gaming platform: a Phenom X4 9850...

Find your focus.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Lensbaby 3G; lens )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A unique accessory for digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) owners, the Lensbaby 3G is a lens that snaps photos with one area in sharp focus--the "sweet spot"--surrounded by a graduated blur. The Lensbaby 3G works with...

Fancy frame.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(DPF-0702 7-inch-diagonal wide-screen frame from Westinghouse)
July 1, 2008... Framed photographs are decidedly last-century. Westinghouse's $129.99 DPF-0702 7-inch-diagonal wide-screen frame can display a digital-image slide show, showcase your favorite photo, or tile up to four pics in its static MosaicView mode. Plus,...

Tripod for your iPod--and more.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Gorillapod Go-Go!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The newest in Joby's series of bendable tripods, the $34.95 Gorillapod Go-Go! lets you attach almost any handheld device--such as an iPhone, GPS device, MP3 player, or a small digital camera--to a flexible, three-legged tripod for easy viewing,...

Camera to go.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Crumpler's Million Door Home photography )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... You may not be able to buy a mansion, but you can certainly afford nice digs for your camera. Crumpler's Million Door Home photography bags come in five colors and seven sizes (ranging from $31.50 to $128.50). The smaller bags are a perfect fit...

Big screen prints.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Sony PictureStation DPP-FP95 )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The $200 Sony PictureStation DPP-FP95 not only lets you print, display, and edit your digital images on the go, but it also features an HDMI port that you can connect to a compatible television to share your...

Smart shooter.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ50)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ50 might look like a standard compact camera, but its loaded feature set proves otherwise. This 9.1-megapixel shooter packs a wide-angle lens, has a 10x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD, and can...

HP Blackbird 002: high-end gaming PC now looks better than it performs.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... WHEN HP FIRST RELEASE D its Blackbird 002 gaming PC last September, we were blindsided by its stylish rethinking of how computers should look and behave. But the match of performance and appearance that so floored us last year is not out in...

Lenovo IdeaPad Y510: Newbie consumer system gets almost everything right.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... FORGET THE STAID, buttoned-down ThinkPads. Lenovo's first consumer notebook has the same solid construction with casual Friday looks--at an attractive price. Some things work, others don't, but ultimately, the $899 IdeaPad Y510 is a solid,...

Maingear Axess HD: media master shouldn't be called a computer.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... THE MAINGEAR AXESS HD doesn't lack computing credentials: It uses an AMD Phenom X4 9550 quad-core processor coupled to a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H motherboard with an AMD 780G chipset that's endowed with 2GB of memory. The motherboard also...

Falcon Northwest Fragbox: diminutive system is a desirable piece of desktop bling.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... FALCON NORTHWEST has been refrying the original Fragbox since 2003. Rather than sticking with a tired old design, however, the latest update manages to keep the small-form-factor cube practical, relevant, and even fun--at an affordable price....

HP Pavilion Elite m9200t: well-equipped media PE also conquers games.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... EDITORS' CHOICE THESE DAYS, $2,000 takes you a lot further in the computer world than it ever has--and the benefits aren't always where you'd expect them. The $1,999 HP Pavilion Elite m9200t, an entertainment box with solid gaming...

Eurocom LV220C ViiVA: affordable--but unattractive-all-in-one.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... WITH ITS 22-INCH wide-screen monitor, side speakers, clear bezel, and lack of an immediately visible stand, Eurocom's LV220C ViivA more closely resembles Sony's VAIO VGC LT29U wall-mountable all-in-one than the iMac, the Gateway One, or the...

Asus RIE-B1: Tablet PC delivers hot design, top performance.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... AN EXCELLENT PERFORMER with a slick design, the $1,899 Asus R1E-B1 just might have everything you're looking for in a tablet PC--as long as you don't mind a little bloatware. The R1E-B1's glossy granite-and-black case exudes an air of...

HP Pavilion DV2800t Artist Edition: eye-catching notebook excels at multimedia.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... THE $1,205 HP PAVILION DV2800t Artist Edition performs well in every area its hipster design would lead you to expect: media playback, Web-surfing, portability, and comfort. Just don't try to run any current-generation games on it. On its...

Sony VAIO VGN-TZ298N/XC: pricey ultraportable has lots of features.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS who value portability over comfort, the $3,699 Sony VAIO VGN-TZ298N/XC might be worth the tradeoffs--and the steep price--that come with its small size. With a footprint smaller than a piece of paper, and measuring...

Gateway T-1628: budget model with nice specs, slow speeds.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... THOUGH NOT A PERFORMANCE DYNAMO, the sturdy, shiny Gateway T-L628 offers loads of features for a low price. As budget notebooks go, it's a winner. Available exclusively at Best Buy, the $749.99 T-1628 has an attractive silver finish...

AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition: quad-core CPU lags behind Intel's offerings.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... AMD'S PHENOM QUAD-CORE PROCESSOR had a rough launch, but its second-generation Phenom X4 chips now run at their full potential. At the top of the line is the Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition, which has an unlocked multiplier for more over-clocking...

EVGA e-GeForce 9800 GTX: The fastest single-GPU card available.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... EDITOR'S CHOICE THE EVGA E-GEFORCE 9800 GTX is nVidia's new high-end, single-GPU video card. Though it doesn't match the Geforce 9800 GX2's performance, it's less expensive and easier to use in a multiple-monitor setup, has lower power...

Thermaltake Xaser VI: Gigantic, tool-less case for hard-core PC builders.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... WE'VE SAMPLED A NUMBER of full-size "super-tower" PC enclosures recently, and now Thermaltake has chimed in with its new Xaser VI full-tower chassis, which has plenty of handy features and a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic. The $299 Xaser VI...

Thermaltake DuOrb: powerful cooler's size can be a liability.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THERMALTAKE'S $64.99 DUORB COMBINES two orbs into one giant CPU and memory cooler. Though it offers sufficient performance and looks snazzy, its large size saddles it with several clearance and installation issues that dampened our enthusiasm....

Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder: more than a simple voice recorder.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THE OLYMPUS LS-10 LINEAR PCM Recorder (the PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation) is a very capable mobile recording studio that lets you capture CD-quality audio. It's not for casual use or simple dictation; its $399 price tag pretty much...

Zonet Wireless Audio 2-Way IP Cam (ZVC7630W}: wireless home video surveillance.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... AS FAR AS SECURITY DEVICES GO, the $320 Zonet Wireless Audio 2-Way IP Cam is a relatively affordable networked surveillance solution for the home or office. But the low price comes with trade-offs. Slightly larger than a deck of playing...

Chimei CMV-633A: a 16-inch panel with below-average performance.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THE $149.99 CMV-633A FROM CHIMEI is a small 16-inch wide-screen display. While we are reluctant to recommend it as an everyday monitor for most users, it makes a handy secondary display. As a desktop PC display, we can't think of anyone who...

Samsung SyncMaster 943BX: Standard aspect ratio delivers great color.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... OUT OF THE BOX, Samsung's 19-inch SyncMaster 943BX painted excellent graphics and great video. It's versatile, too: The standard 4:3 aspect ratio screen sits on a flexible stand that has adjustable height and can pivot, tilt, and swivel. For...

Canon Pixma iP2600: basic printer offers great color.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EDITORS' CHOICE [check] THE $49.99 PIXMA IP2600 Is Canon s newest entry-levelinkjet, and it delivers superb color reproduction for an inexpensive printer It's a barebones unit, however, and it lacks scanning and...

Lexmark X9575 Professional Multifunction Printer: all-in-one offers good prints, slow speeds.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THE LEXMARK X9575 is a full-featured multifunction inkjet that offers just about everything you might want or need in such a device: printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, plus a multitude of connectivity options, an automatic document feeder...

HP CP1215 Color LaserJet: good for the home, not large offices.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THE $299.99 CP1215 is HP's most affordable color LaserJet-and it shows. Its slow color print speed, lack of network connectivity and single 150-sheet paper tray mark it as a capable home and small office printer, but less so for larger...

Fujifilm FinePix Z100fd: Attractive design, but with some tradeoffs.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE FUJIFILM FINEPIX Z100FD is a sleek-looking-point-and-shoot camera that offers good performance at a reasonable $249.95 price. Despite some issues, casual photographers will be pleased with the design and overall...

Canon PowerShot SD790 IS: a sleek and speedy 10-megapixel shooter.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... THE $349.99 POWERSHOT SD790 IS from Canon is a slick model that's speedy and has myriad features, including image stabilization and motion detection. The 10-megapixel sensor, paired with a 3X optical zoom, produces fantastic photos. The...

Headplay Personal Cinema System: private cinematic experience for movies, games.(REVIEWS: GAMING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEADPLAY'S PERSONAL CINEMA SYSTEM (PCS) features visor-mounted goggles that simulate the experience of watching a 52-inch TV from 6 feet away. The portable headset-which includes a pair of small LCoS (Liquid Crystal...

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty: good story ruined by poor gameplay, graphics.(REVIEWS: GAMING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... PC GAMERS CRAVING THE NEXT gritty World War II first-person shooter can bypass Turning Point: Fall of Liberty. The game delivers an interesting premise, but it falls short on execution. Turning Point starts with an intriguing question: What...

Jabra BT8040 Bluetooth headset: petite headset is an all-around winner.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UNLESS YOU NEED fancy features like voice command, the $99.99 Jabra BT8040 offers everything you'll need for a comfortable hands-free phone experience. At 0.4 ounces and a mere 1.5 inches in length, the BT8040 is...

Archos 705 WiFi: big PVP is impressive, but not perfect.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... THE ARCHOS 705 WIFI is one of the biggest and most feature-packed portable video players you can find, but bigger doesn't always mean better. Available in 80GB ($399.99) and 160GB ($499.99) capacities, the 22--ounce 70S is portable enough...

WordPerfect Office X4: revamped office suite is aimed at PDF buffs.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE NEWEST STANDARD EDITION of WordPerfect Office is a speedy and powerful suite that's particularly handy for dedicated PDF users. But if you own an older version, beware: Office X4 brings little to the table we...

NTI Media Maker 8: easy-to-use, basic multimedia creation.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NTI MEDIA MAKER 8 doesn't have quite the rich options of Nero 8 or Roxio Easy Media Creator 10, but its easy and consistent user interface--styled after Windows Explorer--makes it a very good choice when ease of use is a primary concern. ...

Roxio Toast 9 titanium: a must-have Mac media program-with some flaws.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... TOAST 9 TITANIUM, THE LATEST VERSION of the premiere Mac media authoring app, is a media converter on steroids, loaded with an abundance of new features--and it's especially attractive if you own portable devices and high-definition (HD)...

StuffIt 12 Deluxe for Windows: file compression that's great for photo packrats, but not everyone else.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... DO YOU NEED a $49.99 file-compression program like StuffIt 12 Deluxe for Windows when the newer versions of Microsoft's OS include Zip for free? That depends on the functionality you need. StuffIt 12 can associate itself with 35 different...

Top 5 midrange desktops: these well-configured machines won't smash your budget.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... 1 Apple iMac www.apple.com $1,499 (as tested) Editors' Rating: 8.5 [check] Specs * 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo T7700 * 1GB DDR2 memory * 320GB bard drive * DVD [+ or -] RW drive * ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro...

Top 5 ultraportabale notebooks: don't feel weighed down with these super-slim laptops.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... 1 Lenovo Thinkpad X300 www.lenovo.com $3,060 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.7) [check] Specs * 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo L7100 * 2GB DDR2 memory * 64GB solid-state drive * DVD [+ or -] RW * Integrated graphics...

Top 5 budget digital cameras: these sharp shooters will please cash-strapped photographers.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... 1 HP Photosmart R742 www.hp.com $149.99 Editors' Rating: (8.0) Specs * 7 megapixels * 3x optical zoom * 2.5-inch LCD * 4.8 ounces * SDISDHC memory card Bottom Line The Photosmart R742 proves...

Top 5 budget graphics cards: improve your graphics performance with great boards for $200 or less.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... 1 Asus EN96OOGT www.asus.com $189 Editors' Rating: (9.0) [check] Specs * 512MB GDDR3 * Dual-card Scalable Link Interface [SLI] support * Two DVI outputs; component-video/S-Video connector Bottom Line ...

100 tips to speed up your PC: want to dramatically improve your computing experience--in a hurry? Our 100 quick fixes will help you work and play simpler, faster, and safer.
July 1, 2008... By the Computer Shopper staff * Windows Vista Advanced screen captures with the Snipping Tool Leave the Prt Scm key in the 1980s where it belongs. In the Accessories folder on the Start menu, you'll find Vista's Snipping Tool,...

Desktops vs. laptops: two computer shopper editors duke it out over whether a desk-bound PC or a mobile system is best for today's users.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once upon a time, even as recently as a few years ago, your choice of computers was limited to big, bulky desktops or big, bulky laptops. One gave you power, one gave you portability, and never the twain dared meet....

The N factor: the next generation of wireless networking is almost here. See how the new 802.11n technology will benefit you.(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After years of being labeled a draft specification, the 802.11n wireless networking standard is on the verge of finally becoming an official wireless specification. Members of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and...

Total wipeout!(COMPUTER CURES)(File recovery methods)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... I'm making changes to my computer and want to sell my old hard disk. I need advice on how to delete my files in a way that's not recoverable. MIKAEL, VIA THE COMPUTERSHOPPER. COM FORUMS The best method depends on your degree of...

Fax and calc on the lam.(COMPUTER CURES)(file recovery methods)
July 1, 2008... While cleaning unnecessary files, I must have done something wrong, because I lost the Windows fax program and Windows Calculator. Can I get them back without reinstalling Windows? I don't have a Windows CD--Windows XP Home Edition came...

Spellbinding solution.(COMPUTER CURES)(spell-check for Outlook Express)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... I'm running Windows XP and have Microsoft Works installed. How can I get spell-check for Outlook Express to work? JERRY GIBSON Outlook Express (OE) lacks its own spell-check apparatus, but it can be made to work with other apps'...

Cool cat?(COMPUTER CURES)(LAN with CAT 5 wiring)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... My LAN has all-new computers with 100/100Mbps network adapters. It was originally set up for 10/100Mbps adapters with CAT 5 wiring. Is the CAT 5 sufficient to carry the load? DONALD LITVAK The CAT 5 Ethernet cable will work, but it's...

Quest for IR.(COMPUTER CURES)(infrared connection in MSI K9N4 SLI-F motherboard)
July 1, 2008... I purchased an MSI K9N4 SLI-F motherboard. It's equipped with afire-pin header for an infrared connection. I cannot locate the component cable that will allow me to use this feature. MSI support says the port is functional but cannot supply the...

Tip of the month: another one fights the dust!(HELP & HOW-TO: TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... My 3-year-old Pentium 4 laptop (an HP Pavilion ZX5000) had become progressively noisier and hotter. I attributed it to poor design (a desktop processor in a laptop runs hot by nature) and bloatware. But when I used a powerful vacuum on the fan...

Install a Blu-ray burner: add massive removable storage--and HD movies--to your PC with Blu-ray.(WEEKEND PROJECT)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN JANUARY, BLU-RAY FINALLY trounced its competition, HD DVD, in the high-definition, high-capacity format war. If you've been waiting for a winner to emerge before investing in a next-generation drive, that time has...

Designer drives.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pininfarina name, associated with Ferrari and other high-caliber automotive design, takes an unexpected turn with a handsome hard drive housing for DIYers. Spire's Pininfarina HDD Enclosure complements the...

All-around sound.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(PCI Express x1 board )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... "Good-enough" audio is rife on motherboards these days, but demanding gamers and home-theater afficianados--especially those runningVista--will flock to the $89.99 Asus Xonar DX sound card. This half-height PCI Express x1 board is a good fit...

Cube dwelling.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(b-Envi from Bgears)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Determined minimalists and space-crunched PC builders should size up the b-Envi from Bgears (formerly Bluegears). This small-form-factor case measures 9x11.2x14.7 inches and accepts MicroATX motherboards, with the...

Royal airs.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(PC cases, the NZXT Tempest)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Crowned by its maker as the "airflow king" of PC cases, the NZXT Tempest is a veritable wind tunnel for your components. This ATX/Extended ATX case includes six large fans: two 120mm intakes on the front, two more 120mm spinners on the side and...

Bay beat box.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Kama Bay Speaker from Scythe)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We've seen some unusual accessories that fit into a PC drive bay--including a car-style cigarette lighter--but the $25 Kama Bay Speaker from Scythe will doubtless draw more than its share of double-takes. This array...

The 33 percent solution.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Nine Hundred PC case)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Antec's popular Nine Hundred PC case gave builders lots of install room and massive cooling, highlighted by its 200mm "Big Boy" fan. The company downsized this successful design into its new Three Hundred. With a third of the name and at just...

The right performance PC.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY)(Cyberpower Garner Infinity SLI 8800)(Polywell Poly P3503/P503)(HP Blackbird 002)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The hotrods of the computer world, these systems are built around the latest and fastest components. All this comes with a hefty price, of course, so here's what you need to know to get started. SHOPPING SPECS...

The right laser printer.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As laser printer prices continue to drop, more consumers and small-business owners are able to afford the quick, sharp output only lasers can provide. Here's what you should know before you pick one for your home or...

Close up: audio & video ports: whether you buy a desktop or a laptop, you're going to be left with a lot of ports. Don't know what they look like or which cables to use? Here's an in-depth look: close up. (geek//: speak).
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VIDEO VGA (D-SUB) This analog connector is more than 20 years old but still heavily in use. All CRT and nearly all LCD monitors are compatible with it, while some HDTVs also offer it. [ILLUSTRATION...