Computer Shopper articles from June 2006

Computer Shopper archives from June 2006

Editor's note.
June 1, 2006... HERE'S A LITTLE SECRET that the big computer companies don't want you to know: Building your own PC is easier--and cheaper--than you think. All you need is a modicum of skill and a bit of good advice. That's where we come in. In "Build a...

Love for the little guys.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... After reading your April 2006 issue, I had to express my excitement over your reviews of "lesser brand" laptops ("Smaller Brands, Bigger Deals," p. 75). Finally, a computer magazine that understands that not everyone wants a Dell! Please,...

Hackers don't deserve the bad rap.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... In "Detect & Protect" (March, p. 83), you listed "hackers" right under "crackers" in your threat list. This is a great misrepresentation of the term "hacker." Individuals who use their computer knowledge to abuse, exploit, and damage the...

Most valuable players.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... As an avid BitTorrent user, I was surprised you did not mention two popular video players in your May issue ("BitTorrent for Beginners," p. 106). VLC Media Player (www.videolan.org) not only handles lots of file types, but it also lets you add...

More help, please!(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I've been a Computer Shopper subscriber for several years and enjoy the magazine very much. You have a knowledgeable staff, and their experience and advice is what draws me to continue to subscribe. I would like, however, to see the Help &...

Gateway goes Platinum with new line of premium PCs.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Gateway Platinum Edition)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... TAKING a cue from rival Dell's XPS line, Gateway has rolled out a premium PC brand and is considering expanding the line to cover more products. Gateway is selling the MX6455 notebook for $1,229 under the Platinum Edition brand at Best...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Epson America Inc. developing print head using organic light-emitting diode )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology was first developed to compete with fiat-screen display tech, but now Epson has created an OLED printhead that can. provide an alternative to laser printers. The company claims the new...

Next-generation video streaming gets wired.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Multimedia over Coax Alliance )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... While wireless-networking companies are readying equipment that supports the fast speeds of the forthcoming 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, other companies are pushing wired home solutions for streaming multimedia. The Multimedia over Coax...

Restricted viewing.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Restricted Viewing Have you purchased a video download? Yes 9.8% No. 90.2% Source: Computer Shopper reader survey Note: Table made from pie chart.

High-def DVD players: ready for prime time?(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE NEXT generation of DVD players is about to appear on the market, but one big question still looms: Will anyone actually buy one? Factors that may hold high-definition (HD) DVDs back include two competing formats, copy-protection issues,...

Fuel-cell battery promises 14-hour life.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
June 1, 2006... STARTUP COMPANY UltraCell has announced a 2.2-pound fuel-cell prototype it claims can power a laptop for 14 hours. Production models will be available in 2007 and cost less than $500, according to William Hill, UltraCell's vice president of...

Cell-phone multimedia slow to catch on.(TREND: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Americans may not be as enamored of the idea of watching television and listening to music on their cell phones as mobile carriers had hoped. According to a recent survey by RBC Capital Markets, of an estimated 1,000 people polled, 75...

Wireless 'phones.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Cut those pesky headphone cords with the $200NaviPlay Bluetooth Stereo Headset for iPod from Ten Technology, Listen to your tunes with these comfy wireless headphones via the included NaviPlay Bluetooth Adapter, which plugs right into your...

VoIP to go.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... The perfect companion for business travelers, SMC's $129.99 Barricade g Wireless Travel Voice Gateway provides wireless Internet access so you can make Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls on the road. Connect this portable device to an...

Bye, bye blur.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Designed to please casual point-and-shooters and veteran shutterbugs alike, the $499.99 Canon PowerShot S3 IS features sharp 6-megapixel resolution, a whopping 12x optical zoom lens, and a lens-shift image-stabilization system to prevent image...

A case of envy.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... The $249.99 Thermaltake Eclipse DV is a slick aluminum chassis that can be configured with a transparent side window to show off your PC's inner workings. This head-turning box also features two silent fans and an LED-illuminated sound-level...

Flash phenom.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Memory-maker SanDisk takes aim at Apple's iPod Nano with its thin, feature-loaded Sansa e270. This $279.99 digital audio player includes a record-breaking 6GB of flash memory, a photo- and video-friendly 1.8-inch color screen, and a durable,...

Blu-ray burns.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Samsung Electronics America Inc. develops External Blu-ray Burner)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Samsung embraces next-generation DVD tech nology with its sleek External Blu-ray Burner. This living-room-friendly drive can record more than two hours of high-definition television (HDTV) programming on a 25GB single-layer Blu-ray disc, and...

ABS Ultimate M6 Sniper: Solid, stable performance-plain and simple.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... THE ABS ULTIMATE M6 Sniper combines a top-of the-line AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 CPU with two speedy 2S6MB GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards. Although our $4,799 configuration was no match for PCs with dual 512MB GeForce 7800 GTX cards, this unit didn't...

Maxtor Shared Storage Plus Drive: network-attached storage doesn't get any simpler.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... MAXTOR'S SHARED Storage Plus, a network-attached-storage (NAS) drive, nearly has it all: handsome packaging, good performance, easy setup, loads of features, and useful software. The drive is pricey, however--it's available in 200GB ($279.95),...

Polywell Poly Minibox 900Ax-MCE: quiet, small Media Center hindered by CPU, GPU.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... WE FOUND PLENTY to like about Polywell's compact, near-silent Poly MiniBox 900Ax-MCE Media Center--especially that our $1,299 review unit included a 19-inch LCD (with an 8-millisecond response time) and a set of Creative 5.1-channel...

Velocity Micro Raptor 64 DualX: power problems dampen top gaming performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... VELOCITY MICRO'S Raptor PCs are proven performers, and its latest DualX is no exception. Driven by AMD's Athlon 64 FX-60 processor and a pair of powerful GeEorce graphics cards, this pricey ($5,635), overclocked system is built for speed. It...

Mirus Koobox Multimedia: budget Linux box is a viable Windows alternative.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... AT $399.99, THE MIRUS Koobox Multimedia comes very close to beating our bargain desktop build on p. 64. While anyone entrenched in Windows should probably give this little Linux box a miss, others will find it a stable, practical choice for...

Biohazard Media Center Xpress: killer looks outside, bare bones inside.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... OUTSIDE, THE BIOHAZARD Media Center Xpress may look more like a high-end power amplifier than a computer, but we expected better-quality components inside considering our review unit's price of $2,303 (without a monitor or speakers). The...

Apple MacBook Pro: Svelte notebook offers style but not battery life.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... APPLE'S FIRST notebook based on an Intel CPU. the MacBook Pro resembles the PowerBook G4. and. like its predecessor, is bound to attract envious stares. Weighing 5.5 pounds, the sleek MacBook Pro includes welcome additions such as a small...

HP Pavilion DV5000z Turion 64: versatile AMD-based laptop tackles media with ease.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... IT MAY LOOK like a typical Pavilion notebook, but Hewlett Packard's DV5000z has had some brain surgery--notably, the replacement of the usual Intel processor with an AMD one. Running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, our $1,508 test...

Toshiba Qosmio 635-AV600: media-ready laptop is fully loaded, but stumbles on gaming.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... TOSHIBA'S QOSMIO line has always been at the forefront of laptop technology, and its latest entry, the Qosmio G35-AV600, proves the company is still a trendsetter. With virtually every feature you could conceive of in a portable, this...

Acer Aspire 3000: a low-cost notebook undercut by its battery, specs.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... PRICED AT $619, Acer's Aspire 3000 is one of the least-expensive laptops on the market. It features a 15-inch display and weighs around six pounds--too heavy for regular travel, but fairly lightweight for a notebook of this size and price. The...

Canon Pixma MP500 Photo All-in-One: loaded MFP delivers on performance.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(multifunction printer)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... CANON COVERS all its bases with the $199.99 Pixma MP500 Photo All-in-One. This piano-black multifunction inkier printer delivers solid printing, scanning, and copying, plus extras unexpected for the price, such as a built-in memory-card reader,...

Honest My IC-TV Media Center Deluxe: TV tuner lacks elegance but gets the job done.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... IT'S NOT THE MOST polished TV tuner available for your PC, but if you need an all-in-one media solution that's easy to set up, Honest Technology's $129.99 My IC-TV Media Center Deluxe is worth a look. The USB 2.0 tuner/video-capture box...

LG GSA-5169D.(DVD-recordable drive)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... FIRST TAKE LG's latest disc burner is a versatile beast, working with every DVD format imaginable, including DVD-RAM and both varieties of double-layer [DL] DVDs. This drive's true standout feature, however, is its set of rear A/V ports....

ViewSonic VX922: games shine on fast-response 19-incher, but DVDs don't.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... VIEWSONIC'S $495 VX922 has lofty ambitions. Billed as the fastest LCD on the market, this 19-inch display has a 2 millisecond pixel-response time. In plain English, this specification suggests the display should deliver clear, smooth playback...

Dell UltraSharp 1707FP: budget LCD overflows with features.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... FOR A COMPETITIVELY low $279, the Dell UltraSharp 1707FP delivers great image quality, an eye-pleasing design, and all the adjustability you could wish for, including a screen that pivots. This 17-inch do it all LCD also features four USB...

Samsung SyncMaster 970P: a flexible screen with slick design.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE DESIGNERS at Samsung must have been channeling Apple when they created the SyneMaster 970R Stylish and highly desirable, this $459.99 LCD offers the right combination of looks and performance. Tested at its native 1,280x1,024...

Linksys Wireless-G Router With SRX200: value-price MIMO router can't go the distance.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... IF YOU REQUIRE more throughput and range than what standard 802.11b/g routers provide, but don't need to cover the entire neighborhood with a signal, the $99 Linksys Wireless-G Router With SRX200 can save you some cash while still offering...

Belkin Wireless G Travel Router: a tiny, secure companion for your trips.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A MIX OF great design, performance, support, and affordability, Belkin's $69.99 Wireless G Travel Router is an obvious choice for business travelers who need Wi-Fi connectivity on the road. The lightweight router, about the size of a large...

Asus MyPal A636: PDA/GPS combo is a mediocre performer.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A LONG-LIVED PDA with a built-in GPS receiver, Asus' $599 MyPal A636 delivers precise directions but performs rather sluggishly. Measuring 4.8x2.8x0.7 inches and weighing 6.5 ounces, the A636 fits well in your hand, although it's a little...

Cingular 8125 Pocket PC: capable smartphone stumbles on call quality, form factor.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... DESPITE ITS BULK and inconsistent call quality, the Cingular 8125 Pocket PC provides powerful tools for the mobile professional. It costs $349.99 (before rebate) with a two-year service contract. Measuring 4.3x2.3x1 inches and weighing 5.2...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M2: decent snaps, video in a compact hybrid cam.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... WITH GENERALLY good image quality and a big, bright LCD fit for outdoor use, the Sony Cybershot DSC-M2, a hybrid still camera/camcorder, is a surprisingly good point-and-click snapshooter. That assumes, however, that you're willing to pay...

Casio Exilim EX-S600: cute camera, but less-charming photos.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... CASIO'S $349.99 Exilim EX-S600, a versatile 6-megapixel ultracompact, may entice those looking for a friendly, stylish camera, but its image quality is strictly mediocre. Available in blue, orange, and silver, the camera is scarcely larger...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5: poky shooter craves daylight.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE 6-MEGAPIXEL Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 includes optical stabilization for its large 6x zoom lens features numerous ways to control image capture, and fares moderately well in bright environments. But the $279.95 camera offers no...

Apple iPod Hi-Fi: speaker system has its highs and lows.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE $349 APPLE iPod Hi-Fi portable stereo speaker system is well-built and produces great sound, but its cost and a few design gotchas keep it from being a ground-breaking product. Measuring 6.6x17x6.9 inches (HWD), the minimalist Hi-Fi has...

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio: earbuds lack big bass but sound great.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... ULTIMATE EARS' no-frills Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear headphones deliver sharp, balanced audio for a reasonable $99.99. Available in white, black, or clear, the earphones come with a soft leather case, a cleaning pick, and six interchangeable...

MPIO One (FG200): video-friendly player is simply too small.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE MPIO ONE (FG200) may be an attractively designed flash-memory media player, but it's too tiny for our tastes. The FG200 is available in 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB capacities, at $139, $159, and $199, respectively. All versions are extremely...

Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK: picture-perfect plasma set comes with few extras.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... PANASONIC'S TH-42PHD8DK may lack speakers, a stand, or many inputs, but this $2,995 42-inch plasma television's excellent black-level performance, clean video processing, and customizable inputs with individual memory are a boon to those...

D-Link MediaLounge DSM120: audio streamer is storage-savvy.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... THE VERSATILITY of the $179.99 D-Link MediaLounge Wireless Music Player (DSM-120) makes this digital media receiver worth considering for streaming digital audio, video, and images from networked PCs and the Internet. The player can stream...

JVC HD-61FH96: huge LCoS set excels at HDTV.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(liquid crystal on silicon, high definition television)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A 61-INCH 1080p rear-projection set using Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology, the $4,500 JVC HD-61FH96 handles high-definition television (HDTV) with aplomb. Its performance with standard-def sources, however, leaves something to be...

Custom-designed Windows: personalize your Windows desktop with these two apps.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(desktop-enhancement software )(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... NO TWO USERS organize their Windows desktops in exactly the same way. Why should you be forced to use a desktop that looks and feels exactly like everyone else's? Desktop-enhancement software can change all of that, letting you tailor your...

Destroying digital assailants: these five handy apps will send spyware packing.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(anti spyware software)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... SPYWARE MAY HAVE surpassed viruses to become the most serious threat to your online identity, not to mention your PC's health. Luckily, plenty of apps are on the market today to keep pace with the problem. Here are our top five recommendations....

CeledyDraw 2: desktop publishing and vector drawing at a popular price.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... CELEDYDRAW 2 is an easy to-learn introductory app for vector drawing, partnered with some good desktop-publishing capabilities. While you won't find advanced features like those in CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator, the app is quite capable of...

Pinnacle Studio Plus 10: video editor straddles line between simple and complex.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... WITH THE $99.99 Pinnacle Studio Plus 10, Pinnacle Systems tries to erase the distinctions between consumer and light-professional ("prosumer") video-editing programs by delivering flexible tools for both. Studio spreads itself too thin,...

Launch-n-Go 2: windows automation at its finest.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... WITH LAUNCH-N-GO 2, you can streamline repetitive typing tasks, stop frequent trips to the Start menu, and quit launching a browser to do your Web searches. This svelte application launcher installs a convenient text box directly into the...

PC Doc Pro 3.5: a decent toolset for PC maintenance.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... FOR BASIC system fixes, PC Doc Pro is both easy on the eyes and a breeze to use. The application's most prominent utility scans your PC for Registry errors such as broken shortcuts, invalid program paths, and unnecessary DLL files. The app...

FlipAlbum 6 suite: realistic digital photo albums in a snap.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... IN THREE steps, FlipAlbum 6 Suite lets you create attractive photo albums that look and behave like real ones, complete with 3D page flipping. The program automatically generates a thumbnail page, a table of contents, and an index page to...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, 5-megapixel digital cameras, 17-inch LCDs, and combat games.(Table)
June 1, 2006... Top 25 This month's best desktops, notebooks, 5-megapixel digital cameras, 17-inch LCDs, and combat games BUDGET DESKTOPS >> $999-and-under PCs that are well-configured and easy on your budget. PRODUCT PRICE...

Build a bargain: this capable desktop will cost you less than $500 to build today, and it includes an expandable foundation for upgrades tomorrow.
June 1, 2006... THERE'S REALLY NO SECRET to finding and buying a low-price desktop. A quick scan of the ads in this magazine or on PC vendors' Web sites will turn up plenty of good models. But we're rarely satisfied with the configuration options available,...

The physics of today's tech: a look inside seven core PC technologies you can't live without.
June 1, 2006... IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING cryogenically frozen in the 1980s, when green-screen monitors and hulking, tractor-feed dot-matrix printers ruled the earth. You'd wake up today with a case of tech culture shock of an Austin Powers magnitude. Drives that...

Hot tech for the summertime.(Samsung SC-X210L)(H2O Audio Headphones)(Oregon Scientific MP121)
June 1, 2006... WET & WILD H2O Audio Series Can't bear to part with your iPod, even when you take a swim? With H2O Audio's waterproof cases ($79.95 for the Nano, $89.95 for the video-enabled iPod), you can below the surface. (An armband is included.)...

Tried-and-true troubleshooting.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... I have a laptop with a wireless card that communicates with a wireless router, which is in turn connected to my cable modem. If I walk away, even for a minute, the notebook loses the Internet connection. I'm constantly having to turn off the...

Pulling text from PDFs.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Can you recommend any software program that will enable me to convert PDF documents into Word and Excel? BARBARA RUETHER The latest versions of Acrobat Reader let you copy text that you can then paste into Word or Excel. In the...

Lost Contacts.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Contacts button has disappeared from the left pane of Outlook. How can I get it back? WENDELL MORRISON Right-click on the buttons in the left-hand pane of Outlook. Choose Navigation Pane Options. This will show the available...

What's up with DOC?(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... I can't open files with the DOC extension without having to right-click on them and choose "Open" when they're inside a folder. When the DOC files aren't in a folder, I'm able to dick and open them normally. How do I correct this? JOYCE...

Decoding the blue screen.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... My Windows PC won't start up except in Safe mode. When XP starts to load in normal mode, the following error message appears on a blue screen: "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer......

Keep those addresses private.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... I just changed to a new Internet service provider. As a result, I have a new e-mail address. Is there any way in Outlook to send my new address to everyone in my address book without a long list of recipients in the To field? NANCY GREENE...

Craving more color.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... My PC never had a problem showing images before, but now they look like pop art. Instead of a broad spectrum of colors, the PC seems to have only 16. A technician recently reinstalled Windows 2000. The reinstall fixed other problems I was...

Enough Wi-Fi to go around?(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... I have a wireless router, a desktop with a wireless card, and a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop. Both PCs are running Windows XP, and the network works fine. I recently bought another XP system with a Wi-Fi card. I can see the workgroup on the new PC, but...

Tip of the month: smile, your CD is saved.(HELP & HOW-TO: COMPUTER CURES)(using toothpaste)(Brief article)(Column)
June 1, 2006... CDs are no longer the high-value items they once were. It's no surprise that we've become pretty casual in our handling of these discs, which can lead to scratches that can render them useless. This month's tipster, who wrote from Thailand, has...

Tube to go: watch your local TV programming anywhere using a PC, PDA, or smartphone.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
June 1, 2006... IMAGINE THIS: From anywhere in the world, using a PC, PDA, or smartphone, you could watch TV programs from the cable box or digital video recorder (DVR) you have sitting at home. You can stop dreaming now: Sling Media's Slingbox (www....

Disaster-proof your documents: plan ahead for an emergency by digitizing your essential personal info.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
June 1, 2006... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, you get a knock on your door--you need to evacuate your home immediately. You grab the kids and the pets, and met out safely. But what have you left behind? If the unthinkable occurs, you most likely won't have...

Thin-and-light notebooks (4 to 7 pounds).(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel's Pentium M processor, which provides long battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. Save a little by opting for lower clock speeds, such as 1.6GHz. Higher-end...

Motherboards.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW FORM FACTOR The form factor sets the standard for a motherboard's dimensions, as well as the positioning of mounting holes and expansion slots; your case must support the form factor of the board you choose. Most of today's...

Internal hard drives.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW INSTALLATION Internal hard drives are fairly easy to install. If you're adding a second drive, make sure you set the jumper to Slave. If you're replacing an old drive, create a boot disk first. Position the drive in an...

Memory.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW RAM AMOUNT The more memory you have, the better your PC will handle running several applications at once. For Windows XP and general office tasks, get a minimum of 512MB. Multitaskers and gamers should opt for at least 1GB. If...

3D-graphics cards.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW MEMORY When it comes to graphics memory, you can never have too much, especially if you're a hard-core garner. Morn RAM means better performance, improved 3D texturing, and higher display resolutions. If you're an avid garner...

Internal DVD burners.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW FORMAT When DVD burners first emerged, buyers had to make an often-confusing choice between two incompatible formats: DVD-R/DVD-RW and DVD+R/DVD+RW. Thankfully, drive manufacturers now offer multiformat drives that can write...

Web buyer: the best sites for online shopping.
June 1, 2006... >> TECH PRODUCTS amazon.com 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...

The right Wi-Fi router.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router, D-Link DI-524, Netgear WPNT834 RangeMax 240)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... Tired of being tethered to your broadband connection? You can create a high-speed wireless network by simply plugging in a Wi-Fi router. Here's what you need to know to pick the best router for your home or small office. SHOPPING SPECS ...