Computer Shopper articles from March 2001

Computer Shopper archives from March 2001

The Multifunction Quandary - Information appliances are combining more and more capabilities into a single device. But do these combinations make sense?(Industry Trend or Event)
March 1, 2001... As we move into the era of pervasive computing, in which PCs will be complemented by a diverse assortment of information appliances, one of the toughest design decisions is determining how many functions to integrate into one product. The...

Feedback Forum.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2001... The Missing Linksys I was sorely disappointed I didn't see any mention of the great home networking solution from Linksys in David English's "Family Connections" feature (January Shopper's Guide to Home Networking, p. 152). The Linksys...

Coming Next Month.
March 1, 2001... Desktops Under $1,000 Not all budget systems come with compromises. These sub-$1,000 desktops feature processors up to 800MHz and 128MB of memory. That's a lot of byte for a kilobuck. Suitable for Framing Show off your digital...

The Webcam Goes for a Walk - These two new Webcams serve double duty as inexpensive digital still cameras that can be used on or off your desktop.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... It wasn't that long ago that you couldn't touch a digital still camera for less than $800. Although the latest 3-megapixel models still command prices approaching $1,000, the current selection of digicams covers a wide range of budgets. ...

Hercules Game Theater XP: A Sound Card and Rack in a Pack.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Now that PCs serve as game platforms, movie theaters, and home stereos, good audio hardware is a must. You won't find a better solution than the $149.99 Hercules Game Theater XP, which combines a sound card with a feature-packed rack. As a...

Matrox Marvel G450 eTV: Control the Airwaves From Your PC.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Let's get the bad news out of the way first: The Matrox Marvel G450 eTV video card is poor at 3D. If you're looking to play Quake III Arena, don't even consider it. Instead, the eTV is part of a new wave of TV- tuner graphics cards designed...

Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A Combo Drive: Great Hardware,Ordinary Software.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... The Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A Combo Drive hardware almost has it all: the fastest CD-write and -rewrite speeds currently available, anti- buffer-underrun technology, and 8x DVD speed. The rest of the $299 bundle, however, doesn't measure up....

Samsung ML-4600: A Step Up From Disposable.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Samsung Electronics America's ML-4600 laser printer has an estimated selling price of $299-about $100 more than the company's "disposably priced" ML-4500. The extra $100 buys 4MB of memory (instead of 2MB), expandable to 68MB using conventional...

Acer TravelMate 351TEV: A Traveling Machine Built for the Future.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Built for now and ready for tomorrow-Acer America Corp.'s ultraportable TravelMate 351TEV certainly fits that description. We recently tested an engineering sample of this $2,299 thin-and-light notebook, and even though its benchmark...

Sceptre Soundx 69502: Blistering Multimedia, Lukewarm Price.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... It's deja vu all over again. The Soundx 69502 desktop-replacement notebook from Sceptre Technologies recently arrived in our labs, and it looked just like a Dell Inspiron 5000e we'd seen only weeks before. Indeed, these two systems are similar,...

Tiny Performance Notebook 800: Are the Trade-Offs Worth the Payoff?(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... When investing a couple of thousand dollars in a notebook, it's tempting to go for the security of an established brand. But can taking a chance with an upstart company anxious to grow its business give you a better value? Tiny Computers'...

Netscape 6: A Great Browser For Slow Surfing.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... After years of tweaking version 4 of its popular Internet browser, Netscape Communications leapfrogged version 5 to recently launch Netscape 6. This new Netscape is small, customizable, and smart. Unfortunately, it's also unstable and slow. ...

Macromedia Dreamweaver 4: The Code That Dreams Are Made Of.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Macromedia Dreamweaver is known for providing a clean, no-nonsense production environment for professional Web designers and developers. Dreamweaver 4 furthers that reputation with an abundance of new features that let you effectively manage...

Documents To Go Professional Edition: Put an Office in the Palm of Your Hand.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Want to update documents on the go, without a laptop? Then take a look at DataViz's Documents To Go Professional Edition, which puts a miniaturized office suite on your Palm OS device. Documents To Go lets you edit word processing files and...

PCsync: Synchronize With The Best of Them.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Got some files you want to transfer between two computers, but don't want to spend $170 for LapLink Gold? Check out LapLink.com's PCsync, which does a fine job for under $80. As with LapLink Gold, PCsync's design goes beyond connecting...

HomeAdvisor.com: Home Is Where The Web Is.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... If you're trying to cope with the frightening intricacies, subtleties, and expense of buying a home, MSN's HomeAdvisor.com wants to help. It also wants to be a comprehensive site for all things related to your living quarters. It may well grow...

PhoneFree: It's Your Call, And It's Free.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Phone companies are undoubtedly keeping their eyes on services like PhoneFree, which, true to its name, enables computer users to make free long-distance calls via their Internet connections. Based on our tests, the telcos don't have anything...

You Don't Know Jack 5th Dementia: Wacky Jack Comes Back.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... You Don't Know Jack 5th Dementia is the latest installment in Sierra's popular trivia game-show series. As in prior versions, up to three contestants can match wits at the same PC, making it one of the few games to encourage family...

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2: Skating Can Be a Real Trip.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Skate, fall down. Skate, fall down. Not many gamers over the age of 16 will have the patience for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, the PC version of the smash-hit console game. Like most extreme-sports titles, it's more a test of how quickly and...

No One Lives Forever: That's Bond, Jane Bond.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Take a '60s-vintage James Bond movie, throw in some henchmen from Austin Powers, add a female lead character, mix liberally, and pour on top of a 3D shooter game. The resulting concoction, No One Lives Forever, is easily the sweetest 3D action...

Sacrifice: Strategy of the Gods.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... While we were waiting for Warcraft III to redefine strategy games, Interplay and Shiny beat it to the punch with Sacrifice. This wonderfully bizarre game expertly combines truly original gameplay with enough familiar elements so experienced...

Many Happy Returns - These enhanced tax-prep packages help you get the refund you deserve.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... If you're one of the millions who live in dread as April 15 approaches, get over it. Sure, paying taxes is unavoidable, but the associated headaches and aggravation are not. Today's tax software turns this tedious tradition into a simple,...

Online Lifelines For Tax Help - Nine Sites to Turn to and What They Offer.(Directory)
March 1, 2001... About.com's tax-planning page (taxes.about.com/money/taxes) Myriad resources, including income-tax glossary and links for all state departments of revenue H&R Block (www.hrblock.com/tax_center) Tax tips, refund estimator, and handy...

Web Buyer: Last-Minute Deals On Spring Flings - Whether you're collegiate or corporate, find a great spontaneous spring break at one of these 11th-hour travel sites.(Directory)
March 1, 2001... The annoying thing about being over 21 at this time of year is that offices, by and large, don't close for spring break-even if you work for MTV. But there's no reason you can't devise your own hedonistic getaway, no matter how long you've...

Execs Seek Lessons in Failure.(Industry Trend or Event)
March 1, 2001... As the dust settles around decimated e-businesses, executives and investors search for the fatal flaws so they can avoid repeating the same mistakes. Just what were these mistakes? Overenthusi asm, underpreparedness, and pressure to get...

M-Commerce Takes Aim at 'Moving' Target.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Mobile commerce may be off to a slow start in the United States, but there's no shortage of mobile workers in need of apps. To address their needs, companies have shifted into high gear to introduce m-commerce- based solutions for the mobile...

B2B Trading Hubs Grow.(Industry Trend or Event)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Despite struggles, executives maintain confidence in B2B exchanges. 31 percent of e-businesses surveyed say a B2B trading hub, or digital marketplace, is an essential competitive tool. Another 48 percent say it will be a year from now. 64...

Financial Aides - Keep your business in the black with free online financial advice from Intuit and Microsoft.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Most companies agree the main objective of being in business is to make money. That part is simple. The hard part is understanding how much money your company is actually making, and finding the smartest way to keep that money and make more....

Make Cookies More Appetizing.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
March 1, 2001... How could it have happened? How could cookies have ended up such bitter pills to swallow? Simple: We're not talking about those tasty treats from the likes of Famous Amos or Mrs. Fields; we're talking about those little morsels ad servers place...

Off Site, On LAN - Keeping telecommuters connected is crucial to their productivity-and yours.(Technology Information)
March 1, 2001... Which would you rather have: happy and productive employees, or ex- employees? It sounds like a no-brainer, yet every day companies choose the latter by not adequately supporting remote workers and telecommuters. Despite the economy's...

Teleworker Toolkit - Resources for Keeping Remote Users Connected.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Collaboration Tools - BmyPC (www.bmypc.com) - CreativeProject (www.creativeproject.com) - eRoom 5.0 (www.eroom.com) - FirstClass (www.centrinity.com) - fusionOne (www.fusionone.com) - Groove (www.groove.net) -...

The Hard Edge - New Uses for Spam; the Pentium 4's Bogus 400MHz Bus; and Testing Your Internet Knowledge.(News Briefs)(Column)
March 1, 2001... Hey! We have a President. It's just happened in "Hard Edge" time, and it took five weeks to get one. Only a couple hundred votes separated the candidates, and the margin of error was greater than the margin of separation. It required one final...

You Can Take It With You - Moving Your Old Data, Apps, and Settings to a New PC.(Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial)
March 1, 2001... One of the more interesting ironies of using a PC is that the more effort you've put into making your system just right, the more reluctant you may find yourself to buy a new system. The problem, in a nutshell: How do you quickly and easily...

Alfred Poor's Computer Cures.(Questions and Answers)(Column)
March 1, 2001... Viewable Printables Dear Alfred: I have a Windows program that can only send its output to a printer. I want to create a file of the output that I can send as an e-mail attachment that someone else can view onscreen. I created a PRN...

Alfred Poor's Tip of the Month.(Product Support)
March 1, 2001... PC X-Ray What speed processor do you have inside your computer? And what model network card does it have, exactly? Can you tell me what BIOS version it is running? How about the motherboard revision number? If I had to answer these...

Buying Advisor: Taking the Rugged Route - A long-distance trucker looks for a tough notebook that can take a pounding without giving his wallet one.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Ever drive your car over your laptop? We actually know someone who has. Not surprisingly, the mishap resulted in some unsightly banding in the LCD, and the tire-tread imprints weren't too pretty, either. Though no notebook can endure really...

What Do You Drive?(Editorial)
March 1, 2001... I get this question all the time: "Why buy a gigahertz-plus Pentium 4 or Athlon when all you really need is a 400MHz Celeron?" My answer: "Why buy a Ferrari Testarossa when all you really need is a Honda Accord?" Sure, the Celeron's fast...

Getting Out the E-Vote.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
March 1, 2001... Imagine a future in which chad-free, instantly tabulated, easily accessible Internet voting is as common as unkept campaign promises. In fact, it's already happened: Last year, Election.com helped Arizona's state Democratic party conduct the...

Refurbishing Furby.(Technology Information)
March 1, 2001... What blinks, dances, sings, speaks a made-up language called Furbish, and "learns" as you play with it? A Furby, of course-that terminally adorable virtual pet. But if it starts quoting Howard Stern whenever you touch its fuzzy tummy, chances...

Zairmail Delivers.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Grandma doesn't have e-mail, and you're tired of going to the post office? Try Zairmail, a new hybrid service from Zairmail. Just log in to my. zairmail.com, type your letter, and designate a recipient. Zairmail prints your letter and sends it...

Power to the People.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Looking for the best car, the most affordable calling plan, the top online broker, or the most luxurious hotel? Visit the J.D. Power Consumer Center (www.jdpower.com), a new site that provides ratings, comparison tools, and reviewer comments on...

The E-Shadow Knows.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Are your e-mail messages getting lost in the e-void? What about that sensitive message to your boss? Was it opened, and when? If you find yourself on pins and needles after sending e-mail, then check out iTraceYou.com (www.itraceyou.com). This...

The Check is in the Net.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Invoices are often a hassle for small businesses, and accepting payment by credit card can be complicated and expensive-and can make online payments all-around difficult. Intuit and X.com are working to change all that. Although they...

PC Philanthropy.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Looking for a way to get rid of that clunky old PC? Not long ago, you'd have to send it to the junk heap or make quite a few phone calls before finding a willing taker. Now IBM and Dell Computer Corp. offer help in recycling or trading in used...

You've Got Pages.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... For those who suffer separation anxiety when they're not connected to America Online, help is at hand. AOL now offers a pager that lets users send and receive e-mail and AOL instant messages. The 4.1-ounce pager, called the AOL Mobile...

Tags in 10 Minutes.(Government Activity)
March 1, 2001... Ohio recently joined the growing roster of states that allow online renewal of motor-vehicle registrations. Not only can online Ohioans trim the time it takes to renew vehicle registration, but they also can customize a vanity license plate on...

Bluetooth Set to Check In.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Because it requires advance registration and setup, the Bluetooth service will target frequent guests, says Mac Graham, executive vice president of operations for InnTechnology, a hotel-solutions company coordinating the effort. According to...

Surfing @ Sea.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... Looking to learn how to build your own Web page? Now you can surf the high seas for instruction. Crystal Cruises (www. crystalcruises.com) is set to add a Web-page- design tutorial to its "Computer University @ Sea" lab program. While...

Value Line: Notebooks - A sample of laptops found on computershopper.com.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Gateway Solo 1150CL $1,299 550MHz Celeron, 64MB SDRAM, 6GB hard drive, 12.1" TFT, 4MB video memory, fixed floppy and CD-ROM, NiMH battery, 7 pounds Acer TravelMate 524TXV $1,999 650MHz Pentium III, 64MB SDRAM, 12.1GB hard drive, 14.1" TFT,...

The Stuff You Want.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... A Very Sharp Shooter Looking for the hottest shot of them all? Check out Sony's tiny Cyber- shot DSC-P1, a sleek little 3.3-megapixel digicam that will be the envy of its bulky brethren. (You listening, Coolpix 990?) This $799 dynamo...

ZDNet Best Buy.(Hardware Review)(News Briefs)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Computer Shopper and ZDNet editors pick the best values among the latest tech products Hardware Hercules Game Theater XP PC audio enthusiasts can go all out with this combination sound card and outboard connector box. The sound...

Digital Ubiquity: Still On Hold - Seamless links among PDAs, cell phones, LANs, and the Web are coming-in the slow lane.(Technology Information)
March 1, 2001... Naturally, I'm talking here about data ubiquity-your ability to access information instantly, on any device within reach. This relates to Bill Gates' promise of "information at your fingertips," and to AOL's current slogan for mobile computing,...

Thinner, Flatter CRTs Are on the Horizon - A new CRT technology known as the field emitter display should make "flat" more affordable.(Technology Information)
March 1, 2001... When will the CRT disappear and leave us with a world of flat-panel displays (FPDs)? No time soon, the way things look. The CRT manufacturing process is well-established, and CRTs are inexpensive to make. And unless China abandons the concept...

Sites That Serve Net-Savvy Swells - Luxury shopping sites learn to ignore stereotypes and focus on customers.(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... More and more purveyors of luxury goods are making their way to the Web. Upscale department store Neiman Marcus has an e-commerce site, as does Saks Fifth Avenue. And in the cottage industry of "luxury portals," Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton...

HP Pavilion 2755C: A Fashion Plate at A Fast-Food Priced.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Apple Computer's iMac has nothing on Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new Pavilion 2755C when it comes to looks. This $1,049 PC is HP's response to consumers' increasing demands for aesthetic appeal. Sporting an eye- catching and practical...

Sony VAIO PCV-RX280DS: A Digital Studio On Your Desktop.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Years ago, a multimedia PC was any desktop with a sound card and speakers. These days, you need a lot more. To qualify, it takes added horsepower, loads of storage space, and fast connections for editing high-resolution audio and video. If...

Tangent Medallion Pro: A System for Mixing Business and Pleasure.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Tangent Computer offers a mix of talent with its Medallion Pro. The $1,995 1GHz system shows great overall performance and is reasonably stocked with much of the good stuff we appreciate, but it seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. ...

Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A Combo Drive Great Hardware, Ordinary Software.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... The Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A Combo Drive hardware almost has it all: the fastest CD-write and -rewrite speeds currently available, anti- buffer-underrun technology, and 8x DVD speed. The rest of the $299 bundle, however, doesn't measure up....

Samsung ML-4600 A Step Up From Disposable.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Samsung Electronics America's ML-4600 laser printer has an estimated selling price of $299-about $100 more than the company's "disposably priced" ML-4500. The extra $100 buys 4MB of memory (instead of 2MB), expandable to 68MB using conventional...

Computer Shopper's Essential Guide: Buying PCs.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Picking a PC That Works (or Plays) for You To choose the right PC, get a clear idea of the tasks you'll need the PC to perform, and the features necessary to successfully complete them. (For a comprehensive selection of PC reviews, go to...

Computer Shopper's Essential Guide: Buying Notebooks.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Pinpointing the Perfect Portable To choose the right notebook PC, get a clear idea of the tasks you'll need the laptop to perform and the features necessary to successfully complete them. The specs break down pretty well according to...

InnoGear MiniJam: Sweet Sound, Some Shortcomings.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... Less is certainly more when it comes to portable electronics, and an MP3-player Springboard module for your Handspring Visor makes for one less item to carry. InnoGear's MiniJam snap-on MP3 module is small, but it's a digital-audio lightweight....

Motorola Timeport P8767: This Silver Cell Dials With Style.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2001... The Motorola Timeport P8767 is sure to turn faces green with phone envy. It will definitely attract attention, thanks to its sophisticated clam-shell design and vibrant three-color display. But this handset isn't all about good looks. The...

NEC Versa SXi: Standardized and Solid For the Business Buyer.(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Sometimes it's not about being the fastest or lightest, or packing the most cutting-edge techno-gimmicks. NEC Computers bills its Versa SXi as an ideal notebook for corporate buyers looking to standardize on a single platform. Not very...

Towers of Power - Intel is looking to the future with the Pentium 4, while AMD has revamped the Athlon for peak performance with today's apps. Which one should be in your next PC?(Company Business and Marketing)
March 1, 2001... The battle for CPU supremacy between Intel Corp. and AMD continues to escalate. In fact, both camps recently rolled out their big guns in the form of new processor architectures and clock speeds well in excess of 1GHz. On one side, we have...

Thanks for the Memory - Confused by the new flavors of RAM? You're not alone.(Technology Information)
March 1, 2001... For nearly a year, we've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of double- data-rate (DDR) SDRAM as an effective and low-cost system-memory alternative to the costly RDRAM from Rambus. Interestingly, both types of RAM began as graphics memory....

Your Life In Your Hands - Not just organizers for your appointments and contacts, these five handheld PCs pack a wide range of capabilities- everything from playing MP3s to wireless Web browsing.(Industry Trend or Event)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Jotting down reminders in a date book bursting with business cards and yellow Post-its is no way to get ahead in the 21st century. It's time to ditch that bulky, dead-tree anachronism and embrace technology. With the latest handheld PCs from...

Casio Cassiopeia EM-500.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Editors' Rating 8.0Applications 9Performance 7Design 9 Value 8Ease of Use 7 Pros: Thin, light design; reasonably fast processor; USB synchronization; excellent color display; available in five colors Cons: Only 16MB of memory; no...

Compaq iPaq H3650 Pocket PC.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Editors' Rating 9.0 Applications 9 Performance 10 Design 10 Value 9 Ease of Use 7 Pros: Great color display; sexy design; fast processor; 32MB of RAM; optional Expansion Packs Cons: No built-in expansion slot...

Handspring Visor Platinum.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Editors' Rating 8.2 Applications 9 Performance 8Design 8 Value 7Ease of Use 9 Pros: Wireless access to e-mail and the Web; spacious 8MB of memory; ships with plenty of "Web clipping" software; stylish black body; smaller than other...

Handspring Visor Prism.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Editors' Rating 8.0Applications 8Performance 9Design 8Value 6 Ease of Use 9 Pros: Vivid 16-bit-color display; plenty of memory; rechargeable battery; Springboard expansion slot Cons: Slightly larger/heavier than other Visors;...

Palm VIIx.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2001... Editors' Rating 8.2Applications 8Performance 9Design 8 Value 7Ease of Use 9 Pros: Fast; plenty of memory; handsome new look; Springboard expansion slot; wide range of applications Cons: Same size and weight as earlier Visors; no color...

The Shape of Handhelds to Come.(Industry Trend or Event)
March 1, 2001... What's next for PDAs? Aside from the obvious-thinner designs, better screens, and lower prices-count on seeing more multifunction capabilities. Handspring's Visor line is the perfect example: Thanks to its modular Springboard socket, it can...

Take Along Tunes - The Play-by-Play on Buying a Portable Digital-Music Player.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2001... Digital music is hot. Myriad manufacturers, including heavy hitters like Creative Technology, Sony, and Philips, are selling more than 100 models of portable music players, and tens of millions of Napster-savvy users spend their free time...

Something for Nothing - Phone for free, save on books, or build a home page on the house. The Web offers an abundance of free stuff-but watch out for strings.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
March 1, 2001... We often say the best things in life are free. But when someone wants to give us something for nothing, we're skeptical, suspicious, dubious, and just plain wary of getting ripped off. The Web is a source of all sorts of free things, but you do...

Not Off The Presses - Paperless publishing is taking off with big-name authors and improved hardware. But are e-books required reading yet?(Industry Trend or Event)
March 1, 2001... It's likely that history will peg a certain Stephen King short story as the catalyst that changed book publishing forever. That story, "Riding the Bullet," never touched paper-it was produced solely as an electronic work. Anyone wanting to read...

Web Buyer - Site Reviews for Online Shopping.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
March 1, 2001... PC Shopping The sites in this listing sell computers, components, and accessories from multiple manufacturers. See the sites under "PC Direct Vendors," or check the Computer Shopper Source Directory (cgi.zdnet.com/slink?8145) for more...

Computer Shopper's Site of the Month: cdpost.com.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Now here's a site that's burning for your business. CD Post lets you make your own CD-ROMs without investing in a CD-R burner. The inexpensive service caters to PC users who only need to burn CD-ROMs occasionally, currently charging $6.99 for...