Computer Shopper articles from March 2008

Computer Shopper archives from March 2008

Letter from the editors.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... IT'S BEEN SOME TIME NOW since laptops overtook desktops as the world's preferred type of computer, though you might not know it from the covers of computer magazines. One reason for notebooks' surge in popularity is the increase in the number...

Netscape Navigator, R.I.P.: 1994 to 2008.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... AT THE FOREFRONT of the Internet boom during the 1990s, Netscape was instrumental in creating a new way for people to use their computers to access the Web. But with competition increasing and the number of Netscape users declining, the company...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 47 percent of adult Internet users have "Googled" themselves using the popular search engine Google. In a report released last December, the center found that those users tend to be...

Skype moves beyond the computer.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... SKYPE, THE VOICE OVER Internet Protocol (VolP) provider, has already been making inroads outside of the PC with products such as dedicated cordless- and Wi-Fi-based phones that let you call other Skype users without a computer. Recently, the...

Radio for the hearing- and vision-impaired.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A NEW INITIATIVE will make radio more accessible to hearing- and vision-impaired people. The project, spearheaded by National Public Radio, Harris Corporation (a maker of communications equipment), and Towson University, will use HD Radio...

Warner Bros. to back Blu-ray exclusively.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... WARNER BROS. has announced that it will back the Blu-ray high-definition disc format exclusively, in what is considered a major setback to HD DVD in the battle for next-generation DVD supremacy. Starting in May, the movie studio will distribute...

Update: CompUSA.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... In our issue last month, we wrote about the closing of computer retailer CompUSA. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, it was announced that Systemax and its subsidiary TigerDirect.com will acquire the remaining assets of CompUSA,...

Nanowiring could boost battery life tenfold.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Battery life is a major concern when it comes to power-hungry portable electronics such as notebook computers, cell phones, cameras, and music players such as the Apple iPod. But researchers at Stanford University have uncovered a method that...

Round one.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Sony VAIO TP Home Theater PC)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You've got a sweet new HDTV, but now you want a way to record and watch high-definition (HD) shows with as little fuss as possible--and without spoiling your design scheme. Sony's VAIO TP Home Theater PC is an update...

Tiny laptop, tiny price.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Everex CloudBook )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looking for a simple portable computer that's very easy on the wallet? Everex's new $399 CloudBook might fit the bill. It weighs in at just two pounds, measures a mere 9 inches in length, and averages 5 hours of...

Multimedia mobility.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Asus M50S )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A new "extremely mobile entertainment system" from Asus, the M50S is aimed at users who want their multimedia to tag along with them. Its hybrid TV tuner and remote control make for easy recording and watching of TV shows, while High-Definition...

An Apple with eight cores.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Apple's partnership with Intel has resulted in a lot of innovations from the Cupertino-based computer company. But few have sounded as immediately impressive as the new Mac Pro, which unites two of Intel's...

Tablet or laptop? No, both.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HP Pavilion TX2000 Series Entertainment Notebook PC combines the Convenience of a laptop with the versatility of a tablet, and tosses in plenty of multimedia features to round out the package. With improved...

Gaming special FX.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every passing year makes it easier to get your game on without taking it out on your credit card. Even Gateway is getting into the act now with its FXT020 desktop, which boasts an AMD quad-core Phenom 9600 processor,...

Asus Eee PC: Linux-based ultraportable is a low-cost winner.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... PERFORMANCE, compatibility, and comfort are usually the buzzwords when you're shopping for a laptop. None of them applies to the $399 Asus Eee PC--but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider this unique budget portable. A lightweight,...

AMD Phenom 9600: first-generation quad-core processor falls behind Inters CPUs.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... AMD'S PHENOM, the company's long-awaited quad-core successor to the dual-core Athlon X2, has finally arrived. But AMD enthusiasts hoping that the company would steal the performance crown back from Intel's Core 2 will be disappointed, as the...

iBuypower Gamer Paladin 900: expensive desktop has outstanding DirectX 10 gaming abilities.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... THE GAMING SCORES achieved by iBuypower's $4,999 Gamer Paladin 900 are truly something to behold. It pulled in the highest we've seen yet in our DirectX 10 (DX10) Call of Juarez test: a nicely playable 70.3 frames per second (fps) at...

Uberclok Ion: DirectX 9 ace comes overclocked out of the box.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... IF YOU'VE ALWAYS been interested in overclocking but haven't had guts enough to try it yourself, you might be intrigued by the desktop offerings from Uberclok. As the company's name suggests, it's really into wringing as much performance as...

Polywell Poly A790: unremarkable desktop is a solid gamer.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THOUGH POLYWELL'S $1,350 PolyA790 is the first Phenom machine we've tested, we already examined one Phenom processor (see review on p. 17) and came away less than impressed. So we weren't exactly surprised when the...

Radioactive PC Plasma: capable, pricey gaming machine lacks punch.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... THOUGH YOU CAN GET a base configuration of Radioactive PC's Plasma for as little as $1,399, you need to shell out more than $4,200 to get a model with the loudest bells and whistles. (Our review unit rang up at $4,220.) And while the Plasma is...

PC Club Enpower ENP545: a solid budget laptop in a bland case.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... THE $999 PC CLUB Enpower ENP545 offers a tad more oomph than most budget notebooks, but its looks are decidedly bottom-tier. Dressed in a drab, two-tone chassis that's chunkier than those of most 14.1-inch notebooks, the 5.5-pound ENP545...

HP Compaq 2510p: business-friendly ultraportable performs well.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... WITH ITS STURDY BUILD and ample security options, the $1,849 HP Compaq 2510p is a solid, safe, and straitlaced ultraportable for business travelers. Though its charcoal chassis is a bit bland and blocky, the 2510p's diminutive size is...

Toshiba Satellite Pro A200-EZ2204X: budget business portable lacks panache.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT MAY NOT be a looker, but the business-oriented Toshiba Satellite Pro A200-EZ2204X delivers features and performance appropriate for its budget price. The notebook's 6-pound, bluish-black case is bland-looking,...

Fujitsu LifeBook V1010: low-cost notebook is short on features.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... THOUGH ATTRACTIVELY PRICED at $899, the Fujitsu LifeBook Vl010 comes up short compared with other budget models. Designed for the business market, the 6.2-pound V1010'S matte-black finish doesn't do much to excite the eye, though we did...

HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC [Penryn Edition): massive media-centric laptop gets a welcome speed boost.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] AS WE MENTIONED last spring in our review of the original HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC, the HDX is no ordinary desktop-replacement notebook. Think of it not as a laptop, but more as an all-in-one PC that...

Shuttle XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro: an excellent foundation for a powerful, transportable PC.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] USUALLY, IF YOU WANT A COMPUTER small enough to haul to school or a LAN party, you have to settle for older, slower components. Now, with Shuttle's XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro, you can build a high-performance, dual- or...

Asus EAH3870 TOP: graphics card offers unmatched performance for its price.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... ATI'S NEW RADEON HD 3870 CHIPSET maybe its top-of-the-line offering, but it's actually aimed at capturing the mainstream market, offering very good performance at a reasonable price. The $249 Asus EAH3870 TOP soups up the HD 3870 by...

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770: a superfast chip--but you'll pay for bragging rights.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... INTEL'S CORE 2 EXTREME QX9770 will be the new top-end entry in the company's consumer CPU line. The QX9770 offers a noticeable, though not dramatic, speedup over the previous top-of-the-line QX9650--though Intel says it will be priced higher...

EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB: updated graphics card is a quiet, speedy choice.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] WHEN NVIDIA recently released its GeForce 8800 GT design, it left the 8800 GTS in a weird place: The GTS was more expensive than the GT but slower in most tests. With the advent of the faster 512MB 8800 GTS cards like...

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000: a Webcam that lives up to its hype.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] LOGITECH'S $99.99 QUICKCAM PRO 9000 Webcam is easy to set up and use, and it offers a bunch of handy extras, making it the best Webcam we've seen for those who want to do more than the occasional video chat. Plus, for...

Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System: must-have gear for flight-sirn fans.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] YOKE (or "airplane steering wheel," to the non-aviation-inclined) such as Saitek's $149.99 Pro Flight Yoke System is the most realistic way we know to simulate flying most general-aviation planes and airliners on a PC. ...

Enermax Caesar: heavy-duty keyboard is packed with features.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ENERMAX CAESAR KEYBOARD captured our attention with its good looks and roomy size--and won us over with its impressive extras. If you're sensitive to aesthetics, you'll love the $75 Caesar--provided you don't...

HP Photosmart C8180: photo-centric MFP has few limitations.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... THE HP PHOTOSMART C8180 comes tantalizingly close to having everything you could want in a reasonably priced, photo-centric all-in-one printer. The photo print quality from the C8180's six-color inkjet print engine rivals the results from...

Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000: plenty of features, but video stumbles.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... AS FAR AS FEATURES GO, the $99 Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000 is a prime example of an overachiever. It offers a 2-megapixel sensor, works with the major instant-messaging clients, and even has a built-in, noise-cancelling microphone. But while...

With 28-inch monitors, size isn't everything: these two large LCDs part ways on features and performance.(VIEWSONIC VX2835WM)(HANNS.G HG281DPB)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... THE PROLIFERATION of LCD-based televisions has helped push panel prices to new lows--making flat panels cheaper, too, for buyers of LCD monitors for the desktop. We latched onto two 28-inch displays (well, 27.5-inch, to be precise), one from...

Dell UltraSharp 3008WFP: giant LCD with a forward-looking interface--and a high price.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... AT A WHOPPING $1,999, the Dell UltraSharp 3008WFP isn't for everyone. But for that asking price, you get a stylish 30-inch display packed with a variety of connectors and convenient features. Plus, it's future-proofed, with an upcoming display...

Kodak EasyShare V1253: compact shooter takes stills and HD video.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KODAK'S $279.95 EASYSHARE V1253 packs a surprising amount of capability into a small point-and-shoot package. Not only does it come with a 12.4-megapixel CCD, digital image stabilization, face recognition, a wealth...

GE E1040: clunky, slow cam isn't worth the money.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... GENERAL ELECTRIC clearly knows what it's doing when it comes to appliances and TV networks. But if the GE E1040 is any indication, the conglomerate's name will fall flat in the digital-camera market. The $249.99 El040 is a clunky...

Archos 605 WiFi: wireless wonder redefines portable video players.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [EDITORS' CHOICE] WITH ITS BEST-IN-CLASS screen, abundant multimedia features, and great price, the Archos 605 WiFi is the best portable video player (PVP) we've seen. We tested the $299.99 30GB hard-drive-based model. The device is...

Microsoft Zune 8GB: a smartly featured A/V player--but still not an iPod.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... MICROSOFT'S FIRST flash-memory-based Zune is a compelling piece of hardware, but it can't beat the iPod for ease of use and compatibility--and it can't even beat other Zune models for value. Audiophiles with a large media collection would be...

SoundTech Vocal Trainer: software/mic combo for virtual singing lessons.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IS YOUR SINGING closer to Sanjaya than Sinatra? The SoundTech Vocal Trainer may be able to help you split the difference. This $89 package--which includes Carry-A-Tune's Singing Coach software and a USB microphone...

Diskeeper 2008 Pro Premier: advanced tools for fine-tuning your hard drive.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... COMPUTERS ARE LIKE CARS: If you don't maintain them, they can lose their pep. If you've ever copied a large video file to your hard drive and seen it pause and stutter more than usual when you play it, you've probably encountered a fragmented...

Top 5 Entertainment Desktops: these multimedia-savvy PCs are fit for your living room.
March 1, 2008... 1 Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center www.alienware.com $3,108 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.6) Specs * 2.4GHz Athlon X2 4600+ * 2GB DDR2 memory * Two 1-terabyte hard drives * DVD [+ or -]...

Top 5 thin-and-light laptops: these capable portables let you take performance on the road.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... 1 Fujitsu LifeBook S6510 www.fujitsu.com $2,119 (as tested) Editors' Rating: 8.4 [check] Specs * 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo T7700 * 2GB DDR2 * 120GB hard drive * Double-layer DVD [+ or -] RW * nVidia...

Top 5 network-attached-storage devices: save and share files over a network with one of these versatile drives.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... 1 HP MediaSmart Server EX475 www.hp.com $749.99 Editors' Rating: (8.7) Specs * 1-terabyte capacity * 7,200rpm spin rate * 8MB cache * USB 2.0, FireWire 400, eSATA ports * Windows 2000, XP, or...

Top 5 laser printers: say good-bye to sluggish ink jet output with these speedy lasers.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... 1 Xerox Phaser 8550/N www.xerox.com $799 Editors' Rating: (8.3) [check] Specs * 2,400x2,400dpi maximum resolution * Rated print speed: 30ppm (monochrome); 30ppm (color) * 256MB memory * USB 2.0...

Top 5 security programs: keep your PC protected and running strong with these suites.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... 1 Steganos Privacy Suite 2008 www.beinsync.com $79.95 Editors' Rating: (8.4) System Requirements * 256MB RAM * 100MB hard drive space * Windows XP or Vista Bottom Line Although Steganos Privacy...

Affordable portables: these four under-$1,000 notebooks deliver surprising features and performance for the money.(Dell Inspiron 1525, Gateway P-6825,HP Pavilion DV2660se,Sony VAIO VGN-NR160E)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not long ago, it was a given that notebooks with low prices were saddled with bland cases, dated components, and poky performance. That's no longer the status quo. As the laptop business continues to boom and more...

For your eyes only: take our advice: one of these monitors is designed for you.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... ALL LCD MONITORS are not created equal. Sure, you can add one to the purchase of a new desktop PC for a song (sometimes for free), but like computers, monitors come in different flavors. Bargain-basement models will please most users looking to...

2008 motherboard buying guide: the ultimate guide to picking the right motherboard.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... FAST PROCESSORS and 3D video cards get all the glory when it comes to building or upgrading a system, but the motherboard is the unsung hero that ties everything together. More than just a circuit board with slots and sockets for your...

Password bypass surgery.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... I recently bought an 850MHz Compaq PC off eBay. The owner put a password on it--and, forgot it. I thought all I would have to do is load a new OS, but the password keeps me from powering on the computer. I've tried going into the setup utility...

Case carver.(COMPUTER CURES)(maintainence of computer systems)
March 1, 2008... I'm planning to purchase a PC ease and do a bit of--er--personalizing. Do you have experience drilling holes, say, for the tubing used for water cooling, through an aluminum case? Is there a certain drill bit I should use? I will probably also...

35mm slide avalanche!(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... I have about 2,000 35mm slides in carousels that I'd like to put on disc, or in memory. Is there a device or method for doing this without scanning each slide by itself?. RICHARD MAYER I know of two ways to perform bulk slide scanning....

Locked out by the (net) nanny!(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... I turned on the Content Advisor in Windows XP Professional, but I forgot my password. Now I can't go to about 95 percent of Web sites. How can I turn off the Advisor? DE VUONG Content Advisor, built into Windows and Internet Explorer...

The essence of cool.(COMPUTER CURES)(Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Both Intel and AMD supply heat sinks and cooling fans with their CPUs. They also provide a three-year warranty, assuring us the CPUs won't overheat. So why do people buy aftermarket heat sinks and cooling fans? GIRISH MODI Under...

Brute-force mail fix.(TIP OF THE MONTH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... My computer lost the ability to click through to e-mail addresses hyperlinked on Web pages. I could still click hyperlinks to reach Web sites, but when I clicked an e-mail address, instead of launching my mail program (Yahoo Mail) and inserting...

Take perfect digital photos: fix your biggest digital photography mistakes--before they happen.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DIGITAL CAMERAS ARE SUPPOSED to make photography easy, yet we chum out millions of bad photos every day. Some problems are unavoidable due to the limitations of the camera. Most, however, can be solved with just a...

Zut Allure!(HELP & HOW-TO: Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(In Win Development)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... What could show your affection more than a PC custom-built for your significant other, clad in a classy, satin-finished case adorned with crystals? If "nothing!" is your answer, get this case and get building. The $110 Allure from In Win may...

Clean air initiative.(HELP & HOW-TO: Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... One of our pet peeves of PC maintenance: trying to degunk case fans clogged with years of dust and debris. You don't have to resort to an old toothbrush and canned air if you outfit your next PC build with Enermax's $15.99 Everest 120mm case...

Blu-ray bargain.(HELP & HOW TO: Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Get your next media-PC build high-definition-ready--without those burst-budget blues--with the DH-401S from PLDS. (PLDS is a joint venture between Philips and Lite-On.) Capable of reading Blu-ray discs, as well as...

A cold tall boy.(HELP & HOW-TO: Build your own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Scythe Ninja Copper SCNJ-CU1000 cooling fans)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Add a tower of cooling to your tower of power with the Scythe Ninja Copper SCNJ-CU1000. This $70 CPU cooler measures almost 6 inches high, elevated by six crisscrossing heat pipes. (Check your case's overhead clearance before buying.) The...

Hard drive haven.(HELP & HOW-TO: Build your own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Tuniq Sanctum hard drive cooler)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Tuniq Sanctum serves your hard drive in three widely differing ways. This $29.99 device lets you install a standard KS-inch hard drive into a front-accessible 5.2S-inch drive bay. Its hefty aluminum heat sink,...

Sustainable storage.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Western Digital Corp.'s WD Caviar GP )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the WD Caviar GP packs a full terabyte of data into a standard 3.S-inch Serial ATA hard drive. Part of Western Digital's GreenPower line of power-saving hard drives, this Caviar reduces power consumption...

Graphical go-getter.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(PNY Technologies's XLR8 GeForce 8800 graphic card)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Unless you're a no-holds-barred gaming fanatic, the XLR8 GeForce 8800 GT from PNY (or a similar card based on the same GeForce chipset) will most likely be a big step up in graphics prowess. The best part: It costs half the usual $500 price tag...

Juice maker.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Ultra Products Company L.L.C.'s Power Partner )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Updating your PC's power-supply unit (PSU) to accommodate a new graphics card is a big hassle--not to mention pricey, too. For an extra 325 watts without replacing the PSU, drop the $89.99 Power Partner from Ultra...

Bay-watch beauty.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(AeroCool's cooling fans)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... There's no shortage of flashy fan and temperature monitors to fill a PC's spare drive bays--but most of them eat up a 5.25-inch bay, not that forlorn 3.5-incher that's waiting for floppy drives to make a comeback. You'll find few drive-bay...

Performance desktops ($1,500 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(perfomance of CPU (Central processing units) and equipment used)
March 1, 2008... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Power users need the best. Go with a top-notch AMD or Intel processor, such as the AMD X2 or Phenom series, or Intel's Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme. You'll have maximum power and the best protection possible from...

Motherboards.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
March 1, 2008... NEED TO KNOW FORM FACTOR The form factor sets the standard for a motherboard's dimensions, as well as the positioning of mounting boles and expansion slots; your case must support the form factor of the board you choose. Most of today's...

Flash-memory-based MP3 players.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... NEED TO KNOW STORAGE While flash-memory players can't hold as many songs as their hard-drive-based brethren, they have no moving parts, so they won't skip during playback. That makes them a great choice if you'll use your player while...

10 ways to shop smart online.
March 1, 2008... 1 AN ENCRYPTION PRESCRIPTION Before you submit any private information, be sure that the data will be encrypted and transmitted over a secure connection. Both your browser and the shopping site's server should support industry standards...

The right multifunction printer.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Combining a copier, a scanner, a printer, and, sometimes, a fax machine into one device, multifunction printers (MFPs) are ideal for home offices or small businesses. Here's how to pick the right one for the job. ...