Computer Shopper articles from March 2009

Computer Shopper archives from March 2009

Slideshows of the latest tech.(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] See what our editors saw on the floor of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. computershopper.com/ces2009slideshows

Best prices.(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... Before you start shopping online, we can help you locate the best deal on whatever tech product you're in the market for. computershopper.com/best-prices

Video page.(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... Let ComputerShopper.com's editors show you how the experts do it. Go to our video page for shopping advice and information about the latest products. computershopper.com/videos

Buying guides.(ComputerShopper.com)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Ready to buy, but not sure what you're looking for? Our tech guides tell you everything you should know to make the right purchase. See videos, too! computershopper.com/buying-guides

Free downloads.(ComputerShopper.com)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Check out our blog every day for the Daily Download, where Assistant Editor Matt Safford offers you his tips for the hottest free downloads. computershopper.com/shoptalk Hot New Hard Drive! Check out a demo of the new ioSafe fireproof...

Hot downloads.(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... Our Downloads Center serves up thousands of apps: essential utilities, virus stoppers, photo-editing software, and much more. Better yet, most are free. computershopper.com/downloads

Reviews.(ComputerShopper.com)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Our editors are constantly performing hands-on tests of the newest PC products. Check in daily to read our latest findings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] computershopper.com/reviews

Free newsletters.(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... Sign up for our newsletters and get the best of Computer Shopper delivered right to your inbox. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] computershopper.com/newsletters

Hot new hard drive!(ComputerShopper.com)
March 1, 2009... Check out a demo of the new ioSafe fireproof hard drive. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] computershopper.com/iosafedemo

Editor's note.
March 1, 2009... AS WE ROLL EVER CLOSER to the year 2010, who would have thought that stripped-down tech would be the toast of the PC industry? Netbooks, the lightweight, low-cost stepchildren of laptops, rocketed onto the mobile-computing scene last year,...

Geek speak: Matthew and John build PCs for charity--and spar over netbooks' right to exist.(BOOT UP: TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE WORLD OF TECH)(personal computers)
March 1, 2009... ON THE 10TH FLOOR of Shopper HQ, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, two enterprising editors on a diet of tech, talk, and cheese bring you their impressions of the connected life... in a disconnected way. SWEET CHARITY M&J aren't used...

Why is SanDisk "slotting" a square peg into a round hole?(Clickable Culture)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... SANDISK'S slotMusic initiative is the latest ill-fated attempt to reinvent the dying compact disc, this time on way-too-tiny MicroSD cards. SanDisk pushed the format hard through the holiday season, touting the cooperation of the four major...

Here's what a real-world working mother needs from a laptop.(Tech Mom)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TECHNOLOGY vendors often make the mistake of thinking that women and mothers want dumbed-down technology. Or worse: pink. In my opinion, they couldn't be more wrong. I've tested more than my share of notebooks in...

Swell shells.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(SeeThru hard shell)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Want to give your Apple iMac a quick face-lift? You can't change the body, but you can give it a little color with Speck's SeeThru hard shell. Available for a variety of products, including Sony VAIOs as well as...

The ultimate Blu-ray.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Denon Flagship DVD-A1UDCI)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been almost a year since Blu-ray won the high-definition-format war, and consumers can feel confident about buying a high-def DVD player without worrying that it'll become obsolete. (Sorry, HD DVD owners--we...

Case study.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(laptop bag)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not to be confused with our nation's 49th state, Hlaska is a San Francisco-based company that makes some of the most luxurious bags around. Its 15-Inch Laptop Bag ($185), which is available in black or brown fabric,...

Flat out.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Flat Cables)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... You can always count on LaCie to turn the simplest peripherals--cables, in this case--into designer works of art. Designed by the firm Item, the colorful Flat Cables (starting at $9.99) are available for external Serial ATA (eSATA), FireWire,...

HD in your pocket.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Creative Vado HD)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With video-sharing sites going wide-screen and high-def, we knew it wouldn't be long before pocket camcorders went that route. The latest model from Creative, the Vado HD ($229.99), is a compact cam that's less than...

Slick suppressor.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Surge suppressors--usually relegated to the savannah of dust bunnies behind your desk--get little love from product designers. But Monster Cable's $129 GreenPower Digital Life MDP 900 not only looks good, it's also attractively engineered to...

Budget upscaling.(NEW PRODUCTS: GEAR)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Can't afford the deluxe Blu-ray player from Denon (p. 16)? That doesn't mean you won't be able to appreciate high definition. If you're lucky enough to have a brand-new HDTV and a large library of movies on DVD, what...

HP TouchSmart tx2z: multitouch technology in a stylish tablet.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... HP HAS EMPLOYED the TouchSmart desktop line's slick touch-screen capabilities for its tx2z tablet. Its MediaSmart multimedia-management applications make brilliant use of the touch screen and the tablet form factor--so much so that the...

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS: excellent single-lens solution for photo enthusiasts.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE CANON POWERSHOT SX10 IS ultrazoom digital camera offers an impressive 20x optical zoom lens. This 10-megapixel model's focal length of 28mm to 560mm resembles that of a digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) camera and...

Sony VAIO VGC-RT150Y: outstanding performance, exorbitant price.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... MOST OF THE TV-FOCUSED all-in-ones we've seen so far have been more about potential than performance. All have offered basic Media Center functionality, and some have aimed slightly higher, but to accomplish any serious tasks, you've generally...

Maingear X-Cube: cube-shaped mini-desktop is a big performer.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PORTABLE, small-form-factor (SFF) desktops, but never one quite like the Maingear X-Cube, with a full liquid-cooling system inside. The system cools both the processor (a 2.83GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550) and the...

Eurocom L390TP Uno: all-in-one has limited abilities, but needs little space, electricity.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... EUROCOM'S L390TP UNO is an all-in-one PC that spurns TV capabilities in favor of simple PC functionality. (A tuner is an option in other configurations; none was included in our $1,750 test model.) The system's distinguishing feature is its...

Maingear F131: practically unparalleled performance at a pre-Core i7 price.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WHEN INTEL RELEASED its ridiculously potent Core i7 family of processors last month, we knew it wouldn't be long before a desktop used its capabilities not only to break preexisting speed records but to mock them outright. We just thought it...

Vigor Force Recon T7N: three graphics cards boost Core i7 speed.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [EDITORS' CHOICE] APTLY NAMED, the Vigor Force Recon T7N is indeed a force to be reckoned with. This $3,099 powerhouse features Core i7 processing power and all the 3D muscle you'll need to play today's demanding...

Velocity Micro Edge Z55: attractive, fairly powerful Core i7 PC.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... VELOCITY MICRO'S dedication to clean, top-quality builds continues with its Edge Z55 ($2,374 in our test configuration), now outfitted with processors from Intel's Core i7 family that help compensate for a slightly lower level of performance...

Alienware M17: CrossFireX laptop deals superior graphics performance.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WITH ITS $1,999 PRICE TAG, Alienware's M17 can hardly be considered a budget notebook. But it is reasonably priced compared with the company's higher-end offerings, so you can get capable gaming performance without breaking the bank. Along with...

Samsung Q310-34P: a thin-and-light that's lean on speed, value.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... UNTIL NOW, THE ONLY WAY to get a Samsung-branded notebook was to live (or special-order from) outside North America. Now, anyone shopping for a thin-and-light business model can add Samsung's Q310 to the list of options. Nicely equipped and...

Acer Aspire 8930G: giant-screen performer begs for a Blu-ray drive.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WHEN WE REVIEWED Acer's Aspire 8920G notebook in May 2008, we loved its elegant design, innovative six-speaker audio system, and dazzling 18.4-inch display. With the Aspire 8930G ($1,699), you get all that, plus a processor, upgrade, for almost...

Lenovo IdeaPad Y530: media master packs good sound, great value.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... THE $949 LENOVO IDEAPAD Y530'S 15.4-inch (1,280x800) glossy screen, textured Light Weave lid, excellent speakers, and HDMI port all make for an excellent multimedia experience. Weighing 6.6 pounds and measuring 1.4x14.2x10.3 inches (HWD),...

ZT Affinity N4004i: an understated notebook with some glaring flaws.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... ZT'S AFFINITY N4004I DOESN'T LOOK half bad on paper. It tests well enough (with the exception of graphics performance), has decent components, and has enough of the basics for most users. It even has a 10-key numeric pad. Unfortunately, the...

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition: new-generation Phenom brings AMD back into the game.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... LIKE THE ORIGINAL AMD PHENOM, the new 45-nanometer (nm) Phenom II CPU doesn't have the raw speed to dethrone Intel's fastest offerings. This inexpensive quad-core processor's performance is competitive in its price, range, however, 15...

Asus Rampage II Extreme: pricey motherboard is a tweaker's dream come true.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [EDITORS' CHOICE] ASUS RAMPAGE II EXTREME motherboard is the newest entry in the company's Republic of Gamers line, offering slick looks and extensive support for overclocking. This pricey ($399) board based on Intel's X58 chipset supports...

Iomega StorCenter ix2: ideal NAS drive for small networks is missing a few user-friendly features.(REVIEWS: NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... DESIGNED FOR SMALL NETWORKS, the 1TB Iomega StorCenter ix2 ($299.99) offers built-in RAID and some nice security features in a compact device, and it's a snap to install. Its write performance is less than stellar, however, and the drives are...

WD TV HD Media Player: stream media from PC to TV the easy way.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WESTERN DIGITAL'S $129 WD TV HD Media Player offers a brilliantly easy way to show digital content from a PC on your TV screen, with no complicated cabling or networking protocols to deal with. The small box connects directly to your HDTV...

NEC NP61: full-auto projector takes sweat out of presentations.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... DON'T WANT TO FUSS setting up a presentation projector? NEC's fully automatic NP61 is for you. Just plug it in, connect a laptop, and it's ready to go. No fiddling with input buttons, focus controls, keystone correction--nothing. At...

ViewSonic VX2260wm: tiny 1080p panel packs a punch.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE VIEWSONIC VX2260WM packs full HD (1,920xl,080) resolution into a 22-inch screen (21.5-inch viewable) that's both lightweight (9.1 pounds) and light on the wallet ($269.99 direct). It's a great value for those who...

HP LP2275w: perfect for productivity, too slow for games.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... HP's $399 LP2275w has a slow 16-millisecond response time, which makes this 22-inch (1,680x1,050) monitor a poor choice for entertainment. But designers, workstation power users, or anyone who spends long hours in front of a screen doing things...

Lexmark E460dw: not a speed demon, but excellent quality.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... DESIGNED FOR SMALL and midsize businesses, the Lexmark E460dw is a high-volume monochrome laser printer offering wired and wireless connectivity as well as relatively fast printing speeds. Its compact size makes it a good fit for offices with...

Kodak ESP 9: a high initial price, but a low total cost of ownership.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... COMING FROM THE COMPANY that practically invented photography, Kodak's $299.99 ESP 9 should be expected to excel in photo printing and scanning. It does. But the ESP 9's 36-page automatic sheet feeder, automatic duplexer, and superior text...

Casio Exilim EX-FH20: high-speed shooting is where this cam shines.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WITH ITS 20X OPTICAL ZOOM LENS and 9.1-megapixel resolution, the $599.99 Casio Exilim EX-FH20 resembles other big-zoom, non-SLR cameras such as the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS (p. 19) and the Panasonic DMC-FZ28. But the EX-FH20 hides a superpower...

HTC Fuze: stylish smartphone hindered by keypad.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WITH ITS GLOSSY lacquered finish, the HTC Fuze is one of AT&T's more stylish smartphones. It packs a 3G radio, a touch screen, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Despite its design and...

Redfly Smartphone Terminal C8N: netbooks trounce this phone accessory.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... THE REDFLY SMARTPHONE TERMINAL C8N from Celio is a laptop-like companion for Windows Mobile-based smart-phones. It features a bright, 8-inch LCD and a keyboard to make your smartphone more useful for data-intensive tasks. Priced at $299, the...

Archos 5: shortcomings limit media player's true potential.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... THE NEW ARCHOS 5 is the most stylish of the company's media devices. It looks great, comes loaded with features, and performs well. But several flaws hold it back from being the outstanding player it could be. The device is controlled...

Iriver Spinn: high-tech display can't compensate for usability issues.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WITH A BRIGHT, 3.3-INCH OLED (active-matrix) touch screen and ample amounts of elegant aluminum, there's no denying the Iriver Spinn's sleek design. But simple sexiness aside, this media player has enough problems with its screen and software...

FileMaker Pro 10: latest version of venerable database software is powerful, easy to use.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... IF YOU'RE NEW to FileMaker Pro or databases in general--and don't know a record from a field or a schema--you'll have little to fear from FileMaker Pro 10. Though more suited to intensive tasks than its simplified (and Mac-only) consumer cousin...

Nero 9: enhanced media-management suite not worth the cost for everyone.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... WHEN WE REVIEWED Nero 8 Ultra Edition in November 2007, we concluded that you probably didn't need it if you already had Nero 7 or another media-creation package you were satisfied with. Though this year's version of the software, Nero 9...

System Suite 9 Professional: solid hard drive utilities paired with limited security.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... AVANQUEST'S System Suite 9 Professional is improved from last year's version, with more configurability, but it still lacks the easy access to system information that many users will want. System Suite 9 Professional's disk utilities can...

BitDefender Total Security 2009: one of the best security packages you can buy.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... SINCE WE REVIEWED last year's version of its software, BitDefender has improved Total Security in ways both obvious and subtle. The 2009 edition is among the leading personal security packages on the market and one of the best we've tested. ...

Philips Ambx Premium Kit: novel audio system immerses you in your games--but few titles support it.(REVIEWS: GAMING)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN IT COMES TO PC GAMING, diehards will go to extremes for a more immersive experience. To help them feel every ripple in the virtual track, for instance, racing-game fans will pair their rigs with massive,...

Netbooks rising: the hottest trend in laptops is showing no signs of cooling. We've got the 10 latest netbooks right here.(Cover story)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IF 2008 WAS THE YEAR OF THE NETBOOK, then 2009 promises to be the year of the netbook refined. It's not that we haven't enjoyed Asus's repeated attempts to perfect its Fee PC or watching every other notebook vendor...

CS4 Tour: Adobe's latest Creative Suite: loaded with new technologies and revamped interfaces, the latest version of Adobe's popular Creative Suite, CS4, is as well suited to design neophytes as to pros.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Digital artists in all fields know that avoiding Adobe can be as futile as trying to stave off the sun at the beach. Its software for everything from drawing to movie editing is commonly regarded as some of the most...

Get set for digital TV: digital television has arrived, but are you prepared to receive it?
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been heralded as the biggest advance in TV viewing in our lifetimes, promising enhanced picture and audio quality as well as potentially big increases in programming quantity. Some of you who own a...

"Found"-dogged.(Computer Cures: COMPUTER SHOPPER'S EDITORS SOLVE YOUR TOUGHEST TECH PROBLEMS)(on computer files)
March 1, 2009... When booting, my PC would give me an error message telling me to shut down or "press F1 to continue." Before I finally found and fixed the problem, the PC would generate files named FOUND.001, FOUND.002, and so on. Each time I would try to boot...

Drive (bareley) alive.(Computer Cures: COMPUTER SHOPPER'S EDITORS SOLVE YOUR TOUGHEST TECH PROBLEMS)(hard disk drives)
March 1, 2009... I have an HP dv5000 laptop with a Seagate Serial ATA 1.5Gbps, 120GB hard drive. I ran Seagate's SeaTools on it, and the log report says the drive is failing. I contacted Seagate, and the company told me to contact HP, as they have a different...

Media PC and TV, wire-free.(Computer Cures)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... My computer is located in my basement. At some point, I intend to buy an LCD television to mount on a wall elsewhere. I would like to send my computer info to the TV screen wirelessly. I could run a wire hookup, but it would mean crawling...

Uneasy USB.(Computer Cures)(universal serial bus)
March 1, 2009... I'm running Windows XP Professional. A couple of clays ago, its USB interface started to cause some annoying problems. I've been using a Microsoft Optical Mouse for the last three years with no problems, but now it disconnects while I'm using...

Quirky clicker.(Computer Cures)(managing computer cursor settings)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... My HP laptop has a quirk: If I allow the cursor to remain on a clickable link for more than a second, it clicks it. Why? JOHN UFEMA Managing Editor Jonathan Rougeot links up with an answer: It sounds like one of two problems. I'm...

Tip of the month: flipping strange!(Computer Cures)(rotating computer display orientation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... I'm always finding something useful in "Computer Cures" and wanted to see if this discovery would be of interest to anyone. My wife recently squeezed past me with her back to my PC. Later, when I looked at the monitor, the image on the...

Set up a PC-based security system: protect your home with your PC and one or more video cameras.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SERIOUS HOME SECURITY doesn't have to comprise a panic room, bodyguards with pile-driver arms, and a machine-gun emplacement on the front lawn. It's the peace of mind often achieved by a simple awareness of what's...

Tapes and LPs, meet CDs and MP3s: transfer your old analog audio to discs or digital files--practically for free.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THAT STACK OF DISCO SINGLES (1979). Those college-band concerts you recorded on the sly (1989). That tape of your 4-year-old channeling Celine Dion ("My Heart Will Go On"--shudder--1999). You'11 never part with them,...

A straight-up cool case.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(SilverStone Raven )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... SilverStone's Raven lacks the brushed-aluminum brilliance many of the company's other cases are known for, but hidden inside the stealthy exterior is an angular innovation. The Raven's motherboard mounting scheme is rotated 90 degrees, so your...

Maximum multifunction panel.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Scythe's Kama Panel 3.5 Inch )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scythe's Kama Panel 3.5 Inch jams enough functionality into a 3.5-inch bay device to make your 5.25-inch bays jealous. You get two LED-lit fan-control wheels, a micro-SD-packing multiformat card reader, one USB and...

Supersize it.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(OCZ Triple Channel Memory Kite )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OCZ's hand-tested DDR3 Triple Channel Memory Kite come in 3GB and 6GB varieties for all your Intel Core i7 needs. The kits include Intel's XMP tech, which allows you to use predetermined overclock settings to push...

Hot-stuff heat sink.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Thermaltake SpinQ)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Thermaltake's $70 SpinQ is a visually stunning CPU cooler that makes case windows a must. Six copper pipes pull heat from your Socket 774, 775, 939, or AM2 CPU and pump it to 50 menacing-looking aluminum fins, where an 80mm bluelit fan blows...

Dead-simple Domino.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(CoolIt Domino)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... CoolIt's $79 Domino is a self-contained liquid CPU cooler that couldn't get much simpler. The water block is compatible with all recent processors, including Inters new Core i7, and the reset of the kit fits anywhere you can mount a 120mm fan....

Muscle-car cooling.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Cooler Master V8)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cooler Master's V8 may not be a hemi, but with eight heat pipes and four separate stacks of aluminum fins for maximum surface area, it should have enough muscle to keep your CPU cool. A center-mounted 120mm...

Triple-channel cheap.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Crucial Core i7-friendly 1066GHz RAM Kits)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Crucial's Core i7-friendly 1066GHz RAM Kits aren't the fastest you can buy, but they're relatively affordable, which is nice if you just bought a processor that costs more than a mortgage payment. You'll still get the triple-channel goodness of...

30 years of Computer Shopper!(SHUT DOWN: A LOOK BACK INTO THE COMPUTER SHOPPER ARCHIVES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... This year, Computer Shopper is celebrating 30 years of continuous publication with a look back through our archives at tech through the years. This month: the computer mouse, circa summer 1987. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]