Computer Shopper articles from November 2004

Computer Shopper archives from November 2004

Seeing our work coalesce.(Editor's Note)
November 1, 2004... SEEING OUR WORK COALESCE into a crisp, new magazine every 30 days is always gratifying. But what you have in your hands is the result of not one month's work, but the efforts of the greater part of a year. It was in late 2003 that we first put...

Customer disservice.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Nancy Feldman's column on her experiences with the Garmin StreetPilot 2620 had quite an effect on me ("Vendor Takes the Low Road to Block Customer Returns," September, p. 30). Although my own dealings with Garmin have been much more...

But can they walk the walk?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Your guide to digital music players ("I Want My MP3 Player," August, p. 123) gave some useful specs and information on the differences in types of players, but it could have gone a lot further in answering the questions I really have, like:...

Alice and Bill will be missed.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Thirty percent of the reason I subscribe to Computer Shopper is because I enjoy "The Hard Edge" so much. The personal-computer industry was founded by zany geeks who had an opinion. I always felt that your magazine was great because of the...

Clarification.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... ATI Technologies has redesigned the HDTV graphics solution we previewed ("HDTV on Your PC," July, p. 37). Based on further development after we went to press, the product, now called the HDTV Wonder, works with any graphics card that supports...

Refilling stations for your printer are coming to a mall near you.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ON YOUR NEXT shopping trip to the mall, you might be able to pick up a refill for your inkjet-printer cartridge. Franchise based inkjet (and laser-toner) filling stations are appearing in storefronts and mall kiosks around the country, where...

Encore, encore!(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Percentage of home theater purchasers who are... ... buying a replacement home theater system 21 percent ... buying a replacement home theater system 8 percent

Google exposes credit-card info.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Simple queries using the Google search engine can turn up a handful of sites that have posted credit-card information to the Web. The lists of financial information include hundreds of cardholders' names, addresses, and phone numbers, as...

Trendspotting.(Trends: upcoming technologies and products)(microprocessor speeds increasing)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... An overclocked 4GHz desktop is the latest salvo from game-system specialist Alienware against the competition. The new Area-51 ALX pushes a standard Intel Pentium 4 chip past its factory speed setting to 4GHz. Intel's fastest current Pentium 4...

New PC includes an old mouse--Mickey Mouse.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BANKING ON the huge popularity that Mickey Mouse enjoys with children worldwide, Disney has unveiled a desktop PC with a monitor sporting the ears of the cartoon character. The Disney Dream Desk PC comes loaded with Disney-branded...

Public gives e-ballots vote of confidence.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A NEW SET of polls conducted by the Ponemon Institute suggests that high tech security experts have significantly less confidence in the security and accuracy of e-voting tools than does the public at large. 81 percent of security...

Sony zooms in with new TV tech.(Tech News)(designs microprocessor to allow zooming on TV broadcasts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Hoping to reenergize one of its core businesses, Sony has announced technology allowing viewers to zoom in, pan, and tilt their perspective in TV broadcasts. Sony says that the new DRC-MFv2, of Digital Reality Creation MultiFunction,...

A 3D LCD monitor, with no funny glasses required.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SHARP has created a desktop monitor that lets you see pictures and graphics in 3D without having to wear special glasses. The LL-151-3D is a 15-inch LCD monitor that employs 3D technology Sharp first showed off in late 2002. The company has...

Put your own stamp on postage.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... STAMPS.COM is now letting customers design their own stamps. With PhotoStamps, people can convert digital photos, designs, and images into valid U.S. postage. The company has recently received authorization from the U.S. Postal Service to...

Time to lose: average time it takes to infect unpatched PCs.(Tech News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Researchers have found that the average time it takes to infect an unpatched Windows PC with malware has been cat in half since last year. The result: A computer can be infected even before its user has time to download patches to protect the...

Watch your way.(New Products)(wristop computers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Stay on track and on time with the Suunto X9. New to the Finnish watchmaker's line of wristop computers, the $725 X9 combines GPS, electronic-compass, barometer, thermometer, and altimeter functions into one wearable device. You can also...

Juice redefined.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Ultra Products X-Connect 500-Watt ATX Power Supply pumps up your PC's electrical source in more ways than one. Not only is the $129.99 X-Connect nicely crafted in a high-gloss metallic hue, but the unit also comes with eight modular power...

Data defense.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... It's always a good idea to back up your digital files regularly. Connecting directly to your home network, the $299 Buffalo LinkStation Network Storage Center automatically stores important data to its 1600B hard drive. The device can also...

An artful interface.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A slim and ergonomic keyboard/mouse combo, the $99.95 Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 700 offers multimedia controls aplenty. When the LX 700 is used with its bundled MediaLife software, you can wirelessly command the playback of digital music,...

Private screening.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... With Samsung's tiny new $549.99 Yepp YH-999, you'll certainly be the envy of your fellow commuters. Running Microsoft's Portable Media Center OS, the 20GB, 8 ounce YH-999 lets you play WMV movie files, as well as MP3 and WMA digital audio, on...

Battlefield acoustics.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Featuring a closed ear-cup design, the $99.95 Altec Lansing AHS602 gaming headset uses integrated SRS Headphone technology to create 3D-audio environments. The headset also has a noise-filtering microphone for chatting under fire. Altec...

Extreme customization makes performance PC worth the price: overdrive torque.OP.
November 1, 2004... [EDITORS' CHOICE] A WHOPPING 20 HOURS: That's how long it took to build our $5,199 Overdrive Torque.OP review PC. You wouldn't know it from the simple aesthetics of the aluminum Lian-Li case, but one look at the tidy interior tells the story....

The great communicator: T-mobile Sidekick II.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... T-MOBILE'S $299 SIDEKICK II offers some refinements over the first Sidekick, but it still lacks some high-end features and can't access corporate e-mail. The device is a bit longer and heavier this time around, but it's slimmer. The...

HP Media Center m1050y Photosmart PC: fine features throughout for this entertainment desktop.
November 1, 2004... WITH A CLASSY-LOOKING CASE, cool features inside and out, and Microsoft's Media Center OS adding the right multimedia software touches, the HP Media Center m1050y Photosmart PC is proof Media Center PCs are improving. But you pay the price for...

Dell dimension XPs Gen-3: performance PC gives gamers lots to cheer about.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SOMETHING OLD, new, borrowed, and blue: Den took its Dimension 8400, added extra high-end hardware, incorporated front-panel lighting you'd find on popular third-party cases, and made the whole thing, except for its polished-silver faceplate,...

Monarch Sempron 3100+ System Special: new CPU debuts in well-configured budget PC.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... QUIET AND SMALL, Monarch's $1,299 Sempron 3100+ System Special is a competent workhorse whose price won't trample a home or small business user's budget. AMD's Sempron processor replaces the budget Duron line. The Monarch PC provides a...

Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G: centralize your media in style.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AT $1,699, the Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G is a decent midrange buy despite its aging graphics card. Note, though, that Sony shipped our review unit with its beautiful but costly 20.1-inch StylePro SDM-S204 flat-panel LCD, vaulting the total price to...

Dell OptiPlex GX280: tackle office tasks with ease.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... IF YOU'RE LOOKING for an office PC, the staid $1,623 Dell OptiPlex GX280 delivers. The case is tough to open, but the high end configuration will serve you well. The 3.2GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU is backed by Intel's 915G Express chipset and a...

Toshiba Satellite M35-$456: thin-and-light's a bit pricey, but packs plenty of computing power.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ALL THE BELLS and whistles in Toshiba's $1,899 Satellite M35-S456 ring true. This well-designed notebook not only performs well, but it also has all the features you'd want in a thin-and-light notebook. The 6.3-pound (with AC adapter)...

Polywell PolyNote 3015AW: this svelte traveler is truly a portable desktop.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... IT MAY BE EXPENSIVE, but with a sleekness that belies its impressive computing power, Polywell's $2,499 PolyNote 3015AW packs a great list of premium components. The first portable we've reviewed with Intel's advanced 2GHz Pentium M...

Fujitsu LifeBook N5010: slow performance offsets a robust CPU and a big screen.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $2,079 FUJITSU LifeBook N5010 comes equipped with some sophisticated features, such as a large 16.1-inch display and a unique volume wheel. Our test unit also carne with a DVD burner and built-in Wi-Fi. But the LifeBook's components prove...

Dell Inspiron 700m: swift and svelte, but humbled by its battery.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DELL'S well-designed Inspiron 700m thin-and-light delivers the speed to mix business and pleasure. Our $1,866 test unit came with a handy DVD+RW drive and a vivid, wide-aspect 12.1-inch TFT with a sharp 1,280x800 native resolution. Dell...

Acer Aspire 1712: enjoy all the power of your desktop wherever you go.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... YOU CAN THINK of Acer's $1,999 Aspire 1712 as a laptop that acts like a premium performance desktop. At 14.7 pounds, the Aspire is a behemoth. With the massive AC adapter, the notebook's travel weight swells to almost 17 pounds. With its...

Memorex True8X Dual +/- Format DVD Recorder: enormous external drive provides solid value.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... IF WE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, we'd insist the "M" atop the $169.99 Memorex True8X Dual +/- Formal DVD Recorder stood for "massive." At 2.5x7.5x10.3 inches (HWD), the True8X is one giant external drive. It isn't unattractive, though, clad in...

Logitech Z-2200: room-rocking bass and crystal-clear sound.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LOGITECH'S $149.99 Z-2200 three-piece speaker system could turn even the most acoustically ambivalent into audiophiles. Each of the THX-certified Z-2200's 80-watt satellites includes a 3-inch driver with an aluminum phase plug for cool...

eVGA.com Personal Cinema e-GeForce FX 5700: watch and record television on your PC.(eVGA.com)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... EVGA.COM'S 128MB PERSONAL CINEMA e-GeForce FX 5700 brings digital-video recording functionality to your PC, but the $229.99 card has some shortcomings. A single DVI port means the card can't drive more than one monitor. Also, the radio...

Samsung SyncMaster 173MW: 17-inch LCD brings HDTV to your desktop.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $699 PRICE TAG on Samsung's SyncMaster 173MW may seem a bit steep for a 17-inch LCD, until you factor in its HDTV-ready, built-in TV tuner. The SyncMaster's base is equipped with a lazy Susan that allows a smooth rotating swivel of 45...

Princeton Senergy 914: big LCD shines with fine image quality.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PRINCETON DIGITAL'S $699.99 Senergy 914 offers good image quality and generous connectivity (one digital and two analog inputs), making this 19-inch LCD monitor a worthwhile deal if you're looking for a decent picture at a reasonable price. ...

Sharp LL-191A: an average flat screen passes the text test.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SHARP'S $699 LL-191A comes up short next to 19-inch LCDs that offer more features and better image quality. You might consider it if you do primarily text viewing, but better 19-inch LCDs are available. In our lab tests, text looked crisp...

Canon Pixma iP4000 Photo Printer: fast, quality prints at an inexpensive price.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CANON'S PIXMA iP4000 Photo Printer offers decent print quality across the board with fast print speeds, and, best of all, a low $149.99 price. The Pixma eschews the typical bulging-belly design in favor of a rectangular bread-box look. One...

HP Color Laser Jet 2550L: affordable color laser is a tad slow but gives sharp prints.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AT $499.99, the HP Color LaserJet 2550L is a bargain. It may be a bit plodding and offers limited paper capacity, but its output quality is impressive. The basic-looking unit has the usual cluster of buttons and indicator lights but lacks...

Dell MFP Laser Printer 1600n: all-in-one with good print, scan capabilities.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $399 DELL MFP Laser Printer 1600n mixes single-user and small office capabilities well, but it may not be entirely appropriate for either type of user. In addition to delivering monochrome laser printing, the 1600n functions as a...

Linksys NSLU2 Network Storage Link: file server for home networks proves slow, lacks features.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $99 LINKSYS NSLU2 Network Storage Link functions as an adapter for your network, letting you connect and remove USB flash and hard drives as needed. It works with a variety of drives and flash-memory keys, but the NSLU2 is sluggish when it...

Netgear WGT634U 108Mbps Wireless Media Router: network storage has good range, poor connectivity.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $149 NETGEAR WGT634U 108Mbps Wireless Media Router distinguishes itself from other 802.11g wireless routers by providing a USB 2.0 port to attach an external hard drive, letting you add storage capacity to all the computers on your network....

D-Link DWL-2100AP: Speedy access point for networking experts.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FOR TECH EXPERTS who want to go wireless and don't want to scrap their wired Ethernet routers, the $80 D-Link DWL-2100AP provides a quick, easy way to add 802.11b/g Wi-Fi to a network or to bridge existing LANs wirelessly. If you already...

HP iPaq RX3715 Mobile Media Companion; fast, multimedia-centric Pocket PC delivers exceptional battery life.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HEWLETT-PACKARD pitches its new iPaq RX3715 Mobile Media Companion not just as an organizational tool but also as an entertainment device. This $499.99 PDA comes with a built-in camera and apps for wirelessly managing your digital media...

Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G Notebook Adapter: cover the basics with this Wi-Fi PC Card.(Adapter)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $49 LINKSYS WPC54G WIRELESS-G Notebook Adapter is a plain-Jane 802.11g PC Card designed to add 802.11g connectivity to any laptop with a compatible slot. The quick-installation guide walks you through the setup process, which entails...

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium: key-chain storage that's both attractive and hardy.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... [EDITORS' CHOICE] STYLISHLY CLAD in a metal casing, SanDisk's $129.99 Cruzer Titanium is among the studiest USB flash drives around. The company even claims the device is strong enough to survive a force of 2,000 pounds. At 3x0.8x0.3...

Samsung SGH-d415: a phone with sleek looks but spares features.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SAMSUNG'S SGH-d415 scores points for a cool design, but, at $299.99, it's a bit overpriced and missing some key features. Measuring 3.8x1.9x1 inches (when closed) and weighing 4.2 ounces, the SGH-d415 fits in only the largest pockets, and a...

Jabra FreeSpeak BT250; cozy Bluetooth earpiece offers clear calling.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE $99.99 Jabra FreeSpeak BT250 is a quality Bluetooth headset designed to make cell phone calls effortlessly hands-free. Ditching the aesthetics of standard headsets, the FreeSpeak wraps behind the ear in a...

Motorola A630: chat it up on this advanced cell's hidden keyboard.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MOTOROLA'S lilliputian $249 A630 is a text- and instant-messaging addict's dream. On the outside, the tiny, lightweight A630 looks like an ordinary candy-bar-style phone. Flip it open, and you'll discover a well-spaced QWERTY keyboard and a...

Nikon Coolpix 5200: user-friendly digicam needs to brush up its images.
November 1, 2004... LIKE ITS COOLPIX SIBLINGS, Nikon's $499.95 Coolpix 5200 is pocketable and highly automated. This model, however, packs in a 5-megapixel sensor. The Coolpix 5200's uncluttered exterior features only six buttons, one dial, and a four-way...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1: image quality spoils the view.
November 1, 2004... THE $399.95 SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-W1 has a sweet 2.5-inch LCD screen and some nice point-and-shoot features, but its overly processed images keep it off our list of top 5-megapixel cameras. The DSC-W1 provides a good mix of automated features...

Kyocera Finecam S5R: 5-megapixel compact shooter disappoints.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $499.99 KYOCERA FINECAM S5R offers little to set it apart from the pack of compact 5-megapixel cameras. That's not to say it totally lacks useful features. For instance, the 3x zoom lens retracts into a shutter in the stainless-steel...

Apple iPod: tempting portable audio device gets even harder to resist.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... [EDITORS' CHOICE] THE IPOD IS the closest thing to a perfect digital audio player we've ever seen, so what could Apple possibly do to make its 20GB fourth-generation iPod even better? Reducing the price to $299 was a good start, but Apple...

Seal SFP-190: a little flash player with a lot of features.(Seal)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $99 128MB Seal SFP-190 offers just about everything you'd want in a thumb-drive MP3 player, including the ability to play secure WMA files. The SFP-190's comfortable design is augmented by well-placed controls. The user-friendly...

Tivoli iPAL: a top-notch radio for portable tunes.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... WE FOUND nothing new or revolutionary about the $129.99 Tivoli iPAL--it's just Tivoli's original Portable Audio Laboratory (PAL) tabletop AM/FM radio with an Apple-friendly gloss-white-and-silver color scheme and an iPod-derivative name. The...

Panasonic TH-50PHD6UY: astounding picture quality in a stark design.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AS SAVVY SHOPPERS have known for the last couple of years, Panasonic's professional plasma models are outstanding bargains. The $7,495 TH-50PHD6UY is one of the best-performing 50-inch plasma panels we've seen to date. We found the...

Yamaha DVX-S120: sleek home theater setup lacks slick sound.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE $499.95 YAMAHA DVX-S120 Home Cinema System home-theater-in-a-box kit is tastefully designed, but our enthusiasm doesn't extend to its middle-of-the-pack sound quality. The DVX-S120's receiver/DVD player houses a generous selection of...

Lite-On LVW-5005: no-frills DVD recorder needs some guidance.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY'S $229.99 LVW-5005 DVD recorder distinguishes itself by its ability to record to all four major DVD formats: DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW. Unlike more expensive competitors, however, the unit doesn't have an electronic...

Battling to be your budget balancer: Microsoft Money Premium 2005, Quicken Premier 2005.(Illustration)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2004... IN THE WORLD of personal-finance software, two names have faced off for the top spot over the last 13 years: Intuit's Quicken and Microsoft's Money. For the past few years, each product has offered similar features, including an account...

Musicmatch Jukebox 9.0: music streaming and shopping make jukebox sing sweetly.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AFTER GOING TUNE-TO-TUNE against Apple with its own 99-cent-per-song music store in Jukebox 8.2, Musicmatch takes on RealNetworks and Napster in version 9.0 by adding the On Demand subscription service. Musicmatch joins On Demand to a suite of...

VoicePulse: lack of 911 support weakens solid VoIP service.(VoicePulse)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FOR MANY potential converts to Internet-phone, or Voice over IP (VoIP), service, the lack of emergency 911 support is a deal breaker--and VoicePulse is no different. Also missing from this service is the ability to transfer your current phone...

MyDVD Studio Deluxe 6.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... What it is: Sonic's been in the burning business for a while now--first with CD, then DVD, apps--at the professional and consumer levels. MyDVD Studio Deluxe 6 is a solution for DVD and CD creation. Who it's for: MyDVD is a consumer product...

Top 25: computer shopper editors handpick this month's best desktops, Tablet PCs, camcorders, multifunction devices, and disc-burning software.(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... HOME DESKTOPS >> Each of these PCs offers something cool for everyone in the family. PRODUCT PRICE SPECS Gateway $1,049 2.17GHz Athlon XP 3000+; 512MB eMachines T3092 DDR;...

Cyberpower Gamer Infinity 8000 dream.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PRICE: $1,685 www.cyberpowersystem.com REVIEWED: September 2004, p. 48 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 7.0 PROS: Lots of expandability; support for PCIe devices; Gigabit, 10/100 Ethernet ports CONS: Uninspired graphics...

Toshiba Tecra M2-S630.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PRICE: $1,899 www.toshiba.com REVIEWED: September 2004, p. 54 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 7.2 PROS: Long-lasting battery; small, light; swappable media bay; integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth CONS: Sticky touch pad; sagging...

Dell Axim X30.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PRICE: $349 www.dell.com REVIEWED: September 2004, p. 60 WE SAID... EDITORS' RATING: 8.1 * PROS: Fast performance; integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth; removable battery; thin, light CONS: Uncomfortable stylus BOTTOM LINE:...

Iriver IFP-790.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PRICE: $179.99 www.iriveramerica.com REVIEWED: September 2004, p. 62 EDITORS' RATING: 8.7 * PROS: Excellent sound, earbuds; cool design; loaded with features; USB 2.0 port; long battery life; accepts WMA files from many online...

The best in tech 2004: we select the top 100 PCs, hardware, software, games, and Web services of the year.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... CALL IT THE YEAR OF REFINEMENT. A look at our selections for the best tech products of the year will tell you that there's been no radical breakthrough in computer hardware or software this year. Sure, personal video players and AMD's Athlon 64...

Go wide: tired of working and playing on that tiny 12-inch screen? Live large with a widescreen notebook.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, falling prices, and the rising popularity of DVDs have sparked the creation of a rapidly growing category of notebook computer--the wide-screen. Wide-screen notebooks--also their aspect ratio of 16-to-9--offer larger,...

30 searching secrets: essential shortcuts and pointers you need to get fast, accurate Web-search results.(using search engines)
November 1, 2004... Internet search engines contain a vast number of hidden shortcuts that can take the stress out of your research, save you time, and even provide some fun in the process. Three prominent search engines--Google (www.google.com), Microsoft's MSN...

Computer cures.(Help & how-to: tips and tricks to make tech easier )
November 1, 2004... DUAL-DISK-DRIVE DILEMMA I have a computer with four IDE devices: two hard drives, a CD-ROM drive, and a CD burner. The two hard drives are mounted in removable trays and are on the primary IDE channel as master and slave, showing up as...

Tip of the month: finding needles in internet haystacks.(Help & how-to: tips and tricks to make tech easier)(using Google to find info)
November 1, 2004... If you want to find facts on anything from the Detroit Tigers to the Tigris River, oodles of Web pages will tell you all the details you'd ever want to know. Powerful search engines such as Google make finding facts easier, but once you've...

Big fun in a small package: transform a bare-bones PC kit into a powerful, compact entertainment system.(Hardware)
November 1, 2004... TRADITIONAL TOWER PCs are fine if you have room to spare, but just try shoehorning one into your entertainment center. A small-form-factor (SFF) PC fits almost all the power and versatility of a full-blown desktop into a much smaller package....

Image-beautification project: the great thing about digital images is what you see does not have to be what you get.(Software)
November 1, 2004... BACK IN 1988, Elton John sang the words, "... you can't argue with the image. The camera never lies." The camera still doesn't lie, but you can argue with what it says if the truth hurts. Here's a quick look at five common photographic truths...

Should iSpring for an iPod? For $300, can anyone play sweeter tunes than Apple's juggernaut audio player? The advisor investigates.(Buying Advisor)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... "JUST BUY AN IPOD!" That's the unanimous advice Gajtana Simonovski hears about buying a digital music player. And with sales of slick fourth-generation iPods booming, it's hard to argue with Apple's white-earbud brigade. But she's seen...

Internet calling: should you answer?(Ready Or Not)
November 1, 2004... WITH TODAY'S CELL PHONES capable of doing just about everything but shampooing your poodle, the landline phone has become a quaint, sleepy little device. But Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone service is now being marketed in retail tech stores,...

If it smells bad, it must be phish.(Consumer Alert)(computer identity theft)
November 1, 2004... A GOOD FRIEND CALLED the other day, concerned he'd done something very stupid. The man is a lawyer and by no means a dummy, so I couldn't imagine it could be that bad. "Well," he said. "I got an e-mail from AOL requesting a verification of my...

Budget desktops $749 and less.(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR You'll pay a premium for the fastest processor, so go with a CPU several cycles behind the top clock speed. It will save you money, yet still yield a PC plenty fast for everyday tasks. Upgrade: Expect to spend $50...

Midrange desktops $750 to $1,499.(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Don't choose an underpowered processor: Getting a CPU that's one or two steps down from the fastest will give you the power you need at a good price. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade of...

Performance desktops $1,500 and higher.(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Power users need the best. Go with a top-notch Intel or AMD processor. You'll have maximum power and the best protection possible from system extinction. MEMORY Start with 1GB and make sure your motherboard...

Desktop-replacement notebook (more than 7 pounds).(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR When choosing a CPU, configure your system with a robust processor such as Intel's desktop Pentium 4 with Hyper-Threading technology or AMD's 64-bit Athlon 64. Upgrade: Expect to pay about $50 for every...

Thin-and-light notebooks (4 to 7 pounds).(Techmarket: the complete guide to smart technology shopping)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel's Pentium M processor, which provides good battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. Save a little by opting for lower clock speeds, such as 1.6GHz. Upgrade:...