Computer Shopper articles from November 2005

Computer Shopper archives from November 2005

Editor's note.
November 1, 2005... I RECENTLY DUSTED OFF my copy of the November 1998 Computer Shopper (no small feat because, as some of you may remember, our large tabloid format in those days was a postal carrier's worst nightmare). That was the issue in which Shopper editors...

No excuse for no disc.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I was pleased to read your article about the lack of operating system media supplied with new PCs ("An OS on Disc Beats an OS on Disk," October, p. 122). Putting the backup OS on a drive that might be prone to failure, and expecting the...

No flash fallback is foolish.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I think your story "Fantastic Flash" (September, p. 118) is irresponsible, as it does not mention the possible failure of USB drives. Storing important information, such as passwords, on a USB drive without having a backup isn't smart. I...

Little warranty, little faith.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I appreciated your thoughtful article on PC manufacturers' shrinking warranties ("Big Vendors' Warranties Get Small," September, p. 122). There's one aspect you didn't address: vendors' diminishing confidence in their own products. The...

Intel boots up a new platform for entertainment-PC technology.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... FOLLOWING on the success of its Centrino technology for mobile computing, Intel, the world's largest chip maker, will introduce Viiv--a new platform for digital entertainment--early next year. Intel wants to use Viiv (it rhymes with...

Saying no to music downloads.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2005... Saying No to Music Downloads Computer Shopper readers' favorite music-downloading sources Musicmatch 3% Yahoo Music 2% Wal-Mart.com 4% Pear to peer clients ...

Toshiba.(TRENDSPOTTING)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Toshiba recently showed off a "super companion chip," or SCC, for the Cell processor that can record 48 separate MPEG-2 streams simultaneously. The SCC receives regular and high-definition TV signals, audio, and other data from set-top boxes,...

Video standard promises brighter displays.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Consumers could soon see PCs, televisions, and projectors with brighter pictures and fewer wires if a new technical specification for monitors passes its final test. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) is currently reviewing...

Multiple-hard-drive PCs go mainstream.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... PC USERS have been doubling their storage pleasure by installing multiple hard drives themselves for years, but now some major PC manufacturers are offering dual hard drives in their basic computers so consumers don't have to fiddle with...

Microsoft's new designs on graphics software.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... MICROSOFT is readying at least two new products, aimed at professional designers, as part of an aggressive push into the graphics-software market. The software giant has released a second, free test version of a program, code-named...

Ringtone downloads are music to cell-phone users' ears.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The number of American mobile-phone users downloading ringtones is rising rapidly, new research shows. Almost 23 percent of mobile-phone owners--around 30 million people--have downloaded ringtones to their cell phones in the last 12...

This phone's a player.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A true overachiever, the musically inclined $499 Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman cell phone is outfitted with a standard-size headphone jack and an FM tuner, and plays both MP3 audio and MPEG-4 video files. The handset, which comes with a 512MB...

Cinch cam.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Casio EX-Z120 )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Weighing just 4.8 ounces, Casio's $329 EX-Z120 digital camera is compact and designed to be easy to operate. The sharpshooter also has 7.2-megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom lens. Plus, it features the company's Exilim Engine with...

It's got the moves.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Archos AV 500 Mobile Digital Video Recorder )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Archos' svelte new AV 500 Mobile Digital Video Recorder is the slimmest portable video player the company's designed yet. At just under 10 ounces, the device comes in 30GB and 100GB versions ($500 and $600, respectively), connects to your PC...

Wi-Fi to go.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Belkin Wireless G Travel Router)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... From hotel rooms to friends' homes, Belkin's new $79.99 Wireless G Travel Router lets you set up an 802.11b/g Wi-Fi hotspot anywhere you have broadband access. Weighing just 1.8 ounces, the minuscule device supports Wired Equivalent Privacy...

Expert clicker.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Logitech G5 Laser Mouse)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Not your run-of-the-mill rodent, the $69.99 Logitech G5 Laser Mouse is crafted with serious gamers in mind. This high-end pointer has a whopping 2,000dpi optical resolution and features on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment at the touch of a...

Thermal tower.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Thermaltake Symphony )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Make your overheating media-centric desktop feel right at home around A/V equipment with the $299.99 Thermaltake Symphony liquid cooling system. Built to resemble a tall satellite speaker, the Symphony quietly runs cool water over hot CPUs,...

Overdrive Torque.SLI: fastest PC on the block.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE OVERDRIVE Torque.SLI isn't just fast; it's mind-blowingly fast. The gaming rig gets a boost from an overclocked processor, memory, and graphics cards, resulting in the highest benchmark scores we've seen for a single-core-CPU desktop. ...

HP Photosmart 8250: fast, feature-heavy photo printer attempts to do it all.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... LIKE AN overconfident athlete, HP's Photosmart 8250 claims it can do it all. While our tests proved it was both fast and robust, we think this printer's strengths lie in its other, more noteworthy features. The $199.99 Photosmart 8250's...

Dell Dimension 9100: fresh looks wrap a versatile Media Center.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE DELL DIMENSION 9100 is one of the few Media Center PCs we've seen that's as good for gaming as it is for television, movies, and music. Its full-size tower, 20-inch LCD, and wired mouse and keyboard are more suited for desktop than...

Velocity Micro Gamer's Edge DualX: performance PC tweaked to near perfection.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE VELOCITY MICRO GAMER'S EDGE DUALX is not as fast as Overdrive PC's Torque.SLI (reviewed earlier in this section), but it's more than $500 cheaper. If you're spending more than $4,000 on a PC, you might not be too cost-conscious, but the...

eMachines T6520: capable entree into home entertainment computing.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... BASICS AT A bargain price have long been what we expect and see from eMachines, and the $919.98 T6520 ($649.99 without a monitor) is no exception. The highest-end model in eMachines' current lineup, it's a solid configuration topped off with...

HP z555 Digital Entertainment Center: fully loaded Media Center leaves out little.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S z555 Digital Entertainment Center makes a handsome addition to a high-tech entertainment center. Of course, the $1,999 PC does a whole lot more than a stand-alone stereo receiver, thanks to the Windows XP Media Center Edition...

Gateway NX500X: speedy machine that's a great deal for $950.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... GATEWAY'S $950 NX500X proves you don't have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to get a respectably configured notebook. Considering its low price, this well-designed laptop features plenty of dependable mobile components. Our test...

Apple PowerBook G4: sleek Mac's aesthetics outweigh lack of stamina.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... AT A REASONABLE 5.6 pounds, the beautifully designed 15-inch Apple PowerBook G4 delivers a high degree of portability and performance, but it comes up short on battery life. A bit on the pricey side, our $2,299 test model featured a 1.67GHz...

Toshiba Libretto U100-S213: petite, long-lasting notebook isn't for everyone.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THOUGH THE 2.2-pound Toshiba Libretto has an enviable combination of portability and performance, it may be too diminutive for many users. The pricey ($1,999) U100-S213 model we reviewed came with a 1.2GHz Ultra Low Voltage Pentium M 753...

X2 StyleBook 4000: light, but has unfashionable performance.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE $1,599 X2 StyleBook 4000 targets female road warriors, but its slow performance won't impress anyone. Our evaluation unit came with a 1.6GHz Pentium M 725 processor, 512MB of DDR RAM, a double-layer DVD [+ or -] RW drive, and a hefty...

Acer Ferrari 4000: a pricey machine built for speed.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE Acer Ferrari 4000 is swift but pricey at $2,199. Our test model arrived with a 1.8GHz Turion 64 ML-34 CPU (a 2GHz chip is now standard), a 5,400rpm 100GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics, and a double-layer DVD...

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro: upgrade to the ultimate sound system.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... STARTING AT $129.99 for the entry-level X-Fi XtremeMusic and skyrocketing to $399.99 for the X-Fi Elite Pro, Creative's new Sound Blaster cards incorporate the company's next-generation Xtreme Fidelity (X-Fi) audio chip to deliver improved...

Apple Mighty Mouse: stylish mouse brings two-button clicking to the Mac.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... LIKE ITS NAMESAKE, Apple's $49 Mighty Mouse, which works with both Macs and PCs, packs a lot into a small, attractive package. But if you have an older Mac or are a Windows user, look for better mousing options. Overall, the Mighty Mouse...

Sony DRU-810A, DRX-810UL.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Sony's seeing double with its latest pair of DVD burners, which will record DVD+R double-layer (DL) discs at 8x-twice as fast as what's currently on the market. That means they can burn up to 8.5GB of data in as little as 15 minutes. But a...

ViewSonic Xtreme VX924: fashion-friendly display busts ghosting.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... SUMPTUOUS STYLING and cutting-edge technology are just two qualities you can expect from ViewSonic's $450 Xtreme VX924. With its fast 4ms gray-to-gray pixel-response rate, this 19-inch LCD displays movies and gaming backgrounds better than any...

Lenovo ThinkVision L171p: flexible LCD trips on performance.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE MIDPRICE ThinkVision L171p has all the versatility you'd want from a $349 LCD, but its middling performance can't keep up with the competition. With a 17-inch-diagonal screen, the L171p is one of the smallest LCDs we've seen that...

Eizo FlexScan L997: pricey flat panel delivers CRT-like performance.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... EIZO'S FLEXSCAN L997 offers a lot of screen for a lot of your money. For $1,799, you get a high-end 21-inch LCD that delivers CRT-like performance and offers all the adjustability a graphics pro could want. In addition to the standard LCD...

HP PSC 1510 All-in-One: despite flaws, affordable MFP gets job done.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... ALTHOUGH IT HAS premium features such as stand-alone copying, a PictBridge port, and reliable 24-hour tech support, Hewlett-Packard's PSC 1510 All-in-One costs just $99.99. In exchange for that low price, however, you'11 have to tolerate its...

Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock Series 3: enormous printer lacks style but prints gracefully.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... DESPITE ITS beastly looks, Kodak's $149.95 Printer Dock Series 3 delivers top-notch 4x6-inch photos. It still lacks a built-in LCD, but the dye-sublimation printer now offers PictBridge support. In addition to supporting your Kodak camera,...

Lexmark P450.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Snapshot printers are getting cheaper by the day, but few get close to offering quality prints you'd actually want to keep. Enter Lexmark. The latest printer maker to storm into the digital darkroom, its $199 P450 promises a wealth of features...

U.S. Robotics Wireless MaxG router with print server: 802.11g device offers good range, middling performance for low price.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... U.S. ROBOTICS' $69.99 Wireless MaxG router touts a fast 125Mbps turbo mode and exceptional long-range speed. The router's mediocre real-world throughput in our lab tests didn't match up with the manufacturer's claims, however. That said, the...

Netgear Wireless Print Server WGPS606: print server has compatibility issues.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... NETGEAR'S $99.99 WGPS606 is a wireless print server with a four-port switch that enables you to share up to two USB printers and four PCs across an existing 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network. While the WGPS606 costs less than some print servers that...

Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO Router.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Home networking is all abuzz about multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology, which pumps multiple streams of data through a single channel. The result is less interference and far better long-range throughput than 802.11b/g devices...

Canon PowerShot S2 IS: a big zoomer for enthusiasts.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... PHOTO ENTHUSIASTS who want to shoot long and print big should check out the $499.99 Canon PowerShot S2 IS, which features a 5-megapixel sensor and a 12x zoom lens. Add Canon's speedy DIGIC II processor, a full complement of manual controls, and...

Fujifilm FinePix Z1: a sleek, snappy shooter.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... STYLISH YET solidly built, the $399 Fujifilm FinePix Z1 has an internally zooming lens that keeps it thin and pocket-able. This 5.1-megapixel ultracompact also houses Fujifllm's fifth-generation Super CCD HR sensor and new Real Photo (RP)...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1: bargain-price digicam packs a long zoom.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... PANASONIC'S $229.95 Lumix DMC-LZ1 combines good photo quality, optical image stabilization, and a long 6x zoom at a bargain price. The 4-megapixel DMC-LZ1 features a 2-inch LCD but no optical viewfinder. Eight scene modes, exposure...

Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5: sweet-sounding, stylish 20GB player.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... ALTHOUGH Sony's supercompact Network Walkman NW-HD5 lacks some extra features, this $299.95 20GB hard drive player still delivers big time, with a simple interface, a tiny form factor, sweet sound quality, and great battery life. Measuring...

Altec Lansing InMotion iM7: iPod sound system brings boom to the room.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... DESIGNED for Apple's champion MP3 player, Altec Lansing's $249.95 InMotion iM7 is one of the best iPod sound systems we've seen. The cylindrical, boom-box-style iM7 is a bit large and heavy for on-the-go travel, but it's ideal for picnics,...

Tao TXM1020 XM2go: delivers XM radio anywhere.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... AN EFFECTIVE imitation of the groundbreaking Delphi MyFi, Tao's $299.99 TXM1020 XM2go is a well-featured satellite-radio receiver that brings XM Satellite Radio to your car or home, or on the go. (You'll need to subscribe to XM's service for...

Sony KDF-E50A10: a quality entry-level LCD rear-projection HDTV.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... A 50-INCH LCD rear-projection high-definition television (HDTV), Sony's $2,499 KDF-E50A10 offers a solid feature set, a reasonable price, a refreshingly compact frame, and the company nameplate--a combination sure to place it high on the...

Buffalo LinkTheater: DVD player/media streamer has a few flaws.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE VERSATILE $349 Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P3LWG/DVD can play DVDs, high-definition streaming video, and digital music, but it falls short on implementation. Although it supports a broad variety of video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2,...

Yamaha RX-V757: A/V receiver is ready for satellite radio.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... YAMAHA'S $649.95 RX-V757 A/V receiver is an impressive mix of great sound, easy setup, abundant connectivity, and XM Satellite Radio compatibility. The receiver delivers 100 watts to each of its seven channels. Yamaha's proprietary digital...

Cash into bits: put your money on the line with one of these finance-software packages.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... MONEY AND QUICKEN are easy-to-use, elegant programs that help households keep track of their finances. Both allow you to pay bills electronically and see your expenses and income from multiple accounts in one place. Nevertheless, the latest...

Xcelsius XL: turn Excel tables into PowerPoint slides.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... CREATING GLOSSY Microsoft Excel charts for your presentations is all well and good, but your static charts and graphs won't help much if your boss wants to play "What if?" with the projected fourth-quarter sales. Xcelsius XL ($195 for the...

Ipswitch WS_FTP Professional 2006: powerful, capable file-transfer client.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... THE VENERABLE grandfather of commercial file transfer protocol (FTP) programs, WS_FTP is definitely getting better with age. Its latest incarnation from Ipswitch, WS_FTP Professional 2006, will, however, cost you more than other file-transfer...

Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 1.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Microsoft has released a beta version of Windows Vista (formerly known as Windows Longhorn) to a select group of testers. Microsoft's promises include greater stability and security, improved graphics throughout, and a better way of sharing...

Google Earth: travel the world from your desk.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... IT'S RARE TO ENCOUNTER free software as well-designed and powerful as Google Earth, but the folks at Google have done it again. This informative application uses satellite imagery, maps, and Google Search to let you rocket around the world and...

Memeo 1.5: effortless backing up.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... IF YOU PUT OFF making backups because it seems like such a hassle, Memeo 1.5 is for you. Just choose the folders or file types you want Memeo to monitor, and it backs them up and automatically saves new or changed files. In addition, it can...

TreeSize Professional 3.31: free up wasted hard drive space.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... FOR A THOROUGH answer to the eternal question of where all the space on your new hard drive went, consult TreeSize Professional 3.31. The interface, though slightly intimidating at first, allows you to easily find and delete files that waste...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, multifunction printers, headphones, and VoIP services.
November 1, 2005... This month's best desktops, notebooks, multifunction printers, headphones, and VoIP services. MEDIA CENTER DESTOPS Slick PCs that add brains to your home entertainment system. PRODUCT PRICE ...

The best in tech 2005: here are our picks for the Top 100 technology products and services of the year.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... THINK OF OUR ANNUAL TOP 100 feature as the ultimate shopping list. We've handpicked the year's best tech products and services, yielding a list of must-haves for just about everyone. Our favorites ranged from revolutionary to evolutionary, yet...

Grand prizes: yes, you can get a decent PC with an LCD for under $1,000. Here are five winning choices.(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... ASSEMBLING A BUDGET PC is an exercise in compromise--which corners can you trim a bit, and which areas require more attention? We looked at five budget PCs that cost less than $1,000 to see how different vendors approach this task. Budget...

Computer cures.(HELP & HOW-TO: TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER)
November 1, 2005... CHANGING YOUR OUTLOOK I have both Outlook and Outlook Express on my Windows XP PC. I much prefer to use Outlook Express, but whenever I click on an e-mail link from a Web page or an incoming message to reply, Outlook launches. I then have...

Comfort zone: ease the strain of daily desktop use.(WEEKEND PROJECT: HARDWARE)
November 1, 2005... IF YOU'RE LIKE US, you probably spend more time in front of your PC than you do sleeping. You've also likely experienced eyestrain, wrist ailments, headaches, or other painful problems at one time or another That's because there's a right way...

Forward your mail: port your Web e-mail to Outlook Express.(WEEKEND PROJECT: SOFTWARE)
November 1, 2005... STILL USING the Web to manage your e-mail accounts? There's a better way: Outlook Express. Windows' built-in mail program can send and retrieve messages from any Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) account--even those that reside on the Web. Why...

Home-run graphics card at a pop-fly price: the Advisor bats around seven inexpensive video cards.(BUYING ADVISOR)
November 1, 2005... BASEBALL BUFF Richard Borgognone needs a new graphics card--not because he loves games, but because of his "love of the game." Borgognone whiles away hours online growing his collection of baseball cards and memorabilia. But his latest buy...

Lemon return policy a sour deal.(CONSUMER ALERT)(Dell's depreciation fee)
November 1, 2005... "MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE" is something we take for granted, but have you ever really examined a vendor's return policy? Bill Shively didn't. Had he done so, the retired engineer-turn-cattle-rancher would probably have handled things differently....

Midrange desktops ($750 to $1,499).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Don't choose an underpowered processor, but look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest for the power you need at a good price. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade of Intel 3GHz...

Desktop-replacement notebooks (more than 7 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... 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, a fast Pentium M, or AMD's 64-bit Athlon 64. Upgrade: Expect to pay about $50 for...

Inkjet printers.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION Resolution figures refer to the maximum number of horizontal and vertical dots a printer can lay down within a 1-inch-square space. In theory, a higher-resolution printer can produce more-detailed text and images,...

External hard drives.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW FORM FACTOR External hard drives come in all shapes and sizes, and most can even be rested vertically to save space on your desk. Some externals are small enough to fit inside your shirt pocket, but these tend to be more...

Performance 3-D graphics cards ($299 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW MEMORY When it comes to graphics memory, you can never have too much, especially if you're a hard-core garner. More RAM means better performance, improved 3D texturing, and higher display resolutions. If you're an avid garner...

Flat-panel displays (18 inches or larger).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although some monitors that double as televisions have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition...

Ultracompact digital cameras (under 5 oz.).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW RESOLUTION The quality of digital photos is measured primarily by the number of pixels a camera's image sensor can capture. A 5-megapixel camera, therefore, should capture more image detail than a 4-megapixel model. Still,...

Smartphones.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... NEED TO KNOW SIZE AND CAPABILITY Smartphones come in a wide range of shapes and sizes but can be divided into three major styles based on primary function. Large PDA-like handsets tend to be powerful organizers first and cell phones...

Tech products.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... abtelectronics.com Do you crave a 400-disc CD changer or a surround-sound speaker system? Abt Electronics, in business for 69 years, has them. You'll also find big-screen televisions, home appliances, and computer products. altex.com...

Gaming hardware.(WEB BUYER: THE WEB SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... chproducts.com CH Products carries combat flight controls, traditional flight yokes, and other accessories to get you flying the friendly virtual skies. Realistic throttles and rudder pedals acid realism to your flights. ...

Mobile-phone accessories.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... accessorygeeks.com. If you love gadgets-and gadgets for your gadgets-you're an accessory geek. AccessoryGeeks sells add-ons for your cell phone, including rapid chargers, pouches, headsets, and software add-ons. Shipping is free. ...

Direct PC vendors.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)
November 1, 2005... abspc.com Expect gaming, multimedia, and business PCs aplenty at ABS Computer Technologies. The company offers a choice of Intel or AMD processors, a three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty, and toll-free technical support. Visit the...

Software.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)
November 1, 2005... atomicpark.com Free shipping is available for AtomicPark.com's entire selection of business and productivity apps. Plus, you'll never pay a restocking fee. The new Direct Downloads section lets you use new software in minutes, not days....

Shopping resources.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... bbb.org The Better Business Bureau's online home hosts an array of invaluable tips and helpful shopping information for any consumer. If you have a problem with a merchant, file an online complaint, and the organization will help to...

The right hard drive MP3 player.(BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... If you want to cram a large digital audio collection into the smallest possible device, you'll want a hard drive MP3 player. A more financially prudent choice than smaller, flash-based devices, these high-capacity players let you take your...