Computer Shopper articles from November 2006

Computer Shopper archives from November 2006

Editor's note.(Editorial)
November 1, 2006... THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON in Computer Shopper's editorial offices lately. Not only have we settled into shiny new digs on Park Avenue South in Manhattan, but we've also been working on some special projects to make it easier for you to...

Brainy backup solution.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I really appreciated "Automate Data Backups" (September, p. 92). My son is a college student, and when he came home for the summer he was using 72GB of an 80GB hard drive. I installed a bigger drive in his PC and purchased an external drive,...

Rate rural retailers, too.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... If you venture beyond the New York metropolitan area, you might find your experiences with national chains to be different than those you encountered in your "Rating the Retailers" article (September, p. 71), and probably more akin to what the...

Keep passwords confidential.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I typically enjoy your Help & How-To section, but I take issue with the "Mobilize Your E-Mail" Weekend Project (September, p. 95). As a Linux systems administrator, I was horrified at the seventh tip, which instructed readers to give their...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
November 1, 2006... We incorrectly stated the amount of L2 cache for the ZT Cisner A7122 in "The Affordable 5" (September, p. 60). The correct amount is 512K. In our "Vista Unveiled" story (September, p. 80), we stated that two versions of the Vista OS,...

Airline carry-on rules spike interest in durable laptops, cases.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... MAKERS OF tough-to-break but often pricey laptop computers and consumer electronics could get an unexpected boost from new carry-on luggage restrictions on flights. While stringent carry-on rules that banned computers and other types of...

Vista ready.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Microsoft is due to launch Vista early next year. Here's what our readers plan to do. Buy a Vista-capable PC before launch, then upgrade when the OS is available. 7 percent Wait until launch, then buy a new PC with Vista...

Trendspotting.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Ever dreamed of sending large e-mail attachments--music, images, PowerPoint presentations--to coworkers, friends, and family without having to reformat, compress, or split the files over multiple e-mails? Dliveo.com aims to put an end to...

PC recycler cleans up.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The PC market doesn't seem like a great investment these days, but the market for the disposal of old PCs is a different story. Newmarket IT has received $50 million in private equity funding to help expand its growing PC-refurbishing and...

Leopard is nipping at Vista's heels.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SO WHICH will come first, the Vista or the Leopard? Microsoft has said it plans to release Windows Vista in January. It has hedged somewhat, however, and many analysts believe the update won't arrive until later in the year. Apple CEO...

Sony desktop doubles as flat-screen TV.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SONY'S VAIO VGC-LS1 desktop plays dual roles as personal computer and television. The PC comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a remote control that can switch the monitor from Windows-based PC to television, thanks to a built-in...

DNS service promises safer, faster browsing.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... OpenDNS (www.opendns. com) says its free address-lookup service makes Web sites load faster and blocks malicious, data-thieving phishing schemes and other threats. The service also corrects obvious typos in URLs, sending people to the site they...

Mighty mini mouse.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Targus Bluetooth Laser Mouse)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Perfect for laptop users, the $69.99 Targus Bluetooth Laser Mouse weighs just 2 ounces, doesn't require a separate receiver, and can wirelessly connect to any Bluetooth-enabled Mac or Windows PC straight out of the box. The compact clicker also...

Tough-as-nails thumb drive.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Your files will be hard to harm while aboard SanDisk's Cruzer Titanium USB Flash Drive. The device has a titanium-coated metal body that's crush-resistant to over 2,000 pounds. On the inside, the Cruzer comes loaded with U3 Smart Technology...

Sharpen those shots.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Nikon D80 - single-lens-reflex camera)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Step up to a serious digital camera with the Nikon D80. This capable digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) shooter packs 10.2 megapixels, a bright 2.5-inch LCD, and an improved 12-bit image-processing engine for sharp pictures. The D80 also has a...

Power for your tower.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Give your gaming PC the juice it needs with Ultra Products' $119 X-Finity 500W power supply. Crafted to accommodate either AMD- or Intel-based motherboards, the unit includes a power-correction feature that regulates voltage and keeps noise...

Unchained melodies.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(BenQ's IMS-100 Bluetooth Speaker)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Let your tunes fill the room with BenQ's IMS-100 Bluetooth Speaker. The wireless box can stream audio from Bluetooth-enabled portable music players and mobile phones. You can also plug into your PC via the included line-in cable. Powered by...

Out-of-the-house calls.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Belkin's Wi-Fi Phone for Skype)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... At $189.99, Belkin's 802.11g-based Wi-Fi Phone for Skype can connect to any Wi-Fi hot spot, letting you make and receive Skype VoIP calls on the go. To scroll through your contacts or place a call, simply navigate the familiar Skype interface...

Overdrive Core2.X-Fire: Intel's latest Extreme CPU meets extreme overclocking.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... EDITORS CHOICE FIRST TIME we saw a desktop from Overdrive PC was back in November 2004. The company had sworn off using Intel processors in favor of AMD's far more overclockable CPUs. Two years later, Overdrive is still cranking out the...

Apple Mac Pro: quad-core desktop packs power, style.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... NO MATTER HOW MANY LEDs Alien-ware crams inside its new cases or how well Velocity Micro routes its internal cables, no Windows-based PC can touch the design of Apple's new Mac Pro. Both inside and out, this system shoves aside the PC...

Alienware Area-51 7500: an overclocked speedster in a bright new chassis.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... THE LATEST MODEL in Alienware's high-end Area-51 series comes outfitted with an overclocked Core 2 Duo Extreme X6800 processor and two 512MB GeForce 7900 GTX graphics cards in a snazzy redesigned case. At $4,970 in our test configuration, it's...

Dell XPS 610: entertainment PC offers speedy performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... DELL IS JUMPING ABOARD the Core 2 Duo train, shipping Intel's Gore 2 Duo E6600 CPU inside its XPS 410. While our test unit's $2,365 price is high for what you get, the XPS 410 does provide a cutting-edge processor, an entertainment-friendly...

Velocity Micro Raptor DCX: gaming rig delivers blistering speed.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... IF YOU DEMAND blazing performance, Velocity Micro's Raptor DCX should be at the top of your list, but if you value style as much as power, you might think twice before forking over the $5,995. Many high-end desktops we've tested recently...

HP Pavilion d4600y: a capable Core 2 Duo PC for everyday home use.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)
November 1, 2006... HEWLETT-PACKARD isn't an acclaimed innovator, but, to its credit, the company was among the first to offer a desktop with Intel's middle-of-the-road 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 processor. The Pavilion d4600y is clad in a dull, two-tone chassis....

Acer Aspire 9800: massive Media Center features high-def capability.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WE'VE SEEN large laptops before, but nothing like the $2,799 Aspire 9800. This 17.3-pound behemoth features an eye-popping 20.1-inch screen and includes a built-in HD DVD drive. The 9800's monstrous girth, however, is its biggest drawback--most...

HP Pavilion DV2000t: dual-core notebook sports a new look.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WITH ITS ROUNDED EDGES and high-gloss finish, the Pavilion DV2000t inaugurates a new look for Hewlett-Packard's Pavilion laptop line. More important, the laptop has better processor options than its predecessors did, from Intel's Core Duo CPUs...

Toshiba Satellite U205-S5022: compact notebook makes a few design compromises.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... WEIGHING 4.1 POUNDS and equipped with a glossy 12.1-inch wide-screen display, the Toshiba Satellite U205-S5022 lies somewhere between a thin-and-light laptop and an ultraportable. It shares some features with Toshiba's business-oriented Tecra...

Averatec AV7160-EC1: single-core CPU keeps laptop from reaching potential.(REVIEWS: NOTEBOOKS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... MOST LAPTOPS with 17-inch screens are tailored for gamers or multimedia enthusiasts. Averatec's AV7160-EC1, however, eschews pricey graphics and TiVo-like functionality for a simple design and a thin profile. Our test unit's $1,199 price also...

Pioneer BDR-101A: Blu-ray drive is slow, pricey.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... PIONEER MAY HAVE won the Blu-ray-burner race, but it cut some corners along the way. The company's BDR-101A, an internal high-definition (HD) optical drive, is the first drive to use Sony's Blu-ray disc format. With its slow 2x write speeds and...

Apple Mighty Mouse: sleek mouse loses its tail.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WITH ITS LATEST Mighty Mouse, Apple improves on the original by adding Bluetooth connectivity and more-precise laser tracking. The $69 Mighty Mouse shares the clean design of its predecessor, but without the cord. The shiny white shell...

ATI Radeon X1950 XTX: meet the new single-chip performance king.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... ATI'S RADEON X1950 XTX is the fastest single-processor 3D-graphics card you can buy. With Windows Vista and DirectX 10 titles just around the corner, however, its $450 price is simply too high to buy the card on a whim. The X1950 XTX will...

Canon Pixma MP450: basic all-in-one delivers great features for the price.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE CANON PIXMA MP450 is a four-color multifunction inkjet that scores points for its excellent print quality and fast print speeds. Designed for home users, the $129.99 machine offers neither fax nor networking capabilities, but it features...

HP Deskjet 6940: affordable inkjet is network-ready.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE HEWLETT-PACKARD DESKJET 6940 isn't a top-of-the-line inkjet, but with its affordable price ($129.99), networkability, and decent print quality, it's a good choice for students and budget-conscious home-office users. Note, though, that if...

Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP: big screen, excellent images, great price.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE DELL ULTRASHARP 2407WFP is a 24-inch wide-screen LCD with myriad features and connections, abundant adjustability options, and excellent image quality, all for just under $800. Other LCDs come close to matching the 2407WFP's performance,...

ViewSonic VX2025wm: a great panel on an unadjustable stand.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE VIEWSONIC VX2025wm is hands-down the best deal in its class. For $389, you get a 20-inch wide-screen monitor able enough for light graphics and design work. This stylish monitor's stand isn't nearly as adjustable as other displays', but...

Netgear Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter: networking over household wires: easy but pricey.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE WI-FI-SHY but don't want to give up on the idea of streaming content around your house, check out Netgear's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter. It's simple to use and the throughput is high enough to stream high-definition video without a...

Buffalo Nfiniti Wireless-N Router & AP: mixed-mode wireless router delivers good speed.(REVIEWS: HOME NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... LIKE THE OTHER Draft N routers we've tested, Buffalo's $149 Nfiniti Wireless-N Router and AP promises throughput five times faster than that of 802.11g. And though, like the others, it doesn't quite live up to that promise, it's nonetheless...

Sony Ericsson K790a: top-notch camera phone is feature-loaded.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... EDITORS' CHOICE IT'S COSTLY, but with an amazing selection of features and great performance, the $499.99 Sony Ericsson K790a is simply the best camera phone we've seen to date. At 4.1x1.9x0.9 inches and 4.1 ounces, the eye-catching...

LG VX8500 Chocolate: delicious-looking phone leaves us unsated.(REVIEWS: MOBILE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE BEAUTIFULLY designed LG VX8500 Chocolate offers a respectable mix of features and performance, but it doesn't quite live up to the hype. The handset is available from Verizon for $199.99 (before a $50 rebate), when bought with a new...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9: stylish, ultracompact shooter performs well.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SONY'S 6-MEGAPIXEL Cyber-shot DSC-T9 is a good-looking, highly pocketable camera that's fast and easy to use--and has solid image quality to boot. The first thing you'll notice about this $399.95 cam is its sleek styling. Clad in black or...

Olympus SP-320: feature-loaded cam can't beat the competition.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE $299.99 OLYMPUS SP-320 is a compact, feature-rich camera, but it can't match the speed and photo quality of its peers. The 7.1-megapixel camera offers standard specs for a point-and-shoot model--such as a 3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch...

Nikon Coolpix S7c.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FIRST TAKE "Wi-Fi" is the word with the $349.95 Nikon Coolpix S7c, a sleek-looking 7.1-megapixel snapshooter that lets you wirelessly upload and share your photos on the go. Upside: While Nikon's previous 802.11b/b-equipped cameras...

Sony NW-A1200: sleek audio-only player sounds great.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WITH ITS ATTRACTIVE design, great sound quality, and innovative firmware features, the $199.95 Sony NW-A1200 should please audiophiles looking for an audio-playback-only device. Available in pink or violet, the hard-drive-based 8GB player...

Kingston K-PEX 100 portable media player: a tiny budget player with lots of features.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FOR A BUDGET player, the feature-loaded Kingston K-PEX 100 definitely rocks. It's available in 1GB and 2GB capacities, for $129.99 and $179.99, respectively. Resembling a miniature gaming device, the 2.2-ounce player supports MP3, OGG,...

Logic 3 i-Station8: iPod speaker dock has both punch and flaws.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL AUDIO)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE $179.99 LOGIC 3 i-Station8 has its drawbacks, but iPod owners seeking an interesting-looking portable speaker system with plenty of features should consider it. Available in white or black, the i-Station8 has an impressive tower design...

Sony KDS-60A2000: pricey rear-projection TV offers excellent video quality.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH SONY'S $3,700 KDS-60A2000 costs more than other rear-projection televisions, most viewers will find its excellent picture quality worth the premium. The 60-inch panel uses an engine based on Liquid Crystal on Silicon display...

Vizio GV42L HDTV: budget LCD TV is a decent performer.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... AT $1,700, the Vizio GV42L HDTV maintains a deft balance between affordability and picture quality. With a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels, the 42-inch LCD television can display every detail of 720p high-definition television...

Logitech Harmony 720: a top-notch universal remote.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL LIVING)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... WITH ITS SLEEK LOOKS and loaded feature set, the $199.99 Logitech Harmony 720 is one of the best universal remotes we've seen. The 6-ounce remote features a sexier design than previous Harmony models did, along with a sharper color LCD...

Morpheus Photo Animation Suite: laugh-out-loud fun for photo fanatics.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WE DON'T USUALLY have to stop reviewing a product for a laughter break, but Morpheus Photo Animation Suite really adds something to digital-image editing: fun. This $59.95 suite lets you transform one photo into another, then export the result...

Ewido Anti-Spyware 4: solid spyware detection and removal.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... GRISOFT, MAKER OF the popular antivirus application AVG, has released its first spyware killer, Ewido Anti-Spyware 4. Grisoft purchased Ewido Networks in April 2006 and now offers a completely updated version of its core product, available in...

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9: the best PC dictation software available.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FOR PEOPLE WHO TYPE A LOT, prefer speaking to typing, or perhaps don't have full use of their hands, Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9 is the best, most-full-featured consumer software for dictating to a PC. Dragon types while you talk and...

WebMessenger Mobile IM: great multiservice IM client for mobile devices.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... ON A COMPUTER, instant messaging (IM) can be an efficient means of communication, and IM clients such as Trillian and Gaim make it even more so by connecting you to multiple networks simultaneously. But getting multiservice access on a portable...

Top 25: this month's best Media Center desktops, ultraportables, multifunction printers, PC speakers, and VoIP services.
November 1, 2006... Top 25 This month's best Media Center desktops, ultraportables, multifunction printers, PC speakers, and VoIP services. MEDIA-CENTER DESKTOPS >> Slick PCs that add brains to your home-entertainment system. PRODUCT ...

The best in tech 2006: Computer Shopper editors pick the Top 100 systems, hardware, gadgets, software, and Web services released this year.
November 1, 2006... WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER OUR ANNUAL TOP 100 FEATURE LAST YEAR, we were so underwhelmed by 2005's computer offerings that our Product of the Year was a portable videogame console-and we couldn't even think of a truly worthy candidate for Technology...

Price warriors: we test eight price-comparison sites to see which one delivers the best deals and features.
November 1, 2006... WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING TECHNOLOGY, paying too much for that new gadget is senseless. And it's just as pointless to spend hours clicking all over the Web searching for the best price. A sensible solution: Let a price-comparison engine do the...

DVD-format face-off: two high-definition DVD formats are vying to rule your living room--but should you pledge allegiance to either one?
November 1, 2006... HIGH-DEFINITION video has revolutionized how we view television, and now it's making the leap from our fiat-panel sets to our DVD players. Ordinary DVD technology is firmly ensconced on a mass scale, but two next-generation...

Looking for a real modem.(COMPUTER CURES)
November 1, 2006... How can I be sure I'm buying a hardware-driven modem? I would like to avoid Windows-based modems, because I was told they are not as reliable. LESTER BROOKS I agree with the advice you've been given. The simple answer is to buy an...

Slow-boot blues.(computer viruses)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... For about a month now, my Windows XP Home PC is taking forever to fully boot up. (Well, seriously, it takes maybe 20 minutes.) I have to endure two long idle periods of what looks like no hard drive activity. After the Windows XP load screen, I...

Call off the dogs!(COMPUTER CURES)
November 1, 2006... I recently purchased a sound card from a well-known maker and installed it in my PC. When I went to install the software, my security suite detected keystroke loggers and other monitoring spyware. Naturally, I canceled the installation, but now...

Sound but no picture.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... I downloaded a music-video dip. When I right-click on its icon and choose Properties, Windows says it's a "video clip." I have many others in the same format. When I try to play it, I can't see the picture, but I can hear the audio. It played...

A fleet of buses?(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... I'm putting together a list of features for my dream PC, and I have more than 30 USB devices to plug into it! What should I take into consideration? For example, do I need a much more powerful power supply? Is there an advantage to using one or...

Stop the savings.(COMPUTER CURES)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I have my PC configured to turn off my monitor after 5 minutes of inactivity. The problem is that when I watch a movie, I either have to go through the menus to turn off the power-save feature, or remember to nudge the mouse every few minutes...

Tip of the month: the day the music died.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... CD and DVD drives not only provide access to applications and data, but they can also provide musical accompaniment. When the tunes suddenly stopped for this month's tipster, he figured out what happened and came up with a fix. I played an...

Store more in a snap: install a new internal hard drive in five simple steps.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
November 1, 2006... ONE PC TRUTH is unshakable: It's impossible to have too much hard drive space. Digicam images, space-hog programs, and music flies demand ever more storage. Fortunately, mammoth-capacity upgrades are inexpensive (many 250GB drives cost...

Optimize your security apps: make the most of your utilities to zap viruses and spyware.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
November 1, 2006... SECURITY-SOFTWARE maker Symantec announced earlier this year that it has documented 10,992 32-bit Windows virus and worm variants, with new ones appearing almost daily. Keeping your computer secure against these endless--and endlessly...

Budget desktops ($750 and less).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... 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...

Desktop-replacement notebooks (more than 7 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... 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, a Core 2 Duo, or AMD's 64-bit Turion 64. Upgrade: Expect to pay...

Big flat-panel displays (20 inches or larger).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although some monitors have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition television (HDTV). RESOLUTION...

Motherboards.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW FORM FACTOR The form factor sets the standard for a motherboard's dimensions, as well as the positioning of mounting holes and expansion slots; your case must support the form factor of the board you choose. Most of today's...

Performance graphics cards ($299 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... 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...

Internal hard drives.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... NEED TO KNOW INSTALLATION Internal hard drives are fairly easy to install. If you're adding a second IDE drive to a cable, make sure you set the jumper to "Slave." If you're replacing an old drive, create a boot disk first. Position the...

Smartphones.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)
November 1, 2006... 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...

acortech.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)(Website overview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Inexpensive PC accessories are par for the course at Acortech.com. We found modded PC cases as low as $29, optical mice for $5, and other low-cost goodies that any certified geek would salivate over.

allstarshop.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... When you wish upon Allstarshop, you'll find low prices on a twinkling collection of graphics cards, motherboards, and peripherals. You'll get free shipping on many items and plenty of information about each product.

amazon.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Amazon.com is an unparalleled superstore with a massive inventory equaled only by its special features, such as personalized product recommendations and mobile access. The Early Adopter Products pages show what's fresh in electronics, video...

bestbuy.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Our readers voted Best Buy their favorite place to buy consumer electronics. The selection in each department is comprehensive and impressive. The best part? You can have your gadget delivered, or readied for pickup at a nearby store.

buy.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Buy.com's vast million-product inventory includes computer hardware, software, electronics, video games, books, music, and DVDs. Sister site BuyMusic.com delivers music downloads starting at 79 cents a song.

cdw.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... In addition to a wide selection of hardware and peripherals, CDW offers an Outlet section where you'll find deals on clearance merchandise and customer returns. Click the Mac Warehouse tab to reveal a medley of Apple hardware and peripherals.

circuitcity.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Plug in to Circuit City, where you can choose from a quarter-million movies, video games, and CDs. The inventory also includes digital cameras, televisions, and PDAs. Have your products delivered, or pick them up in a Circuit City store.

compusa.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... The well-organized CompUSA rounds out the usual selection of PC hardware, peripherals, and accessories with areas devoted to home electronics and wireless gadgets. Set your own price on PCs at CompUSA's auction site.

computergate.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Shop with confidence at Computer Gate, which offers a 30-day satisfaction return policy on its entire selection of PCs and peripherals. The assortment of graphics cards is particularly broad.

computers.ebay.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... eBay is an unparalleled auction site and a unique shopping experience. Shoppers can set their own prices on components, including new and used PCs, software, tech books, and vintage computers.

computers4sure.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... Computers4Sure comprises 21 departments well-stocked with a broad spectrum of products, including networking gear, LCD monitors, and storage. Free ground shipping is available for many products.

cpusolutions.com.(TECH PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2006... CPU Solutions will entice you with inexpensive PC components and upgrade kits. Shoppers will find several complete desktop PCs for less than $500, and PC kits for under $500.