Computer Shopper articles from November 2007

Computer Shopper archives from November 2007

LCD manufacturers take a shine to glossy screens.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... IF YOU'VE BEEN shopping for a new LCD monitor, you may have noticed new models sporting glossy screens that deliver extra-bright pictures. HP is leading the pack by incorporating this feature into all of its consumer LCD monitors. ...

Plantronics.(TRENDSPOTTING)(telecommuters bare home activities and health issues)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Managers, listen up! A study conducted by Plantronics revealed what employees are really doing when they work from home. In the poll, 52 percent of respondents said they talk on the phone about non-work-related issues, 40 percent said they do...

Seagate to add government-level encryption to its desktop hard drives.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... HARD DRIVES aren't the most talked-about components in computers, but Seagate's latest drive includes new advances that just might start some chatty. The upcoming Barracuda FDE--that's short for "full disk encryption"--is a 3.5-inch...

Microsoft OS update delays HP home server.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... HP HAS DELAYED until later this year the release of its MediaSmart Server, the first of a new breed of home servers that was originally scheduled to be available in September. A spokesman says the company made the last-minute decision because...

Canon PowerShot tops camera survey.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
November 1, 2007... CANON'S POWERSHOT SD series was the highest-ranked camera in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction Study. On a 1,000-point scale, the PowerShot SD line of high-end compact cameras garnered 829 points. ...

Hawking rides Z-Wave tech for home automation.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Hawking Technologies to launch HomeRemote Wireless Home Automation System)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Hawking Technologies is (finally) set to launch a next-generation home-automation system based on Z-Wave technology. The HomeRemote Wireless Home Automation System, which was announced at CES in January, will enable users to control home and...

Aspire to shine.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(guide to laptop computers)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For a notebook that sparkles, look no further than Acer's Aspire 5920. This notebook in the company's Gemstone line, designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, has a shiny exterior and a cool-toned interior. Intended for...

The large and small of it all.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(HP Compaq 6820s)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You won't have to worry about choosing between a large screen and a small price with the new HP Compaq 6820s laptop. Its 17-inch wide-screen display gives you plenty of high-resolution screen real estate, while its...

One: singular sensation.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Another major PC maker is joining the all-in-one game. The Gateway One is a slim, stylish desktop aimed at making the computing process easier (and tidier) than ever: Just plug in one cable, and you're ready to go....

Your notebook, your way.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(guide to laptop computers)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... NVousPC is a newcomer to the laptop scene, but its president and founder, Oscar Zapata, comes from Alienware, so he knows computer design. Pick a base model--either the 14.1-inch-screened Mercury, optimized for students and traveling...

Kilowatt killer.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(ThinkCentre A61e)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The ThinkCentre A61e may be small in size, but it's big on energy efficiency. Lenovo's smallest, quietest, and--weighing only 8 pounds--lightest desktop yet uses a 45-watt processor, is EPEAT Gold-rated, and complies with Energy Star...

An HD/PC fusion.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(VAIO LT PC/TV)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're a mediaphile who's been looking for a good excuse to upgrade to a new PC, Sony's new VAIO LT PC/TV could be for you. This all-in-one computer entertainment center features a 22-inch WSXGA+ wide-screen...

Apple iMac: slim, stunning, and strong-performing all-in-one.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] APPLE'S MOST ELEGANTLY designed all-in-one yet, the latest iteration of the iMac has a solid configuration, excellent features, and good performance, making it a viable choice for anyone looking for a space-saving,...

Dell XPS M1330: thin-and-light looks sharp--and performs very well.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... WITH ITS HANDSOME DESIGN, sharp screen, and long list of options, it's hard not to love the Dell XPS M1330. For buyers who need a constant computing companion, it's worth a long look. The M1330 just misses the weight cutoff for a "true"...

Cyberpower Gamer Infinity CrossFire 2900XT: high-end gaming performance at a midrange price.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... CYBERPOWER'S Gamer Infinity CrossFire 2900XT is a solid gaming performer--and a good value. Its $3,255 price includes not just the PC itself but also a 22-inch Optiquest (Viewsonic's value brand) Q22WB LCD monitor and a Logitech X-540 six-piece...

Sony VAIO VGX-TP1: stylish entertainment PC isn't ideal for much else.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... THE BATTLE FOR your living-room space is heating up, and Sony's new VAIO VGX-TP1 is setting a new standard for low-cost Media Center machines, offering a solid entertainment PC for a very reasonable $1,599. Just don't expect it to do much...

Vigor Gaming Stealth NE: the clear choice for inexpensive gaming.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VIGOR'S TRANSPARENT, well-lit Gaming Stealth NE desktop delivers more than just good looks. It's also a surprisingly powerful machine--and, considering its price of $1,299, you don't need to be a Plexiglas heir to...

HP Compaq DC7800: small form factor, big performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... AT JUST 2.5x10x10 inches, the HP Compaq DC7800 is not only tinier than most coffee-table books, but it's also about a third of the size of its 19-inch monitor. What's more, the system (which costs $972 by itself, or $1,409 with monitor and...

Toshiba Portege R500-S5002: Ultraportable packs big features in a small case.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... A NEAR-PERFECT ROAD COMPANION with a head-turning design, the Toshiba Portege R500 is an amazing ultraportable with only a couple of minor shortcomings. The $2,149 R500-S5002 model we tested measures a trim 0.8x11.1x8.5 inches and weighs...

Apple MacBook Pro: sleek thin-and-light delivers both performance and style.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [EDITORS' CHOICE] AS LAPTOPS GO, Apple's $1,999 MacBook Pro is unrivaled. The latest rendition to storm out of Cupertino sports an LED-backlit display that delivers stunning images and power savings at the same time. It also features...

HP Compaq 8710p: business laptop looks dull, but performs well.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT THE HP Compaq 8710p business notebook lacks in striking looks it makes up for in processing brawn and enterprise reliability. Plus, for a buttoned-down corporate notebook, it includes some surprising multimedia...

Lenovo ThinkPad X61: a surprisingly powerful business ultraportable.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [EDITOR'S CHOICE] BUSINESS TRAVELERS in the market for an ultraportable simply must consider the ThinkPad X61. It has power to spare and all the features they're likely to need. With a chassis clad in matte-black, the KS-pound X61 is...

Thermaltake V1 CL-P0401: maximum cooling, minimum noise.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [EDITOR'S CHOICE] THERMALTAKE'S $59.95 V1 CL-P0401 is a CPU cooler worth getting excited about: Its exceptional combination of effective cooling, stylish design, easy installation, quiet operation, and reasonable price makes it the Holy...

Asus EN8600GT OC Gear: good real-time overclocking, but mediocre speed.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE $169 ASUS EN8600GT OC Gear is a DirectX 10 (DX10) graphics card that includes what Asus claims is the world's first hardware-based, real-time, graphics-overclocking device. This attractive drive-bay module lets you adjust the system...

OCZ DDR3 PC3-14400 Platinum Edition: lightning-fast RAM--but is it worth the price?(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DDR3 IS THE THIRD GENERATION of double-data-rate (DDR) memory, promising record speeds and a host of improvements over the now-ubiquitous DDR2. While it's true that the hottest DDR3 modules are reaching hypersonic...

Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H: a solid, stable starting point for compact PCs.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE NAME IS VIRTUALLY the only unwieldy thing about the Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H motherboard. This compact AMD-chipset board offers a full set of ports and features, plus plenty of expansion capability, all for around $75. The board's Socket...

Logitech MX Air rechargeable cordless mouse: the wireless mouse takes flight.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE LOGITECH MX AIR cordless mouse lets you send long-distance commands with hand gestures in the air, making it ideal for controlling an entertainment PC from across the room. To set it up, just connect its tiny receiver to your PC's USB...

Kensington Ci70 wireless desktop set: slim, slick-looking keyboard-and-mouse set.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... IF YOU'RE LOOKING for a lean, totally wireless keyboard-and-mouse combo, the $79.99 Kensington Ci70 Desktop Set is a great bet. The Ci70 is notable for its sleek, low-profile design. Kensington says the keyboard is roughly 35 percent...

Dell Color Laser Printer 1320c: affordable color to the masses.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE DELL COLOR LASER PRINTER 1320c delivers quality 600x600dpi color and fast monochrome prints at a very affordable $229, making it a good choice for home or small-business users. The 1320c is small enough to...

HP Photosmart A826: innovative photo printer that's fun to use.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE $249 HP PHOTOSMART A826 works exceedingly well as a stand-alone photo printer. Its user interface is so well-designed that it's likely to make photo editing accessible (and fun) to younger kids and other family members who aren't...

NEC MultiSync LCD225WXM: a bargain big-screen for general use.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE 22-INCH MULTISYNC LCD22SWXM from NEC is a wide-screen display designed for the business sector--and it looks the part. The monitor has a no-nonsense appearance and a $352.26 price tag that will keep office managers happy. But it has some...

Asus PG221: a solidly built gamer's monitor with awesome speakers.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... THE ASUS PG221 is a gamer's display: This 22-incher offers a 2-millisecond response rate, great-sounding speakers, and an abundance of inputs. But at $599.95, the quality will cost you. In addition to the fast pixel-response rate, this...

Casio Exilim EX-S880: a slim shooter loaded with features.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WITH THE $279.99 Exilim EX-S880, the company is aiming squarely at YouTube users, offering features that let you easily shoot and upload clips to the fiber-popular video site. The 8.1-megapixel EX-S880 measures a...

Olympus Evolt E-510: a solid dSLR for beginners.(REVIEWS: DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... AT JUST UNDER $1,000 for a kit that includes two general-purpose lenses, the 10-megapixel Olympus Evolt E-510 is an ideal camera for anyone looking to step up from a point-and-shoot to a versatile digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) model. The...

LG Chocolate VX8550: sweet-looking phone improves on the original.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A SLEEKER LOOK, improved controls, and excellent multimedia features make the LG Chocolate VX8550 music phone much sweeter than its predecessor, the VX8500. Available from Verizon for $129.99 (when purchased with...

Samsung YP-K3: touch-sensitive music player won't appeal to all.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... WITH ITS SEXY DESIGN, excellent sound quality, and palatable price ($119 for a 2GB version and $169 for a 4GB version), the Samsung YP-K3 could be a compelling rival to Apple's iPod Nano, but its touch-sensitive controls aren't for everyone....

iLife '08: Mac multimedia suite offers great features, value.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ILIFE '08 IS FAITHFUL to the top-value tradition of Apple's popular multimedia-software suite, offering powerful, easy-to-use tools for creating and editing images, video, music, and Web sites. Current Mac...

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2: photo editing for novices and pros alike.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... IF YOU HAVE a hundred bucks and a burning desire for a terrific, easy-to-learn image-editing program, Corel's Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 will make you smile. Whether you're a novice or a professional, it has lots to offer. Of all the new...

Top 5 space-saving desktops: get powerful components and features packed into diminutive designs.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... 1 Allenware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center www,alienware.com $3,509 (as tested) Editors' Rating: 8.6 [check] Specs * 2.4GHz Athlon 64 X2 4600+ * 2GB DDR2 * Two ITB hard drives * Double-layer DVD+RW/...

Top 5 thin-and-light laptops: these capable portables let you take performance on the road.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... 1 Dell Inspiron 1420 www.dell.com $1,757 (as tested) Editors' Rating: 8.4 Specs * 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 * 2GB DDR2 * 160GB hard drive * Double-layer DVD[+ or -]RW * nVidia GeForce Go 8400M GS...

Top 5 19-inch LCD monitors: improve your view-affordably-with these wide-screen displays.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... 1 HP w1907 www.hp.com $230 Editors' Rating: 8.1 Specs * 1,440x900 native resolution * 5-millisecond pixel-response rate * DVI, D-Sub inputs * One-year warranty Bottom Line When it comes to...

Top 5 input devices: interface with your pc in comfort with these well-designed peripherals.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... 1 Logitech VX Revolution www.logitech.com $79.99 Editors' Rating: 9.0 [check] Specs * Cordless laser mouse * USB interface Bottom Line Notebook and desktop users alike will love Logitech's VX...

Top 5 personal productivity apps: get productive with these essential programs.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... 1 BeInSync 3.0 www.beinsync.com Free Editors' Rating: 8.0 System Requirements * 600MHz or faster CPU * 256MB RAM * Windows 2000, XP, or Vista Bottom Line Much simpler and less costly than a...

The best in tech 2007: computer shopper selects the best hardware, software, and services to hit the market this year. See what's in it for you.(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... Each November, we whittle down our list of favorite tech products to 100 winners that we have reviewed and used over the past 12 months. Although some of our laves are simply faster or better versions of last year's honorees, many represent...

Apple iPhone.(PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: 2007'S MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... It was definitely one of the most hyped tech products in history, and of course it couldn't entirely live up to all the speculation. But the fact remains that Apple's first handset has revolutionized the mobile phone industry, from its...

Quad-Core CPUs.(TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Last year, we extolled the virtues of Intel's first dual-core processors, which delivered a significant boost in computing power over their single-core predecessors. Shortly thereafter, Intel unleashed a CPU with four cores--and kept them...

Going all out for gaming: packed with powerful components, these blazing gaming laptops have what it takes to tackle any 3D title.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR PC GAMERS, the old desktop-versus-laptop debate used to be a no-brainer: The powerful, expandable, and stationary desktop computer was always the winning option for tackling the latest 3D games. That choice is no...

The invisible disc.(COMPUTER CURES)
November 1, 2007... I have a CD-RW disc containing lots of valuable data, made with Adaptec's Easy CD Creator in Windows 98. I just bought a new PC with Roxio Easy Media Creator on it. I figured I'd be OK, since Adaptec became Roxio. But the DVD/CD burner on the...

IDE, don't go!(COMPUTER CURES)
November 1, 2007... I just bought a new CPU and motherboard. The motherboard has one D-Sub and one DVI connector for the video. It also has one floppy-drive connector. To my surprise, however, it has only one IDE connector. Why did they keep the floppy...

Is 2.0 worth the trouble?(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... I have a 12-month-old Intel Pentium 4 system running XP Home. It only has slower USB 1.1 ports. Should I upgrade to USB 2.0, or does it make little difference? ELLEN CLARKE It depends on the USB hardware you connect. Most low-bandwidth...

Laptop-graphics labyrinth.(COMPUTER CURES)
November 1, 2007... I recently bought an HP notebook. I wasn't into gaming at the time, but I bought The Mark, then F.E.A.R--and now spend my free time playing. My question: How can I upgrade my laptop's graphics card? Shopper often talks about upgrading desktops,...

Is car coolant cool?(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Aftermarket cooling has cost me big bills for my PC, and I still have problems with heat once in a while. So, I switched my PC to liquid cooling, but the coolant costs way too much since I'm running my computer 12 hours a day. Just wondering:...

Tip of the month: more history lessons.(HELP & HOW-TO: TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Regarding your July question "Rewriting History," about clearing Google's search history: I could never imagine myself using the Clear Forms method mentioned to remove these search-history items--I visit way too many Web sites where I use the...

Overclock your desktop: need more speed? Boost performance without buying new hardware.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OVERCLOCKING YOUR PC is like getting a free upgrade. By adjusting the speed at which your desktop system's core components--processor, memory, and motherboard--operate, you can score a noticeable performance gain....

Home-brewed home theater.(Build your own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Antec Fusion Black 430 PC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Antec's $219 Fusion Black 430 PC case hides your custom-built home theater system in a seriously slick shell. Decked out like a stereo receiver, the Fusion has a front panel anchored by a component-style volume...

Switcheroo--with audio, too.(Build your own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)('IOGear MiniView Micro DVI PS/2 KVM Switch')(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switches let you share a single monitor and set of input devices between two or more PCs--but what about your speakers? IOGear's $159.9S MiniView Micro DVI PS/2 KVM Switch solves that...

Earn your water wings.(Build your own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Keeping your overclocked multicore CPU from going into meltdown doesn't have to involve a knot of hardware and headaches. The $159.95 [H.sub.2]O-120 Compact CPU Liquid Cooling Unit from Swiftech is an all-in-one water-cooling system that...

The case for minimalism.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)('Sunbeam Tuniq 3')(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With its minimalist aesthetic, Sunbeam's $69.99 Tuniq 3 case provides high-end looks at a moderate price. (The construction is mostly steel, with an aluminum-and-plastic front panel.) This ATX midtower looks sedate...

Deep space.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Cooler Master Cosmos 1000)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Build your dream system inside the $199 Cooler Master Cosmos 1000. This hulking-yet-slick ATX case has room for almost anything you might want to cram into a custom-made PC: six removable trays for hard drives, as...

More power, please!(HELP & HOW-TO BUILD YOUR OWN)('Spire NitroPower VGA Booster')(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Need more juice for a new watt-hungry graphics card, but dread the rewiring hassle of replacing your main power supply? Spire's $79.99 NitroPower VGA Booster can untangle the problem. It's a supplemental power supply...

Performance desktops ($1,500 and higher).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Power users need the best. Go with a top-notch AMD or Intel processor, such as the AMD Athlon 64 FX or X2 series, or Intel's Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme. You'll have maximum power and the best protection possible...

Ultraportable laptops (less than 4 pounds).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW PROCESSOR Intel's Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Core Solo and Core Duo CPUs deliver the longest battery life. For maximum power, opt for a Core 2 Duo CPU. These are your best choices for powering Microsoft's Windows Vista OS. ...

Desktop memory.(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... NEED TO KNOW RAM AMOUNT The more memory you have, the better your PC will handle running multiple applications at once. If you still have Windows XP, you can get away with 512MB, but 1GB is the minimum for any version of Windows Vista--and...

Budget and midrange 3D-graphics cards (less than $300).(TECHMARKET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... 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...

The right laser printer.(HELP & HOW-TO: BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2007... As prices for capable laser printers continue to drop, more and more consumers and small-business owners are able to afford the quick, sharp output only lasers can provide. Here's what you need to know to pick the best laser printer for your...