Computer Shopper articles from October 2008

Computer Shopper archives from October 2008

Editor's note.(Editorial)
October 1, 2008... WHETHER YOU LIKE TO DO IT because it's a fun challenge, or because it can help save you some money, building your own PC is like any other complex task: It's a learning process. As with any process, each project presents another opportunity to...

New hydra graphics technology to boost to GPU scaling.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Lucid Logix )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... GAMERS ARE A PICKY bunch. No matter how powerful graphics cards get, they're never powerful enough to satisfy hardcore fraggers. A new graphics technology, however, may help them get even more from their video cards. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Google increases its search-engine dominance.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... GOOGLE CONTINUES to dominate its search-engine rivals, accounting for almost 70 percent of all U.S. online searches in June, according to statistics by Hitwise. That figure is up 5.25 percent from the same time last year. Google's gain is...

Watching videos on the PC.(STATS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 89% Consumers who watch video clips, movies, DVDs, and TV shows on their computer 29% Consumers who watch videos on a PC more than six times per month 5% Consumers who watch videos online because they don't have access to cable or a...

Survey zooms in on which digital cameras consumers rate as the best.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
October 1, 2008... CANON, FUJIFILM, Nikon, Panasonic, and Sony are the top manufacturers named in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction Survey, which is based on responses from more than 8,000 consumers who purchased digital...

New instant-messaging client offers real-time language translation.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(MeGlobe )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... THE INTERNET--and tools like instant messaging (IM) and e-mail--have revolutionized the way people communicate with each other around the world. No matter how advanced communications soft ware has become, however, it's been useless if the...

iTunes tops music sales chart again.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
October 1, 2008... Apple's iTunes Store continues to be the top music retailer in the United States during the first half of 2008, staying ahead of tradional brick-and-mortar chains such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. The results are based on the NPD Group's...

Tecra-tonic.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Based on Intel's new Centrino 2 Platform, the Toshiba 15.4-inch Tecra M10 and 14.1-inch Tecra A10 laptops make it easier to take care of business. Each portable includes Intel vPro business-friendly technology, a Webcam that doubles as a...

Welcome to the Rapture.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Biohazard Computers Systems)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Biohazard's Rapture Skulltrail Edition eats lesser systems for breakfast and induces vertigo at the mere sight of its price, which starts north of $12,000. You get two Core 2 Extreme QX9775 CPUs--eight cores of...

Instant overclocking.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(MSI GX620 and GX720 laptops)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... MSI may have been busy with its Wind U100 netbook (see review on p. 20), but we're happy to see that the company has found time to introduce the GX620 and GX720 gaming laptops. The 5.6-pound GX620 comes with a 15.4-inch display, 2.4GHz Core 2...

X marks the spot.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Polywell Computers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Poly X4800-Extreme from Polywell is not a system for the faint of wallet, but if you have $4,799 to spend on a top-tier gaming package, this is it. The Extreme comes with 4GB of DDR3 memory, an Intel Core 2...

Tablet twins.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Fujitsu's 4.5-pound LifeBook T5010 and 5.3-pound LifeBook T1010 tablet PCs both pack 13.3-inch displays, but the T5010, based on the Centrino 2 platform, comes with vPro business-friendly technology and a modular bay that can fit either an...

It means business.(NEW PRODUCTS: PCs)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Acer's Veriton S461 is the perfect small-form-factor PC for companies seeking affordable, secure desktops. Loaded with vPro technology--which helps IT departments wirelessly diagnose, repair, and manage their systems--the S461 also comes with a...

Asus Eee Box: tiny PC ideal only for those with tiny computing needs.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE, the diminutive (1x8.75x7 inches HWD) and low-cost ($349.99) Eee Box is like its laptop counterpart, the Eee PC: Its performance is almost entirely dependent on what you want it to do. If you're looking for the most...

Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1: prosumer camera captures 60 photos per second, HD video.(REVIEWS: THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... THE 6-MEGAPIXEL Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is a groundbreaking camera. It can snap 60 full-resolution photos in just one second and capture video at a staggering 1,200 frames per second (fps), albeit at a reduced resolution. Throw in HD-resolution...

ZT Affinity 7221Xa: budget PC packed with extras, not performance.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... LIKE MOST BUDGET PCS, ZT Systems' 7221Xa is not a desktop you buy for its power--its primary attraction is its $599.99 price. But, as is the company's wont, ZT heaps on lots of extras to ensure you won't be left wanting much from this modestly...

MaxForce revolution GTX: a no-compromises gaming PC to grow with.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR a more-than-capable PC with good gaming muscle, MaxForce PC's Revolution GTX is worth a look. This $1,497 computer will get you there, bring you back, and keep you smiling in both directions. There are two keys...

Dell Studio Hybrid: environmentally friendly PC lacks processing punch.(REVIEWS: DESKTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY for a green PC? Or, for that matter, a green PC that comes in green, as well as black, blue, orange, red, yellow, or even bamboo? Dell is betting you'll put down about $874, the price of its new Studio Hybrid...

Dell Studio 15: midrange notebook offers better brains than looks.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... OFFERING MORE-FLEXIBLE OPTIONS than Dell's budget-minded Inspirons--but still priced well south of the more upscale XPS line--the company's new Studio line (starting at $749 and available in 15- and 17-inch varieties) hits a midrange sweet...

MSI Wind U100: tiny system delivers big value.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... EDITORS CHOICE IN THE NEW BUDGET ultraportable laptop class, the $499 MSI Wind U100 strikes the best balance yet between portability and performance. Powered by Intel's 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, the 2.3-pound Wind performs better than...

Cyberpower Xplorer X5-3400: budget machine offers impressive performance.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AT $999.99, the Cyberpower Xplorer X5-3400 is on the low end of new Intel Centrino 2 notebooks. Its lackluster 3D capabilities are typical of its price range, but its impressive performance and battery life suggest...

Sony VAIO VGN-FW198U/H: entertainment laptop could deliver a bit more.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... THE SONY VAIO VGN-FW198U/H is the first entertainment laptop we've seen using Intel's new Centrino 2 platform. We expected more from the system, but its Blu-ray burner and $2,099 price mostly make up for its performance issues. The...

Lenovo ThinkPad X200: an ultraportable suited for business travel.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... THE $1,859 THINKPAD X200 ultraportable replaces the business-oriented ThinkPad X61 in Lenovo's line, and it delivers good power in a compact form factor. The X200's matte-black body is unassuming--some might say bland--and the...

OCZ DIY Gaming Laptop: build-your-own kit makes assembly a breeze.(REVIEWS: LAPTOPS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... THE OCZ DIY GAMING LAPTOP is a $699 bare-bones system that includes the case, motherboard, graphics chip, nine-cell battery, and LCD screen. The CPU, hard drive, mm, operating system, and networking chip are all sold separately, though OCZ...

Asus P5Q Deluxe: powerful foundation for PCs with one video card.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE $209 ASUS P5Q DELUXE is one of the first motherboards to use Intel's new P45 chipset. Similar to the P35 it replaces, this midrange chipset is built on a 65-nanometer (nm) process, which reduces heat and power...

NZXT Tempest: a low-cost wind-tunnel for high-heat PCs.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... WE'VE SEEN GREAT GAMING CASES cost $200, $300, or even more, but it's rare that we come across one that offers most of what enthusiasts crave without even breaking the $100 barrier. NZXT's $99 Tempest is just such a case. The Tempest...

VIA Artigo Pico-ITX PC Builder Kit: build a tiny PC-but expect performance to match.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... VIA TECHNOLOGIES' $319.99 Artigo Pico-ITX PC Builder Kit lets you assemble a tiny desktop (1.8xS.9x4.3 inches) you can stash almost anywhere--even inside a 5.25-inch bay in a PC tower. Just expect performance in proportion to its size. The...

OCZ Core Series SATA II SSD 64GB: affordable solid-state drive best for notebook owners.(REVIEWS: COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... IF YOU'VE BEEN CONSIDERING a solid-state drive (SSD) in your desktop or notebook but are put off by the high price, the OCZ Core Series may be affordable enough to change your mind. Though $279 is a lot to pay for 64GB, this drive is...

Sapphire Radeon HD 4870: video card sets new standards--in performance and price.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... EDITORS' CHOICE AMD MUST BE CAUSING some headaches in the halls of its chief competitor, Nvidia. First, AMD ships the ATI Radeon HD 4850, a $199 card that ran neck-and-neck with the Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX, resulting in Nvidia...

Buffalo LinkStation Mini (1TB): tiny storage unit needs better interface.(REVIEWS: NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BUFFALO LINKSTATION MINI is different from other network-attached storage (NAS) drives because it uses 2.5-inch hard drives instead of the larger 3.5-inch drives typically found in desktop PCs. Aside from its...

D-Link RangeBooster N Dual Band Router (DIR-628): fast, cheap dual-band device.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... EDITORS' CHOICE D-LINK'S NEW RANGEBOOSTER N Dual Band Router (DIR-628) is available from online retailers for less than $100, making it the least expensive dual-band model we've ever tested. Despite its low price, it's also the fastest...

Plustek OpticBook 4600: great for scanning books and documents.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... PLUSTEK'S OPTICBOOK 4600 is a flatbed scanner equally adept at handling documents and photos. The steep $699 price will keep most home users away, but it's a solid choice for offices, libraries, and anyone else who needs to digitize hardcopy...

Iomega Rev 120GB Backup Drive: removable-cartridge alternative for backup.(REVIEWS: PERIPHERALS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... THE IOMEGA REV 120GB BACKUP DRIVE is a hard-disk-based storage device that uses removable cartridges. It's an alternative backup solution to traditional external hard drives or tape (like DAT), but for users with either very little (or...

Samsung SyncMaster 2053BW: very good despite the small size.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... EDITORS' CHOICE SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 2053BW ($279.99) is a modest 20-inch LCD monitor that delivers great color, excellent text readability, and a wide-format 1,680x1,050 resolution. The 2053BW's specs include a pixel pitch of 0.26, a...

Asus VW223B: quick and easy display connection.(REVIEWS: DISPLAYS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... THANKS TO ITS DisplayLink technology, Asus's 22-inch VW223B wide-screen monitor offers a quick and easy solution for creating a multiple-monitor setup without the need for additional video cards. Although tie $289 VW223B lacks a digital DVI...

HP Photosmart C4480: a great all-in-one for photos and text.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HP'S $99.99 PHOTOSMART C4480 is a fine multifunction inkier that's easy to use and pumps out great-looking photos and crisp text. It's equally adept at printing, copying, and scanning, making it a well-rounded...

Kodak ESP 5: well-rounded but unpredictable unit.(REVIEWS: PRINTERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... KODAK'S NEWEST ALL-IN-ONE inkier printer, the $169.99 ESP 5, is a decent all-around unit with better-than-average print quality. It was extremely unpredictable during testing, however. Once we ironed out its issues, we found it to be easy to...

Nikon Coolpix P60: easy to use, but too bulky to pocket.(REVIEWS: CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... THE 8.1-MEGAPIXEL Nikon Coolpix P60 ($229.95) with a long 5x zoom is the perfect camera for people who like a reliable shooter they can master quickly. With a rubber grip on its fight side, the P60 is very easy to hold and stabilize, but...

Canon PowerShot SD890 IS: excels at zoom and photo quality.(REVIEWS: CAMERAS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... CANON'S $399.99 POWERSHOT SD890 IS, which performs competently and features a 5x optical zoom, will appeal to buyers who are looking for a long lens in a short package. The 10-megapixel SD890 features a 2.5-inch LCD and Canon's DIGIC III...

Asus R700t: instability overshadows unique features.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE $315 ASUS R700T GPS NAVIGATION DEVICE offers an array of features in an attractive yet portable package. There are too many glitches, however, to make this a compelling product, especially when there are far...

Motorola ROKR E8: haptic keypad makes phone shine.(REVIEWS: CONSUMER TECH)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... AT $199.99 (with a two-year T-Mobile service agreement), Motorola's music-playing ROKR E8 lacks some of the bells and whistles of its similarly priced competitors. But thanks to a handful of unique features, including an innovative,...

Pinnacle Studio 12: easy-to-use video editor now supports HD.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... PINNACLE STUDIO 12 is an easy-to-use video-editing program that strikes a good balance between simplicity and flexibility. It breaks the video-creation process into a simple Capture/Edit/Make Movie sequence, while still giving you full control...

ZoneAlarm Forcefield: browser virtualization a helpful security tool.(REVIEWS: SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... BY CREATING A VIRTUAL BROWSER inside your PC--an area that's completely isolated from the rest of your data--Zone-Alarm's Forcefield prevents file downloads, Registry changes, or requests for private information from being passed along. When...

Save some trees with GreenPrint World: plus, five more great freeware utilities to improve your computing life.(REVIEWS: DOWNLOADS)
October 1, 2008... OUR FEATURE "GREEN GEAR" (p. 70) shows you several environmentally friendly tech products, so we would have been remiss if we didn't let you know about a free download that's also eco-friendly--and not just because it doesn't come with...

These well-configured PCs define system savings.(TOP 5: BUDGET DESKTOPS)
October 1, 2008... 1 HP Pavilion a6560f www.hp.com $750 Editors' Rating: (8.0) Specs * 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo E4700 * 3GB DDR2 memory * 300GB hard drive * DVD [+ or -] RW drive * Nvidia GeForce 9300GE graphics (256MB) ...

These potent portables hit the sweet spot on size and features.(TOP 5: MIDSIZE LAPTOPS)
October 1, 2008... 1 Sony VAIO VGN-FZ485U/B www.sonystyle.com $2,199 (as tested) Editors' Rating: (8.2) Specs * 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100 * 4GB DDR2 memory * 300GB hard drive * Blu-ray burner/DVD [+ or -] RW * Nvidia...

Build a wireless home network around one of these capable devices.(TOP 5: WI-FI ROUTERS)
October 1, 2008... 1 D-Link RangeBooster N Dual Band Router (DIR-62B) www.dlink.com $117.99 Editors' Rating: (9.0) [check] Specs * 2.4GHz/SGHz dual-band support * 300Mbps rated maximum throughput * 802.11a/b/g, Draft N *...

Building on success: ready to build your next PC? These 75 can't miss tips will ease your next PC build--and help you better understand your current desktop.(75 PC-BUILDING TIPS)(Cover story)
October 1, 2008... Get ready for an adventure. Don't get us wrong: Assembling your own desktop is plenty fulfilling and worthwhile. But even fro veteran builders, it's rarely a straight-line journey from A to B. Each time you take the walk, you find new shortcuts...

Green gear: in an age where it's more important than ever to be eco-conscious, give Mother Nature a break with these environmentally friendly tech products.(Buyers guide)
October 1, 2008... The tech items usually featured in the pages of Computer Shopper-massive gaming desktops with multiple power-gulping graphics cards, for instance--don't exactly scream "energy efficient." Now, however, computer manufacturers, as well as parts...

AGP x-factors.(COMPUTER CURES)
October 1, 2008... I purchased a high-end Gateway desktop PC back in 2000 that still provides acceptable performance. The video card supplied with my machine is failing, however. Gateway no longer supports it, nor can it provide a replacement card that fits the...

DVD-burner lowdown.(COMPUTER CURES)
October 1, 2008... I'd like to install a DVD burner inside my Dell Dimension 4550. It's about six years old. How would I go about doing this, and what type of burner would I buy? RICHARD BORGOGNONE, VIA E-MAIL Any 2002-era PC almost certainly has only...

RAM jam.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... My computer can take two pieces of DDR2 667 RAM, but many places are selling faster RAM cheaper. Can I use the faster RAM, and will it slow down my computer? MARTIN DIXON, VIA E-MAIL Two short answers: Yes, and no. Yes, you can use the...

Double visionary.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... I'm trying to find a software program that allows me to operate two monitors separately from the same computer. Could you give me an idea of where to look? "FIDAD4" VIA E-MAIL You may not have to look far--most modern graphics cards...

Tip of the month: easy DVD, no PC.(COMPUTER CURES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... In a recent Computer Shopper, reader Gary Cassifly asked for the "best" way to convert VHS tapes to DVD. I've tried the hardware/software route, with mixed results. A much easier (and thus "better") way would be for him to go to his local...

Install a liquid-cooling system.(HELP & HOT-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE your mammoth CPU cooler is too noisy, or because you don't want to go the usual fan/heat-sink route as you build (or upgrade), installing a liquid-cooling system in your desktop can be a good...

Compound interest.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Coolink Chillaramic)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Your new multicore processor tears through video-editing tasks, but it runs hotter than Hades. The solution is Chillaramic, Coolink's new thermal compound, which is made with ceramic nanoparticles to increase thermal conductivity. Available in...

Control freak.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(NZXT Sentry LX)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once you've built your system, you'll want to make sure your case's airflow is sufficient to keep things cool without being so noisy that you'd need ear plugs just to surf the Web. NZXT's Sentry LX lets you keep all...

We're big fans.(Build Your Own: NEW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM PC)(Arctic Cooling Accelero Twin Turbo )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The cooling units on today's graphics cards are sufficient for standard operation, but they can be noisy and hot, and they don't usually allow for overclocking. That's where Arctic Cooling's quiet Accelero Twin Turbo...

In your sights.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... If you're hunkered down and carefully scanning the horizon for midtower PC chassis deals, settle your crosshairs on the affordable Apevia X-Sniper. This $79.99 case is available in black, blue, green, red, or silver, and it includes high-end...

A new view.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MSI's P45 motherboard line looks just like any other on the surface, but once you install it and boot up, you'll notice that it features something you haven't seen from any other motherboard--a BIOS with a 3D...

Supply line.(HELP & HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... A high-quality power supply is the foundation of a healthy and stable PC, and Antec's new line of Signature Power Supplies is built to last, while also being highly energy-efficient. The Signature series includes a cooling fan that uses Pulse...

The right thin-and-light laptop.(HELP & HOT-TO: BUYING BASICS: HOW TO BUY)(Buyers guide)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Powerful enough for most computing tasks you throw its way, yet portable enough not to weigh you down on the road, a thin-and-light notebook provides you with the best of both worlds. Here's how to select the right...

Tech tools.(geek//:speak)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Our 75 must-know PC-building tips (see p. 53) can take you a long way on your journey to assembling your own computer. But what equipment do you need for the trip? Here's a look inside our essential PC tool kit--the five things no PC builder...

August poll results.(Chatter Capture)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... What do you do most with your computer? Heavy productivity (graphics/video editing, etc.) 30% Light productivity (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) 23.3% Media (playing music, watching videos, watching and recording television)...