Computer Shopper articles from September 2006

Computer Shopper archives from September 2006

Editor's note.
September 1, 2006... TIMES HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED since I bought my first 386SX desktop. The amount I paid for that "IBM clone" back in 1990 could buy me at least six new PCs today-and it goes without saying that all six would be way more powerful. But just...

Batteries make or break the deal.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I enjoy reading Computer Shopper's digital-camera reviews, but I wish you would include information about the type of batteries each device uses. I prefer cameras that use AA batteries as opposed to proprietary cells, as there's no guarantee...

Build a bargain with a better mobo.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I enjoyed your piece on building a budget PC ("Build a Bargain," June, p. 64), though I disagree with your choice of motherboard. Although Asus is a top-shelf brand, they do produce a turkey every now and then. The featured A8NVM appears to be...

Hard drive directions.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... In your "Ask the Editors" feature (July, p. 84), one reader wrote in about an external hard drive that wasn't being recognized by his or her PC. One suggestion you didn't offer is to check to see if the external hard drive is using a drive...

Dell cuts rebates, promotions in bid to simplify pricing.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DELL HAS announced plans to cut back on its use of mail-in rebates and short-term promotions in a move to simplify its pricing structure. The company is trying to make it easier for consumers to pin down prices when they visit Dell.com,...

A team of researchers from IBM and Georgia Tech recently reported success at getting a silicon-germanium-based transistor to run faster than 500GHz, a record for chip speed.(TRENDSPOTTING)
September 1, 2006... A team of researchers from IBM and Georgia Tech recently reported success at getting a silicon-germanium-based transistor to run faster than 500GHz, a record for chip speed. PC tweakers' best tricked-out cooling systems have nothing on the...

Among digital-music mavens, to rip is hip.(TRENDS: UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... While interest in MP3 players and audio/ video downloads is rising, more music is being ripped from CDs than downloaded, according to a recent study released by Ipsos Insight. About 44 percent of all music downloaders use their existing CD...

With thefts rising, how to protect your laptop?(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)
September 1, 2006... LAPTOP THEFT and loss are a fact of life. More than 600,000 notebook thefts occurred in 2003, according to Safeware Insurance, a PC insurer. The number increased to about 750,000 laptops last year, says Absolute Software, a maker of tools for...

Wi-Fi cell phones to connect with consumers.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SALES OF MOBILE phones featuring both cellular and Wi-Fi capabilities will be booming by 2010, according to a recent study by market-research firm In-Stat. In-Stat analysts predict that 132 million of the devices will be in use by then. ...

Dell expands recycling efforts.(TRENDS: TECH NEWS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Dell has announced plans to let consumers recycle their Dell-branded products for free, even if they replace those products with a new Hewlett-Packard printer or Toshiba laptop. Previously, Dell offered free recycling of old gear,...

Double vision.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Fujifilm's $279.95 FinePix Z3 comes in blue or silver and packs myriad features into its slender frame, including 5.1-megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 2.5-inch LCD. Tiny enough to slip into your purse or pocket, the 5.5-ounce...

Crafty casing.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Cooler Master's X-Craft looks better than your average external hard drive enclosure. Available in silver or black, it has a unique mesh screen and shiny aluminum body that add class to any desktop. The enclosure supports a 3.5-inch drive up to...

Old-school sound.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... An iPod speaker system with vintage appeal, the $149.95 SpeckTone Retro comes in a polished wood cabinet resembling a '60s hi-fi set. (You get a choice of three colors.) Its built-in dock supports all iPods except the Shuffle, which you can...

Space case.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Transport your notebook in space-age style with the Chrome Shuttle laptop bag. Stitched from glossy carbon fiber, this $115 satchel is fully padded and features a separate compartment for a notebook with a 17-inch or smaller screen. The bag's...

Travel buddy.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)(Personal digital assistant from Asustek Computer)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Always know where you're headed with the Asus MyPal A636N. In addition to organizing your e-mail and appointments, the $$70 PDA runs the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS, and features a built-in GPS receiver, a swiveling antenna, and navigation software....

Aqua cooler.(GEAR: NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Add some color to your rig with Thermaltake's Blue Orb If. The $49.99 heat sink features a blue aluminum body and a 120mm LED fan that lights up when in motion. The fan's copper base and 140 fins help dissipate heat and maximize the flow of air...

Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62: humdrum case hides record-setting performance.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2006... THE POLYWELL POLY 590SLI2-FX62 is one of the first PCs we've seen with AMD's new Socket AM2 chipset and top-of-the-line Athlon 64 FX-62 dual-core CPU. Add in two GeForce 7900 GT graphics cards in a Scalable Linked Interface (SLI) setup,...

Motorola Q: skinny smartphone lives up to the hype.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2006... THE LONG-ANTICIPATED Motorola Q offers call clarity, an excellent multimedia experience, and essential tools for productivity, all in one sexy little package. The phone costs $299.99 (before a $100 rebate) if you sign a two-year service...

Alienware Aurora ALX: four discrete 3D GPUs don't add up to superior performance.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... TYPICAL OF ALIENWARE'S highest-end desktops, the Aurora ALX is large, well-built, and expensive--$6,752 for our configuration. We had expected the debut of nVidia's Quad Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology to be the PC's crowning glory,...

Sony VAIO RC310G: the first Blu-ray PC to hit the street.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SONY'S VAIO RC310G features the first burner available for the Blu-ray optical format. Competing PCs deliver more value than our $2,249 test unit did, but if you need to one-up your disc-burning pals, it's this VAIO desktop or nothing. ...

Systemax Wildcat: gaming box needs some tweaking.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... FOR $3,999, the Systemax Wildcat gives you 2GB of system memory, two 512MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics cards, and an Ageia PhysX physics accelerator. Sounds great--but the Wildcat's out-the-of-box performance and uninspiring design doesn't...

Enpower Media Center Xpress Special Edition: Tiny but powerful entertainment PC.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DON'T LET THE PLAIN exterior of PC Club's $2,599 Enpower Media Center Xpress Special Edition fool you--this PC's a tiny titan. Its chassis, though tame, does come in a choice of five colors. (You also get an LCD and speakers.) Inside the...

Gateway Profile 6SB: all-in-one is a wallflower.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... COMPARED with other all-in-one PCs, the Gateway Profile 6SB isn't much to look at. In all fairness, however, the 6SB is highly configurable, with perks the others don't offer, including seven CPU options. Plus, the PC is designed for easy...

Dell XPS M2010: a massive hybrid system at a hefty price.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... AT 18.3 POUNDS, the Dell XPS M2010 is a cross between an all-in-one desktop and a big-screen laptop--with a giant price to match. Resembling a piece of designer luggage, the $3,500 base-model M2010 houses a 20-inch display and a premium set...

Asus W5F: ultraportable is heavy on features, light on support.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... IT'S NOT OFTEN we find an ultraportable with as many features as the Asus WSK From its double-layer DVD burner to its spacious 100GB hard drive, this 3.9-pound laptop means serious business. Despite its affordable $1,399 price, we have a hard...

Lenovo V100: 'tweener laptop packs a solid feature set.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... WITH THEIR 4-pound starting weights, Lenovo's V100-series notebooks walk a fine line between ultraportable and thin-and-light, and the line's $1,099 starting price makes this "in-betweener" design worth a second look. Our $1,599 test unit...

Averatec AV2260-EK1: weak battery keeps thin-and-light unit from soaring.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... AVERATEC HAS a knack for making lightweight, aggressively priced laptops. But as much as we tried to like the $1,079 AV2260-EK1, we were disappointed by its lack of features and dismal battery life. Our 4.3-pound test unit included a...

AMD Athlon 64 FX-62: desktop CPU leader delivers minor performance gains.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THE $1,031 ATHLON 64 FX-62 processor helps usher in AMD's new Socket AM2 chipset. Not only does the AM2 feature an entirely new pin layout for AMD's desktop chips, but it also adds support for DDR2 memory. You will need a new AM2-based...

Lexar JumpDrive Mercury: thumb drive flashes more than mere memory.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... LEXAR'S JumpDrive Mercury distinguishes itself from other flash drives with a feature so simple, it's a wonder we've never seen it before: an external capacity meter. Available in 1GB ($79.99) and 2GB ($119.99) capacities, the JumpDrive...

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000: ambidextrous mouse is all thumbs.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... LEFT-HANDED users often get short-changed when it comes to input devices. In response, Microsoft's Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 was designed to fit both left- and right-handed users--but it fails to comfortably suit either. The $49.95 Laser...

Sony MFM-HT205: style and performance in perfect harmony.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SONY'S MFM-HT205 is a feature-fest for your senses. This stylishly designed 20-inch LCD monitor/television delivers an outstanding picture and powerful audio whether you're crunching spreadsheets or watching sitcoms. The $899.99 MFM-HT205...

ViewSonic VG2021m: bargain big-screen LCD lacks media muscle.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THOUGH THE ViewSonic VG2021m packs fewer pixels than your average 20-inch LCD, its $299 price makes it worth a look--if you don't mind making a few sacrifices. The VG2021m has a 1,400x1,050 native resolution, compared with the 1,600x1,200...

HP LP2465.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Proving it's possible to mix work with play, Hewlett-Packard's $869 LP2465 delivers great business features and excellent media-ready capabilities. Upside: The LP2465's 24-inch wide-screen panel features a 1,920x1,200 native resolution and...

HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn: versatile laser offers excellent output.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... HEWLETT-PACKARD'S Color LaserJet 2605dtn is the missing link between all-in-one inkjet photo printers and budget color lasers. At $699.99, it's far from cheap, but you get a built-in duplexer, sharp output, and a modest-but-welcome mix of...

Epson Stylus CX7800: capable MFP stumbles on print quality, speeds.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... EPSON'S $179.99 Stylus CX7800 has everything you'd want from an all-in-one photo printer. It scans and copies, and it features computer-free printing options. But despite all these features, we can't get past its lackluster image quality and...

Buffalo TeraStation Home Server NAS: NAS device with huge capacity gets media-savvy.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... WITH ITS TeraStation Home Server, Buffalo Technologies adds media-serving features to the huge capacity of its network-attached-storage (NAS) device. It's available in 1-terabyte ($899), 1.6-terabyte ($1,599) and 2-terabyte ($1,999) capacities....

Top Global 3G Phoebus MB6000 Wi-Fi Router: 3G-network access for multiple users.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE working in an area covered by a 3G network, the $399.95 3G Phoebus MB6000 is a good bet for getting online. This cellular router lets multiple users wirelessly share Internet access from a 3G network via 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. The 3G...

Spam Cube.(Internet security software )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Most antispam solutions available to consumers and small businesses are software-based, but the $150 Spare Cube offers a hardware barrier instead. You plug the square box between your router and your broadband connections, and it filters out...

T-Mobile Sidekick 3: slick mobile messenger bulks up its feature set.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A SOLID messaging device for the younger set, T-Mobile's Sidekick 3 offers a number of improvements over its predecessor, though not a better screen. The phone costs $299.99 with a two-year service contract. At 5.1x2.3x0.8 inches and 6.7...

Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth headset: versatile headset is a disappointing performer.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... WE APPRECIATE the $59.99 Soyo FreeStyler's slim, Inconspicuous design that allows it to be worn three different ways, but the Bluetooth headset's poor audio quality is a deal-breaker. The half-ounce headset has two tactile volume buttons,...

Samsung SGH-D807: fashionable slider phone performs well.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THE SAMSUNG SGH-D807 is a slim slider phone that should appeal to fashion mavens and gadget geeks alike. It's available from Cingular for $179.99 (before a $50 rebate) with a two-year service agreement. At 4x2.1x0.6 inches and 3.3 ounces,...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5: a full-featured megazoomer.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SONY'S $499.95 Cyber-shot DSC-H5 sits at the top of the company's current crop of megazoom cameras, featuring a large, image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD screen, a 7.2-megapixel charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, and a full...

Olympus Stylus 710: a weather-resistant, but otherwise mediocre, shooter.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DESPITE THE attraction of a weather-resistant body, the 7.1-megapixel Olympus Stylus 710 falls short, with disappointing performance and over-processed images. The $299.99 Stylus 710's vaguely wedge-shaped body is gold-plated and coated...

Panasonic DMC-TZI: compact cam offers big zoom, average photos.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... WITH A BIG 10x zoom lens and optical image stabilization, Panasonic's $349.95 DMC-TZ1 looks enticing, but image-quality issues keep it from making the grade. One of the coolest features of the 5-megapixel camera is its Flip Animation mode,...

Toshiba Gigabeat S Series: media-friendly player can compete with the iPod.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... WITH ITS COMPACT form factor, wide array of media compatibility, and easy-to-use operating system, the Toshiba Gigabeat S Series is a bona fide iPod challenger. The device comes in 30GB and 60GB capacities, priced at $299.99 and $399.99,...

LG Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100: sweet sound in a convenient package.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE looking for ultracompact speakers that don't sacrifice sound quality, LG's $59.99 Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100 will please your ears--and wallet. The 2.7-ounce MSP-100 has a compact clamshell design that flips open to reveal...

Cowon iAudio 6: a stacked, compact mini-hard-drive player.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... SMALL and feature-loaded, Cowon's $249.99 iAudio 6 is one of the most advanced mini-hard-drive players to date. At 2.7x1.2x0.7 inches and 2.1 ounces, the tiny player features a colorful 1.3-inch organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) screen...

Samsung HP-S4253: plasma set falls flat on picture quality.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THE SAMSUNG HP-$4253 42-inch plasma television features distinctive design and excellent connectivity. Its image quality doesn't measure up to the output of the best plasmas, however, and, at $2,999, it costs a bit too much to compete against...

Sharp LC-37D40U: produces deep black levels for an LCD HDTV.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THE SHARP LC-37D40U delivers some of the deepest blacks we've seen from an LCD television, making it worth its $2,599 price for home theater fans. The 37-inch set's native resolution is 1,366x768 pixels, which should be enough to convey...

Panasonic DMR-ES25S: basic DVD recorder offers solid video quality.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... FIRST-TIME BUYERS will be more than satisfied with the $199.95 Panasonic DMRES255, a basic DVD recorder that offers an excellent LP-recording mode, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connectivity, and a great flexible-recording-length...

Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0: pricey but able security package.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... EVEN IF you've never heard of Kaspersky Lab, chances are you've used its security technology before: The Russian vendor's antivirus engine is used to power dozens of better-known viral crusaders. By adding firewall and antispyware protection to...

Dekart Private Disk 2.07: compact virtual-disk creator locks down your data.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... MANY DATA-SECURITY packages focus on breadth, but Dekart's Private Disk focuses on depth. Its combination of top-of-the-line encryption, virtual-disk protection, and unusual features is striking and effective. Security packages from Steganos...

Readiris Pro 11: quick, cost-effective optical character recognition.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... TRANSLATING PAGES of text into electronic files can be a tedious, finicky process, so a good optical character recognition (OCR) program needs to be both speedy and accurate. For basic, plain-text OCR at lightning speeds, the $129.99 Readiris...

OrgPlus 6 Professional: ultimate snapshot of your corporate ladder.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... ORGPLUS 6 Professional may appear limited to creating organizational charts, but look deeper and you'll see a powerhouse of an app. Whether your goal is pinning down a visual representation of your workforce, ensuring your valued employees have...

Network Magic: easy home-network management.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... NETWORK MAGIC is designed to make home-computer network configuration and management easy as pie--and, for the most part, it does just that. The free Basic version allows you to set up and protect a simple wired or Wi-Fi home network, while...

Documents To Go Premium Edition 8: turn your Palm into a mobile office.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... THE LATEST VERSION of Dataviz's Documents To Go Palm productivity suite will appeal to busy workers who need to keep churning out work away from the office. The installation package lets you decide which program components you'd like to...

CCleaner 1.3: PC-upkeep app falls just shy of perfect.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH IT LACKS a few features found in other PC-cleaning applications, the free CCleaner offers enough to make it a worthy download. The interface is logically designed, and the program makes it easy to wipe away your tracks from Internet...

Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional: a fast, easy virtual-drive maker.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... HARD DRIVES and CD-ROMs are cheap, so why bother simulating them in software? Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional's powerful utility suite provides five good answers. The suite's Crypted Drive component supplies a handy 256-bit encrypted...

Top 25: this month's best desktops, notebooks, 20-inch LCDs, home and small-office printers, ad DVD- and video-editing software.
September 1, 2006... Top 25 This month's best desktops, notebooks, 20-inch LCDs, home and small-office printers, and DVD- and video-editing software. ALTERNATIVE-BRAND DESKTOPS Five capable PCs that prove you don't need to buy from the big guys to get...

The affordable 5: ready to go and with room to grow, these five desktops prove you can get a lot for less than $500.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2006... HIGH-END PERFORMANCE DESKTOPS typically get all the oohs and aahs, but when it's time to put one on plastic, most buyers find that a great deal is ultimately more impressive. The smartest buyers demand some expandability with their...

Rating the retailers: we go undercover to five major PC chains to see which delivers the best selection and service.(Company rankings)
September 1, 2006... THE APPLE STORE What a difference a year makes. Last year, we decided to drop Apple from our feature because of its small market share and the dearth of Mac-loving Shopper readers. Then, Apple dropped a bombshell: Not only would its 2006...

Vista unveiled: a behind-the-scenes look at Microsoft's upcoming OS.(Microsoft Windows Vista)
September 1, 2006... YOU DON'T NEED IT. YOU DO WANT IT. YOU WILL HAVE IT. That's my take on Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Vista operating system, after exploring the first public beta software (Beta 2, build 5384) for about a month. Most folks who...

Missing meter.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... My laptop got a virus, so I restored my system. Before, I had the battery meter at the bottom-right corner of the screen, but it disappeared after the restoration. I went to Power Options and tried checking the box that shows the battery meter...

Drawing with DOS.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... I run an old DOS-based CAD application that requires VESA mode 0107h (1,280x1,024, 256 colors), but this will not run on my Windows XP SP2 system. So I have to keep my old Windows 98 SE system running with a CRT display just for this...

Un-animator.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... When I use Internet Explorer to surf the Web, animations don't play, even though I have chosen the "Play animations in Web pages" option on the Advanced tab in Internet Options. How can I fix this? TIMOTHY WORSHAM You may have...

Sound advance, please.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... I have a pretty nice set of 2.1 speakers, but my computer only has integrated audio. Would adding a separate sound card dramatically increase my music and game audio quality? Do I need to have 7.1 speakers to really make a difference? YANG...

Skip the partition, go for a drive.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... How do you partition one hard drive for two or more operating systems? DAVID GEE You can use many methods to partition a single hard drive so that it can boot using different operating systems. The easiest and most reliable one is to...

Savvy screen shopping.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... Is there any difference between various LCDs? They all look similar to me in spite of varying specifications for contrast ratio, pixel pitch, response time, and refresh rate. What should I look for in an LCD? ANDY GRAHAM If you know...

Correction.(COMPUTER CURES)(Correction notice)
September 1, 2006... Reader Al Lowe wrote in to inform me of an error I made in the July edition of "Cures." I stated that Windows XP shortcuts for program icons must use a Ctrl+Alt combination. and that you could not add the Shift key to this combo ("Failure to...

Tip of the month: easy, express e-mail selection.(COMPUTER CURES)
September 1, 2006... E-mail in disarray? Need a quick way to move several messages at one time into a folder in Outlook? There's a simple way to do this with your mouse. This month's tipster has the solution. I've used Outlook for some time and have always...

Automate data backups: avoid a digital disaster by backing up your data.(HELP & HOW-TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
September 1, 2006... NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM DATA DISASTERS. But instead of lecturing you on why you should back up--nobody likes a nag, after all--we'll show you an easy way to create frequent backups that will periodically archive important files whenever you...

Mobilize your e-mail: no desktop? No problem. Get e-mail on all your mobile devices.(HELP & HOW TO: WEEKEND PROJECT)
September 1, 2006... SUFFERING FROM E-MAIL separation anxiety? Can't bear to be away from your in-box during vacations, business trips, coffee breaks, and other interminable outings? This is the wireless age, after all--you don't have to be incommunicado just...

Midrange desktops ($750 to $1,499).(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... 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. Frequent multi-taskers or those planning to upgrade to Microsoft's Vista OS should go with a...

Thin-and-light notebooks (4 to 7 pounds).(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel's Pentium M processor, which provides long battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. Save a little by opting for lower clock speeds, such as 1.6GHz. Higher-end thin-and-lights...

Desktop memory.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... RAM AMOUNT The more memory you have, the better your PC will handle running several applications at once. For Windows XP and general office tasks, get a minimum of 512MB. Multitaskers and gamers should opt for at least 1GB. If your motherboard...

Multifunction printers.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... FEATURES Multifunction printers (MFPs), or all-in-ones, are the Swiss Army knives of printers. They combine copier, scanner, printer, and, in some models, fax capabilities in one unit, making them perfect for home offices and small businesses....

External DVD burners.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... FORMAT When DVD burners first emerged, buyers had to make an often-confusing choice between two incompatible formats: DVD-R/DVD-RW and DVD+R/DVD+RW. Thankfully, drive manufacturers now offer multiformat drives that can write and rewrite to both...

Wi-Fi routers.(NEED TO KNOW)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... NETWORKING STANDARD 802.11g is the current standard for home networks, having replaced the slower 802.11b. 802.11g is also compatible with 802.11b, so you can use it with older equipment running that standard. 802.11a has speeds similar to...

Tech products.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Website list)
September 1, 2006... allstarshop.com 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. ...

Mobile and travel accessories.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Website list)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... igo.com Get your power to go with iGo's selection of mobile accessories. The company's line of Juice power adapters can charge your laptop, mobile phone, and other gadgets in the car, on a plane, or just about anywhere else you happen to...

Sites for audiophiles.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Website list)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... abtelectronics.com Crave a giant plasma television? A 400-disc CD changer? A surround-sound speaker system? In business for 70 years, Abt Electronics has them. You'll also find home appliances and computer products, all with inexpensive...

Direct PC vendors.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Website list)
September 1, 2006... 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)(Website list)
September 1, 2006... 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....

Free software.(WEB BUYER: THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING)(Website list)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... directory.fsf.org The Free Software Foundation Free Software Directory catalogs useful free software for Linux and other free operating systems. Browse by category, or check out the 10 newest programs in the directory. ...