Computer Shopper - February 2006
Computer Shopper - February 2006
Computer Shopper - February 2006
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GREAT DEALS ON<br />
BIG HARD DRIVES<br />
ULTIMATE POWER:<br />
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20TH<br />
ANNUAL<br />
SHOPPERS’<br />
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY COMPUTERSHOPPER.COM CHOICE<br />
AWARDS<br />
YOU PICKED<br />
THEBEST<br />
READERS PICK<br />
THEIR FAVORITE<br />
• HARDWARE<br />
• SOFTWARE<br />
• GADGETS<br />
• PC SUPPORT<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2006</strong> | DISPLAY UNTIL FEB. 13, <strong>2006</strong><br />
02><br />
PLUS THE<br />
TOP WEB<br />
STORES &<br />
SERVICES<br />
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THE RIGHT DIGITAL<br />
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KIDS SAFE<br />
ONLINE<br />
HOW TO<br />
CONTACT<br />
EVASIVE<br />
E-TAILERS<br />
20 BLAZING<br />
GRAPHICS<br />
CARDS
✱140 What you should know about<br />
PC makers’ warranties before you<br />
buy your next desktop or notebook.<br />
CONTENTS<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2006</strong> VOLUME 26 NUMBER 2 ISSUE 311<br />
24<br />
DESKTOPS<br />
Velocity Micro Gamers’<br />
Edge DualX T1300<br />
26 HP Pavilion s7220n Slimline<br />
26 Vigor Hornet<br />
27 Bully Surgeon<br />
20TH<br />
ANNUAL<br />
59<br />
27<br />
28<br />
Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G<br />
NOTEBOOKS<br />
HP Pavilion DV8000z<br />
28 Dell XPS M140<br />
32 Asus W2V<br />
32 Averatec 3715-EH1<br />
32 Sony VAIO FJ170/B<br />
COMPONENTS<br />
25 Logitech Z-5450 Digital<br />
34 ATI Radeon X1600 XT<br />
Features<br />
34 Logitech Cordless Desktop<br />
MX5000 Laser<br />
READERS’ PICKS OF 2005<br />
34 Pioneer DVR-R100<br />
59 Annual <strong>Shopper</strong>s’ Choice Awards<br />
DISPLAYS<br />
The savviest tech shoppers speak<br />
38 BenQ FP91E<br />
out! Our readers pick their favorite<br />
38 LaCie 319<br />
products of the past year in our<br />
38 Sony SDM-S75A<br />
annual awards survey. Plus, we<br />
PRINTERS<br />
71<br />
look back at some past picks from<br />
the last two decades.<br />
PCs FROM CUSTOM BUILDERS<br />
Hand-Crafted <strong>Computer</strong>s<br />
If you’re after personalized service,<br />
a wide variety of components, or<br />
71<br />
40<br />
40<br />
40<br />
42<br />
42<br />
42<br />
Canon Pixma iP4200<br />
Epson PictureMate Express Edition<br />
Lexmark T640<br />
HOME NETWORKING<br />
APC 3-in-1 Wireless Mobile Router<br />
Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO Router<br />
Netgear SC101 Storage Central<br />
34<br />
unique hand-finished detailing, a<br />
PC from a custom builder is the<br />
44<br />
MOBILE PRODUCTS<br />
Dell Axim X51v<br />
48<br />
way to go.<br />
44 Archos AV500<br />
RECYCLE YOUR TECH<br />
DIGITAL CAMERAS<br />
83 Give or Go Green<br />
48 Kodak EasyShare One<br />
Has a new holiday PC left you<br />
48 Konica Minolta DiMage Z6<br />
tripping over the old one?<br />
48 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1<br />
Find out the right way to<br />
DIGITAL AUDIO<br />
donate or recycle your<br />
49 Iriver U10<br />
retired tech.<br />
49 JVC Alneo XA-HD500<br />
49 Sennheiser PXC300<br />
DIGITAL LIVING<br />
50 Bose 3-2-1 Series II Home<br />
83<br />
50<br />
Entertainment System<br />
HP PL4200N<br />
50<br />
50 Panasonic PT-52LCX65<br />
SOFTWARE<br />
Page 98<br />
Page 71<br />
52 Acronis True Image 9.0<br />
Page 152<br />
52 Norton Ghost 10.0<br />
54 BeInSync 1.6<br />
54 CrazyTalk Media Studio 4.0<br />
Page 59<br />
Page 92<br />
Page 83<br />
44 Archos AV500<br />
Want television to go?<br />
The capable AV500 is a<br />
54<br />
55<br />
55<br />
55<br />
System Mechanic 6 Professional<br />
EZ Photo Calendar Creator 4.0<br />
IronTrainer 2<br />
MediaMonkey 2.4<br />
Page 96 portable video recorder<br />
TOP 25<br />
Page 115<br />
Page 134<br />
that puts your favorite<br />
programming in the<br />
palm of your hand.<br />
56 The best Media Center PCs, thin-and-light<br />
notebooks, MP3 players, 17-inch LCDs, and<br />
home-PC software.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 9<br />
32
Help & How-To<br />
COMPUTER CURES<br />
89 Alfred dispenses some smart registry advice and<br />
helps a reader partition a hard drive within<br />
Windows. Plus, find out how to boot up your PC in<br />
an emergency—using Linux. By Alfred Poor<br />
WEEKEND PROJECT<br />
92 Kick-Start Your Bootup<br />
Time and OS-clogging apps are the enemy of a<br />
fast-booting PC. We help you trim the fat and<br />
get a leaner, faster-starting system.<br />
96 Safety Net<br />
Keeping your kids safe online is a 24/7 job. Find<br />
out how to help your child elude cyber predators<br />
with our collection of tips and child-friendly<br />
software.<br />
BUYING ADVISOR<br />
98 <strong>2006</strong>: A Storage Space Odyssey<br />
Space is finite, but data is forever expanding. The<br />
Advisor rounds up five new roomy, economical<br />
Serial ATA hard drives for a speed and feature test.<br />
By John A. Burek<br />
CONSUMER ALERT<br />
115 Whom to Call When Things Go Wrong<br />
It’s almost impossible to find phone numbers for<br />
many of the largest online merchants. We provide<br />
customer-service numbers for some popular etailers,<br />
and tips on how to contact the rest.<br />
BUYING BASICS<br />
152 How to Buy the Right Digital Camera<br />
20<br />
96<br />
TechMarket<br />
COMPLETE PRODUCT MARKETPLACE GUIDE<br />
117 SOHO Desktops<br />
122 Desktop-Replacement Notebooks<br />
132 Home and Small-Office Laser Printers<br />
134 Performance Graphics Cards<br />
136 External DVD Burners<br />
138 Smartphones<br />
140 PC Service and Support Plans<br />
Web Buyer<br />
THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING<br />
143 Tech Products<br />
143 Apple Hardware and Software<br />
144 Input Devices<br />
145 Direct PC Vendors<br />
146 Software<br />
146 Blank Media<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong> (ISSN 0886-0556) is published monthly, for $24.97 per year in the U.S. and $54.97 per year outside the U.S., by CNET Networks, Inc., 28 E. 28th St., New York, NY 10016-7942. Periodicals Mail postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices.<br />
Canadian GST registration number is 140496720 RT. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40009221. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to PO Box 503, RPO West<br />
Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6. Entire contents Copyright©<strong>2006</strong> CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong> content is granted on a case-by-case basis. CNET welcomes requests. Please direct inquiries to<br />
computershopper@reprintbuyer.com. You may also make phone requests by contacting Reprint Management Services at 717-399-1900. “<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>” and “CNET Editors’ Choice” are trademarks of CNET Networks, Inc. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.<br />
138<br />
Also in This Issue<br />
TRENDS<br />
17 Dell tests the retail waters by selling PCs at Costco.<br />
Plus, Samsung looks to brighten up cell-phone<br />
screens, and TiVo adds support for the Apple iPod<br />
and Sony PlayStation Portable.<br />
GEAR<br />
20 • Asus MyPal A636 Pocket PC<br />
• Buffalo MiniStation<br />
• Linksys WUSBF54G Wireless-G<br />
USB Adapter With Wi-Fi Finder<br />
• Nokia 7380<br />
• Shure E4g Sound Isolating<br />
Earphones: Gaming Edition<br />
• Targus Urban Messenger<br />
20<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
12 Editor’s Note<br />
12 Letters<br />
147 Spotlight<br />
151 Ad Index<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 11
EDITOR’S NOTE JANICE CHEN<br />
TOP-PRODUCT LISTS are far from unique among technology<br />
and gadget magazines. Plenty of editorial staffs<br />
present a “best of the year” to help you sift through<br />
gazillions of new products released by tech manufacturers.<br />
Of course, my biased opinion is that <strong>Computer</strong><br />
<strong>Shopper</strong>’s annual Top 100 (in our November issue) is<br />
a standout in the game of cataloging superlatives. But this<br />
month, we bring you a list that’s truly peerless: our annual <strong>Shopper</strong>s’<br />
Choice Award winners (p. 59). Unlike the rest of the bestofs,<br />
this honor roll was decided by you, our readers. And that’s<br />
what makes it so valuable: No matter what the experts tell you,<br />
there’s nothing like hearing it from the buyer’s mouth.<br />
This year marks the 20th anniversary of our readers’ choice<br />
awards, and while much has changed since we started surveying<br />
our audience back in 1985, some things remain constant.<br />
You continue to be savvy shoppers, not only<br />
choosing products for their technical prowess and<br />
innovative design, but also keeping price and<br />
20TH<br />
overall value top of mind. This year’s winners ANNUAL<br />
include high-performance picks such as Western<br />
Digital’s Raptor Series of 10,000rpm hard drives,<br />
as well as value-oriented options like the HP Photo-<br />
LETTERS<br />
AN EASIER WAY TO DVD<br />
John Burek did a nice job answering the<br />
challenge of turning old VHS cassettes<br />
into DVDs (“Exit Videotapes, Enter<br />
DVDs,” December, p.128). I recently<br />
faced the same daunting task. But the<br />
solution I recommend doesn’t involve a<br />
computer at all. I used a VCR and a<br />
DVD recorder unit from GoVideo. With<br />
this device, you simply insert the tape<br />
and a blank DVD, set it to copy, and go<br />
do something else. I could even watch<br />
TiVo while it was recording. Copying<br />
about 100 VHS tapes took more than<br />
three months, so I’m glad I didn’t have<br />
to sit in front of my PC for all that time.<br />
Dan Connors<br />
GREAT GIFT SHORTLIST<br />
I found the “Thrifty Gifts” sidebar in your<br />
December issue to be worth the price of<br />
12 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
the magazine<br />
(“Present Tech,”<br />
p. 91). Your recommendations<br />
for simple, affordable gifts<br />
are universal, and any tech geek would<br />
love to have them. David Carson<br />
TRULY FREE FAXING<br />
In regards to Nancy Lang-Feldman’s<br />
January column (“eFax Eats Your Free<br />
Lunch,” p. 108), eFax also threatened<br />
to cut off my service when I went<br />
over the 20-page incoming-fax limit. I<br />
found another free fax service, K7.net<br />
(www.K7.net). There is no 20-page limit;<br />
you just need to use the service at<br />
least once a month to avoid losing your<br />
number. They also have a very affordable<br />
paid service that has unlimited<br />
incoming faxes and permits you to send<br />
outgoing faxes. Tom Lovely<br />
smart 375 snapshot printer, which beat out<br />
pricier, full-service inkjets for best photo printer.<br />
And Newegg.com, a runaway winner in the<br />
Best Place to Buy categories, stands out among<br />
e-tailers by offering extremely competitive<br />
pricing and a huge selection.<br />
While finding out what everyone else wants can certainly be<br />
edifying, those who aren’t satisfied with cookie-cutter configurations<br />
churned out by top-tier desktop vendors won’t want to<br />
miss “Hand-Crafted <strong>Computer</strong>s,” (p. 71), which covers fully customized<br />
desktop rigs. Custom PC builders like All American<br />
<strong>Computer</strong>s, Overdrive PC, and Puget Custom <strong>Computer</strong>s deliver<br />
practically anything you can dream up, whether it’s a custom<br />
paint job, liquid cooling, or even a cherry-red see-through case.<br />
Before you make your next high-tech purchase,<br />
chances are you’ll need to clear out the old to make<br />
room for the new. It may be tempting to take a sledgehammer<br />
to your old clunker and toss it in the trash,<br />
but you’ll do the environment a favor by recycling or<br />
donating old electronics. And you might even be able<br />
to get some cash in return. Check out “Give or Go<br />
Green” (p. 83) to find out how. janice.chen@cnet.com<br />
DWIN!<br />
A 60GB Apple iPod and a<br />
$25 iTunes Gift Card<br />
Go to computershopper.com/survey.<br />
See sweepstakes rules on p. 150.<br />
CORRECTIONS<br />
We incorrectly stated the editors’ rating for<br />
the Dell Inspiron 6000 as 6.3 in “More Go,<br />
Less Dough,” (December, p. 94). The correct<br />
rating is 6.1, as stated in the Feature<br />
Comparison table on p. 100 of that story.<br />
We reviewed two different configurations<br />
of the same notebook, the HP Compaq Presario<br />
V2000Z, in our December issue. The<br />
configuration reviewed in “More Go, Less<br />
Dough” (p. 94) provided a better value-toperformance<br />
ratio than the configuration in<br />
our Notebook Reviews section (p. 38) did,<br />
resulting in a higher rating.<br />
We want to hear from you.<br />
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interest you. If you do not wish to receive their mailings, please write us at: <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565.
TRENDS<br />
18<br />
UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS<br />
Dell Tests the Retail Waters<br />
By Offering Systems at Costco<br />
COULD DELL’S burgeoning<br />
relationship with big-box<br />
retailer Costco lead to more<br />
retail channels for the<br />
computer giant?<br />
Recently sighted at some<br />
Costco warehouse outlets<br />
were $899.99 Dell<br />
2200 15-inch laptops<br />
with 1.7GHz<br />
540-series Pentium<br />
4 processors,<br />
DVD±RW drives,<br />
and 80GB hard<br />
drives, prompting<br />
some analysts to<br />
ask if Dell is<br />
breaking out of its<br />
online-only business<br />
model.<br />
Mike Maher, a Dell<br />
spokesperson, says the company<br />
isn’t planning similar<br />
retail partnerships outside of<br />
Costco. Analysts suggest,<br />
however, that additional retail<br />
partners could help spice<br />
up Dell’s online sales, which<br />
in the past have been boost-<br />
How Much Do You<br />
Spend on a New PC?<br />
More than $2,000<br />
12.7% $1,500 to<br />
Less than<br />
$2,000<br />
$500<br />
19.8%<br />
$1,000 to<br />
$1,500<br />
28.6%<br />
Source: <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong> reader survey<br />
6.9%<br />
$500 to<br />
$1,000<br />
32%<br />
ed by appearances at shopping-mall<br />
kiosks.<br />
Roger Kay, an industry<br />
analyst at Endpoint Technologies<br />
Associates, says that Dell<br />
may be testing the retail waters<br />
the way it did in the late<br />
’90s with Price Club, which<br />
was later acquired by Costco.<br />
“Right now, Dell is struggling<br />
with consumers, and<br />
when a company has that<br />
problem, it tends to experiment<br />
with its business models,”<br />
Kay says. “They make a<br />
small commitment to a new<br />
business method and then see<br />
how it goes, and if things seem<br />
good, then the company can<br />
pump up the volume.”<br />
Dell’s relationship with<br />
Costco is a logical fit, according<br />
to Kay, because Costco is a<br />
buyer’s club<br />
that draws in<br />
small to midsizebusinesses,<br />
a core demographic<br />
for<br />
Dell.<br />
Costco has<br />
also been featuring<br />
$1,299<br />
Dell 6000 laptops<br />
and<br />
$2,499 Dell<br />
XPS 600 desktop Media Center<br />
PCs with 20-inch wide-screen<br />
LCDs. Both models come with<br />
a three-year warranty, which<br />
Toni Duboise, a Current Analysis<br />
analyst, says is a good incentive<br />
for the business customers<br />
that frequent Costco.<br />
—Michael Singer, News.com<br />
TiVo Adds iPod, Sony PSP Support<br />
18 Samsung Hopes to Brighten Up<br />
Cell-Phone Screens<br />
18 iPod Competitors Look to Build a<br />
Common Port<br />
20 Gear<br />
• TRENDSPOTTING<br />
A few years from<br />
now, you might be<br />
able to carry a home<br />
theater system in<br />
your pocket.<br />
Finland’s Upstream<br />
Engineering is working<br />
on a light-emitting<br />
diode (LED) projection<br />
system that<br />
could potentially,<br />
because of its small<br />
size and relatively<br />
low cost, allow<br />
manufacturers<br />
to put projectors<br />
inside MP3 players<br />
or other portable<br />
electronics for just<br />
a few dollars.<br />
Upstream’s current<br />
optical-engine<br />
prototype is about<br />
the size of a matchbox.<br />
An accompanying<br />
projector would<br />
be about the size of<br />
a cell phone.<br />
Consumers Learning to Love New Tech<br />
Are tech phobias fading? Acceptance of<br />
new technology among consumers is on<br />
the rise, a new survey shows.<br />
About 28 percent of consumers say<br />
they are more inclined to accept new<br />
technology now versus a year ago, while<br />
only 4 percent are now more skeptical of<br />
it, according to a study conducted by<br />
Harris Interactive. The other 68 percent<br />
said their attitudes toward technology<br />
have remained unchanged.<br />
Nearly 39 percent of consumers polled<br />
say they are likely to buy home technology<br />
products over the next six months.<br />
—Michael Kanellos, News.com<br />
The top five product categories in the<br />
home segment include computers,<br />
printers, home theaters, TV content<br />
providers, and game consoles. The<br />
mobile products most likely to be purchased<br />
include cell phones, cameras,<br />
laptops, personal music devices, and<br />
video cameras.<br />
Ease of use and warranties were key factors<br />
in influencing purchase decisions. Only a<br />
few consumers noted that comparisons with<br />
what they have now and the brand of the<br />
new product would affect their decisions.<br />
—Dinesh C. Sharma, Special to News.com<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 17
TRENDS TECH NEWS<br />
TiVo Adds iPod, PlayStation Portable Support<br />
TIVO IS looking to attract<br />
more customers by collabo-<br />
rating with Apple <strong>Computer</strong><br />
and Sony, makers of the two<br />
most popular mobile devices<br />
on the market: the iPod and<br />
the PlayStation Portable.<br />
The company, whose<br />
box has become synonymous<br />
with digital TV<br />
recording, plans to roll out<br />
a version of its TiVoToGo<br />
mobile service for the<br />
popular devices. In<br />
the coming<br />
months, customers<br />
will<br />
be able to synchronizedownloads<br />
of their programs<br />
from their TiVo<br />
Series2 boxes and transfer<br />
them to the portable<br />
devices via their PCs. To use<br />
the new service, subscribers<br />
will have to purchase lowcost<br />
software that will en-<br />
SAMSUNG is applying its<br />
expertise in manufacturing<br />
oversize flat screens to<br />
a much smaller<br />
arena: handheld<br />
displays.<br />
With hopes of<br />
replicating the<br />
success it’s had<br />
with large LCD<br />
screens, the company<br />
is converting<br />
its televisions’<br />
high-definition image<br />
rendering for use in mobile<br />
phones in camera mode,<br />
according to Joe Virginia,<br />
vice president of TFT/LCD<br />
marketing and business development.<br />
Another picture-quality<br />
improvement underway:<br />
adding white pixels to the<br />
standard RGB alignment (the<br />
three colors used to translate<br />
spectral light in displays<br />
able the transfer of content.<br />
“The service will automatically<br />
prepare and transcode<br />
the television show to one of<br />
these portable devices using<br />
industry-standard format<br />
designs,” says Jim Denney,<br />
director of product market-<br />
and digital cameras), which<br />
Samsung claims will increase<br />
a screen’s brightness<br />
ing at TiVo.<br />
The rollout will increase<br />
the number of devices with<br />
which TiVoToGo can interact.<br />
Introduced in January<br />
2005, TiVoToGo lets you<br />
transfer TV shows from your<br />
DVR to a laptop or PC over<br />
your home network. Last<br />
April, TiVo added support for<br />
devices compatible with the<br />
Microsoft Portable Media<br />
Center format.<br />
To discourage<br />
abuse or<br />
unlawful use<br />
of this feature,<br />
the<br />
company will<br />
apply “watermark”<br />
technologies to programs<br />
transferred with<br />
TiVoToGo, enabling it to<br />
track the account from<br />
which a transferred program<br />
originated.<br />
—Michael Singer, News.com<br />
Samsung Sees the Light on Mobile Screens<br />
18 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Future Samsung cell phones<br />
could have much-improved resolution<br />
over new QVGA-quality<br />
phones like the SCH-B200.<br />
by as much as 70 percent,<br />
thus reducing the amount of<br />
power it requires.<br />
Other upgrades<br />
Samsung expects<br />
to roll out over the<br />
year include broadening<br />
its handhelds’<br />
color palette<br />
from 262,000 to<br />
16.7 million colors<br />
and improving<br />
screen resolution<br />
to a WVGA-quality<br />
852x480, Virginia says.<br />
The improvements will<br />
have a slimming effect on<br />
the devices, reducing their<br />
depth from 2.1mm to<br />
1.6mm. Samsung is also investing<br />
in slimmer, hybrid<br />
touch-screen panels, which<br />
it expects to include in its<br />
lineup of display technologies<br />
in the fourth quarter of<br />
this year. —M.S., News.com<br />
Competitors<br />
To iPod Seek<br />
A Common<br />
Connection<br />
Hoping to loosen Apple<br />
<strong>Computer</strong>’s grip on the<br />
market for digital music<br />
players, Microsoft is rallying<br />
consumer-electronics<br />
companies to foster a<br />
connection they would all<br />
share—literally.<br />
The software maker is<br />
part of a working group recently<br />
launched by the Consumer<br />
Electronics Association<br />
(CEA) to develop a<br />
standard port for connecting<br />
gadgets such as music<br />
players to audio systems in<br />
homes and cars.<br />
Apple’s popular iPod already<br />
has a standard dock<br />
connector that connects its<br />
recent models to speakers,<br />
car kits, and other devices.<br />
Other music-player makers,<br />
such as Creative Labs, Dell,<br />
and Iriver, however, employ<br />
their own nonstandard<br />
ports, making it difficult<br />
for accessory manufacturers<br />
to create add-ons that<br />
will work with multiple formats.<br />
Most accessories are<br />
geared toward the iPod, the<br />
market leader, and Apple<br />
collects a cut from each<br />
“made for iPod” add-on<br />
that works with the music<br />
player.<br />
So far, over 40 companies<br />
have signed up to be<br />
part of the working group,<br />
according to the CEA. They<br />
include representatives<br />
from Belkin, Best Buy,<br />
Bose, Creative Technology,<br />
Nokia, Philips, and Sirius.<br />
(Apple is not a member of<br />
the group.)<br />
Dave Wilson, the CEA’s<br />
director of technology and<br />
standards, says the group<br />
hopes to have a standard<br />
port completed by midyear.<br />
—M.S, News.com
GEAR NEW PRODUCTS<br />
BY BRIAN BENNETT<br />
Dialing in style<br />
Crafted with sleek lines sure to please tech<br />
fashionistas, the model-thin Nokia 7380 elim-<br />
inates the traditional phone keypad in favor of<br />
a circular dialer. Beyond the attractively<br />
etched chassis, the $649 handset also features<br />
a 2-megapixel camera (with 4x digital zoom),<br />
Bluetooth connectivity, and the ability to play<br />
MP3 files. Nokia, www.nokiausa.com<br />
20 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Tank drive<br />
Toss the Buffalo MiniStation<br />
into your bag or pocket, and<br />
you’ll always be ready to grab or<br />
share important files. Not only<br />
does this portable hard drive<br />
connect to PCs via USB 2.0, it<br />
also features a nifty shock-<br />
absorbing case and floating in-<br />
ternal supports for riding out<br />
minor bumps and falls with<br />
minimum damage. The 40GB<br />
model costs $149, and the 80GB,<br />
$199. Buffalo Technology,<br />
www.buffalotech.com<br />
PlayStation isolation<br />
Designed to shut out disruptive<br />
external sounds, the $299 Shure<br />
E4g Sound Isolating Earphones:<br />
Gaming Edition really get you in<br />
the game. Intended for use with<br />
handheld audio/game devices<br />
such as the Sony PlayStation<br />
Portable, the stereo headset<br />
comes in console-coordinating<br />
black. Shure also claims the E4g’s<br />
sound-isolating technology is<br />
just as effective as the active<br />
noise-canceling techniques of<br />
competing headphones.<br />
Shure, www.shure.com
Tech pack<br />
The $59.99 Targus Urban Messenger bag will get you<br />
noticed for your sense of style, not for a bulging note-<br />
book. Tailored to fit laptops with screens measuring<br />
up to 15.4 inches, the satchel features distinctive<br />
black-and-orange accents and plenty of pockets to<br />
carry your cell phone, identification, MP3 player, and<br />
documents. You even get a six-slot CD/DVD sleeve.<br />
Targus Group International, www.targus.com<br />
PDA pilot<br />
The $599 Asus MyPal A636 Pocket PC runs Mi-<br />
crosoft’s latest Windows Mobile operating system,<br />
version 5, and has a speedy 416MHz CPU. The PDA<br />
also features both Bluetooth and 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless<br />
networking. And in case you get lost, the integrated<br />
GPS receiver will help you get back on track.<br />
Asustek <strong>Computer</strong>, usa.asus.com<br />
Detect and connect<br />
Sniff out wireless networks wherever you roam<br />
with the Linksys WUSBF54G Wireless-G USB<br />
Adapter With Wi-Fi Finder. Powered by an internal<br />
rechargeable battery, the $79 device enables you to<br />
search for, identify, and filter available access points<br />
by security, name, and signal strength. Better still,<br />
the gadget adds 802.11b/g connectivity to any PC.<br />
Linksys, www.linksys.com<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 21
REVIEWS<br />
THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS<br />
Velocity Micro Gamer’s Edge DualX T1300<br />
Boutique brings handcrafted PC to retail buyers<br />
THE GAMER’S EDGE DualX T1300 is Velocity Micro’s entry<br />
into the electronics retail channel. Available in Best Buy’s retail<br />
outlets and on its Web site (www.bestbuy.com), the $1,990<br />
T1300 is a serious gaming machine. It’s one of three configurations<br />
offered by the retail<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 7.2<br />
giant (but the only one you’ll<br />
see in stores).<br />
0 BETTER >> 10 The T1300 is housed in Ve-<br />
PROS Highly upgradable; locity Micro’s Signature LXstrong<br />
overall performer; over- W case. The interior is wellclocked<br />
graphics card<br />
organized and bathed in blue<br />
CONS Monitor, speakers cost light. A door conceals a dou-<br />
extra; no flash-card reader<br />
ble-layer DVD burner and a<br />
SPECS 2.4GHz Athlon 64<br />
DVD-ROM drive, as well as a<br />
3800+; 1GB DDR; 250GB hard floppy drive, but the PC lacks<br />
drive; double-layer DVD±RW;<br />
DVD-ROM; no monitor; nVidia<br />
GeForce 7800 GT graphics<br />
(256MB); Windows XP Home<br />
a memory-card reader.<br />
Two USB 2.0<br />
ports and a<br />
Edition<br />
FireWire<br />
Velocity Micro, 800-303-7866 port share<br />
www.velocitymicro.com<br />
space on the lower-front<br />
Direct Price $1,990<br />
bezel with headphone and<br />
microphone jacks. Rear-<br />
What’s the Deal?<br />
Velocity Micro jumps into the retail game with the<br />
Gamer’s Edge DualX T1300, a smart configuration and<br />
a good value for a gaming PC.<br />
What it’s for: Intended for gaming, the T1300 is<br />
stocked well enough to make quick work of most consumer<br />
activities, including digital media work.<br />
Who it’s for: Anyone seeking an off-the-shelf gaming<br />
rig, or those just looking for more performance and<br />
customization in their next PC.<br />
Business use: Productivity applications such as<br />
Microsoft Office, as well as graphics work.<br />
What’s included: One year of parts-and-labor coverage,<br />
onsite service, and toll-free phone support; standard<br />
Microsoft Internet keyboard and optical scroll mouse;<br />
assorted bundled software, including Cyberlink Power-<br />
DVD 5, the Nero CD/DVD burning suite, Ubisoft’s Far<br />
Cry, and a system-restore CD.<br />
Extra essentials: 5.1- or 7.1-channel speakers; monitor<br />
for work and 3D gaming; games.<br />
The bottom line: Velocity Micro successfully brings<br />
high-end, overclocked components and handcrafted<br />
workmanship to retail buyers.<br />
24 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
accessible connections include four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire<br />
port, an Ethernet connection, and jacks for audio from the<br />
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card.<br />
The T1300’s 2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+ processor runs on an<br />
Asus A8N SLI motherboard with 1GB of memory. A 250GB hard<br />
drive provides ample storage, and the removable drive-bay<br />
cage has room for four additional hard drives. The PC comes<br />
with a single, overclocked 256MB nVidia GeForce 7800 GT<br />
graphics card; a second x16 PCI Express (PCIe) slot maintains<br />
space for an identical card should you opt for a dual-card<br />
performance boost.<br />
On the BAPCo<br />
SYSmark 2004 test,<br />
the component<br />
combination managed<br />
a respectable<br />
score of 198. The<br />
CPU is fast enough<br />
for most users, and<br />
the graphics card is<br />
close to top-of-theline,<br />
flipping<br />
frames at a rate of<br />
80 per second on<br />
our 1,600x1,200<br />
Half-Life 2 test.<br />
—John R. Delaney<br />
Velocity Micro uses the same custom<br />
detailing in its retail entry for Best Buy<br />
as it does on its own site.
Logitech Z-5450 Digital<br />
Wireless rear speakers provide clutter-free surround sound<br />
THE TROUBLE WITH surround-sound<br />
setups is that their wiring, well, surrounds<br />
you. Logitech’s Z-5450 Digital untangles the<br />
mess by adding two wireless rear speakers<br />
to an otherwise typical 5.1 setup. How do<br />
they sound? Like music to our ears.<br />
The $499.99 Z-5450 consists of six<br />
speakers (two front satellites, two rearchannel<br />
satellites, a center-channel<br />
speaker, and a subwoofer) for a total of<br />
315 watts RMS. You can operate the Z-5450<br />
either via a wired control module, which<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS 2.4GHz wireless surround speakers;<br />
surround-sound decoder; wireless remote<br />
control; multiple digital inputs<br />
CONS Loose-sounding subwoofer; wireless<br />
transmitter can interfere with cordless phones<br />
Logitech, 800-231-7717<br />
www.logitech.com<br />
7.5<br />
Direct Price $499.99<br />
functions as a preamp and a wireless<br />
transmitter,or with the included remote<br />
control. The control module incorporates<br />
Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, and<br />
DTS 96/24 processing, and it allows you to<br />
directly connect the system to devices<br />
such as sound cards, DVD players, and<br />
game consoles.<br />
Shaped like a wireless router, the control<br />
module has a luminescent text display<br />
with a large front-panel volume knob. Its<br />
assortment of A/V-receiver-style connections<br />
includes two optical digital-audio in-<br />
puts, one coaxial digital-audio input, and<br />
three 1/8-inch analog mini-jack inputs.<br />
We plugged our system into a Sound<br />
Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card and placed<br />
the two wireless rear speakers behind us.<br />
Each rear speaker has a hardwired power<br />
cord (meaning the rear speakers aren’t 100<br />
percent wireless), but we’re of the opinion<br />
that connecting directly to a power outlet<br />
is better than using batteries.<br />
The control module employs 2.4GHz<br />
digital wireless transmission to send the<br />
signal to the surround speakers. When our<br />
2.4GHz cordless phone was in the same<br />
room as the speakers, interference from<br />
the Z-5450 rendered the phone unusable.<br />
On the other hand, the speakers didn’t<br />
cause any interference with our Wi-Fi<br />
network and were able to deliver clear,<br />
hiccup-free rear-channel sound.<br />
During intense deathmatch battles in<br />
Half-Life 2, the subwoofer drove grenade<br />
explosions home with satisfying boom.<br />
When we played Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson,”<br />
however, the bass line was a little more<br />
lumbering and loose than we would have<br />
liked. A viewing of Star Trek: Insurrection<br />
presented perfectly clear center-speaker<br />
dialogue. Treble and midrange also sounded<br />
smooth and balanced.<br />
—Nathaniel Wilkins<br />
The Z-5450’s router-like<br />
control module doubles as a<br />
wireless transmitter to the rear<br />
speakers, which operate on a<br />
2.4GHz frequency.<br />
in this section<br />
26 DESKTOPS<br />
HP Pavilion s7220n Slimline<br />
Vigor Hornet<br />
Bully Surgeon<br />
Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G<br />
28 NOTEBOOKS<br />
HP Pavilion DV8000z<br />
Dell XPS M140<br />
Asus W2V<br />
Averatec 3715-EH1<br />
Sony VAIO FJ170/B<br />
34 COMPONENTS<br />
ATI Radeon X1600 XT<br />
Logitech Cordless Desktop<br />
MX5000 Laser<br />
Pioneer DVR-R100<br />
38 DISPLAYS<br />
BenQ FP91E<br />
LaCie 319<br />
Sony SDM-S75A<br />
40 PRINTERS<br />
Canon Pixma iP4200<br />
Epson PictureMate Express<br />
Edition<br />
Lexmark T640<br />
42 HOME NETWORKING<br />
APC 3-in-1 Wireless Mobile Router<br />
Belkin Wireless G Plus<br />
MIMO Router<br />
Netgear SC101 Storage Central<br />
44 MOBILE PRODUCTS<br />
Dell Axim X51v<br />
Archos AV500<br />
48 DIGITAL CAMERAS<br />
Kodak EasyShare One<br />
Konica Minolta DiMage Z6<br />
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1<br />
49 DIGITAL AUDIO<br />
Iriver U10<br />
JVC Alneo XA-HD500<br />
Sennheiser PXC300<br />
50 DIGITAL LIVING<br />
Bose 3-2-1 Series II Home<br />
Entertainment System<br />
HP PL4200N<br />
Panasonic PT-52LCX65<br />
52 SOFTWARE<br />
Acronis True Image 9.0<br />
Norton Ghost 10.0<br />
System Mechanic 6 Professional<br />
BeInSync 1.6<br />
CrazyTalk Media Studio 4.0<br />
EZ Photo Calendar Creator 4.0<br />
IronTrainer 2<br />
MediaMonkey 2.4<br />
For details on how we test the hardware<br />
we review, visit computershopper.com/<br />
HowWeTest.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 25
REVIEWS DESKTOPS<br />
HP Pavilion s7220n Slimline<br />
Compact box is quiet, affordable<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD’S tiniest small-form-factor PC yet, the<br />
$569.99 Pavilion s7220n Slimline is a stylish, quiet, and able<br />
budget performer. Its lack of expandability makes it better suited<br />
for use as a second PC, however.<br />
The s7220n’s case, like that of Apple’s Mac Mini, isn’t meant<br />
to be opened (or its insides tinkered with), so HP has<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
6.8<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Highly affordable;<br />
compact design; quiet operation;<br />
roomy hard drive<br />
CONS Cannot be upgraded,<br />
customized<br />
SPECS 1.5GHz Celeron M 370;<br />
512MB DDR2; 200GB hard drive;<br />
double-layer DVD±RW; no monitor;<br />
Intel integrated graphics;<br />
Windows XP Home Edition;<br />
Microsoft Works 8<br />
Hewlett-Packard, 877-801-7183<br />
www.hp.com<br />
Direct Price $569.99 (before<br />
a $50 mail-in rebate)<br />
smartly outfitted the<br />
PC with a relatively robust<br />
feature set. You get 512MB of<br />
RAM, a flash-card reader,a<br />
spacious 200GB hard drive,<br />
and a double-layer Light-<br />
Scribe DVD burner. Connectivity<br />
options include five<br />
USB 2.0 ports (four in the<br />
back, one in front), one<br />
FireWire port, and jacks for<br />
six-channel audio.<br />
The PC achieves its tiny<br />
Vigor Hornet<br />
A well-priced, entry-level 3D gamer<br />
VIGOR GAMING is a relative newcomer to the boutique-PC<br />
market, and its Hornet desktop ($1,577 as configured, without<br />
monitor or speakers) is a serious 3D-gaming rig that won’t<br />
overtax your budget.<br />
A huge, gloss-black custom chassis with silver-aluminum<br />
trim, the Hornet’s case is quite attractive. A windowed leftside<br />
panel provides a view of the<br />
unique Super Monsoon Active Cooling<br />
System (MACS) CPU assembly.<br />
The MACS is regulated by thermoelectric<br />
chips that use the CPU fan<br />
to draw heat away from the CPU.<br />
Vigor claims this process provides a<br />
10 degree Celsius reduction in heat<br />
at full loads, allowing for safe overclocking<br />
without the need for water-cooling<br />
components. The CPU<br />
fan is lit by bright green or blue<br />
LEDs that complement the three<br />
blue-lit system fans, resulting in a<br />
dazzling light show.<br />
The Hornet’s<br />
case holds<br />
lots of expansion<br />
26 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
size thanks in<br />
part to the use of<br />
a notebook<br />
processor, the<br />
1.5GHz Celeron<br />
M 370, which<br />
runs more efficiently<br />
than a<br />
desktop chip. This<br />
allows the s7200n<br />
to run cool and<br />
quiet in a compact<br />
case. Besides the<br />
CPU, the s7220n uses no other mobile technology—the optical<br />
drive and motherboard, for example, are full-size and as<br />
durable as those on a traditional desktop. HP even managed to<br />
fit the power supply inside the box, so the unit requires no<br />
external power brick.<br />
In our tests, the PC’s processor kept up with budget competitors.<br />
The s7220n managed a 125 score on BAPCo SYSmark 2004,<br />
proving it can handle the basics, but not much else. And while<br />
its integrated graphics chip isn’t capable of heavy chores—it<br />
couldn’t complete our Half-Life 2 tests—it will suffice for DVD<br />
viewing or the occasional photo edit. —Asa Somers<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
7.4<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Solid 3D performance;<br />
room for optical drives,<br />
lots of expansion room; threeyear<br />
warranty<br />
hard drives, and PCI cards.<br />
Ports—both front and<br />
CONS Monitor, speakers cost<br />
extra; huge tower; cable routing<br />
back—abound for peripher- could be neater<br />
als. Vigor tie-wrapped<br />
SPECS 2.4GHz Athlon 64<br />
every cable inside, but the 4000+; 1GB DDR; two 160GB<br />
routing scheme isn’t as hard drives; double-layer<br />
tidy as it could be.<br />
The Hornet’s<br />
overclocked<br />
DVD±RW; no monitor; nVidia<br />
GeForce 7800 GT graphics<br />
(256MB); Windows XP Home<br />
Edition<br />
2.4GHz Athlon 64<br />
4000+ processor<br />
Vigor Gaming, 866-907-3536<br />
www.vigorgaming.com<br />
and 1GB of memory<br />
performed<br />
Direct Price $1,577<br />
more than admirably, with the PC scoring an impressive<br />
221 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004. Graphics<br />
performance, driven by a 256MB nVidia GeForce<br />
7800 GT card, was also respectable, at 115 frames<br />
per second on our 1,024x768 Half-Life 2 test.<br />
Vigor offers a three-year parts-and-labor warranty<br />
standard, along with toll-free phone support for<br />
the duration of the PC’s life. The company’s Web<br />
site, on the other hand, offers little support beyond a<br />
FAQ page. —John R. Delaney
REVIEWS DESKTOPS<br />
Bully Surgeon<br />
Liquid-cooled midrange PC has room to grow<br />
AIMED AT USERS who want a fully customizable, hand-built<br />
PC without shelling out for a high-cost machine, the Bully Sur-<br />
geon offers midrange performance for a similarly midrange<br />
$1,499 (without speakers or a monitor).<br />
The Surgeon’s anodized-aluminum case features a side-pan-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Water-cooling system;<br />
generous software bundle; threeyear<br />
standard warranty<br />
CONS Mediocre 3D performance;<br />
monitor, speakers not<br />
included; no option for mediacard<br />
reader<br />
SPECS 1.8GHz Athlon 64<br />
3000+; 1GB DDR; 160GB hard<br />
drive; double-layer DVD±RW; no<br />
monitor; nVidia GeForce 6600 GT<br />
graphics (128MB); Windows XP<br />
Home Edition; Microsoft Works 8<br />
Bully <strong>Computer</strong>s, 847-891-0085<br />
www.bullypc.com<br />
Direct Price $1,499<br />
6.5<br />
el window that provides a<br />
view of the blue-lit interior,<br />
well-organized sheathed<br />
cabling, and a small water-<br />
cooling unit for the CPU.<br />
Behind a flimsy front-panel<br />
door are a double-layer<br />
DVD±RW burner and a floppy<br />
drive. An optional second op-<br />
tical drive is available, but a<br />
flash-card reader is not. A<br />
small removable drawer,<br />
handy for storing small tools,<br />
is built into the case. Audio<br />
jacks and two USB 2.0 ports<br />
are on the front face, with<br />
jacks for the integrated 7.1<br />
audio and four more USB 2.0<br />
ports on the rear. Internal ex-<br />
Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G<br />
A quiet, attractive, well-rounded Media Center<br />
THE $1,299 Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G is a mainstream Media Center<br />
PC that earns points for its attractive case, quiet operation,<br />
and generous A/V-connectivity options, though having a manual<br />
or two in the box would greatly aid setup.<br />
This living-room-friendly PC operates in near-silence, thanks<br />
to its liquid-cooling system, which kept noise to a barely audible<br />
hum. The illuminated VAIO logo on the front of the striking<br />
tower is one of the only<br />
indications that it’s on.<br />
Two optical drives reside<br />
up front: a doublelayer<br />
DVD±RW, and a<br />
DVD-ROM. A versatile<br />
array of ports is available,<br />
too, including the<br />
aforementioned<br />
A/V jacks, seven USB 2.0<br />
ports (three in front,<br />
four in the back), two<br />
FireWire ports, and a<br />
pansion is abundant.<br />
Our test unit was<br />
stocked with a 1.8GHz<br />
Athlon 64 3000+<br />
processor, 1GB of<br />
RAM, a 160GB hard<br />
drive, and a 128MB<br />
GeForce 6600 GT<br />
graphics card. You can<br />
order the Surgeon<br />
with different processors<br />
(AMD or Intel), hard drives, and graphics<br />
cards (including nVidia Scalable Link Interface setups).<br />
Considering most of its components barely qualify as<br />
midrange, the Surgeon performed as it should. Its 148 score on<br />
BAPCo SYSmark 2004 indicates the PC is adequate for mainstream<br />
tasks. Although its 3D performance isn’t terrible, the<br />
Surgeon won’t blow you away; it delivered 26 frames per second<br />
on our 1,600x1,200 Half-Life 2 test.<br />
Bully bundles an assortment of software, including Microsoft<br />
Works 8 and Panda’s Antivirus Titanium 2005, and provides<br />
a generous warranty: three years on parts and labor.<br />
Note that phone support is not toll-free, however.<br />
—John R. Delaney<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
6.7<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
media-card reader.<br />
The dual-core 3GHz Pen-<br />
PROS Quiet operation, thanks<br />
to liquid cooling; attractive case;<br />
wide array of ports; generous<br />
tium D 830 CPU and 1GB of software bundle<br />
DDR2 memory offer respectable<br />
performance, de-<br />
CONS Application, systemrecovery<br />
discs not included;<br />
livering a fairly high 206 on no printed setup instructions,<br />
our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 manuals<br />
benchmark test. The 128MB SPECS 3GHz Pentium D 830;<br />
ATI Radeon X300 isn’t 1GB DDR2; 250GB hard drive;<br />
much of a graphics card,<br />
however, and the PC man-<br />
double-layer DVD±RW; DVD-<br />
ROM; no monitor; ATI Radeon<br />
X300 graphics (128MB); Winaged<br />
a barely playable 23.2 dows XP Media Center Edition<br />
frames per second on our 2005; Microsoft Works 8<br />
1,024x768 Half-Life 2 test. Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669<br />
Like most VAIOs, the www.sonystyle.com<br />
VGC-RC110G comes with a<br />
vast bundle of media apps<br />
Direct Price $1,299<br />
and other software. The assortment includes Adobe’s Photoshop<br />
Elements 3 and Premiere Standard Edition, Microsoft<br />
Works 8, and Roxio’s DigitalMedia SE. Sony doesn’t provide the<br />
software on CD, however,nor any kind of system-restore disc.<br />
Sony is good at providing service, but printed documentation<br />
for this PC is conspicuously absent. You do get around-the-clock<br />
phone support for one year, though. —Troy Dreier<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 27
REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS<br />
HP Pavilion DV8000z<br />
A multimedia-friendly machine, but no 3D pro<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD’S $1,699 Pavilion DV8000z is a feature-<br />
rich yet competitively priced desktop replacement with<br />
enough performance for basic home use.<br />
Instead of the Intel Pentium M processors most laptops<br />
have, the notebook features a 2.2GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-40<br />
processor. You also get 1GB of DDR RAM, a roomy (100GB)<br />
but sluggish (4,200rpm) hard drive, and a double-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Affordable; excellent<br />
keyboard; solid multimedia<br />
features, performance; doublelayer<br />
DVD burner<br />
CONS Dim display; weak 3D<br />
graphics<br />
SPECS 2.2GHz Turion 64 ML-<br />
40; 1GB DDR; 100GB hard drive;<br />
DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT; Windows<br />
XP Professional<br />
Hewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747<br />
www.hp.com<br />
Direct Price $1,699<br />
7.0<br />
layer DVD<br />
burner. The<br />
17-inch<br />
wide-screen<br />
display, which has a<br />
sharp native resolution of<br />
1,680x1,050 (WSXGA+), isn’t<br />
as bright as other screens<br />
we’ve seen.<br />
The DV8000z is svelte for a<br />
desktop-replacement laptop<br />
and weighs a reasonable 8.3<br />
pounds (9.1 pounds with AC<br />
adapter). A touch pad (with<br />
vertical- and horizontalscrolling<br />
capabilities) and a<br />
separate number pad supple-<br />
Dell XPS M140<br />
Luxe laptop is an impressive performer<br />
THE NEWEST member of Dell’s XPS luxury laptop line, the<br />
XPS M140 delivers speedy mobile performance and lengthy<br />
battery life.<br />
Our $2,049 test configuration came with top-shelf parts for<br />
its high price, including a 2.13GHz Pentium M 770 processor,<br />
1GB of fast 533MHz memory, and a 5,400rpm 80GB<br />
hard drive. An integrated Intel<br />
915GM graphics chip<br />
borrows up to 128MB<br />
of main memory, so<br />
you can forget about<br />
playing graphically<br />
demanding games. To<br />
burn DVDs and CDs, the<br />
notebook features a double-layer<br />
DVD±RW drive.<br />
In addition, the crisp<br />
14.1-inch wide-screen LCD<br />
features a 1,280x800 native<br />
resolution.<br />
Running Windows XP Media<br />
Center Edition 2005, the laptop also<br />
comes with Dell’s Media Direct software,<br />
which lets you play CDs and DVDs<br />
28 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
ment an already<br />
excellent<br />
keyboard. Plus,<br />
you can use the<br />
multimedia controls<br />
to operate<br />
the laptop’s Quick<br />
Play software,<br />
which plays CDs<br />
and DVDs without<br />
booting up Windows.<br />
Notable connections include<br />
one four-pin FireWire<br />
port, four USB 2.0 ports, a sixformat<br />
media-card reader, one<br />
ExpressCard slot, and an integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio.<br />
The DV8000z mustered a decent, though not stellar, BAPCo<br />
SYSmark 2004 score of 144. The weak ATI Radeon Xpress 200<br />
graphics won’t power 3D games well, however. One upside:<br />
While the laptop’s size may impede portability, the battery life<br />
of 3 hours and 32 minutes is comforting.<br />
HP provides a one-year warranty for the DV8000z, including<br />
toll-free 24/7 phone support and the cost of hardware repairs.<br />
—Justin Jaffe<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
7.7<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Fast performance;<br />
without booting up.<br />
lengthy battery life; can play<br />
CDs/DVDs without booting up;<br />
The XPS M140 measures double-layer DVD burner<br />
1.5x13x9.6 inches and<br />
CONS Weak 3D graphics; pricey<br />
weighs 5.9 pounds (the<br />
three-prong AC adapter adds<br />
SPECS 2.13GHz Pentium M 770;<br />
1GB DDR2; 80GB hard drive;<br />
just under a pound more), double-layer DVD±RW drive;<br />
average for a thin-and-light 14.1-inch TFT; Windows XP Media<br />
notebook. We enjoyed typing<br />
Center Edition 2005<br />
on its spacious keyboard, Dell, 800-999-3355<br />
and the machine’s touch pad www.dell.com<br />
and two mouse buttons are<br />
also sizable.<br />
Direct Price $2,049<br />
On our BAPCo MobileMark 2005 benchmark test, the XPS M140<br />
proved itself nimble, scoring a high 238. Also impressive: its long<br />
battery life of almost 6 hours using a nine-cell battery.<br />
For a thin-and-light laptop, the XPS M140 offers plenty of<br />
connections, including an ExpressCard slot, a fiveformat<br />
flash-memory reader, and four USB<br />
2.0 ports. An integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi<br />
radio handles wireless networking.<br />
The XPS M140 ships with a one-year<br />
warranty; repairs are handled by mail-in service.<br />
You also get toll-free, 24-hour tech support for a year.<br />
—Stephanie Bruzzese<br />
SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 32
REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS<br />
Asus W2V<br />
One stylish Media Center machine<br />
THE $2,599 Asus W2V is elegantly designed and features<br />
impressive multimedia capabilities.<br />
With a brushed-aluminum chassis measuring<br />
1.4x17.6x12.7 inches, the W2V is wide but possesses a<br />
sleek, high-end look. Weighing a reasonable 7.5<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 6.7<br />
pounds,<br />
the lap-<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Elegant design; gorgeous<br />
screen; impressive feature<br />
set<br />
top feels<br />
extremely<br />
sturdy. An expansive<br />
keyboard and average-size<br />
touch pad provide plenty of<br />
CONS Slow 3D-graphics<br />
performance; below-average<br />
support<br />
room for typing and navigating<br />
documents with comfort.<br />
SPECS 2.13GHz Pentium M<br />
770; 1GB DDR2; 100GB hard<br />
drive; double-layer DVD±RW<br />
Connectivity includes one<br />
FireWire port, four USB 2.0<br />
ports, and built-in Wi-Fi<br />
drive; 17-inch TFT; Windows XP 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth<br />
Media Center Edition 2005 wireless networking.<br />
Asustek <strong>Computer</strong><br />
Our test system paired a<br />
888-678-3688<br />
2.13GHz Pentium M 770<br />
usa.asus.com<br />
processor with 1GB of fast<br />
List Price $2,599<br />
533MHz DDR2 RAM, and<br />
Averatec 3715-EH1<br />
Affordable portable is no powerhouse<br />
THE $949.99 Averatec 3715-EH1’s light weight and low<br />
price can’t completely make up for its slow perfor-<br />
mance and short battery life.<br />
Our test model carried a 1.8GHz AMD Sempron<br />
3000+ processor, 512MB of slow 333MHz memo-<br />
ry, a 12.1-inch 1,024x768 (XGA) display,<br />
and an integrated Via S3G graphics<br />
chipset that takes 32MB from main memory.<br />
Averatec also includes a DVD±RW burner and a big (if<br />
slow) 4,200rpm 80GB hard drive.<br />
Weighing 4.1 pounds (4.8 pounds with AC adapter) and<br />
measuring 1.3x10.8x8.8 inches, the notebook is demurely<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Inexpensive; compact<br />
design; DVD burner<br />
CONS Slow mobile performance;<br />
short battery life<br />
SPECS 1.8GHz Sempron<br />
3000+; 512MB DDR; 80GB hard<br />
drive; DVD±RW; 12.1-inch TFT;<br />
Windows XP Home Edition<br />
Averatec, 877-841-7423<br />
www.averatec.com<br />
5.3<br />
Direct Price $949.99<br />
32 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
compact. Its keyboard is wide<br />
enough for comfort, however.<br />
Along with built-in 802.11b/g<br />
Wi-Fi, connections include a<br />
FireWire port, three USB 2.0<br />
ports, and a four-format<br />
flash-memory slot.<br />
The 3715-EH1 scored a low<br />
146 on BAPCo MobileMark<br />
2005. Battery life also disappointed—just<br />
2 hours and 30<br />
minutes. Averatec supplies a<br />
standard one-year warranty<br />
with 24/7 toll-free tech support.<br />
—Stephanie Bruzzese<br />
came with a large<br />
100GB hard drive and<br />
a slot-loading doublelayer<br />
DVD burner. The<br />
system’s crisp 17-inch<br />
wide-screen display is<br />
great for video, delivering<br />
rich colors, smooth<br />
playback, and excellent offaxis<br />
viewing. Driving the screen<br />
was a 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon<br />
x700 3D-graphics chip, which is robust, if not the fastest solution<br />
available. Running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005,<br />
the laptop also came with a wireless mouse, a remote control,<br />
a USB radio-frequency antenna for catching TV broadcasts, and<br />
a dongle for connecting cable and satellite boxes.<br />
The W2V scored a strong 163 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004. The<br />
machine isn’t great for gaming, however, posting a slow 20.9<br />
frames per second on our Doom 3 test.<br />
Asus provides a standard one-year warranty for the W2V,<br />
but you’ll have to pay to ship the laptop back to a repair depot.<br />
Also, phone support—available during limited hours through<br />
the week—is not toll-free. —Asa Somers<br />
Sony VAIO FJ170/B<br />
Swift lightweight has a sharp screen<br />
SONY’S reasonably priced<br />
VAIO FJ170/B satisfies with its EDITORS’ RATING 6.4<br />
strong performance and goodenough<br />
battery life.<br />
Our $1,499 test model came<br />
configured with a 1.73GHz Pentium<br />
M 740 processor, a mammoth<br />
100GB hard drive, a dou-<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Lightweight case; fine<br />
performance; sharp wide-aspect<br />
display<br />
CONS Heavy AC adapter<br />
ble-layer DVD burner, and<br />
SPECS 1.73GHz Pentium M<br />
512MB of DDR2 RAM. The 14.1inch,<br />
1,280x800 wide-screen<br />
display made colors pop.<br />
740; 512MB DDR2; 100GB hard<br />
drive; double-layer DVD±RW;<br />
14.1-inch TFT; Windows XP<br />
Home Edition<br />
We like the laptop’s attractive,<br />
light case, which meas-<br />
Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669<br />
www.sonystyle.com<br />
ures 1.3x13.4x10 inches and<br />
weighs 5.3 pounds. (The heavy<br />
Direct Price $1,499<br />
AC adapter,however, adds another pound.) The wide keyboard is<br />
comfortable, as are the touch pad’s mouse buttons. Connections<br />
include a four-pin FireWire port, three USB 2.0 ports, built-in<br />
802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, and a Memory Stick slot.<br />
The FJ170/B scored a high 203 on<br />
our BAPCo MobileMark 2005 benchmark<br />
test, and an adequate battery life<br />
of 3 hours and 48 minutes.<br />
Sony covers the notebook with a standard<br />
one-year warranty that includes<br />
toll-free, 24/7 phone support. —S.B.
REVIEWS COMPONENTS<br />
ATI Radeon X1600 XT<br />
Next-gen card falls short on 3D performance<br />
WE FIND IT hard to recommend ATI’s 256MB Radeon X1600<br />
XT when nVidia’s GeForce 6800 and 6800 GT cards remain on<br />
the market. Chances are, you can find a better-performing<br />
nVidia card for less than ATI’s $249 asking price. If upgrading<br />
your home theater PC is your primary objective, however, and<br />
your card has to be only semicompetent at gaming, this ATI<br />
midrange board is your best bet.<br />
The X1600 XT incorporates the same key 3D features<br />
found in ATI’s new Radeon X1000 family, such as Shader<br />
Model 3 and support for<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 5.8<br />
High Dynamic Range (HDR)<br />
lighting. Also onboard is<br />
0 BETTER >> 10 ATI’s Avivo video technolo-<br />
PROS Supports Shader Model<br />
3, HDR lighting; Avivo video<br />
gy—the card’s saving grace.<br />
Avivo supports the H.264<br />
decoding<br />
standard, which is impor-<br />
CONS Performance lags on<br />
game tests; pricier than compettant<br />
if you plan to switch to<br />
the new Blu-ray or highing<br />
nVidia cards<br />
definition-DVD formats<br />
ATI Technologies, 888-974-6728<br />
www.ati.com<br />
anytime soon. At press<br />
time, no other card offered<br />
Direct Price $249<br />
this support. You also get a<br />
series of video-quality<br />
Logitech Cordless Desktop<br />
MX 5000 Laser<br />
A wireless media manager for your PC<br />
WE DON’T NORMALLY get weak in the<br />
knees over keyboard-and-mouse bundles,<br />
but Logitech’s MX 5000 Laser had us<br />
blushing at the mere mention of its name.<br />
The $149.99 kit consists of the MX1000<br />
mouse, which tracks more accurately than any mouse we’ve<br />
tested, and the newly designed MX 5000 keyboard. The keyboard<br />
features a built-in LCD that not only lists the time, date,<br />
and temperature, but also can be set to chime whenever you<br />
receive e-mail or an instant message (IM).<br />
Both the keyboard and the mouse support Bluetooth 2.0 EDR<br />
and require no configuration,<br />
though you’ll have to install<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 6.6<br />
Logitech’s bundled MediaLife<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
software. The keyboard has<br />
four programmable function<br />
PROS LCD, touch-sensitive<br />
media controls built into key-<br />
buttons and a strip of touchboard;<br />
mouse provides excellent<br />
sensitive media controls.<br />
traction; Bluetooth 2.0 support<br />
Our only quibbles: The noti-<br />
CONS Occasionally slows your<br />
fications of incoming e-mail<br />
system; slow to notify of new<br />
and IMs were tardy and mo- e-mails, IMs<br />
mentarily slowed our system.<br />
Logitech, 800-231-7717<br />
We experienced no other<br />
www.logitech.com<br />
performance lag or discon-<br />
Direct Price $149.99<br />
nects, however. —Louis Ramirez<br />
34 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
tweak<br />
options<br />
with ATI’s<br />
drivers, making<br />
the X1600<br />
XT a good<br />
choice for any<br />
media-centric PC.<br />
In our gaming<br />
benchmark tests,<br />
however, nVidia’s cards<br />
ran circles around the<br />
X1600 XT. Even on Half-<br />
Life 2, a Direct3D-based<br />
game in which ATI usually<br />
dominates, the X1600 XT’s 40<br />
frames per second (fps) lagged behind the GeForce 6800 by 23<br />
percent. You could dial down the anti-aliasing and anisotropic<br />
filtering and get 63fps on the X1600 XT, but a similarly<br />
tweaked GeForce 6800 still outstripped it by an embarrassing<br />
44 percent. ATI’s card did surpass the GeForce 6800 GT in our<br />
Futuremark 3DMark05 test, but by only a paltry 6 percent.<br />
—Rich Brown<br />
Pioneer DVR-R100<br />
FIRST<br />
TAKE<br />
The next-generation DVD-format wars are raging, but<br />
Pioneer briefly sidestepped the battle to announce the<br />
DVR-R100, a high-speed internal CD/DVD burner that may<br />
give your music and movies a new lease on life.<br />
Upside: Available in black or beige, the $89 drive can write to<br />
double-layer DVD±R media at up to 8x speed. It writes to single-layer<br />
DVD±R discs at 16x, DVD-RW at 6x, and DVD+RW at<br />
8x. Pioneer claims the drive is 75 percent quieter than its predecessors,<br />
making it ideal for any media-centric PC that will reside<br />
in your living room. The drive comes with a comprehensive<br />
Ulead software package that includes DVD MovieFactory<br />
4, Photo Explorer 8.5 SE, and VideoStudio 9 SE DVD.<br />
Downside: Although we like the drive’s support for both<br />
DVD+R and DVD-R double-layer media, the discs themselves<br />
are still pricey. Also, those who don’t like<br />
to tinker with the dusty innards of<br />
their PC are out of luck—Pioneer<br />
doesn’t offer an external<br />
version of the drive.<br />
Outlook: It’s hard to distinguish<br />
one optical drive from another,<br />
but the DVR-R100’s noteworthy speeds, generous software<br />
bundle, and attractive price make it difficult to resist, especially<br />
if you’re in the market for an affordable upgrade. —L.R.<br />
p Pioneer Electronics U.S.A., 800-421-1404,<br />
www.pioneerelectronics.com<br />
List Price $89<br />
SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 38
REVIEWS DISPLAYS<br />
LaCie 319<br />
Pricey LCD offers advanced features<br />
A LOT OF people are in the market for a svelte,<br />
high-performing LCD. Unless you’re a graphics pro,<br />
however, LaCie’s 319 might be out of your range.<br />
Sure, its color performance is excellent, but at $999,<br />
the display costs twice as much as a layperson’s 19inch<br />
LCD.<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 7.1<br />
The black-clad 319<br />
doesn’t break any<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
ground in LCD design.<br />
PROS Outstanding color<br />
It is, however,very<br />
performance; lots of adjustment<br />
potential; optional color-calibra- flexible, with a neck<br />
tion software, colorimeter<br />
that telescopes between<br />
1.5 and 6.5<br />
CONS Expensive; unwieldy<br />
inches, and a lazy Su-<br />
tilt adjustment; disappointing<br />
gaming performance<br />
san that lets it swivel<br />
90 degrees right and<br />
LaCie, 503-844-4500<br />
www.lacie.com<br />
left. Besides rotating<br />
between portrait and<br />
Direct Price $999<br />
landscape modes, the<br />
screen can tilt forward and back, though adjusting<br />
the stiff ball-and-socket-style joint on our unit required<br />
two hands and near-superhuman strength.<br />
The display supports VGA and DVI connections.<br />
Additionally, you can fit a metal hood to keep out<br />
ambient light. A little hook in the center enables<br />
you to hang LaCie’s optional $349 Blue Eye Pro colorimeter<br />
for performing advanced calibrations on<br />
white-point temperature, gamma, and brightness.<br />
Alternatively, you can buy the 319 bundled with the<br />
colorimeter for a hefty $1,199.<br />
The 319 did an excellent job in our color tests. It<br />
displayed a wide range of colors that looked very<br />
rich and didn’t shift in tint as the display progressed<br />
up and down the intensity scale. Grayscale<br />
performance was also satisfactory, with only<br />
slight introduced color in the midlevel grays. Although<br />
the screen performed well in our DVDplayback<br />
tests, gaming performance was jerky<br />
and blurry. —Kristina Blachere<br />
38 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Sony SDM-S75A<br />
A no-frills display suitable for office use<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
6.5<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
WITH THE 17-inch SDM-S75A, Sony<br />
trades the glitzy look of its flagship<br />
LCDs for a more restrained design. At<br />
PROS<br />
$315.99, the monitor is an entry-level<br />
Sharp text rendering<br />
display fit only for office use.<br />
CONS Hard-to-read button<br />
The screen’s bottom edge is fixed 5.75<br />
labels; no digital input; ghosting<br />
when displaying video<br />
inches from the desk, a good height for<br />
most people. You can tilt the display<br />
Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669<br />
back 20 degrees and forward 5 degrees,<br />
b2b.sony.com<br />
and it swivels from side to side. Keeping<br />
Direct Price $315.99<br />
with the display’s streamlined look are<br />
small black buttons, embedded in the right bezel, used for navigating the<br />
onscreen menu. Their tiny labels are hard to read, however.<br />
The SDM-S75A has a native resolution of 1,280x1,024 and only a VGA<br />
input—no digital connectivity. The<br />
display excelled at rendering text,<br />
but it didn’t impress us as much<br />
with color. We noted compressed<br />
shades at the bright end of their<br />
ranges, and solid colors showed<br />
traces of other tints. Also, despite its<br />
reasonably zippy 12-millisecond pixel-response<br />
rate, the LCD exhibited<br />
ghosting in our DVD-playback and<br />
gaming tests. —Dan Littman<br />
BenQ FP91E<br />
Stylish screen delivers subpar performance<br />
5.6<br />
THERE’S NO denying the visual appeal<br />
of the $479 BenQ FP91E, but this 19-inch<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
LCD’s image quality doesn’t justify the 0 BETTER >> 10<br />
asking price. The display is adequate for<br />
basic tasks such as word processing and<br />
PROS Attractive design; integrated<br />
speakers; includes preset<br />
Web surfing, but graphics enthusiasts brightness/contrast levels<br />
should look elsewhere.<br />
CONS Lackluster image quali-<br />
Despite our test unit’s 8-millisecond ty; limited adjustability; cramped<br />
response time, we experienced digital cable connectors<br />
noise and ghosting during DVD play- BenQ America, 949-255-9500<br />
back. On the plus side, the FP91E comes www.benq.us<br />
with two integrated 2-watt speakers, its<br />
onscreen menu is easy to navigate, and<br />
Mfr. Est. Price $479<br />
preset modes for brightness and contrast<br />
are built-in. You can easily calibrate<br />
the screen by connecting it via an<br />
analog interface. (DVI is also supported.)<br />
The display offers little adjustability,<br />
however, and its fixed height may require<br />
a monitor riser for comfortable<br />
viewing. Another quibble: Its tightly<br />
spaced cable connectors make it difficult<br />
to connect cables behind the monitor.<br />
—K.B.
REVIEWS PRINTERS<br />
Canon Pixma iP4200<br />
Versatile inkjet for the budget crowd<br />
CANON’S PIXMA iP4200 may not be perfect, but<br />
considering it costs just $129.99, it has plenty to<br />
offer. Featuring automatic duplexing (double-<br />
sided printing), this four-color inkjet prints bor-<br />
dered or borderless color photos, and it’s relatively<br />
fast for the money.<br />
In our tests, the iP4200 produced adequate-look-<br />
ing printouts. Text showed some artifacts and<br />
jagged lines, but these were noticeable only under<br />
close magnification.<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 7.5 Bargain-hunting s<br />
hoppers will find the<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
text and photo quality<br />
PROS Respectable print quali- quite acceptable.<br />
ty; automatic duplexing; two<br />
paper-input trays<br />
The printer impressed<br />
us a bit more<br />
CONS Easy to direct output to with its speed. Six<br />
wrong paper tray<br />
pages of text took<br />
Canon U.S.A., 800-652-2666 about a minute to<br />
usa.canon.com<br />
print, and a duplexed<br />
Mfr. Est. Price $129.99 sheet with text, about 3<br />
minutes. An 8.5x11inch<br />
color print took 4 minutes and 9 seconds, and a<br />
4x6-inch print, 74 seconds. While these aren’t the<br />
fastest times we’ve seen, they’re decent for the price.<br />
We appreciated the iP4200’s dual paper-input trays,<br />
which enable versatile paper-feeding options. (For example,<br />
you can load 8.5x11-inch paper into one tray<br />
and keep a supply of 4x6-inch sheets in the other.)<br />
This arrangement makes it easy to accidentally direct<br />
output to the wrong tray, however, so we recommend<br />
using the driver’s Paper Allocation feature to specify<br />
the type of paper in the cassette.<br />
Ink costs about $14.25 per color tank for refills,<br />
while a black tank retails at $16.25. Based on the company’s<br />
claim of 300 pages per cartridge, we estimate<br />
printing costs of about 19 cents per page of graphics,<br />
30 cents per 4x6 photo, and 5 cents per page of text.<br />
—David D. Busch<br />
40 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Lexmark T640<br />
An office laser with room for extreme expansion<br />
7.5<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
THE MODEST-LOOKING Lexmark T640<br />
laser printer hides big potential for<br />
0 BETTER >> 10 growth. If you’re willing to shell out for<br />
PROS Fast printing; highly ex- extras atop its $699 price, you can get<br />
pandable; direct printing from add-on paper drawers that hold as many<br />
USB flash drive; low per-page<br />
cost<br />
as 3,850 sheets in total, or an optional<br />
duplexer for double-sided printing.<br />
CONS Merely fair graphics- That’s not to say the T640 isn’t a<br />
print quality; expansion options<br />
inflate price<br />
good monochrome laser right out of<br />
the box, however. It comes with unusu-<br />
Lexmark International<br />
al features such as a plug-in USB port<br />
800-539-6275<br />
www.lexmark.com<br />
that lets you print PDFs from a flash<br />
drive. Plus, thanks to its 400MHz<br />
Direct Price $699<br />
processor, the printer keeps pace with<br />
other fast office workgroup models. In our tests, it cranked out text at<br />
an average of 26.4 pages per minute<br />
(ppm), and graphics at 23ppm.<br />
The quality of the output was less<br />
impressive, however. Fonts below 5<br />
points looked rough when examined<br />
up-close, and graphics prints<br />
showed uneven blending. Still,<br />
printing costs should work out to<br />
a low 1.8 cents per page, or 1.6<br />
cents per page if you trade in your<br />
Lexmark cartridge. —Kristina Blachere<br />
Epson PictureMate Express Edition<br />
FIRST<br />
TAKE<br />
When we first reviewed Epson’s PictureMate Deluxe Viewer, we<br />
found it delivered great all-around 4x6-inch prints. It was somewhat<br />
slow, but unlike its precursor, the PictureMate, the Deluxe had a 2.4-inch color<br />
LCD and supported all our favorite memory-card formats. Now, Epson’s<br />
hoping to pull a hat trick with the PictureMate’s third incarnation, the Express<br />
Edition.<br />
Upside: The Express should be faster than its sluggish predecessors—Epson<br />
estimates it should print a 4x6-inch print in 80 seconds. Though it doesn’t<br />
have a color screen, the six-color printer retains the rest of the features we<br />
liked about the Deluxe. Plus, a new 270-sheet PictureMate Print Pack means<br />
cheaper per-print costs, though its $64.99 price may send seismic waves<br />
through your budget.<br />
Downside: Epson’s speed claims are promising, but in most cases, printers<br />
rarely meet their manufacturers’ estimated speeds. Despite the increased<br />
print speed, keep in mind the Express won’t be the fastest printer available,<br />
and it could even lag behind other stand-alone snapshot printers.<br />
Outlook: Aside from the bumped-up<br />
speed and lack of a color LCD, the Express<br />
is identical to the Deluxe. Is it worth buying<br />
if you don’t already own a PictureMate?<br />
Stay tuned for our review. —Lori Grunin<br />
p Epson America, 800-463-7766,<br />
www.mypicturemate.com<br />
Direct Price $149.99
REVIEWS HOME NETWORKING<br />
Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO Router<br />
MIMO on the cheap, but with a performance hit<br />
BASED ON Airgo Networks’ True MIMO chipset and featuring<br />
dual antennas, the value-price Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO<br />
Router bested or tied with some of its pricier three-antenna<br />
multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) competitors in our<br />
testing. That’s impressive, considering its low $97.99 price.<br />
Belkin does a great job with the Wireless G’s documenta-<br />
tion and setup. The router ships with both hard and electron-<br />
ic copies of the well-written manuals. Its browser-based con-<br />
figuration tool lets you alter the device’s ample security<br />
features, which include Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and<br />
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption, as well as Media Ac-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
PROS MIMO technology at a<br />
low price; excellent documentation,<br />
warranty<br />
CONS Mediocre throughput at<br />
long range<br />
Belkin, 800-223-5546<br />
www.belkin.com<br />
Direct Price $97.99<br />
7.1<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
Netgear SC101 Storage Central<br />
Do-it-yourself network storage<br />
42 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a net-<br />
work storage device but have<br />
been stymied by the high price<br />
per gigabyte, Netgear’s $149.99<br />
SC101 Storage Central may just<br />
be what you’re after. An unpop-<br />
ulated box with two easy-access<br />
drive bays for standard ATA<br />
drives, the SC101 offers drive-<br />
spanning and volume-sharing<br />
features.<br />
cess Control (MAC) address<br />
filtering and a built-in fire-<br />
wall. The Wireless G also of-<br />
fers a demilitarized zone<br />
(DMZ) outside of the firewall,<br />
and a quality-of-service<br />
feature, should you use the<br />
router to stream Voice over<br />
Internet Protocol (VoIP) or<br />
multimedia packets.<br />
You can install a single hard drive in the box, but you’ll<br />
need two if you want RAID mirroring (data stored simultane-<br />
ously to two drives for redundancy). While the SC101 con-<br />
nects to your network via Ethernet, it isn’t accessed via an IP<br />
address like many NAS boxes—it appears as a normal drive<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
7.5<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Inexpensive; easy<br />
setup; drive spanning<br />
CONS Need to add your own<br />
hard drives<br />
Netgear, 888-638-4327<br />
www.netgear.com<br />
Mfr. Est. Price $149.99<br />
letter, not a mapped network<br />
drive.<br />
The unit’s performance in<br />
our testing couldn’t match<br />
The included utility soft-<br />
ware is easy to use and<br />
guides you nicely through<br />
the drive-configuration<br />
process. For users who don’t<br />
already have a favorite back-<br />
up program, Netgear in-<br />
cludes Storage Sync Pro.<br />
—Jon L. Jacobi<br />
that of its pricier,<br />
three-antenna sibling,<br />
the Belkin Wireless Pre-N<br />
Router. In fact, its long-range<br />
throughput of 18.2Mbps at 200 feet was<br />
precisely half that of the Pre-N Router’s. The Wireless G near-<br />
ly matched the Pre-N Router’s outstanding score on our max-<br />
imum-throughput test, however. It also compared favorably<br />
with three-antenna MIMO competitors such as the<br />
Buffalo AirStation WZR-G108 and Linksys WRT54GX in<br />
maximum-throughput and mixed-mode testing.<br />
With the Wireless G, Belkin provides the best warranty<br />
coverage we’ve seen for a wireless router: an unlimited war-<br />
ranty that lasts for as long as you own the device, along with<br />
around-the-clock toll-free tech support.<br />
APC 3-in-1 Wireless<br />
Mobile Router<br />
Not the friendliest travel companion<br />
—Stephanie Bruzzese<br />
AMERICAN POWER Conversion’s<br />
$69.99 3-in-1 Wireless<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 5.1<br />
Mobile Router can transform a<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
hotel-room Ethernet jack into<br />
an 802.11b/g wireless hot spot.<br />
Toting this small, light device<br />
along on your travels is easy,<br />
and its support for Wi-Fi Protected<br />
Access (WPA) encryption<br />
PROS Compact design; WPA<br />
security; SPI firewall<br />
CONS Slow throughput at long<br />
range; confusing documentation;<br />
can’t draw power from a laptop<br />
USB port<br />
and a stateful packet inspection<br />
(SPI) firewall helps your<br />
American Power Conversion<br />
877-272-2722<br />
data remain secure.<br />
www.apc.com<br />
Installing the router is an exercise<br />
in frustration, however,<br />
Direct Price $69.99<br />
due to its poor documentation. In addition, you can’t plug the<br />
included USB cable into your laptop’s USB port to draw power.<br />
Instead, the cable connects the router to APC’s optional Travel-<br />
Power Adapter, another device you have to carry.<br />
The device performed decently in our maximum-throughput<br />
test but poorly on our long-range<br />
tests. The latter might not matter in<br />
a hotel room, but if you need a mobile<br />
router for situations where range<br />
is a factor, 3Com’s OfficeConnect Travel<br />
Router is a better bet. —S.B.
REVIEWS MOBILE PRODUCTS<br />
Dell Axim X51v<br />
Features galore, but needs more pep<br />
THE $499 Dell Axim X51v offers an agreeable combination of<br />
functions and a big software bundle, but we were unim-<br />
pressed by the PDA’s performance and subpar battery life.<br />
At 4.7x2.9x0.7 inches and 6.2 ounces, the X51v won’t<br />
weigh you down. Still, it’s solidly built and comfortable to<br />
hold. The star attraction, though, is the 3.7-inch VGA<br />
screen—thanks to its 640x480 resolution and 16-bit-color<br />
output, it displays sharp text and images. In addition, the<br />
handheld’s battery is user-replaceable, and you’ll find<br />
CompactFlash and SD slots, as well as a 3.5mm jack that<br />
accepts Walkman-style headphones.<br />
Running Microsoft’s lat-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 7.4<br />
est OS for handhelds, Windows<br />
Mobile 5.0, the X51v<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
comes powerfully equipped<br />
PROS Integrated Wi-Fi, Blue- with a 624MHz Intel XScale<br />
tooth; solid software bundle;<br />
dual memory-card slots; userreplaceable<br />
battery<br />
PXA270 processor, a 16MB<br />
Intel 2700G graphics engine,<br />
CONS Sluggish performance;<br />
short battery life<br />
64MB of RAM, and 256MB of<br />
ROM. Bluetooth and 802.11b<br />
Wi-Fi radios are built-in.<br />
Dell, 800-388-8542<br />
www.dell.com<br />
Outfitted with a generous<br />
software bundle, the device<br />
Direct Price $499<br />
includes handheld versions<br />
Archos AV500<br />
Pricey pocket-size video device is highly capable<br />
THE COSTLY ($499.95) Archos AV500 puts high-quality widescreen<br />
video in the palm of your hand, but getting viewable<br />
content onto the device isn’t quite a point-and-click process.<br />
With its brushed-metal exterior, the 9-ounce AV500 has an<br />
industrial look and is bigger than most MP3 players. Its 4-inch<br />
wide-screen LCD is bright and has a resolution of 480x272.<br />
Another plus is the included user-removable battery.<br />
The AV500 saves digital content to a 30GB hard drive.<br />
(A 100GB version<br />
is available for<br />
$699.95.) The device<br />
can serve several<br />
functions: audio<br />
player/recorder,<br />
video player/<br />
recorder, voice<br />
recorder, photo<br />
viewer, and portable<br />
hard drive. Attaching<br />
to your PC via a<br />
USB 2.0 port, it<br />
shows up as a drive<br />
visible by Windows or as a<br />
Microsoft PlaysForSure media device,<br />
44 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
of Word, Excel,<br />
and PowerPoint.<br />
You also get a<br />
bunch of handy<br />
utilities, a few<br />
games, and<br />
Windows Media<br />
Player 10 Mobile,<br />
which can play<br />
MP3/WMA audio<br />
and WMV video<br />
files.<br />
The X51v’s<br />
performance fell<br />
below our expectations.<br />
The PDA<br />
responded sluggishly<br />
to taps of the<br />
stylus, and lagged<br />
when multiple<br />
applications were running. Also, while playing a looped<br />
video clip with all wireless connections off and the backlight<br />
set to high, the X51v lasted barely more than 4 hours.<br />
—Bonnie Cha<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
8.3<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
autosyncing with Windows<br />
Media Player 10. The device<br />
PROS Extensive audio/video<br />
recording features; bright display;<br />
long battery life; excellent sound<br />
natively plays DivX, MPEG- quality; DivX support<br />
4, and WMV video files, but<br />
CONS Expensive; unintuitive<br />
it can’t display videos from controls; no support for iTunes<br />
Apple’s easy-to-use iTunes video downloads<br />
Music Store.<br />
Archos, 949-609-1483<br />
Archos supplies a dock- www.archos.com<br />
ing pod,<br />
which can<br />
connect to a<br />
Direct Price $499.95 (30GB);<br />
$699.95 (100GB)<br />
television or home theater system and allows<br />
you to record shows to the AV500 in real time.<br />
The hardware setup is complicated, however,<br />
and you have to schedule recordings using<br />
an awkward, VCR-like onscreen menu. Even<br />
though the AV500’s controls aren’t intuitive,<br />
operating the device is relatively simple,<br />
thanks to its attractive, icon-driven interface.<br />
The player delivered superb-looking video,<br />
and audio quality was excellent. Files also<br />
transferred quickly, and battery life was impressive—the<br />
AV500 lasted 21.1 hours playing audio<br />
and 8.2 hours screening video. —Rick Broida
REVIEWS DIGITAL CAMERAS<br />
Kodak EasyShare One<br />
Wi-Fi camera shares better than it shoots<br />
WITH ITS 3-inch touch-screen LCD and Wi-Fi transfer capabilities,<br />
Kodak’s $599.95 EasyShare One enables photographers to<br />
instantly share pictures. If only the 4-megapixel camera were<br />
as adept at shooting them.<br />
The EasyShare One can transfer images directly to a PC using<br />
802.11b Wi-Fi. It can also print wirelessly to Kodak’s EasyShare<br />
Printer Dock Plus Series 3 or the EasyShare Photo Printer 500 if<br />
the printer is equipped with an optional Wi-Fi card. Additionally,<br />
via a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can upload your images to the Kodak<br />
EasyShare Gallery (www.kodakgallery.com, formerly Ofoto) di-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 5.6<br />
rectly from the camera, and<br />
then view them.<br />
Changing the EasyShare<br />
0 BETTER >><br />
PROS Easy wireless photo<br />
sharing; 3-inch LCD; generally<br />
quick performance<br />
10<br />
One’s settings (using the<br />
LCD touch screen or a fourway<br />
directional pad) can be<br />
slow and tedious. Switching<br />
CONS Subpar image quality;<br />
slow wake-up time; cumbersome<br />
interface<br />
from Auto ISO to ISO 400, for<br />
instance, required a whopping<br />
13 button presses. Un-<br />
Eastman Kodak, 800-235-6325<br />
www.kodak.com<br />
surprisingly, the camera<br />
worked best when in full-<br />
Direct Price $599.95<br />
automatic mode.<br />
Konica Minolta DiMage Z6<br />
Appealing 12x zoom lens, but so-so images<br />
KEEN-EYED photographers may fuss over<br />
its image quality, but Konica Minolta’s<br />
48 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
$399.99 DiMage Z6 offers enough to<br />
attract enthusiasts who want the<br />
feel of a single-lens-reflex (SLR)<br />
camera and a long-reach lens.<br />
The 6-megapixel Z6’s main at-<br />
traction is its 12x zoom lens.<br />
Konica Minolta’s Anti-Shake tech-<br />
nology complements the camera’s<br />
extended telephoto range and macro abilities. Macro lovers<br />
will also appreciate the Super Macro mode, which lets you<br />
focus as close as 0.4 inch.<br />
Although the Anti-Shake technology worked extremely well,<br />
some of our images came out softer than we had hoped, partic-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
6.7<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS 12x zoom lens; Anti-<br />
Shake image stabilization;<br />
extremely close macro focus<br />
CONS Less-than-stellar photo<br />
quality; slow shot-to-shot times<br />
Konica Minolta, 800-285-6422<br />
kmpi.konicaminolta.us<br />
Mfr. Est. Price $399.99<br />
ularly with the zoom extend-<br />
ed to its full range. Details,<br />
while visible, were also less<br />
than crisp throughout the fo-<br />
cal range. Colors were gener-<br />
ally accurate, if not vibrant.<br />
While the Z6 trailed com-<br />
petitors in typical shot-to-shot<br />
times, it was perkier in its con-<br />
tinuous-shooting modes. The<br />
camera’s battery life was also<br />
impressive. —Theano Nikitas<br />
Wake-up time was an interminable 8 seconds, but the<br />
camera trounced most of its competition in other performance<br />
tests, clocking a shutter lag of only 0.4 second (including<br />
autofocus time), even in low light. Also, it’s a good<br />
thing the EasyShare One comes with two battery packs, because<br />
the oversize LCD (there’s no optical viewfinder) and<br />
the Wi-Fi antenna both drain power quickly.<br />
While the camera can produce images of sufficient quality<br />
for casual snapshots, its photos fall short of those from similarly<br />
priced competitors. Dynamic range was a bit compressed,<br />
and we noted blown-out highlights. The EasyShare<br />
One’s 3x optical zoom lens also produced obvious purple<br />
fringing around backlit objects under normal conditions.<br />
—Shams Tarek<br />
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1<br />
Advanced shooter snaps 10-megapixel photos<br />
WITH ITS crisp 5x zoom lens,<br />
the $999.95 Sony Cyber-shot EDITORS’ RATING 7.7<br />
DSC-R1 makes a worthy com-<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
petitor to the digital singlelens-reflex<br />
(dSLR) cameras in<br />
its price range. It’s a handy,<br />
PROS Excellent 10-megapixel<br />
image quality; crisp 5x zoom<br />
lens; fast burst-mode<br />
versatile camera with excel- performance<br />
lent image quality.<br />
The DSC-R1 offers a broad<br />
CONS Can’t shoot RAW files<br />
in burst mode; limited macro<br />
range of features, but its high- capability<br />
lights are the wide-angle zoom Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669<br />
lens, which runs from 24mm www.sonystyle.com<br />
to 120mm (35mm equivalent),<br />
and the large 10.3-megapixel<br />
Direct Price $999.95<br />
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.<br />
Macro photographers will be disappointed by the camera’s inability<br />
to focus closer than 13.7 inches, however.<br />
The camera’s 1.2-second shutter delay in dim lighting was relatively<br />
long. In continuous-drive mode,<br />
however, we measured a blazing capture<br />
rate of 4.3 frames per second—<br />
but you can’t use the continuousdrive<br />
mode with RAW files.<br />
The DSC-R1 produced excellent<br />
images, particularly at lower<br />
ISO ratings, with crisp details and<br />
nicely balanced colors. —Lisa Gidley
REVIEWS DIGITAL AUDIO<br />
Iriver U10<br />
Unique player is packed with features<br />
IRIVER’S U10 is a superbly designed flash-memory<br />
player that’s easy to use and feature-rich. The sleek<br />
and stylish, if pricey, device comes in 512MB<br />
($199.95) and 1GB<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 8.3 ($249.95) capacities.<br />
Shaped like a<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
miniature television<br />
PROS Unique design, inter- with a vibrant 2.2-inch<br />
face; supports WMA-based<br />
display, the compact<br />
subscription content; includes<br />
FM radio, voice recorder; sup-<br />
U10 measures<br />
ports photo, video, text viewing; 2.7x1.8x0.6 inches and<br />
long battery life<br />
weighs 2.5 ounces. You<br />
navigate the player’s<br />
CONS Expensive; no album-art<br />
support<br />
interface by pressing<br />
buttons on the sides of<br />
Iriver, 800-399-1799<br />
www.iriveramerica.com<br />
the display. Although<br />
this tactile control<br />
Direct Price $199.95<br />
method is both intu-<br />
(512MB); $249.95 (1GB)<br />
itive and logical, it<br />
makes one-handed operation awkward.<br />
Compensating for the U10’s limited capacities<br />
and high price is a cornucopia of features, including<br />
an FM tuner, a voice recorder, a text viewer, and linein<br />
recording via an optional cradle. The U10 supports<br />
MPEG-4 video, but video conversion is necessary<br />
before playback is possible. The good news: Videos<br />
looked sharp, though small, on the bright color<br />
screen. The player can also display photos and slide<br />
shows while playing music and Iriver claims that it<br />
will support album art by the time you read this.<br />
As for digital music, the U10 can play MP3, OGG,<br />
and WMA files, including songs purchased from online<br />
stores or on-the-go subscription services such<br />
as Napster To Go. Capable of pounding out plenty of<br />
decibels, the player sounded great, offering clear<br />
highs, a defined midrange, and tangible lows. Another<br />
bonus: The rated battery life is 28 hours, but<br />
our testing surpassed that by over 3 hours, squeezing<br />
out 31.5 hours of music-only playtime.<br />
—Jasmine France and James Kim<br />
Sennheiser PXC300<br />
Noise-canceling headphones are travel-friendly<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
7.7<br />
FEATHER-LIGHT and comfortable,<br />
Sennheiser’s $219.95 PXC300 noise-can-<br />
0 BETTER >> 10 celing headphones produce sound quali-<br />
PROS Comfortable on-ear ty approaching that of some full-size<br />
design; highly effective noise- models. The road-ready headphones fold<br />
canceling circuitry; lightweight,<br />
flat for easy storage in the supplied soft<br />
compact<br />
travel case, and come with batteries and<br />
CONS Noise canceling can’t<br />
airline-audio adapters.<br />
quite compare with full-size<br />
While the PXC300’s earpieces don’t<br />
headphones<br />
completely cover your ears, their<br />
Sennheiser, 860-434-9190<br />
leatherette ear cushions block out a sig-<br />
www.sennheiserusa.com<br />
nificant amount of noise. Plus,<br />
Direct Price $219.95<br />
the headphones employ<br />
Sennheiser’s proprietary, spiral-embossed Duofol diaphragms<br />
and bass-tube technology for improved sound quality.<br />
The PXC300’s sound-buffering performance isn’t up to<br />
the standard of full-size headphones, but it’s definitely<br />
within the ballpark. In our tests, engaging the PXC300’s<br />
noise-canceling circuitry (housed in a separate plastic<br />
tube and powered by two AAA batteries) significantly<br />
boosted the volume level and accentuated midrange<br />
frequencies. Sound quality was above-average, with<br />
satisfactory bass power and definition. And as for<br />
mileage, the batteries power up to 80 hours of noisecanceled<br />
bliss. —Steve Guttenberg<br />
JVC Alneo XA-HD500<br />
FIRST<br />
TAKE<br />
Apple may have killed off its iPod Mini, but micro-hard-drive MP3<br />
players are still alive and playing. Just ask JVC—in an effort to shore<br />
up its digital-audio credibility, the company has released the $249.95 Alneo<br />
XA-HD500, a 6GB player that aims to top its more established competitors<br />
with its superior battery life and sound quality.<br />
Upside: Instead of packing too many multimedia features, the 3.2-ounce<br />
Alneo is audio-focused, offering MP3, WMA, and WMA DRM playback, as<br />
well as on-the-go playlists and an impressive 30-hour battery life.<br />
Sound quality was excellent, thanks to a host of adjustable audio<br />
options—including digital-surround modes and a bass-boost feature—which<br />
enhanced our listening experience even in noisy environments.<br />
Plus, the Alneo comes bundled with an infrared remote<br />
and a docking/charging station that also provides a<br />
line-out connection.<br />
Downside: Though the player features JVC’s proprietary audioenhancement<br />
technology, its sound quality couldn’t top that of the<br />
SRS-Wow-enabled players we’ve heard. The Alneo also lacks coveted<br />
extras such as an FM-radio tuner, line-in recording, and JPEG support.<br />
Outlook: While the Alneo is an admirable effort in a saturated market,<br />
we’re not certain that JVC’s stripped-down MP3 player can compete with<br />
similarly priced, feature-loaded devices from brand names such as Apple,<br />
Creative, and Iriver. —Erin Kandel<br />
p JVC Company of America, 800-247-3608, www.jvc.com<br />
Direct Price $249.95<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 49
REVIEWS DIGITAL LIVING<br />
HP PL4200N<br />
PC maker turns out a worthy plasma television<br />
WE’VE HAD mixed results with computer-branded high-defi-<br />
nition televisions (HDTVs) in the past from Dell and Gateway,<br />
but Hewlett-Packard’s $3,299 PL4200N 42-inch plasma panel is<br />
the first we can heartily endorse. This full-featured set isn’t<br />
just slick-looking—it delivers image quality that nearly bests<br />
our current favorites from plasma leader Panasonic.<br />
The PL4200N’s native resolution of 1,024x768 isn’t high<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Excellent black-level<br />
performance; solid video processing<br />
with 2-to-3 pull-down;<br />
includes SD-card reader, PC Card<br />
slot<br />
CONS Poor color decoding;<br />
somewhat limited connectivity;<br />
can’t change aspect ratio with<br />
HD sources<br />
Hewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747<br />
www.hp.com<br />
Direct Price $3,299<br />
7.3<br />
Panasonic PT-52LCX65<br />
Low-cost projection set is no bargain<br />
50 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
enough to display every pixel<br />
of HD material, but it’s still<br />
significantly finer than en-<br />
hanced-definition television<br />
(EDTV). For receiving HD signals,<br />
an ATSC off-air HDTV<br />
tuner is built-in for local reception.<br />
You also get a Cable-<br />
Card slot for Digital-Cable-<br />
Ready compliance.<br />
Aspect-ratio controls include<br />
four choices for standard-definition<br />
sources.<br />
You can’t change modes<br />
while watching HD material,<br />
however.<br />
PANASONIC’S budget-price PT-<br />
52LCX65, a 52-inch LCD-based rear-<br />
projection high-definition televi-<br />
sion (HDTV) that sells for $2,299,<br />
proves that you get the image<br />
quality you pay for.<br />
The PT-52LCX65 includes a built-<br />
in ATSC tuner for receiving off-air<br />
HDTV, and a Digital-Cable-Ready CableCard slot for cable-<br />
HDTV reception. Connection options are fairly generous, in-<br />
cluding one High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) in-<br />
put, three component-video inputs, a VGA input, and an<br />
SD-card slot for displaying images from digital cameras.<br />
With a native resolution of 1,280x720, the set should be able<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Inexpensive; versatile<br />
connectivity<br />
CONS Poor black-level<br />
performance; inaccurate color<br />
decoding; incorrect 2-to-3<br />
pull-down detection<br />
Panasonic, 800-405-0652<br />
www.panasonic.com<br />
Direct Price $2,299<br />
5.5<br />
to fully resolve 720p HD<br />
sources. Its overall perfor-<br />
mance, however, leaves much<br />
to be desired. The 2-to-3 pull-<br />
down processing operated in-<br />
correctly in our tests, and the<br />
unit’s out-of-the-box gray-<br />
scale rendering is among the<br />
least accurate we’ve seen.<br />
Blacks appeared a muddy<br />
dark gray, and color decoding<br />
was also largely inaccurate.<br />
—K.M.<br />
Connections include one High-Definition Multimedia Interface<br />
(HDMI) input, two component-video inputs, two A/V inputs<br />
with a choice of S-Video or composite video, a VGA input<br />
for hooking up a PC, and a digital optical audio output. Considering<br />
the panel’s price, we’d have liked a second HDMI input.<br />
The set also has an SD-card reader and a PC Card slot, both of<br />
which enable you to view digital photos directly on the screen.<br />
Overall, we were pleased with the PL4200N’s above-average<br />
picture quality and black-level performance. Also, the<br />
set’s video processing incorporated solid 2-to-3 pull-down<br />
detection. In terms of color reproduction, however, the unit<br />
fell a bit short of the Panasonics we’ve tested, and its color<br />
decoding was far from accurate. —Kevin Miller<br />
Bose 3-2-1 Series II<br />
A novel surround-sound solution<br />
THE PRICEY $999 Bose 3-2-1<br />
Series II Home Entertainment<br />
System uses digital signal<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 6.4<br />
processing to simulate surround<br />
sound with just two<br />
small satellites and a sub-<br />
PROS Delivers simulated<br />
surround-sound effects without<br />
rear speakers; decent audio<br />
woofer. Its sparse video con- connectivity<br />
nectivity, however, makes it CONS Expensive; no HDMI<br />
less versatile than many output; lackluster music<br />
competing home-theater-in- playback<br />
a-box systems.<br />
Bose, 800-999-2673<br />
Besides the speakers, the www.bose.com<br />
3-2-1 includes a DVD player/<br />
tuner unit. You get standard<br />
Direct Price $999<br />
analog video outputs, but no High Definition Multimedia<br />
Interface (HDMI) output. The system’s audio-input connectivity<br />
is a bit more robust, and it can decode Dolby Digital<br />
and DTS surround soundtracks.<br />
We were surprised by the 3-2-1’s broad, expansive<br />
sound field, even if surround-channel<br />
sonic elements weren’t as localized as they<br />
would have been with an actual 5.1channel<br />
speaker setup. Music we<br />
played, on the other hand,<br />
had less texture and detail<br />
than we’ve heard from better<br />
speakers. —Nathaniel Wilkins<br />
0 BETTER >> 10
REVIEWS SOFTWARE<br />
Safeguard Your Data<br />
Two top-notch backup utilities face off<br />
AFTER YEARS OF watching Symantec do little to improve its<br />
venerable Norton Ghost program (version 8.0, for example,<br />
still ran in DOS long after its competitors had switched to<br />
Windows), we were delighted to discover Acronis’ True Image<br />
last year—so much so, we made True Image 8.0 an Editors’<br />
Choice. But what a difference a year makes.<br />
For <strong>2006</strong>, Symantec has completely revised Norton Ghost<br />
10.0 (and returned to its backup-assistant roots) by absorbing<br />
tools from Norton GoBack. Ghost’s interface is now more in-<br />
tuitive, making it easier for anyone to clone disk data or back<br />
it up without exiting Windows. In comparison, True Image<br />
9.0, while still a sound product, lacks some of Ghost’s ease of<br />
use. Though True Image remains our choice for advanced or<br />
experienced users, we recommend Ghost if you haven’t<br />
backed up before or are planning to migrate to a new hard<br />
drive soon.<br />
ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE 9.0<br />
One of last year’s Editors’ Choice recipients, Acronis True Image<br />
8.0 took the lead in disk-imaging technology. Version 9.0 contin-<br />
ues to innovate, but in terms of usability, it falls behind rival<br />
Norton Ghost 10.0.<br />
True Image 9.0 installs easily. Launch the program, and it<br />
greets you with an organized display of its features. Disk-imaging<br />
novices may find various functions, such as incremental versus<br />
differential backup, somewhat bewildering, however. Another po-<br />
tential source of confusion is managing backups you’ve already<br />
created—True Image retrieves backups by filename, which can<br />
get tricky if you create daily system backups and manually delete<br />
old ones to free up space.<br />
Version 9.0 offers power users several features lacking in oth-<br />
er disk-imaging utilities, such as the ability to save data to a<br />
hidden partition on your hard drive. Another worthwhile fea-<br />
ture, Plug Image, makes a disk image appear as a separate virtu-<br />
al hard drive. Better still is the program’s capacity to back up spe-<br />
cific files and folders. While this may seem out of place in a<br />
product that specializes in backing up entire drives, it’s actually<br />
very useful. Also, the app offers password protection for archives,<br />
though it doesn’t support strong data encryption.<br />
The boxed version comes with a detailed, though poorly or-<br />
ganized, printed manual and a detailed Windows help file. Filling<br />
out a support ticket at the company’s site gets you free technical<br />
support. Acronis also offers fee-based phone support.<br />
52 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
NORTON GHOST 10.0<br />
Symantec has transformed Norton Ghost 10.0 from a mere disk<br />
utility to a general-purpose backup solution, clearly distin-<br />
guishing it from Acronis True Image 9.0. Ghost looks and feels<br />
like other Symantec products, and its usability and feature en-<br />
hancements make it a unique and powerful application, suit-<br />
able even for novices.<br />
Install the app, and a wizard helps you create a backup sched-<br />
ule. You can use the console to explore and restore files and<br />
folders from backups you’ve made. Version 10.0 includes easy-<br />
to-use tools for managing backups—you can manually delete<br />
or archive backups onto removable media, or have the software<br />
automatically delete old backups to save disk space.<br />
Ghost’s complete-image backup is both its greatest strength<br />
and its greatest limitation. Unlike many backup solutions,<br />
Ghost doesn’t let you specify which folders or file types to<br />
back up; it only works with complete drive partitions.<br />
New features and usability enhancements help you recov-<br />
er from minor troubles, such as accidentally deleting a file,<br />
or more serious mishaps, such as a hard drive crash. Also<br />
new is Ghost’s optional password-based Advanced Encryp-<br />
tion Standard 128-bit, 192-bit, or 256-bit security. Plus, a Copy<br />
My Hard Drive function will copy the contents of one hard<br />
drive onto another.<br />
Included with the boxed version is a detailed printed manu-<br />
al, which guides you through installation and, if things go<br />
wrong, recovery. Symantec offers free support via its Web site,<br />
but it charges $29.95 per incident for its phone tech support.<br />
Product Summary<br />
—Ken Feinstein and Robert Vamosi<br />
Acronis True Symantec Norton<br />
Image 9.0 Ghost 10.0<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 6.5 7.0<br />
PROS Creates complete disk-image Creates a complete backup<br />
and folder-based backups; of hard drive; easy to use, even<br />
builds virtual hard drives for novices; supports encryption<br />
CONS No free phone tech support; No free phone tech support;<br />
no encryption no way to back up specific<br />
folders or file types<br />
COMPANY Acronis Symantec<br />
650-875-7593 888-810-9896<br />
www.acronis.com www.symantec.com<br />
DIRECT PRICE $49.99 (download); $69.99 (download or boxed<br />
$59.99 (boxed version) version)
REVIEWS SOFTWARE<br />
System Mechanic 6<br />
Professional<br />
Top of the PC-maintenance heap<br />
THE MAIN INTERFACE is overly complex, but the<br />
$69.95 System Mechanic 6 Professional still remains<br />
the best package of utilities for optimizing and protecting<br />
your Windows PC.<br />
The program launches quickly. Its various utilities<br />
are accessible from one of five category buttons:<br />
Optimize, Clean, Repair, Protect, and Maintain.<br />
Clicking on Clean, for instance, brings up a<br />
screen with Junk File Removal, Uninstall Software,<br />
Duplicate File Inspector, and Internet Cleanup and<br />
Privacy. Iolo made some changes to the interface<br />
in this release, adding features such as wizards,<br />
but in the process made the interface more cluttered.<br />
Because you can’t customize it, you’re stuck<br />
with any elements<br />
EDITORS’ RATING 7.7<br />
you don’t use.<br />
Iolo has added<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
and improved a<br />
PROS Excellent, deep range of<br />
number of tools.<br />
utilities; thorough help; helpful,<br />
free tech support<br />
Disk defragmentation<br />
is much faster,<br />
CONS Busy interface; no printed<br />
and Registry opti-<br />
or electronic manual<br />
mization is more<br />
Iolo Technologies, 877-239-4656<br />
detailed. The pack-<br />
www.iolo.com<br />
age also includes a<br />
Direct Price $69.95<br />
long-overdue tool,<br />
Drive Medic, which finds hard drive problems and<br />
offers to repair them. Plus, the Startup Manager is<br />
expanded with better analysis to help determine<br />
if any startup files are obsolete, spyware, or<br />
potential viruses.<br />
You’ll also find the Advanced Process Manager,<br />
an offshoot of the Advanced Startup Manager’s improvements.<br />
Think of it as a juiced-up Windows XP<br />
Task Manager, with all processes showing publishers,<br />
startup mode, descriptions, summaries, and<br />
dependencies.<br />
System Mechanic lacks a printed or PDF manual,<br />
which is important in a complex product like<br />
this. The context-sensitive help is first-rate, however,<br />
as is online support. The company offers<br />
helpful, live, no-charge phone support, but the<br />
number isn’t toll-free. —Barry Brenesal<br />
54 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
BeInSync 1.6<br />
Simple, Web-based remote access<br />
BEINSYNC redefines file-sharing tech-<br />
nology by turning it into a secure collab-<br />
oration and remote-access tool. The ser-<br />
vice’s clean, intuitive wizard-based<br />
interface is a definite plus, but it lacks<br />
some important features—including<br />
configurable user permissions on<br />
shared folders—to make it outstanding.<br />
The program works only with Win-<br />
dows-based PCs. The free version is fair-<br />
ly limited, but the $59.95-per-year Pro<br />
version enables you to share up to 15<br />
folders, have unlimited file access, and<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
get Web-based remote access protected by 256-bit SSL encryption. Plus, the<br />
app’s byte-level file-transfer functionality means that it can transfer just the<br />
bytes that have changed, instead of syncing the whole file.<br />
CrazyTalk Media<br />
Studio 4.0<br />
Animation app misses the mark<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Intuitive interface; secure<br />
Web-based remote access<br />
CONS Lacks configurable folder<br />
permissions; no Mac support;<br />
limited synchronization of<br />
e-mails, contacts<br />
BeInSync<br />
www.beinsync.com<br />
6.3<br />
Direct Price Free (Basic);<br />
$59.95 per year (Pro)<br />
While BeInSync offers syn-<br />
chronization of e-mail and<br />
contacts, this feature works<br />
only with Outlook. Also, the<br />
app won’t sync with Outlook,<br />
as it makes e-mail messages<br />
and contacts from your main<br />
PC available on a second PC.<br />
—Ken Feinstein<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
6.0<br />
0 BETTER >> 10<br />
PROS Credible job creating<br />
animated faces from still images<br />
CONS Frustrating need to<br />
REALLUSION’S $149.95 CrazyTalk Media<br />
guess-and-test animation<br />
Studio 4.0 takes a still image of a face (or settings; only supported in IE<br />
almost any object you choose) and digi-<br />
Reallusion, 408-573-6107<br />
tally manipulates it to lip-sync prerecord- www.reallusion.com<br />
ed or synthesized speech. In our tests,<br />
Direct Price $149.95<br />
speech synchronization was, at best,<br />
modestly convincing. Crystal-clear and slowly spoken scripts produced<br />
the best results, while a stepped-up pace resulted in a quivering mouth<br />
in a permanently open position.<br />
Controls are largely intuitive, but not all of the slider settings have a true<br />
numerical value, making it difficult to gauge a special effect’s impact. The<br />
app’s depth of controls, however, is impressive, allowing for details such as<br />
individual-eye controls and<br />
customizable teeth.<br />
You can export animations<br />
to several formats, including<br />
Multimedia Messaging Service<br />
(MMS) messages for<br />
compatible cell phones. Web<br />
playback works only with<br />
Internet Explorer browsers,<br />
however. —Jason Compton
REVIEWS DOWNLOADS<br />
MediaMonkey 2.4<br />
A tool to manage your music<br />
DESPITE A GLUT of free music players/<br />
encoders, it’s tough to find one that meets<br />
our expectations. Formerly known as<br />
Sound DB, the rechristened MediaMonkey<br />
from Ventis Media has excellent library-<br />
management tools to keep the largest dig-<br />
ital music collections well-organized. Stir<br />
that up with tight Winamp and Nero CD-<br />
burning integration, a stellar interface, a<br />
full-featured encoder, and the ability to<br />
DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
PROS First-rate tools for<br />
big music collections; superb<br />
interface<br />
CONS More than the average<br />
music maven needs<br />
Ventis Media<br />
www.mediamonkey.com<br />
Direct Price Free to try;<br />
$19.99 (Gold Version 2)<br />
IronTrainer 2<br />
Keep your workouts on track<br />
IRONTRAINER 2 is a comprehensive workout, weight, and<br />
dietary log that helps you track your progress on your way to a<br />
healthier body. Through its tabbed interface, you can follow your<br />
progress in a number of areas, including detailed workouts, food<br />
intake, cardio training, and body measurements.<br />
sync with<br />
portable<br />
audio devices<br />
such as the iPod,<br />
and you have a pretty<br />
compelling product.<br />
Launching the program<br />
summons up a prompt to<br />
scan your drive for any supported<br />
digital media files<br />
you can add to the library.<br />
The app sorts files based on<br />
ID3 tags, and the helpful<br />
The program graphs your progress over time for a full analysis<br />
DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
PROS Tracks a broad range of<br />
exercise-, health-related information;<br />
printable workout plans<br />
CONS Interface, terminology<br />
can be confusing<br />
PS Workshop<br />
www.psworkshop.com<br />
Direct Price Free to try;<br />
$39.99 (full version)<br />
you can print out. Another<br />
great detail is the ability to<br />
print out workout plans to<br />
bring to the gym, enabling you<br />
to check off each exercise as<br />
you complete it.<br />
The program lacks mouse-<br />
over information to clarify<br />
some of the confusing inter-<br />
face aspects, terms, and<br />
acronyms, but a help guide<br />
and glossary are just a click<br />
away. —Download.com Staff<br />
Download these applications and more at www.computershopper.com/download.<br />
Auto-Rename<br />
and<br />
Auto-Tag<br />
From Filenamefeatures<br />
keep<br />
untagged<br />
tracks from<br />
falling<br />
through the<br />
cracks. Thirdpartyplugins<br />
are available<br />
from the site if you want to tinker with the playback and<br />
encoding engine or add sound-processing effects. The interface<br />
is well-designed, with clean, colorful icons throughout.<br />
Considering how polished this application is, you’d be<br />
hard-pressed to find anything you don’t like. Although it’s<br />
definitely geared toward managing large collections, just<br />
about anyone will appreciate the comprehensive feature<br />
set. For $19.95, MediaMonkey Gold adds advanced features<br />
such as a sleep timer, unlimited MP3 encoding, and track<br />
previews. —Download.com Staff<br />
EZ Photo Calendar Creator 4.0<br />
Turn memories into months<br />
SPECTRUM SOFTWARE’S<br />
DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING<br />
EZ Photo Calendar Creator<br />
4.0 allows you to design ba- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
sic photo calendars. Creat-<br />
PROS Straightforward design<br />
ing a calendar with your<br />
tools; defined sets of holidays;<br />
own photo collection is a wide control over fonts, colors<br />
no-brainer. Simply select<br />
CONS Free version has water-<br />
one of six calendar formats mark on output; can’t design<br />
(including wall and desk), your own templates<br />
choose a style, and browse<br />
Spectrum Software<br />
your PC to add images. You www.spectrumsoftware.com<br />
can generate annual or<br />
Direct Price Free to try;<br />
monthly calendars with a $17.95 (full version)<br />
number of predesigned<br />
templates and 10 tweakable color schemes. You can’t design<br />
your own from scratch, however.<br />
You can edit the names of<br />
months or days so calendars<br />
can be printed in different<br />
languages. The settings<br />
screen also enables you to<br />
define sets of holidays and<br />
events to a calendar,from<br />
U.S. holidays to NASCAR<br />
races, and adding your own<br />
special dates is easy.<br />
—Download.com Staff<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 55
Top25<br />
MEDIA-CENTER DESKTOPS >> Slick PCs that add brains to your home entertainment system.<br />
PRODUCT PRICE SPECS/REQUIREMENTS BOTTOM LINE RATING<br />
WinBook PowerSpec MCE $999 3GHz Pentium 4 530; 512MB DDR; We love this PC’s rack-mount case, solid specs, and bargain price. Pair it with<br />
410* www.winbook.com 160GB HDD; Radeon X300 LS WinBook’s $899 30-inch LCD for a sweet sub-$2,000 home-theater setup.<br />
Creature Scylla S301 $4,650 2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+; 1GB DDR; This monster of a Media Center has an equally monstrous price. But your money buys<br />
www.creaturehtpc.com 120GB, 1TB HDDs; GeForce 7800 GTX top-notch gaming performance and more than a terabyte of storage space.<br />
Dell XPS 600 $2,849 3GHz Pentium 4 830; 1GB DDR2; Equipped with two SLI graphics cards, the XPS 600 not only functions as a powerful<br />
www.dell.com 160GB HDD; two GeForce 6800 GTs home theater system, it also plows through games and demanding consumer apps.<br />
Niveus Media Center Denali $4,799 3.2GHz Pentium 4 640; 1GB DDR; The Denali Edition is designed exclusively for home theater operation. It’s pricey, but<br />
Edition www.niveusmedia.com 500GB HDD; GeForce 6600 GT A/V enthusiasts will appreciate its unique case and solid construction. (See p. 72.)<br />
Alienware DHS 2* $1,659 3GHz Pentium 4 530; 512MB DDR; More powerful than Alienware’s previous Media Center PCs, the DHS 2 packs Wi-Fi, a<br />
www.alienware.com 80GB HDD; Radeon X300 faster processor, and a bigger hard drive into its slim, living-room-friendly case.<br />
THIN-AND-LIGHT NOTEBOOKS >> Laptops that let you take performance on the road.<br />
Apple iBook G4* $1,299 1.42GHz PowerPC G4; 512MB DDR2; The refreshed 14-inch iBook G4 is a clean, white, minimalist notebook with many<br />
www.apple.com 60GB HDD; DVD±RW; 14.1-inch TFT welcome upgrades, including a faster CPU, more RAM, and AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi.<br />
Apple PowerBook G4* $2,499 1.67GHz PowerPC G4; 512MB DDR; As powerful as a desktop replacement, yet light enough for the road, Apple’s 17-inch<br />
www.apple.com 120GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT PowerBook delivers performance and features to satisfy home and small-office users.<br />
Sharp M4000 WideNote $1,799 1.73GHz Pentium M 740; 512MB DDR2; With its 13.3-inch wide-screen display, midrange Pentium M CPU, and high-capacity<br />
www.sharpsystems.com 80GB HDD; DVD/CD-RW; 13.3-inch TFT battery, the M4000 is just right for business travelers looking to lighten their loads.<br />
HP Pavilion DV1000* $1,094 1.6GHz Pentium M 725A; 512MB DDR; There’s a lot to like about the Pavilion DV1000, including its attractive 5.5-pound case,<br />
www.hp.com 80GB HDD; DVD/CD-RW; 14-inch TFT abundance of handy buttons with slick blue backlights, and decent overall performance.<br />
Lenovo ThinkPad T42* $1,499 1.8GHz Pentium M 745; 512MB DDR; With its tough construction and updated components, the ThinkPad T42 is an<br />
www.lenovo.com 60GB HDD; DVD/CD-RW; 14.1-inch TFT attractive choice for professionals who want a top-notch laptop at a reasonable price.<br />
56 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
This month’s best desktops, notebooks, flash-memory<br />
MP3 players, 17-inch LCD monitors, and home-PC software.<br />
FLASH-MEMORY MP3 PLAYERS >> Portable audio players small enough for a shirt pocket.<br />
Apple iPod Nano $199/ 2GB/4GB capacity; AAC, AIFF, Apple The iPod Nano is a forward-thinking flash-based player with a gorgeous, superslim<br />
www.apple.com $249 Lossless, Audible, MP3, WAV; 1.5 oz. design, a bright color screen, and an unprecedented 4GB of flash memory.<br />
Cowon iAudio U2 $99 to 256MB/512MB/1GB capacity; ASF, MP3, The stylish iAudio U2 crams tons of features—including great sound quality, an FM<br />
www.jetaudio.com $159 WAV, WMA; 1.2 oz. radio, a readable LCD, and line-in recording—into a tiny, pocketable package.<br />
Samsung Yepp YP-T7 $149.99/ 512MB/1GB capacity; ASF, MP3, WMA, A top choice for feature-hungry music aficionados, the YP-T7 offers great sound and<br />
www.samsung.com $199.99 WMA DRM; 1.3 oz. lots of audio options, plus a glorious, if small, color screen for displaying photos.<br />
iRiver U10 $199.99/ 512MB/1GB capacity; ASF, MP3, WMA, The superbly designed U10 is easy to use and packed with audio features. Plus, it<br />
www.iriveramerica.com $249.99 WMA-DRM; 2.5 oz. plays MPEG-4 video on its miniature, TV-like screen. (See p. 49)<br />
Samsung Yepp YP-MT6 $99.99 to 256MB/512MB/1GB capacity; ASF, MP3, For Windows users, the Yepp YP-MT6 is superior to the featureless Apple iPod Shuffle,<br />
www.samsung.com $179.99 WMA, WMA DRM; 1.6 oz. incorporating an FM tuner, a voice-memo function, and line-in recording.<br />
17-INCH LCD MONITORS >> Space-saving displays that improve your view.<br />
Samsung SyncMaster $379 1,280x1,024 native resolution; 25ms pixel- Though it costs a bit more than other 17-inch LCDs, the SyncMaster 711T is a stylish,<br />
711T www.samsung.com response rate; DVI, VGA inputs highly adjustable display with a high contrast ratio and solid image quality.<br />
Sony MFM-HT75W $599.99 1,280x768 native resolution; 16ms pixel- The MFM-HT75W is a snazzy, well-designed LCD/TV-tuner combo for those who want<br />
www.sonystyle.com response rate; DVI, VGA inputs; TV tuner a display that can work and play simultaneously.<br />
Envision EN7220 $249 1,280x1,024 native resolution; 16ms pixel- Inelegant pencil cups and photo clips notwithstanding, the EN7220 is a simple, highly<br />
www.envisiondisplay.com response rate; VGA input adjustable flat panel that performs well and costs less than many 17-inch LCDs.<br />
Sharp LL-172G-W $349 1,280x1,024 native resolution; 16ms pixel- The LL-172G-W is a handsomely designed LCD, with decent adjustability, built-in<br />
www.sharpsystems.com response rate; DVI, VGA inputs speakers, and both analog and digital ports. Its image quality is mediocre, however.<br />
Sony SDM-HS75P/B $399.99 1,280x1,024 native resolution; 8ms pixel- If you like a glossy screen (and don’t mind a little glare), you’ll appreciate the<br />
www.sonystyle.com response rate; DVI, VGA inputs SDM-HS75P/B, a sleek LCD that produces rich, brilliant colors with accuracy.<br />
HOME-PC SOFTWARE >> Essential apps to optimize your computing experience.<br />
Copernic Desktop Search Free Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, or XP Though it doesn’t search the Internet, Copernic Desktop Search locates all file types on<br />
www.copernic.com your hard drive. It’s fast and easy to navigate, and, best of all, it doesn’t cost a dime.<br />
Microsoft Encarta Premium $49.99 333MHz CPU; 128MB RAM; 385MB hard With Encarta’s latest update, Microsoft has made it easier for children to use the library.<br />
2005 www.microsoft.com drive space; Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP In addition to updated information, improvements include an integrated search bar.<br />
Adobe Photoshop $99.99 800MHz CPU; 256MB RAM; 900MB hard No longer a watered-down version of Photoshop, this hobbyist-friendly imaging<br />
Elements 4.0 www.adobe.com drive space; Windows XP program offers improved editing and organization features for amateur photographers.<br />
Nero 7 Ultra Edition $99.99 800MHz CPU; 128MB RAM; 600MB hard Still an excellent value, version 7 of this versatile, comprehensive DVD- and CD-burning<br />
www.nero.com drive space; Windows 98, 2000, Me, or XP suite has a new media-browsing interface that offers remote control from the couch.<br />
Quicken Premier <strong>2006</strong> $69.99 300MHz CPU; 128MB RAM; 100MB hard It isn’t a big step up from the 2005 edition, but we like the latest Quicken’s tweaks,<br />
www.quicken.com drive space; Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP including its new minireports feature and the ability to attach images to Quicken records.<br />
= Editors’ Choice * = Configuration changed from original review.<br />
8.2<br />
7.5<br />
7.4<br />
7.3<br />
7.2<br />
7.4<br />
7.3<br />
7.2<br />
6.7<br />
6.6<br />
8.3<br />
8.3<br />
8.3<br />
8.3<br />
8.0<br />
7.3<br />
7.3<br />
6.7<br />
6.7<br />
6.5<br />
8.3<br />
8.3<br />
8.1<br />
8.0<br />
8.0
2005<br />
20TH<br />
ANNUAL<br />
Our readers pick<br />
the year’s best<br />
products, services,<br />
and places to buy.<br />
TWO DECADES AGO, when Microsoft<br />
and Dell were fledgling companies and<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong> was printed on newsprint,<br />
we launched our annual readers’ choice<br />
awards. This poll gives our readers the<br />
chance to tell us what they consider the<br />
most outstanding products on the market<br />
each year. Thousands of readers visited our<br />
Web site in 2005 to cast their votes for the<br />
best hardware, software, gadgets, Web<br />
services, and shopping sites.<br />
In editing the piece, we were reminded of<br />
just how much has changed in the tech<br />
world since the first <strong>Shopper</strong>s’ Choice<br />
Awards. In 1985, for instance, digital cameras<br />
had yet to burst onto the scene, and the<br />
Internet was practically a private party.<br />
Some things have remained constant,<br />
however. We’re still buying desktops, monitors,<br />
hard drives, and software, although today’s<br />
versions are incredibly advanced compared<br />
with those of yesteryear. To illustrate<br />
the extraordinary evolution of personal<br />
technology, we’re mixing in a few past<br />
winners with the best of 2005. Cast in that<br />
perspective, your choices for 2005 represent<br />
not only the year’s best products, but also<br />
astonishing achievements in technology.<br />
SHOPPERS’ CHOICE AWARDS<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 59
Alienware<br />
Aurora<br />
ALX SLI<br />
BEST COMPUTER SYSTEMS<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
DESKTOP<br />
Alienware Aurora<br />
ALX SLI<br />
Expert assembly, silent liquid<br />
cooling, and a high-end<br />
configuration that reads like<br />
a computer geek’s wish<br />
list—the Aurora ALX SLI is<br />
undoubtedly worthy of its<br />
Best Performance Desktop<br />
ranking. But what really<br />
gives the ALX the edge is<br />
Alienware’s dedicated service-and-support<br />
staff, ready<br />
to provide the one-on-one<br />
attention you deserve when<br />
you lay out more than $4,000<br />
for a PC.<br />
Alienware<br />
www.alienware.com<br />
800-254-3692<br />
Direct Price: $4,449 (base price)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Dell Dimension XPS Gen 5<br />
MIDRANGE DESKTOP<br />
Dell Dimension 5100<br />
(Replaced by the Dimension<br />
E510)<br />
Well-priced and decently<br />
powered, Dell’s Dimension<br />
5100 looks good inside and<br />
out, and is a reliable choice<br />
for family computing. The<br />
5100 adds modern essentials,<br />
such as a BTX motherboard<br />
and a 64-bit CPU, that should<br />
hold obsolescence at bay for<br />
a few years. Its similarly configured<br />
replacement, the Dimension<br />
E510, now features<br />
the Windows XP Media<br />
Center Edition 2005 OS, giving<br />
you a sweet, affordable<br />
entertainment station.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $699 (base price,<br />
Dimension E510)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Sony VAIO VGC-RB38G<br />
BUDGET DESKTOP PC<br />
(UNDER $1,000)<br />
Dell Dimension 3000<br />
(Replaced by the Dimension<br />
E310)<br />
The Dimension 3000 is our<br />
readers’ favorite mainstream<br />
option because its balance between<br />
parts and performance<br />
is perfect for families, students,<br />
and small businesses<br />
with basic needs. And, with an<br />
under-$600 price tag that includes<br />
a 17-inch LCD, this<br />
budget system—since replaced<br />
by the Dimension<br />
E310—is tough to beat.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $599 (base price,<br />
Dimension E310)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HP Pavilion a1030n<br />
PASTPICKS<br />
BEST COMPUTER SYSTEM<br />
Northgate 386 Power System<br />
We hailed Northgate’s 386 Power System<br />
for its excellent specs: an Intel 80386<br />
processor with a 64K cache, 1MB of RAM,<br />
and a 65MB hard drive—all for $3,899.<br />
Desktops sure have come a long way since.<br />
SMALL-FORM-<br />
FACTOR DESKTOP<br />
Dell Dimension 5100C<br />
(Replaced by the XPS 200)<br />
While the Dimension 5100C<br />
isn’t a traditional small-formfactor<br />
PC, you have to admit<br />
that this desktop is tiny. And<br />
despite the PC’s smallerthan-a-briefcase<br />
size, Dell is<br />
still able to load it with top<br />
components. (The 5100C has<br />
been replaced by the equally<br />
space-saving XPS 200.)<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $999 (base price,<br />
XPS 200)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Shuttle XPC G5 9500g<br />
MEDIA CENTER PC<br />
Dell Dimension XPS<br />
Gen 5<br />
(Replaced by the XPS 600)<br />
Maybe it’s the 1.5 terabytes of<br />
hard drive space, or this PC’s<br />
ability to pack two of the<br />
fastest nVidia graphics cards<br />
available. Or perhaps it’s the<br />
superior multimedia-handling<br />
abilities of Intel’s Pentium D<br />
dual-core processor,or the<br />
dual TV tuners. Whatever the<br />
reason, you chose the Dimension<br />
XPS Gen 5 to anchor your<br />
digital-media world. The Gen<br />
5’s replacement, the XPS 600,<br />
gives you the power of a gaming<br />
PC with the controls of<br />
Windows XP Media Center<br />
Edition 2005.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $1,749 (base<br />
price, XPS 600)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HP Media Center PC m7070n<br />
Dell Dimension<br />
E510<br />
1988<br />
DESKTOP-<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
NOTEBOOK<br />
Dell Inspiron XPS<br />
Gen 2<br />
(Replaced by the XPS M170)<br />
Astonishingly fleet-footed<br />
performance on our benchmark<br />
tests and 16 eye-popping<br />
LEDs are no doubt two<br />
of the reasons you overwhelmingly<br />
chose the Dell<br />
Inspiron XPS Gen 2 as the<br />
best desktop-replacement<br />
notebook. Even better,<br />
Dell has now replaced the<br />
XPS Gen 2 with the XPS<br />
M170, which features a<br />
more robust 3D-graphics<br />
chip, the nVidia GeForce<br />
Go 7800 GTX.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $2,699 (base<br />
price, XPS M170)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Sony VAIO VGN-A790<br />
THIN-AND-LIGHT<br />
NOTEBOOK<br />
Dell Inspiron 700m<br />
Readers are attracted to the<br />
Inspiron 700m for its slick<br />
design, minute size, and<br />
bright, wide-aspect 12.1-inch<br />
screen. Weighing just over 4<br />
pounds, the 700m strikes a<br />
great balance between extreme<br />
portability and swift<br />
application performance. It<br />
also doubles as a good DVD<br />
player to help you endure<br />
those long flights.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
877-886-3355<br />
Direct Price: $1,349 (base price)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Dell Latitude D610
ULTRAPORTABLE<br />
NOTEBOOK (UNDER<br />
4 POUNDS)<br />
Sony VAIO VGN-T350P<br />
Your favorite ultraportable<br />
tips the scales at just 3.1<br />
pounds, yet it still finds<br />
room to squeeze in an Ultra<br />
Low Voltage Pentium M CPU,<br />
a gorgeous 10.4-inch widescreen<br />
display, a 60GB hard<br />
drive, and a DVD±RW burner.<br />
To stay connected in the<br />
field, the VGN-T350P includes<br />
a special antenna<br />
that lets you connect to<br />
EDGE cellular data networks.<br />
Sony Electronics<br />
www.sonystyle.com<br />
877-865-7669<br />
Direct Price: $2,199<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Dell Latitude X1<br />
PDA OR<br />
HANDHELD PC<br />
Palm Tungsten T3<br />
(Replaced by the Palm TX)<br />
Many a mobile user was<br />
swayed by the Tungsten T3’s<br />
seductively<br />
thin design<br />
and powerful<br />
feature set. If<br />
you can live<br />
without Wi-Fi<br />
or a keyboard,<br />
the T3 offers a<br />
fast 400MHz<br />
CPU and 64MB<br />
of RAM, plus<br />
an SD-card<br />
slot, at a reasonable<br />
price.<br />
Be sure to<br />
Palm TX<br />
check out the T3’s replacement<br />
model, the Palm<br />
TX, which has the same<br />
sleek design but offers<br />
better specs and built-in<br />
802.11b Wi-Fi and Bluetooth<br />
networking.<br />
Palm • www.palm.com<br />
800-881-7256<br />
Direct Price: $349 (Palm TX)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HP iPaq HX4700 Pocket PC<br />
BEST COMPONENTS AND PERIPHERALS<br />
MAINSTREAM LCD<br />
MONITOR (17 INCHES<br />
OR SMALLER)<br />
Samsung SyncMaster<br />
711T<br />
Another in the company’s long<br />
line of stylish LCDs, Samsung’s<br />
SyncMaster 711T displays the<br />
kind of high-end looks you’d<br />
expect from a fine-tailored<br />
suit. Clad entirely in black, the<br />
display has a slim bezel that<br />
frames the 17-inch screen.<br />
With its 1,280x1,024 native<br />
resolution and 1,000-to-1<br />
contrast ratio, this is one<br />
LCD you’ll want for more<br />
than just its looks.<br />
Samsung<br />
www.samsung.com<br />
800-726-7864<br />
List Price: $379<br />
DVD-RECORDABLE<br />
DRIVE<br />
Plextor PX-716A<br />
Our readers opt for fast optical<br />
drives, which is why they selected<br />
the high-performance<br />
PX-716A. This drive delivers<br />
burning speeds of 24x CD-RW,<br />
8x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, and<br />
6x double-layer DVD±R. These<br />
specs enable the PX-716A to<br />
burn a double-layer 7.9GB DVD<br />
movie in as little as 17 minutes,<br />
or rip the same capacity<br />
from a double-layer disc in<br />
less than 12 minutes.<br />
Plextor • www.plextor.com<br />
888-999-4700<br />
Direct Price: $139<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Sony DVDirect VRD-VC10<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HARD DRIVE<br />
NEC MultiSync LCD1770NX WD Raptor Series<br />
Its predatory name may<br />
PERFORMANCE LCD sound fearsome to some, but<br />
MONITOR (18 INCHES it’s music to our ears. Western<br />
OR LARGER)<br />
Digital’s Raptor series is the<br />
Dell UltraSharp<br />
company’s fastest family of<br />
2405FPW<br />
drives,<br />
Watch movies,<br />
spinning<br />
surf the Net, and<br />
at a blazing<br />
play Quake 4 in<br />
10,000rpm.<br />
all its glory with<br />
Although<br />
Dell’s giant<br />
the line cur-<br />
UltraSharp<br />
rently tops<br />
2405FPW. This<br />
out at 74GB<br />
24-inch LCD has a<br />
capacity, this<br />
pixel-packed<br />
Serial<br />
1,920x1,200 resolution,<br />
ATA drive<br />
and features built-in<br />
USB ports, a flash-card<br />
Dell UltraSharp<br />
2405FPW<br />
delivers topnotchperfor-<br />
reader, and picture-in-picmance if it’s speed you need.<br />
ture (PIP) capability. The Western Digital<br />
2405FPW impressed us as www.wdc.com<br />
much as it did our readers 800-275-4932<br />
with its crisp colors and Direct Price: $169.99 (74GB,<br />
deep, dark blacks. Multiple<br />
video inputs and a full range<br />
bare drive)<br />
of adjustability options Runner-Up:<br />
round off its covetable<br />
feature list.<br />
Seagate Barracuda Series<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
GRAPHICS CARD<br />
800-999-3355<br />
nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX<br />
Direct Price: $1,199<br />
In our tests, the GeForce 7800<br />
GTX proved itself the best<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
graphics chipset for gameplay.<br />
Samsung SyncMaster 915N Cards based on it delivered<br />
faster frame rates, more<br />
throughput, and all-around<br />
better performance than any<br />
we’ve seen. nVidia doesn’t<br />
manufacture retail<br />
nVidia GeForce<br />
7800 GTX<br />
cards itself, so if you want a<br />
card based on the 7800 GTX,<br />
check out www.nvidia.com/<br />
page/7800_partners.html.<br />
nVidia • www.nvidia.com<br />
408-486-2000<br />
Price: Varies by manufacturer<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum<br />
Edition<br />
INKJET PRINTER<br />
HP Photosmart 8750<br />
Professional Photo<br />
Printer<br />
Using nine dye-based colors<br />
(in three tricolor cartridges),<br />
the Photosmart 8750 Professional<br />
features all the extras<br />
we’re accustomed to seeing in<br />
photo printers: flash-memory<br />
slots, PictBridge compatibility,<br />
and support for a variety of<br />
paper formats. It seals the deal<br />
by giving you control of ink<br />
saturation, brightness, and<br />
tone, and it even lets you print<br />
stills as big as 13x19 inches.<br />
Hewlett-Packard<br />
www.hp.com • 888-999-4747<br />
Direct Price: $499.99<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Canon Pixma iP5000 Photo<br />
Printer<br />
MULTIFUNCTION<br />
DEVICE<br />
HP Color LaserJet 2840<br />
All-in-One<br />
Whoever said that a jack of all<br />
trades was a master of none<br />
never powered up the Color<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 61
BEST COMPONENTS AND PERIPHERALS<br />
LaserJet 2840 All-in-One. This<br />
colossal multifunction device<br />
scans, prints, faxes, and<br />
copies, letting you replace the<br />
platoon of devices you’d otherwise<br />
need to complete dayto-day<br />
tasks. The flatbed scanner<br />
accommodates most<br />
media, and small offices<br />
will appreciate the 50-page<br />
document feeder. HP even<br />
fitted the 2840 with slots<br />
for popular media cards.<br />
Hewlett-Packard<br />
www.hp.com<br />
888-999-4747<br />
Direct Price: $899<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HP PSC 2355 All-in-One<br />
PERSONAL LASER<br />
PRINTER<br />
HP Color LaserJet 3550<br />
It may be white on the outside,<br />
but this printer creates<br />
black output that commands<br />
your attention. The Color<br />
LaserJet 3550 does a great job<br />
of delivering sharp, clean<br />
monochrome text. In addition,<br />
the printer moves pages<br />
through the device only once<br />
to print all four colors. As a result,<br />
it can print as fast in color<br />
as it does in monochrome.<br />
Hewlett-Packard<br />
www.hp.com • 888-999-4747<br />
Direct Price: $699<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
HP LaserJet 2420d<br />
PHOTO PRINTER<br />
HP Photosmart 375<br />
Photo Printer<br />
(Replaced by Photosmart 385<br />
GoGo Photo Printer)<br />
This PC-independent photo<br />
inkjet has a lunchbox-like design<br />
that invites you to take it<br />
wherever you go. It offers direct<br />
printing from any Pict-<br />
Bridge-compatible camera,<br />
and it accepts most flashcard<br />
formats. A generous 2.5inch<br />
LCD lets you browse<br />
photos and perform light<br />
edits. The discontinued 375’s<br />
replacement, the 385, adds<br />
62 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
automatic red-eye removal.<br />
Hewlett-Packard<br />
www.hp.com • 888-999-4747<br />
Direct Price: $199.99 (Photosmart<br />
385)<br />
HP Photosmart 385<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Canon Pixma iP8500 Photo<br />
Printer<br />
SCANNER<br />
Epson Perfection 4990<br />
Photo<br />
The Perfection 4990 Photo<br />
might look like a typical<br />
desktop scanner, but if it’s<br />
high-quality scans you’re after,<br />
search no more. The 4990<br />
offers a dynamic range of 4.0<br />
DMax, with a 4,800x9,600dot-per-inch<br />
(dpi) optical<br />
resolution. The unit’s<br />
8.5x11.7-inch scanning area<br />
accepts both prints and film,<br />
and the bundled software includes<br />
Adobe Photoshop Elements,<br />
as well as scanning<br />
and copying utilities.<br />
Epson America<br />
www.epson.com<br />
800-463-7766<br />
Direct Price: $449.99<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Canon CanoScan 9950F<br />
HOME NETWORKING<br />
DEVICE<br />
Linksys Wireless-G<br />
Broadband Router with<br />
SRX WRT54GX<br />
The Linksys entry into the<br />
world of multiple input, multiple<br />
output (MIMO) devices is<br />
our readers’ router recommendation.<br />
The WRT54GX<br />
lived up to Linksys’ claim of<br />
better throughput at longer<br />
range, in our tests delivering<br />
more than four times the<br />
throughput of 802.11g routers<br />
at 200 feet. The WRT54GX also<br />
features a stateful packet inspection<br />
firewall for extra<br />
security, not to mention a<br />
generous three-year warranty.<br />
Linksys • www.linksys.com<br />
800-546-5797<br />
Mfr. Est. Price: $199<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
D-Link AirPlus G High-Speed<br />
2.4GHz Wireless Router DI-524<br />
INPUT DEVICE<br />
Logitech MX1000 Laser<br />
Cordless Mouse<br />
Thanks to Logitech’s futuristic<br />
design, the humble computer<br />
mouse has finally managed to<br />
shrug off its ho-hum image.<br />
The MX1000 enables precise<br />
mousing, courtesy of its<br />
800dpi optical sensor and a<br />
deeply contoured body that allows<br />
for better handling. If you<br />
want to feel the future,<br />
this is it.<br />
Logitech • www.logitech.com<br />
800-231-7717<br />
Direct Price: $79.95<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Logitech Cordless Desktop<br />
MX 3100<br />
DIGITAL STILL<br />
CAMERA<br />
Canon EOS<br />
Digital Rebel XT<br />
The EOS Digital Rebel XT is a<br />
shot ahead of its predecessor,<br />
the original Digital Rebel. It<br />
offers more creative control,<br />
an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor,<br />
and Canon’s DIGIC II processing<br />
engine for zippy snapping.<br />
The Rebel XT’s smaller, lighter<br />
body is about as compact as<br />
possible for a digital single<br />
lens reflex (dSLR) camera.<br />
Though designed for amateurs,<br />
it delivers the responsiveness<br />
and image quality<br />
you’d expect from a semipro<br />
model.<br />
Canon U.S.A. • usa.canon.com<br />
800-652-2666<br />
Mfr. Est. Price: $899 (body<br />
only); $999 (kit, with lens)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Nikon Coolpix 8800<br />
DIGITAL CAMCORDER<br />
Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV<br />
Handycam<br />
With its large 1/3-inch CCD<br />
sensor, the DCR-HC90 MiniDV<br />
Handycam positively shines<br />
when the lights are low, and it<br />
also offers wide-screen recording<br />
and a 2.7-inch wide-screen<br />
LCD. What’s more, it snaps 3.3megapixel<br />
still photos and includes<br />
options such as a burst<br />
mode, exposure bracketing,<br />
red-eye reduction, and half a<br />
dozen scene modes. Despite<br />
all these features, the DCR-<br />
HC90 has the pocket-friendly<br />
proportions of an entry-level<br />
camcorder.<br />
Sony Electronics<br />
www.sonystyle.com<br />
877-865-7669<br />
Direct Price: $999.99<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Panasonic<br />
PV-GS250<br />
Sony DCR-HC90<br />
MiniDV Handycam<br />
CELL PHONE<br />
Motorola Razr V3<br />
Undeniably the coolest mobile<br />
phone released last year, the<br />
Razr V3 made a big splash<br />
with its strikingly thin profile<br />
and slick features. Remarkably,<br />
integrated within the phone’s<br />
trim chassis is a Bluetooth<br />
transmitter, a VGA camera,<br />
and a beautiful 2.5-inch,<br />
260,000-color display. The V3<br />
can replenish its battery via a
standard AC adapter or<br />
through a PC’s USB port.<br />
Motorola<br />
www.motorola.com<br />
866-289-6686<br />
Direct Price: $199 (with<br />
two-year contract)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
LG VX8000<br />
WIRELESS COMMU-<br />
NICATIONS DEVICE<br />
RIM BlackBerry 7510<br />
(Replaced by RIM BlackBerry<br />
7520)<br />
Our readers singled out the<br />
Blackberry 7510 as their<br />
handheld communicator of<br />
choice, a surprise victory<br />
over Palm’s Treo 600. Featuring<br />
a tactile, backlit QWERTY<br />
keyboard, the Black-<br />
Berry 7510 supports<br />
real-time wireless access<br />
to up to 10 personal<br />
or corporate email<br />
accounts, and it<br />
can connect to a PC<br />
to sync contacts and<br />
appointments. It’s<br />
been replaced by the<br />
BlackBerry 7520,<br />
which adds Bluetooth<br />
and GPS support to<br />
the feature set.<br />
Research in Motion<br />
www.blackberry.com<br />
519-888-7465<br />
List Price: $449.99<br />
(BlackBerry 7520)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Palm Treo 600<br />
DIGITAL AUDIO<br />
PLAYER (FLASH<br />
MEMORY)<br />
Apple iPod Shuffle<br />
Although the market is full of<br />
flash players that have more<br />
features, our readers prefer<br />
the stripped-down simplicity<br />
of Apple’s iPod Shuffle. It<br />
weighs less than an ounce<br />
and includes a built-in USB 2.0<br />
interface (but no LCD). It<br />
comes in 512MB and 1GB capacities<br />
at affordable prices.<br />
Your tunes will never skip, and<br />
the Shuffle syncs seamlessly<br />
with Apple’s iTunes 6, which<br />
can be set to automatically<br />
preshuffle your playlist for<br />
a truly random listening<br />
experience.<br />
Apple <strong>Computer</strong><br />
www.apple.com<br />
800-692-7753<br />
Direct Price: $99 (512MB);<br />
$129 (1GB)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Creative MuVo Micro N200<br />
DIGITAL AUDIO<br />
PLAYER (HARD<br />
DRIVE)<br />
Apple iPod<br />
No one is close to knocking<br />
the iPod from the top of the<br />
hard drive player heap. The<br />
fifth-generation iPod makes<br />
that task even more daunting.<br />
It’s thinner, lighter,<br />
and sexier than ever,<br />
with a bigger (2.5inch)<br />
color screen<br />
that plays video and<br />
displays digital photos.<br />
And, of course,<br />
only Apple portable<br />
players support<br />
RIM BlackBerry tracks and videos<br />
7520<br />
purchased from<br />
Apple’s iTunes Music Store.<br />
Apple <strong>Computer</strong><br />
www.apple.com<br />
800-692-7753<br />
Direct Price: $299 (20GB); $399<br />
(60GB)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Apple iPod Photo<br />
PORTABLE MEDIA<br />
PLAYER/GAMING<br />
DEVICE<br />
Sony PlayStation<br />
Portable<br />
The undisputed king of<br />
portable game machines, the<br />
PSP isn’t just for playing its action-packed,<br />
PlayStation 2-caliber<br />
game titles. The compact<br />
device also screens movies on<br />
its 4.3-inch color LCD using<br />
Sony’s Universal Media Disc<br />
(UMD) format. You can even<br />
play digital audio and display<br />
PASTPICKS<br />
snapshots stored on Memory<br />
Stick flash media. And integrated<br />
802.11b wireless networking<br />
allows you to play<br />
games online or surf the Web.<br />
Sony <strong>Computer</strong><br />
Entertainment America<br />
us.playstation.com<br />
800-345-7669<br />
Mfr. Est. Price: $249.99<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Nintendo Game Boy Advance<br />
GAMING CONSOLE<br />
Sony PlayStation 2<br />
The best-selling video-game<br />
console of all time, the<br />
PlayStation 2 underwent a<br />
slick restyling last year that<br />
yielded a slim, less-intrusive<br />
design. Other strengths<br />
include its extensive game<br />
library and ability to handle<br />
titles for the original Play-<br />
Station. Bonus: It includes<br />
built-in dial-up and Ethernet<br />
support for online gaming.<br />
Sony <strong>Computer</strong><br />
Entertainment America<br />
us.playstation.com<br />
800-345-7669<br />
Mfr. Est. Price: $149.99<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Nintendo GameCube<br />
1997<br />
BEST DIGITAL CAMERA<br />
Kodak Digital Science<br />
DC120 Zoom<br />
“High resolution is what the<br />
DC120 is all about,” we wrote.<br />
Of course, high resolution in<br />
1997 meant 1.2 megapixels<br />
with interpolation. Now you<br />
can buy a 10-megapixel camera<br />
such as the Sony Cyber-shot<br />
DSC-R1 for roughly the same<br />
price ($1,000).<br />
HOME ENTERTAIN-<br />
MENT DEVICE<br />
TiVo Series2 DVR<br />
Many cable companies and<br />
consumer-electronics manu-<br />
facturers market digital video<br />
recorders (DVRs), but none<br />
has anything quite like the<br />
TiVo. Yes, you do have to pay<br />
a monthly fee to use TiVo’s<br />
services, but its features include<br />
an intuitive interface<br />
that lets you pause and<br />
rewind live television, as well<br />
as search for upcoming<br />
shows by title, subject, actor,<br />
director, time, and channel.<br />
Plus, the Series2 DVR can<br />
connect to an Ethernet or<br />
wireless adapter to share<br />
recorded video programming<br />
with other TiVos on your<br />
home network.<br />
TiVo • www.tivo.com<br />
877-289-8486<br />
Direct Price: $199.99 (40hour);<br />
$299.99 (80-hour);<br />
$349.99 (300-hour)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Sony RDR-HX900<br />
FLAT-SCREEN<br />
TELEVISION<br />
Samsung HL-P5085W<br />
(Replaced by HL-R5087W)<br />
Samsung’s radical-looking<br />
Digital Light Processing<br />
(DLP) offering, the 50-inch<br />
HL-P5085W, has a unique<br />
pedestal-style design that<br />
makes for an eye-catching<br />
television with a small footprint.<br />
The set has a native<br />
resolution of 1,280x720,<br />
which means it should deliver<br />
all of the detail of 720p<br />
high-definition programming.<br />
With calibration, the<br />
HL-P5085W can be made to<br />
perform extremely well,<br />
showing deep blacks that<br />
most DLP sets have trouble<br />
displaying. The HL-P5085W<br />
has been replaced in Samsung’s<br />
DLP lineup by the<br />
HL-R5087W.<br />
Samsung<br />
www.samsung.com<br />
800-726-7864<br />
Mfr. Est. Price: $3,699<br />
(HL-R5087W)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Pioneer PDP-5050HD<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 63
BEST SOFTWARE/ONLINE SERVICES<br />
OFFICE-<br />
PRODUCTIVITY<br />
SOFTWARE<br />
Microsoft Office XP<br />
(Replaced by Office 2003)<br />
While all the other productivity<br />
suites are busy emulating it,<br />
Microsoft Office has been busy<br />
leading the way. This comprehensive<br />
work suite continues<br />
to be tops among our readers,<br />
most likely because it contains<br />
basics that every business<br />
needs. The current version is<br />
Office 2003; later this year,<br />
Office 12, a new version, will<br />
debut.<br />
Microsoft<br />
www.microsoft.com<br />
888-218-5617<br />
Direct Price: $399 (2003<br />
Standard Edition); $499 (2003<br />
Professional Edition)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Corel WordPerfect Office 12<br />
HOME-PRODUCTIVI-<br />
TY SOFTWARE<br />
Microsoft Works Suite<br />
2005<br />
(Replaced by Works Suite <strong>2006</strong>)<br />
Designed for home users, Microsoft<br />
Works Suite contains<br />
all of the tools to plan and<br />
budget a family vacation, then<br />
edit the digital images afterward.<br />
The suite now packs<br />
Word 2002, along with <strong>2006</strong><br />
versions of Money, Digital<br />
Image, Encarta Encyclopedia,<br />
and Streets & Trips.<br />
Microsoft<br />
www.microsoft.com<br />
888-218-5617<br />
Direct Price: $99.95 (Works<br />
Suite <strong>2006</strong>)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Quicken Premier 2005<br />
DVD/CD UTILITY<br />
Nero 6 Ultra Edition<br />
(Replaced by Nero 7 Ultra Edition)<br />
Nero’s Ultra Edition, now in<br />
version 7, is the most comprehensive,<br />
versatile CD- and<br />
DVD-mastering and packetwriting<br />
suite on the market. In<br />
66 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
fact, calling it a disc-authoring<br />
app is a disservice, because<br />
the suite also provides a capable<br />
backup program, a DVDauthoring<br />
app that compares<br />
favorably with all but its professional-level<br />
competitors,<br />
and a movie-playback program<br />
that supports Video CD<br />
(VCD), DVD, and MPEG-4.<br />
Nero • www.nero.com<br />
818-956-7551<br />
Direct Price: $99.99 (Nero 7<br />
Ultra Edition)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Easy Media Creator 7<br />
PHOTO EDITING/<br />
ORGANIZING<br />
Adobe Photoshop CS2<br />
When it comes to digital image<br />
editing, Adobe Photoshop<br />
CS2 stands above the<br />
competition. This latest version<br />
adds support for Camera<br />
Raw 3.0 and Digital Negative<br />
(DNG) images, plus<br />
tools to reduce noise and optical<br />
lens distortion. Web designers<br />
will appreciate the<br />
integration of additional ele-<br />
Adobe Photoshop CS2<br />
ments of Adobe ImageReady<br />
CS2. It’s overkill for casual<br />
snapshooters, but advanced<br />
users frustrated by the limitations<br />
of basic photo applications<br />
consider Photoshop<br />
CS2 worth the price.<br />
Adobe Systems<br />
www.adobe.com<br />
800-833-6687<br />
Direct Price: $599<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0<br />
UTILITY PACKAGE<br />
Norton SystemWorks<br />
2005 Premier<br />
(Replaced by SystemWorks <strong>2006</strong><br />
Premier)<br />
The yellow box comes in tops<br />
again with our readers as the<br />
best tool for keeping PCs up<br />
and running smoothly. Norton<br />
SystemWorks is that do-everything<br />
suite everyone should<br />
have for restoring PCs to a<br />
healthier state, performing<br />
preventative maintenance,<br />
and shutting out viruses. The<br />
Norton SystemWorks<br />
<strong>2006</strong> Premier<br />
new <strong>2006</strong> Premier release<br />
adds spyware protection and<br />
enhanced Internet privacy<br />
controls.<br />
Symantec<br />
www.symantec.com<br />
800-441-7234<br />
Direct Price: $99.99 (System-<br />
Works <strong>2006</strong> Premier)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
System Mechanic 5<br />
Professional<br />
INTERNET SECURITY<br />
Norton Internet<br />
Security 2005<br />
(Replaced by Internet Security<br />
<strong>2006</strong>)<br />
Our readers picked this suite<br />
of four utilities as their top<br />
choice to keep PCs safe from<br />
criminal hackers and malicious<br />
code. Its components include<br />
Norton’s AntiVirus, Personal<br />
Firewall, AntiSpam, and<br />
Parental Control apps. Outbreak<br />
Alert informs users of<br />
rapidly spreading virus<br />
threats and recommends<br />
downloadable updates. The<br />
latest version, Norton Internet<br />
Security <strong>2006</strong>, adds a Security<br />
Inspector tool that uncovers<br />
unsafe browser settings and<br />
Windows passwords.<br />
Symantec<br />
www.symantec.com<br />
800-441-7234<br />
Direct Price: $69.99 (Norton<br />
Internet Security <strong>2006</strong>)<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Spybot—Search & Destroy<br />
COMMUNICATIONS<br />
SOFTWARE<br />
Microsoft Outlook 2003<br />
Soon to be replaced by Outlook<br />
<strong>2006</strong>, Outlook 2003 represented<br />
a huge improvement over<br />
its predecessor when first introduced.<br />
It was the first iteration<br />
to let users group messages<br />
and replies of backand-forth<br />
exchanges, flag<br />
messages with a single click,<br />
and customize Search folders<br />
to create new views. Although<br />
its antispam features aren’t<br />
the most powerful you can<br />
find, they let you identify junk<br />
mail and either drop it into a<br />
special folder or automatically<br />
delete it.<br />
Microsoft<br />
www.microsoft.com<br />
800-642-7676<br />
Direct Price: $109<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Google Gmail<br />
MEDIA PLAYER<br />
Windows Media Player 10<br />
We were a bit surprised to see<br />
that Windows Media Player 10<br />
received more than twice as<br />
many votes as the runner-up<br />
for this category. Of course, it<br />
doesn’t hurt that the stellar<br />
jukebox software comes<br />
Windows Media Player 10
loaded on every new PC.<br />
Nonetheless, Media Player 10<br />
can stand on its own merits:<br />
The easy-to-use, streamlined<br />
version 10 integrates com-<br />
patible music stores and<br />
movie-download services, in-<br />
cluding MSN Music Service<br />
and Napster. Plus, it syncs<br />
with more than 75 portable<br />
devices.<br />
Microsoft<br />
www.microsoft.com<br />
888-218-5617<br />
Price: Free<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
iTunes 4.9<br />
PC GAME<br />
Half-Life 2<br />
A faithful follow-up to one of<br />
the greatest PC games of all<br />
time, Half-Life 2 has gorgeous<br />
3D graphics, an amazingly<br />
realistic physics model,<br />
and a familiar story line<br />
packed with plenty of paramilitary<br />
bad guys and aliens<br />
to plug. The fun doesn’t stop<br />
there. It also has a strong<br />
multiplayer component and<br />
Half-Life 2<br />
includes free mods such as<br />
Counter-Strike: Source, a visceralterrorist/counter-terrorist<br />
combat sim, and Day of<br />
Defeat, a fast-paced World<br />
War II shooter.<br />
Valve • www.half-life2.com<br />
425-889-9642<br />
Direct Price: $39.95<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil<br />
ONLINE MUSIC<br />
SERVICE<br />
iTunes Music Store<br />
Built into its iTunes application,<br />
Apple’s iTunes Music<br />
PASTPICKS<br />
Store offers a ton of advantages:<br />
flexible usage rights,<br />
high-quality tracks, a simple<br />
pricing scheme, and a monstrous<br />
catalog of more than<br />
2 million songs, 25,000 podcasts,<br />
and 11,000 audiobooks.<br />
Since the debut of the<br />
new video iPod last fall, the<br />
one-stop music shop also<br />
features more than 2,000<br />
music videos, Pixar animation<br />
shorts, and television<br />
shows for $1.99 a pop.<br />
Apple <strong>Computer</strong><br />
www.apple.com<br />
800-692-7753<br />
Direct Price: 99 cents per<br />
song; $1.99 per video<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Napster 3.0<br />
1993<br />
BEST OPERATING<br />
SYSTEM<br />
IBM OS/2 2.1<br />
According to our effusive<br />
write-up on IBM’s bid for OS<br />
supremacy, “this version has<br />
broken Microsoft’s iron grip<br />
on today’s computers.” Oops.<br />
ONLINE SERVICE<br />
Netflix<br />
Netflix’s model of renting<br />
DVDs by mail for a flat<br />
monthly fee is so brilliant<br />
that it has spawned lots<br />
of copycats. But none—<br />
not even Blockbuster—<br />
has been able to best the<br />
originator of the concept.<br />
A variety of Netflix plans<br />
lets you have from one<br />
to eight discs out at a<br />
time. You keep them as<br />
long as you like and mail<br />
them back in prepaid envelopes<br />
without incurring<br />
late fees. Turnaround is<br />
swift, titles are plentiful, and<br />
the intuitive Web site is a<br />
delight to use.<br />
Netflix • www.netflix.com<br />
Direct Price: $9.99 to $47.99<br />
per month<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Kodak EasyShare Gallery<br />
VOIP SERVICE<br />
Vonage<br />
The granddaddy of Internet<br />
phone services, Vonage offers<br />
a wealth of calling features,<br />
extensive coverage, and strong<br />
support. While some Voice<br />
over Internet Protocol (VoIP)<br />
services are best used as a secondary<br />
line or for saving money<br />
on especially expensive<br />
long-distance calls, clear calling<br />
makes Vonage a suitable<br />
replacement for your primary<br />
phone line.<br />
Vonage • www.vonage.com<br />
866-243-4357<br />
Direct Price: $24.99 per month<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Skype<br />
FREE DOWNLOAD<br />
Firefox<br />
Mozilla’s Firefox is your dream<br />
Internet browser. With features<br />
like tabbed browsing,<br />
customizable search bars,<br />
and a built-in Really Simple<br />
Syndication (RSS) reader,Firefox<br />
is finally putting a dent in<br />
Firefox<br />
Microsoft Internet Explorer’s<br />
unrivaled market dominance.<br />
Firefox is fast and stable, and<br />
it displays an impressive range<br />
of browsing options.<br />
Mozilla Foundation<br />
www.mozilla.org<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition<br />
BEST PLACES TO BUY<br />
BEST PLACE TO BUY<br />
DESKTOPS<br />
Dell<br />
Dell is the No. 1 seller of<br />
computers worldwide, so it’s<br />
no surprise that its online<br />
store once again nabs the top<br />
spot. The company’s lineup<br />
of eminently configurable<br />
desktops ranges from bargain<br />
models (starting at $349)<br />
to its new premium XPS line.<br />
No matter your budget, Dell<br />
enables at-a-glance comparisons<br />
of its product lines in a<br />
format that’s clean and accessible.<br />
When you’re ready<br />
to customize, Dell’s configuration<br />
pages provide an<br />
exhaustive combination of<br />
options. And its revolving<br />
carousel of special offers<br />
keeps shoppers coming<br />
back for free shipping and<br />
upgrades.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
800-999-3355<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Newegg.com<br />
BEST PLACE TO BUY<br />
NOTEBOOKS<br />
Dell<br />
Laptops are, by nature, more<br />
personal than their lessportable<br />
counterparts, and<br />
selecting that just-right model<br />
can be challenging. Our<br />
readers opt for the Dell solution:<br />
Its product-comparison<br />
tool enables you to narrow<br />
down choices by lining up a<br />
range of notebooks, then<br />
checking off the models you<br />
wish to compare. After<br />
you’ve identified the one that<br />
best fits your needs (remember<br />
to check out the 360degree<br />
images), you can upgrade<br />
the notebook’s components<br />
to yield a customconfigured<br />
machine that<br />
fits you like a glove.<br />
Dell • www.dell.com<br />
800-999-3355<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Newegg.com<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 67
BEST PLACES TO BUY<br />
PASTPICKS<br />
1995<br />
BEST PLACE TO<br />
home productivity, games,<br />
business basics, and utilities. BEST SERVICE AND<br />
BUY CORE<br />
The store also offers software SUPPORT, HARDWARE<br />
COMPONENTS<br />
licenses for various versions of Gateway 2000<br />
Newegg.com<br />
Microsoft Windows, as well as Before Dell started sweeping this award every year (and before<br />
Our readers know that<br />
OEM versions of selected ti- Gateway changed its name), Gateway 2000 took top honors for<br />
Newegg.com is the place to go tles. And for those who simply its customer service and tech support. All of its desktops came<br />
for a comprehensive array of can’t wait, the site offers more with a three-year warranty, including a year of onsite service.<br />
components that ranges from than 500 downloadable soft- Ah, the good old days.<br />
utilitarian heatsinks to blisterware and game titles. Shiping<br />
64-bit dual-core procesping is typically $1.49 or less, if provements with each iterasors.<br />
You can also get just not free.<br />
tion. Our readers voted the re- BEST PLACE TO BUY<br />
about anything you need to Newegg.com<br />
cently video- enabled iPod RETAIL<br />
upgrade, trick out, rejuvenate, www.newegg.com<br />
(30GB, $299; 60GB, $399) the Best Buy<br />
or repair your PC. On top of 800-390-1119<br />
most innovative product of the Sometimes you just want to<br />
the company’s extremely<br />
year. With its ability to<br />
try out a tech product before<br />
competitive pricing, it also Runner-Up:<br />
smoothly play you buy. Our readers think<br />
provides speedy delivery and Best Buy<br />
back videos and electronics superstore Best<br />
reliable service.<br />
select TV pro- Buy is the best place to visit if<br />
Newegg.com<br />
BEST PLACE TO<br />
gramming, the you want to compare picture<br />
www.newegg.com<br />
BUY CONSUMER<br />
fifth-generation quality on high-definition tel-<br />
800-390-1119<br />
ELECTRONICS<br />
iPod may finally evisions or how different digi-<br />
Best Buy<br />
kick-start the tal cameras feel in your hands.<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
Best Buy is doubly<br />
market for While it has plenty of big-tick-<br />
Best Buy<br />
tempting: If one of its<br />
portable video et items, Best Buy is also great<br />
714 U.S. retail locations<br />
devices. Even if for finding deals on CDs,<br />
BEST PLACE TO BUY isn’t near you, the<br />
it doesn’t, the DVDs, and tech accessories.<br />
PERIPHERALS<br />
chain’s comprehensive<br />
Apple iPod<br />
iPod continues Best Buy • www.bestbuy.com<br />
Newegg.com<br />
Web store is just a click away. to define the market for<br />
888-237-8289<br />
When you’re shopping for a Either way, Best Buy delivers portable digital-audio players.<br />
peripheral—a flat-panel dis- an unbeatable selection of flat- Apple <strong>Computer</strong><br />
Runner-Up:<br />
play, hard drive, or printer,to panel televisions, digital cam- www.apple.com<br />
CompUSA<br />
name a few—the sheer voleras, digital audio players, 800-692-7753<br />
ume of choices can be daunt- gaming devices, and home<br />
BEST PLACE TO BUY<br />
ing. Newegg.com makes it theater equipment. You can Runner-Up:<br />
ONLINE<br />
easy by organiz-<br />
save time by Firefox<br />
Newegg.com<br />
ing its sweeping<br />
picking up<br />
With its three other first-place<br />
inventory of prod-<br />
your online or- BEST SERVICE AND finishes and five runner-up<br />
ucts in a store<br />
der at a nearby SUPPORT<br />
positions, it shouldn’t be sur-<br />
that’s logically or-<br />
store. Bonus: Dell<br />
prising that Newegg.com takes<br />
ganized and easy<br />
Best Buy also Tech support may be getting a overall honors as the place to<br />
to browse. If<br />
you’re looking for<br />
Newegg.com<br />
offers in-home<br />
service, re-<br />
bad rap these days, but Dell<br />
still tops your list as the best<br />
buy tech products online. Offering<br />
substantially more se-<br />
opinions, the e-tailer has postpairs, and installations.<br />
source of PC-related help. Belections than any brick-anded<br />
more than 225,000 product Best Buy • www.bestbuy.com sides offering its customers mortar store could ever hold,<br />
reviews from its customers, all 888-237-8289<br />
excellent extended warranties Newegg.com trounces the<br />
searchable by keyword.<br />
on its products, the computer competition with competitive<br />
Newegg.com<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
giant has recently taken a pricing, excellent service, and<br />
www.newegg.com<br />
Newegg.com<br />
leading role in fighting online first-rate delivery options. The<br />
800-390-1119<br />
threats such as viruses and site also posts extensive feed-<br />
MOST INNOVATIVE spyware. Its downloadable back on the products it stocks<br />
Runner-Up:<br />
PRODUCT OR<br />
Dell Support application, pre- from its legion of customers.<br />
Best Buy<br />
SERVICE<br />
installed on many of its com- What more could you ask for<br />
Apple iPod<br />
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68 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
HAND-CRAFTED COMPUTERS<br />
DON’T SETTLE FOR A<br />
COOKIE-CUTTER PC—<br />
GET EXACTLY WHAT<br />
YOU WANT FROM A<br />
CUSTOM DESKTOP<br />
BUILDER.<br />
Edited by<br />
Joshua Goldman<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 71
FOR MOST SHOPPERS, buying a PC means heading to the online<br />
configurators of Dell, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard,<br />
and choosing among the components listed in the dropdown<br />
menus. While these offerings will please most PC buyers<br />
most of the time, what happens if you’re picky about<br />
certain components? (Say the graphics card or case you really<br />
want is not an option.) The solution: a small, custom PC<br />
builder that can give you exactly what you want, à la carte.<br />
A couple of the vendors we send you<br />
to this month may be completely new to<br />
you, but that’s just the point. These are<br />
small, boutique vendors that build custom<br />
PCs to your exact specifications, so<br />
their prices are high and their volume<br />
low.<br />
We requested a high-end configuration<br />
from All American <strong>Computer</strong>s<br />
(AAC), NiveusMedia, Overdrive PC, and<br />
Puget Custom <strong>Computer</strong>s. Although the<br />
PCs we received ranged in price from<br />
just under $5,000 to nearly $6,500, that<br />
doesn’t mean these companies aren’t<br />
capable of building more-economical<br />
machines. Most small, boutique manufacturers<br />
offer customers personal attention<br />
so they come away with the PC<br />
they want, not simply the one that’s<br />
available. Overdrive offers modest configurations<br />
of its overclocked computers,<br />
and AAC and Puget Custom will build to<br />
order everything from budget desktops<br />
to the loaded ones we feature here. The<br />
exception is NiveusMedia, which sticks<br />
to high-end Media Center PCs for A/V<br />
enthusiasts and doesn’t offer many customization<br />
options. But the build quality<br />
is superior to anything you’d find<br />
from a mainstream maker.<br />
Each PC we tested for this AAC<br />
LiquidXS<br />
ATI<br />
Crossfire<br />
72 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
roundup has unique features, such as<br />
carefully assembled liquid-cooling systems<br />
or distinctive case designs. And although<br />
peak performance wasn’t our<br />
main goal, none of these boutique boxes<br />
disappointed in that regard.<br />
AAC LiquidXS ATI Crossfire<br />
Editors’ Rating: 7.3 out of 10<br />
Pros: Attractive design; attention to detail;<br />
lots of component options; solid warranty<br />
Cons: Top performance held back by older<br />
components; limited expansion options;<br />
no accessories<br />
THE COMPANY: Indiana-based AAC<br />
will build just about any configuration<br />
you want and talk you through the<br />
whole process, if need be. And if you<br />
seek a unique gaming box that’ll drop<br />
jaws at your next LAN party, consider<br />
AAC’s LiquidXS PCs for their incredible<br />
appearance and performance.<br />
THE COMPUTER: AAC sent us a $4,889<br />
(without monitor, speakers, keyboard,<br />
or mouse) limited-edition Crossfire<br />
dual-graphics-card desktop, the first<br />
ATI dual-graphics-card combination<br />
we’ve seen. The cherry-red acrylic case<br />
is stunning, and surprisingly sturdy<br />
considering it’s reasonably lightweight.<br />
ATI’s Crossfire logo is laser-<br />
etched into the left panel, but AAC will<br />
inscribe whatever design you choose<br />
for an additional fee. The clear removable<br />
panel on the other side offers easy<br />
component access while showing off<br />
the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor’s<br />
liquid-cooling system and the organized<br />
interior cable routing. Two ultraviolet<br />
lights make the coolant glow blue,<br />
while three 120mm white-LED fans<br />
enhance the light show.<br />
Up front, you’ll find audio jacks, a<br />
double-layer DVD±RW drive, and two<br />
USB 2.0 ports. The interior is tight, with<br />
unusable PCI slots, a single open 5.25inch<br />
bay, a couple of RAM slots, and<br />
nothing more—not that you’d need<br />
much else.<br />
Two 10,000rpm 74GB hard drives set to<br />
RAID Level 0 back up a 200GB drive, and<br />
a superb Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2<br />
ZS sound card handles audio. But the<br />
stars here are the 256MB ATI X850 XT<br />
graphics card and its Crossfire companion<br />
card. (AAC also offers nVidia SLI<br />
builds.) The cards performed as expected:<br />
great at our tested 1,024x768 resolution,<br />
but not as good as the newer 256MB<br />
nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX at higher resolutions.<br />
On our Half-Life 2 test, the combo<br />
cards hit 111.6 frames per second<br />
(fps). Although the GPU fans are loud,<br />
the case dampens the din.<br />
The 2.6GHz FX-55 CPU we received is<br />
no longer AMD’s top of the line, but it’s<br />
still powerful, and when coupled with the<br />
PC’s 1GB of high-performance memory,<br />
produced strong results, scoring 216 on<br />
our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 test. Of course,<br />
you can always choose a faster CPU.<br />
THE WARRANTY: AAC covers parts for<br />
one year and labor for three. Also, component<br />
upgrades are installed free of charge.<br />
NiveusMedia Media Center<br />
Denali Edition<br />
Editors’ Rating: 7.3 out of 10<br />
Pros: Unique fanless case; four TV tuners<br />
include two high-definition; solid construction<br />
Cons: Hard to upgrade; outdated components;<br />
large; expensive; meager warranty<br />
THE COMPANY: Unlike other vendors<br />
that build Media Center PCs as a line extension,<br />
San Jose, Calif.-based Niveus-<br />
Media offers PCs strictly for the A/V<br />
crowd. The company does not allow for<br />
much customization, but the audio and<br />
video quality you get is top-notch.<br />
THE COMPUTER: PC enthusiasts will<br />
quibble about the part-to-price ratio of<br />
CONTINUES ON PAGE 78
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72<br />
NiveusMedia<br />
Media Center<br />
Denali<br />
Edition<br />
izes in overclocking to provide the most<br />
performance for your money, whether<br />
your setup costs $2,000 or $5,000.<br />
THE COMPUTER: At $4,924 without a<br />
monitor or speakers, the Torque.SLI we<br />
tested isn’t for everyone. But if you absolutely<br />
must have the fastest PC on<br />
the block, this one comes with bragging<br />
rights.<br />
the $6,298 Media Center Denali Edition, e-mail support. That’s a little stingy for Our test unit’s simple black Lian Li<br />
but A/V fanatics will see value in its a high-end model, but it’s still in line PC-6070 midtower is also available in<br />
stable component mix, Imaging Science with A/V-component manufacturers. silver or with a custom paint job. The<br />
Foundation certification (a videoquality<br />
stamp of approval), and its<br />
Application Performance: BAPCo SYSmark 2004<br />
clean-cut image dissolves once you<br />
crack open the case, however. The<br />
near-silent operation.<br />
At 15x25x8.3 inches (HWD) and 60<br />
pounds, the black, anodized-alu-<br />
AAC LiquidXS<br />
ATI Crossfire<br />
NiveusMedia Media<br />
Center Denali Edition<br />
216<br />
191<br />
side panels are coated with a foamrubber<br />
sound-damping material, and<br />
the motherboard, hard drives, and<br />
minum case is a behemoth. It re-<br />
Overdrive Torque.SLI<br />
255<br />
expansion cards are fitted with stainsembles<br />
a large amplifier, with side<br />
Puget Liquid Cooled SLI<br />
235 less-steel screws and rubber washers.<br />
fins that act as giant heat sinks to<br />
0 100 150 200 250 300 Cables are carefully routed and<br />
enable fanless operation. These fins<br />
clipped to maximize airflow, and qui-<br />
get hot, so give this monster suffi-<br />
3D-Gaming Performance: Half-Life 2 (1,024x768)<br />
et fans help reduce noise output. You<br />
cient space in your A/V cabinet.<br />
The minimalist front panel holds<br />
just two USB 2.0 ports and a slot for<br />
AAC LiquidXS<br />
ATI Crossfire<br />
NiveusMedia Media<br />
Center Denali Edition<br />
60.5<br />
111.6<br />
even get a small flashlight clipped to<br />
the drive cage. And despite a case<br />
packed with state-of-the-art hard-<br />
the double-layer DVD burner. Aside<br />
Overdrive Torque.SLI<br />
128.9* ware running at beyond-default<br />
from one FireWire and four USB<br />
Puget Liquid Cooled SLI<br />
110.6 speeds, the Torque.SLI’s fans stayed<br />
ports, rear-panel connections are all<br />
A/V-oriented, and they’re abundant.<br />
60 75 90<br />
* = Running an older version of our Half-Life 2 test.<br />
105 120 135<br />
(frames per second)<br />
so quiet during testing we could hear<br />
the hard drive heads moving.<br />
Connections for the nVidia GeForce<br />
6600 GT video card and onboard Intel<br />
For details on how we test desktop PCs, visit<br />
computershopper.com/HowWeTest and click<br />
With a pair of 256MB XFX GeForce<br />
7800 GTX graphics cards and a Cre-<br />
High Definition 7.1 audio are routed “Windows desktops.”<br />
ative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS<br />
to a series of plugs home-theater buffs<br />
sound card, you’ll find little room for<br />
will love. You get four TV tuner cards— Overdrive Torque.SLI<br />
expansion—only a single PCI slot and a<br />
two standard-definition and two over- Editors’ Rating: 8.4 out of 10<br />
couple of memory slots. External exthe-air<br />
high-definition (HD)—but you’ll Pros: Unmatched performance; quiet<br />
pansion is more promising, with six<br />
have to supply your own HD antenna. operation; variety of configuration options USB 2.0 ports, two of which are front-<br />
With 16 bolts securing the top, the Cons: No onsite service; limited expansion mounted.<br />
case clearly isn’t designed to be<br />
room; $5,000 gets you only one year of<br />
The Torque.SLI came with a double-<br />
opened. Initial configuration options warranty coverage<br />
layer DVD burner and a DVD-ROM, plus<br />
are limited to RAM (up to 4GB) and<br />
hard drive space (up to 800GB); our test<br />
EDITORS’<br />
CHOICE<br />
THE COMPANY: Box after<br />
box, Georgia-based Over-<br />
a pair of 10,000rpm 74GB hard drives<br />
configured in a RAID Level 0 array to<br />
PC came with 4GB of RAM and two<br />
drive PC continues to im- augment the removable 200GB drive.<br />
400GB SATA hard drives. You can call to<br />
discuss other options, but NiveusMedia<br />
prefers to ship its computers with<br />
press us. The system builder special- The PC also had a floppy drive with a<br />
slightly older but proven parts, such as<br />
a 3.2GHz Pentium 540 CPU.<br />
The Denali hit a competent 191 on<br />
our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 tests. A dualcore<br />
processor would offer improved<br />
media performance, and at press time,<br />
NiveusMedia said dual-core systems<br />
were in the works. Although not designed<br />
as a gaming machine, the Denali<br />
can handle most of today’s games at<br />
moderate resolutions; at 1,024x768,<br />
Half-Life 2 ran at 60.5fps.<br />
THE WARRANTY: The standard oneyear<br />
warranty includes phone and<br />
Overdrive<br />
Torque.SLI<br />
78 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
uilt-in media-card reader.<br />
Overdrive’s overclocking efforts go<br />
beyond just toggling a few settings. In<br />
addition to overclocking the 2.8GHz<br />
Athlon 64 FX-57, graphics cards, and<br />
RAM, it optimizes the BIOS and Windows<br />
settings for maximum performance.<br />
The results were an impressive<br />
Half-Life 2 score of 128.9fps at<br />
1,024x768. (This test was recently altered,<br />
due to changes made by the<br />
game manufacturer, and this should<br />
push scores even higher.) The application<br />
score of 255 on BAPCo SYSmark<br />
2004 was equally inspiring.<br />
THE WARRANTY: Overdrive provides<br />
one year of parts-and-labor coverage<br />
Puget<br />
Liquid<br />
Cooled SLI<br />
and toll-free tech support. That’s mea- Puget housed its creation in the Sil- and Intel processors, with a variety of<br />
ger considering the PC’s price. A warverstone Temjin TJO7 chassis, which is motherboard choices. If you don’t see<br />
ranty upgrade costs $100 per year. No massive at 25.5x8.6x22.2 inches (HWD) the part you want while configuring on-<br />
onsite service is available, but Over- and hefty at more than 50 pounds with line, fill out the comments section and<br />
drive covers shipping both ways while all the hardware installed. Beneath the someone from Puget will contact you to<br />
the PC is under its Platinum warranty. slot-loading double-layer DVD±RW burn- review your request and order the part.<br />
er, you can watch the water from the liq- Our PC came with a 2.8GHz Athlon 64<br />
Puget Liquid Cooled SLI<br />
uid-cooling system flow through a reser- FX-57 processor and 2GB of DDR memo-<br />
Editors’ Rating: 7.5<br />
out of 10<br />
voir, which glows blue from the light of ry. A pair of 256MB nVidia GeForce 7800<br />
Pros: Strong 3D performance; liquid cooling an LED. The other available external bay GTX graphics cards provides the 3D<br />
provides plenty of headroom for overclocking; is occupied by Creative’s X-Fi Fata1ty FPS muscle. Missing from the configuration<br />
well-built; includes top components<br />
audio control panel. All other bays are was a sizable hard drive, but you’ll find<br />
Cons: One-year warranty; large; expensive; occupied by internally mounted devices, plenty of room to add one.<br />
monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse cost extra including a water-pump assembly and a This wasn’t the fastest 3D system<br />
THE COMPANY: Seattle-based Puget is special watercooled cage for the two we’ve seen, but it’s close at 110.6fps on<br />
a build-to-order shop that specializes 10,000rpm 74GB hard drives, which are Half-Life 2 at 1,024x768 resolution. Its<br />
in custom-made desktops, servers, and set to RAID Level 0.<br />
application-performance mark of 235<br />
laptops.<br />
Because nearly every component is on BAPCo SYSmark 2004 was equally<br />
THE COMPUTER: The tricked-out Liquid watercooled, the interior is loaded with impressive.<br />
Cooled SLI we tested proved to be a top tubing, radiators, pumps, shielded ca- Although the Puget was configured<br />
3D performer. It’s pricey at $6,438 withbles, and special waterblock fittings. to run at default settings, bumping up<br />
out any accessories, but its wow factor This hardware added more than $1,100 the processor speed and GPU timings<br />
is high.<br />
to the price of the computer.<br />
will result in improved performance,<br />
Puget offers desktops based on AMD possibly better than the Overdrive PC’s.<br />
Feature Comparison<br />
Its elaborate watercooling<br />
system quali-<br />
EDITORS’ RATING<br />
CONFIGURATION<br />
Processor<br />
AAC LiquidXS ATI<br />
Crossfire<br />
7.3<br />
2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-55<br />
NiveusMedia Media Center<br />
Denali Edition<br />
7.3<br />
3.2GHz Pentium 4 540<br />
Overdrive Torque.SLI<br />
8.4<br />
2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-57<br />
Puget Liquid Cooled SLI<br />
7.5<br />
2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-57<br />
fies it for overclocking,<br />
as does its<br />
warranty.<br />
THE WARRANTY: A<br />
System Memory 1GB DDR 4GB DDR 1GB DDR 2GB DDR<br />
short one-year war-<br />
Graphics Two ATI Radeon X850 XT nVidia GeForce 6600 GT Two nVidia GeForce Two nVidia GeForce ranty covers this<br />
Hard Drives<br />
First Optical Drive<br />
(256MB)<br />
Two 74GB, one 200GB<br />
DVD±RW (double-layer)<br />
(128MB)<br />
Two 400GB<br />
DVD±RW (double-layer)<br />
7800 GTX (256MB)<br />
Two 74GB, one 200GB<br />
DVD±RW (double-layer)<br />
7800 GTX (256MB)<br />
Two 74GB<br />
DVD±RW (double-layer)<br />
costly PC, but Puget<br />
pays for shipping in<br />
Second Optical Drive None None DVD-ROM None<br />
both directions if you<br />
Monitor None None None None<br />
need service, and ex-<br />
Speakers<br />
Operating System<br />
None<br />
Windows XP Professional<br />
Edition<br />
None<br />
Windows XP Media<br />
Center Edition 2005<br />
None<br />
Windows XP Professional<br />
Edition<br />
None<br />
Windows XP Professional<br />
Edition<br />
tensions are reasonably<br />
priced.<br />
Warranty (Parts/Labor) One year/three years One year/one year One year/one year One year/one year<br />
COMPANY All American <strong>Computer</strong>s NiveusMedia Overdrive PC Puget Custom <strong>Computer</strong>s<br />
Reviews by Dan<br />
866-468-2819 866-258-2929 866-410-9958 425-458-0273<br />
Ackerman, Denny Atkin,<br />
www.aacdirect.com www.niveus.com www.overdrivepc.com www.pugetsystems.com<br />
John Delaney, and<br />
DIRECT PRICE $4,889 $6,298 $4,924 $6,438<br />
Joshua Goldman<br />
80 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
Illustrations by David Flaherty<br />
GiveorGoGreen<br />
DONATE OR RECYCLE THOSE OUTDATED TECH<br />
PRODUCTS IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME GOOD KARMA—<br />
AND MAYBE A DISCOUNT ON FUTURE SHOPPING.<br />
by Kevin Savetz<br />
IF YOU STARTED OFF THE NEW YEAR<br />
with a shiny new computer, chances are<br />
you didn’t even get it plugged in before<br />
the question hit: “What am I going to do<br />
with the old one?” It might seem tempting<br />
to dispatch that bulky tower and huge<br />
CRT to a dusty corner in the basement<br />
and promptly forget about them, but it’s<br />
more responsible to dispose of yesterday’s<br />
technology by recycling it or donating it to<br />
charity.<br />
Whatever you do, don’t park the old<br />
equipment on the curb. Besides taking up<br />
landfill space, computers and peripherals<br />
contain lead, mercury, and other toxic<br />
materials that can leach into the ground<br />
and water table. In fact, some components<br />
are considered hazardous waste,<br />
making it illegal to toss them out with<br />
household trash.<br />
If there’s life left in those components,<br />
you’ll find plenty of organizations that<br />
specialize in getting them to people who<br />
really need them. (More on that later.)<br />
But if your old tech isn’t usable, the right<br />
thing to do is to make sure it’s disposed of<br />
properly.<br />
A good first step on the road to ecoresponsibility<br />
is to check with your PC’s<br />
manufacturer to see if it offers a recycling<br />
program. For a small fee, some big computer<br />
makers will take your old PC and<br />
other components (no matter who manufactured<br />
them, in most cases) and recycle<br />
what can be reused, before properly disposing<br />
of the rest.<br />
Hewlett-Packard’s hardware recycling<br />
program (www.hp.com/recycle) covers<br />
any piece of computer hardware from any<br />
manufacturer. The company charges $13<br />
to $34 per item: Recycling a typical desktop<br />
PC and CRT monitor will cost around<br />
$46. Once you pack up the old equipment,<br />
HP will arrange for it to be picked up from<br />
your home or business.<br />
For $29.99, IBM’s Recycling Service<br />
(www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/<br />
products) will take your retired PC, display,<br />
printer, and other components—as<br />
much as you can<br />
fit into a 26-inch-square<br />
box. The company will either<br />
recycle or refurbish<br />
the equipment, depending<br />
on its age and condition.<br />
Refurbished items<br />
are donated to Gifts In<br />
Kind International, an organization<br />
that links corporate<br />
donors and various<br />
recipient charities; you’ll<br />
receive a receipt for tax<br />
purposes.<br />
Apple’s program<br />
(www.apple.com/<br />
environment/recycling)<br />
is similar: For a $30 fee,<br />
the company will accept<br />
a 26-inch-square box of<br />
components up to 60<br />
pounds. You’ll receive a prepaid UPS mailing<br />
slip, and all you have to do is pack up<br />
the parts and take them to the nearest<br />
UPS drop-off site for recycling.<br />
DISPOSAL WITH BENEFITS<br />
If you’re just not willing to pay to recycle,<br />
you may be able to find a program that<br />
pays you. Dell (www.us.dell.com/recycle)<br />
offers free recycling of an old PC when<br />
you buy a new Dell. The company provides<br />
prepaid airbills for shipping the old<br />
equipment and allows you to recycle two<br />
large items—such as the PC and monitor—plus<br />
smaller parts such as a keyboard<br />
and speakers.<br />
Data Wipeout<br />
NO MATTER HOW you dispose<br />
of that retired PC, it’s critical to<br />
remove any sensitive personal<br />
data on its hard drive. Simply<br />
tossing files into the Recycle Bin<br />
or reformatting the drive is not<br />
enough. Instead, you should wipe<br />
the hard drive to remove all traces<br />
of your financial information,<br />
passwords, e-mail messages, and<br />
other private data.<br />
Darik’s Boot and Nuke (dban.<br />
sourceforge.net) is a free, easy<br />
solution for destroying data. The<br />
utility creates a self-contained<br />
boot floppy or CD-R that securely<br />
erases the hard drives of most<br />
Macs and PCs. Active Kill Disk,<br />
also free, (www.killdisk.com) is<br />
another option. It only works on<br />
PCs, however.<br />
Dell also offers the option of giving<br />
your old equipment to the National Cristina<br />
Foundation, a nonprofit group that<br />
provides technology and training to disabled<br />
and economically disadvantaged<br />
children and adults. In addition to the<br />
good feeling you’ll get, you may be eligible<br />
for a tax deduction. And as a bonus, Dell<br />
will give you 10 percent off a future software<br />
or peripheral purchase. (You can also<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 83
donate to the National Christina Founda-<br />
tion directly. For more information, go to<br />
www.christina.org.)<br />
If you previously purchased a Gateway<br />
or eMachines PC, you may be able to get<br />
cash back for your old technology through<br />
Gateway’s Trade-In & Recycle program<br />
(gateway.eztradein.com). The amount<br />
you’ll receive depends on the condition<br />
and age of your items. An online trade-in<br />
estimator (gateway.eztradein.com/<br />
gateway/calculators.cfm) makes an edu-<br />
cated guess at your old machine’s value.<br />
A typical 1.3GHz Pentium 4 PC, for in-<br />
stance, could earn you $85 back. An older<br />
machine, such as a Pentium III, might<br />
have no trade-in value, in which case you<br />
can opt to pay a per-pound recycling fee.<br />
Regardless of where you purchased<br />
your PC, CNET’s Trade-In Center<br />
(cnet.tradeups.com) lets you turn it into<br />
cash to use toward the purchase of new<br />
gear. Get an instant online quote for the<br />
value of your old desktop, display, notebook,<br />
PDA, printer, digital camera, server,<br />
or projector, and CNET will contribute 10<br />
percent of each trade-in’s value to the<br />
school of your choice. (CNET Networks is<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>’s parent company.)<br />
THINK GLOBALLY,<br />
ACT LOCALLY<br />
If you prefer to keep your donations local,<br />
it’s pretty easy to find community organizations<br />
that will take your old tech. You<br />
Sell, Swap, or Drop Off<br />
THERE ARE PLENTY OF<br />
WAYS to turn old tech into new<br />
cash. All you need is a Web browser.<br />
For a nominal fee, you could auction<br />
off your old equipment. Just remember<br />
eBay (www.ebay.com) is a<br />
global marketplace, so you’ll want to<br />
include your geographic location and<br />
specify whether you’re willing to ship<br />
the items overseas. Even better, posting<br />
on Craigslist (www.craigslist.org)<br />
is a free and easy way to find local<br />
people willing to pay for old components.<br />
And if your trash doesn’t fetch<br />
any cash, you can almost always find<br />
someone on Craigslist who will trade<br />
old stuff for yours. Because the service<br />
is local, you typically don’t have to<br />
deal with the bother of shipping.<br />
If you don’t have luck unloading<br />
your PC and components for cash, try<br />
84 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
can donate working PCs to a nonprofit organization<br />
or school in your area. Although<br />
the machine may be too anemic<br />
to handle today’s hottest 3D games, it<br />
probably has enough power to help a senior<br />
citizen get on the Internet or assist a<br />
student in learning word processing.<br />
Give judiciously, however. A too-old or<br />
nonworking PC can be a burden rather<br />
than a benefit, so contact the organization<br />
first to find out if it can use the hardware.<br />
Note that many groups have minimum<br />
specs for PCs (Pentium II or later,for instance).<br />
Share the Technology<br />
(www.sharetechnology.org) will<br />
help you find nonprofit organizations<br />
and schools in your<br />
area that can use technology<br />
products. Search the database<br />
to find a local group<br />
that needs hardware, or add<br />
your equipment to the list.<br />
If you can, donate some of<br />
your time along with the hardware:<br />
Many schools and organizations<br />
don’t have a tech-savvy staff to set<br />
up an old computer. An hour or two of<br />
your time to get that machine hooked up<br />
and working can only increase the good<br />
karma you’ve got coming.<br />
Finally, to dispose of unusable dead<br />
items, check with local government agencies<br />
for low-cost or free curbside-pickup<br />
options, drop-off centers, and periodic<br />
recycling events.<br />
Freecycle (www.freecycle.org), a site<br />
that directs you to thousands of<br />
regional mailing lists. Subscribe to the<br />
list for your area, then post a message<br />
offering up your retired stuff. Within<br />
hours, you’re likely to receive at least<br />
a dozen messages from people willing<br />
to take it off your hands (for free,<br />
hence the name), no matter how old it<br />
is. You’ll need to make arrangements<br />
to get the items to their new home,<br />
but recipient pickup is customary,<br />
saving you the trouble of shipping or<br />
delivery.<br />
And Freecycle isn’t just for computers:<br />
The group’s mission is to keep<br />
material out of landfills by finding<br />
takers for unwanted items. Use the<br />
service to give or receive most any<br />
type of free item, from furniture to<br />
firewood.<br />
Salvage the<br />
Small Stuff<br />
CHANCES ARE YOU DON’T<br />
DISPOSE of large items like desktops,<br />
notebooks, and displays very often.<br />
But what about smaller gadgets<br />
and consumables that become old (or<br />
depleted) much quicker? These are<br />
also harmful to the environment and<br />
need to be carefully recycled.<br />
Those who print regularly know<br />
how fast ink cartridges get depleted.<br />
Fortunately, used inkjet and<br />
toner cartridges can be refilled<br />
and resold, and<br />
many organizations<br />
accept them. You can<br />
use prepaid mailers,<br />
available in many<br />
post offices, to send<br />
your used printer cartridges<br />
to Recycle-Free<br />
(www.recyclefree.com).<br />
The organization also lets you<br />
earn cash by collecting empty cartridges<br />
as a fund-raiser for your<br />
school, church, or business; it will<br />
supply collection envelopes and boxes<br />
for free. We Buy Empties (www.<br />
webuyempties.com) pays from 10<br />
cents to $3 for each depleted inkjet<br />
cartridge. Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.<br />
com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/<br />
environment/recycle) also accepts<br />
used HP inkjet and laser cartridges,<br />
and will even send you a prepaid<br />
mailer for returning them.<br />
Plenty of organizations accept old<br />
mobile phones for reuse. The Charitable<br />
Recycling Program (www.<br />
charitablerecycling.com), Collective-<br />
Good (www.collectivegood.com), and<br />
ReCellular (www.wirelessrecycling.<br />
com) all salvage secondhand cell<br />
phones. (Collective Good also accepts<br />
PDAs and pagers.) If it works, they’ll<br />
give it to a charity; if not, they’ll<br />
recycle it in an environmentally<br />
responsible manner.<br />
The rechargeable batteries in<br />
phones, electric razors, and other<br />
gadgets should also be recycled.<br />
Rechargeable Battery Recycling<br />
(www.rbrc.org) provides the addresses<br />
of local businesses that will accept<br />
nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride,<br />
lithium-ion, and small sealed-lead<br />
batteries to be recycled for free.
HELP&HOW-TO<br />
TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER<br />
COMPUTER CURES ALFRED POOR<br />
DIVIDE AND CONQUER<br />
I have a new desktop running Windows XP<br />
Professional, with 4GB of RAM and two internal<br />
hard drives (250GB each). I bought the<br />
PC primarily for image processing in Photoshop.<br />
I plan to install Photoshop on the C:<br />
drive, and I want to partition 15GB of the<br />
other internal (D:) drive and designate it as a<br />
scratch disk used exclusively for Photoshop.<br />
The remaining space on the D: drive will be<br />
used for storage of images. Do I need special<br />
software to partition the second drive?<br />
Erica Tate<br />
Your plan makes sense, because it may<br />
boost your system performance. And you<br />
don’t need special software—Windows XP<br />
has a disk-management utility that can<br />
handle the job for you.<br />
Start by backing up any data on the<br />
second hard drive that you want to keep—<br />
you’ll be wiping out anything stored on<br />
this drive, so now is the time to preserve<br />
it. Next choose Start, right-click on My<br />
<strong>Computer</strong>, and choose Manage. In the<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> Management window, if there’s<br />
a plus sign next to the Storage line, click<br />
on it to expand that section, then select<br />
Disk Management. You’ll see a list of the<br />
storage devices in your system. Disk 0 is<br />
your boot drive and holds your C: drive.<br />
Your secondary drive is Disk 1, and it has<br />
probably already been partitioned and formatted,<br />
and will show up as the D: drive.<br />
If this is the case, delete the partition by<br />
right-clicking on the drive and choosing<br />
Delete Partition.<br />
Next, right-click on the available space<br />
of the drive, and choose New Partition.<br />
The New Partition wizard will guide you<br />
through the process. First, create a new<br />
235GB partition for the data portion of the<br />
drive; this will become the D: drive. Then,<br />
repeat the process for the remaining 15GB<br />
to create a logical drive in the remaining<br />
space, which will become the E: drive. Be<br />
sure to select the option to format the<br />
drives as you create them. Now you can<br />
restore your backed-up files and configure<br />
Photoshop to use the E: drive as the<br />
scratch disk.<br />
REGISTRY RESIDUE<br />
I was poking around in my Registry and decided<br />
to search for a program that I had deleted—or<br />
thought I had. I found the app, along<br />
with some other old programs I thought I’d<br />
deleted. Are these files taking up disk space?<br />
And are there other Registry archives where<br />
deleted files, documents, and programs are<br />
stored? If so, where can I find them?<br />
Kevin Collins<br />
What you found in your Registry are not<br />
the program files, but keys that once referred<br />
to those files. The Windows Registry<br />
is essentially a database that stores<br />
all the configuration information about<br />
your PC’s hardware and software. For programs,<br />
this often includes information<br />
about file locations and data formats.<br />
Poking around in your Registry<br />
can be risky, especially if you’re<br />
using the Windows REGEDIT<br />
utility. The program has no undo<br />
function, and changes take<br />
effect immediately.<br />
Many program-uninstall routines fail<br />
to remove these keys, but it’s really not<br />
much to worry about. These Registry entries<br />
take up a negligible amount of hard<br />
drive space. In my opinion, the potential<br />
for trouble increases when you try to remove<br />
these entries manually. Poking<br />
around in your Registry can be risky,<br />
especially if you’re using the Windows<br />
REGEDIT utility. This program has no<br />
undo function, and any changes you<br />
make take effect immediately, even if<br />
you haven’t explicitly saved the file.<br />
92 Software<br />
Weekend Project<br />
96 Software<br />
Weekend Project<br />
98 Buying Advisor<br />
115 Consumer Alert<br />
SCRATCH PAPER<br />
I am interested in making paper and was<br />
wondering if you had any information on<br />
what kind of coating is applied to paper to<br />
make it good for inkjet printing.<br />
Lori Triburgo<br />
I’ve created homemade paper in the past,<br />
but I’ve never made it specifically for use<br />
in a printer. Inkjets are more tolerant of<br />
uneven paper surfaces than are other<br />
printer types, such as lasers, but I suspect<br />
you’ll want to press your paper sheets so<br />
that they have a relatively smooth surface.<br />
This may help prevent the ink from<br />
wicking along the exposed fibers.<br />
The glossy or slick paper used for<br />
magazines and similar printed materials<br />
has a fine clay coating on the surface.<br />
If you want to print fine details,<br />
you may want to investigate this option.<br />
To my knowledge, regular commercial<br />
bond paper used in printers<br />
does not have any coating, so you may<br />
not need any at all.<br />
DITCH THOSE DISKETTES!<br />
I just bought a removable flash drive because<br />
I want to copy—then dispose of—the<br />
hundreds of floppies I have all over my<br />
desk. I thought I could copy from a floppy<br />
directly to the flash drive. When I tried this,<br />
I received an error message stating that the<br />
source and destination disks are not the<br />
same type. I wanted a quick, easy way to<br />
save space. If I have to copy each file to my<br />
desktop, then to the flash drive separately,<br />
I might as well give the drive away. Do you<br />
have a solution?<br />
Howard Milbert<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 89
HELP & HOW-TO COMPUTER CURES<br />
I recommend that you put the contents<br />
of each floppy in a separate folder on the<br />
flash drive. The easiest way to do this is<br />
to use a batch file, a short text file that<br />
issues a series of commands. It will<br />
make it easy to automate the process.<br />
I’ll assume that the flash drive shows<br />
up as drive E:, but you should substitute<br />
the appropriate letter, if necessary. Choose<br />
Start > All Programs > Accessories><br />
Notepad. Enter the following lines:<br />
E:<br />
md %1<br />
xcopy a:*.* \%1 /S<br />
Save this file as COPYFLOP.BAT in your<br />
Windows folder. Now, put a floppy in the<br />
drive. Choose Start > Run. Type COPYFLOP<br />
folder where folder is the name you want<br />
for this floppy, and press OK. This will create<br />
a new folder on your flash drive, and it<br />
will then copy all the files and folders<br />
from the floppy to the flash drive. (Note<br />
that it won’t copy empty folders; if you<br />
want to include them, change the /S to /E.)<br />
When it’s done, just put in a new floppy<br />
and repeat with a new folder name.<br />
TV ON MY PC?<br />
I’ve recently seen several online ads for<br />
Internet television. What is it?<br />
Harry Olivero<br />
TIP OF THE MONTH:<br />
A NON-WINDOWS<br />
BOOT SOLUTION<br />
In the good old days, if your hard<br />
drive had problems and you couldn’t<br />
boot Windows, you could grab a DOS<br />
floppy and boot with that, then access<br />
your hard drive to rescue files and<br />
troubleshoot the problem. Not so with<br />
Windows XP, which doesn’t offer such<br />
a boot option. You can boot from the<br />
Windows XP CD, but that method is<br />
best for repairing or reinstalling the<br />
OS, which can have unintended consequences.<br />
This month’s tipster has<br />
an alternate solution.<br />
When my Windows XP system has boot<br />
problems, I boot the PC using a live edition<br />
of one of the major Linux versions on a CD.<br />
These “test” versions allow you to boot<br />
without touching the hard drive, but they<br />
still give you access to retrieve all of your<br />
hard drive data.<br />
Robert Cook<br />
90 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Internet television—also called IPTV or<br />
Next-Generation TV—simply means that<br />
programming is delivered over the Web<br />
instead of the traditional cable, satellite,<br />
or terrestrial broadcast systems. The<br />
content may be streamed, or you can<br />
download the files to your PC’s hard<br />
drive to play whenever you want, just as<br />
you can with MP3 audio files.<br />
This is an exciting new development<br />
that could change the way we think<br />
about television altogether, as it makes<br />
true “on-demand” programming possible.<br />
It also means we’ll be more likely to<br />
have a PC at the center of our entertainment<br />
system in the future. Apple’s recent<br />
success in offering downloadable<br />
music videos and popular TV programs<br />
seems to indicate that consumers are<br />
interested in getting their video content<br />
over the Internet.<br />
RANDOM RESETS<br />
My PC was stuck on the opening screen (the<br />
one right before the BIOS screen). I restarted<br />
the PC, and it booted up properly. Shortly<br />
after that, I was surfing the Web, and the<br />
PC suddenly reset itself again and went<br />
back to the beginning screen. It did this several<br />
times. I scanned for viruses, and my PC<br />
came up clean. I’ve replaced the video card,<br />
I haven’t spent a lot of<br />
time with Linux, but<br />
I’m motivated to<br />
change that on the<br />
basis of this tip. You<br />
can download a<br />
bootable image of<br />
most major versions<br />
of the OS for free. If<br />
you’re not sure how to record it<br />
on a CD-R so that it’s bootable, simply<br />
plug “Linux CD” into your favorite search<br />
engine, and you’ll find several sources<br />
that will sell you a CD, usually for less<br />
than $10.<br />
Make sure that the version you choose<br />
will give you access to your hard drive.<br />
Some “test” Linux CDs don’t let you read<br />
or write data on a hard drive so that you<br />
don’t risk messing up your existing in-<br />
Send us your favorite tip, and you could receive a tipster’s prize package.<br />
and my machine still resets itself randomly,<br />
for no apparent reason. Any idea why this<br />
is happening?<br />
Mark Harris<br />
Intermittent PC problems are the most<br />
difficult to diagnose. I’ve got three possible<br />
suspects, however: overheating, electrical-power<br />
problems, and failing components.<br />
Because the problem occurs<br />
right after booting up, overheating can<br />
likely be ruled out. And if the problem<br />
were with the electrical supply, I suspect<br />
you would have noticed your PC’s lights<br />
dimming intermittently, so we can<br />
probably rule that out as well.<br />
This leaves the possibility of a failing<br />
component, but pinpointing the faulty<br />
one can be difficult. You can try removing<br />
and reseating all expansion cards and<br />
socketed components—such as the CPU<br />
and memory modules—and disconnecting<br />
and reconnecting all cables, including<br />
the ones from the power supply. If this<br />
doesn’t help, it’s likely that a component<br />
is failing. You might try replacing the power<br />
supply, since that’s an inexpensive experiment,<br />
but beyond that, it may not be<br />
worth the time, effort, and cost to track<br />
down and replace the culprit. A new PC<br />
may be the most cost-effective strategy.<br />
stallation. Also, try to find a version<br />
that supports USB drives. USB<br />
drives have a larger capacity, are<br />
faster, and are more convenient<br />
to use than floppies—<br />
all factors that are important<br />
if you have to<br />
copy files to one from<br />
a damaged drive.<br />
Finally, Linux can<br />
read and write data on<br />
drives partitioned with<br />
FAT32, but it can only<br />
read NTFS-formatted drives. So this tip<br />
may let you recover data from a damaged<br />
XP system, but you won’t be able to<br />
fix a problem on the hard drive if it was<br />
partitioned with NTFS. Still, a Linux CD<br />
is a handy tool to have, and you should<br />
add one to your PC-troubleshooting kit.<br />
“Alfred Poor’s <strong>Computer</strong> Cures,” <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>, 28 E. 28th St., 10th Fl., New York, NY 10016-7942<br />
computer_cures@cnet.com<br />
Please include your name. Due to the number of letters we receive, we cannot provide personal replies,<br />
nor return any enclosures.<br />
Illustration by David Flaherty
HELP & HOW-TO<br />
WEEKEND PROJECT SOFTWARE<br />
A little PC maintenance can<br />
speed up your startups.<br />
Kick-Start<br />
Your Bootup<br />
BY JOHN WORAM<br />
DOES IT SEEM LIKE the more time you<br />
spend with your Windows XP installation,<br />
the longer your PC takes to<br />
pull itself out of bed when booting<br />
up? It’s not a sign of old age; it’s the<br />
ever-growing accumulation of detritus<br />
that various applications and<br />
hardware deposit on your hard<br />
drive when you install them.<br />
Whether these items are functional<br />
or completely useless, they all take<br />
time to load. Here’s how to trim the<br />
bloat and reduce the time it takes<br />
your PC to get ready for action.<br />
92 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Illustration by David Flaherty<br />
1Prepare your system<br />
Although nothing in the following steps is particularly<br />
risky, Windows XP is unpredictable enough to warrant<br />
a nod to Murphy’s Law. So, before you do anything<br />
else, run a thorough virus check, then create a<br />
safe place to go back to using Windows XP’s System<br />
Restore utility. (Right-click on My <strong>Computer</strong>, then<br />
click Properties > System Restore.) For added protection,<br />
perform a full backup of your hard drive.<br />
Using a stopwatch, time how long your startup takes before<br />
you make any changes. But because it’s not always obvious when<br />
the sequence is complete, first place a shortcut to the Notepad<br />
applet in the Windows startup group as a point of reference. To<br />
do this, right-click the Start button, and click Properties. On the<br />
Start Menu tab, click Classic Start menu > Customize > Advanced.<br />
In the Start Menu folder, find the Notepad shortcut (in<br />
the Start Menu/Programs/Accessories folder) and drag it to the<br />
Startup folder under Programs. Now,<br />
STARTUP DETAIL<br />
each time you boot<br />
Before After Event<br />
up, Windows will<br />
0.00 0.00 Power on<br />
open a Notepad win-<br />
Manufacturer splash screen appears dow on the desktop.<br />
“Windows XP” with animated If you time how long<br />
horizontal bar appears<br />
it takes for the win-<br />
“Welcome” appears<br />
dow to appear before<br />
Desktop appears<br />
and after tweaks are<br />
Windows Notepad applet opens<br />
made, you’ll know if<br />
Use a table like this to jot down your<br />
before-and-after bootup times.<br />
you’ve accomplished<br />
anything. You can always<br />
remove the shortcut once you’ve completed your beforeand-after<br />
timing comparison.<br />
Exit Windows, then power off your machine. Wait a few<br />
seconds, then power back on again, and start timing. If<br />
the startup sequence pauses for your username and password,<br />
stop the clock at the pause, then restart it after you’ve<br />
entered the information.<br />
Tip: To keep an accurate account of your efforts, draw up a<br />
table in which you can record your bootup times. You can time<br />
different intervals, such as when the manufacturer splash<br />
screen appears, or when the Desktop appears.<br />
2Check what’s automatically<br />
running<br />
As your PC boots up, Windows looks in several<br />
locations for instructions on how to launch the<br />
various applications and processes that load at<br />
startup. Depending on the program, the locations<br />
for these instructions vary. Many are in the Registry,<br />
a hierarchical database of user, application, and hardware-device<br />
information. Others are in a Startup group folder,<br />
and a select few could be in your PC’s WIN.INI file. We’ll refer<br />
to these locations collectively as the Autorun group, because<br />
the items they contain run automatically every time Windows<br />
starts.<br />
To see which ones are in the Registry, go to Start > Run,<br />
then type in REGEDIT.EXE to enter the Registry. Just don’t
alter any-<br />
thing—changes<br />
to the Registry<br />
are irreversible<br />
and could<br />
cause serious<br />
damage to your<br />
PC. Even advanced<br />
users<br />
can run into<br />
trouble in a<br />
hurry if they’re<br />
not careful.<br />
The Run keys<br />
are the most<br />
important.<br />
You’ll find<br />
The Run Registry key displays a list of them by<br />
items that load at startup.<br />
drilling down<br />
to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/<br />
CurrentVersion. If you double-click the Run folder, you’ll see<br />
some items that load when you boot your PC.<br />
You can examine the items in the Startup group folder by<br />
going to Start > All Programs > Startup. Finally, you can see if<br />
anything is in the WIN.INI file by selecting Start > Run, then<br />
typing WIN.INI. Look for anything listed on a RUN= or LOAD=<br />
line. It’s unlikely you’ll find anything there, but checking<br />
won’t hurt.<br />
3Dismiss unwanted Autorun items<br />
Now you can use Windows’ System Configuration<br />
Utility to trim the fat from the Registry Run<br />
keys and the Startup group. To start the utility,<br />
select Start > Run, then type MSCONFIG. Select<br />
the Startup tab to show a list of items executed<br />
during bootup. To see the entire Command column,<br />
stretch it to the right. A scroll bar should now appear at<br />
the bottom of the window, enabling you to view more of the<br />
Location information.<br />
Scroll<br />
down the list to<br />
see if you recognize<br />
anything<br />
that shouldn’t<br />
be there. If so, all<br />
you have to do is<br />
clear its checkbox<br />
to remove<br />
the appropriate<br />
Registry com-<br />
Use the powerful System Configuration<br />
mand line or Utility to easily (but not permanently) re-<br />
Startup group move software from the boot procedure.<br />
shortcut.<br />
Tip: The items you remove from the Windows System Configuration<br />
Utility aren’t lost; they’ve just moved to a “startupreg”<br />
or “startupfolder” key in the Registry. You can retrieve<br />
them later if it turns out you shouldn’t have removed them.<br />
To restore an item to the bootup routine, simply run the<br />
utility again, and re-check the item’s box.<br />
4Uncover unknown items<br />
It’s not unusual for the System Configuration<br />
Utility’s Startup tab to display a Startup item<br />
with no name, making it next to impossible to<br />
determine whether it’s important. One way to<br />
find out is to disable that line by unchecking it.<br />
If you’re running a security utility such as<br />
ZoneAlarm Security Suite, you may get a pop-up warning message<br />
that identifies the name of the item about to be changed.<br />
If so, just do a Google search on the name for more details.<br />
If no alert appears, download the freeware app Autoruns<br />
The Autoruns app displays a list of items that load during startup.<br />
“Files not found” likely are remnants of uninstalled apps.<br />
(www.sysinternals.com/utilities/autoruns.html) to display a<br />
great deal of useful information about Autorun items on your<br />
system. Double-click any item on the list, and the utility opens<br />
the Registry Editor, highlighting the line associated with that<br />
item. If that’s not enough info, right-click any highlighted Registry<br />
entry, and select Google on the context menu to search<br />
the Web for more information about the highlighted item. (In<br />
the current version, 8.22, this feature doesn’t work on items<br />
listed in the Startup groups.)<br />
Tip: Also, check the Image Path column within Autoruns for<br />
any line that starts with “File not found.” Such lines are probably<br />
artifacts from uninstalled applications that didn’t do a<br />
good job of cleaning up after themselves.<br />
5Clock your speed<br />
Once you’ve identified the items that don’t need<br />
to be launched every time Windows starts, use the<br />
System Configuration Utility’s Startup tab or the<br />
Autoruns utility to clear the checkboxes next to<br />
the names of these items. Then, restart your computer<br />
to get a subjective feel for any speed improvement.<br />
Run a few of your frequently used applications just<br />
to make sure all’s well. If you discover you’ve accidentally disabled<br />
something vital, just use either utility to re-check the<br />
box next to that item.<br />
When you’re done, do a cold reboot, and time the complete<br />
startup sequence, ending when your Notepad window<br />
launches. Compare your before-and-after results to see how<br />
much time you trimmed from the sequence. Depending on<br />
what you were able to remove, the speed difference will<br />
range from modest to significant. Either way, you’ll have a<br />
little less “stuff” dragging down your system, and more<br />
memory will be freed up for your use.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 93
HELP & HOW-TO<br />
WEEKEND PROJECT SOFTWARE<br />
Protect your children from<br />
online predators.<br />
Safety Net<br />
BY RICK BROIDA<br />
A few months back, a steady procession<br />
of predators showed up at a<br />
home rigged with Dateline NBC hidden<br />
cameras to meet a 12-year-old<br />
who indicated she was open to the<br />
idea of having sex. The teen was a<br />
decoy volunteer from vigilante<br />
group Perverted-Justice (www.<br />
perverted-justice.com), but she<br />
could just as easily have been a real<br />
child. Law-enforcement officials<br />
estimate 50,000 predators are online<br />
at any given time, according to the<br />
Dateline segment. This doesn’t mean<br />
you have to rip the Ethernet cable<br />
from the wall if you have children<br />
who use the Net, however. These<br />
steps, combined with careful<br />
vigilance, can help you keep them<br />
safe online.<br />
96 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Illustration by David Flaherty<br />
1Batten down your browser<br />
Children can easily find explicit material on the<br />
Web—and if they don’t, it often finds them. If your<br />
daughter happens to type www.girl.com instead of<br />
www.gURL.com, the popular site for teenage girls,<br />
she’ll end up at a porn site. And until it was shut down<br />
recently, the porn site www.whitehouse.com displayed<br />
inappropriate images to young students who probably<br />
meant to type www.whitehouse.gov.<br />
Sites like these, which count on erroneously entered URLs, are<br />
shut down quickly, but as soon as they are, more crop up to re-<br />
place them. And the most popular Web browsers offer little in<br />
the way of blocking tools. Mozilla Firefox offers no content filter-<br />
ing. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 has some tools, but they’re<br />
weak. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Content, and in the Con-<br />
tent Advisor box, select Enable. In the new window you’ll see four<br />
categories: Language, Nudity, Sex, and Violence. To enable block-<br />
ing, move the slider directly below the categories to the lowest<br />
level, then click Apply. Blocking<br />
is based on a self-rating system<br />
devised by the Recreational<br />
Software Advisory Council (now<br />
the Internet Content Rating Association).<br />
The downside: Most<br />
Internet sites haven’t rated<br />
themselves, and if you set Internet<br />
Explorer to block all unrated<br />
sites, you’ll lose access to some<br />
useful sites, including Amazon.com,<br />
Google, and even Internet Explorer’s filtering<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>.<br />
utility is dependent on sites<br />
rating themselves.<br />
As an alternative, download<br />
a child-friendly content-filtering Web browser such as Crayon<br />
Crawler (www.crayoncrawler.com), KidRocket KidSafe<br />
(www.kidrocket.org),or Noah’s Web (www.noahsweb.com).<br />
Noah’s Web comes with three browsers: one for children ages 4<br />
to 12, one for teens, and one for parents.<br />
To ensure that your child can use only the child-friendly<br />
browser you install for Net surfing, create a user account in Windows<br />
that prevents installation of new apps. Go to Control Panel<br />
> User Accounts, and select “Create a new account.” In the wizard,<br />
enter a name for the new account, and select Limited. Now,<br />
password-protect any other<br />
accounts that aren’t<br />
Limited.<br />
This still leaves Internet<br />
Explorer, however,<br />
because it comes with<br />
Windows and can’t be<br />
uninstalled. To prevent<br />
your child from using Internet<br />
Explorer, password-protect<br />
it. Go to<br />
Crayon Crawler is a kid-friendly Tools > Internet Options,<br />
browser that automatically and select the Content<br />
blocks objectionable sites.<br />
tab. Under Content Advi-
4<br />
sor, click Enable. On the General tab, locate the “Supervisor<br />
Stop objectionable spam<br />
password” area. Type in a password, then hit Apply.<br />
Spam isn’t good for anyone, but for children, it can<br />
Tip: Mac users seeking robust content controls should check out<br />
be particularly harmful, because links in e-mails<br />
BumperCar 2.0 (www.freeverse.com) for Mac OS X systems.<br />
can lead to pornographic Web sites.<br />
The solution: Install a spam filter.For e-mail<br />
2Safeguard America Online<br />
clients such as Outlook or Outlook Express, Only-<br />
One of the safest online environments for children<br />
MyEmail (www.onlymyemail.com) is a good add-on<br />
is America Online. The service lets parents invoke for blocking spam before it reaches your PC. But it’s more likely<br />
varying levels of control over Web browsing, instant your kids are using free Web-based mail systems such as Hotmail<br />
messaging (IM), e-mail, and chat rooms. To access or Yahoo Mail. If the service has a built-in spam filter, set it to the<br />
these settings, go to keyword: PARENTAL CON- highest level of protection. Just keep in mind nothing can stop<br />
TROLS. Click your child’s screen name, then the your child from perusing the Junk E-mail folder in search of<br />
button for the area you want to manage. Clicking Edit Web Con- legitimate mail caught by the filter.<br />
trol, for instance, will bring up<br />
Tip: If your teenager uses Outlook Express, consider switching to<br />
choices ranging from Kids Only<br />
Mozilla’s free Thunderbird (www.mozilla.org). It’s similar to Out-<br />
(which restricts all inappropriate<br />
look Express in appearance and function, but it includes a built-<br />
content) to Mature Teen.<br />
in spam filter.<br />
When a child tries to view a<br />
suspect site, AOL blocks access<br />
until permission is received<br />
from the parent via either<br />
e-mail or IM. AOL also supplies<br />
a kid-friendly search engine<br />
that avoids potential traps inherent<br />
in Google and the like.<br />
Tip: With the Parental Controls<br />
AOL lets you give different<br />
screen names varying<br />
levels of restrictions.<br />
5Install safety software<br />
To get all these features in one convenient package,<br />
consider installing a program designed specifically<br />
for the purpose. CyberPatrol 7.5 (www.cyberpatrol.<br />
com) and Net Nanny 5 (www.netnanny.com), both<br />
priced at $39.95, offer a wealth of protection features,<br />
including<br />
activity monitoring, site and<br />
window open, click the Internet Access Controls button, then image blocking, and time<br />
click Turn On Internet Controls. This blocks access to inappropri- management (for limiting Net<br />
ate sites via an external browser.<br />
usage by time).<br />
Tip: Try before you buy. You<br />
3<br />
Monitor instant messages<br />
can download fully func-<br />
If there’s one thing teens love more than MTV, it’s tional versions of both<br />
instant messaging, either in online chat rooms or programs and use them for<br />
via IM clients such as ICQ and Yahoo Messenger. two weeks. If one doesn’t CyberPatrol offers a thorough<br />
Either way, a little parental intervention is essen- offer the controls you want, set of parental controls not<br />
found in other apps.<br />
tial. Start by telling your kids not to give out per- try the other.<br />
sonal information, even when they’re in chat<br />
6<br />
rooms with friends. It’s also a good idea to review their user pro-<br />
Find out more<br />
files, as certain words and information can attract online preda-<br />
Keeping abreast of threats lurking online goes a<br />
tors. Try to keep the profile as nondescript as possible. Hobbies<br />
long way toward keeping your kids safe online. Getand<br />
interests are okay, but don’t specify age or sex.<br />
NetWise (kids.getnetwise.org),ProtectKids.com,<br />
While chat rooms are more or less guaranteed to involve<br />
and SafeKids.com offer plenty of articles, informa-<br />
strangers, instant messaging should never be anonymous.<br />
tion, and resources, including links for reporting<br />
All the major chat clients let you block messages from un-<br />
suspected cyber crimes. You’ll also find information<br />
known users. In AOL Instant Messenger, press F7, click Priva- on software and Web tools designed specifically for children.<br />
cy, then select “Allow only users on my Buddy List.” In ICQ, Perverted-Justice, mentioned earlier, has a section for parents on<br />
click Main > Security & Privacy Permissions > Spam Control, how to curb their children’s time online and how to spot if their<br />
and enable “Accept messages only from users on my Contact kids are in danger.<br />
List.” In MSN Messenger, click Tools > Options > Privacy, and Also, try bookmarking a selection of kid-friendly sites so that<br />
enable “Only people on<br />
your children are less tempted to wander the Web aimlessly. Kidmy<br />
Allow List can see<br />
Grid (www.kidgrid.com) is a Yahoo-like search engine with cate-<br />
my status and send me<br />
gorized links, all of which have been designated “safe.” Kaboose<br />
messages.” In Yahoo<br />
(www.kaboose.com) provides fun stuff for kids and parents<br />
Messenger, click Mes-<br />
alike, from online games to party planning.<br />
senger > Preferences ><br />
Tip: It’s one thing to safeguard your own PCs, but that doesn’t<br />
Ignore List, and enable<br />
help when your kids are online at their friends’ houses. Commu-<br />
“Ignore anyone who is Yahoo Messenger’s Ignore List lets nicate with other parents. Relay your concerns, and share tips<br />
not on my Messenger<br />
List.”<br />
you keep strangers from sending<br />
instant messages to your child.<br />
with them to make sure your child surfs safe, no matter whose<br />
computer he or she uses.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 97
HELP & HOW-TO<br />
BUYING ADVISOR JOHN A. BUREK<br />
<strong>2006</strong>: A Storage Space Odyssey<br />
The Advisor spins up five roomy Serial ATA hard drives.<br />
A SURE SIGN you’re talking with a memronments but don’t confer the full benefit.<br />
We tested each drive on an NCQ-compliant<br />
Promise SATA/300 TX4 controller,<br />
writing 1GB of music files to each from a<br />
ber of Generation Net: He casually refers NCQ should shine when multithreaded 10,000rpm WD Raptor source drive, then<br />
to programs as “appz” and “gamez.” In our apps and dual-core CPUs become com- copying (reading) the folder back to the<br />
advisee’s case, he’s out of room for both. monplace, but these are still emerging. Raptor. We did the same with a 600MB<br />
“I need a 7,200rpm internal Serial ATA For today, though, the major U.S. drive WAV file. All tests were done with NCQ on<br />
drive,” writes Diego DeGracia, a student makers pitched us their roomiest SATA (if supported), then off, in turn. In each<br />
from Panama City, Panama. “At least drives within DeGracia’s budget. Capaci- NCQ state, we ran each test solo, and<br />
160GB capacity, but not so expensive— ties ranged from 160GB to 250GB. (See the again while playing a WAV file to judge<br />
less than $120. I don’t know whether to go table.) Four came as retail kits, with SATA each drive’s juggling ability.<br />
with Maxtor, Seagate,<br />
data cables and install Surprisingly, our results hardly varied<br />
or someone else.”<br />
Neither did we. In- THE CHALLENGE<br />
software; the fifth,<br />
Samsung’s SpinPoint<br />
on any given test across drives, or across<br />
similar tests with the same drive. Virtually<br />
ternal hard drives User profile: Diego A. DeGracia, a SP2004C, is sold only all comparable results fell within a 1-to-3-<br />
have become commodities;<br />
consumer<br />
university student from Panama City,<br />
Panama.<br />
“bare.” Bare drives lack<br />
cables or manuals.<br />
second spread. Only the SpinPoint was<br />
consistently behind by a couple of sec-<br />
drives now have pre- Computing needs: A 160GB or larger (Some of the kit drives onds on most operations. Exit Samsung.<br />
dictable specs, with<br />
once-premium<br />
Serial ATA internal hard drive, from a<br />
U.S. online shop, for his “appz” and<br />
“gamez.” Budget: $120.<br />
can also be bought<br />
bare for slightly less.)<br />
So speed wasn’t much of a real-world<br />
differentiator—which brought us to war-<br />
7,200rpm spin rates<br />
Three of the drives ranty, and cost per gigabyte. Western Digi-<br />
and 8MB buffers now<br />
near-universal. But<br />
THE SOLUTION<br />
support the latest<br />
SATA interface flavor,<br />
tal’s and Maxtor’s one-year plans disappointed,<br />
so we eliminated their drives.<br />
the Serial ATA (SATA)<br />
interface, slowly<br />
The Advisor’s choice: The $120<br />
Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 features<br />
group-leading capacity, competitive<br />
SATA/300. Backwardcompatible<br />
with<br />
DeGracia should demand at least three<br />
years. (WD offers a $14.95 upgrade to<br />
eclipsing familiar speed, and a three-year warranty. SATA/150 controllers three, but this swells the cost per gig.)<br />
IDE, is spurring drive<br />
and motherboards, Hitachi and Seagate remained. The<br />
innovations, and DeGracia is pondering a SATA/300 supports higher maximum 250GB Hitachi Deskstar T7K250’s group-<br />
recent feature of many SATA drives: Na- data-transfer rates. But most PCs don’t yet low cost per gig is hard to ignore, and its<br />
tive Command Queueing (NCQ). “What support SATA/300, so this isn’t a deal three-year warranty is competitive. We<br />
does it do?” he asks. “Does it really help?” maker or breaker.More critical: SATA laud Seagate’s five-year plan, but how to<br />
To understand NCQ, think of a hard drives use a special, thin power-supply weigh it against the Deskstar’s extra 90GB<br />
drive as a record player, but spinning connector. Some SATA drives have this of space? Given price trends, replacing a<br />
magnetic platters instead of a Bee Gees LP. socket in addition to the familiar four-pin 250GB drive will probably cost $50 in 2009.<br />
The “tone arm” shuttles to and fro, fetch- Molex-style one, and you can use either; Therefore, we think depreciation makes<br />
ing or writing data. But the data is often others have only the SATA type. If DeGra- the shorter warranty a fair risk, given the<br />
scattered in chunks across the platters, cia’s PC power supply isn’t recent, it lacks extra gigs at stake. Three years of cover-<br />
and multiple requests often vie for atten- SATA power cables; he’d need a converter age, 250GB—workz for us.<br />
tion. NCQ reorders arm activity for top<br />
efficiency. This<br />
if the drive lacks a traditional connector.<br />
Maxtor’s drive stumbled here: It had just<br />
If you need help making a smart buying decision,<br />
e-mail buying_advisor@cnet.com.<br />
also can reduce<br />
wear and oper-<br />
SATA Showdown<br />
the SATA connector, and no converter.<br />
ating noise.<br />
The idea’s not<br />
new (SCSI drives<br />
Capacity/Interface<br />
Spin Rate/Buffer/NCQ<br />
Hitachi Deskstar<br />
T7K250<br />
250GB, SATA/300<br />
7,200rpm/8MB/Yes<br />
Maxtor SATA Ultra<br />
200GB (L01M200)<br />
200GB, SATA/150<br />
7,200rpm/8MB/Yes<br />
Samsung SpinPoint<br />
SP2004C<br />
200GB, SATA/300<br />
7,200rpm/8MB/Yes<br />
Seagate Barracuda<br />
7200.9<br />
160GB, SATA/300<br />
7,200rpm/8MB/Yes<br />
WD Caviar SE 160GB<br />
(WD1600JD)<br />
160GB, SATA/150<br />
7,200rpm/8MB/No<br />
use similar tech),<br />
but in practice,<br />
Packaging/Warranty<br />
Power Connector(s)<br />
Price/Cost per Gigabyte<br />
Retail kit/three years<br />
Four-pin and SATA<br />
$120/48 cents<br />
Retail kit/one year<br />
SATA only<br />
$120/60 cents<br />
Bare drive/three years<br />
SATA only*<br />
$100/50 cents<br />
Retail kit/five years<br />
SATA only*<br />
$120/75 cents<br />
Retail kit/one year<br />
Four-pin and SATA<br />
$99.99/63 cents<br />
NCQ requires a<br />
URL www.hitachigst.com www.maxtor.com www.samsung.com www.seagate.com www.wdc.com<br />
compliant moth- ANECDOTAL TESTING: SOLO OPERATION (NCQ ON)<br />
erboard or SATA<br />
controller—the<br />
1GB Folder Write/Read 34 sec./31 sec. 33 sec./31 sec.<br />
600MB File Write/Read 17 sec./17 sec. 17 sec./17 sec.<br />
ANECDOTAL TESTING: OPERATION WHILE PLAYING WAV FILE (NCQ ON)<br />
35 sec./30 sec.<br />
20 sec./18 sec.<br />
32 sec./34 sec.<br />
17 sec./18 sec.<br />
33 sec./32 sec.<br />
16 sec./19 sec.<br />
drives work fine in 1GB Folder Write/Read 32 sec/31 sec 33 sec./32 sec 34 sec./33 sec. 35 sec./37 sec. 32 sec./33 sec.<br />
non-NCQ envi-<br />
600MB File Write/Read<br />
* = Converter cable included<br />
18 sec./17 sec. 17 sec./18 sec. 19 sec./18 sec. 19 sec./20 sec. 17 sec./18 sec.<br />
98 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
HELP & HOW-TO<br />
CONSUMER ALERT NANCY LANG-FELDMAN<br />
Whom to Call When Things Go Wrong<br />
OKAY, ONLINE SHOPPING is a wonderful thing, enabling<br />
you to browse without a salesperson looking over<br />
your shoulder, and check competitors’ prices with<br />
just a few clicks. Sadly, though, when problems arise,<br />
you’ll find this aversion to human contact is mutual.<br />
Some online sellers go to great lengths to avoid you, even omit-<br />
ting their customer-service phone numbers from their sites.<br />
So whom are you going to call when the digital camera you or-<br />
dered from Amazon.com arrives DOA or when that new hard<br />
drive won’t spin? Go to the Web site and find the phone number<br />
for customer service; I’ll wait here.<br />
Find it yet? Of course not—it isn’t there. Okay, now try Buy.com.<br />
Or Netflix. Beginning to get the picture? These companies don’t<br />
want to talk to you, particularly when you’ve got problems.<br />
So there you are, stuck with inoperable hardware or missing<br />
parts, and you want action—now. You don’t want support pages<br />
or FAQs; you want a human. As hard as they try to convince you<br />
otherwise, these companies actually do have phones. To make it<br />
easy for you, I’ve tracked down some customer-service numbers.<br />
Here are a few of the most elusive (and desirable):<br />
Amazon.com: 800-201-7575, 206-266-2335. (With the second<br />
number, I actually got a live human being after only one ring!)<br />
Buy.com: 877-780-2464<br />
Half.com: 800-545-9857, 888-879-4253<br />
Netflix: 800-585-8131<br />
Overstock.com: 800-843-2446, 800-989-0135<br />
PayPal: 888-221-1161, 402-935-2050<br />
Yahoo: 408-349-1572<br />
This is all good, but what happens when you get caught in the<br />
telephone torture loop (see “I’ve Fallen Into a TTL, and I Can’t Get<br />
Out!” May 2004, p. 38), in which the robotic operator refuses to re-<br />
lease you to a humanoid? That’s when Paul English’s Interactive<br />
Voice Response (IVR) Cheat Sheet (www.paulenglish.com/ivr)<br />
comes in handy. In my May column, I advised remaining<br />
silent until a live person picked up. But English<br />
provides some key combinations that can help<br />
you reach a carbon-based life form more<br />
quickly at specific companies.<br />
You could always try hitting zero repeatedly<br />
and yelling a bit, but if that doesn’t work, or your<br />
experiences with the living are no more rewarding,<br />
try taking your case to a higher authority. Fred Wise<br />
of Glen Burnie, Md., goes so far as to roust top execu-<br />
tives out of bed. His local credit union had a list of the<br />
names, addresses, and home phone numbers of the<br />
heads of every corporation in America; when stuck, he<br />
used it to go right to the top.<br />
He first used that list back in 1996, when he received<br />
an Iomega Zip drive without cables, power supply, or<br />
Phonebook<br />
Harry Home<br />
Hayley Cell<br />
Ingrid Cell<br />
Iomega CEO<br />
Isaac Cell<br />
Jill Home<br />
Joe Cell<br />
Josh Cell<br />
1 2 33<br />
44 5 6<br />
77 8 9<br />
*<br />
0 #<br />
instructions. “When I called customer service, I was<br />
told it would be weeks or months because they were<br />
backlogged with orders. I called [the company presi-<br />
dent] about 11 p.m. on a Friday evening. All of the<br />
missing items were delivered to me Wednesday of<br />
the following week.”<br />
A few years later, Wise had a problem with a<br />
TigerDirect motherboard that shipped without instructions. “I<br />
tried for six weeks to contact someone and have the oversight<br />
corrected,” he recalls. “I would be put on hold, told to call another<br />
department, told the lines were too busy and to call back later,<br />
and hung up on.” Six weeks later, customer service told Wise the<br />
company didn’t supply instruction manuals with any of its<br />
motherboards. “The techie said I had to call them, and they’d tell<br />
If you make it past the voiceresponse<br />
gatekeeper and the<br />
customer-service rep is less<br />
than helpful, try the CEO.<br />
me over the phone how<br />
to connect all the many<br />
pins and jumpers. Do<br />
you believe that?”<br />
This time, Wise consulted<br />
his phone-directory<br />
software for the home number of Carl Fiorentino, TigerDirect’s<br />
president. The company’s Web site revealed TigerDirect is based<br />
in Miami, and Wise found a single listing for a Carl Fiorentino in<br />
that city. Yahoo’s People Search offers the same information. “I<br />
was polite and apologetic for bothering [Mrs. Fiorentino] so near<br />
Christmas [December 24], and Mrs. F. was understanding.” She<br />
gave Wise the phone number for Fiorentino’s personal secretary,<br />
who was also sympathetic. “Within a few days I had a manual,<br />
and in a later e-mail correspondence directly from Mr.Fiorentino,<br />
an apology. I was told [by Fiorentino] that a few heads had rolled<br />
in the tech/customer-service departments.”<br />
Wise stresses this is something you should do only as a last<br />
resort. You could first try calling the executive in the office. Most<br />
companies list their physical addresses and officers’ names on<br />
their About Us pages. If you can’t find a main number through a<br />
Yellow Pages search, try Hoovers (www.hoovers.com).Here you<br />
can plug in an executive’s name, and, if you find a match, you’ll<br />
have the company’s mailing address and phone number. I struck<br />
gold on my first attempt at reaching the CEO’s office at Iomega. I<br />
called the main number, asked the IVR system for Werner Heid,<br />
and, within seconds, was speaking with his secretary.<br />
You could also try snail-mailing the office of the president.<br />
But if you’ve made every conceivable good-faith attempt to<br />
rectify a problem and your frustration level has reached<br />
critical mass, you may want to resort to the home<br />
number. Doing so is extreme—some may even say<br />
rude—but it could be a lot more rewarding<br />
than cursing at a voice-response system.<br />
Nancy Lang-Feldman is executive editor<br />
of <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>. Contact her<br />
at nancy.feldman@cnet.com.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 115
TECHMARKET<br />
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING<br />
NEED TO KNOW<br />
SMALL-OFFICE/HOME-OFFICE DESKTOPS<br />
PROCESSOR Time is money, so steer clear of slower budget<br />
processors. Getting a CPU that’s one or two steps down<br />
from the fastest will give you the power you need at a good<br />
price. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHzincrement<br />
upgrade of Intel 3GHz and faster processors.<br />
MEMORY 256MB of memory is standard for business PCs,<br />
but don’t expect to multitask efficiently. Raise the RAM to<br />
512MB, and you’ll be able to switch among applications<br />
without delays. Upgrade: Each additional 256MB of DDR<br />
memory will cost roughly $50.<br />
GRAPHICS An office PC is the only case where integrated<br />
graphics won’t cause a huge performance hit. We still recommend<br />
getting a budget-price discrete graphics card, however.<br />
HARD DRIVE Bottom line: Protecting your business data is<br />
important. Ideally, go for two hard drives of at least 80GB<br />
apiece, configured in a RAID Level 1 array to ensure that your<br />
files are always backed up. Upgrade: Each additional 40GB<br />
of storage will cost about $36.<br />
Base Hard Optical<br />
Model Price* Processor RAM Graphics Drive Drive(s) Monitor Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES<br />
Ultimate M5 $1,169 2GHz 1GB nVidia 160GB DVD-ROM None More graphics power than the average www.abspc.com<br />
Vortex Athlon 64 GeForce office needs. Still, a powerful configuration 800-876-8088<br />
APPLE COMPUTER<br />
3200+ 6600 GT for the price.<br />
iMac G5 $1,299 1.9GHz 512MB ATI Radeon 160GB DVD±RW 17-inch Unless you’re a graphic designer, this slim www.apple.com<br />
PowerPC G5 X600 Pro (double layer) LCD Mac has the muscle to perform office tasks<br />
without hogging space.<br />
800-692-7753<br />
Power Mac G5 $1,999 Two 2GHz 512MB ATI Radeon 160GB DVD±RW None The standard for designers of all types, this<br />
DELL<br />
PowerPC G5 9600 (double layer) Power Mac offers adequate components,<br />
though at a steep price.<br />
Dimension 3100 $549 2.8GHz 256MB Integrated 80GB CD-RW None As long as you don’t need tons of storage, www.dell.com<br />
Pentium 4 this entry-level box will suffice for office- 800-999-3355<br />
521 productivity tasks.<br />
Optiplex GX620 $793 2.8GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB CD-ROM None Built for business, the Optiplex comes in<br />
Pentium 4 four case designs, ranging from ultrasmall<br />
521 to a full desktop tower.<br />
Dimension 5100C $899 3GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD/CD-RW 17-inch Integrated graphics will be fine for most.<br />
Pentium 4 combo LCD This PC’s flexibility and compact design<br />
630 are what we like best.<br />
XPS 600 $1,649 3GHz 1GB nVidia 160GB DVD-ROM, 19-inch Small-biz version of Dell’s gaming-and-<br />
Pentium 4 GeForce CD-RW LCD entertainment PC comes with a nice mix<br />
GATEWAY<br />
630 6800 of parts, but it’s too flashy for work environs.<br />
S-5200S $579.99 2.8GHz 512MB Integrated 40GB CD-RW None Short on hard drive space, but office www.gateway.com<br />
Pentium 4 desktops generally are. Entry-level specs 800-369-1409<br />
521 match entry-level price.<br />
DX300S $699.99 3GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB CD-RW None Processor is a little more potent than that<br />
Pentium 4 of the S-5200S. Unexpectedly, comes<br />
630 with Microsoft’s Media Center OS.<br />
E-4500S $989 3GHz 512MB Integrated 40GB CD-RW None A three-year service plan is standard—<br />
Pentium 4 definitely something to look for in a PC<br />
630 relied upon for daily business.<br />
Profile 5.5 $1,199 2.8GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB CD-ROM 17-inch This all-in-one is underpowered for the<br />
Pentium 4 LCD price; also, has only limited future upgrade<br />
521 options.<br />
* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable.<br />
See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
OPTICAL DRIVES A DVD±RW is wise for easy<br />
backups in a home office. If you’re worried about<br />
employees walking away with vital company<br />
data, however, go with a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.<br />
117 SOHO Desktops<br />
122 Desktop-Replacement Notebooks<br />
132 Home and Small-Office<br />
Laser Printers<br />
134 Performance 3D-Graphics Cards<br />
136 External DVD Burners<br />
138 Smart Phones<br />
140 PC Service and Support Plans<br />
Next<br />
month:<br />
Budget<br />
Desktops<br />
SOUND AND SPEAKERS Integrated sound is common, and<br />
it’s probably all you’ll need. If you’ll be doing some afterhours<br />
digital media activities, adding a sound card is a better<br />
choice. As for speakers, opt for a good two-piece stereo set.<br />
MONITOR A CRT delivers more viewing space for a few<br />
hundred dollars less than similarly sized LCDs. But it’s hard<br />
to deny the appeal of an attractive, space-saving flat panel,<br />
so the choice may hinge on your budget and space constraints.<br />
Upgrade: 17-inch LCD monitors priced under $300<br />
have become common.<br />
WARRANTY Productivity suffers most when your PC fails.<br />
Protect yourself with a three-year parts-and-labor package<br />
with 24/7 phone support, onsite service, and, if available,<br />
overnight replacement. —Joshua Goldman, Desktop Editor<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 117
TECHMARKET SMALL-OFFICE/HOME-OFFICE DESKTOPS<br />
Base Hard Optical<br />
Model Price* Processor RAM Graphics Drive Drive(s) Monitor Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD<br />
Compaq DX2000 $496 2.8GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB CD-ROM None An inexpensive way to get basic office www.hp.com<br />
Microtower Pentium 4 chores done. When configuring, note that 888-999-4747<br />
521 the microtower isn’t easy to upgrade.<br />
DX5150 $745 1.8GHz 512MB Integrated 40GB CD-ROM None Horizontal design means the case can<br />
Athlon 64 go under the display on your desk for<br />
3000+ easy access to drives and ports.<br />
Compaq DC7600 $899.99 3GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD/CD-RW None Another slim form factor for the office. HP<br />
Ultraslim Pentium 4 combo offers some interesting choices with this<br />
630 model, including a Linux OS option.<br />
DC5100 $986 2.8GHz 512MB Integrated 160GB CD-ROM None Fine configuration includes three years<br />
Microtower Pentium 4 of onsite repairs. Want more? HP offers<br />
IBUYPOWER<br />
520 upgrade recommendations for every PC.<br />
Value-Pro $999 2.2GHz 1GB nVidia 160GB DVD±RW 17-inch A great configuration for $1,000, but don’t www.ibuypower.com<br />
Athlon 64 GeForce (double layer) LCD expect the service, documentation, and quality 888-462-3899<br />
3500+ 6200 control you’d get from a bigger vendor.<br />
Dream <strong>2006</strong> $1,469 2.8GHz 1GB nVidia 200GB DVD±RW None An excellent price for a lot of fine parts.<br />
Pentium D GeForce (double layer), Could easily double as a game machine<br />
LENOVO<br />
820 7800 GT DVD-ROM and home-office workhorse.<br />
ThinkCentre A50 $399 2.53GHz 128MB Integrated 40GB CD-ROM None More small-office than home-office; comes www.lenovo.com<br />
Celeron loaded with utility, productivity, and 866-458-4465<br />
325 security apps.<br />
ThinkCentre E50 $699 3.06GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB CD-RW None A straight-up office workstation. The case<br />
Pentium 4 might say Lenovo, but IBM’s familiar look<br />
519K and feel are still at the heart.<br />
ThinkCentre M51 $859 2.66GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB CD-ROM None Three-year parts-and-labor warranty doesn’t<br />
Celeron D make up for low-end parts. Upgrades are<br />
331 definitely in order.<br />
ThinkCentre S51 $1,089 3.2GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD-ROM None If you’re pinched for space, this highly<br />
Pentium 4 compact desktop works well—but you’ll pay<br />
541 for the design.<br />
POLYWELL COMPUTERS<br />
Poly 939NX-3200 $999 2GHz 512MB nVidia 80GB DVD±RW 17-inch The iBuypower Value-Pro is a better deal, www.polywell.com<br />
Athlon 64 GeForce (double layer) LCD but this compact tower might be more 800-999-1278<br />
3200+ 6200 TC appealing for the space-constrained.<br />
Poly 845PE-ISA $1,019 2GHz 256MB nVidia 40GB CD-RW 17-inch Many better deals abound, such as the<br />
Pentium 4 GeForce4<br />
MX420<br />
CRT the 945GX below.<br />
Poly 945GX $1,243 2.8GHz 1GB Integrated 120GB DVD±RW 17-inch If you can afford the extra cash, this is the<br />
Pentium D (double layer) LCD best price-to-part ratio from Polywell; will<br />
SONY ELECTRONICS<br />
820 handle productivity apps with aplomb.<br />
VAIO VGC-RB53 $749.99 3GHz 512MB Integrated 200GB DVD±RW None Sony’s VAIO PCs are aimed more at A/V www.sonystyle.com<br />
Pentium 4 (double layer) fans than cubicle dwellers. But this isn’t a 877-865-7669<br />
630 bad option for a home office.<br />
VAIO VGC-RB51P $1,099 3.2GHz 512MB Integrated 250GB DVD±RW None Only slightly more punch than VGC-RB53.<br />
Pentium 4 (double layer), Sony includes a nice selection of apps on<br />
SYSTEMAX<br />
640 DVD-ROM its PCs, though many are trial versions.<br />
Venture S519J $599.99 3.06GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD/CD-RW None A fairly standard business PC. Its AGP www.systemaxpc.com<br />
Pentium 4 combo slot means you can add discrete graphics, 888-845-6225<br />
519J though only an older card.<br />
Venture HU B650I $999.99 3.4GHz 1GB Integrated 250GB DVD±RW None More power here than in the S519J. Also<br />
Pentium 4 (double layer) has an available slot for a graphics card,<br />
VELOCITY MICRO<br />
650 but here it’s newer PCI Express.<br />
Vector SX-V $859 3GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD/CD-RW None Build quality is exceptional, but for those www.velocitymicro.com<br />
Pentium 4 combo who need power, the Systemax Venture HU 800-303-7866<br />
630 B650I offers more.<br />
Vision 64 $1,135 2.2GHz 512MB nVidia 120GB DVD-ROM, None Similarly configured to the ProMagix below,<br />
Athlon 64 GeForce CD-RW but with an Athlon CPU. Should handle<br />
3500+ 6600 office tasks easily.<br />
ProMagix PCX $1,245 3.2GHz 512MB nVidia 120GB DVD-ROM, None The 500-watt power supply will allow this<br />
Pentium 4 GeForce CD-RW machine to grow if your business demands<br />
ZT GROUP<br />
640 6600 expansion.<br />
Pro Business $649 2.66GHz 512MB Integrated 120GB DVD/CD-RW None Won’t satisfy power users, and ZT doesn’t www.ztgroup.com<br />
X6755 Pentium 4 combo offer many upgrade options. But the hearty 866-984-7687<br />
505 warranty with onsite service is a plus.<br />
SOHO PC $749 2GHz 512MB Integrated 200GB DVD±RW 17-inch You lose the three-year warranty from the<br />
A4016 Sempron (double layer) LCD X6755, but you gain in components and<br />
3000+ get an LCD. $52 restores the coverage.<br />
= Editors’ Choice * = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable.<br />
See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
118 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
NEED TO KNOW<br />
DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS (MORE THAN 7 POUNDS)<br />
PROCESSOR When choosing a CPU, configure your<br />
system with a robust processor such as Intel’s desktop<br />
Pentium 4 with Hyper-Threading technology, a fast<br />
Pentium M, or AMD’s 64-bit Athlon 64. Upgrade: Expect<br />
to pay about $50 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade<br />
of Pentium 4 processors.<br />
MEMORY Don’t be frugal with main system RAM—inadequate<br />
memory can drastically slow overall performance.<br />
Shoot for 512MB or even 1GB. Upgrade: Each additional<br />
256MB of DDR SDRAM will cost roughly $60.<br />
GRAPHICS If you play games, go for the latest graphics solutions<br />
with dedicated memory from ATI or nVidia. If you’re<br />
not a gamer, save a little money by opting for 64MB or<br />
128MB of graphics RAM rather than 256MB.<br />
HARD DRIVE A 40GB or 60GB drive may be plenty of space<br />
for casual users, but those who have large digital music collections,<br />
play lots of advanced games, or edit digital video<br />
should opt for 80GB or more. Upgrade: Each additional<br />
20GB of storage should cost about $30.<br />
OPTICAL DRIVES Look for a multiformat (DVD±RW)<br />
* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable. Prices are subject to change.<br />
= Editors’ Choice See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
122 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
DVD burner, which writes to both plus- and<br />
minus-format media. The drive’s write speed<br />
is a secondary consideration, and slower<br />
drives are cheaper. Upgrade: Expect to pay<br />
Next<br />
month:<br />
Thin-and-<br />
Light<br />
Notebooks<br />
about $100 to upgrade to a DVD±RW from a DVD/CD-RW<br />
combo drive.<br />
CASE Don’t fear heft and weight, because you probably<br />
won’t be traveling with a desktop replacement. Powerful<br />
components do tend to run hot, so ensure that the case provides<br />
proper ventilation. Note that magnesium and other<br />
molded metal enclosures usually dissipate heat better than<br />
plastic ones.<br />
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Integrated 802.11 wireless networking<br />
(Wi-Fi) is an essential feature. Most notebooks ship<br />
with 802.11b/g internal Wi-Fi radios, which is plenty fast for<br />
typical users. 802.11a is not widely used.<br />
MONITOR Go for a wide-screen 17-inch or 15-inch TFT.<br />
Whether you’ll be watching DVDs in all their letterboxed<br />
glory or merely viewing multiple documents at once, more<br />
screen is always better. —Brian Bennett, Notebooks Editor<br />
Base Hard Optical<br />
Model Price* Processor RAM Graphics Drive Drive Display Wireless Weight Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES<br />
Mayhem G3 $1,449 2GHz Mobile 512MB ATI Mobility 60GB DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches 802.11b/g 7.1 lbs. May not pack all the punch of a www.abspc.com<br />
Athlon 64 Radeon 9700 combo Pentium 4 laptop, and graphics 800-876-8088<br />
3200+ engine is showing its age.<br />
Mayhem G5 $2,699 3.2GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 120GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 12.6 lbs. Lots of cash buys premium com-<br />
Pentium 4 Radeon X800 (two ponents for desktop-level perfor-<br />
540J 60GB) mance. Huge at almost 13 pounds.<br />
ACER AMERICA<br />
Aspire $1,399 1.73GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 100GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.4 lbs. A nice deal for the price, considering www.acer.com<br />
AS9502WSMi Pentium M Radeon X700 (double layer) the DVD burner, roomy hard drive, 800-571-2237<br />
740 and competent 3D graphics.<br />
CYBERPOWER<br />
Xplorer $1,265 1.73GHz 512MB nVidia 60GB DVD±RW 15.4 inches 802.11b/g 7.2 lbs. A low-cost thin-and-light machine www.cyberpowerpc.com<br />
X5-5700 Pentium M GeForce Go with decent parts. 3D graphics 800-707-0393<br />
740 6600 could be better, however.<br />
Xplorer $1,679 2GHz Mobile 1GB ATI Mobility 60GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.5 lbs. Powerful 64-bit CPU, plus lots of<br />
X64-9900 Athlon 64 Radeon 9700 extras, including generous RAM and<br />
3000+ a DVD burner.<br />
Xplorer $2,525 3GHz 1GB nVidia 80GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.5 lbs. An aggressively styled gaming laptop<br />
X7-9000 Pentium 4 GeForce Go (double layer) with multimedia capabilities and a<br />
DELL<br />
630 7800 GTX sweet 17-inch wide-screen display.<br />
Inspiron 9300 $1,299 1.73GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 60GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 7.9 lbs. A cutting-edge processor, a huge www.dell.com<br />
Pentium M Radeon X300 combo screen, and decent graphics make 800-999-3355<br />
740 for a good deal.<br />
Latitude D810 $2,078 2.26GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 40GB CD-ROM 15.4 inches 802.11b/g 7 lbs. Hearty components, along with a<br />
Pentium M Radeon X600 sturdy design; a smart choice for<br />
780 business buyers.<br />
Precision M70 $2,148 1.73GHz 512MB nVidia 40GB CD-ROM 15.4 inches 802.11b/g 7.1 lbs. Designed for mobile graphics gurus.<br />
Mobile Pentium M Quadro FX Expensive, but has pro-grade 3D<br />
Workstation 740 Go1400 prowess.<br />
XPS M170 $2,399 2GHz 1GB nVidia 80GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches None 8.6 lbs. The ultimate in mobile gaming.<br />
Pentium M GeForce Go combo Features pace-setting 3D speed<br />
FUJITSU<br />
760 6800 Ultra and application performance.<br />
LifeBook $1,399 1.73GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB DVD/CD-RW 15 inches 802.11a/b/g 7 lbs. Affordable, but with an unimpressive www.fujitsu.com/us<br />
E8020 Pentium M combo mix of specs. Lacks wide-screen 800-385-4878<br />
740 LCD and dedicated graphics.<br />
LifeBook $1,499 1.86GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 80GB DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches 802.11a/b/g 7.5 lbs. Offers a decent configuration and<br />
N3520 Pentium M Radeon X300 combo the Windows XP Media Center OS<br />
750 at an average price.<br />
LifeBook $2,449 1.86GHz 1GB ATI Mobility 200GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11a/b/g 9.3 lbs. Pricey, but packed with potent 3D<br />
N6220 Pentium M Radeon X600 (two graphics and two massive 100GB<br />
750 100GB) hard drives.<br />
SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 130
TECHMARKET DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS (MORE THAN 7 POUNDS)<br />
Base Hard Optical<br />
Model Price* Processor RAM Graphics Drive Drive Display Wireless Weight Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
GATEWAY<br />
S-7700N $1,349 1.73GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 40GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 7.7 lbs. Thin and light for a 17-incher, and www.gateway.com<br />
Pentium M Radeon X700 combo decent specs for the price, but the 800-369-1409<br />
740 NX850X is a much better bargain.<br />
NX850X $1,399 1.73GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 60GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 7.7 lbs. Robustly configured for the price.<br />
Pentium M Radeon X700 (double layer) There’s a lot to like here, including<br />
740 a big, wide LCD and a DVD burner.<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD<br />
Compaq $699 1.8GHz 256MB ATI Radeon 40GB DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches 802.11b/g 7.8 lbs. A budget model that’s easy on the www.hp.com<br />
R4000 Sempron<br />
3200+<br />
Xpress 200M combo wallet but woefully underpowered. 888-999-4747<br />
Pavilion $879 1.8GHz 256MB ATI Radeon 40GB DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches None 8 lbs. The price is under a grand, but you<br />
ZV6000 Sempron Xpress 200M combo get components good for only basic<br />
Series 3200+ computing.<br />
Pavilion $1,149 1.8GHz 512MB ATI Radeon 80GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.1 lbs. Well-designed and equipped for<br />
DV8000z Turion 64 Xpress 200M combo multimedia, with a beefy CPU and<br />
Series ML-32 expansive screen.<br />
Pavilion $1,399 2.8GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 60GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches None 9.3 lbs. Features a mighty desktop CPU<br />
ZD8000 Pentium 4 Radeon X600 combo and decent graphics engine, but<br />
Series<br />
IBUYPOWER<br />
520 at near 10 pounds, not exactly slim.<br />
Battalion 101 $1,079 1.8GHz Mobile 512MB ATI Mobility 40GB DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches None 7.7 lbs. Inexpensive price nets a 64-bit www.ibuypower.com<br />
S-Turbo Athlon 64 Radeon 9700 combo processor with a modest mix of 888-462-3899<br />
LENOVO<br />
2800+ Pro components. Lacks Wi-Fi.<br />
ThinkPad G $1,049 3.06GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB DVD/CD-RW 15 inches 802.11b/g 7.2 lbs. A pleasing price for a ThinkPad, but www.lenovo.com<br />
Series Pentium 4 combo apart from the robust CPU, other 866-458-4465<br />
532 upgrades are in order.<br />
SONY ELECTRONICS<br />
VAIO $1,429 1.4GHz 1GB ATI Mobility 40GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.8 lbs. On the pricey side, given its under- www.sonystyle.com<br />
VGN-A600 Celeron M Radeon X600 combo powered processor, smallish hard 877-865-7669<br />
360 drive, and lack of a DVD burner.<br />
VAIO $2,229 1.86GHz 1GB ATI Mobility 160GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 8.8 lbs. You’ll pay for Sony’s elegant style in<br />
VGN-AX570G Pentium M Radeon X700 (double layer) this model, but you’ll also get top-<br />
750 notch components.<br />
TOSHIBA AMERICA<br />
Satellite $1,249 1.5GHz 256MB Integrated 40GB DVD/CD-RW 17 inches None 7.3 lbs. Light for a 17-inch laptop, but over- www.toshiba.com<br />
M60 Celeron M combo priced given its underpowered parts. 800-316-0920<br />
370 Comes in choice of three colors.<br />
Satellite P35 $1,599 3.46GHz 512MB ATI Mobility 100GB DVD±RW/ 17 inches 802.11b/g 9.5 lbs. Affordable 17-incher should work well<br />
Pentium 4 Radeon 9000 DVD-RAM for the basics, but serious gamers<br />
552 should look elsewhere.<br />
Qosmio G25 $2,499 2GHz 1GB nVidia 120GB DVD±RW/ 17 inches 802.11a/b/g 9.5 lbs. The best combination of TV, DVR,<br />
Pentium M GeForce (two DVD-RAM stereo, DVD player, and high-<br />
760 Go 6600 60GB) performance laptop we’ve seen.<br />
WINBOOK COMPUTER<br />
V120 $899 2.53GHz 512MB Integrated 60GB DVD/CD-RW 15.1 inches 802.11b/g 8.4 lbs. Affordable, but an anemic processor www.winbook.com<br />
Celeron D combo and integrated graphics make it 800-254-7806<br />
325 suitable only for the basics.<br />
A710 $1,099 1.8GHz 512MB Integrated 80GB DVD±RW 17 inches 802.11b/g 7.9 lbs. A solid deal on a set of competent<br />
Athlon 64 (double layer) components, save the feeble<br />
3000+ integrated graphics.<br />
* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable. Prices are subject to change.<br />
= Editors’ Choice See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
THE BEST RECENTLY REVIEWED DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS<br />
Dell XPS M170 • $3,624 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating 8.3<br />
Powered by a top-shelf processor and state-of-the-art graphics engine,<br />
the XPS M170 is one of the fastest, slimmest gaming machines we’ve seen.<br />
Toshiba Qosmio G25 • $2,499 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating 8.1<br />
This Qosmio delivers the most complete portable multimedia experience you can get.<br />
A gloss-black beauty, it features the Windows XP Media Center OS and a TV tuner.<br />
HP Pavilion DV8000z • $1,699 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating 7.0<br />
In addition to a pleasing design, well-selected multimedia features, and solid<br />
performance, the DV8000z costs much less than the competition.<br />
130 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Dell XPS<br />
M170
NEED TO KNOW<br />
HOME AND SMALL-OFFICE LASER PRINTERS<br />
Rated Text-<br />
Monochrome/ Maximum Print Speed<br />
Model Price Color Resolution Memory (Mono/Color) Compatibility Editor's Take Find Out More<br />
BROTHER INTERNATIONAL<br />
HL-2040 $119.99 Monochrome 2,400x600dpi 8MB 20ppm PC, Mac Speedy monochrome model fits tight www.brother-usa.com<br />
budgets and cramped workspaces. 800-276-7746<br />
HL-5140 $199.99 Monochrome 2,400x600dpi 16MB 21ppm PC, Mac Fast and network-upgradable; memory is<br />
expandable to 144MB.<br />
HL-5170DN $299.99 Monochrome 2,400x600dpi 32MB 21ppm PC, Mac Network-ready, with built-in duplexer and<br />
expandable paper-input capacity.<br />
HL-6050DW $649.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 32MB 25ppm PC, Mac Offers 802.11b/g networking and faster<br />
print speed than HL-5170DN.<br />
DELL<br />
COLOR OR MONOCHROME With a few color laser models<br />
priced under $1,000, some small businesses might<br />
find it worth the splurge to add some extra pop to its<br />
printed materials. For the most part, however, monochrome<br />
lasers are a far better value for home users and<br />
small businesses.<br />
RESOLUTION Print resolution refers to the maximum<br />
number of dots per inch (dpi) a printer creates, measured<br />
both horizontally and vertically. For example, a<br />
600x600dpi laser printer lays down a 1-inch square<br />
comprising 600 dots across by 600 dots down. A resolution<br />
of 600dpi is more than adequate for most textprinting<br />
tasks. If you’re printing more-demanding jobs—<br />
newsletters, for instance—consider models that print at<br />
1,200dpi or even 2,400dpi resolution.<br />
Laser 1100 $99 Monochrome 600x600dpi 2MB 15ppm PC Low price; great for home use and for www.dell.com<br />
students. Only 2MB of RAM, however. 800-915-3355<br />
Laser Printer $199 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 25ppm PC Promises fast printing and a high<br />
1700 resolution—at a decent price.<br />
MFP Laser $399 Monochrome 600x600dpi 32MB 22ppm PC Impressive print and scan quality from<br />
1600n all-in-one; includes Ethernet interface.<br />
Laser 5100cn $999 Monochrome, 600x600dpi 128MB 35ppm/25ppm PC, Mac Good performance, fast print speeds; can<br />
color handle heavy network use.<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD<br />
LaserJet 1020 $179.99 Monochrome 600x600dpi 2MB 15ppm PC Scant 2MB of RAM; not ideal for intense www.hp.com<br />
graphics printing. 888-999-4747<br />
LaserJet 1022 $199.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 8MB 19ppm PC, Mac Quick, high-quality prints, but noisy and<br />
no duplex printing.<br />
LaserJet 1022n $299.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 8MB 19ppm PC, Mac Similar to the 1022, but $100 extra buys<br />
you Ethernet networking.<br />
LaserJet 1160 $329.99 Monochrome 600x600dpi 16MB 20ppm PC, Mac Excellent text printing, but lacks a built-in<br />
duplexer and expandability.<br />
LaserJet 1320n $499.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 22ppm PC, Mac Quality printing, swift speeds, two-sided<br />
printing, and network-ready.<br />
Color LaserJet $599.99 Monochrome, 600x600dpi 64MB 20ppm/4ppm PC, Mac Great print quality, but sparse features and<br />
2550n color slow color-printing speeds.<br />
LaserJet 1320tn $599.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 22ppm PC, Mac $100 upgrade from 1320n brings built-in<br />
wireless networking to the mix.<br />
Color LaserJet $799.99 Monochrome, 600x600dpi 64MB 16ppm/16ppm PC, Mac Text is fine but slow; color is fast but<br />
3550<br />
IBM<br />
color substandard. Easy to use, though.<br />
Infoprint 1412 $427 Monochrome 2,400x2,400dpi 32MB 27ppm PC Designed for small businesses and work- www.ibm.com<br />
groups; supports PostScript. 800-358-6661<br />
KONICA MINOLTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS U.S.A.<br />
PagePro 1350W $149.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 8MB 21ppm PC Inexpensive, compact speed demon offers printer.konicaminolta.net<br />
impressive text quality. 800-705-2001<br />
See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
132 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
SPEED This spec measures how many pages per minute<br />
(ppm) a printer pumps out. Today’s laser printers should deliver<br />
more than 10ppm of text, with slightly slower speeds<br />
for a mixture of text and graphics. Most color lasers do four<br />
separate passes on color printouts, so expect much slower<br />
speeds. (Actual print speeds are slower than rated speeds.)<br />
CONNECTIVITY All printers have either a USB 1.1 interface<br />
or the newer, faster USB 2.0. Don’t worry too much if your<br />
system doesn’t have USB 2.0—the two standards get along<br />
just fine, and USB 1.1 is fast enough for printing. Workgroup<br />
printers also support printing over a network using a standard<br />
Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector. For even better<br />
mobility, many models support printing wirelessly, using<br />
infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi access points with built-in<br />
print servers. —Louis Ramirez, Hardware Editor
TECHMARKET HOME AND SMALL-OFFICE LASER PRINTERS<br />
Rated Text-<br />
Monochrome/ Maximum Print Speed<br />
Model Price Color Resolution Memory (Mono/Color) Compatibility Editor's Take Find Out More<br />
KONICA MINOLTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS U.S.A.<br />
PagePro 1250E $299 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 17ppm PC, Mac Adequate print speed and quality for a printer.konicaminolta.net<br />
home or one-person office; decent price. 800-705-2001<br />
Magicolor $399 Monochrome, 1,200x600dpi 32MB 20ppm/5ppm PC Inexpensive color laser printer that is easy<br />
2400W color to use and great for small spaces.<br />
Magicolor $499 Monochrome, 2,400x600dpi 32MB 20ppm/5ppm PC Text is fine, but color prints are only so-so;<br />
2430 DL color PictBridge printing requires extra RAM.<br />
LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL<br />
E232 $199 Monochrome 600x600dpi 16MB 22ppm PC, Mac Compact size and fast print speed, www.lexmark.com<br />
considering the low price. 800-539-6275<br />
E330 $399 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 32MB 27ppm PC, Mac For $200 more than the E232, you get<br />
faster printing and twice the memory.<br />
C510 $499 Monochrome, 2,400x2,400dpi 64MB 30ppm/8ppm PC, Mac Fast color and mono printing, plus true<br />
color PostScript and PCL emulation.<br />
E332n $499 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 32MB 27ppm PC, Mac Similar specs to the E330, along with<br />
internal Ethernet networking.<br />
T640 $699 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 64MB 35ppm PC, Mac Fast and business-friendly, with low print<br />
costs. Highly expandable.<br />
OKI DATA AMERICAS<br />
B4100 $167.99 Monochrome 1,200x600dpi 8MB 19ppm PC LED-based printer serves up decent print www.okidata.com<br />
speed for the price. 800-654-3282<br />
B4250 $240.99 Monochrome 1,200x600dpi 16MB 23ppm PC Doubles the B4100’s internal memory,<br />
which boosts print speed.<br />
B4350 $314.99 Monochrome 1,200x600dpi 16MB 23ppm PC, Mac Specs similar to B4250’s, with optional<br />
networking and PostScript support.<br />
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA<br />
ML-1740 $157.25 Monochrome 600x600dpi 8MB 17ppm PC Inexpensive laser offers good print speeds www.samsung.com<br />
for the price. 800-726-7864<br />
ML-2250 $229.99 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 22ppm PC Step-up from the ML-1740 has twice the<br />
memory and faster print speeds.<br />
ML-2251N $299 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 16MB 22ppm PC A space-saving laser that’s ideal for small<br />
workgroups.<br />
CLP-510N $499.99 Monochrome, 1,200x1,200dpi 64MB 25ppm/6ppm PC, Mac Color, networking, and a duplexer for just<br />
color $500? This one’s a keeper.<br />
CLP-550 $505 Monochrome, 1,200x1,200dpi 64MB 21ppm/5ppm PC Built-in duplexing; NO-NOIS technology<br />
XEROX<br />
color keeps printing quiet. So-so performance.<br />
Phaser 3150 $349 Monochrome 600x600dpi 32MB 22ppm PC Features fit-to-page printing and poster www.office.xerox.com<br />
printing for larger projects. 888-247-5107<br />
Phaser 3500/B $549 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 32MB 35ppm PC, Mac Office laser is too large for tight spaces, but<br />
it’s faster than the 3150; duplexing optional.<br />
Phaser 4500 $899 Monochrome 1,200x1,200dpi 48MB 36ppm PC, Mac Fast print speeds and ample paper<br />
capacity, but Ethernet is optional.<br />
Phaser 8500/N $899 Monochrome, 600x600dpi 128MB 24ppm/24ppm PC, Mac Fast, capable printer for small businesses;<br />
color Ethernet optional.<br />
THE BEST RECENTLY REVIEWED HOME AND SMALL-OFFICE LASER PRINTERS<br />
Dell Laser 5100cn • $999 • Editors’ Rating: 7.7<br />
Dell’s under-$1,000 color laser features Ethernet capability, twosided<br />
printing, reliable paper handling, and speeds fast enough for an<br />
office workgroup.<br />
Konica Minolta Magicolor 2430 DL • $499 • Editors’ Rating: 7.7<br />
At only $499, the diminutive but full-featured 2430 DL pushes the<br />
entry price for color laser printing down near inkjet levels. Plus, it<br />
prints from PictBridge-compatible cameras.<br />
Lexmark T640 • $699 • Editors’ Rating: 7.5<br />
The modest-looking T640 is fast, expandable, and features low perprint<br />
costs. Its output quality is only fair, however.<br />
Lexmark T640<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 133
NEED TO KNOW<br />
PERFORMANCE 3D-GRAPHICS CARDS ($299 AND HIGHER)<br />
MEMORY When it comes to graphics memory, you can never<br />
have too much, especially if you’re a hard-core gamer.<br />
More RAM means better performance, improved 3D texturing,<br />
and higher display resolutions. If you’re an avid gamer<br />
itching to frag opponents in Half-Life 2 or Doom 3, make the<br />
move up to 256MB. More memory allows for smoother<br />
gameplay, though anything above 256MB won’t make much<br />
of a difference.<br />
SLOT TYPE The AGP bus was developed specifically for<br />
graphics cards, but has been replaced by a faster technology<br />
called PCI Express. Both nVidia and ATI, makers of<br />
the two competing graphics-processing units—the engines<br />
that drive the cards—are supporting this new technology,<br />
which doubles the bandwidth of AGP 8x. The cards are<br />
more expensive, but worth the investment. Make sure you<br />
= Editors’ Choice See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
134 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
buy the right type for your motherboard.<br />
DIRECTX 9 The latest version of Microsoft’s multimedia instruction<br />
set enhances DirectX 9-compatible graphics cards’<br />
ability to render more realistic visuals. Look for DirectX 9<br />
support if you’re planning to play the latest 3D games.<br />
DVI VERSUS ANALOG Many of today’s LCD monitors have<br />
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connections, which provide image<br />
quality superior to the standard analog VGA interface<br />
(which is also typically present). Make sure your card has a<br />
DVI connection so you can take advantage of this improvement.<br />
TV TUNER Can’t afford a digital video recorder (DVR)? A<br />
graphics card with a built-in TV tuner lets you watch your favorite<br />
channels on your PC and use your computer as a TiVostyle<br />
DVR, enabling you to save shows to your hard drive and<br />
watch at your convenience. —Louis Ramirez, Hardware Editor<br />
Graphics Video<br />
Rated Max.<br />
DirectX OpenGL<br />
Model Price Engine RAM Interface Version Version DVI-Out Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
ASUSTEK COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL<br />
Extreme $454 Radeon X800 XL 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes PCI Express card packs HD and S-Video outputs so usa.asus.com<br />
AX800XL/2DTV Express you can project your games onto your television. 502-995-0883<br />
Extreme N7800 $570 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Packs nVidia’s 7800 GTX GPU and the ability to record<br />
GTX-2DHTV GTX Express (two) your gaming sessions as MPEG-4s for later viewing.<br />
Extreme AX850XT $689 Radeon X850 XT 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes A top-of-the-line board more expensive than a budget<br />
PE/2DHTV Platinum Edition Express (two) PC, but sure to satisfy even the most finicky gamer.<br />
ATI TECHNOLOGIES<br />
Radeon X800 XL $299 Radeon X800 XL 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes High-end 3D performance at a midrange price. Strikes www.ati.com<br />
Express the perfect balance between power and value. 905-882-2626<br />
All-In-Wonder $399 Radeon X800 XT 256MB AGP 8x 9 2 Yes Slightly less powerful than the X850 XT, yet costs the<br />
X800 XT same. Go for the real thing.<br />
Radeon X850 XT $399 Radeon X850 XT 256MB AGP 8x 9 2 Yes The fastest AGP-based graphics solution ATI offers.<br />
NEW<br />
Radeon X1800 XL $399 Radeon X1800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Despite all its features, ATI’s second-best 3D card<br />
XL Express (two) falls short on performance in games like Doom 3.<br />
Radeon X850 XT $499 Radeon X850 XT 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes A faster, PCI Express version of ATI’s high-end AGP<br />
Platinum Edition Express (two) card.<br />
Radeon X1800 XT $549 Radeon X1800 512MB PCI 9 2 Yes ATI’s top card is no match for nVidia’s top brass, but<br />
XT Express (two) it’s saved by Avivo, which decodes all types of video.<br />
BFG TECHNOLOGIES<br />
GeForce 6800 GT OC $309.99 GeForce 6800 256MB PCI 9 1.5 Yes Overclocked card is a decent performer with reasonable www.bfgtech.com<br />
GT Express (two) power requirements, but no bundled games. 847-281-3110<br />
GeForce 7800 GT OC $379.99 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Overclocked and SLI-ready—you’ll need a fire<br />
EVGA<br />
GT Express extinguisher to tame this blazing card.<br />
e-GeForce 6800 GT $399.99 GeForce 6800 256MB AGP 8x 9 2 Yes Expensive for a 6800-chipset card, but has a compact www.evga.com<br />
GT design and S-Video output. Bundled with Far Cry. 888-881-3842<br />
e-GeForce 7800 $549.99 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Hold on tight—nVidia’s 7800 GTX chip delivers a<br />
GTX GTX Express breakneck 3D-gaming experience.<br />
LEADTEK RESEARCH<br />
WinFast A400 GT $350 GeForce 6800 256MB AGP 8x 9 1.5 Yes Features both digital and analog connections for multi- www.leadtek.com<br />
TDH GT ple-display gaming. Attractive price doesn’t hurt, either. 510-490-8076<br />
WinFast 7800GT $499 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes In addition to fast performance, also features HDTV<br />
TDH MyVIVO GT Express (two) output.<br />
WinFast PX7800 $599 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Ships as a 430MHz/1,200MHz card, but overclockable<br />
GTX TDH MyVIVO GTX Express (two) to 450MHz/1,250MHz using company’s instructions.<br />
MATROX GRAPHICS<br />
Parhelia APVe $349 Parhelia-LX 128MB PCI 8.1 1.3 Yes Not intended for gamers; skimps on memory, but www.matrox.com<br />
MSI COMPUTER<br />
Express (two) offers HDTV component-video output. 514-822-6000<br />
NX7800GTX $529 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes Gamers take note: This is the best card your money www.msicomputer.com<br />
GTX Express (two) can buy. 626-913-0828<br />
PNY TECHNOLOGIES<br />
Verto GeForce 6800 $299.99 GeForce 6800 256MB AGP 8x 9 1.5 Yes The best nVidia-based card you can buy if your PC www.pny.com<br />
GT AGP GT (two) doesn’t support PCI Express. 973-515-9700<br />
Verto GeForce $499.99 GeForce 7800 256MB PCI 9 2 Yes SLI-ready card features nVidia’s fastest GPU, plus dual<br />
7800 GTX PCIe GTX Express (two) digital connections for limitless gaming opportunities.
NEED TO KNOW<br />
EXTERNAL DVD BURNERS<br />
FORMAT When DVD burners first emerged, buyers had to<br />
make an often-confusing choice between two incompatible<br />
formats: DVD-R/DVD-RW and DVD+R/DVD+RW. Thankfully,<br />
drive manufacturers now offer multiformat drives that<br />
can write and rewrite to both formats. Some drives also<br />
record to DVD-RAM discs, although these drives are much<br />
less common and tend to cost a little more.<br />
SPEED How fast a drive can read, write, and rewrite discs<br />
is measured in terms of “x.” If you’re on a limited budget,<br />
look for a drive that can write (or “burn”) DVDs at 8x—<br />
that’s approximately 8.5 minutes for a full disc. Currently,<br />
most drives write at 16x.<br />
DOUBLE-LAYER SUPPORT “Double layer” refers to<br />
the technology that allows two recording layers to fit on<br />
the single side of a DVD, effectively doubling a disc’s<br />
storage capacity from 4.7GB to 8.5GB. Though perfect<br />
CD/DVD<br />
Read Rewrite Buffer<br />
Model Price Format Speeds Write Speeds* Speeds** Size Interface Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
ASUSTEK COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL<br />
SDRW-0804P-D $130.99 DVD±RW 20x/8x 24x/8x/8x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Though not bus-powered, small enough for usa.asus.com<br />
(double layer) FireWire travel and features an international AC adapter. 502-995-0883<br />
DRW-1604P-D $149.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 32x/16x/16x/4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Supports both double-layer formats, but is heftier<br />
BENQ<br />
(double layer) FireWire than its thinner counterpart, the SDRW-0804P-D.<br />
EW1621 $129.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 No support for double-layer DVD-R; slow 2.4x www.benq.us<br />
(double layer) DVD+R double-layer speed. 866-700-2367<br />
FANTOM DRIVES<br />
FDDRWDF16D $97.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Faster write speeds than BenQ’s model. USB www.fantomdrives.com<br />
(double layer) interface only; still no DVD-R double layer. 310-320-7272<br />
FDRAMRWU25 $385 DVD-RW/ 32x/12x 24x/NA/8x/NA 16x/NA/4x/5x 2MB USB 2.0 Adds DVD-RAM to the mix, but with slower<br />
DVD-RAM overall speeds than the FDDRWDF16D.<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD<br />
DVD Writer $159.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Good rewrite speeds; also features LightScribe www.hp.com<br />
DVD740e<br />
I/OMAGIC<br />
(double layer) technology for labeling your discs. 888-999-4747<br />
IDVD8DBE $129.99 DVD±RW 40x/12x 40x/8x/4x/NA 24x/4x/2x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Rewrite speeds could be better; provides just- www.iomagic.com<br />
below-average speeds overall. 949-707-4800<br />
IDVD16DDME $149.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 $20 upgrade from the IDVD8DBE gets you<br />
(double layer) double-layer support.<br />
IDVD8PE $179.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x 24x/8x/8x/2.4x 24x/4x/2x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Sacrifices speed for a more compact, slimmer<br />
IOMEGA<br />
(double layer) form.<br />
Super DVD $159.95 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Fast ripping and burning at a reasonable price; www.iomega.com<br />
16x16<br />
LACIE<br />
(double layer) shame about the toll-based tech support, though. 888-516-8467<br />
DVD±RW $89 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 It won’t make you an A-list celeb, but this is one www.lacie.com<br />
Porsche 16x (double layer) Porsche that’s both fast and affordable. 503-844-4502<br />
DVD±RW with $119 DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB FireWire Also Porsche-designed, but with LightScribe<br />
LightScribe<br />
Porsche 16x<br />
(double layer) technology for disc labeling.<br />
d2 DVD±RW with $139 DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, A slight price increase buys you two high-speed<br />
LightScribe (double layer) FireWire interfaces.<br />
d2 DVD±RW with $189 DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB FireWire Similar to the previous d2, but you lose the USB<br />
LightScribe (double layer) 2.0 interface and gain Toast 7 Titanium software.<br />
Slim DVD±RW $189 DVD±RW 24x/8x 24x/8x/8x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 You’ll take a hit in speed, but this is the<br />
with LightScribe<br />
Porsche 8x<br />
(double layer) slimmest of LaCie’s drives.<br />
LG ELECTRONICS<br />
GSA-2166D $129 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB USB 2.0 Piano-black drive delivers looks and performance us.lge.com<br />
(double layer) to match; supports DVD-RAM. 800-243-0000<br />
GSA-5163D $129.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/5x 2MB USB 2.0, This drive provides it all: high-speed connections<br />
(double layer) FireWire and support for all formats, even DVD-RAM.<br />
* = Speeds expressed as CD-R/DVD+R/DVD-R/double-layer DVD; not all double-layer drives support both plus and minus DL media.<br />
** = Speeds expressed as CD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM<br />
NA = Not applicable<br />
See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
136 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
for those who need to archive huge amounts of data,<br />
double-layer burning currently maxes out at 8x speed,<br />
and the discs may not play in some DVD players. Also,<br />
you’ll run across two types of double-layer recording.<br />
Most double-layer drives support DVD+R double layer<br />
(DL), but some newer ones also support DVD-R DL. To<br />
get the most bang for your buck, look for drives that<br />
support both.<br />
INTERFACE Most external DVD drives connect to your computer<br />
via USB 2.0. Some drives, however, offer both USB<br />
and FireWire ports, but you’ll have to spend a little more for<br />
the additional interface. Likewise, if you travel often, you’ll<br />
have to invest more for a slimmer, more portable drive.<br />
Although they’re usually slower than their desktop counterparts,<br />
slimmer drives are easier to tote along when you’re on<br />
the road. —Louis Ramirez, Hardware Editor
TECHMARKET EXTERNAL DVD BURNERS<br />
CD/DVD<br />
Read Rewrite Buffer<br />
Model<br />
LITE-ON IT<br />
Price Format Speeds Write Speeds* Speeds** Size Interface Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
SOHW-1633SX $75.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/8x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Chunky drive suffers from an outdated 2.4x www.liteonamericas.com<br />
(double layer) double-layer write speed. 510-687-1800<br />
SOHW-1693SX $95.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 Unlike the SOHW-1673SX, this drive writes to<br />
(double layer) both formats of double-layer media.<br />
SOHW-1673SX $105.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0 As fat as SOHW-1633SX, but with a slightly<br />
(double layer) faster double-layer speed.<br />
MEMOREX PRODUCTS<br />
DVD Double-Layer $179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Respectable write speeds and dual interfaces www.memorex.com<br />
Recorder 16x16 Dual<br />
Format External<br />
PLEXTOR<br />
(double layer) FireWire make this drive a solid choice for upgraders. 562-653-2800<br />
PX-740UF $179 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x 32x/8x/4x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Offers multiformat double-layer support; well- www.plextor.com<br />
(double layer) FireWire priced for its feature set. 800-886-3935<br />
PX-716UF $239 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/6x 24x/8x/4x/NA 8MB USB 2.0, Available in four colors; price jump due to its<br />
(double layer) FireWire slightly slimmer form factor.<br />
SONY ELECTRONICS<br />
DRX-810UL $159.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Features the usual Sony flair, and has the specs www.sonystyle.com<br />
(double layer) FireWire to back up its looks. 800-222-7669<br />
DRX-720UL/T $179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Lacks DVD-R double-layer support; slower<br />
(double layer) FireWire CD-RW rewrite speeds, but still pricey.<br />
DRX-8000UL $179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Supports both double-layer formats, though<br />
(double layer) FireWire it’s still a tad slower than the DRX-810UL.<br />
DRX-810UL/T $179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB USB 2.0, Now Mac-friendly, with Roxio Toast for Macs<br />
(double layer) FireWire and Nero for Windows.<br />
PCGA-DDRW2 $249.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x 16x/4x/4x/NA 8x/4x/4x/NA 2MB FireWire Even for a drive this slim, its speeds are<br />
painfully slow.<br />
VRD-VC20 $259.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 8MB USB 2.0, RCA jacks and FireWire port allow for direct,<br />
DVDirect (double layer) FireWire PC-independent video recording to DVDs.<br />
PCGA-DDRW3 $399.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x 24x/8x/4x/2.4x 10x/4x/4x/NA 2MB FireWire Same pocketable size as the PCGA-DDRW2,<br />
(double layer) but slightly faster speeds and a higher price.<br />
Increase Office Productivity by20-50 %<br />
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES<br />
DESKTOP SOLUTION • NOTEBOOK SOLUTION<br />
The new DoubleSight dual LCD monitor is an attractive,<br />
space saving and cost effective alternative to large CRT<br />
monitors that consume a lot of physical desktop space<br />
or expensive LCD monitors. DoubleSight monitors<br />
provides an economic, easy to use technique for<br />
seamlessly displaying as much data as possible. For<br />
more information, please visit www.doublesight.com<br />
By performing fast reactions to multiple<br />
sources of information, Doublesight users<br />
can experience significant productivity<br />
increases ranging from 20 to 50% by easily<br />
managing multiple programs simultaneously.<br />
15” 17” 19”<br />
To purchase, please visit www.dell.com<br />
www.doublesight.com toll free: 1-800-585-3186 1-949-253-1535 ext. 211<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 137
NEW<br />
NEED TO KNOW<br />
SMARTPHONES<br />
SIZE AND CAPABILITY Smartphones come in a wide<br />
range of shapes and sizes but can be divided into three<br />
major styles based on primary function. Large, PDA-like<br />
handsets tend to be powerful organizers first and cell<br />
phones second. Sleeker models are meant to be used as<br />
mobile phones above all else, but they also offer advanced<br />
connectivity features. Finally, e-mail- and text-messagingcentric<br />
devices can double as voice communicators.<br />
INPUT METHOD If you plan to chat via IM or send e-mails<br />
frequently while in the field, a keyboard is a big plus. A full<br />
QWERTY keyboard almost always adds to a handset’s size,<br />
however. Phones that rely on a touch-screen keypad and<br />
bundled stylus are not ideal for manually entering data<br />
but are generally more portable. Flip- and candy-bar-style<br />
handsets are the smallest of all and use standard numerical<br />
keypads, which are extremely awkward for data entry.<br />
* = List price. Price may vary by carrier. See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.<br />
SCREEN Though most smartphones will have a color<br />
screen, TFT resolution is another matter. Look for the highest<br />
pixel count in the smallest screen size you can live with.<br />
CONNECTIVITY Most smartphones connect to a cellular<br />
network via GSM or CDMA technology. A few GSM-based<br />
devices even qualify as world phones, meaning they can<br />
roam on the GSM networks commonly found in Europe,<br />
Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Some smartphones also<br />
support Bluetooth and/or 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless networking.<br />
CAMERA Most models have rudimentary digital cameras<br />
able to capture low-resolution VGA (640x480-pixel) pictures.<br />
Many of these phones can even record brief video<br />
clips. That said, unless you have a burning desire to capture<br />
basic images on the road, this feature shouldn’t factor much<br />
into your decision.<br />
—Brian Bennett, Mobile Products Editor<br />
Wireless Operating Built-In<br />
Model Price* Carrier(s) Standard System RAM Input Camera Weight Editor’s Take Find Out More<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD<br />
iPaq HW6515 $649.99 Cingular GSM Windows Mobile 2003 64MB Keyboard, Yes 6.2 oz. Pricey, but packs features galore, including www.hp.com<br />
Pocket PC<br />
IMATE<br />
SE Phone Edition stylus Bluetooth, GPS, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. 888-999-4747<br />
SP3i $399.99 Cingular, GSM Windows Mobile 2003 32MB Keypad Yes 3.5 oz. Powerful, multimedia-capable, and compact. Wi-Fi www.imate.com<br />
T-Mobile for Pocket PC and a full keyboard would complete the package.<br />
Jam 850 $649 Cingular, GSM Windows Mobile 2003 64MB Stylus Yes 5.3 oz. Expensive, but small for a Windows PDA/cell-<br />
MOTOROLA<br />
T-Mobile for Pocket PC phone combo. No keyboard.<br />
MPx220 $249.99 Cingular GSM Windows Mobile 2003 32MB Keypad Yes 3.9 oz. Nicely sized flip phone running Windows Mobile www.motorola.com<br />
NOKIA<br />
for Smartphone OS syncs easily with Outlook. 866-289-6686<br />
9300 $299 Cingular GSM Symbian OS 7.0 80MB Keypad, No 5.9 oz. Bluetooth-enabled, Symbian-based cell splits www.nokiausa.com<br />
keyboard open to reveal a wide keyboard and big color screen. 888-256-2098<br />
PALM<br />
Treo 650 $599 Cingular, GSM, Palm OS 5.4 23MB Keyboard, Yes 6.3 oz. Screen and keyboard are improved over popular www.palm.com<br />
Sprint, CDMA stylus Treo 600’s; also, provides more support for 800-881-7256<br />
Verizon Microsoft apps.<br />
RESEARCH IN MOTION<br />
BlackBerry $249.99 Cingular GSM Proprietary 4MB Keypad No 4.2 oz. A BlackBerry/cell hybrid, it’s slim and lightweight, www.rim.com<br />
7100g though some may dislike its tricky keypad. 519-888-7465<br />
BlackBerry $249.99 Cingular, GSM Proprietary 4MB Keyboard No 4.9 oz. Features a big, bright color screen, easy e-mail<br />
7290 T-Mobile access, and worldwide voice support.<br />
BlackBerry $449.99 Nextel Nextel Proprietary 4MB Keyboard No 6.1 oz. Bulky for a BlackBerry, but features simple wireless<br />
7520<br />
SAMSUNG<br />
e-mail access and push-to-talk capabilities.<br />
SPH-i700 $199.99 Verizon CDMA Windows Mobile 2003 64MB Stylus Yes 6.9 oz. Large, but lacks a keyboard for fast, on-the-go text www.samsung.com<br />
for Pocket PC entry. Otherwise, a capable, inexpensive choice. 800-726-7864<br />
SP-i600 $499.99 Sprint CDMA Windows Mobile 2003 32MB Keypad No 5 oz. Compact, pocket-friendly flip phone also lacks a<br />
for Smartphone keyboard.<br />
SCH-i730 $599.99 Verizon CDMA Windows Mobile 2003 64MB Keyboard No 6.4 oz. A nice blend of phone and Windows PDA, with<br />
SIEMENS<br />
for Pocket PC Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and EVDO broadband.<br />
SX66 Pocket PC $679.99 Cingular GSM Windows Mobile 2003 128MB Keyboard, No 7.4 oz. Well-designed Pocket PC phone with nifty slide- www.siemens-mobile.com<br />
Phone SE for Pocket PC stylus down keyboard, plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. 888-777-0211<br />
SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS<br />
P910a $499 Cingular GSM Symbian OS 7.0 64MB Keypad, Yes 5.5 oz. The Porsche of smartphones, with its compact www.sonyericsson.com<br />
T-MOBILE<br />
keyboard,<br />
stylus<br />
design and all-encompassing feature set. 866-766-9374<br />
Sidekick II $299.99 T-Mobile GSM Danger OS 32MB Keyboard Yes 7 oz. A mobile messenger’s dream, featuring a hidden, www.tmobile.com<br />
swiveling keyboard. Great for sidewalk surfing. 800-866-2453<br />
UT STARCOM PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS<br />
SMT5600 $249.99 Cingular GSM Windows Mobile 2003 64MB Keypad Yes 3.6 oz. Slim Windows phone relies on keypad input but www.audiovox.com<br />
SE for Smartphone has potent entertainment features. 800-229-1235<br />
PPC6601 $599.99 Sprint CDMA Windows Mobile 2003 128MB Keyboard, Yes 6.8 oz. A state-of-the art PDA/phone combo with lots<br />
for Pocket PC stylus of RAM, a sliding keyboard, and Bluetooth.<br />
PPC6700SP $599.99 Sprint CDMA Windows Mobile 5.0 64MB Keyboard, Yes 6.1 oz. Large, but supports three flavors of wireless<br />
stylus data networking: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and EVDO.<br />
138 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com
NEED TO KNOW<br />
WARRANTIES AND SERVICE PLANS FOR DESKTOPS AND NOTEBOOKS<br />
TERM Major vendors such as Dell and Gateway are trying to<br />
set the benchmark for support at 90 days, but no PC owner<br />
should settle for a warranty that short. If you’re looking at a<br />
term shorter than one year, consider an extended service<br />
plan. Fine Print: Most extended plans require you to purchase<br />
them before the standard warranty has expired.<br />
PARTS COVERAGE As a rule, standard warranties cover<br />
your computer’s main hardware components (CPU, hard<br />
drive, RAM). Software and peripherals, such as monitors<br />
and keyboards, are usually covered by their manufacturers’<br />
warranties or an optional service plan. Keep in mind<br />
that extended service plans for PCs still won’t cover these<br />
extras—they only lengthen the coverage period of the<br />
standard warranty.<br />
DAMAGE PROTECTION Under a standard warranty,<br />
vendors will repair computers damaged during shipping<br />
or with defective parts. Notebook owners and the accident-prone<br />
should invest in an accidental damage protection<br />
(ADP) plan to insure their PCs against falls,<br />
Accidental-<br />
Damage Onsite Repair/ Free Online E-Mail<br />
Protection Return-to-Depot Knowledge Toll-Free Phone Support/<br />
Plan Price Term (ADP) Service Base Support Hours Live Chat Editor’s Take<br />
ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES www.abspc.com • 800-876-8088<br />
Standard Warranty Free One year No No/yes Yes Weekdays, 11:30 a.m. Yes/yes Expanded tech-support options now include live chat and<br />
to 8:30 p.m. (ET) an online help forum, though phone hours are still limited.<br />
APPLE COMPUTER www.apple.com • 800-692-7753<br />
Limited Warranty Free One year No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Apple’s massive knowledge base is one of the best in the<br />
(90 days) (90 days) business, but its skimpy 90-day support is a real downer.<br />
AppleCare $149 to $349 Three years No Yes (desktops)/ Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes A necessity for all but the bravest to bolster the standard,<br />
Protection Plan yes measly 90 days of support. Covers hardware and software.<br />
CYBERPOWER www.cyberpowerpc.com • 800-707-0393<br />
Limited Warranty Free One year No Yes (desktops)/ No 24 hours daily Yes/no Lackluster notebook coverage, but desktops get a solid three<br />
(notebooks); yes (one year) years, plus one year of onsite service. Desktop owners can<br />
three years add an extra year of onsite and 24/7 phone support for $40<br />
(desktops) in the second year of warranty, or for $80 in the third year.<br />
DELL www.dell.com • 800-999-3355<br />
Limited Warranty Free 90 days to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes XPS PCs get a full year of support, but some Dimension<br />
one year (one year) desktops come with an unimpressive 90 days.<br />
Extended Services $19 and up One to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Three- and four-year plans include global support for<br />
Plan four years laptops and extended hours for onsite repairs.<br />
CompleteCare $59 and up One to Yes Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Well-priced plan has some caveats: It doesn’t cover all<br />
Agreement (desktops); four years components, and notebooks require at least a three-year<br />
$79 to $199<br />
(notebooks)<br />
contract.<br />
FUJITSU COMPUTER SYSTEMS www.fujitsupc.com • 800-385-4878<br />
International Free One year No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Solid, no-frills coverage provides peace of mind for one<br />
Limited Warranty year, but doesn’t include shipping costs for depot repairs.<br />
Extended Warranty $99.95 (one year); One year; No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Note: This warranty extension must be activated within<br />
$179.95 (two years) two years 30 days of the date of notebook purchase.<br />
Executive Mobile $49.95 (one year); One year; No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Adds onsite repair but no damage protection; must buy<br />
Service $149.95 (three years) three years two-year extended warranty with the three-year contract.<br />
GATEWAY www.gateway.com • 800-369-1409<br />
Value Plan Free 90 days No No/yes Yes No Yes/yes Basic 90-day warranty falls short, and phone support is not<br />
toll-free. For increased coverage, the Value Plus Plan is<br />
a better buy.<br />
Value Plus Plan $39.99 to $119.99 One to No Yes/yes Yes No Yes/yes Gateway recently lowered the cost of this extended-<br />
(desktops); $99.99 four years warranty upgrade. Includes onsite repair and advanced<br />
to $319.99<br />
(notebooks)<br />
live chat, but still no toll-free phone support.<br />
Total Protection $149.99 to $259.99 One or Yes Yes/yes Yes No Yes/yes Next-day onsite repair is a standout, but at this price, this plan<br />
Plan (desktops); $169.99 three years (notebooks should include toll-free phone support. Plus, notebook-only<br />
to $419.99<br />
(notebooks)<br />
only) damage protection limits the appeal for desktop users.<br />
140 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
spills, and regular wear and tear. Fine Print: ADP plans<br />
aren’t available in all states.<br />
REPAIRS Many vendors offer depot service, which requires<br />
a customer to return a PC to an authorized factory<br />
or service center for major repairs and parts replacement.<br />
If you get a service plan that includes onsite repair, a computer<br />
technician will fix your PC at your home, usually by<br />
the next business day. Fine Print: A host of eligibility restrictions<br />
usually apply to getting onsite service. Examine<br />
the service contract before buying.<br />
TECHNICAL SUPPORT Phone and online chat are generally<br />
the most effective forms of tech support, but an easily<br />
navigable online knowledge base can help you solve simple<br />
computer problems at home, without waiting on hold.<br />
TERMS AND CONDITIONS While the warranty and support<br />
information below applies to most of each vendor’s<br />
offerings, terms and conditions can vary by system or<br />
system line. Always review the terms for your particular<br />
PC carefully before buying. —Erin Kandel, Editorial Assistant
TECHMARKET WARRANTIES AND SERVICE PLANS FOR DESKTOPS AND NOTEBOOKS<br />
Accidental-<br />
Damage Onsite Repair/ Free Online E-Mail<br />
Protection Return-to-Depot Knowledge Toll-Free Phone Support/<br />
Plan Price Term (ADP) Service Base Support Hours Live Chat Editor’s Take<br />
HEWLETT-PACKARD www.hp.com • 888-999-4747<br />
Basic Warranty Free One year No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Knowledge base is impressive, but lack of support via<br />
online chat weakens this basic support plan.<br />
Extended $99.99 to $219.99 Two or No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Covers displays purchased on same invoice as PC, and<br />
Service Plan (desktops); $99.99 three years notebooks get express three-day repair, but we’d like<br />
to $179.99<br />
(notebooks)<br />
either damage protection or onsite service at this price.<br />
HP House Call $199.99 to $269.99 Two years No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Plan applies only to eligible desktops and Media Center<br />
for Desktops PCs; includes live chat.<br />
Accidental Damage $149.99 to $269.99 One to Yes No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Adds damage protection to Extended Service Plan<br />
Protection (desktops); $99.99 three years package, but doesn’t cover damage from user wear<br />
Extended Service to $349.99 and tear.<br />
Plan (notebooks)<br />
IBUYPOWER www.ibuypower.com • 888-462-3899<br />
Limited Warranty Free One year No Yes/yes No Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. Yes/yes Limited phone-support hours, but iBuypower recently<br />
for Desktops to 5:30 p.m. (ET) added online chat. Plus, this plan includes onsite service.<br />
Limited Warranty Free One year No No/yes No 24 hours daily Yes/yes Average notebook coverage strengthened by beefed-up<br />
(Notebooks) support options. No online knowledge base, however.<br />
Depot Service $29 One year No No/yes No 24 hours daily Yes/yes To cover shipping costs for repairs, notebook buyers<br />
Warranty<br />
(Notebooks)<br />
should shell out the $29 for this plan.<br />
Extended Warranty $49 (two years); Two years; No Yes/yes No 24 hours daily Yes/yes Great price, but use onsite support carefully—there’s<br />
(Desktops) $79 (three years) three years a $165 service charge for software problems.<br />
LENOVO (FORMERLY IBM) www.lenovo.com • 866-968-4465<br />
Limited Warranty Free 90 days to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Terms vary greatly from model to model; some plans offer<br />
(Desktops) four years mail-in instead of onsite service. Steer clear of 90-day terms.<br />
Limited Warranty Free 90 days to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Aside from a few models with 90-day terms, notebooks<br />
(Notebooks) four years get better-than-average coverage here.<br />
Warranty Service $29 to $293 One to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no The most-expensive upgrades provide long coverage plus<br />
Upgrade (Desktops) four years 24/7, same-day onsite service.<br />
Warranty Service $49 to $549 One to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Lenovo’s willingness to cover notebooks for five years is<br />
Upgrade<br />
(Notebooks)<br />
five years reassuring, but look to the ADP plan for damage protection.<br />
Accidental Damage $199 to $589 One to Yes No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Plan offers full damage protection for up to four years, but,<br />
Protection<br />
(Notebooks)<br />
four years considering the cost, we wish it included onsite service.<br />
POLYWELL COMPUTERS www.polywell.com • 800-900-5836<br />
Basic Warranty Free Varies No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Parts coverage is based on individual manufacturers’<br />
by model (one year) warranties; five years of labor coverage for PCs priced<br />
$1,000 and up.<br />
Enhanced Basic 3 percent of price One year; No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/no Depending on the price of your PC, this plan option<br />
Warranty (one year); 8 percent three years can cost a bundle—plus, it requires the purchase of an<br />
of price (three years) onsite-service contract. No knowledge base.<br />
SONY ELECTRONICS www.sonystyle.com • 877-512-7669<br />
Limited Warranty Free One year No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes A solid limited warranty, enhanced by a superior knowledge<br />
base and live-chat support.<br />
Express Ship $124.99 to $429.99 One to No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Sony’s most basic warranty extension for notebooks, this<br />
(Notebooks) four years plan shoulders express shipping costs for depot repairs.<br />
Onsite Service $149.99 to $379.99 Two to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Covers lightning damage if your surge protector fails, but<br />
(Desktops) five years no complete damage-protection plan is offered for desktops.<br />
Onsite Service with $199.99 to $439.99 Two to Yes Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes Pricey but well-rounded package covers all the bases<br />
ADP (Notebooks) four years for long-term laptop protection.<br />
TOSHIBA AMERICA www.toshibadirect.com • 800-316-0920<br />
Limited Warranty Free 90 days to No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily No/no Best to upgrade if you’re stuck with a skimpy 90-day<br />
three years term. No live-chat or e-mail support.<br />
At-Home Repair $71.10 to $224.10 One year; No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily No/no Same coverage as limited warranty, but with onsite<br />
three years support; a better deal when purchased with an extension.<br />
Extended Warranty $89.10 to $359.10 One to No No/yes Yes 24 hours daily No/no Most expensive for Qosmio laptops; for extra protection,<br />
four years consider adding ADP coverage.<br />
SystemGuard $179.10 to $359.10 One year; Yes No/yes Yes 24 hours daily No/no Well-priced damage-protection plan is offered in more<br />
Accidental Damage three years term lengths when bundled with a warranty extension<br />
Coverage and/or at-home repair.<br />
VELOCITY MICRO www.velocitymicro.com • 800-303-7866<br />
Limited Warranty Free One to No Yes/yes Yes Weekdays, 7 a.m. Yes/yes Phone-support hours aren’t the best, but the user-friendly<br />
three years to 11 p.m.; Sat, live chat and up to three years of free onsite service can’t<br />
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. be beat.<br />
VelocityCare Free; $49 to $79 One to No Yes/yes Yes 24 hours daily Yes/yes This plan rounds out limited warranty features with 24/7<br />
(varies by model) three years phone hours; comes free with most models.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 141
Illustrations by Bill Rieser<br />
WEB BUYER<br />
THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING • BY KEVIN SAVETZ<br />
>>TECH PRODUCTS<br />
acortech.com<br />
Inexpensive PC accessories abound at Acortech.com.<br />
We found 17-inch LCD monitors for under $300, flash<br />
drives for under $20, optical mice for less than $5,<br />
and other low-cost goodies for certified tech geeks.<br />
altex.com<br />
With a big dose of Texan pride, Altex Electronics<br />
offers a generous selection of computer and networking<br />
gear. You’ll find a vast variety of items:<br />
case lights, digital cameras, printers, power<br />
supplies, and much more.<br />
amazon.com<br />
Amazon.com is an unparalleled superstore with a<br />
massive inventory equaled only by its special features,<br />
such as personalized product recommendations<br />
and mobile access. The Early Adopter<br />
Products pages show what’s fresh in electronics,<br />
video games, and DVDs.<br />
Jabra BT500<br />
Bluetooth Wireless<br />
Headset from<br />
Amazon.com<br />
audioadvisor.com<br />
Catering to enthusiasts, Audio Advisor sells hightech<br />
equipment for your home theater. Its stock<br />
includes DVD players, equalizers, preamps, and power<br />
conditioners. Check out the Clearance and Hot Buys<br />
sections for decent deals.<br />
bestbuy.com<br />
Our readers voted Best Buy their favorite place to<br />
buy consumer electronics. The selection is comprehensive<br />
and impressive. The best part? You can<br />
have your gadget delivered or ready for pickup at a<br />
nearby store.<br />
buy.com<br />
Buy.com’s vast million-product inventory includes<br />
computer hardware, software, electronics, video<br />
games, books, music, and DVDs. Sister site<br />
BuyMusic.com delivers music downloads starting at<br />
79 cents a song.<br />
www.buyuptime.com<br />
BuyUptime.com stocks uninterruptible power supplies,<br />
replacement batteries, power-distribution<br />
units, and other security offerings. The UPS<br />
Selector tool will show you the three best models<br />
for your computer setup.<br />
cambridgesoundworks.com<br />
Cambridge SoundWorks sells home-audio and<br />
home-theater products that will please everyone<br />
from the budget-minded to the serious audio<br />
buff. The site provides a 45-day price-protection<br />
guarantee and a 45-day satisfaction promise on<br />
most items.<br />
cdw.com<br />
In addition to a wide selection of hardware and peripherals,<br />
CDW offers an Outlet section where you’ll find<br />
deals on clearance merchandise and customer returns.<br />
Click the Mac Warehouse tab to reveal a medley of<br />
Apple hardware and peripherals.<br />
chumbo.com<br />
Check out Chumbo for a bountiful selection of popular<br />
hardware, software, and electronics. The topselling<br />
products in each category are always in view,<br />
so you’ll know which deals are the hottest.<br />
circuitcity.com<br />
Plug in to Circuit City, where you can choose from a<br />
quarter million movies, video games, and CDs. The<br />
inventory also includes digital cameras, televisions,<br />
and PDAs. Have your products delivered, or pick them<br />
up in a Circuit City store.<br />
compusa.com<br />
The well-organized CompUSA rounds out the usual<br />
selection of PC hardware, peripherals, and accessories<br />
with areas devoted to home electronics and wireless<br />
gadgets. Set your own price on PCs at CompUSA’s<br />
auction site.<br />
computerbags.com<br />
Need your laptop to survive—no matter what? Check<br />
out <strong>Computer</strong>bags.com’s selection of waterproof,<br />
floating, and crushproof cases. If style is more important,<br />
explore the large selection of soft-sided cases<br />
and backpacks.<br />
computers.ebay.com<br />
eBay is an unparalleled auction site and a unique<br />
shopping experience. <strong>Shopper</strong>s can set their own<br />
prices on components, including new and used PCs,<br />
software, tech books, and vintage computers.<br />
computers4sure.com<br />
At <strong>Computer</strong>s4Sure, you’ll find 21 departments<br />
well-stocked with a broad spectrum of products,<br />
including networking gear, PDAs, and scanners.<br />
connectxpress.com<br />
With oodles of cables for computers, audio/video<br />
components, and networks, ConnectXpress will<br />
get you more wired than a triple latte. You get a<br />
lifetime warranty on all cables.<br />
cpusolutions.com<br />
CPU Solutions will entice you with inexpensive<br />
computer components and upgrade kits. The site<br />
offers several complete desktop computers for<br />
under $500, plus PC kits for under $300.<br />
crutchfield.com<br />
In business for 30 years, Crutchfield assembles an<br />
impressive catalog of camcorders, digital cameras,<br />
and audio/video products for your home and car. If<br />
sound is more important than looks, tune to the<br />
Scratch & Dent section for deals.<br />
directron.com<br />
Directron.com has the stuff tinkerers dream of.<br />
The massive selection of PC gear includes cases,<br />
storage, mods, lighting, motherboards, and more.<br />
Plus, orders earn you the right to pick through the<br />
Free Stuff bin.<br />
ecost.com<br />
Look to eCost.com for deals on PC components,<br />
software, electronics, and DVDs. You’ll be enticed<br />
by short-lived but sweet deals in the Bargain<br />
Countdown area.<br />
143 Tech Products<br />
143 Apple Hardware and Software<br />
144 Input Devices<br />
145 Direct PC Vendors<br />
146 Software<br />
146 Blank Media<br />
APPLE HARDWARE<br />
AND SOFTWARE<br />
club-mac.com<br />
Join the club—the selection of Apple hardware,<br />
peripherals, and software at ClubMac<br />
is hard to beat. Click the category tabs to<br />
zoom in on a bountiful selection of USB and<br />
FireWire add-ons, or check the Blowout<br />
Deals tab for discounts on open-box items.<br />
dealmac.com<br />
Dealmac searches online and offline stores<br />
for the best deals on Mac-friendly hardware<br />
and software. Find deals on the site, on the<br />
RSS feeds, or in the daily newsletter. Top<br />
Reader Picks highlight popular offers.<br />
eshop.macsales.com<br />
Other World Computing delivers a universe<br />
of accessories for Apple users. Its inventory<br />
includes acceleration cards, memory,<br />
FireWire add-ons, and PowerBook<br />
accessories.<br />
eunitek.com<br />
Eunitek is a great place to go for iPods,<br />
iBooks, iMacs, and eMacs. Systems often<br />
come with extra RAM or other freebies.<br />
macmall.com<br />
MacMall is a vast catalog of Apple products.<br />
Visit the iPod Store for the latest Apple<br />
digital music players and accessories, or<br />
the Storage area for external FireWire hard<br />
drives, backup software, and DVD add-ons.<br />
maczone.com<br />
Mac Zone will dazzle you with its Appleoriented<br />
catalog of G5 desktops, Power-<br />
Books, server hardware, and software.<br />
Many hardware purchases include free<br />
memory, accessory kits, or other extras.<br />
powermax.com<br />
PowerMax <strong>Computer</strong>s sells new, customconfigured<br />
Macintosh computers, plus capture<br />
cards, editing software, camcorders,<br />
and storage.<br />
smalldog.com<br />
Sniff around Small Dog for new and refurbished<br />
hardware, software, and peripherals.<br />
Its catalog includes desktop and portable<br />
Macs, iPods, digital cameras, and accessories.<br />
The Kibbles & Bytes newsletter will<br />
keep you informed about Mac news.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 143
WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES<br />
INPUT DEVICES<br />
belkin.com<br />
Belkin sells specialized peripherals for gaming,<br />
as well as keyboards and mice for work.<br />
Specialties include the Nostromo Speedpad,<br />
a keyboard-and-gamepad combination<br />
tuned to one-hand control. You’ll also find<br />
the Nostromo Game Mouse, which offers<br />
tactile feedback.<br />
datadesktech.com<br />
Many keyboards are more or less the<br />
same, but Datadesk Technologies specializes<br />
in boards for special needs. Choices<br />
include small, colorful keyboards for<br />
kids, ergonomic split keyboards, and keyboards<br />
with built-in trackballs.<br />
gyration.com<br />
Gyration creates and sells unusual input<br />
devices, including a Cordless Optical Air<br />
Mouse that doesn’t require a desktop, a<br />
Media Center remote control, and a wireless<br />
mouse with an impressive 100-foot range.<br />
kensington.com<br />
Kensington’s keyboard selection includes<br />
the uniquely pleasant Comfort Type Keyboard,<br />
the classic and tactile StudioBoard<br />
mechanical model, and the do-it-all Pilot-<br />
Board Multimedia keyboard. Also check<br />
out the Bluetooth models tuned to wireless<br />
desktop or mobile use.<br />
logitech.com<br />
At Logitech’s site, you’ll find wireless keyboards,<br />
models with media-control features,<br />
and matching keyboard-and-mouse<br />
sets. For gamers, the site stocks gaming<br />
mice, joysticks, gamepads, and steering<br />
wheels.<br />
microsoft.com/hardware<br />
Microsoft’s innovative input devices offer<br />
features such as biometric fingerprint<br />
readers, Bluetooth connectivity, and—for<br />
mice—laser tracking. Some keyboards feature<br />
the Zoom Slider, a novel control for<br />
zooming in on graphics applications and<br />
other programs.<br />
us.creative.com/shop<br />
Creative Technology’s line of input devices<br />
includes mice, wireless keyboards,<br />
and, for musical fun, USB/MIDI music keyboards.<br />
Shipping is just $2.99, no matter<br />
the size of your order.<br />
xoxide.com<br />
Why should your keyboard and mice look<br />
like everyone else’s? Xoxide’s inventory<br />
stocks illuminated and clear keyboards,<br />
plus mice that glow, shine, and even blow<br />
cool air onto your sweaty palms.<br />
144 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
etronics.com<br />
Etronics.com is a techie’s dream: a megastore<br />
offering satellite radio, home-office gadgets, and<br />
appliances. You’ll also find barbeques and pens in<br />
the site’s diverse catalog—with a 30-day satisfaction<br />
guarantee on everything.<br />
frozencpu.com<br />
Focused on PC cooling and case modifications,<br />
FrozenCPU.com will delight PC builders and overclockers.<br />
The catalog of freakishly cool accessories<br />
includes transparent PC power supplies, LEDilluminated<br />
fans, and modified cases.<br />
granitedigital.com<br />
Looking for a rock-solid storage or backup system?<br />
At Granite Digital, you’ll find fast FireWire hard<br />
drives, hot-swappable RAID systems, and diagnostic<br />
equipment.<br />
insight.com<br />
Insight delivers IT products for businesses, including<br />
networking hardware, projectors, and servers. The<br />
stellar Narrow Your Results feature and comparison<br />
tools will help you find the best product.<br />
jdr.com<br />
JDR Microdevices sells a decent selection of PC hardware<br />
and accessories at reasonable prices. In the<br />
Electronics section, you’ll find electronic components<br />
and kits, integrated circuits, and technical reference<br />
books.<br />
jncs.com<br />
J&N <strong>Computer</strong> Services specializes in pretested motherboard/CPU/memory<br />
bundles and offers several<br />
options for creating your perfect computer. Use the<br />
Custom Configurator to build a desktop, notebook, or<br />
small-form-factor PC.<br />
jr.com<br />
Televisions, MP3 players, office products, and appliances<br />
abound at J&R Music and <strong>Computer</strong> World.<br />
Read the Product Guides for tips on buying and using<br />
audio and video gear, computers, digital cameras, and<br />
more.<br />
Palm TX<br />
from J&R Music<br />
and <strong>Computer</strong><br />
World<br />
lik-sang.com<br />
So you think you’ve seen every possible gaming<br />
peripheral? You haven’t been to Lik-Sang.com, which<br />
imports video-game accessories from around the<br />
world. Discover mod kits for game consoles, hard-tofind<br />
imported games, and unusual controllers.<br />
mwave.com<br />
Mwave.com’s friendly site sells a multitude of PC<br />
hardware products. The Top Ten Sellers and New<br />
Products pages link to hot items. Check the<br />
Refurbished section for deals on as-is, refurbished<br />
hardware.<br />
newegg.com<br />
Newegg.com is a nest of good stuff for do-it-yourself<br />
PC upgraders. The site stocks hard drives,<br />
motherboards, CPUs, optical-storage add-ons, and<br />
consumer electronics.<br />
onecall.com<br />
Choosy gadget shoppers will find a wide assortment<br />
of camcorders, digital cameras, and speakers at<br />
OneCall. Free three-day shipping is available for many<br />
items.<br />
outpost.com<br />
<strong>Shopper</strong>s at Fry’s Outpost.com enjoy an ample catalog<br />
of hardware, software, cameras, and video games.<br />
Notable features include the Power Search function,<br />
special deals, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on<br />
most products.<br />
pcconnection.com<br />
PC Connection can connect you to a world of PCs,<br />
peripherals, and software. Use the Rebate Center to<br />
find products with cash-back deals, or visit sister site<br />
MacConnection (www.macconnection.com) for Mac<br />
OS wares.<br />
pcmall.com<br />
Catering to businesses of all sizes as well as<br />
consumers, PC Mall’s catalog includes more than<br />
100,000 products, with hot deals on notebooks, LCD<br />
monitors, and digital media. Sister site MacMall<br />
(www.macmall.com) is devoted to Apple hardware<br />
and software.<br />
www.pcmicrostore.com<br />
PCMicroStore.com sells 20,000 products, with plenty<br />
of inexpensive accessories for upgraders. The selection<br />
includes drive enclosures, video cards, and keyboard/video/mouse<br />
(KVM) switches. A decent selection<br />
of removable media and printer consumables is<br />
also available.<br />
pdapanache.com<br />
PDA Panache offers replacement styli customized<br />
for your particular PDA model. Look for<br />
the cute translucent plastic pointers and elegant<br />
stylus/pen combinations.<br />
pdasmart.com<br />
Is your broken PDA out of warranty? PDASmart.com<br />
offers do-it-yourself repair kits, as well as mail-in<br />
repair and upgrade services for many PDAs and iPods.<br />
Look for extended-life batteries, replacement LCD<br />
screens, and bezels.<br />
powernotebooks.com<br />
Choose among Sager and PowerPro portable computers<br />
at PowerNotebooks.com. Find a laptop based<br />
on screen size or CPU. The store has a sky-high satisfaction<br />
rating with previous customers.<br />
priorityelectronics.com<br />
Shop for a new battery, PC Card, or external media<br />
adapter for your laptop with help from Priority<br />
Electronics. The company also has an impressive<br />
assortment of desktop-PC, digital-camera, and iPod<br />
accessories.<br />
radioshack.com<br />
RadioShack stocks a variety of phones, cables,<br />
digital-audio players, and PC peripherals. Get free<br />
shipping on orders of at least $50.<br />
www.shop.teleadapt.com<br />
The global travel products at Teleadapt include<br />
regional phone and power converters, along with<br />
portable surge suppressors to keep your hardware<br />
safe even on questionable foreign power grids.<br />
sparco.com<br />
Check out Sparco.com’s list of products that come<br />
with “free stuff” or instant rebates. The catalog of<br />
more than 200,000 products includes PCs, peripherals,<br />
and software.<br />
store.a2zcable.com<br />
The only thing that rivals the selection at A2Z<br />
Cables is the amount of technical information the<br />
site provides. You’ll find all the connectors you’ll need,
WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES<br />
from networking to audio/video, along with detailed<br />
connectivity guides.<br />
thinkgeek.com<br />
Looking for an unusual gift for the geek in your life?<br />
ThinkGeek may have it. The catalog includes curious<br />
PC peripherals, books, irreverent apparel, cubicle toys,<br />
and unusual caffeinated snacks.<br />
tigerdirect.com<br />
For deals and discounts, visit TigerDirect. This<br />
sizable catalog includes low-cost PC components,<br />
PDAs, and office equipment. Geeks on a budget can<br />
find desktop PCs for as little as $250 and laptops for<br />
under $500.<br />
tristatecomputer.com<br />
TriState Camera stocks a plethora of digital and analog<br />
cameras, plasma televisions, computer peripherals,<br />
and necessities for home or office.<br />
tweeter.com<br />
Tweeter offers a large selection of portable music<br />
players and digital-imaging devices, as well as plenty<br />
of home audio and video products. Take advantage of<br />
free shipping on most products.<br />
yourmobiledesk.com<br />
Keep on truckin’ (or flyin’, or drivin’) by browsing<br />
Yourmobiledesk.com, which focuses on portable<br />
computing accessories. Mobile work desks, car<br />
power adapters, and travel cases will keep your gear<br />
humming on the road or in the air.<br />
zones.com<br />
There’s a zone for whatever you need at Zones: the<br />
home page for hardware and software, the Mac Zone<br />
for Apple stuff, the Creative Pro page for graphics<br />
pros, and the Zones Clearance section for special buys.<br />
>> DIRECT<br />
PC VENDORS<br />
abspc.com<br />
Expect gaming, multimedia, and business PCs<br />
aplenty at ABS <strong>Computer</strong> Technologies. The company<br />
offers a choice of Intel or AMD processors, a<br />
three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty, and tollfree<br />
technical support. Visit the Outlet Store for shortlived<br />
specials.<br />
alienware.com<br />
Alienware can custom-build your dream game<br />
machine—desktop or laptop. Each is available with<br />
out-of-this-world cases in a rainbow of colors.<br />
Buyers get a personalized owner’s manual and tollfree<br />
technical support any time of the day or night.<br />
buympc.com<br />
MPC <strong>Computer</strong>s sells desktops, notebooks, and<br />
servers. You can custom-configure a high-performance<br />
Millennia desktop, tuned to your specifications,<br />
for business, multimedia, or gaming.<br />
cyberpowersystem.com<br />
Power up with a customized Intel or AMD system<br />
from Cyberpower. The selection includes 64-bit<br />
machines, gamers’ dream systems, Media Centers,<br />
and budget PCs for everyday use.<br />
dell.com<br />
Dell’s electronic storefront has always led the way in<br />
ease of use. The site is jam-packed with detailed information<br />
that makes it a snap to match a machine to<br />
your needs. Each system is configurable to the nth<br />
degree, and you can get quick access to online support<br />
customized for your PC.<br />
falcon-nw.com<br />
Once you get your talons on a Falcon Northwest PC,<br />
you won’t want to let go. The heavyweight desktops<br />
and totable FragBox computers include the hardware<br />
you want, the way-cool look you crave, and the personalized<br />
system-rescue discs you may one day need.<br />
gateway.com<br />
One of the biggest players in online computer sales,<br />
Gateway has an enormous and informative site that<br />
sells custom-built desktops and notebooks.<br />
hpshopping.com<br />
At this site, choose among Hewlett-Packard<br />
and Compaq desktop and notebook computers, plus<br />
networking accessories, printers, handhelds, and<br />
digital cameras.<br />
hypersonic-pc.com<br />
Need computing power that’s faster than fast? Go<br />
hypersonic. Visit Hypersonic PC for gaming<br />
systems, workstations, and laptops outfitted with the<br />
latest high-performance peripherals. “Enthusiast<br />
options” include 3D-graphics optimization and case<br />
customization.<br />
ibuypower.com<br />
iBuypower can power up your workspace with a 64bit<br />
PC for less than $500. Even the company’s leastexpensive<br />
PCs include large hard drives, dedicated<br />
graphics cards, desktop speakers, and other essentials.<br />
All products are backed by a 30-day money-back<br />
guarantee.<br />
iBuypower<br />
Battalion 101<br />
G-600<br />
idotpc.com<br />
Find a customized desktop, an economical bare-bones<br />
PC, or a personalized laptop at iDotpc.com. Menus<br />
allow you to create the PC that’s right for you, letting<br />
you specify the processor, memory, optical drive, and<br />
other necessities.<br />
lenovo.com/think<br />
Lenovo sells IBM’s former lines of ThinkCentre desktops,<br />
ThinkPad laptops, and ThinkVision monitors.<br />
Configure built-to-order PCs, and choose among<br />
accessories such as memory and printers.<br />
maingear.com<br />
MainGear specializes in premium PCs with advanced<br />
specs for gamers and other power users. The selection<br />
includes sleek-looking and colorful desktops,<br />
space-saving X-Cube machines, and powerful laptops.<br />
monarchcomputer.com<br />
Monarch <strong>Computer</strong> Systems creates build-toorder<br />
desktops, workstations, and servers.<br />
Configure the computer you want, then lock in the<br />
price for up to a week. If you’re building a PC,<br />
check out the PC Parts section for components<br />
and peripherals.<br />
overdrivepc.com<br />
Sleek, pre-overclocked PCs for gamers and professionals<br />
highlight Overdrive PC’s offerings. Each computer<br />
includes a quiet cooling system, free antivirus software,<br />
and no-cost shipping.<br />
sagernotebook.com<br />
Specializing in notebook computers, Sager offers<br />
a variety of options, from budget machines to<br />
speedy multimedia units. Service includes a 72hour<br />
repair-turnaround guarantee and free lifetime<br />
tech support.<br />
shopprostar.com<br />
Each computer in ProStar <strong>Computer</strong>’s line of notebook<br />
PCs is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee,<br />
a speedy-repair promise, and free tech support.<br />
sonystyle.com/vaio<br />
Sony Style is a sleek-looking site selling Sony’s<br />
line of VAIO desktops and notebooks, plus digital<br />
cameras, displays, and storage devices.<br />
Sony VAIO VGX-XL1<br />
Digital Living System<br />
starfishtech.com<br />
Starfish Technologies offers PCs with plenty of customization<br />
options, plus motherboards, sound cards,<br />
and other components for do-it-yourself PC architects.<br />
store.apple.com<br />
The Apple Store’s well-designed site lets you<br />
custom-configure any Macintosh and offers a<br />
wide array of Mac-compatible software and<br />
accessories. For frequent (or compulsive) customers,<br />
the one-click-ordering feature makes<br />
purchases extra simple.<br />
toshibadirect.com<br />
The custom-configured notebooks and Tablet PCs<br />
at Toshiba Direct range from budget models to the<br />
unique Qosmio laptops, which combine PC, TV,<br />
DVD, and audio features.<br />
us.fujitsu.com/shop<br />
Fujitsu’s site focuses on portable computing,<br />
including notebook PCs and pen-based tablet<br />
computers. Each computer has several<br />
warranty options.<br />
velocitymicro.com<br />
Looking for a 64-bit processor to push your<br />
games to the limit? They’re in Velocity Micro’s<br />
Gamer’s Edge and Raptor models. The customconfiguration<br />
menus offer a mind-boggling array<br />
of component choices.<br />
viciouspc.com<br />
Creating “hardware for the hard-core,” Vicious PC<br />
sells desktops with clear cases, high-output ventilation,<br />
easy-access sliding rails, and front-accessible<br />
USB ports. Washable air filters mean your computer’s<br />
innards will remain dust-free.<br />
voodoopc.com<br />
Nobody else can do the voodoo that they do so<br />
well. VoodooPC specializes in high-end PCs for<br />
gamers, with a choice of Intel or 64-bit AMD<br />
processors. Take your pick among tower systems,<br />
laptops, and portables—all thoroughly customizable,<br />
of course.<br />
winbook.com<br />
WinBook <strong>Computer</strong> sells laptops and desktops<br />
with a 30-day money-back guarantee, a one-year<br />
warranty, and free tech support. Ironically, some<br />
of the best deals,“Web specials,” can only be<br />
ordered by phone.<br />
www.ztgroup.com<br />
ZT Group builds and sells desktop and notebook<br />
computers for every type of user. The selection<br />
includes PCs for gaming, media, home offices, and<br />
businesses, with your choice of AMD or Intel<br />
processors.<br />
computershopper.com <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> 145
WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES<br />
BLANK MEDIA<br />
allmediaoutlet.com<br />
The mammoth selection at All Media Outlet<br />
includes mini-DVDs, double-layer discs,<br />
and hard-to-find storage media. The CD-R<br />
and DVD-R sampler packs let you try different<br />
brands of discs before committing<br />
to a bulk purchase.<br />
cd-dvd-supplies.com<br />
The aptly named CD-DVD-Supplies.com<br />
sells name-brand, bulk, and economy<br />
discs. The site offers some substitutes for<br />
plain old media, such as business-cardsize,<br />
miniature, and colorful discs.<br />
www.discmakers.com<br />
Disc Makers sells blank DVDs and CDs,<br />
duplicators, authoring software, and supplies<br />
for packaging and mailing. If you’re<br />
looking for a bargain, go for the Mixed Lot<br />
CD-Rs—a bulk load of assorted blanks.<br />
goldenromonline.com<br />
Burn it, package it, and label it with help<br />
from GoldenROMonline.com. The site sells<br />
bulk CD-R discs in a variety of flavors, including<br />
tinted, printable, and business-cardsize.<br />
Store and ship them with a medley of<br />
jewel cases, paper sleeves, and mailers.<br />
ioproducts.com<br />
The diverse selection of media at IO Products<br />
includes scratch-resistant DVD+Rs,<br />
double-sided mini-DVD-RWs, and goodold<br />
blank audio cassettes. The site provides<br />
a satisfaction guarantee on every<br />
product. As a bonus, you get a free<br />
CD/DVD-safe marker with every order.<br />
www.mediasupply.com<br />
In addition to bulk bundles of CD-R and<br />
DVD blanks, Media Supply sells duplicators<br />
that can churn out dozens of copies<br />
an hour, and printers for creating beautiful<br />
labels for your discs.<br />
meritline.com<br />
Buy CDs or DVDs at Meritline.com to store<br />
every digital picture you’ve ever taken.<br />
Then, pick up printer ink to create custom<br />
labels, and writable drives to burn even<br />
more photos.<br />
supermediastore.com<br />
SuperMediaStore.com offers blank media<br />
in all writable DVD and CD formats, plus tips<br />
on burning and printing DVDs. Subscribe to<br />
the site’s newsletter for coupons and deals.<br />
tapeworld.com<br />
Tape World delivers modern digital storage<br />
media, including CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, and Mini-<br />
Discs, as well as analog tape from bygone<br />
eras: audio cassettes, reel-to-reel, and Betamax.<br />
The site stocks more than 400 types<br />
of blank recording media, with flat-rate<br />
shipping.<br />
146 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
>> SOFTWARE<br />
atomicpark.com<br />
Free shipping is available for AtomicPark.com’s<br />
entire selection of business and productivity apps.<br />
Plus, you’ll never pay a restocking fee. The new<br />
Direct Downloads section lets you use new software<br />
in minutes, not days.<br />
bigclearance.com<br />
Offering current-version software at clearance<br />
prices, the big selection at BigClearance.com<br />
includes wares from Microsoft, Macromedia, Corel,<br />
and others.<br />
buycheapsoftware.com<br />
The name says it all. Buycheapsoftware.com’s<br />
selection consists primarily of business and utility<br />
apps. The company offers flat-rate $5 shipping on<br />
small orders and free shipping on orders over $200.<br />
buypcsoft.com<br />
Buypcsoft.com sells Windows software in categories<br />
from business management to virus prevention.<br />
It’s an efficient site with a good selection of<br />
big-name applications.<br />
download.com<br />
CNET Download.com will help you find shareware<br />
and free software, linking to thousands of programs<br />
for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Well-written<br />
newsletters and down-to-earth reviews help<br />
you find the perfect program. (CNET Networks is<br />
<strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>’s parent company.)<br />
driverguide.com<br />
With more than 100,000 downloadable drivers for<br />
every conceivable piece of computer hardware and<br />
operating system, Driver Guide is indispensable<br />
when you’re repairing a malfunctioning system or<br />
piecing together a PC from spare parts.<br />
ebgames.com<br />
EBgames.com is a gamer’s paradise, selling new<br />
and pre-owned titles for PCs and every game console<br />
under the sun. Check the Hot Deals list for<br />
short-lived discounts.<br />
5dollarsoftware.com<br />
Stock up on software without breaking the bank. As<br />
the name implies, everything at 5 Dollar Software<br />
costs just $5, including games, educational titles,<br />
and utilities. Flat-rate shipping for orders of any size<br />
costs $3.<br />
freewarefiles.com<br />
FreewareFiles.com is an index to free downloadable<br />
software for Windows. Articles and tutorials<br />
deliver advice on free software and computer<br />
maintenance.<br />
gamehippo.com<br />
GameHippo.com provides more than a thousand<br />
absolutely free downloadable PC games. You’ll<br />
find descriptions, ratings, and easy-to-read icons<br />
that show whether a game supports multiple<br />
players, a network, and so on. Check the Top 20<br />
Rated Games to discover other players’ favorites.<br />
gamespot.com<br />
With game news, reviews, and cheat codes,<br />
GameSpot is a one-stop shop for PC and console<br />
gamers. Downloadable previews and a pricecomparison<br />
tool will help you get good deals on<br />
games you’ll love. (GameSpot is owned by CNET<br />
Networks, <strong>Computer</strong> <strong>Shopper</strong>’s parent company.)<br />
gamestop.com<br />
GameStop.com is an elegant site that specializes<br />
in new and used games for consoles and PCs.<br />
Recent price drops, top sellers, and “just arrived”<br />
products are highlighted, so you’ll always know<br />
the score.<br />
happypenguin.org<br />
Get your game on with The Linux Game Tome, an<br />
index of more than 1,000 games for Linux, each with<br />
a screenshot and brief description. Discuss the games<br />
on the site’s discussion forums or IRC channel.<br />
jumbo.com<br />
Jumbo is a fitting name for this monstrous file<br />
archive, featuring shareware, freeware, and commercial-software<br />
demos for PC, Mac, and Linux.<br />
9software.com<br />
#9 Software is stocked with applications in nine categories,<br />
ranging from games to business applications.<br />
The company provides free shipping on orders of<br />
more than $99.<br />
nonags.com<br />
Nonags offers software that’s useful, tested, and (as<br />
the name suggests) won’t nag you to pay. Basic access<br />
to the site is free, but a subscription to the Plus version<br />
adds MP3 downloads and “best of” software links.<br />
nothingbutsoftware.com<br />
You’ll make much ado about Nothing But Software.<br />
This collection of apps includes games, educational<br />
titles, graphics programs, utilities, and<br />
more—all with flat-rate shipping. Try the programs<br />
in the Specials section for as little as $7.<br />
palmgear.com<br />
Palm OS users will appreciate the large selection of<br />
free and commercial programs downloadable from<br />
PalmGear.com. Check out the list of “essential”<br />
apps, then sign up to get software news and tips.<br />
pdfstore.com<br />
The PDF Store specializes in software for creating<br />
content. Shop for applications that produce Portable<br />
Document Format (PDF) files, e-books, and printed<br />
materials.<br />
software-blowouts.com<br />
Software Blowouts is home to oodles of inexpensive<br />
Windows and Mac OS software, with flat-rate shipping.<br />
Peruse the Blowouts page for education, entertainment,<br />
and utility titles, many for just $9.95.<br />
softwarecheaper.com<br />
Software Cheaper is a funky little bargain basement<br />
that sells Windows and Macintosh software, most for<br />
less than $6. Every order gets you a pick from the Free<br />
Software page. Domestic U.S. shipping is always free.<br />
softwarediner.com<br />
You’ll want to feast on the software selection at<br />
SoftwareDiner.com, which focuses on low-cost<br />
applications and utilities for home and smallbusiness<br />
users. You’ll save money but only receive a<br />
CD; manuals and boxes aren’t included.<br />
softwareoutlet.com<br />
Plug in to SoftwareOutlet.com, a veritable virtual<br />
bargain bin. You’ll find dirt-cheap applications and<br />
hardware accessories. Browse older software from<br />
defunct companies, plus modern titles.<br />
store.purplus.net<br />
Purplus Software is a well-regarded seller of software<br />
for business, graphics, and music. The site<br />
offers free shipping on orders over $45.<br />
tucows.com<br />
Tucows is an incredible library of freeware and shareware<br />
for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This recently<br />
designed site makes it easy to find the newest, most<br />
popular, or top-rated software.<br />
viosoftware.com<br />
Emphasizing low prices and great customer service,<br />
VioSoftware.com sells applications from Adobe,<br />
Macromedia, Microsoft, and other big-name publishers.<br />
Shipping is always free.
HELP & HOW-TO<br />
BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY<br />
The Right Digital Camera<br />
BY BRIAN BENNETT<br />
Canon EOS<br />
Digital Rebel XT<br />
You need to look for certain essential features when shopping for a<br />
new digital camera—whether you’re retiring your old film camera<br />
or upgrading your outdated 2-megapixel shooter. Here are the<br />
vital specs you need to know, plus a few great models to consider.<br />
3 GREAT BUYS<br />
GOOD BETTER BEST<br />
HP Photosmart R817<br />
(www.hp.com, $299)<br />
The R817 showcases a sharp 5.1megapixel<br />
resolution, plus a 5x optical<br />
zoom lens to get you close to the action.<br />
The compact camera uses SD/MMC<br />
media, in addition to its 32MB of<br />
internal memory, to store photos and<br />
30fps video.<br />
152 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2006</strong> computershopper.com<br />
Nikon Coolpix 7900<br />
(www.nikonusa.com, $399.95)<br />
Encased in a stylish black chassis, the<br />
pocket-friendly Coolpix 7900 packs an<br />
ultrafine 7.1-megapixel resolution and<br />
features a 3x optical zoom. It relies on<br />
SD/MMC flash-memory cards for image<br />
storage and captures VGA-quality<br />
movies at 30fps.<br />
SHOPPING SPECS<br />
RESOLUTION<br />
Measured in megapixels, resolution refers to<br />
the number of pixels of image information<br />
provided by a digital camera’s image sensor.<br />
Among low-end consumer cameras, 5 or 6<br />
megapixels is now standard, with many 8-<br />
and even 10-megapixel models also available.<br />
Note that it’s often difficult for the untrained<br />
eye to differentiate between snapshots<br />
taken at these high resolutions.<br />
LENS<br />
Look for a digicam with at least a 3x optical<br />
zoom, more if you shoot a lot of faraway action.<br />
If you’re an advanced shooter, you may<br />
want a digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) camera<br />
that supports interchangeable lenses for<br />
maximum flexibility.<br />
REMOVABLE STORAGE<br />
The most popular flash-memory formats<br />
are CompactFlash, SD/MultiMediaCard<br />
(MMC), and xD-Picture Card. Many of Sony’s<br />
cameras support the company’s Memory<br />
Stick format. If you own a laptop, PDA, or<br />
flash-based MP3 player, consider getting a<br />
camera that uses the same storage format<br />
as your other devices so you’ll be able to<br />
share cards among them.<br />
VIDEO RECORDING<br />
Many digital cameras (though generally not<br />
dSLRs) let you record video clips in addition<br />
to still images, though not with the same<br />
quality as a good camcorder can. The best<br />
cameras shoot at 30 frames per second (fps)<br />
in VGA (640x480) resolution with sound.<br />
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT<br />
(usa.canon.com, $899 for body only;<br />
$999 for kit, with lens)<br />
Not for the casual shutterbug, this compact<br />
consumer dSLR features a classleading<br />
8-megapixel resolution, accepts<br />
Canon’s EF-mount lenses, and shoots<br />
wonderfully detailed, colorful photos.<br />
Images are saved to CompactFlash cards.<br />
= Editors’ Choice