Computer Shopper (September 2006)

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$500

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Talk about brilliant. USB is the most prolific and successful peripheral lets PCs and certified USB products talk to each other. Instantly. Reliably. darn thing in. That, and the wisdom to look for any of the certified USB printers, joysticks and more. Now, you could just grab any old peripheral that wouldn’t be your brightest move. Look for certified USB products at

connection in the history of computing. It’s the industry standard that Effortlessly. And all that’s required of you is the dexterity to plug the logos on the products you buy. Things like digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, off the shelf and hope for the best. But technically speaking, your local retailer.

Information provided by the USB Implementers Forum www.usb.org

How can you tell if a network is fully protected? (Just look at the people protecting it.) Today’s sophisticated security threats go way beyond what antivirus can handle. That’s why CDW has all the technology you need for full client security protection. From encryption to content filtering to antispyware and beyond, we have a wide variety of the top names in the industry. And we have the expertise to answer questions, offer advice and build solutions that will hold up to the worst threats out there. So call today and get the total protection you need.

NETGEAR FVG318 ProSafe™ Wireless VPN Firewall with 8-port Switch • Delivers high-performance wireless and wired security to small networks • Integrates secure 802.11b/g wireless, SPI firewall and IPSec VPN technologies in an easy-to-use solution • VPN feature allows end-to-end users to securely connect multiple computers to local office resources over the Internet via IPSec tunneling

NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Firewall with USB Print Server and 4-port 10/100BASE-TX Switch

12999

$

CDW 541609

• Combines an SPI firewall, router, 4-port 10/100 switch, USB print server and a 54Mbps wireless access point • Advanced security features include IPSec, PPTP, L2TP pass-through support, 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption for wireless transmissions, a DB-9 connector to add an ISDN or analog modem for auto-failover functionality

Offer subject to CDW’s standard terms and conditions of sale, available at CDW.com. © 2006 CDW Corporation

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Linksys® WRT-300N Wireless-N Broadband Router

13599

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• Internet-sharing router and 4-port switch, with a built-in range-enhanced wireless access point • Protects wireless signals with advanced wireless security with up to 256-bit encryption and your network from Internet attacks with a powerful SPI firewall • Uses MIMO technology for a robust signal that reduces dead spots • Compatible with all legacy 802.11b and 802.11g wireless products

CDW 967966

Linksys® WRV54G Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

139

$

• Jump start your network by connecting both Wireless-G (802.11g) PCs and local wired PCs • An Internet connection-sharing router, switch and wireless access point with built-in VPN endpoint capability and advanced security features including 128-bit WEP encryption and SPI firewall • Securely connect up to 50 remote or traveling users to your office network via VPN

CDW 521662

D-Link® DWL-3200AP Managed Access Point • Ideal solution for creating a wireless network while in access point mode or for bridging together networks via point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge mode • Delivers performance with standard 802.11g wireless throughput rate of up to 54Mbps • Provides the latest wireless security technologies by supporting both WPA-Enterprise and 802.1x to ensure complete network protection

22299

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CDW 735648

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The Security Solutions You Need When You Need Them.

AMD Performance PCs The World’s Best Gaming Processor! Built to get the most from online gaming and brings the next generation of 64-bit games to life.

Introducing The Systemax

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The Systemax Lightning Gamer Illusion meets Reality. The SLI inspired Systemax Lightning breaks the barriers of reality powered by the new AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-62 Socket AM2 processor with HyperTransport™ featuring Dual Core Technology! Welcome to the world of Cinematic Computing; combining intense graphics, virtual worlds, high-resolution video and sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide a computing experience that looks and feels like an extension of reality.

Systemax Warhawk

Systemax Hellcat

Systemax Lightning

Fully Customizable Built To Order SLI Ready Gamer

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• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3500+ • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional • BFG GeForce 7900GT OC 256MB Video Card • 1GB PC3200 Memory • 250GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • CDRW/DVD Combo Drive • Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio • Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter • Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard • Razer Copperhead Gaming Mouse

• AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4800+ • BFG GeForce 7900GT OC 256MB Video Card • 1GB PC3200 Memory • BFG 250GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • CDRW/DVD Combo Drive • Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card • Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter • Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard • Razer Copperhead Gaming Mouse

$1299.99

$1999.99

• AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-62 Socket AM2 Dual-Core Processor with HyperTransport™ • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional • (2) BFG GeForce 7900GTX 512MB SLI Video • 1GB PC6400 Memory • (2) 74GB SATA 10,000RPM Raptors RAID 0 • 250GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • CDRW/DVD Combo • 9 in 1 Media Reader • Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter • Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard • Razer Copperhead Mouse

Item # BTO 038532

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Copyright 2005, Systemax, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Systemax recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

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• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3200+ • Microsoft® Windows® XP Home • 512MB PC3200 Memory • 160GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • Systemax Keyboard & Mouse

• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3500+ • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional • 1GB PC3200 Memory • 160GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • Systemax Keyboard & Mouse

• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3200+ • Microsoft® Windows® XP Home • 512MB PC3200 Memory • 160GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • 19” LCD Included • Systemax Keyboard & Mouse

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✱ CONTENTS

57 Cast Your Votes for Our Readers’ Choice Awards And Enter to Win $1,000

SEPTEMBER 2006 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 9 ISSUE 318

DESKTOPS

22 24 24 26 26 26

Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62 Alienware Aurora ALX Sony VAIO RC310G Enpower Media Center Xpress Special Edition Gateway Profile 6SB Systemax Wildcat NOTEBOOKS

28 28 29 29

Dell XPS M2010 Asus W5F Lenovo V100 Averatec AV2260-EK1

29

COMPONENTS

71 BUDGET-PC FACE-OFF

60

The Affordable 5 Back in June, we showed you how to build a $499 desktop that delivers maximum bang for your buck. Now it’s time to see if the major PC makers can compete with our homegrown budget box. Find out how much value and power these five under-$500 models deliver.

32 32 32

DISPLAYS

34 34 34

40 40

Rating the Retailers Buying tech from a major chain store can be a hit-or-miss proposition if you need sales help. Our editors went undercover at different branches of five brick-and mortar retailers to judge the stores’ PC selection and their sales reps’ technical knowledge. Vista Unveiled Microsoft’s next-generation Windows operating system is still a few months away from launch, but will it be worth the wait—and should you upgrade? Our editor in chief takes Vista for a spin and reports back on her findings.

Page 71

60

42

40

Olympus Stylus 710 Panasonic DMC-TZ1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 DIGITAL AUDIO

48 48 48

80

Cowon iAudio 6 LG Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100 Toshiba Gigabeat S Series

44

DIGITAL LIVING

49 49 49

Panasonic DMR-ES25S Samsung HP-S4253 Sharp LC-37D40U SOFTWARE

50 50 52 52 52 53 53 53

Page 80

Page 60 Page 92

Page 22

Motorola Q Samsung SGH-D807 Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth Headset T-Mobile Sidekick 3 DIGITAL CAMERAS

44 44 44

Page 95

Page 120

Buffalo TeraStation Home Server NAS Spam Cube Top Global 3G Phoebus MB6000 Wi-Fi Router MOBILE PRODUCTS

23 42 42

Page 113

Page 57

HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn Epson Stylus CX7800 HOME NETWORKING

40

PREVIEW: WINDOWS VISTA

80

32

HP LP2465 Sony MFM-HT205 ViewSonic VG2021m PRINTERS

36 36

SHOPPER GOES SHOPPING

71

AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 Lexar JumpDrive Mercury Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000

23 Motorola’s slick Q smartphone is superthin, stuffed with high-end features, and finally available. Find out if it was worth the wait.

Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 Dekart Private Disk 2.07 Network Magic OrgPlus 6 Professional Readiris Pro 11 CCleaner 1.3 Documents To Go Premium Edition 8 Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional TOP 25

56

The best mainstream desktops, thin-and-light laptops, dSLR cameras, PC input devices, and music-download services.

49

computershopper.com September 2006

7

Test Your Limits Buffalo’s AirStation Nfiniti™ wireless solutions deliver ultimate connectivity across your wireless world for the broadest coverage at blazing fast speeds. Designed to stream high-definition (HD) video, music, media and gaming, Nfiniti gives you infinite possibilities to test the limits of your wireless network. Combine 2-in-1 Nfiniti Wireless Router & Access Point WZR-G300N with Nfiniti Wireless Notebook Adapter WLI-CB-G300N or Nfiniti Wireless Desktop PCI Adapter WLI-PCI-G300N and get the ultimate bandwidth, range and reliability for your wireless world!

Best of Both Worlds - Ultimate Range at Blazing Speeds Built for High-Definition Media Streaming - Wirelessly! Easy and Secure Setup with AOSS™ Designed to IEEE802.11n Draft Standard Specifications

N

DRAFT-

WZR-G300N

To learn more about Buffalo Nfiniti™ products, go to www.buffalotech.com/cs-nfiniti

Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc.Buffalo Technology, Buffalo logo, AOSS, AirStation and Nfiniti are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Buffalo Technology (Buffalo Inc.). The names and logos of other companies mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

YEAR

WARRANTY

TECH SUPPORT

Help & How-To

92

COMPUTER CURES

89

Our resident tech expert helps a reader choose a new LCD, restores a notebook’s battery meter, and shares a nifty tip for moving multiple e-mail messages easily.

TechMarket

WEEKEND PROJECT

92

95

COMPLETE PRODUCT MARKETPLACE GUIDE

Automate Data Backups Backing up is as crucial as it is tedious. But how about backups with no fuss, no scheduling, and no hours spent sitting in front of your PC? Learn how to make your backups perform themselves in just four easy steps. Mobilize Your E-Mail Suffering from e-mail separation anxiety? Find out how to access your inbox anywhere using your cell phone, PDA, smartphone, or laptop.

97 102 104 106 108 110

Midrange Desktops Thin-and-Light Notebooks Desktop Memory Multifunction Printers External DVD Burners Wi-Fi Routers

Web Buyer THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

113 113 114 115 115 116

BUYING BASICS

120 How to Buy the Right LCD Television

107

Tech Products Mobile and Travel Accessories Sites for Audiophiles Direct PC Vendors Software Free Software

Also in This Issue TRENDS

17

Dell simplifies its pricing structure. Plus, owners of portable MP3 players prefer to rip tracks rather than purchase downloads, and Wi-Fi cell phones are poised to connect with consumers. GEAR

20

• Asus MyPal A636N • Chrome Shuttle Laptop Bag • Cooler Master X-Craft • Fujifilm FinePix Z3 • SpeckTone Retro Speaker • Thermaltake Blue Orb II DEPARTMENTS

20

12 12 117 119

Editor’s Note Letters Spotlight Ad Index 21

SEPTEMBER 2006 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 9 ISSUE 318 Computer Shopper (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 SX2 Media Labs, LLC, 460 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 10016-7942. Periodicals Mail postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40009221. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Computer Shopper, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to PO Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6. Portions of Computer Shopper are published under license from CNET Networks, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA. Editorial items appearing in Computer Shopper that were originally published on www.cnet.com, www.download.com, or www.news.com are the copyright property of CNET Networks, Inc., or its suppliers. Copyright © 2006 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. “CNET” is a trademark of CNET Networks, Inc. All other content Copyright © 2006 SX2 Media Labs, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to use Computer Shopper content is granted on a case-by-case basis. SX2 Media Labs welcomes requests. Please direct inquiries to [email protected]. You may also make phone requests by contacting Reprint Management Services at 717-399-1900. “Computer Shopper” is a trademark of SX2 Media Labs, LLC. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

computershopper.com September 2006

9

EDITOR’S NOTE JANICE CHEN TIMES HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED since I bought my first 386SX desktop. The amount I paid for that “IBM clone” back in 1990 could buy me at least six new PCs today—and it goes without saying that all six would be way more powerful. But just how much PC can you get on a tight budget? In our June issue, we proved it was pretty easy to build yourself a solid, upgradable desktop for $500. This month, we set out to find out how much $500 would really buy you in a factory-built computer. We discovered that PC vendors could easily meet or beat our June DIY configuration, with all five of the systems in our roundup bundling in software, a keyboard, and a mouse—extras we had to leave out of our $500 build-your-own budget. Turn to “The Affordable 5” (p. 60) to get the inside scoop on $500 configurations from Dell, eMachines, HewlettPackard, Systemax, and ZT Group. While finding affordable PCs has gotten much easier in the last decade, buying them can still be a challenge, especially if you try to purchase one in a brickand-mortar retail store. The caliber of salesperson you run into can be hit or miss, and the selection you find in many retail stores can be sorely lacking. To help

LETTERS BATTERIES MAKE OR BREAK THE DEAL I enjoy reading Computer Shopper’s digital-camera reviews, but I wish you would include information about the type of batteries each device uses. I prefer cameras that use AA batteries as opposed to proprietary cells, as there’s no guarantee that a battery manufactured by the camera company will be available indefinitely. If the battery is discontinued, the camera becomes useless. Joe A. Adamcik

BUILD A BARGAIN WITH A BETTER MOBO I enjoyed your piece on building a budget PC (“Build a Bargain,” June, p. 64), though I disagree with your choice of motherboard. Although Asus is a topshelf brand, they do produce a turkey every now and then. The featured A8N-

you figure out which stores are worth stopping by, we sent undercover reporters to pose as PC shoppers at five major retail computer chains. Check out our third annual “Rating the Retailers” feature (p. 71) to find out which stores made the grade on both selection and sales staff. As many of our undercover agents discovered, even trained PC salespeople don’t have much knowledge about the hardware requirements and new features of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Vista operating system. Though we heard plenty of reports based on early beta versions of the new OS, it wasn’t until Beta 2, build 5384, that Microsoft felt the software was complete enough to set loose to a broader public. After spending over a month living with that first public beta, I’ve learned a thing or two about what we can reasonably expect from Vista when it finally ships next year. Turn to “Vista Unveiled” (p. 80) to find out what’s in store. [email protected]

D WIN!

VM appears to be one of them. Buyer feedback at Newegg.com indicates a pattern of trouble with this Asus board, so I wouldn’t risk putting it in the budget box I’m currently building. Joe Flanagan We picked the Asus A8N-VM because we’ve had good experiences with Asus motherboards in the past, and this one had all the features we wanted at a great price. Judging by the 4 out of 5 average rating from 424 buyers on Newegg.com, we’re confident our choice was a solid one. Keep in mind, however, that even the best components can fail, so it’s important to check for a good warranty. Asus offers three years on this board. —Ed.

HARD DRIVE DIRECTIONS In your “Ask the Editors” feature (July, p. 84), one reader wrote in about an ex-

A Kodak EasyShare P712 Digital Camera Go to computershopper.com/survey. See sweepstakes rules on p. 118. ternal hard drive that wasn’t being recognized by his or her PC. One suggestion you didn’t offer is to check to see if the external hard drive is using a drive letter that is already being used by another device. This can occur when a PC is connected to several peripherals or is attached to a network that has several network drives. If this is the case, simply change the letter of the external hard drive to one that is not in use, and the drive should load without any problems. P. Etheridge

We want to hear from you. Letters, Computer Shopper 460 Park Ave. South, 9th Fl. New York, NY 10016 E - M A I L : [email protected] Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. WRITE:

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September 2006 computershopper.com

Coming Next Month

EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ART DIRECTOR SENIOR EDITOR SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

EXCELLENT ACCESSORIES Our gadgets and laptops can be travel companions, gym buddies, or even personal assistants. Keep them juiced, primed, and protected with these useful add-ons and accessories.

STAFF EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR COPY CHIEF/ASST. MANAGING EDITOR COPY EDITOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER

SECTION EDITOR SENIOR EDITORS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

ASSISTANT EDITORS LABS MANAGER ASSISTANT LABS MANAGER TESTING ANALYSTS ASSOCIATE TESTING ANALYST LAB TECHNICIANS INVENTORY COORDINATOR PHOTO DIRECTOR PRODUCER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

PUBLISHER

Sean Portnoy Joshua Goldman Louis Ramirez Erin Kandel John A. Burek Jasmin Malik Chua Todd Betterley Chris Gould Scott Ard, David Carnoy, John Morris, Mike Ricciuti, Lindsey Turrentine Matthew Elliott Wayne Cunningham, John P. Falcone, Kent German, Lori Grunin, David Katzmaier, James Kim, Phil Ryan, Robert Vamosi Dan Ackerman, Rich Brown, Bonnie Cha, Michelle Thatcher Jasmine France, Nicole Lee, Kevin Massy, Elsa Wenzel, Felisa Yang Will Greenwald, David Rudden Daniel A. Begun Eric Franklin David Gussman, Dong Ngo Matthew Fitzgerald Michael Degnan, Matthew Wood Pedro Burgos Jody L. Gianni Neal Okin Dino Salee

Colleen Daly

A DV E RT I S I N G S A L E S EAST COAST SALES MANAGER

SMALL FORM-FACTOR PCS Whether you’re short on space or just value style, the latest ultracompact desktop PCs are undeniably cool. Apple’s Mac Mini might be the most recognizable, but it’s hardly alone. We test the latest models to determine which one deserves your precious desk space.

Rik Fairlie Wendy Sheehan Chris Phillips

CNET REVIEWS EXECUTIVE EDITORS

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS

THE BEST NEXT-GEN WEB SITES You’ve heard a lot of buzz about the new “Web 2.0,” but what does it mean to the average surfer? We take a look at the latest nextgeneration sites to find out which ones will change the way you use the Internet.

Janice J. Chen

Steven Goodman

NORTHEAST

IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, OH, NH, RI, VT, WI, REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

Canada Nancy Roscoe (917) 326-8720

SOUTHEAST

AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

Justin Schiller (917) 326-8704

EAST COAST NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Eliza Dudelzak (917) 326-8723

NORTHWEST

CA ZIP

codes 94000-94356+, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, Canada Gabriel Rogol (650) 270-4961 A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E Aida Rodriguez (708) 836-1231

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

SOUTHWEST

codes 90000-93599, AZ, CO, IA, KS, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD R E G I O N A L S A L E S M A N A G E R Eric Farmer (310) 376-5878 A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E Aida Rodriguez (708) 836-1231

CA ZIP

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR (EAST COAST) ACCOUNT COORDINATOR (WEST COAST)

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MARKETING SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER TECHNICAL PRODUCER CIRCULATION DIRECTOR DIRECTOR, SINGLE-COPY SALES

V P, B U S I N E S S O P E R AT I O N S

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PRODUCTION SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER LAYOUT ADMINISTRATOR ELECTRONIC PREPRESS SPECIALIST OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

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David Sills Elizabeth Roberts Barry Schwimmer

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Good news for anyone with an unusual attachment to their desktop. DataTraveler II Plus – Edition lets you take it with you anywhere. Love your computer? Then you’ll adore Kingston’s DataTraveler® II Plus – Migo Edition USB Flash drive. More than storage, it lets you work the way you want to on multiple PCs using your desktop’s Microsoft Outlook® email contents and Microsoft Internet Explorer settings, favorites, cookies and history, plus files, folders and icons. And it synchronizes files when you return to your beloved computer. It’s one of the many innovative Flash memory solutions you can rely on from Kingston®, the world’s independent memory leader. For details, visit kingston.com/migocs or contact one of our partners. COMMITTED TO

M E M O RY

Please note: Some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. For more information, please consult Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/Flash_Memory_Guide. ©2006 Kingston Technology Company, Inc. 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 USA. All rights reserved. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

TRENDS UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS

Dell Cuts Rebates, Promotions In Bid to Simplify Pricing time, and making sure we DELL HAS announced plans continue to deliver value on to cut back on its use of mailour list price,” he says. in rebates and short-term The changes will be implepromotions in a move to simmented over the next 12 to 18 plify its pricing structure. The company is trying to make it easier for consumers to pin down prices when they visit Dell.com, says Ro Parra, senior vice president of the home and small-business group. Dell often offers brief promotions, such as extra memory or a free flatpanel display, which may expire if a consumer takes Dell Inspiron a day or two to make a E1405 purchasing decision. months, starting with InspiThe new strategy will efron notebooks and digital fectively lower the list price televisions in August. of Dell gear, but overall, cus“Dell’s promotional stratetomers will wind up paying gy was too confusing to cusaround the same price for a tomers,” says Sam Bhavnani, complete system they put toan analyst at Current Analygether, Parra says. “This is sis. “You never knew if the ofabout transparency over

• TRENDSPOTTING

fer showing up on the screen in front of you was the best offer or if there was something better out there.” Dell’s consumer products account for only 15 percent of the company’s overall business. But it’s a highly visible segment, and the company has been struggling of late to maintain its leading marketshare position. Customerservice complaints at Dell have soared over the past few years, leading the company to invest $100 million in new support staff and to retrain existing employees. The pricing strategy is part of a multipart campaign to improve the consumer business, beginning with improved support, a redesigned Web site, and a return to oneyear standard warranties, Parra says. —Tom Krazit

News.com

Among Digital-Music Mavens, to Rip Is Hip While interest in MP3 players and audio/ video downloads is rising, more music is being ripped from CDs than downloaded, according to a recent study released by Ipsos Insight. About 44 percent of all music downloaders use their existing CD collections as their primary source of music content, and 6 percent rip from the collections of others. Only 25 percent use fee-based music downloads, and even fewer use subscription services, the study reports. Many predicted that when fee-based downloads took off, their sales would be driven by young people. But consumers under 25 have largely continued to use

free file-sharing networks for music downloads, says Matt Kleinschmit, an Ipsos analyst. Much to the record labels’ surprise, the 25-to-34 and 35-to-54 age groups have been the initial drivers of music-download services. While people are becoming more used to the idea of not owning a label-produced CD, they are still tied to the idea of owning their music. Among those who have paid for online music, 67 percent used a download-to-own site. Kleinschmit says that only 17 percent of music downloaders have tried subscription-based download sites. —Candace Lombardi

18 Laptop Thefts Are on the Rise 18 Dell Expands Its Recycling Efforts 18 Wi-Fi Cell Phones Poised for Rapid Growth 20 Gear

A team of researchers from IBM and Georgia Tech recently reported success at getting a silicon-germanium-based transistor to run faster than 500GHz, a record for chip speed. PC tweakers’ best tricked-out cooling systems have nothing on the liquid-helium cooling the team needed to obtain the recordsetting clock speed: The researchers had to cool things down to minus 451 degrees Fahrenheit. The test’s most important effect may be to spur further research on silicon-germanium transistors, which can be produced using the same manufacturing techniques as silicon-based chips. —Sean Portnoy

Main Source of Content Stored On MP3 Players File-sharing downloads

19%

Paid downloads

25%

Other

6%

Tracks ripped from CDs

50%

News.com

Source: Ipsos Insight

computershopper.com September 2006

17

TRENDS TECH NEWS

With Thefts Rising, How to Protect Your Laptop? Dell Expands LAPTOP THEFT and loss are a fact of life. More than 600,000 notebook thefts occurred in 2003, according to Safeware Insurance, a PC insurer. The number increased to about 750,000 laptops last year, says Absolute Software, a maker of tools for retrieving lost or stolen laptops. With 97 percent of stolen PCs never recovered, it’s imperative for laptop owners to take steps to prevent a theft, especially if their notebooks hold sensitive information that could be appropriated for identity theft. “Common sense is the best defense,” says Jon Oltsik, an analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. That means not leaving your laptop in plain view in a car and not letting it out of your sight in an airport, at a con-

ference, or in other public places, he says. Laptop leashes and locks sold by companies such as Kensington and Targus can

help prevent laptops from disappearing. Of course, like bicycle locks, these measures are only a deterrent—a determined thief can bypass them easily.

Still, a few techniques, such as password protection and hard drive encryption for blocking unauthorized access to private information, can help you thwart the problems that follow the loss of a laptop and your data. Also, Microsoft is building a dataencryption feature, BitLocker, into enterprise and high-end consumer versions of Windows Vista, its forthcoming OS. A trace on a stolen computer also increases the chances of recovery. Companies such as Absolute and zTrace Technologies sell software-based products that can report details on a stolen PC’s location, which is then passed on to law enforcement. —Joris Evers

News.com

Wi-Fi Cell Phones to Connect With Consumers SALES OF MOBILE phones featuring both cellular and Wi-Fi capabilities will be booming by 2010, according to a recent study by market-research firm In-Stat. In-Stat analysts predict that 132 million of the devices will be in use by then. Wi-Fi, which offers wireless Ethernet connectivity over a range of a few hundred feet, is widely used by consumers to connect their PCs and certain handheld devices to the Internet. But

18

until very recently, Wi-Fi has been absent from the world of cell phones. More than 20 Wi-Fienabled models are either already on the market or will be released soon. Some of these new phones

Nokia’s Forthcoming Wi-Fi-Enabled 6136 Cell Phone

September 2006 computershopper.com

will be products of collaborations between cellular carriers and companies that offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which allow transmission of voice and data over the Internet. Consumers could use a VoIP service when the device is within range of a WiFi signal. Once out of Wi-Fi range, they could then operate the same phone using cellular technology, according to In-Stat analysts. —Caroline McCarthy

News.com

Recycling Efforts

Dell has announced plans to let consumers recycle their Dell-branded products for free, even if they replace those products with a new HewlettPackard printer or Toshiba laptop. Previously, Dell offered free recycling of old gear, Dell-branded or not, with the purchase of a new Dell PC, printer, or other product. That will continue, but the company will now also let consumers arrange for free pickup of any unwanted Dell product, without requiring them to purchase any of the company’s products. Dell customers will be able to print out a mailing label after entering their product’s asset-tag number on Dell’s Web site, and they will be responsible for packing the product and arranging for an in-home pickup time, says Todd Arbogast, manager of Dell’s sustainablebusiness group. Electronics-recycling programs have improved as local governments and individuals become more aware of the toxic effects of decaying circuit boards, but groups such as the National Recycling Coalition continue to urge vendors to pick up more of the load. Apple recently announced a plan to take back old computers for free, but only with the purchase of a new Mac. —Tom Krazit

News.com

HP recommends Windows XP Professional ®

Outperform. Outprotect. The 17" widescreen HP Compaq nx9420 Business Notebook with Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology and integrated fingerprint reader helps secure your business—anywhere. It offers desktop power and stunning high-end graphics, without the desk. To start protecting, call 1-800-799-MYHP. Find a reseller at hp.com/go/reseller, or visit hp.com/go/nx9420. Starting at $1,399.

© Copyright 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Prices may vary. Simulated images. Wireless access point and Internet service sold separately. Dual-Core is a new technology designed to improve performance of certain software products. Check with software provider to determine suitability. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Intel, the Intel logo, the Centrino logo, and Centrino are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

GEAR NEW PRODUCTS BY ERIN KANDEL

Double vision Fujifilm’s $279.95 FinePix Z3 comes in blue or silver and packs myriad features into its slender frame, including 5.1-megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 2.5-inch LCD. Tiny enough to slip into your purse or pocket, the 5.5-ounce shooter offers a dual-shot mode that enables you to take a flash and a nonflash shot with a single press of the shutter. Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., www.fujifilmusa.com

Old-school sound

Crafty casing Cooler Master’s X-Craft looks better than your average external hard drive enclosure. Available in silver or black, it has a unique mesh screen and shiny aluminum body that add class to any desktop. The enclosure supports a 3.5-inch drive up to 500GB in capacity. Two flavors are available: a $39.99 USB 2.0 case that accepts IDE drives, and a $45.99 version for Serial ATA (SATA) drives that connects via external SATA (a bracket is included) or USB 2.0. Both supply dual USB ports on the back panel that enable you to connect additional devices to your hard drive. Cooler Master, www.coolermaster.com

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September 2006 computershopper.com

An iPod speaker system with vintage appeal, the $149.95 SpeckTone Retro comes in a polished wood cabinet resembling a ’60s hi-fi set. (You get a choice of three colors.) Its built-in dock supports all iPods except the Shuffle, which you can plug in through a jack on the back. You also get an integrated subwoofer for superior sound, plus a big, fat volume knob that glows green whenever you tune in. Speck Products, www.speckproducts.com

Space case Transport your notebook in space-age style with the Chrome Shuttle laptop bag. Stitched from glossy carbon fiber, this $115 satchel is fully padded and features a separate compartment for a notebook with a 17-inch or smaller screen. The bag’s stainless-steel clasps offer additional durability, while internal pen slots and cargo pockets keep your office supplies from lifting off. Chrome, www.chromebags.com

Travel buddy Always know where you’re headed with the Asus MyPal A636N. In addition to organizing your e-mail and appointments, the $570 PDA runs the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS, and features a built-in GPS receiver, a swiveling antenna, and navigation software. On the road, you can read maps on the device’s bright 3.5inch color screen, or listen to spoken directions via the integrated speaker. Also onboard are 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 to keep you connected. Asustek Computer, usa.asus.com

Aqua cooler Add some color to your rig with Thermaltake’s Blue Orb II. The $49.99 heat sink features a blue aluminum body and a 120mm LED fan that lights up when in motion. The fan’s copper base and 140 fins help dissipate heat and maximize the flow of air to your PC’s internal components. Best of all, the Blue Orb II runs whisper-quiet, so you can cool your overclocked CPU without making a racket. Thermaltake Technology, www.thermaltakeusa.com

computershopper.com September 2006

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REVIEWS THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS

Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62 Humdrum case hides record-setting performance THE POLYWELL POLY 590SLI2-FX62 is one of the first PCs we’ve seen with AMD’s new Socket AM2 chipset and top-ofthe-line Athlon 64 FX-62 dual-core CPU. Add in two GeForce 7900 GT graphics cards in a Scalable Linked Interface (SLI) setup, eight-channel Creative speakers, 7.4 EDITORS’ RATING and a 20-inch Sam0 BETTER >> 10 sung LCD, and the $4,399 price doesn’t PROS Record-setting benchmark scores; Athlon FX-62 CPU; reasonably look quite so steep. priced; expansion room; long warranty And if that power’s not good enough for CONS Uninspiring design; FX-62 might be eclipsed soon by new Intel CPUs you, an extra $1,000 will SPECS 2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-62; 2GB DDR2; two 150GB hard drives; 300GB net you a hard drive; double-layer DVD±RW; DVDQuad SLI setROM/CD-RW combo; 20-inch Samsung up. Speed-conscious LCD; two nVidia GeForce 7900 GT graphbuyers, however, ics cards (512MB); Windows XP Professhould bear in mind sional the imminent release Polywell Computers, 800-900-5836 of Intel’s next-generawww.polywell.com tion CPUs, which Direct Price $4,399 could quickly make

What’s the Deal? The appearance of the Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62 might not make the players at your next LAN party look twice, but when its components kick into high gear and trounce your competition, they’ll notice. What it’s for: Heavy number crunching, multitasking, and 3D gaming. Digital video editing isn’t out of the question, either. Who it’s for: Gamers and power users who want today’s fastest processor in a modest box without all the flash often associated with performance PCs. What’s included: A three-year parts, five-year labor warranty with lifetime toll-free phone support; the Nero 7.1 Ultra Edition disc-burning app; a Logitech cordless mouse/keyboard set; Creative’s P7800 7.1 speaker system; a 20-inch Samsung SyncMaster 204T LCD. Extra essentials: Software and games. The bottom line: With AMD’s latest chipset and top-ofthe-line CPU hidden inside an unassuming case, the Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62 doesn’t look like the owner of the fastest benchmark scores we’ve ever seen. Be warned, however, that it may not hold that title for long.

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September 2006 computershopper.com

your envy-inducing FX-62 PC yesterday’s news. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this model is how nondescript it looks. At first glance, the default-choice black case looks more like a budget-PC chassis than the enclosure for a high-end screamer. (Polywell’s site lets you swap in a variety of cases.) The case does offer good room for internal expansion, however. External connectivity options include six USB 2.0 ports (two front, four back), three FireWire ports (one front, two back), and DVI and S-Video outputs. One external 3.5-inch drive bay holds a flashmemory-card reader. If you’re looking for a major speed boost from the new FX-62 CPU, you won’t be disappointed. This PC posted the fastest benchmark numbers we’ve seen from a reviewed system to date on BAPCo’s SYSmark 2004 application tests, coming in at 327. As you would expect with two 512MB GeForce 7900 GT cards, the 590SLI2-FX62 is also a fast gaming rig, hitting 194 frames per second on our 1,024x768 Doom 3 test. Polywell covers the PC with an outstanding three-year parts, five-year labor warranty. —Dan Ackerman It looks like a budget desktop on the outside, but inside this Polywell PC has the parts to conquer any task.

CNET.com

in this section

Motorola Q Skinny smartphone lives up to the hype THE LONG-ANTICIPATED Motorola Q offers call clarity, an excellent multimedia experience, and essential tools for productivity, all in one sexy little package. The phone costs $299.99 (before a

EDITORS’ RATING 0

8.0

BETTER >>

10

PROS Sexy, ultrathin design; beautiful 2.5inch screen; excellent multimedia functionality; three forms of wireless connectivity; solid call quality, including speakerphone calls CONS No Wi-Fi; screen smudges easily; no dial-up networking option Motorola, 866-289-6686 www.motorola.com

Direct Price $299.99 (before a $100 rebate, with a two-year service agreement); $449.99 (no contract) $100 rebate) if you sign a two-year service contract with Verizon Wireless, or $449.99 if you don’t. The Q’s form factor is its main attraction—at 4.6x2.5x0.5 inches, it’s actually thinner than the company’s Razr V3. It also features a gorgeous 2.4-inch screen that displays up to 65,536 hues at 320x240-pixel

resolution and is readable even in direct sunlight. Be aware, however, that the display shows smudges and fingerprints easily. The Q has a sleek layout for its controls, but because they’re set flush with the phone’s surface, you have to press each button firmly. You also get an easy-to-use scroll wheel and a spacious QWERTY keyboard with bubbly, highly tactile keys. Running Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition, the phone features 64MB of SDRAM, a MiniSD-card slot, a speakerphone function, and a preloaded app for viewing (but not editing) Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as PDFs. An integrated 1.3-megapixel camera produces high-quality snapshots and can record video. Also, the Q can play back several audio and video file formats using Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, as well as display TV broadcasts if you have a Sling Media Slingbox. The Q supports three forms of wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 1.2, EvolutionData Optimized (EV-DO), and infrared, but not Wi-Fi. (Also, the Q doesn’t support dial-up networking via Bluetooth.) The phone supports synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and can access up to eight POP3 or IMAP e-mail accounts. Calls were mostly clear, and speakerphone quality was excellent, even in loud environments. The Q’s sharp video quality was particularly impressive, and music also sounded top-notch, thanks to its dual stereoquality speakers. In terms of battery life, we achieved 4 hours of talk time in our tests; Motorola rates the standby time at up to CNET.com four days. —Bonnie Cha

Its extra-thin design gets all the attention, but the Motorola Q also delivers a well-rounded feature set that will please both corporate and casual smartphone users.

24 DESKTOPS Alienware Aurora ALX Sony VAIO RC310G Enpower Media Center Xpress Special Edition Gateway Profile 6SB Systemax Wildcat 28 NOTEBOOKS Dell XPS M2010 Asus W5F Lenovo V100 Averatec AV2260-EK1 32 COMPONENTS AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 Lexar JumpDrive Mercury Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 34 DISPLAYS HP LP2465 Sony MFM-HT205 ViewSonic VG2021m 36 PRINTERS HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn Epson Stylus CX7800 40 HOME NETWORKING Buffalo TeraStation Home Server NAS Spam Cube Top Global 3G Phoebus MB6000 Wi-Fi Router 42 MOBILE PRODUCTS Samsung SGH-D807 Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth Headset T-Mobile Sidekick 3 44 DIGITAL CAMERAS Olympus Stylus 710 Panasonic DMC-TZ1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 48 DIGITAL AUDIO Cowon iAudio 6 LG Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100 Toshiba Gigabeat S Series 49 DIGITAL LIVING Panasonic DMR-ES25S Samsung HP-S4253 Sharp LC-37D40U 50 SOFTWARE Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 Dekart Private Disk 2.07 Network Magic OrgPlus 6 Professional Readiris Pro 11 CCleaner 1.3 Documents To Go Premium Edition 8 Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional

For details on how we test the hardware we review, visit computershopper.com/ HowWeTest.

computershopper.com September 2006

23

REVIEWS DESKTOPS

Alienware Aurora ALX Four discrete 3D GPUs don’t add up to superior performance TYPICAL OF ALIENWARE’S highest-end desktops, the Aurora ALX is large, well-built, and expensive—$6,752 for our configuration. We had expected the debut of nVidia’s Quad Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology to be the PC’s crowning glory, but it delivered only some of its promises, and not to the extent we’d hoped. nVidia admits that Quad EDITORS’ RATING 6.3 SLI is targeted at the most 0 BETTER >> 10 demanding and wellPROS Well-built; most poweroff of gamers, ful desktop 3D-graphics technololargely because gy available you need a display with a resolution of CONS Quad SLI doesn’t justify price 2,560x1,600 to demonstrate the technology’s prowess. SPECS 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX(Only Apple’s and Dell’s 3060; 2GB DDR; two 150GB hard drives; double-layer DVD±RW; no inch LCDs are currently up monitor; two nVidia GeForce to the task, with each unit 7900 GX2 graphics cards costing more than $2,000.) (512MB); Windows XP ProfesThe company also warns sional you shouldn’t expect four Alienware, 800-254-3692 times the performance of a www.alienware.com single GeForce 7900 GTX Direct Price $6,752 card at 1,280x1,024 resolu-

Sony VAIO RC310G The first Blu-ray PC to hit the street SONY’S VAIO RC310G features the first burner available for the Blu-ray optical format. Competing PCs deliver more value than our $2,249 test unit did, but if you need to one-up your disc-burning pals, it’s this VAIO desktop or nothing. Blu-ray discs are capable of storing 25GB of data (and, hypothetically, 50GB on double-layer Blu-ray discs). By comparison, a standard single-layer DVD maxes out at 4.7GB. The RC310G’s drive writes Blu-ray discs at only 2x speed, however, and the $22 blank media itself is rated for up to only 2x burning. Using a mixture of audio and video files, we managed to fill a disc with almost 22.5GB of data. Our test burn took 44 minutes and 30 seconds, but it was followed by an equally lengthy verification period, resulting in a total disc-creation time of 1 hour and 29 minutes. This may seem like an eterni-

24

September 2006 computershopper.com

tion and lower. Instead, Quad SLI will enable you to play at previously unapproachable resolutions at higher imagequality settings, such as up to 32x anti-aliasing. We deviated from our standard desktop 3D-test methodology, instead opting for a customized Quake 4 demo, along with F.E.A.R.’s built-in performance test. In our tests, which ran at 1,600x1,200 and 2,560x1,600 resolutions with different image-quality settings, the ALX’s frame rates were impressive, in some cases doubling those of similarly configured dual-GPU PCs. The performance leap wasn’t compelling enough to justify the additional $3,200, however. Our verdict: While Alienware has built an excellent system, Quad SLI technology simply hasn’t CNET.com reached its potential yet. —Rich Brown

EDITORS’ RATING 0

BETTER >>

6.9 10

PROS High-definition Blu-ray ty—until you realize you’ve burner; slick VAIO design; HDCPjust burned 22.5GB of data. compliant video card With the exception of CONS Slow Blu-ray burning the Blu-ray drive, the speeds; poor access to internal RC310G shares the familiar, components slick industrial design SPECS 3.2GHz Pentium D 940; of past VAIOs. The fairly 2GB DDR2; 300GB hard drive; cramped interior leaves Blu-ray DVD±RW; no monitor; most internal components, nVidia GeForce 7600 GT graphics (256MB); Windows XP Media except for the hard drive Center Edition 2005 cage, Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669 nearly inwww.sonystyle.com accessible; external Direct Price $2,249 peripheral-connection ports are plentiful, however. While powerful, the PC doesn’t feature a cutting-edge CPU or video card. The included nVidia GeForce 7600 GT card offers HighBandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) decryption, however, so your CPU won’t get bogged down by Blu-ray’s high 1080p video resolution while it’s decoding CNET.com Blu-ray movies. —Dan Ackerman

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REVIEWS DESKTOPS

Systemax Wildcat Gaming box needs some tweaking FOR $3,999, the Systemax Wildcat gives you 2GB of system memory, two 512MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics cards, and an Ageia PhysX physics accelerator. Sounds great— EDITORS’ RATING 5.2 but the Wildcat’s out0 BETTER >> 10 the-of-box perforPROS Competitive price; mance and modular power supply; good uninspiring decomponent choices sign doesn’t distinguish it in CONS Factory settings require an increasingly crowded martweaking for peak performance; ket for boutique gaming PCs. messy cable routing The full-tower case feaSPECS 2.6GHz Athlon 64 tures a blue-plastic door that FX-60; 2GB DDR; two 150GB conceals DVD±RW, DVDhard drives; 400GB hard drive; ROM/CD-RW combo, and double-layer DVD±RW; DVDfloppy drives. Inside, the ROM/CD-RW combo; no moniWildcat’s outward-facing tor; two nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics cards (512MB); hard drive cages make for Ageia PhysX card; Windows XP easy drive swapping, though Professional Edition with two 150GB 10,000rpm Systemax, 800-800-8300 drives and a 400GB 7,200rpm www.systemaxpc.com drive, storage is already Direct Price $3,999 plentiful. We also liked the

modular 550watt power supply, which helps Systemax minimize internal clutter. The company didn’t route the cables neatly, however, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the modular power supply. And while this PC is well-configured, it provides little to no room to grow. The Wildcat’s performance disappointed, considering its components. On our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 benchmark test, the PC achieved a strong 229, but compared with similarly configured gaming PCs, this is a below-average score. More important, its gaming scores lagged. At 1,600x1,200 on our Doom 3 test, the Wildcat managed a playable 63.3 frames per second—again, not necessarily a bad score, but below expectations for a PC in this class. Note, unlike many gaming PCs we’ve tested, the Wildcat’s components came configured at default settings. Also, at press time, Systemax upgraded the CPU to the AM2-based 2.8GHz FX-62, which CNET.com should increase performance. —Rich Brown

Enpower Media Center Xpress Gateway Profile 6SB All-in-one is a wallflower Special Edition Tiny but powerful entertainment PC DON’T LET THE PLAIN exterior of PC Club’s $2,599 Enpower Media Center Xpress Special Edition fool you—this PC’s a tiny titan. Its chassis, though tame, does come in a choice of five colors. (You also get an LCD and speakers.) Inside the EDITORS’ RATING 6.8 tightly packed interior is a good selection of hardware, > > 0 BETTER 10 including a dual-core AMD PROS Dual-core AMD CPU, CPU, two high-end nVidia dual video cards, TV tuner in tiny GPUs, and a Hauppauge case; includes LCD, speakers WinTV tuner card. On BAPCo CONS Generic-looking case; SYSmark 2004, the PC perskimpy online support formed as expected, topping SPECS 2.2GHz Athlon 64 X2 out at an above-average 247. 4400+; 1GB DDR; 150GB hard Graphics performance was drive; double-layer DVD±RW; 19-inch LCD; two nVidia GeForce also excellent, turning in 7900 GT graphics cards (512MB); 107 frames per second on Windows XP Media Center Edition our 1,024x768 Doom 3 test. 2005 We found the company’s onPC Club, 626-839-8080 line support to be deficient, www.pcclub.com however. —Dan Ackerman

Direct Price $2,599

26

CNET.com

September 2006 computershopper.com

COMPARED with other all-inEDITORS’ RATING 5.4 one PCs, the Gateway Profile 6SB isn’t much to look at. In all 0 BETTER >> 10 fairness, however, the 6SB is PROS Competitive price; highly configurable, with perks configurable the others don’t offer, including CONS Inelegant design; seven CPU options. Plus, the PC below-average performance is designed for easy mainteSPECS 2.8GHz Pentium D nance and has a multitude of 920; 1GB DDR2; 160GB hard connectivity ports. Gateway drive; double-layer DVD±RW; also claims the Profile reduces 19-inch LCD; nVidia GeForce deployment, maintenance, and 7300 LE TurboCache graphics (64MB); Windows XP retirement costs because it’s a Professional single, integrated unit. And certainly, as reviewed, its $1,519 Gateway, 877-487-1129 www.gateway.com price is competitive. The company’s attempt to Direct Price $1,519 bridge an all-in-one PC and a standard desktop, however, resulted in a heavy, bulky, and unattractive PC, and Gateway’s assertions of heightened ergonomics, reduced cable clutter, and space savings are overstated. The Profile also flails performance-wise: Compared with other PCs in its class, the PC’s 195 BAPCo SYSmark 2004 score is CNET.com mediocre. —Asa Somers

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5950V

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– Empowerment! The AMD Athlon™ 64 X2

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graphics performance and mind-blowing gaming experiences. Combining two nVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX graphics modules in a single notebook allows you to essentially double your graphics performance. – AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology is

made for mobility. Bring digital media to life whether you’re editing photos, downloading video or playing games. Stay connected wherever you go with longer battery life.

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NP 9750V

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Dual-Core Processor enables you to do more in less time by delivering exceptional multi-tasking capabilities and increased performance on digital media. – nVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™

Graphics Module with 512MB DDR3 Memory delivering the power and technology you need to tear through the hottest games. – Dual Optical Device bays and Dual Hard

Disk Capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting for maximum storage capacity.

OPTIONS

OPTIONS

– Bluetooth Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote

– 802.11g and Bluetooth Combo Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

– 19.0" Wide Viewing Angles WSXGA+ Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology ML-44 – Dual 512MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics with SLI™ Technology enabled – 1GB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz – 80.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD±R/RW 1/4X +DL Multi Drive – Full Sized Keyboard with Numeric Keypad – Integrated Super Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – SRS WOW™ 3D Sound Technology – Built-In 4-in-1 Card Reader – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

– 17.0" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+ – 512MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics – 1GB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz – 80.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD±R/RW 1/4X +DL Multi Drive – Full Size Keyboard with Numeric Keypad – Hardware Raid 0,1 Function – Dual Optical Device bays and Dual Hard Disk capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting – Integrated Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Built-In 7-in-1 Card Reader – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

$ 3349

$ 2849

Dealer/VAR, Government and Corporate pricing are available. Please call for details. Sager One Year Limited Warranty Policy: 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If the equipment does not work as promised, or if you are not fully satisfied, we will issue a full refund upon the return of all original equipment. 1-Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty. Lifetime Toll-Free Technical Support. Sager One Year Limited Warranty Policy Applies to End Users in the United States of America only. Extended Warranty Available: Check out this comprehensive package of service/support. Business Leasing Available: Get your dream notebook with low monthly payments! Sager Corporate Offices 18005 Cortney Court, City of Industry, California 91748 Tel: 626.964.8682, Fax: 626.964.2381 Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30a.m. 6p.m.(PST) American Express, VISA, MasterCard & Discover Credit Cards Accepted - No Surcharge. Cashiers Checks Welcomed. ©2006 by Midern Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, and combinations thereof, and Cool’n’Quiet are trademarks of Advanced MicroDevices, Inc. All company and/or product names mentioned herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The DVD upgrade-kit for Sager Notebooks is licensed through the CLEVO Company. All color LCD Display screens are simulated for artistic purposes. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Opened software and shipping charges are non-refundable. 30-Day money back guarantee does not include freight or shipping and handling charge. Notes: 1,2,3: DVD±R/RW, DVD-ROM, and CD-RW drives list a variable read rate. DVD-R/RW and CD-RW write and re-write speeds vary and list only the maximum possible speed. Actual DVD-R/RW, DVD-ROM, CD-RW speeds will vary and are often less than the maximum possible speed. 4: Maximum Transmission speed of up to 53Kps when downloading and 33.6Kps when uploading data. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions and current FCC restrictions. 5: The Module Video Card feature is designed to work with current technology. Future video card designs may be incompatible or require manufacturer modification of the unit for compatibility. This model number indicates relative software performance amoung this AMD processor family.

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REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS

Dell XPS M2010 A massive hybrid system at a hefty price AT 18.3 POUNDS, the Dell XPS M2010 is a cross between an all-in-one desktop and a big-screen laptop—with a giant price to match. Resembling a piece of designer luggage, the $3,500 base-model M2010 houses a 20-inch display and a premium set of components. Our $4,529 EDITORS’ RATING 7.3 test unit came configured with > > 0 BETTER 10 a 2.16GHz Intel PROS Innovative design; 20Core Duo processor, 2GB inch LCD; rich-sounding speakers; of DDR2 SDRAM, ATI Mobility detachable Bluetooth keyboard; Radeon X1800 graphics, and Media Center remote; fast gaming performance two big 100GB hard drives. Dell also included a detachCONS Very expensive; heavy; no TV tuner able Bluetooth keyboard and a remote to control the system’s SPECS 2.16GHz Core Duo Windows XP Media Center T2600; 2GB DDR2; two 100GB hard drives; double-layer functions. DVD±RW; 20.1-inch TFT; WinThe M2010’s massive 20.1dows XP Media Center Edition inch LCD has a 1,680x1,050 2005 native resolution. Eight speakDell, 800-999-3355 ers and a built-in subwoofer www.dell.com give the beefy system some Direct Price $4,529 audio muscle—enough to

beat out the best-sounding laptops we’ve tested, and even some home stereos. The featurepacked unit also includes an adjustable 1.3-megapixel Webcam, two multiformat media-card readers, and a DVI output for connecting to external displays. An included dongle provides additional A/V connections, such as S/PDIF and analog 7.1-channel audio. Surprisingly, however, our test-model M2010 lacked a built-in TV tuner; adding one is a $130 option. In our benchmark tests, the M2010 showed respectable overall performance, particularly with games, delivering more than 60 frames per second in our Doom 3 and Quake 4 tests. You can expect the M2010’s battery to last a little over two hours, though we’d be hard-pressed to imagine why anyone would want to take this massive machine on the road. Dell covers the M2010 with an industryCNET.com standard one-year warranty. —Justin Jaffe

Asus W5F Ultraportable is heavy on features, light on support

EDITORS’ RATING 0

IT’S NOT OFTEN we find an ultraportable with as many features as the Asus W5F. From its double-layer DVD burner to its spacious 100GB hard drive, this 3.9-pound laptop means serious business. Despite its affordable $1,399 price, we have a hard time recommending it over the competition. Clad entirely in white, the W5F’s plastic case has a cheap feel, though its 12.1-inch wide-screen display makes up for it with its brilliant 1,280x768 native resolution. Above the display sits a rotating 1.3-megapixel Webcam that captures pixelated-looking images. A single long speaker beneath the screen emits remarkably good sound for an ultraportable. Likewise, the keyboard is exceptionally roomy. Our test unit included a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB of RAM, and integrated Intel graphics. The W5F out-

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September 2006 computershopper.com

5.4

BETTER >>

PROS Attractive wide-screen

10

performed some competing display; roomy keyboard; highultraportables on our BAPCo quality audio MobileMark 2005 benchCONS Pricey; poor support; mark test, and it should be cheap-feeling case sufficient for basic multiSPECS 1.66GHz Core Duo tasking and light video editT2300; 512MB DDR2; 100GB ing. Lasting a little over four hard drive; double-layer hours, its battery also fared DVD±RW; 12.1-inch TFT; Windows XP Home Edition decently for an ultraportable. Asustek Computer 888-678-3688 The W5F features VGA, usa.asus.com FireWire, and S-Video ports, as well as three USB 2.0 Mfr. Est. Price $1,399 ports. Networking connections include a built-in modem, Ethernet, and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi. (Bluetooth is optional.) You’ll also find an ExpressCard slot, a multiformat media-card reader, and a headphone jack that doubles as an S/PDIF-out jack. The support package is disappointing, however. A one-year warranty covers parts and labor, but you’ll have to pay to ship the laptop back to a repair depot. Also, phone-support hours are limited, CNET.com and the call isn’t toll-free. —Michelle Thatcher

REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS

Lenovo V100 ’Tweener laptop packs a solid feature set WITH THEIR 4-pound starting weights, Lenovo’s V100-series notebooks walk a fine line between ultraportable and thinand-light, and the line’s $1,099 starting price makes this “in-betweener” design worth a second look. Our $1,599 test unit included solid components: a 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a roomy 100GB hard drive, and a DVD burner. Just about the only ho-hum part EDITORS’ RATING 7.0 was the integrated Intel 0 BETTER >> 10 graphics. The PROS Low price; high-end notebook features a 12.1components; solid performance; inch wide-screen display comfortable keyboard with a sharp 1,280x800 naCONS One-year warranty; intetive resolution. A wide, grated graphics; small touch pad; comfortable keyboard shallow mouse buttons comes topped by three volSPECS 2GHz Core Duo T2500; ume controls and a button 1GB DDR2; 100GB hard drive; to launch Lenovo’s Medidouble-layer DVD±RW; 12.1-inch aNow application. The TFT; Windows XP Professional touch pad is small, however, Lenovo, 866-458-4465 and its buttons don’t dewww.lenovo.com press as deeply as we’d like. Direct Price $1,599 The V100’s bulky size

leaves room for a few more connections than your typical ultraportable has, including a VGA input, a four-pin FireWire connector, and three USB 2.0 ports, plus headphone and microphone jacks. In addition to an ExpressCard slot, you’ll find a five-format flash-card slot and a biometric fingerprint reader. Networking capabilities include a built-in modem, Ethernet, and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi connectivity. The V100 performed admirably on our benchmark tests, handling multitasking very smoothly. Its battery life of 4 hours and 5 minutes was above average for an ultraportable and should carry you most of the way through a cross-country flight. Lenovo backs the V100 with a one-year warranty, shorter than the three years of coverage most busiCNET.com ness laptops get. —Michelle Thatcher

Averatec AV2260-EK1

EDITORS’ RATING

Weak battery keeps thin-and-light unit from soaring

0

5.0

BETTER >>

10

PROS Competitively priced; AVERATEC HAS a knack for making lightweight, aggressively priced laptops. But as much as we tried to like the $1,079 AV2260-EK1, we were disappointed by its lack of features and dismal battery life. Our 4.3-pound test unit included a 1.83GHz AMD Turion 64 MT-32 processor with integrated graphics, 1GB of DDR RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a double-layer DVD burner. On the plus side, the notebook’s compact keyboard is firm and easy to type on. Likewise, the touch pad and two mouse buttons are comfortable to use. And the system’s 12.1-inch wide-screen display provides a decent amount of screen real estate at its 1,280x800 native resolution. In our benchmark tests, the AV2260-EK1 delivered adequate perfor-

comfortable keyboard, touch pad;

mance for basic productivibright display; decent perforty tasks. Its processing mance for basic tasks power came at the cost of CONS Insufficient battery life; battery life, however: It stingy six-month battery warranmanaged only a meager 1 ty; lacks multimedia controls; lowhour and 50 minutes in our quality speakers drain tests, a deal-breaker SPECS 1.83GHz Turion 64 MTfor a laptop meant to be 32; 1GB DDR; 80GB hard drive; highly portable. double-layer DVD±RW; 12.1-inch Also, the unit offers only TFT; Windows XP Professional bare-bones features and Averatec, 877-841-7423 connections. Highlights inwww.averatec.com clude 802.11b/g wireless Direct Price $1,079 networking, three USB 2.0 ports, a four-format media-card reader, and an ExpressCard slot. Aside from a solitary button that launches your music or video player, the notebook has no multimedia controls. The built-in speakers are also disappointing, delivering tinny, low-quality audio. Averatec backs the 2200 series with a standard one-year warranty; but the battery is covCNET.com ered only for a stingy six months. —Justin Jaffe

computershopper.com September 2006

29

POWERED BY DELL

UNTIL NOW, THE ONLY THING HARDER THAN

COMPETING IN THE IRONMAN TRIATHLON WAS BEING A FAN.

Seamlessly delivering coverage of the 17-hour endurance event that is the Ironman Triathlon to 1.5 million online fans isn’t exactly easy. But with a little help from Dell, it’s still a cakewalk compared to what the athletes go through. Over the course of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run in remote Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Dell helps Ironman webcast everything from live video footage to timing data on individual athletes. Which means Dell servers have to pass an endurance test of their own: transmitting 11.9 terabytes of data while managing huge traffic spikes on ironman.com. From start to finish, Ironman isn’t just one of the most exciting sporting events on the web. It’s also a grueling test of the outer limits of human – and computing – endurance.

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• Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5050 (2x2MB Cache, 3GHz, 667MHz FSB) • Upgradable to Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5080 (2x2MB Cache, 3.73GHz, 1066MHz FSB) • 1GB ECC DDR2 SDRAM (Up to 48GB) • 73GB* (10,000 RPM) SAS, 3.5-inch Hard Drive (Up to 3TB*) • Dual Embedded Broadcom NetXtreme II-5708 Gigabit* NICs • 3-Yr Basic Enterprise Support (Next Business Day On-Site Service* M-F 8am-6pm, Hardware Warranty Support) • Systems Purchased with Microsoft ® Windows® Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition Operating System, starting at $2598

• Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5050 (2x2MB Cache, 3GHz, 667MHz FSB) • Upgradable to Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5080 (2x2MB Cache, 3.73GHz, 1066MHz FSB) • 1GB ECC DDR2 SDRAM (Up to 32GB) • 73GB* (10,000 RPM) SAS 3.5-inch Hard Drive (Up to 600GB*) • Up to 4 73GB* (10,000 RPM) SAS, 2.5-inch Hard Drives for RAID 5 Configurations • Dual Embedded Broadcom NetXtreme II-5708 Gigabit* NICs • 3-Yr Basic Enterprise Support (Next Business Day On-Site Service* M-F 8am-6pm, Hardware Warranty Support) • Systems Purchased with Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition Operating System, starting at $2598

• Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5050 (2x2MB Cache, 3GHz, 667MHz FSB) • Upgradable to Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5080 (2x2MB Cache, 3.73GHz, 1066MHz FSB) • 1GB ECC DDR2 SDRAM (Up to 32GB) • 73GB* (10,000 RPM) SAS 3.5-inch Hard Drive (Up to 1.8TB*) • Dual Embedded Broadcom NetXtreme II-5708 Gigabit* NICs • 3-Yr Basic Enterprise Support (Next Business Day On-Site Service* M-F 8am-6pm, Hardware Warranty Support) • Systems Purchased with Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition Operating System, starting at $2698

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These devices have not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission for use in a residential environment. These devices are not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased for use in a residential environment until the approval of the FCC has been obtained.

computershopper.com/reviews

REVIEWS COMPONENTS

AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 Desktop CPU leader delivers minor performance gains THE $1,031 ATHLON 64 FX-62 processor helps usher in AMD’s new Socket AM2 chipset. Not only does the AM2 feature an entirely new pin layout for AMD’s desktop chips, but it also adds support for DDR2 memory. You will need a new AM2based motherboard to use the FX-62, however. Also, our tests show that AMD’s new CPU provides only marginal gains over its predecessor, the FX-60. The AM2 chipset will support 533MHz, 667MHz, and 800MHz DDR2 memory for all socket AM2 AMD Athlon 64 FX and X2 dual core processors. Rumor has it that AM2 also supports up to 1,066MHz DDR2 memory, but without EDITORS’ RATING 6.7 AMD’s official sanction. 0 BETTER >> 10 Aside from the FX-62’s PROS Faster performance than new interface, the biggest its predecessor; DDR2 support change in this CPU is its 2.8GHz per core—a minor CONS Provides only marginal performance increase; requires uptick from the FX-60’s new motherboard 2.6GHz, which, unsurprisingly, translates to unreAdvanced Micro Devices 408-749-3060 markable performance www.amd.com gains. The chip’s BAPCo List Price $1,031 SYSmark 2004 scores, for in-

Lexar JumpDrive Mercury Thumb drive flashes more than mere memory LEXAR’S JumpDrive Mercury distinguishes itself from other flash drives with a feature so simple, it’s a wonder we’ve never seen it before: an external capacity meter. Available in 1GB ($79.99) and 2GB ($119.99) capacities, the JumpDrive Mercury is the length and width of a pack of gum, and about half as thick. As you fill the drive, the capacity meter adjusts to reflect how much space you’ve used. The meter doesn’t require any power or software from the host computer to operate. Preloaded on the drive is Lexar’s Secure II software, which lets you create password-protected partitions on your PC or Mac EDITORS’ RATING 7.5 and shred deleted files so that they’re unrecoverable. 0 BETTER >> 10 Our 1GB JumpDrive eviPROS External capacity denced uneven performance in meter; preloaded security softour data-transfer tests. It took ware; works with both Macs and PCs about 5 minutes to write a 406MB folder of files of mixed CONS Slow to write data types to the drive, but just unLexar Media, 800-789-9418 der a minute to read the folder www.lexar.com back to our PC. —Felisa Yang

CNET.com

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Direct Price $79.99 (1GB); $119.99 (2GB)

September 2006 computershopper.com

stance, are only 3.5 percent faster than the FX-60’s. On our gaming and dual-core tests, the FX-62 turned in scores between 1 percent and 8 percent higher than the FX-60’s, respectively, barely overcoming the statistical margin of error. The FX-62’s strongest improvement was on our multitasking test, in which it showed a 10 percent performance gain. The chip’s frontrunner standing appears precarious. While the FX-62 is currently the desktop-CPU performance leader, Intel’s Core 2 Duo chips are right around the CNET.com corner to challenge its position. —Rich Brown

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 Ambidextrous mouse is all thumbs LEFT-HANDED users often get EDITORS’ RATING 6.7 short-changed when it comes to input devices. In response, 0 BETTER >> 10 Microsoft’s Wireless Laser PROS Contoured for lefties Mouse 5000 was designed to fit or righties; five customizable both left- and right-handed buttons users—but it fails to comfortCONS Uncomfortable; hardably suit either. to-access side buttons; short The $49.95 Laser Mouse 5000 wireless range connects to PCs and Macs via Microsoft, 800-642-7676 an included USB receiver. After www.microsoft.com installing Microsoft’s included Direct Price $49.95 IntelliPoint software, you can customize the mouse’s left and right buttons, side buttons, and clickable four-way scroll wheel. Despite its contoured design, the Laser Mouse 5000 wasn’t comfortable to use, and the plastic surface was slippery. In addition, both of the side buttons are mounted for thumb use, which makes accessing the button opposite your thumb difficult. We didn’t notice any lag, but the mouse’s 1,000-dot-perinch resolution isn’t sufficient for avid gamers. Also, the mouse doesn’t live up to Microsoft’s claimed 6-foot wireless range. —Troy Dreier

CNET.com

REVIEWS DISPLAYS

Sony MFM-HT205 Style and performance in perfect harmony

✓

SONY’S MFM-HT205 is a feature-fest for your senses. This stylishly designed 20-inch LCD monitor/television delivers an outstanding picture and powerful audio whether you’re crunching spreadsheets or watching sitcoms. The $899.99 MFM-HT205 comes equipped with plenty of video connections, including component-video, S-Video, and composite-video inputs. It lacks a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, though HDMI isn’t normally seen on PC monitors. On the PC side, you get both digital and analog connections, in addition to a crisp 1,680x1,050 native resolution. Two built-in 3watt speakers and a 5EDITORS’ RATING 8.8 watt subwoofer provide full, rich sound, enough 0 BETTER >> 10 to fill a large room. PROS Attractive design; impressive Tested at its native image quality; built-in TV tuner; interesolution, the MFMgrated speakers, subwoofer provide rich HT205 impressed us. sound; nice selection of video ports Text was consistently CONS Limited adjustability; no HDMI sharp, and colors were port near flawless. Xbrite, a Sony Electronics, 800-222-7669 shiny screen coating, www.sonystyle.com added some glare, but it Direct Price $899.99 wasn’t too distracting. EDITORS’ CHOICE

ViewSonic VG2021m Bargain big-screen LCD lacks media muscle THOUGH THE ViewSonic VG2021m packs fewer pixels than your average 20-inch LCD, its $299 price makes it worth a look—if you don’t mind making a few sacrifices. The VG2021m has a 1,400x1,050 native resolution, compared with the 1,600x1,200 that most 20-inchers offer. Nonetheless, the screen excelled in our tests: Text was dark, colors were bright, and gray-scale rendering was better than average. The VG2021m accepts DVI and VGA signals, and an audioin port supplies sound to the unit’s room-filling speakers. The display has some flaws, EDITORS’ RATING 6.8 though. ViewSonic rates the LCD with a relatively fast 80 BETTER >> 10 millisecond response time, PROS Inexpensive; vivid but we saw ghosting and colors; sharp text; full-sounding blurring in our gaming and speakers DVD-playback tests. Also, CONS Low resolution for a the onscreen menu lacked 20-inch monitor; limited flexibilifinesse, burying often-used ty; no headphone jack; cumberfunctions under a series of some onscreen menu; ghosting, button pushes. Moreover, blurring evident in games and DVD video the unit lacks a headphone jack and is not highly adViewSonic, 800-888-8583 justable. —L.L. www.viewsonic.com

Mfr. Est. Price $299

34

CNET.com

September 2006 computershopper.com

Sony rates the MFM-HT205’s pixel-response rate at a fairly fast 6 milliseconds, and though we noticed some ghosting on our DVDplayback test, the amount was minimal. The display fared better on our gaming tests, providing a clean, streak-free image. Because it has a built-in TV tuner, we also tested the MFMHT205 as a television. We were equally impressed with its performance. After connecting it to a high-definition (HD) set-top box, we got a vivid HD signal, although colors seemed brighter over a component connection than they did over DVI. Limited adjustability is the MFM-HT205’s one major flaw. You can’t raise or lower the monitor, nor can CNET.com you pivot the screen. —Lara Luepke

HP LP2465 FIRST

Proving it’s possible to mix work with play, Hewlett-

TAKE Packard’s $869 LP2465 delivers great business features and excellent media-ready capabilities. Upside: The LP2465’s 24-inch wide-screen panel features a 1,920x1,200 native resolution and a high 1,000-to-1 contrast ratio. The 6-millisecond gray-to-gray response time should deliver respectable gaming and DVD performance, while the display’s tilt, swivel, and height adjustments will make it as comfortable to use in an office setting as in the home. On the rear, you’ll find dual DVI-I connections, plus a built-in USB 2.0 hub. Downside: Like most business monitors, the LP2465 has a bland, uninspiring look. We also feel that the Speaker Bar— two 1-watt speakers that connect to the bottom of the display—should have been part of the $869 package, rather than a $35 option. Outlook: It’s rare to find a business monitor that can double as a home/entertainment monitor, but the LP2465 seems to fit the bill. Stay tuned for our full review. —Louis Ramirez

I Hewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747, www.hp.com Direct Price $869

REVIEWS PRINTERS

HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn Versatile laser offers excellent output HEWLETT-PACKARD’S Color LaserJet 2605dtn is the missing link between all-in-one inkjet photo printers and budget color lasers. At $699.99, it’s far from cheap, but you get a built-in duplexer, sharp output, and a modest-but-welcome mix of photofriendly features. The network-ready 2605dtn can accommodate a 125-sheet output tray and two 250-sheet input trays. Despite the printer’s hefty size, that’s as many paper trays as it can handle. Memory is more expandable; you can bump it from the standard 64MB to 320MB. HP also includes a multiformat mediacard reader for PC-free printing. The printer has four menu buttons, but the exit button EDITORS’ RATING 7.1 confuses navigation—it quits the entire menu, as 0 BETTER >> 10 opposed to backtracking PROS Excellent print quality; one step as most exit multiformat photo-card reader; buttons do. built-in networking, duplexer HP estimates ink costs at CONS Hard-to-navigate menu 3 cents for a page of black system; accepts only up to three text and 4 cents for a page paper trays of color text. As for speed, Hewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747 our test unit printed black www.hp.com text at 9 pages per minute Direct Price $699.99 (ppm) and color graphics at

Epson Stylus CX7800 Capable MFP stumbles on print quality, speeds

7ppm, which isn’t fast for a laser printer but is faster than an inkjet. The 2605dtn’s output quality shines. At default settings, text was crisp and solidly black. Gray-scale and color graphics were also extremely detailed and smoothly blended. Shutterbugs will also appreciate the 2605dtn’s precision with photos. Our test images displayed excellent skin tones and colors. We noted almost no visible dots, and CNET.com colors were bright, not faded. —Kristina Blachere

EDITORS’ RATING 0

EPSON’S $179.99 Stylus CX7800 has everything you’d want from an all-in-one photo printer. It scans and copies, and it features computer-free printing options. But despite all these features, we can’t get past its lackluster image quality and slow print speeds. Epson fitted the CX7800 with a 1.5-inch backlit color LCD you can use to print photos from its built-in media-card reader. (Alternatively, you can also connect a PictBridgeenabled camera.) We were a little disappointed, however, that the LCD doesn’t have a print-preview function, a feature useful for printing photos.

36

September 2006 computershopper.com

6.3

BETTER >>

PROS Provides functions for

10

The CX7800 uses four pigeasy photo printing; color LCD; ment-based inks in individhigh-quality text printing; individual tanks and does not reual ink cartridges quire a special photo-ink CONS Text printing is extremely cartridge. This way, you can slow; dithering in photos, graphics; LCD has no print-preview replace a color as it runs function out, rather than replacing the entire cartridge when Epson America, 800-463-7766 www.epson.com one color runs dry. As a scanner, our test unit Direct Price $179.99 delivered uneven performance. Though it was able to pick up fine details with no errors, documents scanned at 150 dots per inch looked too soft, as if they had been scanned through silk. Likewise, the CX7800’s print quality was mixed. Text looked sharp, but visible dots (dithering) were evident in our graphics test. In the photo elements of our document, we noticed patches where yellow droplets predominated, giving items such as facial features a flat look. The CX7800’s speed when printing photos was about average: It churned out our 8x10-inch test photo in a little over two minutes. Its text speed, however, was downright sluggish, toiling through our 10-page test CNET.com document at 1.5 pages per minute. —K.B.

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2 2 3 3 4 1X/2X11X/2X Minimum Minimum 10X Minimum 10X Minimum Download Download speedsspeeds limitedlimited to 53Kbps. to 53Kbps. UploadUpload speedsspeeds are less. are Actual less. Actual data speeds data speeds will vary will depending vary depending on lineon conditions line conditions Total 4HD Totalaccessible HD accessible capacity capacity may vary may depending vary depending on operating on operating environment. environment. ©2006 ©2006 by by ProStarProStar Computers, Computers, Inc. AllInc. rights All rights reserved. reserved. Intel, Intel, Intel logo, Intel Intel logo, Inside, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Intel Inside logo, Intel logo, Centrino, Intel Centrino, Intel Centrino Intel Centrino logo, Celeron logo, Celeron and Pentium and Pentium are trademarks are trademarks or registered or registered trademarks trademarks of Intelof Corporation Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries or its subsidiaries in theinUnited the United StatesStates and other and other countries. countries. AMD, AMD, the AMD the Arrow AMD Arrow logo, AMD logo, Athlon AMD Athlon and combinations and combinations thereof, thereof, are trademarks are trademarks of Advanced of Advanced Micro Micro Devices, Devices, Inc. AllInc. other All other companies companies and product and product namesnames are trademarks are trademarks of theirof respective their respective companies. companies. DealerDealer price isprice not issubject not subject to 30 todays 30 money days money back guarantee back guarantee program. program. Opened Opened software software and shipping and shipping charges charges are non-refundable. are non-refundable. 30-day30-day moneymoney back guarantee back guarantee does not doesinclude not include returnreturn freightfreight or shipping or shipping and handling and handling charge. charge. Not responsible Not responsible for photo for photo or typographical or typographical errors.errors. Price and Priceterms and terms subjectsubject to change to change without without notice.notice. Depending Depending on theonoptions the options you choose, you choose, your notebook your notebook may ormay mayornot mayresemble not resemble systems systems shownshown above.above. 1

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- NVIDIA nForce™4 SLI Chipset MB with Dual 16X PCI Express - GENUINE Windows® XP

Media Center Edition 2005 with SP 2 - Corsair 1024MB PC5300 DDR2 667 Dual Channel Memory - 250GB 7200RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache Hard Drive - NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7300LE 256MB DDR3, 16X PCI Express w/ TV-Out - 19” Viewsonic Q9B LCD Display - LG 16X DVD+-RW Drive & 16X DVD-ROM - NVIDIA® nForce4 7.1 3-D Surround Sound

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Logitech X530 5.1 Subwoofer Sperakers 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader Logitech Office 104 Keyboard Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse Turbo X-Cruiser Case 420Watt with See Through Windows - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-60 Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4200+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ Processor

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600Watt Subwoofer System Logitech Office 104 Keyboard Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse Aluminum CoolerMaster Praetorian 730 Midtower Case 420Watt CoolerMaster Aquagate Mini Liquid Cooling System 6 Cool Custom Colors to Choose From Free 802.11G Wireless PCI Network Adaptor 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport Add 19” Viewsonic VA902B Xtreme 8ms Gaming LCD Display $229

$ AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4200+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ Processor

GAMER ULTRA 9900 PRO - NVIDIA® nForce™570 SLI Chipset MB with Dual 16X PCI Express - GENUINE Windows® XP

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AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-62 Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5000+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4200+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3800+ Processor

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$ 1219 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology ML-44 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology ML-42 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-40 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-37 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-34 AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-32

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AMD®, the AMD® Arrow logo, AMD® Athlon™, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All prices are subject to change without notice or obligation. CyberPower is not responsible for any typographical and photographic errors. Copyright © 2006 CyberPower. All rights reserved.

CYBERPOWER RECOMMENDS WINDOWS® XP

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NVIDIA nForce4 7.1 3-D Surround Sound 600Watt Subwoofer System Logitech Keyboard & Optical Wheel Mouse Nzxt® X-Nemesis Tower Case 425Watt with MOD See Through Windows - CoolerMaster Aquagate Mini Liquid Cooling System - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport - Add 19” Viewsonic VA902B Xtreme 8ms Gaming LCD Display $229 ®

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600Watt Subwoofer System Logitech Office 104 Keyboard Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse Turbo X-Cruiser Case 420Watt with See Through Windows CoolerMaster Aquagate Mini Liquid Cooling System 6 Cool Custom Colors to Choose From Free 802.11G Wireless PCI Network Adaptor 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport Add 19” Viewsonic VA902B Xtreme 8ms Gaming LCD Display $229

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5000+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4200+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3800+ Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ Processor

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computershopper.com/reviews

REVIEWS HOME NETWORKING

Buffalo TeraStation Home Server NAS NAS device with huge capacity gets media-savvy WITH ITS TeraStation Home Server, Buffalo Technologies adds media-serving features to the huge capacity of its networkattached-storage (NAS) device. It’s available in 1-terabyte ($899), 1.6-terabyte ($1,599) and 2-terabyte ($1,999) capacities. The silver-hued unit is a media server supporting the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) spec. It acts as a hub for shuttling audio and video files across networked PCs and DLNAcompliant streaming-media devices. You can use its four EDITORS’ RATING 7.5 USB ports to connect addi0 BETTER >> 10 tional hard drives or printers, PROS DLNA-compliant media because the device has a server; huge capacity; fast data built-in print server for printtransfers; four USB ports; builting over a network. in print server Buffalo’s HTML-configuraCONS Disappointing RAID imtion application isn’t the plementations; write performance prettiest we’ve seen, but it’s is a tad slow intuitive and offers all the Buffalo Technology options you need. Memeo’s 800-456-9799 AutoBackup, a real-time, conwww.buffalotech.com tinuous file-level backup utilMfr. Est. Price $899 (1TB); ity, also comes bundled with $1,599 (1.6TB); $1,999 (2TB) the drive.

Top Global 3G Phoebus MB6000 Wi-Fi Router 3G-network access for multiple users IF YOU’RE working in an area covered by a 3G network, the $399.95 3G Phoebus MB6000 is a good bet for getting online. This cellular router lets multiple users wirelessly share Internet access from a 3G network via 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. The 3G Phoebus works with all the major 3G networks, including EDGE and Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), and supports a variety of PC Cards from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T/Cingular. In our tests of its Wi-Fi capabilities, the 3G Phoebus delivered throughput speeds of 11.9Mbps at 10 feet and 7.98Mbps at 210 feet. Those results are slow compared with the EDITORS’ RATING 6.7 speeds of other 802.11g routers, but they should be 0 BETTER >> 10 sufficient for basic tasks. PROS Allows multiple users One caveat: the design. In a wireless access to a 3G cellular departure from the standard network; supports 802.11g; boxy router, the 3G Phoebus stylish pyramid shape comes in a sleek pyramid CONS Impractical design for shape. Though aesthetically travel; average throughput attractive, it’s not practical to Top Global U.S.A., 949-586-7046 pack for travel. —Felisa Yang www.topglobalusa.com

Mfr. Est. Price $399.95

40

CNET.com

September 2006 computershopper.com

If we have any complaint about the TeraStation Home Server, it’s the unit’s lack of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) implementations. The default mode of the drive is RAID 5, which is safe, but your storage capacity (with the 1TB version) is reduced to 750GB after earmarking 250GB for parity. If you’d rather have the entire terabyte at your disposal, you have to use spanning, since the device doesn’t offer a RAID 0 mode. We tested the 1TB version of the drive, and its write performance was a bit slower than the competition’s. It excelled, however, at serving up data from its platters to the network, blowing the competing Maxtor Shared Storage Plus and Western Digital NetCenter drives out of the water in transfer speeds. Buffalo provides a one-year warranty, includCNET.com ing 24/7 toll-free phone support. —Jon L. Jacobi

Spam Cube FIRST

Most antispam solutions available to consumers and

TAKE small businesses are software-based, but the $150 Spam Cube offers a hardware barrier instead. You plug the square box between your router and your broadband connections, and it filters out rogue e-mail messages before they ever reach your PC. Upside: The Spam Cube’s obvious advantage is that it frees you from the hassle of buying and updating antispam software on your PC. It also works with both PCs and Macs, and comes in several different colors. In addition, if you don’t already have Internet security software, you can purchase Spam Cube’s Security OnDemand service ($52 per year), which adds antivirus and antiphishing functions to your Cube’s arsenal. Downside: You can purchase high-quality Internet security software for less than the Security OnDemand annual fee, never mind the $150 you have to shell out for the Cube itself. Meanwhile, you might not even be able to get your hands on one: At press time, the Cube was on back-order. Outlook: The Spam Cube holds some appeal for people tired of dealing with the annoyances of antispam software. But it’s also a pretty expensive option—that is, assuming you’re willing to wait around to get hold of one. —Sean Portnoy I Spam Cube, 877-772-6282, www.spamcube.com Direct Price $150

Area-51 ® m5750

HIGH PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS

REVIEWS MOBILE PRODUCTS

T-Mobile Sidekick 3 Slick mobile messenger bulks up its feature set A SOLID messaging device for the younger set, T-Mobile’s Sidekick 3 offers a number of improvements over its predecessor, though not a better screen. The phone costs $299.99 with a two-year service contract. At 5.1x2.3x0.8 inches and 6.7 ounces, the Sidekick 3 is a hair thinner than the Sidekick II, and it features a more sophisticated black-and-silver color scheme. Its blocky, PDA-like design is 7.3 EDITORS’ RATING comfortable to 0 BETTER >> 10 wield, but holding the device up to your ear is PROS Sleek design; easy trackball scrolling; comfortable somewhat awkward. QWERTY keyboard; Bluetooth Navigation controls are a 1.2, EDGE support; MiniSD-card cinch to master, and we esslot pecially enjoyed the colorCONS Washed out, lowfully backlit trackball for resolution screen; limited camera easy scrolling. Although the options; subpar speakerphone device’s 2.75-inch, 240x160T-Mobile U.S.A., 800-866-2453 pixel screen displays up to www.t-mobile.com 65,000 colors, images apDirect Price $299.99 (with a peared dull and washed out. two-year service agreement) The screen flips up to reveal

an excellent QWERTY keyboard with wellspaced, tactile buttons and a dedicated number row. The Sidekick 3 has 64MB of SDRAM and several added features, including Bluetooth 1.2, a built-in music player, a MiniSD-card slot, and EDGE support. Its integrated 1.3-megapixel camera takes decent shots, but it has limited settings and can’t record video. You also get a speakerphone, support for text and multimedia messaging, and three preloaded instant-messaging apps. You can also access up to three POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts on the device, as well as open Word documents, PDFs, and JPEGs. In our tests, call quality was loud and clear, except when we activated the speakerphone. The phone is rated for three days of standby time, and we managed to CNET.com squeeze out 5 hours of talk time. —Bonnie Cha

Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth Headset

Samsung SGH-D807

Versatile headset is a disappointing performer

THE SAMSUNG SGH-D807 is a slim slider phone that should appeal to fashion mavens and gadget geeks alike. It’s available from Cingular for $179.99 EDITORS’ RATING 7.6 (before a $50 rebate) with a

WE APPRECIATE the $59.99 Soyo FreeStyler’s slim, inconspicuous design that allows it to be worn three different ways, but the Bluetooth headset’s poor audio quality is a deal-breaker. The half-ounce headset has two tactile volume buttons, as well as an LED-backlit multifunction button that’s a bit stiff and difficult to press. On the back is a rubberized ear hook, plus an earpiece that fits comfortably into the ear. Both pieces are detachable; in their place, you can affix a clip-style wired earpiece and use the main part of the headset as a mic. You can also wear the headset using only the in-ear earpiece. In addition to answering and ending calls, the FreeEDITORS’ RATING 5.0 Styler supports voice dialing, call muting, and last-number 0 BETTER >> 10 redial. In our tests, however, PROS Three wearing options; the headset did not pair easily comfortable earpiece; lightweight with our smartphone. Also, auCONS Poor audio quality; dio quality was a disappointdifficult phone-pairing process; ment: Callers could barely awkward multifunction button hear us, and conversation Soyo Group, 909-292-2500 was impossible in noisy www.soyogroup.com environments. —Nicole Lee

42

CNET.com

Mfr. Est. Price $59.99

September 2006 computershopper.com

Fashionable slider phone performs well

two-year service agreement. 0 BETTER >> 10 At 4x2.1x0.6 inches and 3.3 PROS Beautiful, slim design; ounces, the SGH-D807 features excellent call quality; decenta skinny, lightweight design quality camera; MicroSD-card and a gorgeous 2-inch, 262,000slot; Bluetooth connectivity; color display. You slide the speakerphone phone open to expose a texCONS Slippery, flat navigation tured keypad. It’s possible to controls; camera lacks flash dial by touch, but the phone’s Samsung, 800-726-7864 navigation controls are too www.samsung.com slippery and flush to the surMfr. Est. Price $179.99 face for comfort. (before a $50 rebate, with a The SGH-D807 is featuretwo-year service agreement) rich for such a slender phone, providing Bluetooth connectivity, e-mail access, EDGE support, a MicroSD-card slot, an MP3 player, and a speakerphone. The built-in 1.3-megapixel camera takes better-than-average pictures, but it lacks a flash for low-light shots. In our tests, call quality was excellent, and speakerphone calls sounded clear. The phone has a rated standby time of 10 days, and the battery CNET.com lasted for 4 hours of talk time. —N.L.

REVIEWS DIGITAL CAMERAS

Olympus Stylus 710 A weather-resistant, but otherwise mediocre, shooter DESPITE THE attraction of a weatherresistant body, the 7.1-megapixel Olympus Stylus 710 falls short, with 0 BETTER >> 10 disappointing performance and overPROS Weather-resistant housprocessed images. ing; reasonably swift burst mode The $299.99 Stylus 710’s vaguely CONS Poor image quality; wedge-shaped body is gold-plated and mediocre performance; LCD hard coated with a platinum alloy to produce to see in bright light an attractive, clean, and scratch-resistOlympus America, 888-553-4448 ant surface. While the camera can hanwww.olympusamerica.com dle wet weather, if you want a shooter Mfr. Est. Price $299.99 you can soak and shake, you should consider the more rugged Stylus 720 SW. With the exception of its burst mode, the 710 delivers generally mediocre performance. And while its 2.5-inch LCD looks decent in low light, the screen washes out easily in sunlight. The 710’s photos are subpar, with pervasive JPEG-compression artifacts that obscure details. In addition to the photos’ general fuzzy, blocky glaze of overprocessing, almost every high-contrast edge displays heavy fringing. Colors are consistently washed out and undersaturated. On the bright side, images are relatively noise-free at low sensitivity settings.

EDITORS’ RATING

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 A full-featured megazoomer SONY’S $499.95 Cyber-shot DSC-H5 sits at the top of the company’s current crop of megazoom cameras, featuring a large, image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD screen, a 7.2-megapixel chargecoupled device (CCD) sensor, and a full set of manual controls. The camera’s higher ISO settings yield so much noise, however, that picky low-light shooters will want to look elsewhere. First, the highlights. The 36mm-to-432mm (35mmequivalent) zoom lens includes Sony’s Super EDITORS’ RATING 7.2 SteadyShot image sta0 BETTER >> 10 bilization, which PROS 12x zoom with image boosts the effectivestabilization; large 3-inch LCD; ness of the wide maxiaccurate colors; good-quality mum apertures of the video clips lens in low-light situaCONS Noisy at higher ISO tions. Snapshooters settings; mediocre burst mode will appreciate the Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669 camera’s simple auto www.sonystyle.com mode and its handful of scene modes, while Direct Price $499.95 more-advanced users will be happy to see the DSC-H5’s full manualexposure controls, including aperture priority, shutter priority, program, and full manual. The camera was overall an average performer, though its burst mode trailed a number of megazoom competitors. Image quality fared better: Photos from the DSC-H5 had natural, accurate colors that were neither oversaturated nor undersaturated. Exposures were generally accurate, though modest purple fringing turned up in high-contrast areas. Excessive noise was the camera’s biggest image flaw. The noise is noticeable at ISO 200 and becomes prevalent at ISO 400. At ISO 800 and ISO 1000, the images were unfit to print. Video capabilities were solid for a still CNET.com camera, however. —Philip Ryan

44

September 2006 computershopper.com

—David D. Busch

6.4

CNET.com

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 Compact cam offers big zoom, average photos WITH A BIG 10x zoom lens and optical EDITORS’ RATING 6.6 image stabilization, Panasonic’s $349.95 DMC-TZ1 looks enticing, but image0 BETTER >> 10 quality issues keep it from making the PROS 10x optical zoom; optical grade. image stabilization; cool flip-book One of the coolest features of the 5movie mode megapixel camera is its Flip Animation CONS Soft, noisy images mode, which lets you combine up to 100 still images into a short movie at either Panasonic, 800-405-0652 www.panasonic.com 5 frames per second (fps) or 10fps. The camera also performed well in our Direct Price $349.95 speed trials, bettering its compactcamera competition with its continuous-shooting speed. The camera’s images showed accurate, natural colors, with plenty of saturation. Exposures were generally accurate, though they tended to clip detail from the brightest portions of our field-test shots. Our photos were also noticeably soft and prone to JPEG artifacts and fringing. More troubling was the DMCTZ1’s inability to keep noise in check, even CNET.com at ISO 80. —P.R.

XP 8000 DREAM - NVIDIA® nForce™4 SLI Chipset MB with Dual 16X PCI Express & Dual Core Technology - GENUINE Windows® XP

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$ - Internet Multimedia Keyboard - Internet Mouse - Raidmax Sagitta Midtower Case w/ MOD See Through Windows - 6 Cool Custom Colors to Choose From - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 960 (2MB Cache, 3.6Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB)

$

855

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 950 (2MB Cache, 3.4Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB)

$

755

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$

709

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Intel® Pentium® D Processor 930 (2MB Cache, 3.0Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB) Intel® Pentium® D Processor 805 (2MB Cache, 2.66Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB)

Intel® Pentium® 4 651 Processor with HT Technology (2MB L2 Cache, 3.4Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB) $ 685

GAMER INFINITY SLI ELITE ®

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$ -

Intel High Definition 7.1 Surround Sound 600 Watt Subwoofer Speaker System Logitech Deluxe 104 Keyboard Microsoft® USB Optical IntelliMouse Turbo X-Cruiser Case 420Watt with See Through Windows - Free 802.11G Wireless PCI Network Adaptor - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport ®

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975

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 950 (2MB Cache, 3.4Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB)

$

875

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Intel® Pentium® 4 651 Processor with HT Technology (2MB L2 Cache, 3.4 Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB) $ 799

- 8X DVD+-RW Drive - 10/100/1000 Network Card & 56K V.92 Modem - 3-in-1 Built-in Media Reader - 1 PCMCIA Type II Slot - 1 Firewire IEEE 1394 & 3 USB 2.0 Ports - 6 Hours Battery Life; Free Carrying Case - Weight only 6.39 Lbs - 6 Custom Colors to Choose From - 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

GAMER XPLORER X5-6800 - Intel® Centrino™ Duo Mobile Technology • Intel® Core™ Duo Processor • Intel® PRO Wireless 3945A/ B/ G Networking • Intel® 945GM Chipset - GENUINE Windows® XP

Media Center Edition 2005 with SP 2 -

1024MB DDR-II PC4200 533 Memory 80GB SATA150 Hard Drive Mobile ATI® X1600 Pro 256MB Video 15.4” WXGA TFT Display 1280X800 Pixels - 8X DVD+-RW Drive

- 10/100/1000 Network Card & 56K V.92 Modem - 3-in-1 Built-in Media Reader - 1 PCMCIA Type II Slot - 1 Firewire IEEE 1394 & 3 USB 2.0 Ports - 6 Hours Battery Life; Free Carrying Case - Weight only 6.39 Lbs - 6 Custom Colors to Choose From - 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

GAMER XPLORER X5-7800 - Intel Centrino™ Duo Mobile Technology • Intel® Core™ Duo Processor • Intel® PRO Wireless 3945A/ B/ G Networking • Intel® 945GM Chipset - GENUINE Windows® XP ®

Media Center Edition 2005 with SP 2 -

2048MB DDR-II PC4200 533 Memory 100GB SATA150 Hard Drive NVIDIA® Geforce™ 7600 Go 256MB Video 15.4” WXGA TFT Display 1280X800 Pixels - 8X DVD+-RW Drive

739

Intel Pentium D Processor 960 (2MB Cache, 3.6Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB) ®

GAMER XPLORER X5-5800 - Intel® Centrino™ Duo Mobile Technology • Intel® Core™ Duo Processor • Intel® PRO Wireless 3945A/ B/ G Networking • Intel® 945GM Chipset - GENUINE Windows® XP

619

- 10/100/1000 Network Card & 56K V.92 Modem - 4-in-1 Built-in Media Reader - 1 PCMCIA Type II Slot - 1 Firewire IEEE 1394 & 3 USB 2.0 Ports - 6 Hours Battery Life; Free Carrying Case - Weight only 6.39 Lbs - 6 Custom Colors to Choose From - 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

$ 1185 Intel Core Duo Processor T2600 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.16Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1385

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.0Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1245

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (2MB L2 Cache, 1.83Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1185

®

™

$ 1255 Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.16Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1449

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.0Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1309

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (2MB L2 Cache, 1.83Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1255

$ 1279 Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.16Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1475

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2MB L2 Cache, 2.0Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1335

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (2MB L2 Cache, 1.83Ghz, 677 Mhz FSB)

$ 1279

Intel®, Intel® logo, Intel Inside®, Intel Inside® logo, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo, Intel® Core™ Duo, Intel® Centrino®, Intel® Centrino® logo, Celeron®, Intel® Xeon™, Intel® SpeedStep®, Itanium®, Pentium®, and Pentium® III Xeon™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel® Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All prices are subject to change without notice or obligation. CyberPower is not responsible for any typographical and photographic errors. Copyright © 2006 CyberPower. All rights reserved.

CYBERPOWER RECOMMENDS WINDOWS® XP

GAMER INFINITY SLI GT - NVIDIA® nForce™550 SLI Chipset MB with Dual 16X PCI Express & Dual Core Technology - GENUINE Windows® XP

Media Center Edition 2005 with SP 2 - Corsair 512MB PC6400 DDR2 800 Dual Channel Memory - 250GB 7200RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache Hard Drive - (2) NVIDIA® Geforce™ 7600GS 256MB DDR 16X PCI Express Over 80% Performance Gain Over a Single Graphics Card Solution - LG 16x DVD+-RW Drive & 16X DVD-ROM

$ 1079 -

Intel® High Definition 7.1 Surround Sound 600 Watt Subwoofer Speaker System Logitech Deluxe 104 Keyboard Microsoft® Optical intelli Explorer Mouse Turbo X-Cruiser Case 420Watt with See Through Windows - Free 802.11G Wireless PCI Network Adaptor - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport - Add 19” Viewsonic VA902B Xtreme 8ms Gaming LCD Display $229

GAMER INFINITY SLI ULTRA ®

- NVIDIA nForce™550 SLI Chipset MB with Dual 16X PCI Express & Dual Core Technology - GENUINE Windows® XP

Media Center Edition 2005 with SP 2 - Corsair 1024MB PC6400 DDR2 800 Dual Channel Memory - 300GB 7200RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache Hard Drive - (2) NVIDIA® Geforce™ 7900GT 256MB DDR3 16X PCI Express Over 80% Performance Gain Over a Single Graphics Card Solution - LG 16x DVD+-RW Drive & 16X DVD-ROM

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6700 (4MB Cache, 2.67Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB Cache, 2.40Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6400 (4MB Cache, 2.13Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6300 (4MB Cache, 1.86Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB)

$ 1459 $ 1225 $ 1125 $ 1079

$ 1519 - Intel High Definition 7.1 Surround Sound - Creative Cambridge Inspire P7800 7.1 Surround Sound System - Logitech Deluxe 104 Keyboard - Microsoft® Optical intelli Explorer Mouse - Aluminum Nzxt Zero Full Tower Case 420Watt w/ MOD “See Through Windows” - Free 802.11G Wireless PCI Network Adaptor - 3 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport - Add 19” Viewsonic VA902B Xtreme 8ms Gaming LCD Display $229 ®

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6700 (4MB Cache, 2.67Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB Cache, 2.40Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6400 (4MB Cache, 2.13Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6300 (4MB Cache, 1.86Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB)

$ 1899 $ 1669 $ 1569 $ 1519

TOLL TOLL FREE FREE 800. 800. 707. 707. 0393 0393 or or WWW.CYBERPOWERPC.COM WWW.CYBERPOWERPC.COM

computershopper.com/reviews

REVIEWS DIGITAL AUDIO

Toshiba Gigabeat S Series Media-friendly player can compete with the iPod

✓

EDITORS’ CHOICE

WITH ITS COMPACT form factor, wide array of media compatibility, and easy-to-use operating system, the Toshiba Gigabeat S Series is a bona fide iPod challenger. The device comes in 30GB and 60GB capacities, priced at $299.99 and $399.99, respecEDITORS’ RATING 8.3 tively. Measuring 3.9x2.4x0.6 inches and weighing 4.8 0 BETTER >> 10 ounces, the 30GB Gigabeat S PROS Compact; intuitive conis smaller, but a tad thicker, trols, OS; supports many music, than Apple’s 30GB iPod. video, photo file types, including Available in black or white subscription services; excellent (depending on capacity), it performance features a 2.4-inch portraitCONS No voice, FM recording; oriented color screen with a most video formats require concrisp 320x240 resolution. We version; disappointing battery life with audio playback; cumberliked the feel of the player’s some two-cable AC adapter; four-way primary controller requires Windows XP and the inclusion of dediToshiba America, 800-316-0920 cated playback controls and www.toshiba.com a volume rocker. Menu naviDirect Price $299.99 (30GB); gation is also intuitive, $399.99 (60GB) thanks to Microsoft’s

Portable Media Center OS. The Gigabeat S supports MP3, WAV, and WMA audio files, as well as secure tracks from online subscription services. The device plays WMA and WMV files natively, but you need to transcode other video formats first. The Gigabeat S is also compatible with TivoToGo and Windows Media Center recordings, plus the Starz Vongo movie-subscription service and the Xbox 360. You also get an FM tuner, but Toshiba doesn’t include an FM or voice recorder. Two other laments: The Gigabeat S only works with PCs running Windows XP or Windows XP Media Center Edition, and it uses a clunky two-cable AC adapter for recharging. Audio, photo, and video quality were top-notch in our tests. Battery life maxed out at a rather weak 12 hours for audio, but video playback lasted a CNET.com respectable 3.5 hours. —James Kim

LG Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100

Cowon iAudio 6

Sweet sound in a convenient package

SMALL and feature-loaded, EDITORS’ RATING 8.0 Cowon’s $249.99 iAudio 6 is one of the most advanced 0 BETTER >> 10 mini-hard-drive players to PROS Ultracompact date. audio/video/photo player; FM At 2.7x1.2x0.7 inches and tuner; line-in/voice recording; great sound 2.1 ounces, the tiny player features a colorful 1.3-inch CONS Touch interface takes organic-light-emitting-diode getting used to; not shock-proof (OLED) screen and a 4GB Cowon America, 888-453-8283 drive that, unlike flash www.cowonamerica.com memory, isn’t shock-resistDirect Price $249.99 ant. While its interface is an improvement over past Cowon players, the iAudio 6’s touchsensitive controls remain tricky to use. The device can play MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, and WMA audio files—including WMAs from online subscription services such as Napster To Go—as well as MPEG-4 video. You also get extra features such as a text-and-photo viewer, an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and a line-in recorder. In our tests, audio quality was superb, with bright sound and solid bass. We especially enjoyed tweaking the player’s impressive set of equalizers and audio enhancements. Also, the iAudio 6’s rechargeable battery lasted a respectable 18 CNET.com hours. —J.K.

IF YOU’RE looking for ultracompact speakers that don’t sacrifice sound quality, LG’s $59.99 Portable Stereo Speakers MSP-100 will please your ears—and wallet. The 2.7-ounce MSP-100 has a compact clamshell design that flips open to reveal two small speakers. Along its spine are inputs for audio cables and a power adapter, which can power the unit or juice up its rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You get two audio cables: one for connecting media devices with a 3.5mm mini-jack audio output, and another for cell phones, which have a skinnier 2.5mm output. The MSP-100 also has an on/off slider switch, but no volume control. EDITORS’ RATING 7.7 In our tests, the MSP-100 sounded clean, if a bit tinny. If > > 0 BETTER 10 your player doesn’t produce a PROS Tiny, portable design; lot of power, however, the rechargeable battery; betterspeakers won’t be able to than-expected audio quality reach the upper volume CONS No volume control; range. Still, given the unit’s slightly tinny sound miniature size, audio soundLG Electronics, 800-243-0000 ed much better than we exwww.lgusa.com pected. —Eliot Van Buskirk

Direct Price $59.99

CNET.com

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September 2006 computershopper.com

A stacked, compact mini-hard-drive player

REVIEWS DIGITAL LIVING

Sharp LC-37D40U Produces deep black levels for an LCD HDTV

Samsung HP-S4253 Plasma set falls flat on picture quality THE SAMSUNG HP-S4253 42-inch plasma television features distinctive design and excellent connectivity. Its image quality doesn’t measure up to the output of the best plasmas, however, and, at $2,999, it costs a bit too much to compete against the lowest-price EDITORS’ RATING 6.2 bargain models. The first thing 0 BETTER >> 10 you’ll notice is the PROS Excellent connectivity; set’s glossy black exdistinctive glossy finish; hidden terior and hidden speakers; deep black levels speakers. The specs, CONS Noticeable artifacts, too, stand out. The video noise; greenish tinge in HP-S4253 has a native near-black areas; subpar stanresolution of 1,024x dard-definition processing 768 pixels—not quite Samsung, 800-726-7864 enough resolution to www.samsung.com display every pixel of Mfr. Est. Price $2,999 high-definition (HD) TV sources, but no other similar-size plasma can make that claim, either. It also offers an ATSC tuner to receive over-the-air HD programming, as well as a solid selection of features, such as picture-in-picture. The set provides one of the most comprehensive input bays we’ve seen on a plasma at this price, including a pair of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports, two component-video inputs, a dedicated VGA-style PC input, and coaxial and optical digital audio outputs. Independent input memories are lacking, however. As for picture quality, the HP-S4253 is an average performer. We were struck by the prevalence of lowlevel video noise in the near-black areas of our test material. Also, even after calibration, we couldn’t correct the set’s tendency to tinge near-black areas a bit too green. (Its actual depth of black was fine for a plasma, however.) Color reproduction fared well, with the exception of green, which tended to look too bluish. But the set exhibited more false-contouring artifacts than just about any display we’ve examined recently, and its picture quality with standarddefinition sources was below par. —David Katzmaier

CNET.com

7.0

THE SHARP LC-37D40U delivers some of the deepest blacks we’ve seen from 0 BETTER >> 10 an LCD television, making it worth its $2,599 price for home theater fans. PROS Reproduces relatively deep blacks; numerous picture The 37-inch set’s native resolution is adjustments; two HDMI ports 1,366x768 pixels, which should be enough to convey every detail of 720p CONS Color decoding pushes red; no picture-in-picture high-definition television (HDTV) sources. It includes an ATSC tuner to reSharp Electronics, 800-237-4277 ceive over-the-air HDTV but lacks a picwww.sharpusa.com ture-in-picture function. The range of picMfr. Est. Price $2,599 ture adjustments is extensive, however, including a backlight control. Connectivity includes two High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) inputs, another for composite video or S-Video, and two more for component or composite video. Overall, the LC-37D40U offers picture quality superior to that of most LCDs we’ve reviewed, with deeper blacks and excellent detail. On the other hand, it did a poorer job with color accuracy than many LCDs we’ve tested, exhibiting noticeable red push. With standard-definition sources, the set evinced good detail and quickly engaged 2-to-3 pull-down to smooth edges and stabilize moving CNET.com lines. —D.K.

EDITORS’ RATING

Panasonic DMR-ES25S Basic DVD recorder offers solid video quality FIRST-TIME BUYERS will be more than EDITORS’ RATING 7.0 satisfied with the $199.95 Panasonic DMRES25S, a basic DVD recorder that offers an 0 BETTER >> 10 excellent LP-recording mode, High-Definition PROS HDMI upconversion; flexiMultimedia Interface (HDMI) connectivity, ble recording length; excellentand a great flexible-recording-length feature. quality recording in LP mode The flexible-recording-length function alCONS Could not record to our lows you to specify exactly how long your test DVD+RW media program is, then completely fill the DVD, Panasonic, 800-405-0652 maximizing video quality. We also love the www.panasonic.com ability to edit video with the device, although Direct Price $199.95 you can do so only with DVD-RAM discs. Panasonic claims the recorder is compatible with all types of recordable-DVD media—including double-layer discs—but the unit could not record to any of the DVD+RW discs we tried. Recording quality was very good overall, including video set to the company’s best-in-class LP mode, which allows for four hours of recording. The recorder’s HDMI input lets you upconvert video signals to 480p, 720p, and 1080i resolutions, which it did better than many upconverting DVD players we’ve seen recently. —Matthew Moskovciak

CNET.com

computershopper.com September 2006

49

REVIEWS SOFTWARE

Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 Pricey but able security package EVEN IF you’ve never heard of Kaspersky Lab, chances are you’ve used its security technology before: The Russian vendor’s antivirus engine is used to power dozens of better-known viral crusaders. By adding firewall and antispyware protection to its antivirus product, the powerful and well-designed Internet Security 6.0 should bring Kaspersky out from behind the curtain and onto center stage. The suite has strong virus, spyware, spam, and firewall tools to compete against kingpins McAfee, Norton, and ZoneAlarm. Its $69.95 retail price, however, is very high. The suite takes just minutes, and a few mouse clicks, to install, and it will run a post-setup system scan if you want to start with a clean machine. The redesigned interface is wellorganized, with important settings for antivirus, spyware, spam, and other security EDITORS’ RATING 7.3 tools just one click from the main screen. And the various 0 BETTER >> 10 components are good team PROS Comprehensive security players: The Kaspersky Antitool kit; organized interface Hacker personal firewall CONS Expensive works with the Anti-Spy feature, blocking sites with poKaspersky Lab www.kaspersky.com tentially dangerous content. The Kaspersky suite deDirect Price $69.95

serves praise for its aggressive security. Out of the box, the suite protected us from online viruses and worms, remote attacks, and malware such as spyware. Like most security suites, Kaspersky also fights spam. In our tests with Outlook, it was reasonably accurate, and errors were easily corrected. Still, the Kaspersky suite could do a better job of reporting its actions. Live tech support from Kaspersky is a toll phone call, currently available only weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET); 24/7 support is coming in 2007. The company does, however, provide free technical support via e-mail.

Dekart Private Disk 2.07 Compact virtual-disk creator locks down your data MANY DATA-SECURITY packages focus on breadth, but Dekart’s Private Disk focuses on depth. Its combination of topof-the-line encryption, virtual-disk protection, and unusual features is striking and effective. Security packages from Steganos and ZoneLabs offer excellent features in other areas, but if you simply want security for computerized data, Private Disk is a better bet. With its simple dialog box containing tabbed folders (disk, options, recovery, customize) that list selections in standard fonts, Private Disk is one of the plainest-looking utilities we’ve seen in years. But that’s not a reflection on the program’s abilities. The app’s main job is to make password-encrypted (256-bit AES encryption, to be exact) virtual disks of your files. (Virtual

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September 2006 computershopper.com

CNET.com

—Jeff Bertolucci

EDITORS’ RATING 0

BETTER >>

7.8 10

PROS Strong encryption algodisks behave like physical rithms; virtual-disk firewall; hard drives that can be easily simple interface; runs on fixed, removable drives mounted and unmounted.) You can create virtual disks CONS Time-consuming to set on hard drives, up some options as well as reDekart movable media www.dekart.com (flash drives, for Direct Price $45 example), and launch them directly, without the initial program installation. The program even rates how secure your password choices are. Disk Firewall, a new feature of 2.07, is a protective layer at the application level. It stops intrusive behavior cold, whether from viruses and worms, or Web-based requests for user information. You can also select which applications are allowed to access files behind Disk Firewall. In short, the program offers lots of options with top performance. Many are time-consuming to set up, but the built-in help files are well-organized, and the company’s Web site does a decent job of walking you through creating virtual disks, including a step-by-step Flash demo. Tech support is available by e-mail form or phone. —Barry Brenesal

XTREME GEAR RECOMMENDS WINDOWS®® XP AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Processor Ultimate Smart Dual-Core Power and Performance – Get More Done in Less Time.

MADE TO DO MORE IN LESS TIME • Run all your gadgets quickly, seamlessly and simultaneously. • Run all your applications at the same time with increased performance. • Can handle anything you throw at it.

AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology Smart 64-bit Performance with Longer Battery Life. MADE FOR FULL PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ON THE MOVE • AMD PowerNow!™ technology for longer battery life. • Enjoy superb video playback, edit videos on the fly and deliver super-fast graphics performance - all while on the go.

Configure Configure your your Dream Dream System System at at Xtreme Xtreme Gear Gear Today! Today!

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CoolerMaster Mini Aquagate Liquid Cooling System Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition w/ SP 2 NVIDIA® nForce™570 SLI Dual 16X PCI-E Mainboard Corsair 2048MB PC6400 DDR-2 800 Dual Channel 300GB 7200RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16mb Cache HD Dual (2) NVIDIA® 7900GT 512MB 16X PCI-Express Video Sony 16X-DVD ROM Drive 16X DVD+-RW with Lightscribe Technology 7.1 nForce 3D Audio Logitech X530 5.1 Subwoofer Speakers Gigabit Network Card PCI 802.11G 54 Mbps Wirless Network Card X-Smilodon Case 500Watt Power 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor. . . .$

1735

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

CoolerMaster Mini Aquagate Liquid Cooling System Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition w/ SP 2 NVIDIA® nForce™570 SLI Dual 16X PCI-E Mainboard Corsair 1024MB PC6400 DDR-2 800 Dual Channel 250GB 7200RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8mb Cache HD NVIDIA® 7600GS 512MB 16X PCI-Express Video Sony 16X DVD+-RW Drive Sony 16X-DVD ROM Drive 7.1 nForce 3D Audio Logitech S100 Stereo Speakers Gigabit Network Card PCI 802.11G 54 Mbps Wirless Network Card X-Tsunami Case 420Watt Power 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ Processor. . . .

$ 869

^ AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-34 - AMD PowerNow! Technology - HyperTransport Technology - Enhanced Virus Protection Technology ^ Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition w/ SP 2 ^ 15.4” WXGA Wide-Screen TFT Display 1280x800 Pixels ^ Corsair 1024MB DDR400 Dual Channel ^ 100GB 5400RPM SuperSlim Notebook Drive ^ Mobile ATI® X1600 Pro 16X PCI-Express 256MB Video ^ 8X DVD+-RW Drive ^ 802.11G 54Mbps Wireless Network 10/100 NIC and 56k V.92 Modem ^ 6 Custom Colors to Choose From ^ 1 Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Techsupport ^ Free Shipping

..............................

AMD®, the AMD® Arrow logo, AMD® Athlon™, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All prices are subject to change without notice or obligation. XtremeGear is not responsible for any typographical and photographic errors. Copyright © 2006 XtremeGear. All rights reserved.

$ 1299

computershopper.com/reviews

REVIEWS SOFTWARE

Readiris Pro 11 Quick, cost-effective optical character recognition TRANSLATING PAGES of text into electronic files can be a tedious, finicky process, so a good optical character recognition (OCR) program needs to be both speedy and accurate. For basic, plain-text OCR at lightning speeds, the $129.99 Readiris Pro 11 hits its mark. The program opens with a EDITORS’ RATING 6.0 handy wizard, which lets you set parameters such as the 0 BETTER >> 10 language of the document PROS Effective plain-text you’re scanning and the textrecognition; fast; useful wizard output format. Any additional walkthrough changes need to be made CONS Stumbles with tabular through your scanner’s intermaterial, mathematical expresface. sions; no interactive editing Once the scan completes, feature; limited handwriting you can refine the recognirecognition tion areas—the Readiris I.R.I.S., 800-447-4744 toolbar has functions for www.irislink.com designating text, tabular Direct Price $129.99 material, and images. The program stumbles on complex layouts containing tables or superscripts/subscripts, but if Readiris guesses incorrectly, it’s relatively easy to tweak and resend the page to output. In

addition, if your document has strange fonts or other quirky graphic-design elements, you can use the Interactive Learning feature to train Readiris to recognize them. Note that unlike other OCR programs, such as Abbyy FineReader, Readiris Pro doesn’t have a working window where you can correct errors before streaming the files to the destination program. Instead, once the page is read, it’s immediately saved, and you must fix any errors using the external application. In addition, Readiris touts its handwriting recognition, but to use this feature, you have to print out special graph paper and use it to block-print characters. Although this function isn’t entirely useless, it’s not in the same class as common PDA handwriting-recognition software. —Susan Glinert

OrgPlus 6 Professional

Network Magic

Ultimate snapshot of your corporate ladder

Easy home-network management

✓

ORGPLUS 6 Professional may appear limited to creating organizational charts, but look deeper and you’ll see a powerhouse of an app. Whether your goal is pinning down a visual representation of your workforce, ensuring your valued employees have successors, or making financial predictions for the next quarter, you’ll quickly find OrgPlus indispensable. Its interface, though plain, has a familiar Microsoft Office feel. Plus, features abound, with the most frequently used options readily accessible. Some hunting through the app’s abundant menu selections is required at times, however. EDITORS’ RATING 8.0 Building a chart was effortless, and mainly re0 BETTER >> 10 quired dragging and dropPROS Easy to use; deep feature ping boxes. (We didn’t have set; multiple import/export opto refer to the massive help tions; extensive help menus menu once.) The process CONS Plain appearance; some was further simplified by options buried in menus OrgPlus’ excellent import HumanConcepts, 888-821-1261 and export options, includwww.orgplus.com ing one-click publishing to Direct Price $295 (up to 100 PDF or PowerPoint formats. EDITORS’ CHOICE

employees)

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—Joshua Goldman

September 2006 computershopper.com

NETWORK MAGIC is deEDITORS’ RATING 6.7 signed to make home-computer network configuration 0 BETTER >> 10 and management easy as PROS Configures/manages home pie—and, for the most part, networks; offers security alerts; it does just that. The free Basecures shared files sic version allows you to set CONS Works only with certain up and protect a simple routers wired or Wi-Fi home netPure Networks, 206-322-9002 work, while Premium ($29.99 www.networkmagic.com per year, for up to three PCs) Direct Price Free (Basic); adds secure file and printer $29.99 per year (Premium) sharing, remote access to home computers, and various security alerts. The app is best suited for those who take their home laptop to work and beyond, since it performs the valuable service of locking down open shared files and printers when appropriate and remembering to enable the Windows firewall. Network Magic doesn’t support all popular routers and works only with Windows PCs, however. —Robert Vamosi

CNET.com

REVIEWS DOWNLOADS

CCleaner 1.3 PC-upkeep app falls just shy of perfect

Documents To Go Premium Edition 8 Turn your Palm into a mobile office THE LATEST VERSION of Dataviz’s Documents To Go Palm productivity suite will appeal to busy workers who need to keep churning out work away from the office. The installation package lets you decide which program components you’d like to install—among them, Inbox To Go, which syncs your Palm with Outlook and downloads your e-mails. If you opt for the full install, Documents To Go Premium will consume nearly 30MB of your Palm’s memory. Launch the program’s control panel, and it will propose to sync recently accessed documents. (You can also easily add or DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING remove any files you’d like.) Overall, syncing times seemed fast. PROS Mobile read/write access You can access files to Microsoft Office files; opens you’ve imported—inPDFs; easy syncing cluding JPEG and BMP CONS Full install is 30MB; no images, PowerPoint direct printing presentations, Word DataViz documents, and Excel www.dataviz.com spreadsheets—from a Price Free to try; $49.99 treelike structure. (full version) Sending items back to your computer is a simple matter of pressing the stylus in the right place and syncing again. Plus, you can perform syncs with multiple computers, to keep, say, your home and office PCs both updated. You can even beam any file to a compatible wireless handheld or send it via Bluetooth—ideal for collaborating on the go. Although it supports Office documents, the app also comes with its own proprietary text and spreadsheet apps, both of which feature intuitive toolbars with basic editing implements across the bottom of the screen. Also, conversions are no longer necessary to open PDF files. Printing your documents from your Palm, however, requires the purchase of a third-party app, such as Bachmann Download.com Software’s $39.99 PrintBoy.

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ALTHOUGH IT LACKS a few features found in other PC-cleaning applications, the free CCleaner offers enough to make it a worthy download. The interface is logically designed, and the program makes it easy to wipe away your tracks from Internet Explorer, Opera, and FireFox browsers, as well as various Windows system areas and a few third-party applications. CCleaner doesn’t include a secure file shredder, but it makes up for the omission by supplying a Registry-cleanDOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING ing utility that quickly scans for invalid entries before removing them. The app will back up your Registry before rePROS Free; wipes all IE, Opera, moval, too, in case it accidentally reFireFox tracks; safely cleans moves a crucial component. It also inRegistry cludes a feature for uninstalling any CONS Will not securely shred program on your machine. files Because this free application hanPiriform dles most PC-cleaning chores, we have www.ccleaner.com no problem recDownload.com Price Free ommending it.

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Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional A fast, easy virtual-drive maker

DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING

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HARD DRIVES and CD-ROMs are cheap, so why bother simulating them in softPROS Easily configured; ware? Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Profes256-bit AES encryption; five sional’s powerful utility suite provides virtual-drive options five good answers. CONS RAM drive requires The suite’s Crypted Drive comporeboot after mounting nent supplies a handy 256-bit encryptWinTools Software Engineering ed data vault, while Virtual CD-ROM www.extradrivecreator.com creates ISO disk images and mounts Price Free to try; $29.99 them as drives—great for working with (full version) multiple programs that require an inserted CD. RAM Drive turns excess memory into an ultrafast storage unit. The other two utilities transform files or folders into drives so they’re easily accessible through Windows Explorer or any file dialog. No matter which options you choose, Windows and your applications see virtual drives the same way they do real ones. The robust feature set is easy to configure, and we didn’t notice any slowdowns or stability problems. The only flaw: You need to reboot after mounting a RAM drive.

Download.com

computershopper.com September 2006

53

Impressive. NP 9890V

Take your game to the next level. Sager notebooks offer unrivaled gaming performance. Loaded with the latest components, our notebooks let you access today’s business and gaming software with ease. Call Sager today to order your custom gaming computer.

NP 9890V

NP 5760V

FEATURES

FEATURES

– nVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express Graphics Module with 512MB DDR3 Memory delivering the power and technology you need to tear through the hottest games. ®

™

– Dual Optical Device bays and Dual Hard Disk Capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting for maximum storage capacity. – Hardware RAID boosts HDD Speed with RAID 0 or mirror backup your data with RAID 1 Fault-Tolerance.

NP 5760V

™

– nVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics Module with 512MB DDR3 Memory delivers best-in-class performance and high-definition video for gaming and multimedia applications. – The front panel Audio DJ CD player control with separate power switch lets you play your favorite music CD or MP3 while on the go. – Modular Bay design maximizes customization capability allowing the CD-ROM device to be interchange with 2nd Hard Disk Drive.

OPTIONS

OPTIONS

– 802.11g and Bluetooth Combo Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote

– Bluetooth Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote – Second Hard Drive Module

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

– 17.0" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (2MB L2 cache, 3.0GHz, 800MHz FSB) – 512MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics – 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz – 80.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD±R/RW 1/4X +DL Multi Drive – Full Size Keyboard with Numeric Keypad – Hardware Raid 0,1 Function – Dual Optical Device Bays and Dual Hard Disk capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting – Integrated Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

– 17.0" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology ■ Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300E (2MB L2 Cache, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) ■ Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g – 512MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics – 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz – 80.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD±R/RW 1/4X +DL Multi Drive – Modular Optical Device Bay design allows CD-ROM Device to be exchanged with optional 2nd Hard Drive – Front Panel Audio DJ with Separate Power Switch – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Built-In 4-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC) – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

$ 2699

$ 2349

For up-to-the-minute pricing and to order online, 24 hours a day:

sagernotebook.com

Sager Delivers the Latest In Laptop Technology.

NP 9890C

NP 5750V

NP 6630C

NP 5460C

FEATURES

FEATURES

FEATURES

FEATURES

– Premium technology is yours with the new

– Premium technology is yours with the new

– nVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX PCI-Express

– ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1600 PCI-Express

Graphics Module with 256MB DDR3 Memory delivering the power and technology you need to tear through the hottest games.

Graphics with up to 512MB HyperMemory™ brings your 3D gaming and multimedia applications to new levels of realism.

®

™

™

™

®

™

Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology. Have breakthrough performance to run more demanding applications simultaneously.

Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology. Have breakthrough performance to run more demanding applications simultaneously.

– The front panel Audio DJ CD player control with separate power switch lets you play your favorite music CD or MP3 while on the go.

– Dual Channel DDR2 System Memory capable, providing the best match for new Intel® Core™ Duo Processor.

– Dual Channel DDR2 System Memory capable, providing the best match for new Intel® Core™ Duo Processor.

– Modular Bay design maximizes customization capability allowing the CD-ROM device to be interchange with 2nd Hard Disk Drive.

– New Express Card 34/54 Slot providing next generation functionality and connectivity.

– New Express Card 34/54 Slot providing next generation functionality and connectivity.

OPTIONS

OPTIONS

OPTIONS

OPTIONS

– 802.11g and Bluetooth Combo Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote

– Bluetooth Module – TV Tuner Module with Remote – Second Hard Drive Module

– Bluetooth Module – Port Replicator

– Port Replicator – Charger Box

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

– 17.0" Wide Viewing Angles WSXGA+ Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (2MB L2 Cache, 3.0GHz, 800MHz FSB) – 256MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 GTX PCI-Express™ Graphics – 512MB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz – 40.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD2 / 24x10x24 CD-RW3 Combo Drive – Full sized Keyboard with Numeric Keypad – Hardware Raid 0,1 Function – Dual Optical Device bays and Dual Hard Disk capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting – Integrated Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g – Built-in 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

– 17.0" WXGA Active Matrix Display – Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology ■ Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300E (2MB L2 Cache, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) ■ Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g – 128MB DDR ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1600 PCI-Express™ Graphics (Up to 512MB HyperMemory™) – 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz – 80.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD±R/RW 1/4X +DL Multi Drive – Modular Optical Device Bay design allows CD-ROM Device to be exchanged with optional 2nd Hard Drive – Front Panel Audio DJ with Separate Power Switch – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Built-In 4-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC) – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

– 15.4" WXGA Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare type Screen – Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology ■ Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300E (2MB L2 Cache, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) ■ Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g – Share Memory Architecture up to 128MB – Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 – 512MB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz – 40.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD2 / 24x10x24 CD-RW3 Combo Drive – Built-In 1.3M High-Resolution Video Camera – Built-In 4-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC) – 3 USB 2.0 Ports – Virtual 8 Channel External Speaker Output – 3D Surround Sound (S/PDIF output for DVD) – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

– 14.0" WXGA Active Matrix Display with Super Clear Glare Type Screen – Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology ■ Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300E (2MB L2 Cache, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) ■ Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g – Share Memory Architecture up to 128MB – Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 – 512MB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz – 40.0GB 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive – 8X DVD2 / 24x10x24 CD-RW3 Combo Drive – Built-In Digital Video Camera – Built-In 4-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/SD/MMC) – 3 Hot-Keys for E-Mail, Web Browser and Application – 3 USB 2.0 Ports – Virtual 8 Channel External Speaker Output – Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

$2099

$1499

$1049

$ 999

– Dual Optical Device bays and Dual Hard Disk Capability allow this system to be customized with 2 CD-ROM devices and 2 Hard Drives coexisting for maximum storage capacity. – Hardware RAID boosts HDD Speed with RAID 0 or mirror backup your data with RAID 1 Fault-Tolerance.

Dealer/VAR, Government and Corporate pricing are available. Please call for details.

Call us toll free at:

800.669.1624

Sager One Year Limited Warranty Policy: 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If the equipment does not work as promised, or if you are not fully satisfied, we will issue a full refund upon the return of all original equipment. 1-Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty. Lifetime Toll-Free Technical Support. Sager One Year Limited Warranty Policy Applies to End Users in the United States of America only. Extended Warranty Available: Check out this comprehensive package of service/support. Business Leasing Available: Get your dream notebook with low monthly payments! Sager Corporate Offices 18005 Cortney Court, City of Industry, California 91748 Tel: 626.964.8682, Fax: 626.964.2381 Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30a.m. - 6p.m. (PST) American Express, VISA, MasterCard & Discover Credit Cards Accepted - No Surcharge. Cashiers Checks Welcomed. ©2006 by Midern Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Pentium, the Centrino logo, and Centrino, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All company and/or product names mentioned herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The DVD upgrade-kit for Sager Notebooks is licensed through the CLEVO Company. All color LCD Display screens are simulated for artistic purposes. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Opened software and shipping charges are non-refundable. 30-Day money back guarantee does not include freight or shipping and handling charge. Notes: 1,2,3: DVD±R/RW, DVD-ROM, and CD-RW drives list a variable read rate. DVD-R/RW and CD-RW write and re-write speeds vary and list only the maximum possible speed. Actual DVD-R/RW, DVD-ROM, CD-RW speeds will vary and are often less than the maximum possible speed. 4: Maximum Transmission speed of up to 53Kps when downloading and 33.6Kps when uploading data. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions and current FCC restrictions. 5: The Module Video Card feature is designed to work with current technology. Future video card designs may be incompatible or require manufacturer modification of the unit for compatibility.

Top25

This month’s best desktops, notebooks, 20-inch LCDs, home and small-office printers, and DVD- and video-editing software.

ALTERNATIVE-BRAND DESKTOPS

>> Five capable PCs that prove you don’t need to buy from the big guys to get quality.

PRODUCT

PRICE

SPECS/REQUIREMENTS

EDITOR’S TAKE

Velocity Micro Raptor 64 DualX* www.velocitymicro.com

$5,150

2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-62; 2GB DDR2; two 500GB HDDs; two GeForce 7900 GTX

A top-notch build and high-end parts are the hallmarks of this pricey gamer. Power-draw issues require you to think carefully about your configuration and gaming demands.

ABS Ultimate M6 Sniper www.abspc.com

$4,349

2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-60; 2GB DDR; two 74- It’s not the speediest PC available, but the Ultimate M6 Sniper is still fast enough for GB,one 500GB HDDs; two GeForce 7800 GTX gamers and features excellent build quality, high-end components, and stable operation.

7.5

iBuypower Value Ultra* www.ibuypower.com

$884

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+; 1GB DDR; 200GB HDD; GeForce 7300 LE

Similar cookie-cutter PCs from big vendors cost less, but this config’s graphics power, plus the customization options available from iBuypower, more than justify the price.

7.4

Polywell Poly 590SLI2FX62 www.polywell.com

$3,916

2.8GHz Athlon 64 FX-62; 2GB DDR2; two 150GB HDDs; two GeForce 7900 GT

With AMD’s latest chipset and top-of-the-line CPU hidden inside a plain-Jane case, the Poly 590SLI2-FX62 offers blazingly fast performance, if not much aesthetic appeal.

7.4

Shuttle XPC G5 1100h us.shuttle.com

$1,498

2GHz Pentium M 760; 1GB DDR; 200GB HDD; GeForce 6600

Powered by a mobile Pentium M processor, Shuttle’s toaster-size system is a stylish, nearsilent midrange PC that’s a good fit for the design-conscious and space-constrained.

7.2

GAMING NOTEBOOKS

7.6

>> Game on the go with these powerhouse laptops.

Dell XPS M1710 www.dell.com

$3,705

2GHz Core Duo T2500; 2GB DDR2; 100GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

If you’re a serious gamer looking to play the newest titles at the highest settings, the XPS M1710 is one of the best laptops that (a lot of) money can buy.

Toshiba Satellite P105-S921 www.toshiba.com

$1,999

1.83GHz Core Duo T2400; 1GB DDR; 160GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

A solid, more affordable alternative to Dell’s XPS M1710, the Satellite P105 offers comparable performance and a nice set of multimedia features to please gaming enthusiasts.

✓8.2 8.2

Toshiba Qosmio $2,399 G35-AV600 www.toshiba.com

1.83GHz Core Duo T2400; 1GB DDR2; two In addition to top-notch gaming performance, the G35-AV600 delivers best-in-class multi80GB HDD; DVD/CD-RW combo; 17-inch TFT media functionality. It’s built with state-of-the-art components and high-end features.

8.1

Eurocom M590K Emperor www.eurocom.com

$5,453

2.2GHz Turion 64 MT-40; 2GB DDR; 100GB HDD; DVD±RW; 19-inch TFT

With its 19-inch display and top-shelf SLI graphics engine, the M590K Emperor offers one of the most impressive—and expensive—mobile gaming experiences we’ve seen.

7.9

Dell Inspiron E1705* www.dell.com

$2,363

1.66GHz Core Duo T2300; 1GB DDR2; 100GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

One of the first Core Duo laptops to hit the street, the E1705 has enough power to speed through virtually any task, from playing games to editing video.

7.8

20-INCH LCD MONITORS

>> Wide-screen panels that improve your view.

ViewSonic VX2025wm www.viewsonic.com

$495

1,680x1,050 native resolution; 8-millisecond pixel-response rate; DVI, VGA inputs

It’s not height-adjustable, but this 20-inch wide-screen LCD offers flawless image quality, excellent performance, and built-in speakers, making it the best deal in its category.

8.0

Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP www.dell.com

$459

1,680x1,050 native resolution; 16-millisecond The UltraSharp 2007WFP serves up a winning combination of features, image quality, pixel-response rate; DVI, VGA inputs and adjustability—all for a reasonable price.

7.8

LaCie 120 www.lacie.com

$719

1,600x1,200 native resolution; 16-millisecond While it doesn’t break any design boundaries, LaCie’s 120 knocks out the competition with pixel-response rate; DVI, VGA inputs its performance and flexibility. It’s also more expensive than other business-class LCDs.

7.4

1,600x1,200 native resolution; 16-millisecond A good choice for businesses with money to burn, this basic-black Sony delivers nearpixel-response rate; DVI, VGA inputs flawless performance—though, at this price, we wish it had better adjustability.

7.4

1,600x1,200 native resolution; 5-millisecond pixel-response rate; DVI, VGA inputs

7.3

Sony SDM-S205FB www.sonystyle.com

$599.99

Samsung SyncMaster 204B www.samsung.com

$699

HOME AND SMALL-OFFICE LASER PRINTERS

With its fast pixel-response rate, this Samsung can handle productivity and entertainment, but some less-expensive alternatives offer comparable image quality and more features.

>> Say good-bye to slow inkjet output with these speedy lasers.

✓8.0

HP LaserJet 1320 www.hp.com

$299

1,200x1,200dpi max. resolution; 22ppm (mono); 16MB memory; USB 2.0

The LaserJet 1320 is a solid monochrome unit that offers fine output, duplexing, and a tight footprint that fits well in any business, school, or home office.

Canon ImageClass MF8170c usa.canon.com

$699

600x600dpi max. resolution; 4ppm (color), 16ppm (mono); no memory; USB 2.0

This sub-$1,000 MFP prints, scans, faxes, and copies in monochrome or color, plus it includes networking for workgroups. Print quality is solid but slow.

Dell Color Laser 5100cn www.dell.com

$999

600x600dpi max. resolution; 35ppm (color), Dell’s $999 color laser printer features Ethernet capability, two-sided printing, decent 40ppm (mono); 128MB memory; USB 2.0 paper handling, and speeds fast enough for an office workgroup.

7.7

2,400x600dpi max. resolution; 21ppm (mono); 32MB memory; USB 2.0, parallel

7.6

Brother MFC-8440 www.brother-usa.com

$399.99

Lexmark C522n www.lexmark.com

$499

Ulead DVD Workshop 2 www.ulead.com

$395

Brother’s nicely priced monochrome MFP offers some unique features and makes small-office tasks easy, but it has subpar scan quality, especially on color documents.

2,400x600dpi max. resolution; 20ppm (color), Why bother spending $5,000 on a color laser printer? A mere $500 can buy you the 20ppm (mono); 128MB memory; USB 2.0 fast, high-quality, network-ready Lexmark C522n, which is great for small workgroups.

DVD- AND VIDEO-EDITING SOFTWARE

7.7

7.5

>> Powerful applications make editing digital video and burning DVDs a snap.

Pentium III or faster; 128MB RAM; 500MB hard drive space; Windows 2000 or XP

Although it offers only basic video editing, DVD Workshop 2’s intuitive interface and advanced DVD-authoring tools will please professionals and advanced hobbyists alike. A must-have for Mac users, the latest version of Toast stays on top of its game by adding key features, such as support for DivX video, and enhancing old ones.

✓8.7 ✓8.0

Toast 7 Titanium www.roxio.com

$79.95

PowerPC G4 or faster; 300MB hard drive space; Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later

Nero 7 Ultra Edition www.nero.com

$79.99

Pentium III or faster; 128MB RAM; 600MB hard Still an excellent value, version 7 of this versatile, comprehensive DVD- and CD-burning drive space; Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP suite has a new media-browsing interface that offers remote control from the couch.

8.0

Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 www.adobe.com

$99.99

Pentium 4 or faster; 256MB RAM; 4GB hard drive space; Windows XP

The most professional of the consumer-level video editors, the much-improved Premiere Elements 2.0 makes basic editing easier and provides far better DVD-menu options.

7.8

Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 Suite www.roxio.com

$99.99

Pentium III or faster; 256MB RAM; 1GB hard drive space; Windows 2000 or XP

It might be too basic for experienced hobbyists, but Easy Media Creator 8’s huge range of features and extremely easy-to-use interface will appeal to novice video editors.

7.0

✓= Editors’ Choice 56

RATING

* = Configuration changed from original review.

September 2006 computershopper.com

RATINGS FROM

CNET.com

ENTER AT WWW.COMPUTERSHOPPER.COM/SC

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Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service will apply. 2. Prize is: $1,000 Gift Check. Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible ballots/entries received. Odds of winning are dependent on the number of entries OFFICIAL RULES received. The prize will be awarded, and the winner will be notiNO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER fied by mail, e-mail, or phone. Only one prize per individual or OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. household. The prize is nontransferable, and no substitutions are allowed, except by the sponsor, which reserves the right to 1. You are automatically entered in the 2006 SHOPPERS’ award a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prize is CHOICE SWEEPSTAKES by filling out the online ballot on unavailable. Sponsor and its agencies assume no responsibility the Computer Shopper Shoppers’ Choice Web site (www. computershopper.com/sc) and voting (in at least one category) or liability for damages, losses, or injury resulting from acceptfor the best products and Computer Shopper advertisers that ance or use of any prize. SX2 Media Labs, its agencies, and its employees are not responsible or liable for any guarantee or sell them. Limit one entry per person. All entries must be warranty either expressed or implied on any prize awarded. received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on September 15, 2006. Drawing Taxes, if any, related to the prize are the responsibility of the for sweepstakes will be held by November 30, 2006. Normal

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this sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the online portion of the promotion if it becomes technically corrupted. 3. Sweepstakes open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older as of July 13, 2006, except employees and their families of SX2 Media Labs, the participating advertisers, their affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising agencies. This offer is void where prohibited or restricted by national, state, or other governmental laws. Subject to all federal, state, and local laws. 4. For a list of sweepstakes winners, available after December 14, 2006, send a self-addressed stamped envelope by March 1, 2007, to: Computer Shopper, Attn: CJL/Marketing Dept., 460 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016. 5. The sponsor of the promotion is SX2 Media Labs, LLC, New York, N.Y.

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THE AFFORDABLE EDITED BY JOSHUA GOLDMAN REVIEWS BY JOHN R. DELANEY

READY TO GO AND WITH ROOM TO GROW, THESE FIVE DESKTOPS PROVE YOU CAN GET A LOT FOR LESS THAN $500.

60

September 2006 computershopper.com

HIGH-END PERFORMANCE DESKTOPS typically get all the oohs and aahs,but when it’s time to put one on plastic, most buyers find that a great deal is ultimately more impressive. The smartest buyers demand some expandability with their affordability, though, and that’s where bargains can go bad. As we proved in our June issue (“Build a Bargain,” p. 64), it’s pretty easy to assemble your own $500 desktop for handling everyday tasks, while providing a solid foundation for upgrades. But since not everyone was born with a screwdriver in his or her hand, we decided to find out how much factory-built PC you can get for $500. And because we like a PC that can grow as you go, we paid careful attention to expandability. We sent the specs for our DIY desktop to major computer makers and asked them to give us their best build-to-order PC for the money. They dispatched five desktops that either met or beat our configuration, and often bundled extras we couldn’t fit into our DIY PC’s budget. For example, all vendors bundled software with their PCs, something we were unable to do. And every PC came with a keyboard and mouse—items that weren’t factored into our DIY unit. As for upgradability, all PCs in this roundup gave us reasonable overall room to grow. The Dell Dimension E310 was the only model that fell short, not offering an x16 PCI Express (PCIe) slot for graphicscard upgrades. But if integrated graphics provides all the power you require, that’s not such a big deal. All of the vendors trumped our build’s application performance as measured by the BAPCo SYSmark 2004 benchmark suite, with the ZT Cisnet A7122 leading the group with a comparatively stellar 184 score. Our build-your-own PC, by comparison, scored 147. And, of course, all of the PC makers beat us on warranty and support. While our DIY PC’s parts were covered by their individual manufacturer warranties, we had no overall tech support to call, and no one but ourselves to handle parts replacement or repair. Four of the PCs in this roundup came with a standard one-year service-andsupport plan, and ZT Group delivered a full three years of coverage. In the ongoing build-or-buy debate, it looks like “buy” is the winning decision when you’re shopping for a bargain PC. Here’s why.

Dell Dimension E310 Editors’ Rating: 7.0 out of 10 Pros: Near-silent operation; 1GB DDR2 memory; Media Center OS Cons: No PCI Express slot for graphics upgrade; no FireWire ports DELL POSITIONS ITS $499 Dimension E310 desktop as an entry-level entertainment PC that delivers 2.8GHz Pentium 4 power at an affordable price. It was the only PC in our roundup powered by an Intel processor, as well as the only one running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, a nice add-on for home multimedia enthusiasts. It falls a bit short in upgradability, though. This PC is extremely quiet, thanks to a BTX chassis that enables efficient cooling. Inside is a Dell-branded motherboard based on Intel’s 915GV chipset, providing integrated Intel GMA 900 graphics and support for eight-channel audio. External ports include six USB 2.0 ports (two up front) and an Ethernet port, but Dell provides neither legacy connectors nor FireWire ports. Like all of the other PCs in our roundup, the E310 contains a double-layer DVD±RW drive. The 80GB hard drive is comparatively small, however—the other models here offer 160GB or 200GB drives. The built-in media-card reader is a nice bonus, though. The case provides space for an additional optical drive and a hard drive, but expansion slots are scarce, with only one standard PCI and one x1 PCIe slot available, though you can reclaim one PCI slot by removing the 56Kbps modem card. This PC lacks an x16 PCIe slot, which means you’re stuck with the integrated graphics. If 3D gaming or graphically demanding tasks are part of your dayto-day, you can get a discrete card by stepping up to the Dimension E510 (for a little extra dough, of course). The E310’s BAPCo SYSmark 2004 score of 150 was just Dell slightly Dimension higher than E310 that of our home-built PC.

This solid score proves that the E310 is more than capable of running homeproductivity apps and handling light photo editing. And its 1GB of fast DDR2 memory will come in handy for power-intensive applications. The E310 ships with a Dell USB keyboard and ball mouse. It also offers basic versions of WordPerfect and Microsoft Money, along with multimedia applications that include Sonic’s RecordNow and MyDVD LE. You also get Dell’s Jukebox by MusicMatch and Dell’s Picture Studio software for organizing digital music and photos. The PC is covered by a one-year partsand-labor warranty, which includes mail-in service and 24/7 toll-free phone support.

eMachines T6534 Editors’ Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Pros: Big hard drive; sturdy construction; large software bundle; powerful processor Cons: 512MB of memory in a single module; no FireWire port NO STRANGER TO THE MARKET for bargain-price PCs, eMachines offered up the $499.99 T6534, a well-built, able performer that comes with plenty of useful software. At the front of the case, which is clad in the company’s trademark black and silver, is a media-card reader, plus an empty bay below the DVD burner for an additional optical drive. Four USB ports, an Ethernet port, and 5.1-channel audio jacks reside on the rear of the chassis; as with the Dell Dimension E310, a FireWire port is lacking. Running the box is a 2.2GHz AMD Athlon 64 3700+ processor with 1MB of Level 2 cache. (The Athlon 64 3500+ that powers the ZT Cisnet

A7122 also runs at 2.2GHz but has only 512MB of L2 cache.) The MSI K8NGM2 motherboard comes populated with a single 512MB memory module, leaving three slots for upgrades. A 200GB hard drive makes the 80GB drive in our DIY PC look puny. (Though the T6534 may still be available in retail channels by the time you read this, at press time eMachines announced it would be replaced by the T6536, a $589.99 configuration with upgrades to the CPU, RAM, and hard drive: Athlon 64 3800+, 1GB, eMachines and 250GB, respectively.) T6534 Despite its CPU’s 1MB of L2 cache, the T6534 turned in merely average scores on our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 tests. Its overall rating of 161 was faster than the 147 of our hand-built PC and nearly identical to that of the HP Compaq Presario SR1820NX, but it was 13 percent behind our top scorer, the ZT Cisnet A7122. The slightly disappointing performance was probably caused by relying on a single RAM module, which prevented the PC from taking advantage of the motherboard’s support for dual-channel memory. We expect the component upgrades in the successor T6536 model to push performance beyond the T6534’s. Video is powered by an integrated GeForce 6100 graphics controller, although an x16 PCIe slot is open for future upgrades. One of the two PCI slots holds a 56Kbps modem, and an x1 PCIe slot is empty and waiting. In addition to Windows XP Home Edition, the T6534 comes with a small bundle of software that includes Microsoft Works 8 and Money 2006, CyberLink’s PowerDVD and Power2Go, and BigFix 8. A batch of trial-edition programs comes preloaded, so you might want to set aside some time for uninstalling them. A multimedia keyboard, a ball mouse, and a pair of USBpowered speakers are included. The PC is covered by a one-year parts-and-labor warranty that includes a year of phone support, available from

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8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (ET) every day. The support number is not toll-free, however.

HP Compaq Presario SR1820NX Editors’ Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Pros: LightScribe DVD burner; worthwhile software bundle; stylish appearance; ample peripheral connections Cons: Only 512MB of memory THE $489.99 HP COMPAQ Presario SR1820NX proves you don’t have to sacrifice style or multimedia features if you’re in the market for a bargain PC. The case is a bit flashier than those of our other budget systems, thanks to a glossy black faceplate. A double-layer DVD burner with LightScribe technology is installed in one of the two external 5.25-inch drive bays. The LightScribe drive enables you to laseretch labels and artwork onto specially coated CD and DVD discs. The other bay is vacant for adding an optical drive. A 160GB hard drive provides ample storage, and a mediacard reader is installed up front. Ports are plentiful and include two FireWire ports (one in front),

Feature Comparison

WWW

ables you to create and seven USB ports Want to assemble your burn CDs and DVDs, (three up front), jacks own $500 PC? Check out and HP’s Photosmart for the integrated au“Build a Bargain:” Premier helps you ordio controller, and a computershopper.com/ buildabargain ganize digital photos. coaxial digital audio Rounding out the packjack. Headphone, miage is Norton Internet Security 2006, crophone, and audio-in jacks are mountwith live updates for 60 days. Other tryed up front. A modem card is installed in and-buy packages include Microsoft Ofone of the three traditional PCI slots, and fice Student and Teacher Edition and an x16 PCIe slot is available for improvMSN Encarta Standard Online. ing on the integrated nVidia GeForce The Presario is covered under HP’s 6150 LE graphics. Total Care service program, which proThe SR1820NX is powered by a vides a one-year parts-and-labor war2.2GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU. The Asus ranty, 24/7 toll-free phone support, and A8N-LA Nagami motherboard delivery of customer-replaceable parts. features the integrated GeForce video and eightchannel audio. With a 162 showing, the PC statistically matched the eMachines T6534 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004. Though HP included only 512MB of memory, the use of two 256MB modules bolstered overall perHP Compaq formance. Presario Along SR1820NX with a basic keyboard and mouse, HP provides a nice software bundle that includes Microsoft Works 8 and Money 2006, Quicken 2006 New User Edition, and Compaq Organize. Sonic’s DigitalMedia Plus with LightScribe en-

Systemax Ascent DHA3200 Editors’ Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Pros: Highly upgradable; 1GB of memory Cons: Chassis not tool-free; no media-card reader; small software bundle THE $499 SYSTEMAX Ascent DHA3200, available from retailers such as CompUSA, Office Depot, and TigerDirect, offers solid hardware specs and plenty of room for expansion. Also, Systemax says that by the time you read this, this PC’s next iteration will feature improvements to the hard drive (upping it to 250GB) and software package (adding Microsoft Works Suite) at the same price. The Ascent has a double-layer DVD burner, plus one open 5.25-inch bay and two open 3.5-inch bays. It was the only PC in our roundup lacking a flashmemory-card reader, however. (Systemax says it will be adding one to the

Dell Dimension E310

eMachines T6534

HP Compaq Presario SR1820NX

Systemax Ascent DHA3200

ZT Cisnet A7122

Budget DIY PC Computer Shopper*

7.0

7.5

8.5

7.5

8.5

Not applicable

2.8GHz Pentium 4 521 1GB DDR2 Integrated Intel GMA 900 No 80GB Double-layer DVD±RW None None Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 One year

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3700+ 512MB DDR Integrated nVidia GeForce 6100 Yes 200GB Double-layer DVD±RW None Stereo Windows XP Home Edition One year

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3400+ 512MB DDR Integrated nVidia GeForce 6150 LE Yes 160GB Double-layer DVD±RW None None Windows XP Home Edition One year

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+ 1GB DDR Integrated nVidia GeForce 6100 Yes 160GB Double-layer DVD±RW None Stereo Windows XP Home Edition One year

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+ 1GB DDR Integrated nVidia GeForce 6150 Yes 160GB Double-layer DVD±RW None None Windows XP Home Edition Three years

1.8GHz Athlon 64 3000+ 1GB DDR Integrated nVidia GeForce 6100 Yes 80GB Double-layer DVD±RW None None Windows XP Home Edition No overall warranty; separate warranties for individual parts

COMPANY

Dell 800-915-3355 www.dell.com

eMachines 408-273-0888 www.emachines.com

Hewlett-Packard 800-752-0900 www.hp.com

Systemax 800-800-8300 www.systemaxpc.com

ZT Group International 866-984-7687 www.ztgroup.com

Computer Shopper computershopper.com/ buildabargain

DIRECT PRICE

$499

$499.99 (mfr. est.)

$489.99

$499 (mfr. est.)

$499

$492.42

EDITORS’ RATING CONFIGURATION Processor

System Memory Graphics PCI Express x16 Slot Hard Drive Optical Drive Monitor Speakers Operating System Parts/Labor Warranty

✓= Editors’ Choice 64

September 2006 computershopper.com

✓

* = This configuration was assembled by Computer Shopper editors and is not available as a retail model.

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follow-up model.) The chassis is not tool-free, so opening the case and adding or removing components requires a screwdriver. The PC’s Biostar motherboard hosts nVidia’s GeForce 6100 chipset and accommodates Socket 939 processors, which means you can upgrade to a more powerful AMD Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, or dual-core Athlon 64 X2 CPU. It also offers a full 1GB of DDR memory. For graphics, the Ascent relies on the integrated GeForce 6100 chipset, but it also has an x16 PCIe slot for an upgrade to dedicated graphics for better 3D performance. You also get an open x1 PCIe slot and two traditional PCI slots for future expansion. A 160GB hard drive provides ample storage, and the case affords room for three additional drives. Two USB 2.0 ports and two audio jacks are located on the front of the case, and four more USB 2.0 ports are around back, along with an Ethernet connector and jacks for the integrated six-channel audio. The Ascent’s 2GHz Athlon 64 3200+ processor provided just a bit more computing muscle than our DIY bargain system’s 1.8GHz Athlon 3000+ chip, and its BAPCo SYSmark 2004 score of 158 was only 7 percent faster. As with the other PCs in this roundup, the embedded Systemax graphics Ascent chip will DHA3200 handle low-resolution gaming, but you can expect most gameplay to be choppy. A Logitech keyboard and optical mouse are part of the package, as is a pair of low-end Cyber Acoustics desktop speakers. You don’t get a lot of free software with this desktop, however. In addition to Windows XP Home Edition, Systemax includes Computer Associates’ eTrust AntiVirus software, a handful of CyberLink multimedia apps, and Phoenix FirstWare Vault 2004, a handy

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and a FireWire port. A 160GB hard drive occupies one of four 150 internal bays. 161 The A7122 employs the same motherboard 162 we used to build our bargain PC, the Asus 158 A8N-VM, which gives 184 you the option of trading up to any AMD 147 Socket 939 processor, 150 200 such as the Athlon FX or X2. Our review unit came outfitted with a 2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU and 1GB of DDR memory, which proved to be the sweet spot for this class of PC. Its score of 184 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004 bested the other four machines in this roundup, and it was an impressive 25 percent faster than our hand-built bargain model. The integrated nVidia GeForce 6150 graphics processor will handle most multimedia tasks and some low-resolution gaming, and it offers both VGA and DVI connectors. The motherboard provides two open slots for bumping up the RAM, and a vacant x16 PCIe slot can accommodate a more powerful graphics card. Two traditional PCI slots and an x1 PCIe slot are also open. Have a screwdriver handy when making modifications, however, as the chassis is not tool-free. The A7122 comes with a Logitech keyboard and optical mouse. Software includes Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works, the Nero OEM suite, and CyberLink PowerDVD, as well as trial versions of Microsoft Office Small Business Edition and Norton AntiVirus 2006. We love the fact that an under$500 system offers a three-year warranty. Granted, you don’t get onsite service, but 36 months ZT Cisnet of coverage is A7122 hard to find at this price.

BAPCo SYSMark 2004: Application Performance Dell Dimension E310 eMachines T6534 HP Compaq Presario SR1820NX Systemax Ascent DHA3200

✓ZT Cisnet A7122 Computer Shopper Budget DIY PC 0

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system-recovery program. The Ascent comes with a one-year warranty covering parts and labor, fairly standard for a budget PC.

ZT Cisnet A7122 Editors’ Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Pros: Speedy performance; 1GB RAM; generous warranty Cons: Chassis not tool-free THE $499 ZT CISNET A7122 EDITORS’ CHOICE delivered the best performance in this roundup, thanks to a solid combination of processing power and an ample helping of memory. It’s also the only computer here covered by a threeyear warranty. Like three of the other PCs in this roundup, the A7122 is housed in a black-andsilver minitower chassis (the Dell Dimension E310’s case is dark blue and silver) and comes with a doublelayer DVD±RW drive. One 5.25-inch drive bay is available for adding a second optical drive; one of the two 3.5-inch bays is occupied by a flash-memory-card reader. Two USB 2.0 ports and two audio jacks are tucked away in a small recessed area on the lower front of the case; four more USB 2.0 ports and jacks for 5.1-channel audio are at the rear. Also around back are an Ethernet connector

✓

www.onspeed.com/shopper Fast, reliable, and secure for Macs, PCs, PDAs and Smart Phones! • No extra hardware • No changes to your phoneline, ISP or email settings • No set-up fees or contract • No-hassle 2-minute set up • 14-day money-back guarantee

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Faster Web Browsing, Faster Email ONSPEED quickly and easily increases any Internet connection anywhere. With a simple download, your Mac or PC connection performance suddenly and seamlessly rivals cable or DSL service –at a fraction of the cost. Even Broadband users see speed like never before. How ONSPEED Works Patented software uses unique compression and advanced imaging technology to make Web and email elements load and download faster. The speed of your connection doesn’t actually change, but your browsing speed is up to 10 times faster. It even blocks memory-hogging pop-ups and in-page ads. ONSPEED works without changing your email address, phone line or Internet connection. And it’s easy – ONSPEED sets up in around 2 minutes without any technical knowledge! Over Half-Million Users Won’t Surf Without It! Tech experts agree that ONSPEED supercharges the Internet with amazing results – simply and affordably. Novice computer users as well as full-fledged geeks use ONSPEED for faster: • Web page browsing • Online bidding and shopping • School work and research • Email attachment downloads Visit www.onspeed.com/shopper. Get Started In 2 Minutes. A quick download and you’re on your way to a faster Internet connection for only $49.99 per year. Visit www.onspeed.com/shopper now and save $5!

Internet connection required. Standard fees apply. Speeds up Web surfing and email access only. Works with AOL using alternate Internet browser.

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THE APPLE STORE, NEW YORK CITY ONE OF THE FIVE MAJOR CHAINS TESTED IN OUR ROUNDUP. OVERALL RATING: B+

RATING THE RETAILERS EDITED BY SEAN PORTNOY

WE GO UNDERCOVER TO FIVE MAJOR PC CHAINS TO SEE WHICH DELIVERS THE BEST SELECTION AND SERVICE.

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THE APPLE STORE

OUR INCOGNITO INVESTIGATION of major PC retailers has become an annual favorite, so why mess with success? Once again, we sent pairs of reporters to separately pose as clueless PC shoppers at five major brick-andmortar computer stores: the Apple Store, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and Fry’s Electronics. We then rated the selection of computers at each store, along with the quality of help we received from the sales staff. In past years, we followed a basic script for purchasing a particular type of desktop. This time, however, we decided to look for a notebook, priced between $1,000 and $1,500, which was capable of running the forthcoming Windows Vista OS. We also asked about dualcore processors, wireless networking capabilities, warranties, and a number of other items designed to test a salesperson’s technical knowledge. In the case of the Apple Store, we mentioned our interest in running Windows XP on a MacBook using Apple’s Boot Camp utility. In addition to changing our script, we also decided to include an online PC retailer—Dell— in our survey. Again, we had two editors call the computer giant with the same script to find out the kind of experience a tech newbie would have calling Dell for PC-buying advice.

SELECTION SALES STAFF OVERALL GRADE

A BB+

THE APPLE STORE based 3D games. Both reps said a MacBook Pro with the higher-end 256MB ATI Mobility What a difference a year makes. Last year, Radeon X1600, along with a system-memory we decided to drop Apple from our feature boost to at least 1GB, would do the trick. because of its small market share and the Questions regarding viruses and spydearth of Mac-loving Shopper readers. Then, ware were met with the expected response Apple dropped a bombshell: Not only would that Macs weren’t prone to them, although its 2006 models feature processors from Inone rep did mention installing antivirus tel, but they would also be able to run Winprotection if we meant to run Windows on dows XP using its free downloadable Boot a MacBook. Camp utility. And that was enough for PC The only misstep we observed was when owners—and us—to take a fresh look at the we asked if the MacBook Pro could handle Apple Store. one of Apple’s 30-inch Cinema Displays. The Apple’s prowess at creating destination first rep erroneously answered, “No problem, shops doesn’t hurt, either. Its stores are it’s just a simple USB connection,” clean, well-organized, and and reiterated with “The Pro is amply staffed, while deskpowerful enough to run the distop and notebook systems play with no problems.” The secabound for hands-on ond rep cortesting. Our first store The Apple Store: rectly indicated visit in tourist-heavy The MacBook Pro the use of a downtown Manis a go for XP. DVI port, not hattan was USB, and informed us that while marred, we could connect a 30-inch display, it however, wasn’t ideal because the graphics card by a blockade of wasn’t designed to handle the load. people checking e-mail and surfOn our second trip, we visited a crowded ing the Web on all available computers. We suburban New Jersey Apple Store, and waithad to circle the MacBooks for nearly 10 ing for assistance proved equally vexing. Afminutes before one became available. While ter about 20 minutes, John finally apwe fiddled with the system, we noticed proached, offering to help. He pointed out plenty of salespeople around, none of the differences between the MacBooks and whom approached us. We had to surrender MacBook Pros: a bigger screen and more our notebook to another customer to go ask processor power on the MacBook Pro, even questions. though both lines have configurations that When we asked two different reps which use the 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor. He MacBook would run Windows—via Apple’s also didn’t mention that the Pro came with a Boot Camp app—best, both told discrete graphics card, while the MacBook us that all of them were able used integrated to, but the greater our RAM WWW graphics. and the faster the processor, Looking for more undercover As our conversathe better it would run. We then investigations? Check out tion progressed, it beasked which notebooks were “Tech-Support Report:” computershopper.com/ came clear that John suitable for playing Windowssupportreport

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notebook with that logo would be able to run Vista. When we asked him what processor to get, Mike asked us what type of laptop we wanted. We said something thin and light, and, without any hesitation, he recommended a system with an Intel Core Duo processor. (He insisted Intel CPUs were better and more powerful than AMD models.) We asked him about graphics capabilities, and he told us most laptops came with integrated graphics. Unless we wanted to play games, he said, we shouldn’t splurge on one with discrete graphics. At this point, he introduced us to an HP Media Center notebook and left. Not only was the system not a thin-and-light model, but we also didn’t appreciate his ditchBEST BUY ing us without any further assistance. In general, Mike seemed rushed, giving us Electronics giant Best Buy is always deonly quick, one-sentence retorts to our cently stocked with systems—the locaqueries. tions we visited each had between 15 and Service was also an issue at a second 20 laptops—but at one store, some units Best Buy location. The store was packed looked old and battered, including a with people, and we waited 20 minutes Toshiba Tablet PC that wouldn’t turn on. before the cashier, Danny, finally asked Worse still, the staff wasn’t always attenus what we were looking for. When we tive or adequately informed. told him we needed a laptop that For our first visit, we waited about five would run Vista when we were ready to minutes before an associate named Mike upgrade, he recommended the $1,299 approached us. Mike was with the Geek Gateway MX7527. He said its AMD Squad, Best Buy’s tech-support organizaprocessor was much better than an tion, which appeared to man the noteIntel one, but he never explained why. book and desktop sections of the store. He added that a 2GHz processor was When we asked him which notebooks necessary to run Vista without having would run Vista, he immediately directed to disable certain features. (Microsoft us to an HP model with a “Vista Capable” recommends 1GHz for premium sticker affixed. He assured us that any versions of Vista.) BEST BUY While we appreciated Danny’s attempt to help, he was clearly multitasking and not completely focused on us. Because he was working as a cashier, we also weren’t sure if he had been trained as SELECTION B thoroughly as desigSALES STAFF B nated salespeople OVERALL GRADE B were. So we decided to make another

wasn’t particularly well-versed in specifics. When asked which bundled software the notebooks included, he said they came with “over 60” programs and that he usually pointed people to the Apple Web site for details. When we inquired about Boot Camp, he said he couldn’t discuss it at length because it was still in beta; odd, considering a full page is devoted to the utility on Apple’s Web site. Perhaps proving that Macs sell themselves best, the most impressive part of John’s sales pitch was his demonstration of how easy it was to convert an album of images in iPhoto into a Web site, using iWeb and a .Mac account. Our experiences suggest that the Apple Stores may be victims of their own success. We had to wait to check out systems and get help, and then the help we received wasn’t always up to “Mac Genius” levels. The stores’ aesthetic appeal and hip quotient can’t be denied, however, but Apple still doesn’t earn the top grade.

stop at a different Best Buy location. This time, we were immediately assisted by Aaron, who started out by saying, “I want you to know, I don’t work on commission, so I’m not going to try and sell you a high-price system just so I can make a buck.” Like Mike, he was a big proponent of Intel’s Core Duo processor, but added that AMD CPUs were fine, too. He said we should look for a laptop with discrete graphics if we were planning to do any gamBest Buy: The HP Pavilion ing, and told DV8000 has Core Duo us all the and a 17-inch LCD. notebooks Best Buy currently stocked had integrated Wi-Fi connectivity. Aaron recommended two systems, both under our $1,500 maximum budget. One of them was the $1,299 HP Pavilion DV8000, a 17-inch Windows Media Center notebook with nVidia GeForce Go 7600 graphics. The other was the HP DV1000, which, though cheaper at $999, didn’t run Media Center, only had a 14-inch screen, and used integrated graphics. The third time was the charm for our Best Buy visits. Aaron was polite, knowledgeable, and attentive. Best of all, we didn’t have to wait around or deal with preoccupied sales staff. Based on our experiences, if you’re headed to Best Buy with a lot of tech questions, go during off-peak hours so you won’t be given short shrift.

CIRCUIT CITY We’ve had mixed experiences at Circuit City in the past, and this year was no different. Despite the varied selection of systems at its stores, the knowledge level of the staff remained deficient. During our first visit this year, we waited 5 minutes while salespeople helped other customers. Jean then introduced himself, listening as we related our computer needs. When we feigned ignorance over the difference between AMD- and Intel-based systems, and what Core Duo meant, he told us to choose Intel and Core Duo, respectively, because they were his personal preferences. He didn’t explain why Intel was better, however, and couldn’t really describe the difference between Core Solo and Core Duo. He just stated that Core Duo was better, and it would be the best choice for Vista. A bit harried-looking, Jean didn’t ask

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about any of our other requirements and recommended the $999 Toshiba Satellite M105-S3004, a Core Duo laptop with a 14.1-inch display. He pointed out the “Vista Capable” sticker on the unit, and spent some time touting its biometric fingerprint reader. When we said we didn’t need a fingerprint reader and preferred a larger screen, he pointed out the $1,099 Toshiba Satellite P105-S6004, which had a 17-inch screen but only a Core Solo processor. We asked if a similar Core Duo laptop was available instead, since he had just effused over the processor’s speed and efficiency. Surprisingly, he completely backpedaled and said the Core Solo was fine for running Vista, even though we noticed other Core Duo models in our price range nearby (not Toshibas, however). Even though he was antsy and selfcontradictory, Jean at least made the effort to approach us. On our next visit, we wandered around the laptop section for 15 minutes bereft of help from the several employees milling about. We finally asked two employees, who were chatting with each other, for help picking out a laptop. Neither seemed especially eager, but Omar said he would assist us. When we told Omar we wanted to spend between $1,000 and $1,500 for the new laptop, he said our budget wouldn’t accommodate everything we’d need. He then recommended the store’s $440 Notebook Essentials package, which included Webroot’s Spy Sweeper spyware-killing software, Microsoft Office, Windows XP recovery disks, a notebook case, and a wireless mouse. CIRCUIT CITY

SELECTION SALES STAFF OVERALL GRADE

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Omar then told us that only dualcore processors would be able to run Windows Vista—neither Intel Pentium M systems nor Core Solo laptops, for instance, could handle the OS. He was obviously ignorant of Microsoft’s listed system requirements for Vista, because that information is incorrect. Nevertheless, Omar did recommend a system in our price range—the same Toshiba Satellite M105-S3004 recommended on our previous visit, though priced here at $1,299 before a $100 mail-in rebate. In particular, he praised the notebook’s 14.1-inch Circuit City: The wide-screen Toshiba Satellite display, but P105-S6004’s Core Solo when we is okay. asked him why wide-screen was so great, he said it was “more rectangular than the square screens on some other laptops.” He said nothing about how the shape could improve movie viewing, nor gave any other reason for its superiority. When we asked about gaming capabilities, Omar said the Toshiba’s 128MB of shared graphics memory would be sufficient for most games, but singled out the HP Pavilion DV5139us, a $1,499 system (before a $200 mail-in rebate) with a discrete graphics card. When we noticed it didn’t have a “Centrino Duo” or “Vista Capable” sticker on it, he said it used an AMD processor but he wasn’t sure if it would work with Vista. He consulted with another employee, who confirmed that AMD Turion 64 processors would be compatible with Vista. Although Jean and Omar recommended appropriate systems for us, their lack of concrete knowledge about Vista was a little disconcerting.

COMPUSA As in previous years, CompUSA had a wide range of systems on display. All notebooks were clean, organized, and in good working order. Our first visit to one of its stores was around 11 a.m. on a weekday, and it was pretty quiet. Even though several employees were hanging around, we waited more than 20 minutes before asking a sales rep for help. We were told only one employee was in charge of the laptop section, and he was busy helping another customer. After another 20 minutes, Elvis, the laptop specialist, finally approached us. We asked about hardware requirements for a Vista-capable notebook, and Elvis said we needed a system with one of Intel’s latest processors, telling us we should look specifically for Core Duo or Core Solo models. Elvis first recommended the HP Pavilion DV1648us, which he pointed out had a 1.66GHz Core Solo processor and 1GB of RAM for $1,199. He suddenly changed his mind, however, and steered us toward the $1,099 Acer TravelMate 4202WLMi, which features a 1.66GHz Core Duo processor. He said the Acer was “completely compatible with Vista because

Sales Call

One of the biggest PC retailers in the world doesn’t have any physical stores stocked with computers (although non-inventory retail stores were to open by the time you read this). But that hasn’t stalled Dell’s runaway success. Many people order new Dell PCs through the company’s Web site, but Dell also sells computers via a toll-free phone number. So we decided to give Dell a couple of calls with our notebook-buying script to see how the experience compared with our visits to brick-and-mortar stores. During our first call, it sounded like we weren’t the only ones using a script. After gathering our computing needs, our rep recommended the $1,216 Inspiron E1505, and offered to e-mail us a link for the configuration.

computershopper.com/roundups

COMPUSA

SELECTION SALES STAFF OVERALL GRADE

A BB+

of the Core Duo processor.” When we asked him if AMD processors would be Vista-compatible, as well, Elvis said, “The Turion 64 will work with Vista, but I really feel more comfortable recommending the Intel processors because they are newer and will probably last longer into the future.” Elvis also gave a curious response when we asked about the system’s gaming capacities, saying it came with a “224MB video card.” Close, but not exactly: The 4202WLMi has integrated graphics and offers a maximum of 224MB of shared video RAM. And Elvis

When we asked for information about Intel Core Duo processors, we received an obviously scripted answer about its multitasking advantages. We then queried about the system’s gaming capabilities, since it included a 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 too weak for current 3D games. Dell’s site offers an upgrade to a better card for $50, but the rep never mentioned it. Next, we inquired about protection from viruses and spyware. She said the system came with security software, but she then pushed a fouryear warranty, Microsoft Office Basic, and PC-cillin Internet Security Suite as ways to round out our purchase. We ended our conversation by discussing networking our new laptop with our current desktop. She asserted we

was flat-out wrong when he said the 100GB hard drive spun at 15,000rpm, instead of the more typical 5,400rpm. While Elvis strongly advocated the Acer notebook, the salesperson we talked to on our second visit didn’t recommend any particular model. Sean did come over after a minimal wait, however, which was a welcome respite from some of the lengthy delays we’d endured in other stores. When we asked about a Vista-ready laptop, Sean assured us he had researched the subject and we needed at least a 1.6GHz processor and 64MB of

would need to purchase Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which came standard on the E1505. We asked if the Media Center OS wouldn’t allow us to network, and she affirmed it would, but added that XP Professional was better since it was recommended for networking. Dell’s site recommends either option for networking, however. Justin, the rep we spoke to when we made our second call, also recommended the Inspiron E1505, but he was more aggressive with pushing a notebook from Dell’s premium XPS line instead. Justin said both systems were Vista-ready, but the XPS would provide the best performance and value for the present and the future, whereas the E1505 was

RAM. After some further questioning, we figured out that he meant 64MB of video RAM, since he also recommended getting 1GB of memory for our PC. (While we appreciated Sean’s attempt to delve into Vista’s system requirements, Microsoft actually recommends 800MHz as the minimum processor speed for a Vista-capable system and 1GHz to run the premium versions of the OS. It also recommends a graphics card with 128MB of video RAM for Vista’s premium versions, but doesn’t specify a minimum for a basic Vista system—although it does recommend a DirectX 9-capable GPU.) Despite not having all his facts straight regarding Vista, Sean otherwise appeared to have the basics down as he expounded upon the advantages and disadvantages of various laptops with different screen sizes. He also pointed out that all the systems had built-in wireless networking capabilities. Unlike most salespeople, however, Sean didn’t steer us in any particular direction when it came to a laptop to purchase. Should we get a thin-andlight with a smaller screen or a heavier one with a 17-inch LCD? What about a

“best for the here and now.” Justin customized both PCs for us by asking a series of questions, which ranged from “Do you plan on playing games?” to “Will you burn any DVDs?” A complete technophobe might have appreciated the process, but the rep never told us exactly how he configured the systems. Instead, he presented us with a $1,432 E1505 configuration and a $1,811 XPS system—and unlike the first rep, he didn’t offer to e-mail us a link to the configurations. When we pointed out that the XPS was well over our budget, he suggested we apply to Dell’s credit program.

SELECTION SALES STAFF OVERALL GRADE

A BB

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mainstream notebook somewhere between the two? It was all up to us, Sean’s attitude suggested. We even asked him about warranties to give him a chance to sell us on CompUSA’s service plans, but he only put forward that most laptop warranties spanned a year. While techsavvy shoppers might appreciate Sean’s “soft sell” approach, a newbie could use a little more hand-holding. Our CompUSA visits weren’t without issues, but the store does offer a wide selection of systems and somewhat clued-in staff. Don’t be surprised if you receive some inaccurate information, however.

FRY’S ELECTRONICS Well-established on the West Coast, Fry’s Electronics is slowly opening stores further east, with locations now in Georgia, Illinois, and Indiana. Though one California store we visited looked a little long in the tooth, both it and another store we checked out had a huge assortment of computers, including more than 35 different laptops. Our first sleuth waited about five minutes before John introduced himself. The first notebook he directed us to after we gave him our Vista spiel was the $1,349 HP DV5170us, which featured an Intel Core Duo processor. When we said our spouse was going to use the system

for some gaming, he directed us to the next notebook over, the $1,449 HP DV5140us, pronouncing it better because it had a dedicated graphics card with 128MB of graphics memory (versus the integrated graphics of the first system). He CompUSA: The Acer correctly TravelMate 4200WLMi’s explained Core Duo will last. that integrated graphics meant the DV5170 had to rely on system memory and as a result would be slower with 3D games. The DV5140 runs on a 64-bit AMD Athlon Turion CPU instead of the Core Duo laptop’s two 32-bit processors. In his only real flub, John explained that the two 32-bit CPUs added up to 64 bits, and therefore the notebook was a 64-bit system. We weren’t sure if he really believed that erroneous statement or thought we wouldn’t notice because we looked like tech newbies. John then made a third recommendation: the $1,399 Fujitsu N3530-756, another Core Duo system but one with less memory and a smaller hard drive than the HP models. When we pointed this out, he told us Fujitsu products were better made than the others because the company manufactured more of the components itself. (None of our product testing of Fujitsu laptops has borne out this claim, however.)

FRY’S ELECTRONICS

SELECTION SALES STAFF OVERALL GRADE

A B+ A-

He did seem on the level with us when we asked about getting an extended warranty for our new laptop. In his experience, he said, notebooks generally didn’t fail in the first two years. If we planned to upgrade in a couple of years, he continued, the extended warranty probably wasn’t worth buying. If we were going to keep the notebook for longer than that, however, a three- or five-year extended warranty would be a good investment. Our second Fry’s visit also went fairly well. We were immediately greeted by Bendrix, who first steered us toward an HP DV8280us, powered by a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor and 2GB of RAM. When we noted that its $1,949 price was well beyond our budget, he led us to another HP, the DV1680us, which was powered by a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor and priced at $1,399. Fry’s Electronics: The laptop The Fujitsu N3530-756 is also feasolidly built. tured Windows XP Media Center Edition, so we asked if a TV tuner was built in. He said no, but walked us over to the adjacent aisle, where he showed us a PC Card TV tuner priced at $129. Bendrix correctly answered our questions about gaming, wireless networking, and how to hook our digital camera to the PC. After we asked if any other good options were available, he led us to yet another HP, the Turion ML37-based, $1,399 DV8220us. We inquired about the difference between 64-bit and dual-core processors, and he asserted that the dual-core was faster because “it’s like two processors in one machine.” When we asked Bendrix if the HP notebooks he recommended would run all versions of Vista, he said he didn’t know the answer and checked with a colleague, who also wasn’t sure. While he wasn’t an overly enthusiastic salesman and didn’t have a good grasp of Vista info, Bendrix otherwise had a pretty good grip on the products and was patient and helpful. It seemed curious he did not recommend brands other than HP, however. Janice Chen, Rik Fairlie, Joshua Goldman, Erin Kandel, Louis Ramirez, and Wendy Sheehan contributed to this article.

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A behind-the-scenes look at Microsoft’s upcoming OS

VISTA UNVEILED BY JANICE CHEN

YOU DON’T NEED IT. YOU DO WANT IT. YOU WILL HAVE IT. That’s my take on Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Vista operating system, after exploring the first public beta software (Beta 2, build 5384) for about a month. Most folks who currently use Windows XP and keep up with the latest security patches and updates will have

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no critical reason to upgrade. In fact, unless you’re a power user with a high-end configuration and actually enjoy tweaking, searching for drivers, and troubleshooting incompatibilities, I wouldn’t recommend an upgrade. If you bought your PC in the past year or two, stick with XP until your hardware really needs to be replaced, then buy a new PC with Vista preinstalled.

Of course, Vista does offer some enticements to upgrade. Most compelling is the new Search function, which is well-integrated across the operating system and easy to use, though if you’ve already installed a third-party desktop search tool such as Google Desktop, you don’t absolutely need it. What will likely inspire the most Vista-envy—but is arguably least useful—is the OS’s slick new “visual experience,” including its Aero 3D effects. While Aero’s pretty translucent windows, live Taskbar thumbnails, and turThe first thing you’ll notice about Vista is its sleek new interface, with a streamlined Start menu and eye-popping graphics.

bocharged Alt+Tab task-switching feature (called Windows Flip) are all fun and do enhance productivity somewhat, they aren’t must-have features. And that’s a good thing, because many Vista users won’t even have access to these capabilities—Vista scales back the visual experience depending on your hardware specs and which version of the OS you are running. (See the chart “What You Need to Run Vista.”) Nevertheless, chances are you’ll be running Windows Vista in the not-toodistant future. PC vendors are champ-

the OS isn’t a must-have upgrade for most XP users, after getting used to its features and conveniences, I certainly miss them now that I’ve switched back to plain old XP. If my month living with Beta 2 is any indication, you can look forward to better access to your stuff, better performance, better security, and, simply, just more fun.

BETTER ACCESS

One of the first things you’ll notice after booting up Vista (apart from the slicker graphics) is the streamlined Start menu. Instead of the cascading XP version that ends up covering so much of the The new Start menu’s integrated Search desktop, the new bar lets you quickly find an application or Start menu keeps file by typing in a keyword. everything in the In fact, one of Vista’s best improveleft pane, letting ments is the integration of Search you scroll through practically everywhere, making it easiitems. Even better er to use and more useful than thirdis the Search field party desktop-search tools (and much in the lower left more like the Spotlight search capabilicorner of the Start ty that Mac users have enjoyed for menu, which lets more than a year now). You’ll find inyou quickly find an If you have the graphical guns to run the Aero interface, you’ll stant Search fields not only on the application or file get cool features like Windows Flip 3D, the new task-switching Start menu, but also on most windows by typing in a keyfeature that’s activated by hitting the Windows key and Tab. across the OS. Because the search is word. Type “Word,” context-sensitive, searching in the for example, and WordPad pops up ing at the bit to start selling systems Control Panel window, for example, ready to launch (and in my case Miwith Vista preinstalled, so if Vista is not will bring up tasks associated with the crosoft Word, as well, because I have on your next Windows PC, it will Control Panel. Opening the Search Pane the Office 2007 beta installed). Typing a be on the one after that. Though the in the right column of the Start menu URL or hard drive path into the Search minimum hardware requirements gives you access to more-detailed field immediately takes you to that are relatively modest, to get the best search options, allowing you to choose destination, launching Internet ExplorVista experience, you’ll need a dualspecific locations or show results for er or Windows Explorer automatically. core processor, lots of RAM, and a specific content high-end graphics processor types such as ewith ample memory. And what mail, documents, PC vendor wouldn’t want to pictures, and musell you that? At press time, sic. You can filter Microsoft was still standing by search results by a projected January 2007 date multiple criteria, for the much-delayed release, such as keyword or but also just announced anauthor, since Vista other slight delay in the searches not only launch of Office 2007. With the filenames but also new Office originally schedthe contents of uled to coincide with the Vista every file, metadalaunch, Vista may well be ta saved with files delayed even further. (including tags you Still, whenever Vista arrives, it can add yourself), will have a lot in store for you, and even e-mail whether you plan to upgrade an attachments. You existing system or wait to buy a Context-sensitive Search is integrated throughout the OS, so searching in can also save a new Vista-based PC. Even though the Control Panel brings up Control Panel tasks first.

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same time and therefore see specific search so performance gains anyway. you can easily search again using Still, after running Beta 2 on a those particular $1,299 Asus A6Jc notebook that filters. Plus, Vista meets the higher-tier Windows intelligently exVista Premium Ready hardamines your ware requirements—thanks to processor usage its 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo before indexing T2400 processor, 1GB of RAM, rather than simply and nVidia GeForce Go 7300 waiting for keygraphics with 128MB of dediboard or mouse cated memory—I learned that The new Explorer includes directory breadcrumbs (at the top of the screen inactivity, so you I’ll want a more powerful PC here) to navigate back through subdirectories quickly. won’t notice the when I upgrade to Vista peraggravating slowdowns that you get Perhaps my favorite new Explorer manently. Though it’s certainly unfair with a tool like Google Desktop. feature is the directory “breadcrumb” to judge performance using prerelease While Search makes locating your bar, which lets you see at a glance software (particularly since I had to data easier, Vista’s new Explorer makes where the subdirectory you’re viewing hack my graphics driver before I could it similarly simple to navigate your resides. Even better, you can click on get Vista to recognize it in the first drives and directories. It’s much more individual folders in the directory path place), it’s safe to assume minimum visual, with live thumbnail icons that to quickly navigate back through the hardware requirements are just that— show little previews of your docudirectory hierarchy. Back and forward the minimum. ments, photos, PowerPoint slides, and buttons let you move around easily, Still, Vista includes several performance enhancements to make your everyday tasks easier and make you more productive more quickly. SuperFetch, for example, is a new intelligent memory-management technology that allows your applications and files to load much faster than they do in XP. SuperFetch precaches the applications and files you use most often so that they’ll load faster, and optimizes them based on usage patterns over time. So the longer you use Vista, the better it’ll know your habits and the better it can manage memory. The OS even analyzes what times you use different applications, precaching apps you tend to use on weekdays, for example, but leaving them out of the mix on weekends. Similarly, Low Priority Input/Output allows your applications to get higher resource priority (and, as a result, lessVista’s version of Explorer is much more visual than XP’s, with live thumbnail icons impeded performance) than backthat show previews of a file or even what’s in a folder. ground tasks such as antivirus scans or disk defragmentation. more as you explore. The drop-down and because Vista incorporates the ExReadyBoost, another cool technology, View menu includes a slider bar to plorer interface consistently across the allows you to take advantage of exterscale the size of the icon, and you can operating system, you have a similar nal flash memory to improve system even glimpse previews of documents experience whether you’re browsing performance. Don’t have enough RAM inside folders (though even at the documents and photos or looking at to load that enormous file? Plug in a largest icon size, they’re really more Control Panel options. USB 2.0 thumb drive, and ReadyBoost gee-whiz than truly useful). A preview will let you combine the available flash pane at the bottom of the screen shows BETTER PERFORMANCE memory with system memory. Like a a high-resolution live thumbnail of the Evaluating Vista’s performance is a RAM upgrade, but much easier, Readyselected file along with detailed metatricky proposition. That’s because you Boost can improve your PC’s overall data. You can also easily edit that inforneed a pretty powerful system to take performance by offloading the Supermation with a context-sensitive tool advantage of all the OS has to offer, Fetch cache, for instance. that changes options depending on and most people who use Vista will Another way Vista can improve your what type of file you’re viewing. probably upgrade their hardware at the

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day-to-day performance is by using its ReadyDrive technology to take advantage of new hybrid hard drives, which combine a hard drive with up to 1GB of built-in flash memory. Because flash memory can retrieve data faster and consumes less power than a standard hard drive, ReadyDrive lets you boot up and resume from hibernate mode faster, and extends battery life in notebooks. In fact, Microsoft plans to make

Need more memory? Plug in a USB 2.0 thumb drive, and ReadyBoost will combine available flash memory with system RAM.

hybrid hard drives with ReadyDrive technology a requirement for mobile systems to qualify for the Vista Premium logo in the second quarter of 2007. Even without a hybrid hard drive, however, Vista starts up and shuts down faster than XP, which is one of my favorite aspects of the new OS. Vista’s new Sleep mode saves your current computing session in memory while instantaneously putting the com-

puter in a low-power state, so you can immediately shut down with a click of a button and get back up and running within seconds. Sleep combines XP’s Standby and Hibernate modes by simultaneously saving your current session to RAM and the hard drive. I’ve always envied Mac users for Apple’s instant sleep and resume features, and Vista’s equivalent seems to work equally well. On a notebook, you can go into Sleep mode by pressing the power button or just closing the screen. Finally, Vista monitors your system’s performance, scaling features to the capabilities of your hardware and reporting back on the causes of system slowdowns, enabling you to make changes to improve performance. Before Vista runs on a new PC, it rates the performance of the system’s hardware, automatically adapting itself to the machine’s capabilities. For example, if your graphics subsystem isn’t powerful enough, Vista disables the Aero 3D graphics. Using the Control Panel’s Performance Rating and Tools, you can examine performance details about your processor, memory, and other hardware; discover specific performance issues; and access tools that will help you address them.

BETTER SECURITY

Security is one of those things that you might like to ignore, but you shouldn’t. Microsoft has emphasized security improvements in Vista, building in virus and spyware killers, improving firewall features, and generally reducing the risk of malware. The new Windows Defender tool works like most third-party security utilities, alerting you when an unknown application attempts to install itself or change important Windows settings, and allowing you to schedule scans or manually scan your computer for harmful software. DeVista’s new Sleep mode combines XP’s Standby and Hibernate modes fender works so you can instantly shut down or start up with a click of a button.

TOP 5 VISTA FEATURES When Beta 2 of Vista was released in May, I listed these favorite Vista features on Computer Shopper’s ShopTalk blog (www.computershoppermag.com/shoptalk): Windows Flip, Meeting Space, SideShow, and performance enhancers SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, and ReadyDrive. After a month of living with Beta 2, though, I’ve revised my list of faves. EXPLORER BREADCRUMBS Vista offers lots of features with a high geewhiz factor that catch your eye at first, such as the live file previews in the new Explorer (or, if you can run Aero, the live thumbnails of currently running apps on the Taskbar). But I’ve found Vista’s breadcrumb navigation to be much more useful—it lets me click quickly through subdirectory hierarchies to find what I need.

1

SEARCH ON THE START MENU In retrospect, this should have been on my original list. I love being able to click on the Start menu and easily find files and launch applications. I can go to the search field and type something like “C:/Users/Janice/ Pictures” or “www.computershopper.com” and go right there without launching Explorer or IE. The feature works wonders for finding functions that otherwise take lots of clicking to uncover. Typing in “Device Manager” drops you right where you want to be rather than having to navigate to the Control Panel and look for the Device Manager icon.

2

SLEEP MODE While SuperFetch and ReadyBoost are still pretty cool, my favorite performance improvement is much less glamorous. I’ve long envied Macs and their time-saving instant on/off ability, and with Vista, Windows has finally caught up. By combining XP’s Standby and Hibernate modes into a single, instant-off state, you can power up or down in just seconds.

3

MEETING SPACE It was on my original list, and I still love this collaboration tool, which lets you create an ad hoc wireless connection with nearby Vista users even without a Wi-Fi network. You can share programs and jointly edit documents with up to 10 other users (although Vista Home Basic users only get to view documents). In Beta 2, it’s still called Windows Collaboration, but Microsoft plans to rename the tool Meeting Space for launch.

4

GUIDED HELP Call me lazy, but I love Vista’s interactive Guided Help tool. Just over 30 help topics in Vista include the tool, which provides a step-by-step description of how to accomplish a task or lets you opt to have the task completed for you automatically. Click “Show me step-by-step” or “Do it automatically,” with the latter letting you observe all the steps by following a green arrow that floats across the screen, pointing and clicking the appropriate options. Each topic even recommends whether to use the automated process, or the step-by-step option.

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as you do in XP; Vista allows standard on your PC, even if users to just enter an administrator’s you’re logged on as an password to access restricted tasks. In administrator. Most XP theory, this will make Vista safer, but in users run as adminispractice, it gets a bit annoying having to trators by default, respond to pop-up windows requesting since most people permission whenever you start up Dedon’t bother to create vice Manager, for example. standard user accounts to run in standard user mode (and MORE FUN! because so many apThough Microsoft touts the Aero graphplications require adical interface as a productivity enministrator privileges hancer, in reality, it’s more fun than to install). Under Vista, useful. But not everyone gets to join even administrators run The Windows Defender tool works like most third-party security apps, alerting you to potentially harmful software in standard on your system. user mode by default, and standard users seamlessly with Windows Update to are given permissions to run automatically install new software defmore tasks, which makes initions as they are updated and rerunning in standard mode leased. Additionally, Microsoft has built more usable. Administrators an online community called SpyNet are able to elevate their privithat lets you find out how other people Vista limits the privileges to change settings on your leges when necessary (for inhave responded to software that hasn’t PC, which makes the OS safer, but the User Account stance, when executing a task been classified for risks, to help you Control popups can get annoying. that requires administrator decide how you should respond to rights). Additionally, if you’re running in potential threats. the party. If you’re running Home standard user mode, you don’t have to Another way Vista improves security Basic, or you don’t have a powerful log out and log back in as administrator is to limit privileges to change settings enough graphics card (read: an ATI

WHAT YOU NEED TO RUN VISTA Microsoft will have six versions of Vista available at launch—and two categories of hardware requirements (Windows Vista Capable and Vista Premium Ready) for running different levels of the OS. All versions of Vista will operate and provide basic functionality on a Windows Vista Capable machine, but for all versions except Vista Home Basic and Vista Starter, you’ll want to go with a Vista Premium Ready configuration, at a minimum, to get access to all features. For the best experience, though, we’d recommend doubling the minimum requirements listed.

Radeon 9500 or better, or nVidia GeForce FX family or better), you won’t be able to run Aero. For the lucky ones, Aero offers translucent window effects, as well as live thumbnails of running applications when your cursor hovers over a minimized application on your Taskbar or when you hit Alt+Tab to activate Win-

VISTA VERSION

WHO IT’S FOR, WHAT IT IS

RECOMMENDED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Windows Vista Ultimate

For advanced consumers or business users; the highest-end edition, combining the best features of all editions

Windows Vista Premium Ready Logo: 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor; 1GB RAM; DirectX 9-capable graphics with 128MB of graphics memory and support for Windows Display Driver Model, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32-bit-per-pixel color; 40GB hard drive (with 15GB free); DVD-ROM drive

Windows Vista Home Basic

Analogous to Windows XP Home Edition, for basic consumer needs; includes Vista’s new security and search capabilities, but does not include higher-end Aero graphics, Media Center, or Tablet PC features; no support for dual-core processors

Windows Vista Capable Logo: 800MHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor; 512MB RAM; DirectX 9-capable SVGA (800x600) graphics with 32MB of graphics memory; 20GB hard drive (with 15GB free); CD-ROM drive

Windows Vista Home Premium

For consumers who want advanced music, video, photography, and mobility features; includes support for Vista’s higher-end graphics features, as well as Media Center and Tablet PC features; no support for dual-core processors

Windows Vista Premium Ready Logo: 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor; 1GB RAM; DirectX 9-capable graphics with 128MB of graphics memory and support for Windows Display Driver Model, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32-bit-per-pixel color; 40GB hard drive (with 15GB free); DVD-ROM drive

Windows Vista Business

Analogous to Windows XP Professional, for small and medium-size businesses; includes improved security and reliability, as well as extra tools for small businesses; Tablet PC features

Windows Vista Premium Ready Logo: 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor; 1GB RAM; DirectX 9-capable graphics with 128MB of graphics memory and support for Windows Display Driver Model, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32-bit-per-pixel color; 40GB hard drive (with 15GB free); DVD-ROM drive

Windows Vista Enterprise

For large enterprises with global IT infrastructures (available only to customers with volume licenses); includes all features of Vista Business, plus additional encryption and data-security features, Unix services, and virtual-machine capabilities; also includes Tablet PC features

Windows Vista Premium Ready Logo: 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor; 1GB RAM; DirectX 9-capable graphics with 128MB of graphics memory and support for Windows Display Driver Model, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32-bit-per-pixel color; 40GB hard drive (with 15GB free); DVD-ROM drive

Windows Vista Starter

For consumers in emerging markets who have very basic computing needs (sold only on new PCs in markets such as India and Thailand); runs only on 32-bit machines; can run only three programs at a time

Windows Vista Capable Logo: 800MHz 32-bit processor; 512MB RAM; DirectX 9-capable SVGA (800x600) graphics with 32MB of graphics memory; 20GB hard drive (with 15GB free); CD-ROM drive

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bum art, browsing through your music collection is now a much more visual and intuitive task. For easy access to new music, Media Player integrates with MTV’s Urge music service, making the purchase of new music as easy as, say, buying a song from iTunes. Media Player also lets you view and organize your videos and photos, but the better tool to use for photos is the new Photo Gallery. Sticking with Vista’s theme of easy search and organization, Photo Gallery makes it a breeze to A transparent Sidebar find and manage keeps fun new Gaddigital photos, gets close at hand. with a decidedly iPhoto-esque interface. You can view high-resolution thumbnails that can be easily resized using a slider control (though not to full-screen size as with iPhoto), or play slide shows with a “Ken Burns”-style panning-and-zooming effect. You can add tags to make your photos easier to find and perform basic editing of your photos within the application. And you can easily drag photos into Windows Movie Maker to create home movies using your pictures. Of course, Google’s free Picasa photo-management tool has many of the same features (Ken Burns is absent, though) and is arguably better than both Photo Gallery and iPhoto. But that’s a A convenient slider control in the new Photo Gallery lets you easily resize highstory for another day. resolution thumbnail previews of your digital images.

and display Gadgets, which are miniature desktop applications that provide quick access to frequently used functions or frequently updated information—essentially, widgets by another name. Microsoft may be a little late to the widget game (and Apple certainly The new Windows Media Player 11 integrates with MTV’s Urge wasn’t the first) music service to offer access to more music than ever. You can but it’s still fun— browse, find, and buy new music at the click of a mouse. and useful—to add photo slide shows, customizable dows Flip, the new and improved taskclock faces, and RSS feeds, to name a switching feature. Pressing the Winfew of the included Gadgets. And dows key and Tab activates Windows though not many are available yet, an Flip 3D, which lets you flip through live online gallery lets you find other Gadwindows in a 3D stack. Previewing apgets or, if you’re a developer, the tools plications live (such as running videos, to create your own. for example) is totally cool when you For fun with your music, Vista infirst try it—Flip 3D was one of the feacludes Windows Media Player 11, tures that I looked forward to most which improves upon previous verwhen I first installed Beta 2. But after sions by making it easier to organize, using Flip in real life for a month, I rerip, burn, and synchronize large music alized that the thumbnails of many apcollections. As with the rest of Vista, plications are too small to be truly useMedia Player includes a fast and effecful at a glance. Even Flip 3D, with its tive search function; it also lets you ormuch larger previews, only makes it ganize and view your music in multiple marginally faster to recognize which ways. In addition to the usual artist, alwindow you’re looking for. As for the bum, song, and genre, for example, you translucent windows, also known as can also view by contributing artist, Aero Glass, Microsoft says they help parental ratings, your own ratings, and you focus on information; really, more. Plus, with a new emphasis on althey’re just pretty. Other fun stuff in Vista is much more useful, though like Search and Sleep, it sometimes feels like a game of catch-up with the Mac (not necessarily a bad thing). Take the new Sidebar and Gadgets, for example. The transparent Sidebar running along the right or left side of your desktop lets you organize

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HELP &HOW-TO TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE TECH EASIER

92 Weekend Project: Automate File Backups 95 Weekend Project: Take E-Mail Anywhere

COMPUTER CURES ALFRED POOR MISSING METER My laptop got a virus, so I restored my system. Before, I had the battery meter at the bottom-right corner of the screen, but it disappeared after the restoration. I went to Power Options and tried checking the box that shows the battery meter on the desktop, but it only shows the powerplug icon. Any idea how to restore the battery meter? George Gardea I see two possibilities. First, Windows XP has a Power Meter function that you access through the Control Panel; choose Power Options > Advanced, and look for a check in the “Always show icon on the taskbar” box. This applet puts an icon in the tool tray at the bottom of the Windows Desktop. When the notebook is unplugged, the icon will show up as a battery; hover your cursor over the battery icon, and a pop-up will indicate the operating time and percentage of battery life left. If the notebook is plugged in, however, the battery may turn into a plug icon or disappear. Perhaps all you need to do is unplug the power cord to see the familiar battery icon. It’s also possible that your laptop uses a proprietary power-management utility. If you restored Windows, you may have wiped out the pre-installed utility specific to your notebook. If you have your laptop’s utilities CD, check that first. If you can’t find the batterymeter utility there, check the support section of the laptop manufacturer’s Web site for a download. DRAWING WITH DOS I run an old DOS-based CAD application that requires VESA mode 0107h (1,280x1,024, 256 colors), but this will not run on my Windows XP SP2 system. So I have to keep my old Windows 98 SE system running with a CRT display just for this ap-

plication. I don’t want to experiment with expensive PCI Express graphic adapters. Do you have another solution? R a fa e l G u t i é r r e z G. Try adding a second display to your XP system. I’d buy (or borrow) as inexpensive a PCI graphics card as I could find, and try running that as a second adapter in the system. You could even have it drive your faithful CRT from the Windows 98 system so that you wouldn’t have to buy a new monitor for the second adapter. Then choose Start >All Programs > Accessories > Command

Integrated audio uses some system resources. If you want the best possible performance from your PC, you could see a small gain by adding a separate sound card.

You may have security levels set so that scripts cannot be executed on Web pages within Internet Explorer. Choose Tools > Internet Options, and go to the Security tab to see your current settings or change them. Another cause could be that you don’t have the right version of a language— such as Java or Flash—or the video codecs required to play the animations. I recommend starting with Microsoft’s support site (support.microsoft.com) to find the current versions. SOUND ADVICE, PLEASE I have a pretty nice set of 2.1 speakers, but my computer only has integrated audio. Would adding a separate sound card dramatically increase my music and game audio quality? Do I need to have 7.1 speakers to really make a difference? Ya n g Z h o u

Prompt. Move the Command Prompt (DOS) window to the monitor that’s attached to the second adapter, and run your program. You don’t need the latest features on the second graphics card, so it would be an inexpensive experiment, and if it works, the second monitor would increase the display space on your XP machine.

You pose a difficult question because it involves personal perceptions and tastes. Two speakers alone can provide two-channel separation, and nowstandard “surround” effects use psychoacoustics that can actually make the sources of the sound seem to spread beyond the bounds of two speakers. Inexpensive speakers tend to have a limited range of frequency response, UN-ANIMATOR however, and can sound tinny. One solution is to get better-quality speakers When I use Internet Explorer (which I assume you’ve done, since you to surf the Web, animadescribe yours as “pretty nice”). The tions don’t play, even WWW other is to improve though I have chosen the the low-frequency “Play animations in Web For more tips and buying advice, visit the Computer response by adding pages” option on the AdShopper Forums. a subwoofer. Adding vanced tab in Internet Opcomputershopper.com/ a separate sound card tions. How can I fix this? forums may improve sound Ti m o t h y Wo r s h a m

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HELP & HOW-TO COMPUTER CURES

SKIP THE PARTITION, GO FOR A DRIVE How do you partition one hard drive for two or more operating systems? D av i d G e e You can use many methods to partition a single hard drive so that it can boot using different operating systems. The easiest and most reliable one is to get a commercial utility that steps you through the process, such as Symantec’s Norton PartitionMagic ($69.95, www. symantec.com) or Vcom’s Partition Commander ($49.95, www.v-com.com). My preference, however, is to place each operating system on its own hard drive. For about the same price as one of these utilities, you can buy a separate drive. Many PCs now let you

choose which hard drive to boot from in the CMOS settings, so this is a much cleaner approach, and if you have a major mishap with one operating system, it shouldn’t create problems for the operating systems on the other drives. SAVVY SCREEN SHOPPING Is there any difference between various LCDs? They all look similar to me in spite of varying specifications for contrast ratio, pixel pitch, response time, and refresh rate. What should I look for in an LCD? Andy Graham If you know what to look for, you’ll find significant differences. One of the easiest to see is antiglare coating—a matte finish that can subdue reflections from light sources behind you, such as a bright window, and can hide fingerprints and smudges better. The alternative is a “clear coat” screen that can make blacks look blacker and colors appear brighter, which is ideal for DVD viewing. Another factor to look for is viewing angle. The Windows XP sample picture Sunset.jpg (go to Start > My Pictures > Sample Pictures) is a good test for this. View it from different angles and look for changes in brightness or color. On some displays, you may not see much change, but on others, the image may get much dimmer as you view it from an angle, or the colors may change noticeably. In extreme cases, you may

TIP OF THE MONTH: EASY, EXPRESS E-MAIL SELECTION E-mail in disarray? Need a quick way to move several messages at one time into a folder in Outlook? There’s a simple way to do this with your mouse. This month’s tipster has the solution.

I’ve used Outlook for some time and have always wanted the ability to highlight a number of messages by simply using the left-click, drag-and-drop mouse method similar to the process used in Windows Explorer. Every time I tried, left-clicking only selected a single message. I inadvertently discovered a way to

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even see the colors reverse, such as blues that turn yellow. Finally, all LCDs blur fast-moving objects to some degree. If you’re a gamer, this can be detrimental, but it’s not usually a factor for those working with the Web, e-mail, or documents. Open the Sunset.jpg picture in a window about a quarter the size of the full screen, then drag it around in a circle. You’ll see blurring in the clouds easily, which can help you make your choice if avoiding motion blur is important to you. A display with a lower pixelresponse-time specification should blur less than one with a higher rating, but the spec is not always a good predictor of display performance, so I recommend that you test-drive any actual display you’re considering.

CORRECTION Reader Al Lowe wrote in to inform me of an error I made in the July edition of “Cures.” I stated that Windows XP shortcuts for program icons must use a Ctrl+Alt combination, and that you could not add the Shift key to this combo (“Failure to Launch,” p. 94). Al pointed out that you indeed can have Ctrl+Alt+Shift combinations. I have also discovered that you can use Ctrl+Shift combinations that do not include the Alt key at all. You just need to be careful not to use any keyboard shortcuts that you use in any Windows applications, such as Word’s Ctrl+Shift+M for reversing an indent, because the program shortcut will take precedence.

es, you can highlight any number of messages, right-click and choose a destination, or simply drag and drop them into a folder. It doesn’t get any easier than this. Rich Dickinson do this. Move the cursor to the left side of the pane next to a message, and the arrow will change; normally it points to about 11 o’clock, but in the right position it shifts to about 1 o’clock. Once it switch-

There’s a good explanation of why this works, but I hadn’t discovered this trick until I read your tip. Outlook has a lot of Word’s features built in, and the way to select multiple paragraphs in Word is to move the pointer into the left margin. The same method works for a list of messages in Outlook.

Send us your favorite tip, and you could receive a tipster’s prize package. “Alfred Poor’s Computer Cures,” Computer Shopper, 460 Park Ave. S., 9th Fl., New York, NY 10016 [email protected] Please include your name. Due to the number of letters we receive, we cannot provide personal replies, nor return any enclosures.

Illustration by David Flaherty

processing to some degree, but I’m not convinced you’ll hear the difference without high-quality speakers or headphones. The integrated audio you have does use up some system resources, however, so if you’re trying to eke out the best performance possible from your PC, you could see a small gain by adding a separate sound card. As for 5.1 or 7.1 configurations, these do add to the realism of movies and games, as sounds will actually come from behind you. If you have the chance to experience multichannel sound on someone else’s PC, you can judge if you want to make the investment in additional speakers.

Plus...

HELP & HOW-TO

WEEKEND PROJECT Avoid a digital disaster by backing up your data.

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Automate Data Backups BY KEVIN SAVETZ

But instead of lecturing you on why you should back up—nobody likes a nag, after all—we’ll show you an easy way to create frequent backups that will periodically archive important files whenever you make a change. All it takes is the right hardware, coupled with one or two programs. Follow these steps, and if disaster strikes, the event will be a mere inconvenience rather than a catastrophe.

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Illustration by David Flaherty

NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM DATA DISASTERS.

Choose your storage drive

Before you begin, estimate the amount of storage space you’ll need. This info will come in handy when shopping for an external hard drive, if you don’t already own one. To calculate your storage requirements, right-click on each of the folders you wish to back up, choose Properties to find out its size, then tally those numbers to estimate the minimum capacity of your backup drive. You’ll want to choose a drive with extra capacity to give your data room to expand. Depending on how fast you tend to fill your storage space, your new drive should be able to provide double the amount of space you currently need. If, for instance, you need to back up 100GB of data, we’d suggest buying a 200GB drive. If your needs are modest (under 5GB, for example), you can purchase a couple of USB thumb drives instead of an entire hard drive. These tiny devices typically hold between 128MB and 4GB of data. Also, some miniature hard drives, such as Iomega’s $149.95 Micro Mini (www.iomega.com), can hold as much as 8GB in a device that fits in a shirt pocket. While 8GB may sound small compared with 250GB and 500GB external drives, it might be enough for your needs. If you require a large-capacity drive, however, check out Maxtor’s $249.95 OneTouch III 300GB FireWire/USB 2.0 drive (www.maxtor.com). This ample external drive has dual interfaces and is Mac- and PC-friendly. Another option: LaCie’s Lego-inspired Brick Desktop Hard Drives are stackable and start at $99 for a 160GB drive (www.lacie.com). If you can afford to do so, buy two external hard drives and swap them out often— at least once a week. It’s a good idea to store one at home, and the Despite its small size, Iomega’s Micro Mini can hold up to 8GB of data. other in a safe place in another location (your workplace, for instance). Having an external hard drive connected to your PC is handy if the internal drive crashes, but it’s pointless if a fire or other catastrophe damages your home. Backing up to two drives ensures that one always has the latest data, and the other, stored offsite, will never be more than a week old. Tip: Save storage space by backing up your data folders and not your computer programs. Most people will see little benefit in backing up the operating system and applications. These programs can be easily reinstalled from their original CDs; there’s no need for them to take up space on your hard drive.

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Use the right software

Now that you have the hardware, you need software that will effortlessly back up your data automatically every day. Apps worth considering include SyncBack Freeware from 2BrightSparks (www.2brightsparks.com) and the $29 AutoBackup from Memeo (www.memeo.com). Although many external hard drives include backup software, the quality of these apps ranges from excellent to useless. We recommend trying the bundled software first, and, if it’s not adequate, using SyncBack or AutoBackup. Likewise, some external drives feature a button that, with one press, will back up the directories you’ve chosen. It’s a feature that seems convenient, but it still requires you to remember to push the button daily. You can configure the $29 AutoBackup to Software that rearchive your files periodically without manually hitting a button each time. members to initialize backups for you (preferably in the middle of the night, when you aren’t using the PC) is even more convenient. What’s more, backup software knows which files to archive. For instance, if you’re copying files manually, you might think that duplicating the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop will back up all of your bookmarks—but it won’t. A good backup program will know where to find them. For this exercise, we’ll use Memeo’s AutoBackup as our backup app.

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Configure the software

hard-to-find files, too. Windows Media Player, for instance, saves files like your favorite skins and playlists inside the Program Files folder; many other applications work similarly. AutoBackup lets you decide how many old versions of each file to keep. If you have enough storage space on your external drive, saving more than one copy is a smart idea because it provides an extra layer of protection. The program also lets you choose whether to encrypt your backup files. Encrypted, or “secure,” files protect your data from being read by anyone who might get hold of your backup drive. To decrypt data, you’ll need a copy of AutoBackup with the same registration number. (If you choose this option, be sure to store a copy of the AutoBackup software and your registration number away from your PC—it would be useless to have an encrypted backup with no way to decrypt it.) “Accessible” backups, on the other hand, aren’t encrypted. This can make restoring your data easier, but it also means that anyone with access to your external drive can snoop through your files, regardless of whether the person has a copy of AutoBackup. So choose the option that provides the right balance of security and privacy for you.

AutoBackup lets you encrypt your files, so even if your backup drive falls into the wrong hands, no one will be able to access your secured files.

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To use Memeo’s software to automatically back Test your backups up data, simply plug your new hard drive or USB Making backups with these programs should be flash-memory drive into your computer, and effortless. In addition, you’ll have the added benefit of knowing that your data is secure in download AutoBackup. After installing the software, AutoBackup will ask you to choose the desnot just one, but two, places. tination for your data. Select the external hard One more thing we suggest you do from time drive (or USB flash drive), then choose the files and folders you to time: Test your backups. If you blindly trust want to back up. From this point on, Memeo will keep track of your backups to be sound, you could one day find yourself these files and folders, and every time you make changes to without working copies of your data. It’s a good idea to periodithem, it will back them up for you, so you never have to worry cally spot-check the data on your backup drive. about scheduling backups. Even if your external drive isn’t You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with how to restore files. (The procedure varies with different backup software.) connected to your PC, Memeo’s ChangeTracker will archive your changes and automatically back them up the minute you Furthermore, open some files to make sure they’re the most reconnect your drive. So, during setup, be recent versions, and if your backups are encrypted, decrypt the sure to check the folders and files that are files to make sure the data is still valid. WWW most important to you. Now that your important files are safe, you To find out how to protect Your Documents and Settings folder is a can relax. If one day your hard drive starts makyour important personal good place to start, but some programs store ing alarming grinding noises or your laptop is documents, see “Disasterdata in other nooks and crannies of your stolen, you’d have lost some hardware, but not Proof Your Documents.” hard drive, so be sure to select all of those your hard work. computershopper.com/

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HELP & HOW-TO

WEEKEND PROJECT No desktop? No problem. Get e-mail on all your mobile devices.

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To send and receive e-mail while you’re out and about, you’ll need a PDA, cell phone, or smartphone. (The last is essentially a hybrid of the first two.) If you want to go the PDA route, buy a model with built-in Wi-Fi, such as the Dell Axim X51 ($299, www.dell.com) or the Palm TX ($299, www. palm.com). These handhelds have roomy screens and comfortable stylus-based handwriting systems. The only catch: You have to be in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot to get online. Cell phones and smartphones have an advantage because their connectivity is ubiquitous. Cell phones, however, have relatively tiny screens, and entering text is generally slow and awkward. Smartphones such as the Motorola Q ($349.99, www. motorola.com) and the $499.99 Palm Treo 700p offer the convenience of wide-ranging connectivity paired with the speed and ease of a built-in thumb keyboard. Alternatively, you can choose to combine the connectivity of your cell phone with the ease of your PDA. Palm’s popular $199 Tungsten E2, for instance, lacks Wi-Fi, but it supports Bluetooth, allowing the device to connect to your Bluetooth-enabled phone and use it as a wireless modem. (Just make sure your phone supports dial-up networking—not all models do.) Needless to say, you can also get e-mail on a BlackBerry, but because those devices are usually configured by IT departments, they are not included in this discussion. Finally, if you have a laptop, you can easily access your e-mail on the go via a wired connection, or wirelessly in one of three ways: over Wi-Fi, using a PC Card from a cellular service provider, or via Bluetooth (again, by using your cell phone as a modem). We’ll focus on the above devices, but if you’re trying to remotely access e-mail—or any other files—located on another PC, check out 01 Communique’s I’m InTouch ($99.95, www. imintouch.net). This excellent app, which is easy to set up and use, enables you to access your client desktop from any Web browser, including browsers A PDA with Bluetooth can on mobile devices (although navuse a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone’s wireless sigigating with their small screens nal to access e-mail. may prove difficult).

Mobilize Your E-Mail BY RICK BROIDA

separation anxiety? Can’t bear to be away from your in-box during vacations, business trips, coffee breaks, and other interminable outings? This is the wireless age, after all—you don’t have to be incommunicado just because you’ve left the office. All you need is a suitably equipped PDA, cell phone, smartphone, or laptop, and you can keep the e-mail coming anywhere you get a signal. You’ll also need some key information about your e-mail accounts and a game plan for managing messages on your mobile device. Read on to learn the ins and outs of retrieving e-mail on the run.

Devices you can use

Illustration by David Flaherty

SUFFERING FROM E-MAIL

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Gather e-mail account data

Every e-mail address has two components: a user ID and a password. If you don’t have both bits of information at hand, ferreting out the details from your e-mail client is simple. In Microsoft Outlook, for instance, go to Tools > E-mail Accounts, click “View or change existing e-mail accounts,” and hit Next. Select your desired account, then click Change. (Don’t worry—you won’t actually make any changes.) There, you’ll see your account

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username. (Your password will be hidden, however—you do have it written down somewhere, right?) You’ll also see some server information you’ll need in Step 3, so don’t click Cancel just yet. Tip: If all else fails, call your ISP or hosting service to request your account information. Just be sure you read Step 3 first so you don’t have to call a second time.

You’ll need to gather info from your e-mail settings menus before you can get your mobile device ready to access messages.

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Gather server info

When someone sends you an e-mail, the message arrives on a server and stays there until you retrieve it. In most cases this is a Post Office Protocol (POP) server, and you’ll need to know its address to program your mobile device. Likewise, when you send an e-mail, it’s routed through a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server, so you’ll need that address as well. Guessing these addresses is usually easy. Most POP servers are either pop.yourdomain.com or mail.yourdomain.com. SMTP servers are typically smtp.yourdomain.com or, again, mail. yourdomain.com. Note that you can’t get POP and SMTP addresses for Webbased e-mail accounts such as Hotmail and Yahoo Mail without upgrading to a paid account. Gmail users, however, can use pop.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com for free. Tip: If your company relies on Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) servers, check with the IT department for configuration help. Few cell phones support IMAP, but the e-mail clients included with Palm and Windows Mobile devices do.

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Program your device

Because all cell phones, PDAs, and smartphones are different, we can’t provide specific setup instructions for all of them. But now that you’re armed with the necessary user ID, password, and POP/ SMTP server information for your e-mail account(s), you can Entering e-mail information differs from device to device. Be sure to simply follow the consult your manual. setup instructions

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in your device’s user manual. If you’re a cell-phone user, note it’s not necessary to enter all this info into your phone if you’re using it as a wireless modem for your PDA. Instead, enter your account info into the PDA. (Some PDA models can upload e-mail account information directly from your PC, saving you from having to figure out the right user IDs or manually key in your data.)

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Tweak the settings

6 7

Stop the spam

By default, most mobile e-mail clients retrieve only copies of your messages, leaving the originals on the server. The rationale behind this is you’ll probably still want to review, organize, and store your mail once you get back to your PC. If that’s the arrangement you want, check the options or preferences menu and make WWW sure the client is approFor a look at priately configured. 20 smartphones, click to Tip: You may also want to computershopper.com/ smartphones enable the “Delete mail from server when deleted from device” setting, which lets you conduct a little POP-server housekeeping by removing junk or unwanted e-mail without having to view it a second time when you return to your PC.

One potential headache mobile users face is an onslaught of spam. Filters installed on your PC won’t do you any good when you’re on the road because your device is pulling messages straight from the server, before they have been filtered. You could end up wading through dozens of junk e-mails just to find one or two valid ones. A good solution is a challenge-and-response service that keeps spam from accumulating on the server in the first place. Spam Arrest (www. spamarrest.com) and Vanquish VQME (www. vqme.com) are two such services; both offer free trials.

Your in-box anywhere

Dead battery? No wireless access where you are? All is not lost—you can still tap into your in-box from the wild. Just find any Internet-connected device, be it a computer in a Web café, a co-worker’s laptop, or even a friend’s smartphone, and surf to www.mail2web.com. Type in your e-mail address and password, and the service will retrieve your messages. You can read them, reply, and even compose new ones, all within the confines of a barebones Web interface. Mail2web. com doesn’t charge for its service, and you don’t Services such as Mail2web.com allow you to access your e-mail accounts on even have to regisany Internet-connected device. ter with the site.

Customer Service: 718-338-3028 Local & International: 718-338-1800 24 Hour Fax Hotline: 718-338-3029 Email: [email protected]

1-800-731-8023

• 21 Day Satisfaction • Next Day Air Available • Worldwide Shipping • No Surcharge on Credit Cards • Government & School PO’s Accepted

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9:00am-9:00pm • Fri: 9:00am-4:00pm • Sun: 9:00am-7:00pm • Sat: CLOSED

Visit our website at: www.broadwayphoto.com DIGITAL CAMERAS CANON PowerShot A700 • 6.0 MegaPixels • 6x Optical Zoom $ 99

234

A520........$149.99 A540........$189.99

CANON DIGITAL REBEL XT KIT CANON EOS 30D • 8.0 MegaPixels • 1.8” LCD Screen $ 99

NEW!

DIGITAL VIDEO • 8.2 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

1079

569

HOT

A530 ...$149.99 Rebel Digital XT.....................$539.99 A610 ...$194.99

NEW!

EOS 30D KIT (18-55 lens) ....$1139.99 EOS 20D .................................$899.99 EOS 20D KIT (18-55 LENS) ...$999.99

CANON EOS 5D

CANON PowerShot SD700 IS

CANON PowerShot S3-IS

• 12.8 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

• 6.0 MegaPixels • 4x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 6.2 MegaPixels • 12x Optical Zoom $ 99

2299

IAL PEC

304

HOT

S

EOS 1DSII ......................................$5799.99.... SD30......$189.99 SD450.......$219.99 EOS 1D IIN.....................................$3049.99 ... SD550....$249.99 SD600.......$234.99 SD630 ....................................$269.99

349

L

S

S2-IS ......................................$279.99 S80.........................................$354.99

SONY DSC-R1

SONY DSC-W100

• 7.2 MegaPixels • 3.0” LCD Screen $ 99

• 7.2 MegaPixels • 8x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 6.0 MegaPixels • 2.0” LCD Screen $ 99

374

609

NEW! DSC-H1 ...........................$284.99 DSC-H2 .......................... $309.99

L CIA SPE

DSC-M2 ..............................$279.99 DSC-N1 ..............................$334.99 DSC-S600...........................$154.99

264

• 10.1 MegaPixels • 2.8” LCD Screen $ 99

D70-S.....$564.99 D70-S Kit .$729.99 D50 Kit (18-55 Lens) .............$619.99 D50 Kit (55-200 Lens) ...........$479.99

D2X .....................................$2999.99 D2XS ...................................$3499.99 D2HS...................................$2199.99

EX-S600 .....$234.99 EX-Z5 ...........CALL EX-Z60........$184.99 EX-Z120...$169.99 EX-Z500 .....$219.99 EX-Z600...$214.99 EX-Z750 .....$219.99 EX-Z850...$229.99

KODAK Easyshare P880

KODAK Easyshare V610

KODAK Easyshare Z612

• 8.0 MegaPixels • 2x Digital Zoom $ 99

• 5.1 MegaPixels • 12x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 5.0 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom $ 99

279

279

Z650........$204.99 Z700 .........$124.99 Z730........$164.99 Z740 .........$209.99

OLYMPUS Evolt E-500

OLYMPUS Stylus 720SW

PANASONIC DMC-LX1

• 8.0 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

• 7.1 MegaPixels • 3x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 8.61 MegaPixels • 4x Optical Zoom $ 99

PANASONIC DMC-FX01

PANASONIC DMC-FZ7

• 6.0 MegaPixels • 3.6x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 6.37 MegaPixels • 12x Optical Zoom $ 99

DMC-FZ5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $274.99 DMC-FZ30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $409.99

FP S3 .......$999.99 FP Z3............CALL FP S5200 $204.99 FP S9000 .$409.99 FP V10 ....$234.99

FUJI Finepix F11

PENTAX *IST-DL

PENTAX Optio W10

• 6.3 MegaPixels • 6.2x Optical Zoom $ 99

• 6.1 MegaPixels CCD • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

• 6.0 MegaPixel • 3x Optical Zoom $ 99

DMC-TZ1...................................$249.99

239

NEW!

374

FP A500 ....$114.99 FP E900 .$284.99 NEW! *ist-DL2..........................CALL FP F30......$259.99 FP F470 .$199.99 NEW! K100D .......................$519.99 FP F650....$199.99 FP F650 .$264.99 NEW! K110D........................$419.99

70999

HOT

HOT

HDR-FX1 ...................$2479.99 HVR-A1......................$1599.99 HVR-Z1 ......................$3749.99

GVD-1000 ....................$919.99

SONY DCR-DVD505

SONY DCR-HC96

SAMSUNG SCD-C164

• 2.1 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom

• 3.3 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom

• 33x Optical Zoom • 1800x Digital Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen

$

$

64999

$

29999

51999

HOT

ST710 ......$219.99 SP 350.......$114.99 ST800 ......$259.99 SP 500.......$134.99 DMC-L1 .........CALL DMC-LS2.$159.99 ST810 ..........CALL SP 700.......$144.99 DMC-LZ3...$159.99 DMC-LZ5.$199.99

NEW!

$

101999

$

L CIA SPE

369

E-1.........................................$529.99 E-330.....................................$709.99 E-500 (Kit 1) ..........................$509.99

284

55999

DSR-PD170 ...............$2299.99

NEW!

36999

22999

$

NEW!

V530 .......$174.99 V550 .........$214.99 V570 .......$244.99 V603 .........$199.99

244

• 1.92 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen

1949

P850 .......$214.99 C530 ...........$99.99 C533 .......$134.99 C643 .........$139.99 C663 .......$179.99 EZshare 1.$154.99

NEW!

HITACHI DZ-GX3200A

• 32x Optical Zoom • 800x Digital Zoom • 2.5” Color LCD Screen

• 3.3 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom

• 10.2 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

294

JVC GR-D370

• 2.1 MegaPixels • 20x Optical Zoom • 800x Digital Zoom

SONY DCR-SR100

• 6.1 MegaPixels • 2.0” LCD Screen $ 99

464

JVC GZ-MG77

GL-2 ...........................$1599.99 XL-2 ...........................$2999.99

• 10x Optical Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen

CASIO EX-Z1000

NEW!

DC10............................$299.99 DC20............................$379.99 NEW! DC100 ...............$329.99

SONY HDR-HC3

NEW!

NIKON D200

299

ZR-500........................ $219.99 ZR-600 .........................$239.99 Optura S1 ....................$349.99 NEW! Elura 100 ...........$269.99

• 12x Optical Zoom • 48x Digital Zoom • 2.5” LCD Screen $ 99

264

NIKON D50

354

664999

SONY DCR-VX2100

CALL

HOT

54999

CP S2.....$174.99 CP S3 ......$199.99 CP S4.....$254.99 CP S5 ......$209.99 CP P3.....$269.99 CP P4 ......$249.99

$

• 8.0 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom $ 99

1179

$

$

NEW! DZ-BX35A .........$349.99 DZ-GX20A ..................$359.99 NEW! DZ-GX3100A.....$329.99 NEW! DZ-GX3300A.....$489.99 DZ-MV780 ...................$284.99

• 10.2 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen

404

• 20x Optical Zoom • 3x 1/3” CCD • 2.4” LCD Screen

GR-D350......................$214.99 NEW! GR-DF470 ............CALL GY-DV5000................$3499.99 GY-DV5100................$3699.99 GY-HD100U ...............$3749.99 NEW! GY-HD200 ............CALL NEW! GY-HD250 ............CALL

• 7.2 MegaPixels • 3x Optical Zoom

DSC-T5 ..$204.99 DSC-T7 . $244.99 DSC-T9 ..$289.99 DSC-T10 . . . CALL

HOT

GZ-MC500 ...................$849.99 GZ-MG20 .....................$389.99 GZ-MG21 .....................$419.99 GZ-MG27 .....................$449.99 GZ-MG30 .....................$429.99 GZ-MG37 .....................$499.99 JY-HD10U ..................$1649.99

DSC-W30.$189.99 DSC-W50 .$204.99 DSC-W70.$239.99 DSL-RA100 ..CALL

NIKON Coolpix S6

HOT

25999

$

CANON XL-H1

$

SONY DSL-RA100

NEW!

• 4.3 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen

$

NEW!

SONY DSC-T30

32999

CANON DC 40

• 25x Optical Zoom • 1000x Digital Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen

L CIA SPE

IA PEC

SONY DSC-H5

CANON ZR 700

NEW! SCD-363............$204.99 NEW! SCD-364............$199.99 SCD-365 ......................$244.99 SCD-557 ......................$409.99 SCD-963 ......................$264.99 SCD-965 ......................$299.99 NEW! SCM-M10S........$289.99 NEW! SCX-205L..........$334.99

FUJI FinePix Z2

DCR-DVD105 ..............$354.99 DCR-DVD205 ..............$379.99 DCR-DVD305 ..............$449.99 DCR-DVD405 ..............$519.99

DCR-HC26...................$254.99 DCR-HC32...................$259.99 DCR-HC36...................$274.99 DCR-HC46...................$324.99

• 5.1 Mega Pixels • 3x Optical Zoom $ 99

PANASONIC VDR-D200

PANASONIC PV-GS500

PANASONIC AG-DVX100B

• 30x Optical Zoom • 1000x Digital Zoom • 2.5” LCD Screen

• 3.1 MegaPixels • 10x Optical Zoom • 700x Digital Zoom

• 3x 1/3” Progressive Scan CCD • Flipout 3.5” LCD Screen

$

$

199

NEW!

40999

214999

L

CIA

SPE

204

S6 ..........$174.99 A10 ........$229.99 M10........$139.99

$

61999

S60........$169.99 E10........$129.99 T10 ........$239.99

SDR-S100....................$779.99 VDR-D100 ...................$339.99 VDR-D250 ...................$574.99 VDR-D300 ...................$609.99

PV-GS29 ......................$214.99 PV-GS39 ......................$269.99 PV-GS59 ......................$279.99 PV-GS180 ....................$409.99 PV-GS300 ....................$469.99

AG-DV2500 ...............$1299.99 AG-DVC7 .....................$799.99 NEW! AG-DVC20 ............CALL AG-DVC30 .................$1199.99 AG-DVC60 .................$1679.99 AG-DVC200 ...............$3549.99 AG-DVX200 ...............$4049.99

Policy: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, Money Orders, Certified Check, (Personal Checks up to $14,000.00 with name and address imprinted on check). C.O.D. orders are also accepted. Orders by mail please print name address and phone number clearly. Shipping methods - in the Continental U.S.A. will be via Fedex, U.P.S. or Air Mail. Over size items via truck. Shipping and Handling are additional. 21 days for return or exchange (video & digital 7 days) with prior authorization only. (Call customer service for authorization number). Shipping and Handling are not refundable. All returns are subject to a minimum restocking fee of 5%. Prices may reflect mail-in rebate. All returned merchandise must be in new condition and must include all packaging and printed material in original, unaltered condition. Broadway Photo is not responsible for typographical errors. All items are covered by USA, International or Broadway Photo and Video Warranty. Prices subject to change. Please check our website for current prices. All our merchandise is brand new and factory fresh. Quantities are limited. Thank you and enjoy your order. CS906

TECHMARKET THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING

97 102 104 106 108 110

Midrange Desktops Thin-and-Light Notebooks Desktop Memory Multifunction Printers External DVD Burners Wi-Fi Routers

NEED TO KNOW

MIDRANGE DESKTOPS ($750 TO $1,499) PROCESSOR Don’t choose an underpowered processor, but look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest for the power you need at a good price. Frequent multitaskers or those planning to upgrade to Microsoft’s Vista OS should go with a dual-core CPU. MEMORY 512MB of memory is standard, but if you can afford 1GB, go for it. Otherwise, make the 512MB a single DIMM; you’ll then have more flexibility to add memory later. Upgrade: Each additional 512MB of DDR memory will cost roughly $50. GRAPHICS Look for a discrete graphics card with at least 128MB of memory. If you plan to do video editing or 3D gaming, go with 256MB of memory. Upgrade: A premium graphics card costs about $220 more than integrated graphics. HARD DRIVE Opt for two hard drives of at least 80GB apiece, configured in a RAID Level 1 array to ensure your data is always backed up. Upgrade: Each additional 80GB of storage will cost about $40.

Model

Base Price*

Processor RAM

Graphics

OPTICAL DRIVES Opt for a DVD±RW as Next month: your first choice. Two drives are better than Performance one, though, so go with a fast CD-RW or Desktops DVD-ROM for the second. CASE Be certain the case offers adequate expansion room. Also, look for a few front-panel ports and audio jacks. Upgrade: A robust power supply (400 watts and higher) will add $50 or more to the price. SOUND Integrated sound is common, and superior to what you’ll find in budget desktops. A dedicated sound card, however, is still a better choice. Upgrade: A quality sound card will cost about $70 more than onboard audio. MONITOR With CRTs all but dead, chances are your next monitor will be an LCD. Like other tech, the lower the cost, the fewer the features. The first things to go are digital inputs and ergonomic adjustments; less-costly LCDs also tend to have lower resolutions and higher response times. —Joshua Goldman, Senior Associate Editor

Hard Drive

Optical Drive(s)

Monitor

Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES

1.8GHz Athlon 64 3000+

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6600 GT

80GB

DVD-ROM

None

CPU is low-end, but it’s a 939-pin chip, so upgrading later is an option. Case leaves room to grow, too.

www.abspc.com 800-685-3471

$1,299

1.83GHz Core Duo T2400

512MB

ATI Radeon X1600

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

17-inch LCD

Apple’s partnership with Intel has resulted in a speedier iMac with dual-core CPUs. Plus, you get a ton of apps.

www.apple.com 800-692-7753

Gamer Ultra 7500 SE

$949

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7300 LE

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD-ROM

19-inch LCD

A deal that seems almost too good to be true. Plus, this PC includes a three-year warranty and lifetime 24/7 tech support.

www.cyberpowerpc.com 800-707-0393

Gamer Ultra SLI Elite

$1,119

2GHz 1GB Athlon 64 X2 3800+

Two nVidia GeForce 7600 GS

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD-ROM

None

Dual graphics cards and a solid midrange processor add up to a choice gaming rig for beginners.

Gamer Infinity 9000 Pro

$1,405

3GHz Pentium 4 630

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6800 GT

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD/CD-RW combo

None

Has an older AGP slot for graphics cards. If you’re concerned with future-proofing your PC, this isn’t a great choice.

Dimension E510

$799

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

512MB

ATI Radeon X300 SE

80GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

15-inch LCD

A reasonable price for this midsize box, considering it comes with a 15-inch LCD and a dual-core processor.

XPS 400

$890

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

1GB

ATI Radeon X300 SE

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

19-inch LCD

Includes special XPS-only tech support, a 19-inch LCD, and a 15-month securitysuite subscription. Sweet.

Precision 380

$949

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

512MB

nVidia Quadro NVS 285

80GB

CD-ROM

None

A solid entry-level workstation for the graphically inclined, but should have better specs for the price.

XPS 200

$990

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

1GB

Integrated

250GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

19-inch LCD

We’re impressed with this tiny PC’s ability to host a dual-core CPU, as well as a broad range of other components.

$1,199

3GHz Pentium D 930

512MB

Integrated

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

17-inch LCD

Gateway’s newest all-in-one isn’t all that attractive, but it’s more serviceable and upgradable than its predecessor.

Ultimate M5-64

$1,149

APPLE COMPUTER

iMac

CYBERPOWER

DELL

www.dell.com 800-999-3355

GATEWAY

Profile 6C

www.gateway.com 800-369-1409

* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable. Prices are subject to change. See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

computershopper.com September 2006

97

TECHMARKET MIDRANGE DESKTOPS ($750 TO $1,499) Base Price*

Model

Processor RAM

Graphics

Hard Drive

Optical Drive(s)

Monitor

Editor’s Take

Find Out More www.gateway.com 800-369-1409

GATEWAY

E-6500D SB

$1,264

3GHz Pentium D 930

1GB

Integrated

Two 160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Includes some nice security features that make it a reliable fit for SOHO setups. The x16 PCIe slot allows for graphics upgrades.

FX510S

$1,299

3GHz Pentium D 930

512MB

nVidia GeForce 7300 LE

Two 250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), CD-RW

19-inch LCD

A good price for all that you’ll get. But we question the use of an nVidia GPU on a motherboard built for ATI CrossFire.

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Pavilion m7560y Series

$899

2.8GHz Pentium D 915

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7300 LE

160GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

This continues to be one of our favorite desktops from a major vendor. Lots of nice touches, and it’s an Intel Viiv PC, to boot.

www.hp.com 888-999-4747

Pavilion d4500e

$899.99

2.2GHz 1GB Athlon 64 X2 4200+

nVidia GeForce 7300 LE

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Component-to-price ratio is dead on, and HP makes nice LCDs, if you want to add one on. We’d like some better GPU options, though.

Back To School 64

$929

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+

1GB

ATI Radeon X800 GTO

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Even if you’re not headed back to school, this desktop has the specs to get basics done at an outstanding price.

Gamer EX

$999

3GHz Pentium D 930

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7300 GT

200GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

An excellent component set for midrange performance. Plan to expand? Upgrade to a better power supply.

Night Dreamer FX

$1,159

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+

1GB

Two nVidia GeForce 7600 GT

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD-ROM

None

A respectable midlevel gaming PC—even comes with a sweet-sounding set of Logitech X-530 six-piece surround speakers.

$1,039

3GHz Pentium 4 531

512MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD-ROM

None

A compact gem for serious business. Specs www.lenovo.com aren’t the heartiest, but the software package 866-968-4465 is a bonus.

IBUYPOWER

www.ibuypower.com 888-462-3899

LENOVO

ThinkCentre M52

POLYWELL COMPUTERS

Poly 945GX-3000

$899

3GHz Pentium 4 630

1GB

Integrated

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

17-inch LCD

You’ll find better options here for the money, like the HP Pavilion m7560y, but you do get an LCD at this relatively low price.

www.polywell.com 800-999-1278

MiniBox 430AM2-4000

$1,499

2.2GHz 1GB Athlon 64 X2 4000+

Integrated

300GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

Two 19-inch LCDs

The integrated graphics is the only major letdown, but we’ll let it go thanks to the sixpiece speakers and dual 19-inch LCDs.

$1,099

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

1GB

Integrated

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Though a bit large, this stealthy black Media www.sonystyle.com Center won’t look out of place in a living room. 877-865-7669 Has an Intel dual-core CPU, too.

Impact

$999.99

1.6GHz Pentium M 730

1GB

Integrated

80GB

DVD±RW

None

Doesn’t have the Mac Mini’s Core Duo CPU, but it certainly has its size. If you’re looking for a Windows-only mini PC, check it out.

Dual-Core AMD

$1,299

2.2GHz 1GB Athlon 64 X2 4400+

ATI Radeon X1600 Pro

Two 300GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD/CD-RW combo

None

An able component mix for a desktop in this price range. Plus, we appreciate its straightforward, simple looks.

Vision GX

$799

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3700+

512MB

Integrated

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

This might not be the best deal here, but it’s not a bad system, delivering everything you need to ably handle routine tasks.

Vector PCX Digital Media PC

$889

3GHz Pentium 4 630

512MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD-ROM

None

Velocity Micro offers some serious desktop performance, but the price is too high for this minimal configuration.

Gamer’s Edge 1000 Value Gaming PC

$999

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+

512MB

nVidia GeForce 7600 GS

250GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

You get a boost in processing power over the Vision GX, as well as an even bigger gain in graphics prowess.

Vision 64 High Performance Home Office PC

$1,295

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7600 GS

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD/CD-RW combo

None

We like this option for a stylish home-office performance desktop, especially if you’ll be doing image-editing work.

ProMagix PCX High Performance Home Office PC

$1,395

3GHz Pentium D 930

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7600 GS

250GB

DVD±RW (double layer), DVD/CD-RW combo

None

An able Pentium CPU and a solid mix of parts at a relatively low price. If you can afford the the $100 over the Vision 64, go with this PC.

Performance X6545

$912

3.2GHz Pentium 4 540

512MB

Integrated

160GB

DVD±RW, CD-RW

None

Specs are run-of-the-mill, but ZT is smart enough to cover this PC with a three-year warranty; $130 adds onsite service.

A5360

$1,029

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3400+

512MB

nVidia GeForce FX 5200

160GB

DVD±RW, CD-RW

None

Passable midrange specs with a three-year warranty. Doubling the memory is just $46. AGP graphics slot isn’t ideal for upgrades.

SONY ELECTRONICS

VAIO VGC-RB60G SYSTEMAX

www.systemaxpc.com 888-845-6225

VELOCITY MICRO

www.velocitymicro.com 800-303-7866

ZT GROUP

* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable. Prices are subject to change. See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

98

September 2006 computershopper.com

www.ztgroup.com 866-984-7687

RACKMOUNT HEAVEN... And a whole lot more The best deals on Rackmounts, Network Storage, RAID Subsystems, and High Density Servers. If it

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» Pentium D 820 2.8Ghz » 1Gb DDRII-533 » (2) 250GB SATA2 » RAID 0,1 Hot Swappable » Slim 1U Rackmount

» (2) Intel Xeon 2.8GHz » 2Gb DDR333 ECC Reg » (8) 250Gb SATA2 HDD » Dual Gigabit LAN » RAID 5 Hot Swappable

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#V4700

• Celebrating 12 Years of Excellence • Made & Supported in America • Unlimited Customization Options • Special Pricing for Gov/Corp/VAR/Edu • High-End Servers, Workstations, and more

Since 1994, Visionman has been providing specialized server, storage, and workstation solutions to corporate America. Incredible customization options, rock bottom pricing, and the fastest delivery times in the industry

Discover the Visionman difference! Order online at:

www.visionman.com

Call us at:

1-800-690-6771

NEED TO KNOW

THIN-AND-LIGHT NOTEBOOKS (4 TO 7 POUNDS) PROCESSOR Look for a model powered by Intel’s Pentium M processor, which provides long battery life, strong performance, and cool running temperatures. Save a little by opting for lower clock speeds, such as 1.6GHz. Higher-end thin-and-lights now come equipped with Intel’s Core Duo dual-core processors. MEMORY Adequate RAM is crucial for fast performance, especially when running multiple apps. Opt for at least 512MB of high-speed DDR SDRAM. Upgrade: Each additional 512MB of DDR memory will cost roughly $100. GRAPHICS When choosing a thin-and-light, portability should be a priority. Though many Pentium M-based laptops have robust 3D-graphics chips, save some cash and heft by opting for less-expensive integrated graphics. HARD DRIVE 60GB is a sufficient capacity for most users. If you require speed, select a 5,400rpm drive. Upgrade: Each additional 20GB of storage will cost about $50. OPTICAL DRIVES Most thin-and-light laptops ship standard with versatile DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drives, which

Base Price* Processor RAM Graphics

Model

Hard Optical Drive Drive

Next should satisfy the needs of most users. If burnmonth: ing DVDs on the road is a must, choose a multiBudget Notebooks format DVD±RW drive. Upgrade: Expect to pay about $55 to upgrade to DVD±RW from a DVDROM/CD-RW combo drive. CASE A laptop chassis more than 1.5 inches thick or heavier than 7 pounds (without AC adapter) exceeds the bounds of the thin-and-light class. WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Integrated 802.11 wireless networking (Wi-Fi) is an essential feature. Most notebooks ship with 802.11b/g internal radios, while some even have 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi chips. 802.11b technology, however, with its rated data throughput of 11Mbps, is fine for ordinary use. SCREEN Panoramic wide-screen displays, previously only in larger desktop replacements, are now available in lighter systems. To watch DVDs in letterbox style or view multiple documents at once, go with a high-res 15.4-inch wideformat TFT. Upgrade: A UXGA screen costs about $100 more than an XGA TFT. —Louis Ramirez, Staff Editor

Wireless Display Weight Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES

Mayhem G4 Revolution

$1,699

2GHz Pentium M 760

512MB nVidia GeForce 60GB DVD±RW 802.11a/b/g 15.4 inches 6.6 lbs. Not a budget model, but offers a good mix Go 6600 (double layer) of speedy components. InstantOn tech lets you play CDs or DVDs without booting up.

www.abspc.com 800-876-8088

512MB ATI Mobility 100GB DVD±RW 802.11b/g Radeon X700 (double layer)

15.4 inches 6.6 lbs. Features a wide-screen 15.4-inch LCD and a massive hard drive; discrete ATI graphics should satisfy undemanding gamers.

us.acer.com 800-816-2237

512MB Integrated

13.3 inches 5.2 lbs.

www.apple.com 800-692-7753

ACER AMERICA

TravelMate TM4402WLMi

$999.97 1.6GHz Turion 64 ML-30

APPLE COMPUTER

MacBook

$1,099

MacBook Pro

$1,999

1.83GHz Core Duo T2400 2GHz Core Duo T2500

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

512MB ATI Mobility 80GB DVD±RW Radeon X1600

802.11b/g

15.4 inches 5.6 lbs.

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

12.1 inches 4.1 lbs.

The perfect balance of performance and style. Download Boot Camp, and it can run Windows, too. Apple’s first laptop with an Intel CPU is stylish and powerful, but battery life could be better.

CYBERPOWER

Xplorer U3-1000

$949

Xplorer S4-5500

$1,405

Xplorer S4-6500

$1,449

1.73GHz Pentium M 735 1.86GHz Pentium M 750 1.86GHz Pentium M 750

256MB Integrated

512MB nVidia GeForce 60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g Go 6600 combo 1GB

nVidia GeForce 80GB DVD±RW Go 6600

802.11b/g

Lightweight and affordable, a model with a zippy processor; could use more RAM and storage, however. 15.4 inches 6.6 lbs. A decent deal considering its configuration, which includes a powerful discrete graphics chip. 15.4 inches 6.6 lbs. For about $40 more than the S4-5500, you get similar specs, plus a DVD burner and a full gigabyte of RAM. A better buy.

www.cyberpowerpc.com 800-707-0393

DELL

Inspiron 1300

$579

1.5GHz Celeron M 370

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

14.1 inches 6.7 lbs.

Sub-$600 laptop provides sufficient power www.dell.com for students and home users, but don’t 800-915-3355 expect to do much more than the basics.

Inspiron B130

$599

1.5GHz Celeron M 370

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

15.4 inches 6.7 lbs.

Same basic configuration as the 1300, but you get a larger 15.4-inch LCD for only $20 more.

Inspiron E1405

$849

1.86GHz Core Solo T1350

512MB Integrated

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

14.1 inches 5.5 lbs.

Capable notebook should satisfy most, but the similar E1505, with its bigger screen, is a better bargain.

Inspiron E1505

$899

512MB Integrated

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

15.4 inches 6.2 lbs.

Latitude D820

$1,229

512MB Integrated

40GB CD-ROM

802.11b/g

15.4 inches 6 lbs.

Precision Mobile Workstation M70

$1,998

1.86GHz Core Solo T1350 1.67GHz Core Duo T2300E 1.86GHz Pentium M 750

512MB nVidia Quadro 40GB CD-ROM FX Go 1400

802.11b/g

15.4 inches 6.7 lbs.

Wide-screen machine offers a bevy of entertainment features at a competitive price, but integrated graphics are a downer. Although this model steps up to a dualcore CPU, it has a paltry hard drive and can’t read DVDs in its default configuration. Overpriced and features some outdated components; better choices are available for your money.

* = Base price reflects vendor’s default configuration. Most models are configurable. Prices are subject to change. See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

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September 2006 computershopper.com

TECHMARKET THIN-AND-LIGHT NOTEBOOKS (4 TO 7 POUNDS) Model

Base Price* Processor RAM Graphics

Hard Optical Drive Drive

Wireless Display Weight Editor’s Take

Find Out More

FUJITSU COMPUTER SYSTEMS

LifeBook S2110 Series

$1,199

1.8GHz Turion 64 MT-32

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 13.3 inches 4 lbs. combo

Light to carry and easy on your wallet, but an underpowered configuration—upgrades are in order.

LifeBook S7110 Series

$1,349

1.66GHz Core Duo T2300E

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW None combo

Sleek design with built-in flash-memory reader; lacks integrated Wi-Fi networking, however.

LifeBook S6240 Series

$1,449

1.73GHz Pentium M 740

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 13.3 inches 4.1 lbs. combo

Highly totable, but the tiny display and integrated graphics are unimpressive for the price.

80GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

A better deal than Dell’s Core Duo Latitude D820—it comes standard with double the RAM and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.

14 inches

4.5 lbs.

www.fujitsupc.com 800-385-4878

GATEWAY

NX260X

$999.99 1.6GHz Core Duo T2050

1GB

Integrated

14.1 inches 5.2 lbs.

www.gateway.com 800-369-1409

NX560X

$999.99 1.6GHz Core Duo T2050

512MB Integrated

80GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 15.4 inches 6.3 lbs. combo

Comes with a Core Duo CPU and a decent selection of parts. Dedicated graphics would be a nice addition, though. Media-friendly laptop can play CDs/DVDs www.hp.com without booting up. We just wish Wi-Fi and 888-999-4747 more RAM came standard.

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Pavilion DV1000t

$719.99 1.46GHz Celeron M 410

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW None combo

14 inches

5.3 lbs.

Pavilion DV5000z

$779.99 1.8GHz Sempron 3100+

256MB ATI Radeon Xpress 200M

40GB DVD/CD-RW None combo

15.4 inches 6.6 lbs. Well-designed, versatile laptop starts at an affordable price point, but offers a weak base configuration.

Compaq Presario V3000T

$999.99 1.86GHz Core Solo T1350

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 14.1 inches 5.3 lbs. combo

With its stylishly smooth, high-gloss finish, the DV2000T gives Apple notebooks some competition on the design front.

Pavilion DV2000t

$1,079

1.86GHz Core Solo T1350

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 14.1 inches 5.3 lbs. combo

As stylish as the V3000t, this model packs respectable components and can be configured with an AMD dual-core CPU.

Lenovo C100

$599

1.5GHz Celeron M 370

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 15 inches combo

6.2 lbs.

A compelling combination of ThinkPadquality features and low-to-midrangequality components for an entry-level price.

ThinkPad R Series

$699

1.6GHz Pentium M 730

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

15 inches

5.4 lbs.

Well-designed and doesn’t weigh too much, but some components could use upgrading.

ThinkPad Z60t

$954

2GHz Pentium M 760

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

14.1 inches 4.5 lbs.

A versatile laptop with exceptional design, solid performance, and decent battery life. Case comes in black or titanium.

ThinkPad T Series

$1,199

1.86GHz Pentium M 750

512MB Integrated

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

14.1 inches 4.5 lbs.

Strong biometric security is the highlight of this moderately powered ThinkPad.

LENOVO

www.lenovo.com 877-884-4658

POLYWELL COMPUTERS

PolyNote M412V

$889

1.6GHz Pentium M 730

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 14 inches combo

5.3 lbs.

All-purpose notebook won’t wow you with style, but its performance should satisfy basic computing needs.

RuffBook M510iB

$1,275

1.73GHz Pentium M 740

512MB Integrated

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

15 inches

6.6 lbs. A bit on the heavy side, but you get a powerhouse CPU, a decent-size hard drive, and a sharp 15-inch LCD.

www.polywell.com 800-999-1278

SONY ELECTRONICS

VAIO FS Series

$819.99 1.5GHz Celeron M 370

512MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11b/g combo

15.4 inches 6.3 lbs.

Elegant and affordable, but outfitted with a sluggish CPU. Lack of a DVD burner sours the deal.

VAIO VGN-FJ270P/B

$1,399

1.86GHz Pentium M 750

1GB

100GB DVD±RW 802.11b/g (double layer)

14.1 inches 5.3 lbs.

Extremely well-equipped laptop has great components, such as a big hard drive and lots of memory, but with a price to match.

Integrated

www.sonystyle.com 877-865-7669

TOSHIBA AMERICA

Tecra A6-S513

$849

1.66GHz Core Solo T1300

512MB Integrated

60GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 14.1 inches 5.2 lbs. combo

Decent specs for the price. EasyGuard technology parks the hard drive when it senses sudden motion.

Satellite A100-ST8211

$959

1.6GHz Celeron M 420

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW None combo

15.4 inches 6 lbs.

Lacks integrated wireless and only comes with 256MB of RAM. Lenovo’s ThinkPad R series is a better bargain.

Satellite M100-ST5211

$959

1.6GHz Celeron M 420

256MB Integrated

40GB DVD/CD-RW None combo

14.1 inches 5.2 lbs.

If you don’t mind the smaller screen, this laptop weighs roughly a pound less than the A100 and features similar specs.

1.83GHz Core Duo T2400

1GB

www.toshiba.com 800-316-0920

VELOCITY MICRO

NoteMagix L80 Ultra

$1,625

nVidia GeForce 80GB DVD/CD-RW 802.11a/b/g 15.4 inches 6 lbs. Go 7600GS combo

Great combination of components, and a full gig of RAM—but we wish it had a double-layer DVD burner.

www.velocitymicro.com 800-303-7866

computershopper.com September 2006

103

NEED TO KNOW

DESKTOP MEMORY RAM AMOUNT The more memory you have, the better your PC will handle running several applications at once. For Windows XP and general office tasks, get a minimum of 512MB. Multitaskers and gamers should opt for at least 1GB. If your motherboard supports dual-channel RAM, buy modules in pairs to optimize performance. RAM TYPE AND SPEED The maximum speed of memory your PC can handle is determined by your motherboard’s chipset. Vendors such as Corsair, Crucial, and Kingston offer system-scan features on their Web sites that automatically determine which RAM is best for your PC. The most common memory type today is DDR SDRAM, with speeds measured in megahertz (the higher the better). DDR is backward-compatible—you can buy faster RAM than you need—but doing so will result in improved performance only if your components support the higher speed. DDR2, the second-generation DDR standard, enables higher clock speeds and data rates. DDR2 won’t work in systems that

support only original DDR, however. LATENCY RAM stores data in rows and columns. Column address strobe (CAS) latency (sometimes listed as “CL”) is the number of clock cycles it takes before a column can be addressed on a RAM chip. In most cases, a lower number indicates better performance. ERROR CORRECTION CODE (ECC) Some RAM uses ECC to detect and correct single-bit errors. This is only necessary, however, where data integrity is of the utmost importance, such as in workstation PCs and servers. If you’re shopping for a home or small-business PC, it likely supports non-ECC modules. Buy only the type that your motherboard supports. (Some support both.) VALUE VERSUS PERFORMANCE Memory vendors often offer both lower-cost “value” modules and pricier “performance” options. Only those who need speed (gamers, digital video editors) should opt for performance RAM. —Joshua Goldman, Senior Associate Editor

Price

Capacity

Pin Count

Type

Speed

Select PC270032X8-256M/BR

$23.99

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

No

3

No

Lifetime

Certified DD4333L-R1G

$103.99 1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

Yes

3

No

Lifetime

FireStix FSX1066D2C-512M

$109.99 512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 1066 (PC2-8500)

No

5

No

Lifetime

FireStix FSX800D2B-K2G

$261.49

2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 800 (PC2-6400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

ValueSelect VS256MB400

$22.99

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

2.5

No

Lifetime

XMS Series CMX256A-3200C2

$31

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

2

Yes

Lifetime

ValueSelect VS512MB266

$43

512MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 266 (PC2100)

No

2.5

No

Lifetime

ValueSelect VS1GB667D2

$74.99

1GB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5300)

No

5

No

Lifetime

ValueSelect VS1GBKIT533D2

$77.99

1GB (two 512MB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 533 (PC2-4200)

No

4

No

Lifetime

XMS Series CMX512RE-3200LL

$139

512MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

Yes

2

Yes

Lifetime

XMS2 Series TWIN2X1024-5400C4PRO

$159

1GB (two 512MB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 675 (PC2-5400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

XMS2 Series TWIN2X2048-6400PRO

$285

2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 800 (PC2-6400)

No

5

Yes

Lifetime

CT3264Z335

$32.99

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

No

2.5

No

Lifetime

CT2KIT3264Z335

$62.99

512MB 184-pin (two 256MB)

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

No

2.5

No

Lifetime

CT6472AB40E

$94.99

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

Yes

3

No

Lifetime

CT12872Y335

$159.99 1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

Yes

2.5

No

Lifetime

CT2KIT12864AA40E

$238.99 2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

No

3

No

Lifetime

CT25672AB40ES

$763.99 2GB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

Yes

3

No

Lifetime

Model

Error CAS Heat Manufacturer’s Checking Latency Spreader Warranty Find Out More

BUFFALO TECHNOLOGY

www.buffalotech.com 800-456-9799

CORSAIR

www.corsairmemory.com 888-222-4346

CRUCIAL TECHNOLOGY

104

September 2006 computershopper.com

www.crucial.com 800-336-8915

TECHMARKET DESKTOP MEMORY Price

Capacity

Pin Count

Type

Speed

GR2DD8B-E1GB/400

$77.99

1GB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

No

3

No

Lifetime

GR1DD8T-K1GB/400/2.0

$78.99

1GB (two 512MB)

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

2.5

No

Lifetime

GR2DR4BDE2GB/400

$259.99 2GB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

Yes

3

No

Lifetime

GR1DR4B-E2GB/333

$269.99 2GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

Yes

2.5

No

Lifetime

Model

Error CAS Heat Manufacturer’s Checking Latency Spreader Warranty Find Out More

GIGARAM

www.gigaram.com 949-461-9999

GSKILL INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISE

F1-3200PHU1-512NR

$38.99

512MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

3

No

Lifetime

F2-5400PHU1-512LA

$38.99

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

F1-4000BIU1-1GBHV

$109.99 1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 500 (PC4000)

No

3

Yes

Lifetime

F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT

$139

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 533 (PC2-4200)

No

4

No

Lifetime

F1-4400DSU2-1GBFC

$169.99 1GB (two 512MB)

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 550 (PC4400)

No

2.5

Yes

Lifetime

F2-5400PHU2-2GBZX

$239

2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

ValueRAM KVR533D2N4/512

$52

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 533 (PC2-4200)

No

4

No

Lifetime

HyperX KHX7200D2/512

$104

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 900 (PC2-7200)

No

5

Yes

Lifetime

HyperX KHX3200/1G

$133

1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

2.5

Yes

Lifetime

ValueRAM KVR266X72RC25/1024

$175

1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 266 (PC2100)

Yes

2.5

No

Lifetime

ValueRAM KVR400D2S4R3/1G

$179.99 1GB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 400 (PC2-3200)

Yes

3

No

Lifetime

HyperX KRX3200AK2/1G

$210

1GB (two 512MB)

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

Yes

2.5

Yes

Lifetime

HyperX KHX5400D2K2/2G

$313

2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 675 (PC2-5400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

991452

$28.89

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 333 (PC2700)

No

2.5

Yes

Lifetime

990991

$32.03

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

2

Yes

Lifetime

991378a

$48.70

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5300)

No

5

Yes

Lifetime

991509

$72.50

512MB

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5300)

No

3

Yes

Lifetime

991456

$102.85 1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

3

Yes

Lifetime

991492

$146.65 1GB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 500 (PC4000)

No

3

Yes

Lifetime

Value Series OCZ400256V3

$22.99

256MB

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 400 (PC3200)

No

3

No

Lifetime

Gold Series OCZ26671024ELDCGE-K

$95.99

1GB (two 512MB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 667 (PC2-5400)

No

4

Yes

Lifetime

Gold Series OCZ28002048ELDCGE-K

$206.49 2GB (two 1GB)

240-pin

DDR2 SDRAM

DDR2 800 (PC2-6400)

No

5

Yes

Lifetime

Platinum Edition OCZ5002048EBPE-K

$223.99 2GB (two 1GB)

184-pin

DDR SDRAM

DDR 500 (PC4000)

No

3

Yes

Lifetime

2GB (two 1GB)

www.gskill.com

KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY

www.kingston.com 877-546-4786

MUSHKIN

www.mushkin.com 800-569-1868

OCZ TECHNOLOGY

www.ocztechnology.com 408-733-8400

computershopper.com September 2006

105

NEED TO KNOW

MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS FEATURES Multifunction printers (MFPs), or all-in-ones, are the Swiss Army knives of printers. They combine copier, scanner, printer, and, in some models, fax capabilities in one unit, making them perfect for home offices and small businesses. The best models include a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder for walk-up scanning, faxing, and copying of multipage documents. RESOLUTION Print resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (dpi) an MFP creates, measured both horizontally and vertically. For example, a 600x600dpi laserbased MFP lays down a 1-inch square comprising 600 dots across by 600 dots down. A resolution of 600dpi is adequate for most text-printing tasks. For more-demanding jobs, consider models that print at 1,200dpi or higher. PRINT SPEED This spec measures how many pages or pho-

Model

Price

tos per minute (ppm) an MFP spits out. Large workgroups should opt for a laser model for faster output. Home offices, however, can save money by choosing an inkjet-based MFP, which should provide enough speed for a small office. CONNECTIVITY Some MFPs support printing over a network right out of the box. Newer MFPs feature memory-card slots, as well as ports that allow for direct printing from supported cameras or external storage devices. CONSUMABLES Before you buy, consider the cost of items such as ink and paper. Ink cartridges can quickly amount to more than a printer’s price, running anywhere from $10 to $60 per cartridge. More-expensive MFPs may actually be more economical in the long run because they often have higher-capacity ink tanks and separate tanks for each color. —Louis Ramirez, Staff Editor

Rated TextPrint Monochrome/ Maximum Print Print Speed Technology Color Printing Resolution Memory (Mono/Color) Compatibility Editor’s Take

Find Out More

BROTHER INTERNATIONAL

MFC-3240C

$89.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

6,000x1,200dpi

8MB

20ppm/15ppm

PC, Mac

Ideal for home and small-office users, thanks to its eminent affordability.

MFC-5440CN

$129.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

6,000x1,200dpi

16MB

20ppm/15ppm

PC, Mac

This nicely priced MFP lets you print borderless 4x6-inch photos.

MFC-7220

$199.99 Laser

Monochrome

1,200x600dpi

16MB

20ppm

PC, Mac

Unlike most MFPs, the MFC-7220 faxes at 14.4Kbps rather than 33.6Kbps.

MFC-820CW

$249.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

6,000x1,200dpi

16MB

20ppm/15ppm

PC, Mac

Photo-friendly model includes a 2.5inch LCD and a memory-card reader.

MFC-7820N

$299.99 Laser

Monochrome

2,400x600dpi

32MB

20ppm

PC, Mac

Network-ready MFP can go cable-free with optional NC-2200W print server.

MFC-9420CN

$799.99 Laser

Monochrome, color

2,400x600dpi

64MB

31ppm/8ppm

PC, Mac

Top-of-the-line model has it all—including a sky-high price.

Pixma MP130

$99.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

42KB

18ppm/13ppm

PC, Mac

Low-cost model for home users delivers good prints but only so-so scan quality.

ImageClass MF3240

$199.99 Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

NA

21ppm

PC, Mac

Laser-based MFP provides decent speeds for the price.

Pixma MP500

$199.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

9,600x2,400dpi

NA

29ppm/19ppm PC, Mac

Slick styling and excellent for photo hobbyists; mediocre color film scans.

Pixma MP830

$299.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

9,600x2,400dpi

42KB

30ppm/24ppm PC, Mac

Canon claims it produces borderless 4x6 prints in 36 seconds, but expect to wait longer.

Pixma MP950

$399.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

9,600x2,400dpi

NA

29ppm/22ppm PC, Mac

Despite its compact size, this model features a large 3.6-inch LCD.

ImageClass MF6530

$599

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

64MB

23ppm

PC, Mac

$200 upgrades you from an ink-based MP950 to this laser.

Color ImageClass MF8170c

$699.99 Laser

Monochrome, color

600x600dpi

NA

16ppm/4ppm

PC

Suitable for home offices, but slower output makes it a poor choice for larger workgroups.

$69

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

8MB

12ppm/13ppm

PC

Compact, minimalist design will save space and complement your desk.

Photo All-In-One $89 Printer 924

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

20ppm/16ppm PC

Inexpensive MFP monitors ink usage and lets you know when to refill.

Photo All-In-One $129 Printer 944

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

21ppm/16ppm

Optional photo-ink cartridge delivers vivid photos. Features a bright 2.4-inch LCD.

Photo All-In-One $179 Printer 964

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

26ppm/20ppm PC

Fast and easy to use; suitable for home or small-office users.

www.brother-usa.com 800-276-7746

CANON U.S.A.

usa.canon.com 800-652-2666

DELL

All-In-One Printer 810

PC

www.dell.com 800-999-3355

EPSON AMERICA

Stylus CX4200

$99

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

5,760x1,440dpi

NA

20ppm/19ppm PC, Mac

Plain-Jane inkjet-based MFP will get the job done—inexpensively.

Stylus CX7800

$179.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

5,760x1,440dpi

NA

20ppm/19ppm PC, Mac

Remarkably easy to use, but its photo prints are merely average.

Stylus Photo RX620

$299.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

5,760x1,440dpi

NA

17ppm/16ppm

Includes a film-scanning adapter, a color LCD, and a memory-card reader.

= Editors’ Choice

106

PC, Mac

See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

September 2006 computershopper.com

NA = Not applicable

www.epson.com 800-463-7766

TECHMARKET MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS Model

Price

Rated TextPrint Monochrome/ Maximum Print Print Speed Technology Color Printing Resolution Memory (Mono/Color) Compatibility Editor’s Take

Find Out More

EPSON AMERICA

Stylus Photo RX700

$399.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

5,760x1,440dpi

NA

20ppm/20ppm PC, Mac

Can print directly to CDs and DVDs; features a 2.5-inch color LCD.

www.epson.com 800-463-7766 www.hp.com 888-999-4747

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Deskjet F380 All-in-One

$79.99

Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

20ppm/14ppm PC, Mac

Won’t win any design awards, but a decent choice for casual use.

PSC 1610 All-in-One

$129.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

23ppm/18ppm

Well-suited for an individual or family with limited scan and copy needs.

Photosmart 2575 $179.99 Inkjet All-in-One

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

64MB

30ppm/24ppm PC, Mac

Includes a 2.5-inch LCD and a memorycard reader; supports PictBridge.

LaserJet 3050 All-in-One

$299.99 Laser

Monochrome

1,200x1,200dpi

64MB

19ppm

Laser model includes a 30-sheet automatic document feeder.

Officejet 7310 All-in-One

$399.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

16MB

30ppm/20ppm PC, Mac

Network-ready; prints wirelessly with optional Bluetooth adapter.

Color LaserJet 2840 All-in-One

$899.99 Laser

Monochrome, color

600x600dpi

96MB

20ppm/20ppm PC, Mac

Business-friendly all-in-one is wellworth the price—if you can expense it.

PC, Mac

PC, Mac

KONICA MINOLTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS U.S.A.

PagePro 1380 MF

$249

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

32MB

21ppm

PC

Konica offers five years of free U.S.based tech support with this model.

PagePro 1390 MF

$349

Laser

Monochrome

1,200x600dpi

48MB

21ppm

PC

A step up from the 1380, with more memory and higher resolution.

Magicolor 2480 MF

$699

Laser

Monochrome, color

2,400x600dpi

96MB

20ppm/5ppm

PC

Modest photo features include PictBridge support and 4x6 printing.

www.konicaminolta.com 800-705-2001

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL

X1270

$49.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

NA

17ppm/9ppm

PC

Most-affordable all-in-one here—but don’t expect stellar performance.

X3470

$99.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

16MB

17ppm/17ppm

PC

For an extra $50 over the X1270, you get built-in memory-card slots.

X7350

$149.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

25ppm/19ppm

PC

PC-independent; works with PictBridgeenabled cameras.

X8350

$199.99 Inkjet

Monochrome, color

4,800x1,200dpi

32MB

25ppm/19ppm

PC

Can accommodate two extra ink cartridges for better photo prints.

X342n

$399

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

64MB

25ppm

PC

Network-ready, but may prove too large for small home offices.

X642e

$1,499

Laser

Monochrome

1,200x1,200dpi

128MB

43ppm

PC, Mac

Massive MFP has impressive print speeds.

SCX-4200

$199

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

8MB

18ppm

PC, Mac

Great price and relatively compact, but not much in the way of style.

SCX-4521F

$249.99 Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

16MB

20ppm

PC

Features one-touch faxing and a multitude of toner-saving print options.

SF-565P

$299.99 Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

4MB

16ppm

PC

Includes 2MB of built-in fax memory and fast, 6-second scan times.

SCX-5530FN

$499

Laser

Monochrome

1,200x1,200dpi

96MB

28ppm

PC

Samsung’s top-of-the-line MFP features a crisp 1,200x1,200dpi resolution.

WorkCentre PE220

$399

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

16MB

20ppm

PC, Mac

Will scale scans to fit on one page; automatic document feeder included.

WorkCentre PE120

$549

Laser

Monochrome

600x600dpi

32MB

22ppm

PC, Mac

Maxes out at 300 sheets, but has an optional 550-sheet tray.

www.lexmark.com 800-539-6275

SAMSUNG NEW

NEW

www.samsung.com 800-726-7864

XEROX

www.office.xerox.com 888-247-5107

THE BEST RECENTLY REVIEWED MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS HP Color LaserJet 2840 All-in-One • $899.99 • Editors’ Rating: 8.0 This business-friendly color laser MFP delivers great prints and can seamlessly replace the army of devices cluttering your office. Canon Pixma MP500 • $199.99 • Editors’ Rating: 7.2 Digital-photo hobbyists should consider this Pixma all-in-one for prints, though we were slightly disappointed by its mediocre color film scans. Epson Stylus Photo RX620 • $299.99 • Editors’ Rating: 7.0 In this MFP, design, features, and ease of use trump speed and output quality—it delivers mediocre text prints and scans.

Canon Pixma MP500

computershopper.com September 2006

107

NEED TO KNOW

EXTERNAL DVD BURNERS FORMAT When DVD burners first emerged, buyers had to make an often-confusing choice between two incompatible formats: DVD-R/DVD-RW and DVD+R/DVD+RW. Thankfully, drive manufacturers now offer multiformat drives that can write and rewrite to both formats. Some drives also record to DVD-RAM discs, although these drives are much less common and tend to cost a little more. SPEED How fast a drive can read, write, and rewrite discs is measured in terms of x. If you’re on a limited budget, look for a drive that can write (or burn) DVDs at 8x— that’s approximately 8.5 minutes for a full disc. Currently, most drives write at 16x. DOUBLE-LAYER SUPPORT Double layer refers to the technology that allows two recording layers to fit on the single side of a DVD, effectively doubling a disc’s storage capacity from 4.7GB to 8.5GB. Though perfect for

Model

Price

Format

CD/DVD Read Rewrite Speeds Write Speeds* Speeds**

those who need to archive huge amounts of data, double-layer burning currently maxes out at 8x speed, and the discs may not play in some DVD players. Also, you’ll run across two types of double-layer recording. Most double-layer drives support DVD+R double layer (DL), but some newer ones also support DVD-R DL. For maximum value and versatility, look for drives that support both. INTERFACE Most external DVD drives connect to your computer via USB 2.0. Some drives, however, offer both USB and FireWire ports, but you’ll have to spend a little more for the additional interface. Likewise, if you travel often, you’ll have to invest more for a slimmer, more portable drive. Although they’re usually slower than their desktop counterparts, slimmer drives are easier to tote along when you’re on the road. —Louis Ramirez, Staff Editor

Buffer Size Interface Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ASUSTEK COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL

DRW-1608P2S-D $99.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Despite its fast speeds, this drive is bulky and requires ample desktop space.

SDRW-0806T-D $129.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Slim 12-ounce drive writes to both double-layer formats; speeds could be faster.

$119.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB (double layer)

USB 2.0

No support for double-layer DVD-R; slow 2.4x double-layer DVD+R speed.

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

usa.asus.com 502-995-0883

BENQ U.S.A.

EW1621

www.benq.us 866-700-2367

FANTOM DRIVES

FDDRWDF16D

$87.99

DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Faster double-layer speed than BenQ’s model. USB www.fantomdrives.com interface only; no support for DVD-R double layer. 310-320-7272

FDRAMRWU25

$385

DVD-RW/ DVD-RAM

24x/NA/8x/NA

16x/NA/4x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

Adds DVD-RAM to the mix, but with slower overall speeds than the FDDRWDF16D. Expensive, too.

DVD Writer DVD740e

$129.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Good rewrite speeds; features LightScribe technology for easy disc labeling.

DVD840e Super Multi DVD Writer

$149.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

Similar to the DVD740e, but adds support for DVD-RAM to the mix.

DW560

$79.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Respectable speeds at an entry-level price point, though we’d opt instead for the DW560C.

DW560C

$89.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

A step up from the DW560, this model adds a FireWire interface for $10 more.

DW567 Media Tank

$189.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Do-it-all drive includes an 80GB hard drive and a six-format flash-memory-card reader.

IDVD8DBE

$129.99 DVD±RW

24x/4x/2x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Rewrite speeds could be better; provides justbelow-average speeds overall.

IDVD16DLSE

$129.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB (double layer)

USB 2.0

This drive lets you create your own laser-etched labels, thanks to its LightScribe support.

IDVD8PE

$179.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

32x/12x

HEWLETT-PACKARD

www.hp.com 888-999-4747

INOI

www.inoi.com 866-339-4664

I/OMAGIC

40x/12x

40x/8x/4x/NA

www.iomagic.com 949-707-4800

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/2x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Sacrifices speed across the board in favor of a compact, slim design

$149.95 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Fast ripping and burning at a reasonable price; shame about the toll-based tech support, though.

www.iomega.com 888-516-8467

$99.95 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Great speeds at a highly affordable price; Nero 6 is included.

www.kanguru.com 888-526-4878

U2F-DVDRW-16D $109.95 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Essentially the same as the above drive, but with dual interfaces and adding NTI’s Dragon Burn 4.

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Simple and stylish, this no-nonsense drive features healthy speeds yet won’t cost you a bundle.

IOMEGA

Super DVD 16x16

KANGURU SOLUTIONS

U2-DVDRW-16D

LACIE

DVD±RW with $89.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x LightScribe Porsche (double layer) 16x USB 2.0

* = Speeds expressed as CD-R/DVD+R/DVD-R/double-layer DVD; not all double-layer drives support both plus and minus DL media. ** = Speeds expressed as CD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM NA = Not applicable See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

108

September 2006 computershopper.com

www.lacie.com 503-844-4502

TECHMARKET EXTERNAL DVD BURNERS

Model

Price

Format

CD/DVD Read Rewrite Speeds Write Speeds* Speeds**

Buffer Size Interface Editor’s Take

Find Out More

LACIE

DVD±RW with $109.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x LightScribe Porsche (double layer) 16x FireWire

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

FireWire

Porsche-designed drive offers LightScribe technology for disc labeling.

d2 DVD±RW with $119.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x LightScribe (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

A slight price increase over the above drive buys you two high-speed interfaces.

Slim DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 8x

$149

DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

You’ll take a hit in speed, but this is the slimmest of LaCie’s drives.

Slim DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 8x

$169

DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

At less than a pound, this slim drive is great for the road, but drive speeds could be better.

d2 DVD±RW with $179 LightScribe

DVD±RW 40x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

FireWire

Similar to the previous d2, but you lose the USB 2.0 interface and gain Toast 7 Titanium software.

Slim DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 8x

DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

FireWire

Mac-friendly drive includes Toast Titanium, plus LightScribe technology to print directly to discs.

GSA-5163D

$89.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

If wide media compatibility is your main concern, us.lge.com look here. Supports all formats, including DVD-RAM. 800-243-0000

GSA-2164D

$119.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

Elegant piano-black drive delivers performance to match its looks; also supports DVD-RAM.

GSA-5169D

$169.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

This drive’s S-Video and RCA inputs make it great for anyone looking to archive VHS tapes to DVD.

SHM-165P6SX

$89.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

It won’t win any design awards, but this bulky drive us.liteonit.com has respectable write speeds. 510-687-1800

SOHW-1635SX

$95.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Supports both plus and minus double-layer formats; stands vertically to save space.

SHW-160P6SU

$99.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

This drive’s EZ-Dub feature lets you copy discs and back up folders with the push of a button.

SOHW-1673SU

$99.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

A virtual replica of the SHW-160P6SU, except the only DL media it supports is DVD+R.

SOHW-1673SU1635

$99.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Skip the SOHW-1673SU and opt for this drive instead—it supports both flavors of DL media.

SLW-831SX

$139.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

A slim and portable burner, but the painfully slow, DVD+R-only DL speed is offputting.

DVD Double-Layer $179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x Recorder 16x16 Dual (double layer) Format External

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Respectable write speeds and dual interfaces make this drive a solid choice for upgraders.

www.memorex.com 562-653-2800

www.plextor.com 800-886-3935

$199

www.lacie.com 503-844-4502

LG ELECTRONICS

LITE-ON IT

MEMOREX PRODUCTS

PLEXTOR

PX-750UF

$139

DVD±RW 40x/16x 40x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Impressive 8x speed with plus or minus DL discs; provides dual interfaces, too.

PX-716UF

$249

DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/6x (double layer)

24x/8x/4x/NA 8MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Faceplates available in four colors; relatively pricey due to its slimmer-than-normal design.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

SE-W164C

$170

DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Similar to the SE-W164L, but without the disclabeling capability.

SE-W164L

$170

DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/5x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Attractive, slim design; drive’s firmware can be upgraded online. Also, lets you label discs.

DRX-810UL

$149.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Features the usual Sony design flair—and has the specs to back up its looks.

DRX-820U

$149.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0

This tank-like drive takes up a lot of desktop real estate, but its slick looks more than make up for it.

DRX-820UL/T

$159.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

32x/8x/6x/5x 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Same looks as the 820U, but a slightly faster DL speed and a second interface (FireWire).

DRX-810UL/T

$179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Now Mac-friendly, with Roxio Toast for Apple and Nero for Windows.

VRD-VC20 DVDirect

$219.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/4x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 8MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

RCA jacks and FireWire port allow for direct, PC-independent video recording to DVDs.

VRD-MC1 DVDirect

$259.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x 48x/16x/16x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/6x/NA 8MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

An embedded 2-inch color LCD and built-in memorycard slots are just two of this drive’s many features.

10x/4x/4x/NA 2MB

USB 2.0

Despite its slim chassis, this drive’s prehistoric speeds aren’t worth the premium price.

www.samsung.com 800-726-7864

SONY ELECTRONICS

www.sonystyle.com 800-222-7669

TARGUS GROUP INTERNATIONAL

USB 2.0 $279.99 DVD±RW Rewriteable DVD± RW Slim Drive

24x/8x

16x/4x/4x/NA

www.targus.com 714-765-5555

computershopper.com September 2006

109

NEED TO KNOW

WI-FI ROUTERS NETWORKING STANDARD 802.11g is the current standard for home networks, having replaced the slower 802.11b. 802.11g is also compatible with 802.11b, so you can use it with older equipment running that standard. 802.11a has speeds similar to 802.11g’s, but it’s not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g, and has shorter range. Many new routers feature multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology that reduces signal interference and tops 802.11g in range and throughput. MIMO devices are also backward-compatible with 802.11b/g products, but they may not be compatible with the forthcoming 802.11n standard. Also, newer Draft-N routers, based on this upcoming standard, may not be compatible with the final version of 802.11n. SECURITY Most routers come with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, which can provide a first layer of security but won’t deter hell-bent hackers. For greater security, opt

Model

Price

for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or the newer WPA2 encryption, which provides stronger data protection and control over network access. A router that supports MACaddress filtering limits network access to specifically permitted PCs and devices. For added protection, consider a router with a built-in hardware firewall, which can protect all PCs on the network at once from outside attacks. THROUGHPUT/RANGE Throughput refers to the speed of data transfer a router can provide, measured in Mbps. Range is the maximum distance from the router a wireless access point or networking card can receive a signal. Range can be affected by obstacles such as walls, so you may need to buy a repeater to extend the signal to remote areas of your network. Note that the throughput and range are vendor-estimated figures, and your experience may vary.

Rated Max. Wired Supported Range (Indoor/ Ethernet Standards Outdoor) Antenna Ports Security

—Joshua Goldman, Senior Associate Editor

Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ACTIONTEC ELECTRONICS

54Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Router

$99.99 802.11b/g

328 feet/1,312 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Includes a removable antenna—and Installation Buddy eases setup—but pricey for a basic 802.11g router.

www.actiontec.com 800-752-7820 www.apc.com 877-272-2722

AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION

$61.99

802.11b/g

300 feet/300 feet Internal

One

WEP, WPA

Can’t match the ease of use or warranty of the travelrouter competition; mediocre maximum throughput.

AirPort Express Base Station with AirTunes

$129

802.11b/g

150 feet/150 feet

Internal

One

WEP, WPA

One of the tiniest routers around, the Express can be used www.apple.com as an adapter for connecting a stereo to a PC’s iTunes library. 800-692-7753

AirPort Extreme Base Station

$199

802.11b/g

150 feet/150 feet

Internal

One

WEP, WPA

Apple might not have the latest MIMO technology, but this well-designed router is one of the easiest to set up.

3-in-1 Wireless Mobile Router 802.11G APPLE COMPUTER

BELKIN

Wireless G Plus Router

$59.99 802.11b/g

200 feet/200 feet External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA

Promises faster speeds than regular 802.11g, and delivers better performance in mixed-mode environments.

Wireless G Travel Router

$69.99 802.11b/g

200 feet/300 feet External

One

WEP, WPA

This tiny travel router is no toy—it can turn any broadbandequipped hotel room into a hot spot.

Wireless G Plus MIMO Router

$79.99 802.11b/g

200 feet/ 1,000 feet

External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA

Exceptional range up to 1,000 feet, but the Pre-N model has this MIMO router beat with its broader coverage.

Wireless Pre-N Router

$99.99 802.11b/g

700 feet/ 1,500 feet

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA

MIMO router provides market-leading range and throughput when used with a Pre-N wireless-network card.

N1 Wireless Router

$149.99 802.11n, 802.11b/g

Not rated/ 1,400 feet

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA

Clad in piano black, this one of the easiest-to-use and, dare we say, sexiest routers out there.

www.belkin.com 800-223-5546

BUFFALO TECHNOLOGY

AirStation 125Mbps High-Speed Mode WZR-RS-G54

$119.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

Internal

Four

WEP, WPA

Packed with features like an integrated access point and VPN-server capabilities, but its throughput isn’t anywhere near the 125Mbps the company claims.

www.buffalotech.com 800-456-9799

Wireless-G MIMO240 WZR-G240

$139.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA

Using Airgo’s True MIMO technology, it offers 10 times the speed of standard 802.11g routers.

Nfiniti Wireless-N Router WZR-G300N

$139.99 802.11n, 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA

The feature-packed Nfiniti is built to 802.11n standard 1.0 specs—great for streaming media and games.

$109.95 802.11b/g

300 feet/600 feet External (two)

Three

WEP, WPA

Four built-in USB 2.0 ports let you share USB hard drives, printers, and Webcams. Works as a media server, too.

www.compex.com.sg 800-279-8891

AirPlus G DI-524 Wireless Router

$50

802.11b/g

328 feet/1,312 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Has extensive security features, but its mediocre 802.11g performance makes the DI-624 a better buy.

www.dlink.com 800-326-1688

AirPlus Xtreme G DI-624 108Mbps Router

$89.99 802.11b/g

328 feet/1,312 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Fast model combines easy installation and advanced security, but its mixed-mode performance is average.

AirPremier AG Wireless Router DI-784

$89.99 802.11a/b/g 328 feet/1,312 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Trimode device is certified to work with Windows XP Media Center Edition; also, it’s compatible with Xbox Live.

DI-634M Wireless 108G MIMO Router

$105.99 802.11b/g, 802.3/3u

Four

WPA, WPA2 D-Link joins the MIMO pack with this robust router, promising a range eight times that of 802.11g.

COMPEX SYSTEMS

NP28G D-LINK

328 feet/1,312 feet External (four)

See computershopper.com for full reviews of products in boldface.

110

September 2006 computershopper.com

TECHMARKET WI-FI ROUTERS

Model

Price

Rated Max. Wired Supported Range (Indoor/ Ethernet Standards Outdoor) Antenna Ports Security

Editor’s Take

Find Out More

Game Mode feature gives precedence to online games over other network traffic; excellent 802.11g performance.

www.dlink.com 800-326-1688

D-LINK

GamerLounge Wireless 108G Gaming Router DGL-4300

$149.99 802.11b/g

377 feet/1,509 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

RangeBooster N 650 Router DIR-635

$159.99 802.11n, 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WPA, WPA2 Aside from faster speeds and greater range, the DIR-635 provides improved performance for VoIP and gaming.

HAWKING TECHNOLOGIES

Hi-Gain Wireless-108 AMP HWRGM1A

$99

802.11b/g

1,500 feet/ 2,500 feet

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA, While others merely support Mac OS X, Hawking touts WPA2 products as designed specifically for Mac, including this.

www.hawkingtech.com 888-662-8828

Wireless G SpeedBooster WRT54GS

$76.95

802.11b/g

Not rated

External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA

Much better for mixed-mode performance than the www.linksys.com WRT54G, with easy setup and VPN pass-through support. 800-326-7114

Wireless-G Media Storage Link WRTSL54GS

$116.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

External

Four

WEP, WPA

Includes all the standard features you’d get with most wireless routers, plus the ability to connect a USB hard drive for network-attached storage.

Wireless-G with SRX200 WRT54GX2

$119.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA, Decent performance, clear documentation, a thoughtful WPA2 design, and a generous warranty.

Wireless-G with SRX400 WRT54GX4

$149.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA

Wireless-N WRT300N

$149.99 802.11n, 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA, Poor long-range performance hurts this otherwise WPA2 solid, reasonably priced Draft-N router.

Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

$49.99 802.11b/g

120 feet/120 feet

External

Four

WEP, WPA

Like Linksys’ WRT54G, this router offers excellent 802.11g speed but uninspiring 802.11b performance.

108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624

$69.99 802.11b/g

200 feet/200 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Fast throughput, though its advanced features are bettersuited for networking geeks than beginners.

108Mbps Wireless Media Router WGT634U

$74.99

200 feet/200 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Allows networked PCs to share a USB hard drive, but lacks the ability to write to NTFS volumes; not compatible with USB hubs.

Double 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGU624

$84.99 802.11a/b/g 400 feet/400 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Offers simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11g signals, plus excellent throughput and range, but only a one-year warranty.

WPN824 RangeMax

$109.99 802.11b/g

400 feet/400 feet Internal (severn)

Four

WEP, WPA

Good-looking MIMO router offers excellent throughput at long ranges, except when it comes to mixed-mode networks.

RangeMax 240 Wireless Router WPNT834

$129.99 802.11b/g

Not rated

External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA, Along with a serious sampling of easy-to-set-up security WPA2 features, this three-antenna router promises fast throughput even under heavy wireless multitasking.

RangeMax NEXT Wireless $169.99 802.11n, Router WNR834B 802.11b/g

Not rated

Internal

Four

WEP, WPA, A slick design, simple setup, and satisfying maximum WPA2 throughput, but takes a big speed hit in mixed-mode environments.

LINKSYS

Incredible short-range performance, but long-range and mixed-mode capabilities are mediocre.

NETGEAR

802.11b/g

www.netgear.com 888-638-4327

SMC NETWORKS

Barricade g Wireless SMC2804WBRP-G

$99

802.11b/g

328 feet/1,155 feet External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA

Nicely designed model does 802.11b/g and adds a USB print server for wireless printing.

www.smc.com 800-762-4968

EZ-Connect g MIMO SMCWBR14-GM

$99

802.11b/g

651 feet/1,312 feet External (three)

Four

WEP, WPA, Along with all the high-speed and increased range benefits WPA2 MIMO has to offer, SMC makes setting up a wireless network a simple three-step process.

802.11b/g

96 feet/197 feet

Internal

One

WEP, WPA

Compact unit converts hotel broadband into Wi-Fi, allowing you roam to untethered.

$80.99 802.11b/g

328 feet/1,499 feet External (two)

Four

WEP, WPA

3Com’s Content Filter service blocks access to pornographic, prejudicial, violent, and other content you might prefer not to access.

$69.95 802.11b/g

160 feet/2,000 feet

External

Four

WEP, WPA, Need to share a USB printer over your network? This box WPA2 has great throughput and range, and acts as a print server—all at a reasonable price.

www.usr.com 888-216-2850

us.zyxel.com 800-255-4101

3COM

OfficeConnect Wireless $70.25 54Mbps 11g Travel Router 3CRTRV10075 OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Router 3CRWE554G72T

www.3com.com 800-242-3266

U.S. ROBOTICS

Wireless MAXg Router with Print Server

ZYXEL COMMUNICATIONS

Prestige 334W

$59.99 802.11b/g

492 feet/1,148 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Security features aplenty, but configuration process is complex for networking beginners.

Prestige 334WT

$70.25

492 feet/1,148 feet External

Four

WEP, WPA

Includes Trend Micro’s antivirus software and parental controls; allows user-controlled bandwidth management.

802.11b/g

computershopper.com September 2006

111

WEB BUYER THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING • BY KEVIN SAVETZ

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

amazon.com Amazon.com is an unparalleled superstore with a massive inventory equaled only by its special features, such as personalized product recommendations and mobile access. The Early Adopter Products pages show what’s fresh in electronics, video games, and DVDs.

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

compusa.com

computergate.com Shop with confidence at Computer Gate, which offers a 30-day satisfaction return policy on its entire selection of PCs and peripherals. The assortment of graphics cards is particularly broad. eBay is an unparalleled auction site and a unique shopping experience. Shoppers can set their own prices on components, including new and used PCs, software, tech books, and vintage computers.

computers4sure.com Ergo Works wants to turn your desk into a healthier workspace. Its selection of keyboard trays, monitor risers, and ergonomic seating can make computing more comfortable. Check out the kid-friendly chairs, keyboards, and mice.

www.batterybarn.com You’ll get a charge from the selection at Battery Barn, which includes batteries for cordless phones, digital cameras, camcorders, and other powerhungry portable gadgets. The site also stocks hardto-find batteries for tools and electric razors. Orders of more than $25 ship free.

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

bits.com Take a byte of Bits.com, which has low prices on a modest selection of computer peripherals, MP3 players, and software. The company offers a 30-day return policy and $5 flat-rate shipping.

Illustrations by Bill Rieser

blackbox.com

MOBILE AND TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

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

computers.ebay.com

askergoworks.com

Tech Products Mobile and Travel Accessories Sites for Audiophiles Direct PC Vendors Software Free Software

circuitcity.com

The well-organized CompUSA rounds out the usual selection of PC hardware, peripherals, and accessories with areas devoted to home electronics and wireless gadgets. Set your own price on PCs at CompUSA’s auction site.

Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman from Amazon.com

113 113 114 115 115 116

Computers4Sure comprises 21 departments well-stocked with a broad spectrum of products, including networking gear, LCD monitors, and storage. Free ground shipping is available for many products.

c-source.com The catalog at 15-year-old CompSource is chocka-block with PC products—more than 200,000 in all. Check out the Best Sellers lists to find customers’ favorite products in 17 categories, including desktops, notebooks, and other peripherals.

cyberguys.com Cyberguys specializes in low-cost computer accessories and supplies. The snappy catalog includes hard-to-find cables, fun PC add-ons, electronics tools, and networking equipment. Check the Outlet Center for big savings on limited-stock gadgets.

dealsonic.com Does picking though scores of under-$20 PC parts sound like a blast? Then DealSonic.com is the place to go. The store’s Top Sellers and Clearance areas have plenty of cheap components and accessories for system builders.

digitalfotoclub.com

Get connected! Specializing in network products, Black Box can get you wired with its extensive catalog of storage, cabling, and surge-protection products, plus many other connectivity accessories.

Digital Foto Discount Club has a vast selection of digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs, and digital audio gadgetry, and is well-rated by its customers at sites such as PriceGrabber.com. Check out the Top 10 Best-Sellers in the various product categories.

buy.com

ebags.com

Buy.com’s vast million-product inventory includes computer hardware, software, electronics, video games, books, music, and DVDs. Sister site BuyMusic.com delivers music downloads starting at 79 cents a song.

Ease your aching back with a new, rolling laptop bag. eBags sells a diverse assortment of computer bags and cases for your portable digital gadgets. Every purchase is backed by a 60-day return policy.

igo.com Get your power to go with iGo’s selection of mobile accessories. The company’s line of Juice power adapters can charge your laptop, mobile phone, and other gadgets in the car, on a plane, or just about anywhere else you happen to be. laptoptravel.com If your notebook is your trusty travel companion, take a trip to Laptop Travel, a site that specializes in portablecomputing and international-travel gear. The site stocks cases, electrical adapters, modem converters, mobile desks, and security accessories. mobiledriven.com Mobile Driven specializes in accessories for on-the-road computing and communication. You’ll discover hard-to-find interface cables, along with power adapters for cell phones, GPS receivers, and PDAs. mobileplanet.com MobilePlanet has a wide world of mobile-computing hardware and accessories for on-the-go gadget lovers. Its product selection includes MP3 players, PDAs, wireless phones, GPS receivers, and plenty of accessories to outfit them with. priorityelectronics.com Make your laptop happy with a new battery, a PC Card, or an external media adapter from Priority Electronics. You can also get power adapters, storage add-ons, and docking stations for your portable PC. roadwired.com RoadWired’s collection of computer bags and carrying cases includes backpacks, slim protective wraps, and even padded organizers to keep your cables and connectors safe and snug. www.shop.teleadapt.com Teleadapt’s Global Travel Products section includes regional phone and power converters, plus adapters for safely plugging your laptop’s modem into a hotel’s phone system. Portable surge suppressors will protect your hardware even on questionable foreign power grids.

computershopper.com September 2006

113

WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES ecost.com

www.flash-memory-store.com

outpost.com

Look to eCost.com for deals on PC components, software, electronics, and DVDs. You’ll be enticed by short-lived but sweet deals in the Bargain Countdown area.

FlashMemoryStore.com specializes in removable media. The company sells CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards, Memory Sticks, card-reader accessories, and external hard drives. All products come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty.

Shoppers at Fry’s Outpost.com enjoy an ample catalog of hardware, software, cameras, and video games. Notable features include the Power Search function, special deals, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on most products.

insight.com

Try not to be overwhelmed by the selection at Overstock.com. This discount shopping site sells practically anything you can think of, including new and reconditioned computers, peripherals, cameras, audio devices, and video gear. Plus, you’ll find software, DVDs, and video games in the Media department.

SITES FOR AUDIOPHILES

Insight delivers IT products for businesses, including networking hardware, projectors, and servers. The stellar Narrow Your Results feature and comparison tools will help you find the best product.

jr.com Televisions, MP3 players, office products, and appliances abound at J&R Music and Computer World. Read the Product Guides for tips on buying and using audio and video gear, computers, digital cameras, and more.

abtelectronics.com Crave a giant plasma television? A 400disc CD changer? A surround-sound speaker system? In business for 70 years, Abt Electronics has them. You’ll also find home appliances and computer products, all with inexpensive shipping.

monitoroutlet.com From inexpensive CRTs to elegant, pricey plasma screens, Monitor Outlet sells a wide range of displays, with free shipping on everything. The site sells models from more than 30 manufacturers, plus specialty monitors including touch screens, wide-aspect-ratio screens, and projectors.

audioadvisor.com A sweet-sounding, great-looking stereo system is all about the right equipment. Audio Advisor’s selection of hi-fi equipment includes equalizers, preamps, speakers, and cables. Tweak your stereo system to the max with a power conditioner, a turntable isolation platform, and acoustic treatments.

mostlyprinters.com You’ll find new and refurbished printers from Brother, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung, and other manufacturers at MostlyPrinters.com. Plus, the site offers a pricematching policy and free shipping on every order.

motherboardsdirect.com When you buy a motherboard, components, and a case from Motherboards Direct, the company will install everything and provide free technical support for as long as you own the board. You can upgrade your whole system while you’re there—the site also sells drives, add-on cards, and other PC upgrades.

cambridgesoundworks.com Cambridge SoundWorks specializes in home audio, home theater, and car audio products, all with a 45-day price-protection guarantee and a satisfaction promise. Tune in to the Outlet Store for deals on open-box speakers and electronics. ecoustics.com Now hear this! eCoustics.com provides an abundance of information for home audio buffs. You’ll find thousands of links to product reviews—we found more than 500 in the CD Player section alone—and a handy price-comparison tool.

tweeter.com What could be sweeter than browsing Tweeter? The site has home audio products, plus plenty of iPods and other portable music players, with free shipping on most items. Click the Research link for shopping guides and articles.

114

pcmall.com Catering to businesses of all sizes, as well as consumers, PC Mall’s catalog includes more than 100,000 products, with hot deals on notebooks, LCD monitors, and digital media. Sister site MacMall (www.macmall.com) is devoted to Apple hardware and software.

silenxusa.com Shhh! For a PC that’s both cool and quiet, look to SilenX, which manufactures fans and heat sinks for your case, chipset, hard drive, and graphicsprocessing chip. Get a silent power supply to end your PC’s ceaseless drone.

switchdiscs.com SwitchDiscs is a free community where you can swap DVDs, CDs, and video games you no longer want for ones you desire. SwitchBucs currency lets you send your discs to one person but get new ones from someone else.

techforless.com What happens to the PCs and peripherals that customers return to the store? Some of them end up at Tech for Less, which tests and resells them to budget-minded shoppers like you. You can often choose the condition of equipment that you’re willing to settle for, including products in an open box, with cosmetic blemishes, or missing accessories.

neutronexpress.com You may get a charge from the dense nucleus of PC peripherals and networking hardware at NeutronExpress.com. Visit the Specialty sections for PC components, low-profile peripherals, and PC security products.

newegg.com Newegg.com is a nest of good stuff for do-ityourself PC upgraders. The selection focuses on hard drives, motherboards, CPUs, optical-storage add-ons, and consumer electronics.

ECS 945G-M3 motherboard from Newegg.com

September 2006 computershopper.com

PC Connection can connect you to a world of PCs, peripherals, and software. Use the Rebate Center to find products with cash-back deals, or visit sister site MacConnection (www.macconnection.com) for Mac OS wares.

Mushkin sells a wide range of RAM, from doubledata-rate SDRAM to specialty modules. You’ll also find memory for your digital camera and notebook. The Advisor tool will scan your PC and tell you which kind of memory your system needs. If you use a digital camera, PDA, or MP3 player, visit MyDigitalDiscount.com for memory cards, card readers, and other accessories. You’ll also find a generous selection of USB drives, optical media, and portable storage hardware.

wildwestelectronics.net Let Wild West Electronics round you up a deal on an audio system. You can assemble a surround-sound system from the site’s selection of speakers and sound processors. You also get free shipping on many items. Yee-haw!

pcconnection.com

mushkin.com

mydigitaldiscount.com

800stereo.com The inventory at 800 Stereo includes speakers, A/V receivers, high-end CD players, turntables, and furniture for your home theater. The site also sells XM Satellite radio hardware, prepackaged home theater setups, and flat-panel televisions.

overstock.com

techonweb.com TechOnWeb.com’s low prices and fast shipping on a wide array of tech products keep the site in the good graces of its customers. The unusual “quote desk” lets you ask for a better deal when purchasing three or more of the same item.

the3dshop.com The 3-D Shop sells graphics cards for home, professional, and high-end-workstation users, including dozens of choices from 3Dlabs, ATI, Leadtek, Matrox, and PNY Technologies.

thegpsstore.com You may not know where you’re going, but you’ll know where you are right now with the help of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The GPS Store sells GPS units for the car, hiking excursions, and aviation, plus accessories and software.

tigerdirect.com For deals and discounts, visit TigerDirect. This sizable catalog includes low-cost PC components, PDAs, and office equipment. Geeks on a budget can find desktop PCs for as little as $250 and laptops for under $500.

unityelectronics.com Check out Unity Electronics’ impressive selection of PC peripherals, including hard drives, optical

WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES drives, and networking products. The site is also well-stocked with cables and batteries, as well as parts for handhelds.

usedlaptops.com UsedLaptops.com, in the business for 10 years, sells name-brand portable PCs for as little as $220. Browse its inventory of more than 1,100 notebooks by price, manufacturer, or features—a perfect way to weed out machines that don’t meet your specifications.

gateway.com

shopprostar.com

One of the biggest players in online computer sales, Gateway has an enormous and informative site that sells custom-built desktops and notebooks.

Each computer in ProStar Computer’s line of notebook PCs is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, a speedy-repair promise, and free tech support.

hpshopping.com At this site, choose among Hewlett-Packard and Compaq desktop and notebook computers, plus networking accessories, printers, handhelds, and digital cameras.

sonystyle.com/vaio

woot.com

hypersonic-pc.com

store.apple.com

Woot brings a truly unique angle to online shopping. The site sells only one product each day, but it’s usually a great deal. Act fast, because products frequently sell out by mid-morning. Even if you arrive too late to score today’s featured product, the quirky product descriptions are worth the visit.

Need computing power that’s faster than fast? Go hypersonic. Visit Hypersonic PC for gaming systems, workstations, and laptops outfitted with the latest high-performance peripherals. Enthusiast options include 3D-graphics optimization and case customization.

The Apple Store’s well-designed site lets you custom-configure any Macintosh and offers a wide array of Mac-compatible software and accessories. For frequent (or compulsive) customers, the one-click-ordering feature makes purchases extra-simple.

ibuypower.com

toshibadirect.com

yesmicro.com

iBuypower can power up your workspace with a 64-bit PC for less than $500. Even the company’s least-expensive PCs include large hard drives, dedicated graphics cards, desktop speakers, and other essentials. All products are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The custom-configured notebooks and Tablet PCs at Toshiba Direct range from budget models to the unique Qosmio laptops, which combine PC, TV, DVD, and audio features.

Emphasizing customer service and low prices, YesMicro.com sells 60,000 hardware, peripheral, and PC-accessory products. The site’s Top Hard Drives and Top Monitors lists are right on the home page, making locating the most-popular peripherals a snap.

zones.com There’s a zone for whatever you need at Zones: the home page for hardware and software, the Mac Zone for Apple stuff, the Creative Pro page for graphics pros, and the Zones Clearance section for special buys.

>> DIRECT PC VENDORS abspc.com

idotpc.com Find a customized desktop, an economical bare-bones PC, or a personalized laptop at iDotpc.com. Menus allow you to create the PC that’s right for you, letting you specify the processor, memory, optical drive, and other necessities.

lenovo.com Lenovo sells IBM’s former lines of ThinkCentre desktops, ThinkPad laptops, and ThinkVision monitors. Configure built-to-order PCs, and choose among accessories such as memory and printers.

Expect gaming, multimedia, and business PCs aplenty at ABS Computer Technologies. The company offers a choice of Intel or AMD processors, a three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty, and tollfree technical support. Visit the Outlet Store for shortlived specials. Alienware can custom-build your dream game machine—desktop or laptop. Each is available with out-of-this-world cases in a rainbow of colors. Buyers get a personalized owner’s manual and toll-free technical support any time of the day or night.

maingear.com

MPC Computers sells desktops, notebooks, and servers. You can custom-configure a high-performance TransPort notebook, tuned to your specifications, for business, multimedia, or gaming.

MainGear specializes in premium PCs with advanced specs for gamers and other power users. The selection includes sleek-looking and colorful desktops, space-saving X-Cube machines, and powerful laptops.

dell.com Dell’s electronic storefront has always led the way in ease of use. The site is jam-packed with detailed information that makes it a snap to match a machine to your needs. Each system is configurable to the nth degree, and you can get quick access to online support customized for your PC.

falcon-nw.com Once you get your talons on a Falcon Northwest PC, you won’t want to let go. The heavyweight desktops and totable FragBox computers include the hardware you want, the way-cool look you crave, and the personalized system-rescue discs you may need one day.

Fujitsu’s site focuses on portable computing, including notebook PCs and pen-based tablet computers. Each computer has several warranty options.

velocitymicro.com Looking for a 64-bit processor to push your games to the limit? They’re in Velocity Micro’s Gamer’s Edge and Raptor models. The customconfiguration menus offer a mind-boggling array of component choices.

viciouspc.com Creating “hardware for the hard-core,” Vicious PC sells desktops with clear cases, high-output ventilation, easy-access sliding rails, and frontaccessible USB ports. Washable air filters mean your computer’s innards will remain dust-free. Nobody else can do the voodoo that they do so well. VoodooPC specializes in high-end PCs for gamers, with a choice of Intel or 64-bit AMD processors. Take your pick among tower systems, laptops, and portables—all thoroughly customizable, of course.

winbook.com

buympc.com

Power up with a customized Intel or AMD system from Cyberpower. The selection includes 64-bit machines, gamers’ dream systems, Media Centers, and budget PCs for everyday use.

us.fujitsu.com/shop

voodoopc.com Lenovo 3000 N100

alienware.com

cyberpowersystem.com

Sony Style is a sleek-looking site selling Sony’s line of VAIO desktops and notebooks, plus digital cameras, displays, and storage devices.

monarchcomputer.com Monarch Computer Systems creates built-toorder desktops, workstations, and servers. Configure the computer you want, then lock in the price for up to a week. If you’re building a PC, check out the PC Parts section for components and peripherals.

overdrivepc.com Sleek, overclocked PCs for gamers and professionals highlight Overdrive PC’s offerings. Each computer includes a quiet cooling system, free antivirus software, and no-cost shipping.

sagernotebook.com Specializing in notebook computers, Sager offers a variety of options, from budget machines to speedy multimedia units. Service includes a 72-hour repair-turnaround guarantee and free lifetime tech support.

WinBook Computer sells laptops and desktops with a 30-day money-back guarantee, a one-year warranty, and free tech support. Ironically, some of the best deals,“Web specials,” can only be ordered by phone.

www.ztgroup.com ZT Group builds and sells desktop and notebook computers for every type of user. The selection includes PCs for gaming, media, home offices, and businesses, with your choice of AMD or Intel processors.

>> SOFTWARE atomicpark.com Free shipping is available for AtomicPark.com’s entire selection of business and productivity apps. Plus, you’ll never pay a restocking fee. The new Direct Downloads section lets you use new software in minutes, not days.

bigclearance.com Offering current-version software at clearance prices, the big selection at BigClearance.com includes wares from Microsoft, Macromedia, Corel, and others.

buycheapsoftware.com The name says it all. Buycheapsoftware.com’s selection consists primarily of business and utility

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WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES apps. The company offers flat-rate $5 shipping on small orders and free shipping on orders over $200.

prevention. It’s an efficient site with a good selection of big-name applications.

“essential” apps, then sign up to get software news and tips.

chipsbits.com

retrosoftware.com

buypcsoft.com

Chips & Bits is a source for games, selling entertainment software for PC and Mac, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, and other consoles. Check the Bargain Shelf for sweet under-$10 and under-$20 deals.

Retro Software specializes in software from major publishers, including Adobe and Corel, but with a twist. If you don’t need the latest version of an application, you can purchase a generation-old version at a significant discount—or, buy really old versions for really low prices.

Buypcsoft.com sells Windows and Mac software in categories from business management to virus

FREE SOFTWARE

distrowatch.com Keep up-to-date with the latest Linux and FreeBSD distributions with DistroWatch. You’ll find news about free operating systems and links to the most popular distros in categories including multimedia, beginner-friendly, and live CDs.

download.com

directory.fsf.org The Free Software Foundation Free Software Directory catalogs useful free software for Linux and other free operating systems. Browse by category, or check out the 10 newest programs in the directory. freewarefiles.com Live free and easy with FreewareFiles.com, an index of free downloadable software for Windows. Categories include games, multimedia, business, and Internet tools. Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly updates.

serverfiles.com

driverguide.com

simtel.net

With more than 100,000 downloadable drivers for every conceivable piece of computer hardware and operating system, Driver Guide is indispensable when you’re repairing a malfunctioning system or piecing together a PC from spare parts.

For shareware and freeware downloads for Windows, look to Simtel.net. The home page lets you jump right in with its lists of the newest and most-popular software releases.

dvdempire.com

Download shareware and freeware in a snap with SnapFiles. This site will point you to the latest software releases and Weekly Top 20 titles. Users’ ratings and reviews show which software is worth checking out.

Rule over the collection of videos, CDs, video games, and high-definition blue-laser DVDs at DVD Empire. You can shop for new releases, future releases, and bestsellers in each category. Plus, get free shipping when you order three or more items.

filebot.org Buy software, download it, and use it right away with FileBot. The site sells a wide variety of audio software, system utilities, business apps, and games. Free trial versions are available for many titles.

freewareweb.com FreewareWeb.com is a worthy catalog of gratis Windows software. New programs are featured on the home page—or you can browse the numerous categories, which include desktop tools, graphics tools, and Internet apps.

With game news, reviews, and cheat codes, GameSpot is a one-stop shop for PC and console gamers. Downloadable previews and a pricecomparison tool will help you get good deals on games you’ll love.

gamehippo.com It’s okay to be a little piggish at Game Hippo.com. The site serves up more than 1,000 free downloadable PC games—but no shareware or demos. Check the Top 20 Downloaded Games to discover other players’ favorites. nonags.com Nonags is a neatly organized archive dedicated to Windows freeware—software that’s useful, tested, and (as the name suggests) won’t nag you to pay. Basic access to the site is free, but a subscription to the Plus version adds MP3 downloads and Best Of software links.

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Buy and sell used video games, DVDs, and CDs at Second Spin. In the Just In Bin, choose among more than 1,300 used games, some selling for as little as $4.99. Used products are guaranteed against defects.

CNET Download.com will help you find shareware and free software, linking to thousands of programs for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Wellwritten newsletters and down-to-earth reviews help you find the perfect program.

freewarepro.com Freeware Pro organizes free software into categories such as home office, Web authoring, and games. Begin with the Recommended list to load your PC with the best no-cost wares.

freshmeat.net Bite into Freshmeat, the Web’s largest index of open-source software for Linux and Unix. Take a look at the top 20 programs sorted by popularity or ratings, then download ready-to-use binaries or source code.

secondspin.com

gamespot.com

ServerFiles.com is a directory of software for network administrators and IT professionals. The selection includes network-security, collaboration, and server applications.

snapfiles.com

software-blowouts.com Software Blowouts is home to oodles of inexpensive Windows and Mac OS software, with flatrate shipping. Peruse the Blowouts page for education, entertainment, and utility titles, many for just $9.95.

softwareoutlet.com Plug in to SoftwareOutlet.com, a veritable virtual bargain bin. You’ll find dirt-cheap applications and hardware accessories. Browse older software from defunct companies, plus modern titles.

softwarepatch.com

Jumbo is a fitting name for this monstrous file archive, featuring shareware, freeware, and commercial-software demos for PC, Mac, and Linux.

Keep your apps updated with help from The Software Patch, a repository of software upgrades. The Top Downloads list shows the month’s most-popular updates—which are probably the patches your PC needs, too.

9software.com

store.purplus.net

#9 Software is stocked with applications in nine categories, ranging from games to business applications. The company provides free shipping on orders of more than $99.

Purplus Software is a well-regarded seller of software for business, graphics, and music. The site offers free shipping on orders of $45 or more.

nothingbutsoftware.com

tronixweb.com

You’ll make much ado about Nothing But Software. This collection of apps includes games, educational titles, graphics programs, utilities, and more—all with flat-rate shipping. Try the programs in the Specials section for as little as $7.

When it’s playtime, head to Tronix, a site specializing in software, hardware, and accessories for PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and other console video-game platforms. Scope out and preorder upcoming games in the Coming Soon section.

oldversion.com

tucows.com

Sometimes the latest version of software isn’t the greatest version—bloat and feature creep can ruin a great program. OldVersion.com is a nifty archive of previous versions of applications, including Internet clients, utilities, and media players.

Tucows is an incredible library of freeware and shareware for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This recently redesigned site makes it easy to find the newest, most-popular, or top-rated software.

jumbo.com

palmgear.com Palm OS users will appreciate the large selection of free and commercial programs downloadable from PalmGear.com. Check out the list of

viosoftware.com Emphasizing low prices and great customer service, VioSoftware.com sells applications from Adobe, Macromedia, Microsoft, and other big-name publishers. Shipping is always free.

AD INDEX 1 & 1 ............................................................1and1.com ..........................................................................58, 59 ABS..............................................................abs.com...............................................................................78, 79 Ajump .........................................................ajump.com ...............................................................................45 Alienware ...................................................www.alienware.com/fast .......................................................41 Asus ............................................................usa.asus.com/shopper......................................................Cov. 3 Bit Defender...............................................www.bitdefender.com ............................................................77 Buffalo Technology ...................................www.buffalotech.com/cs-infiniti ............................................8 CDW Corporation......................................cdw.com..................................................................................2, 3 Crucial Technology ...................................www.crucial.com/computershopper....................................65 Cyberpower, Inc.........................................www.cyberpowerpc.com ......................................38, 39, 46, 47 Dell ..............................................................dell.com/m2010 .................................................................10, 11 Dell ..............................................................dell.com/shopper8 ............................................................30, 31 eCost ...........................................................ecost.com .......................................................................100, 101 HP ................................................................hp.com/personal .....................................................................19 iBUYPOWER ...............................................www.ibuypower.com.......................................................67 - 69 Kingston .....................................................kingston.com/migocs .............................................................15 Navio Media Reference ............................www.naviomedia.com ......................................................84, 85 Newegg.com...............................................newegg.com .......................................................................62, 63 OnSpeed .....................................................www.onspeed.com/shopper ..................................................70 PC Tools Software......................................www.pctools.com....................................................................25 Prostar Computer......................................shopprostar.com .....................................................................37 Sager ...........................................................sagernotebook.com .....................................................27, 54, 55 Softwaremedia.com..................................www.softwaremedia.com ......................................................91 Systemax....................................................www.tigerdirect.com ............................................................4, 5 TigerDirect.com.........................................www.tigerdirect.com/sabre....................................................33 Systemax....................................................www.tigerdirect.com/savecsp .........................................Cov. 4 Transcend USA ..........................................www.transcendusa.com.........................................................16 USB Implementers Forum .......................www.usb.org ..................................................................Cov. 2, 1 U.S. Robotics ..............................................www.usr.com/talknow ...........................................................13 Vantec .........................................................www.vantecusa.com/wheretobuy.html ...............................88 Videoguys...................................................www.videoguys.com...............................................................94 Visionman..................................................www.visionman.com..............................................................99 Xtreme Gear...............................................www.buyxg.com......................................................................51 Zipzoomfly.com.........................................www.zipzoomfly.com .......................................................35, 43 ZT Group ....................................................ztgroup.com/go/computershopper.........................................6

All advertising is subject to Publisher’s approval and acceptance without recourse. The advertising herein that is typeset and/or designed by Computer Shopper is the property of Computer Shopper and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased the right of reproduction in Computer Shopper only and does not have the right to reproduce the ad in any other place of publication. We are not responsible for mistakes, misprints, or typographical errors and will not issue credits of any kind for such errors. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility for the condition of the contents of advertising printed, and agree to indemnify the Publisher of Computer Shopper for any and all claims and expenses arising therefrom. Computer Shopper standards suggest to the advertiser that statements concerning shipping and handling charges, warranties, and money- or no money-back guarantees should be stated in all forms of advertising within Computer Shopper. The opinions expressed in the articles, columns, and ads are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Computer Shopper.

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HELP & HOW-TO

BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY

The Right LCD Television BY ERIN KANDEL SHOPPING SPECS

SCREEN SIZE While 40-inch LCDs are generally priced slightly higher than 42-inch plasmas, their prices are coming down fast. LCD screens can also be made in smaller sizes than plasmas can—perfect for watching in kitchens or bedrooms. LCD sets larger than 40 inches are still prohibitively expensive, however.

HDTV CAPABILITIES Most LCD sets support high-definition television (HDTV), which means they can play back high-definition signals from an external source (such as a digital cable or satellite set-top box). Some come with a built-in ATSC tuner that lets you watch over-the-air HD signals. HDTVs come in either 720p (1,280x720pixel) or 1080p (1,920x1,080-pixel) resolution. While much current HD programming is in 720p format, new Blu-ray and HD-DVD high-definition DVDs display movies in 1080p. Samsung LN-S4051D

CONNECTIVITY

With their improved picture quality, wide variety of sizes, and plummeting prices, LCDs are quickly surpassing plasmas as the flat-panel televisions of choice. Here’s what you need to know before buying one of these svelte screens. 3 GREAT BUYS GOOD

BETTER

✓

Sony MFM-HT205 (www.sonystyle.com, $899.99) This 20-inch wide-screen LCD can serve as both a television and a computer monitor. Image quality is top-notch, and the set features a component-video input and two S-Video ports. It lacks an ATSC tuner and an HDMI port, however. (See review on p. 34.)

Sharp Aquos LC-32D4U (www.sharpusa.com, $1,999) With a sleek, curvy design, accurate primary colors, and a built-in ATSC tuner, this wide-screen 32-inch HDTV is among the best choices for its size. Connections include an HDMI port and two component-video ports, but the set doesn’t offer a PC input.

A High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) input, which routes the digital video and digital audio signal over a single cable, will provide the highest-quality connection to an HD source. Component-video ports are superior to S-Video connections, which, in turn, are better than composite-video ones. If you intend to also use your LCD screen as a computer monitor, a DVI or VGA connection is critical.

BEST Samsung LN-S4051D (www.samsung.com, $3,999) A richly featured wide-screen set, the 40-inch LN-S4051D has a lot going for it, including a stylish black exterior. It exhibits accurate color right out of the box, and offers a built-in ATSC tuner, a component-video input, and two HDMI ports.

✓= Editors’ Choice 120

September 2006 computershopper.com

ASUS Recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP

Get entertained and unconstrained Fun is unpredictable. Never miss a beat with ASUS’ stylish, thin and light W5F. The W5F exhibits revolutionar y dual core performance with Intel ® Centrino ® Duo Mobile Technology. Built-in wireless connectivity and a swiveling 1.3 megapixel webcam puts you wherever the action is.

W5F – Stylish Ultraportable • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology • Microsoft® Windows® XP Home • 12” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • 512 MB DDR2 • 100 GB Hard Drive • 4x Super Multi DVD-RW DL • 1.3 Megapixel Swivel Camera

W2J – Personal Multimedia Center • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology • Microsoft® Windows® Media Center 2005 • 17” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • 1024 MB DDR2 • 100 GB Hard Drive • ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X1600 256 MB • 8x Dual Layer Slot-Loading DVD-RW

W3J – Performance in Style • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology • Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro • 14” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • 1024 MB DDR2 • 100 GB Hard Drive • ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X1600 256 MB • 8x Super Multi DVD-RW DL

A6Jc – Value and Performance • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology • Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro • 15.4” Ultrabright Display • 1024 MB DDR2 • 100 GB Hard Drive • NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 128 MB • 8x Dual Layer DVD-RW

R

u s a .a s u s .c o m/shopper

NewEgg NewEgg.com 800.390.1119

PC Club PCclub.com 888.972.2582

ZipZoomFly ZipZoomFly.com 510.739.1890

© Copyright 2006 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTek Computer Inc. Intel, the Intel logo, the Centrino logo, and Centrino, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.