Computer Shopper (May 2006)

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With over 300 products in every issue, Computer Shopper magazine is the most comprehensive guide to today's technology and delivers: • The widest breadth of products. • The most in-depth product reviews. • The most product round-ups. • The most buying advice.

Look inside!

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FAST & EASY PC UPGRADES

THE FASTEST DESKTOP WE’VE EVER TESTED

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114 24 feature-packed, powerful notebooks, starting at $999.

MAY 2006 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 5 ISSUE 314

DESKTOPS

24 28 28

Features

30 30

BEST 50 FREE DOWNLOADS

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Free Load No such thing as a free lunch? Here’s a whole free buffet. Rev up, lock up, and clean up your PC with these 50 downloadable utilities. We’ve hand-picked these winners to help you compute smarter, faster, and safer—so dig in!

NOTEBOOKS

25 36 36 38 38 71

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Creative I-Trigue L3800 Plextor PX-740UF WD Raptor X DISPLAYS

Multimedia Merger Intel’s new digital-entertainment platform, Viiv, promises a new kind of media-centric PC—but is it mostly hype and marketing, or the real deal? We look at five Viiv PCs to find out if Viiv will thrive at the center of your digital universe. TECH BARGAINS ONLINE

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Dell Inspiron E1705 Hypersonic Aviator FX7 Alienware Area-51 m5500 HP Pavilion DV1000t Apple iBook G4 COMPONENTS

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VIIV DESKTOPS

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Falcon Northwest Mach V Apple Power Mac G5 Quad Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 8500 SE Dell Dimension E310 Shuttle XPC G5 1100h

28 Top Shopping Spots The bargains are out there—you just have to know where to look. Whether you’re hunting for a big-ticket LCD or a budget graphics card, turn to our guide for a tour of the Net’s best techshopping sites.

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NEC MultiSync LCD1970VX Philips Brilliance 230WP7NS Samsung SyncMaster 204T

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HOME NETWORKING

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Netgear RangeMax 240 Wireless Router Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera MOBILE PRODUCTS

48 48

T-Mobile SDA ALK CoPilot Live Smartphone 6 DIGITAL CAMERAS

54 54 54

Canon PowerShot SD430 Kodak EasyShare V570 Olympus Evolt E-500 48

DIGITAL CAMCORDERS

57 57 57

Panasonic PV-GS400 Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 Sony DCR-SR100 DIGITAL AUDIO

58 58 58

Creative Zen Vision:M Delphi Roady XT Think Outside Boomtube H201 DIGITAL LIVING

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Hitachi 55HDT52 HP LC3200N Toshiba HD-XA1 SOFTWARE

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Cover Icons by Pete Vega

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25 A dual-core processor and top-flight graphics make the Dell Inspiron E1705 an almost perfect notebook. Can you live with its limitations, though?

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58 Microsoft Works Suite 2006 Corel WordPerfect Office X3 Standard Edition Citrix GoToMyPC Personal 5 DVD Copy 4 Platinum H.264 Edition Photo Finale Premium 4.0 Advanced Uninstaller Pro 2006 7.5 HyperSnap 6 PodPlus 1.1 60

TOP 25

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The best mainstream desktop PCs, gaming notebooks, multifunction printers, graphics cards, and VoIP services.

computershopper.com May 2006

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Help & How-To COMPUTER CURES

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Our resident PC doc helps a reader decode his PC’s slots for a graphics upgrade, braves the world of BIOS flashing, and dispenses a cure for a quirky, beeping keyboard. WEEKEND PROJECT

102 New Life for an Old PC That aging desktop might not be ready for the recyclers quite yet. Our guide to four easy upgrades just might help you squeeze some extra use out of it. 106 BitTorrent for Beginners BitTorrent has turned the Net into a festival of multimedia file-sharing— but do you know your swarms from your leechers? How does BitTorrent work, and how can you get started? Find out here. BUYING BASICS

142 How to Buy the Right Laser Printer

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TechMarket COMPLETE PRODUCT MARKETPLACE GUIDE

Media Center Desktops Desktop-Replacement Notebooks Inkjet Printers Flat-Panel Displays (19 Inches or Larger) 122 External DVD Burners 124 Wi-Fi Routers

109 114 118 120

Web Buyer 102

THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

129 129 130 132 132 134

Tech Products Graphics Cards Wireless Hardware Direct PC Vendors Software Price-Comparison Sites

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Also in This Issue TRENDS

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Intel and Microsoft unveil a new generation of ultramobile PCs. Plus, nVidia revs up cell-phone graphics, and VoodooPC announces a new desktop PC with 8 terabytes of storage. GEAR

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• AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset • Flexity PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition • HP iPaq HW6900 Mobile Messenger • Imation Micro Hard Drive • LinkTheater Mini Network Media Player • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 DEPARTMENTS

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12 12 135 141

Editor’s Note Letters Spotlight Ad Index

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MAY 2006 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 5 ISSUE 314 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, 28 E. 28th St., New York, NY 100167942. 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 trademarks of SX2 Media Labs, LLC. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

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EDITOR’S NOTE JANICE CHEN I don’t let applications clutter my system, and, as a rule, if a program doesn’t get used at least once a week, I question whether I need it. That’s why it’s amazing that so many of the applications I use every day have come from our annual Top 50 Free Downloads feature. I’M A PC DISCIPLINARIAN.

For the fifth year in a row, we’ve partnered with our colleagues at CNET Download.com to identify the 50 best free downloads (p. 71). Though we’re no longer owned by the same parent company (more on that later), our editors still share an enthusiasm for hunting down software that makes computing more entertaining, productive, and efficient. That these apps are also free is just icing on the cake. For great places to spend the money you save by using these free downloads, don’t miss our list of “28 Top Shopping Spots” (p. 92). Whether you’re looking for computers, components, or accessories, we’ll show you where to find bargains. If you’ve been shopping for a home entertainment PC, you’ve no doubt run across Intel’s Viiv logo, which signifies that the system meets technical specs for digital media PCs. Intel hopes its Viiv marketing blitz will do for media PCs what its Centrino initiative did to popularize Wi-Fi notebooks. Our “Multimedia Merger” feature explains the technology and reviews some of the first

LETTERS USE A CAMERA, JUST IN CASE I really enjoyed your article on changing cases (“Best-Case Scenario,” March, p. 92). I thought it was a great way to get newbies interested in opening that mysterious box. I agree with the author that it’s best to label all the wires and connectors before you start unplugging. I also take a few shots with a digital camera. Most digicams allow you to zoom in right on the LCD, so you can see an accurate picture of what wire goes where. Mark Bryer

THE DUAL-CORE DEBATE In the feature “Dual-Core Duel” (March, p. 61), I thought the testbed you used for the Intel Pentium D CPU was an interesting choice. I would have expected you to use an Intel chipset, since using the nVidia chipset for an Intel processor doesn’t create parity. In

Viiv-branded systems. Turn to p. 81 to find out if you really need Viiv, or if it’s just marketing jive. Speaking of logos, careful observers may notice that the CNET.com logo has disappeared from our cover. In March, Computer Shopper was acquired by SX2 Media Labs, a new company founded with the mission of becoming a major provider of information for technology enthusiasts. The move takes us from being the only U.S. print property of an Internetcentric parent to becoming the flagship magazine of an upand-coming media company focused on print publications combined with great Web content. Despite our amicable separation from CNET Networks, we’ll continue to partner with its editors to deliver the best tech content around. So not only will you continue to see stories like our Top 50 Free Downloads feature produced in partnership with CNET Download.com, you’ll also continue to see reviews developed in conjunction with CNET.com, as well as stories in our Trends section from CNET News.com. And, of course, we’ll continue to provide the most comprehensive guide to today’s technology, bringing you authoritative coverage of more than 300 products in every issue, as well as advice on how to make the most of the technology you buy [email protected]

D WIN!

A Maxtor OneTouch II 500GB External Hard Drive Go to computershopper.com/survey.

this instance, See sweepstakes rules on p. 123. I think your tester used nonIntel chipsets to skew the results in I plan to post this page near my PC in case favor of AMD. AMD is still the choice of I ever run into problems with the compamodders and gamers, but for those of nies you mentioned. Dan Rosenbaum us who want speed and reliability, the choice is Intel. Name Withheld CORRECTIONS In our research, we found that an Intel chipset performed no better or worse than non-Intel chipsets. To make the playing field as level as possible, we chose to go with identical chipsets for both the Intel and AMD testbeds (nVidia’s nForce 4 SLI). We also used nearly identical motherboards from Asus. —Ed.

In “Give or Go Green” (February, p. 83), we misspelled the name and Web address of the National Cristina Foundation. The correct URL is www.cristina.org. In “This Year’s Gear” (April, p. 66), we reported an incorrect price for the Pioneer AVIC-Z1 Intelligent Navigation System. The price is $2,250.

We want to hear from you. Letters, Computer Shopper 28 E. 28th St., 10th Fl. New York, NY 10016-7922 E - M A I L : [email protected] Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. WRITE:

RIGHTEOUS REFERENCE TOOL Thanks for your article about contacting hard-to-reach e-tailers (“Whom to Call When Things Go Wrong,” February, p. 115).

For subscription service questions, address changes, or to order: Please contact us at www.service.cshopper.com (customer service) or www.subscribe.cshopper.com (to order); Phone: US and Canada (800) 274-6384, elsewhere (902) 563-4752; Mail: Computer Shopper, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565 (please include mailing label, as it contains information that will expedite processing); Fax: (303) 604-0518; E-mail (please include your full name and the address at which you subscribe; do not send attachments): [email protected]. Subscriptions: The one-year (12-issue) rate is $24.97. Outside the US add $30 per year for surface mail, US funds only. Please allow 3-6 weeks to receive your first issue as well as for any changes to take place on an existing subscription. Back issues: $8 each in the US, $12 each elsewhere (subject to availability). Prepayment is required. Make checks payable to Computer Shopper. Mail requests to: Back Issues, Computer Shopper, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565. Mailing list: We sometimes make our customer lists available to third parties that may interest you. If you do not wish to receive their mailings, please write us at: Computer Shopper, P.O. Box 52565, Boulder, CO 80322-2565.

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BUILD YOUR OWN PC FOR LESS THAN $500 Yes, building a desktop from scratch can be less costly than buying one from a major vendor. Our guide will help you grow your own budget PC—complete with room for future upgrades.

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HOW DOES THAT WORK? Ever wonder how your laptop communicates with your wireless router, or how an LCD monitor displays images? We dissect today's technologies you can’t live without, explaining them in terms even your Luddite friends will understand.

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TRENDS

18 nVidia Chip Brings Force to Mobile Graphics 18 Lenovo Launches Own Line of PCs in U.S. 18 VoodooPC to Offer 8-Terabyte System 22 Gear

UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS

• TRENDSPOTTING

Intel, Microsoft Have Big Plans For Tiny Tablet PCs INTEL and Microsoft have unveiled plans to jump-start the tablet-computing market with new devices dubbed ultramobile PCs (UMPCs). Under the code name “Origami,” Microsoft and several manufacturers have developed minitablets that weigh roughly two pounds, pack a 7inch screen, and will cost around $800. The devices are capable of running Windows XP, along with a Windows Touch Pack that eases fingertip input. The pack includes new software for playing back media, as well as a “program launcher” that makes it easier to find and run programs

Net Gains Slowing Percentage of Americans With Internet Access

2004

62 percent 2005

64 percent 2006

65 percent* 2007

66 percent* 2008

66 percent* 2009

67 percent* Source: Parks Associates

stored on the device. New settings make scroll bars and icons bigger and more easily navigable by a fingertip. You’ll also be able to perform two-thumbed text input via an onscreen keyboard.

Samsung Q1 UMPC

UMPCs being launched by Asus, Samsung, and Chinese company Founder use Intel processors, while other makers, including PaceBlade Japan and Tablet Kiosk, are using processors from Via Technologies. Stephen Baker, an NPD Group analyst, was skeptical of how much appeal the first

round of devices will have. “It’s a product in search of a market,” he says. Baker suggests the devices are too expensive for the things they do well, and don’t have adequate features for other applications that their form factor would otherwise make them well-suited to. Intel, which showed its own concept UMPCs at the recent Intel Developer Forum, sees a bigger market if the industry can produce smaller devices with better battery life and lower prices. The first generation of devices is likely to get about three hours of battery life, according to Brad Graff, an Intel marketing director. He projects later generations of UMPCs could be pocket-size, offer all-day battery life, and cost around $500.

Printers, hard drives, and cameras using wireless USB technology should begin appearing on the market in the third quarter of 2006, according to Jeff Ravencraft, chairman of the USB Implementers Forum. Devices with Certified Wireless USB radios can transmit data as quickly as wired USB 2.0 ones can—480Mbps, within a 10-foot range. They can also transfer data up to a maximum of roughly 30 feet, though at greatly reduced throughput. Current PCs will need add-in cards or dongles to support Wireless USB. PCs with built-in support should be available by the end of this year.

—Ina Fried

—Sean Portnoy

News.com

The 64-Bit Question: Why Is No One Buying? It looks like the world isn’t clamoring for 64-bit desktops just yet. Nearly two and a half years have passed since PCs with 64bit processors began selling, but software that takes full advantage of these chips remains scarce, and customers aren’t buying much of what’s available. Microsoft’s 64-bit version of Windows has sold few copies, according to analysts. A site created by chip maker AMD, the biggest proponent of 64-bit desktops, lists only six games tweaked for 64-bit computing, along

with one partial upgrade. Most PC makers and software developers seem to be waiting until Vista, the next version of Windows, is released later this year. When Vista arrives, consumers will start noticing some 64-bit benefits, even if their apps remain 32-bit. A potential snag: New 64-bit programs may not reach critical mass in the consumer market until 2007 or 2008, according to Margaret Lewis, AMD’s director of commercial solutions News.com strategy. —Michael Kanellos

* = Projected

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TRENDS TECH NEWS

nVidia Chip Brings Force to Mobile Graphics lease more and more titles While phone makers and NVIDIA’S latest graphics as phones gain processing wireless carriers have exprocessor for high-end mopower, however. pressed excitement about bile phones, the GoForce Battery life is a key conmobile gaming, believing it 5500, will enable you to take cern for users of powerful will help pay for the cost of 10-megapixel pictures and mobile applidecode highcations, but resolution video, nVidia says marking anoththe new chip er step toward outperforms turning mobile its predecesphones into sors in reducpowerful handing the power held entertainconsumed by ment devices. entertainThe GoForce ment appli5500 will allow cations and phone makers voice calls. to boost screen The comresolution to pany expects 1,024x768 pixphone manuels. The new facturers to chip has also re- A screenshot of the nVidia GoForce 5500 running Denied Reality’s Siege. release new ceived support systems containing the chip maintaining high-bandwidth from major game developby the 2006 holiday shopwireless networks, interest ers, including Electronics ping season. has been lukewarm. Game Arts and Id Software, the News.com developers continue to remakers of Quake III Arena. —Tom Krazit

Lenovo Launches Its Own Line of PCs in U.S. CHINESE computer giant Lenovo has introduced a series of desktop and notebook PCs for the U.S. market under its own name, not the ThinkPad or ThinkCentre brands it picked up after it acquired IBM’s PC business in 2005. The purchase of IBM brought Lenovo a group of talented PC designers who were responsible for the ThinkPad’s image as a high-end notebook. Their design acumen, along with Lenovo’s focus on low-cost products, has produced a series of models with PCmanagement tools similar to the ones found in ThinkPads and ThinkCentres, but at a lower price.

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The 3000-series PCs have Lenovo-developed software tools that enable users to recover from virus outbreaks, manage operatingsystem updates, and connect to wired or wireless networks. Lenovo 3000 Series J100 desktop

May 2006 computershopper.com

Prices range from $349 to $799 for the J105 desktop, $499 to $849 for the J100 desktop, and $599 to $999 for the C100 notebook. While the J105 uses AMD’s Sempron or Athlon 64 processors, the J100 comes equipped with Intel Pentium 4 CPUs. The C100 has a 15inch screen and uses Intel Celeron M or Pentium M processors. “At some point, they have to rip that IBM Band-Aid off,” says Sam Bhavnani, a principal analyst at Current Analysis. The question is whether PC buyers will accept the Lenovo brand without the ThinkPad tag, he says. —T.K.

News.com

VoodooPC to Offer 8-Terabyte System You can never be too rich, be too thin, or have too much space on your hard drive, according to PC-maker VoodooPC. The gaming-system specialist will launch a desktop PC with 16 hard drives later this year, says Raul Sood, VoodooPC’s president. In all, the system will be capable of holding 8 terabytes (TB) of data. VoodooPC’s focus on massive hard drive storage comes courtesy of Vista, the new OS Microsoft will be launching later this year. Microsoft and PC makers will promote Vista as a way to turn PCs into home-entertainment centers. Video, and in particular high-definition video, gobbles up storage fast. “Storage is going to be where it’s at with Vista,” Sood says. “There will be a lot more emphasis on storage [versus memory].” Fully outfitted systems from VoodooPC won’t be for the budget-conscious, however. PCs with 8TB of storage may cost $8,000 to $9,000, according to Sood. The company will also likely sell 1TB systems suited for Vista. Its current 1TB systems sell for around $3,000. —Michael Kanellos

News.com

GEAR NEW PRODUCTS BY BRIAN BENNETT

Go fourth Hewlett-Packard’s latest mobile communicator, the iPaq HW6900 Mobile Messenger, has four data radios to help you stay in touch and on track. Running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 5.0, the handset is a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE world phone with integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s also a GPS receiver. (Pricing was not set at press time.) Hewlett-Packard, www.hp.com

Pixel packer

Tentacles of power Why settle for an ordinary power strip when there’s Flexity’s $79.99 PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition? Equipped with multiple glowing cords, this unconventionally shaped surge protector not only supplies your computer and electronics with ample juice, but it also guards against power spikes. Flexity, www.powersquid.net

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Get 6-megapixel resolution for your shots with Sony’s $249.95 Cyber-shot DSC-W50. This svelte 5.8-ounce digital camera features a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens and a big 2.5-inch LCD screen for framing snapshots. The camera also captures MPEG-1 movie clips with sound at 30 frames per second. Sony Electronics, www.sonystyle.com

Network entertainment Buffalo’s $99 LinkTheater Mini Network Media Player enables you to take in PC-based multimedia while lounging on the living-room sofa. The Ethernet-based device streams MP3 and WMV audio, MPEG video, and JPEG pictures to your television and stereo system over the network. Buffalo Technology, www.buffalotech.com

Gigs to go Always have plenty of backup storage on hand with the $189 Imation Micro Hard Drive. Resembling a rubberized padlock, the tiny Micro weighs a mere 1.8 ounces. You can store 4GB of data to its minuscule 0.85-inch internal drive, connecting it to a PC or Mac via its USB 2.0 appendage. Imation, www.imation.com

Feel the buzz Boost your PC-audio experience with the $49.95 AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset from eDimensional. These tricked-out stereo headphones vibrate to simulate the low-frequency response of a home theater subwoofer. Besides blinking LEDs, the AudioFX also features a flexible noise-canceling microphone for in-game chatting. eDimensional, www.edimensional.com

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REVIEWS THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS

Falcon Northwest Mach V Record-breaking performance comes at a sky-high price FALCON NORTHWEST’S Mach V is one of the first desktops we’ve tested with AMD’s 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-60 CPU. At $6,462 (without a monitor or speakers), it’s also ferociously expensive. The PC did, however, turn in some of the highest benchmark scores 7.2 to date. EDITORS’ RATING Housed in a large sil0 BETTER >> 10 ver chassis, the Mach V is embellished solely by PROS Top-rated performance; new dual-core AMD FX-60 CPU; includes the backlit Falcon logo. hard-to-find 3D cards The interior cabling is CONS More expensive than the compeimpeccable, maximiztition; massive power draw of graphics ing airflow and simplicards imperils high-detail Doom 3 gaming fying upgrades. SPECS 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-60; 2GB Keeping inDDR; two 300GB hard drives; double-layterior er DVD±RW; DVD-ROM; no monitor; two temperanVidia GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards tures low are four fans, (512MB); Windows XP Professional along with a sealed Falcon Northwest, 888-325-2661 Sanyo Denki waterwww.falcon-nw.com cooling unit on the Direct Price $6,462 processor to keep it

What’s the Deal? Falcon Northwest’s most-recent Mach V has outstanding specs, first-rate build quality, and record-breaking performance scores, but a power glitch and the massive price (high even for an elite gaming PC) stop us from making a stronger recommendation. What it’s for: Hard-core 3D gaming or CPU-intensive tasks. Who it’s for: Gamers and power users with bottomless budgets who want the absolute best. Average business users will find the Mach V’s power to be overkill, but those in need of severe number-crunching strength or muscle for developing digital content will want one. What’s included: Standard three-year parts-and-labor warranty, with toll-free phone support; Logitech MX5000 Laser Desktop mouse-and-keyboard set; and a basic software package that includes Nero’s OEM Suite for disc burning, CyberLink’s PowerDVD 5 for movie watching, and Zone Labs’ ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite. Extra essentials: A spacious monitor, 7.1-channel surround-sound speakers, and games. The bottom line: This Mach V certainly has all the right parts, but with a price exceeding $6,000, few will be able to justify the need for this kind of performance.

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from overheating. The system is by no means loud, but the fans and the cooling unit make significant noise, even through the case’s sound-dampening foam. Not content to let the dual-core Athlon 64 FX-60 chip run at its native 2.6GHz, Falcon bumped the processor up to 2.9GHz by increasing the front-side-bus speed (a feature you can request at checkout). This tweak also boosted the system memory. The Mach V’s 3D-gaming prowess comes from a pair of factory-overclocked 512MB BFG GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards in Scalable Link Interface (SLI) mode. (At press time, Falcon Northwest said the cards will be discontinued in favor of the newer, faster 7900 GTX graphics cards. The new system will cost an estimated $5,995.) The Mach V’s BAPCo SYSmark 2004 overall score of 306 is the highest we’ve seen. The PC also stomped the competition with its scorching 205 frames per second on our Doom 3 1,024x768 tests. At the GPUs’ highest settings at 1,600x1,200, however, the cards drew too much power to make gameplay stable. Falcon Northwest said it has worked with SilverStone, its power-supply vendor, to correct the problem. —John R. Delaney

CNET.com

The Mach V’s water-cooling system keeps the overclocked AMD FX-60 CPU from overheating.

in this section

Dell Inspiron E1705

28 DESKTOPS Apple Power Mac G5 Quad

Twice the brains equals plenty of power—minus longevity

Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 8500 SE Dell Dimension E310

THE DELL INSPIRON E1705 inaugurates the company’s new Entertainment line of laptops with a bang. Outfitted with Intel’s new Core Duo CPU (like the company’s desktop dual-core CPUs, touted as two processors in one) and top-shelf 3D graphics, this big machine packs solid multimedia features and strong performance. Our fully loaded $2,868 test configuration was equipped with a 2GHz Core Duo T2500 processor, 1GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive that spins at

EDITORS’ RATING 0

7.8

BETTER >>

10

PROS Core Duo CPU; fast performance; highquality speakers; double-layer DVD burner

CONS Poor battery life; lacks integrated TV tuner; touch pad could be larger

SPECS 2GHz Core Duo T2500; 1GB DDR2; 80GB hard drive; double-layer DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT; Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Dell, 800-999-3355 www.dell.com

Direct Price $2,868 5,400rpm, and a double-layer DVD±RW drive. A high-end nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GPU with 256MB of dedicated video memory complemented the 17-inch wide-screen display, which had a high 1,900x1,200 (WUXGA) native resolution. Crafted out of sturdy, stylish magnesium alloy, the E1705 measures a stout 1.6x15.5x11.3 inches and weighs a hefty 8.2 pounds (9.3 pounds with its

AC adapter). You get a full-size keyboard and large mouse buttons, but the touch pad is merely adequate in size. Though the E1705 runs Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, it lacks an integrated TV tuner. (Dell sells an external PC Card tuner with a remote control for $130.) Using the company’s MediaDirect software, the notebook plays CDs and DVDs, and accesses photos and other media files stored on its hard drive without booting up Windows. Two speakers and an internal subwoofer deliver crisp sound. On our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 test, the laptop garnered an incredibly swift score of 211, beating all single-core laptops we’ve tested. Its BAPCo MobileMark 2005 score of 234 was also impressive, and, proving it can tackle 3D games with aplomb, the E1705 turned in a score of 57 frames per second on our Doom 3 benchmark test. All this muscle comes at the expense of battery life, however; the laptop ran for just 2 hours and 29 minutes before shutting down. Connections include a generous six USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire port, a five-format media-card reader, and a DVI video port. Our test notebook also came with internal Bluetooth and 802.11b/g radios. Dell backs the unit with a year of parts-and-labor coverage and toll-free phone support. —Justin Jaffe

CNET.com

Shuttle XPC G5 1100h 36 NOTEBOOKS Hypersonic Aviator FX7 Alienware Area-51 m5500 HP Pavilion DV1000t Apple iBook G4 40 COMPONENTS Creative I-Trigue L3800 Plextor PX-740UF WD Raptor X 44 DISPLAYS NEC MultiSync LCD1970VX Philips Brilliance 230WP7NS Samsung SyncMaster 204T 46 HOME NETWORKING Netgear RangeMax 240 Wireless Router Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera 48 MOBILE PRODUCTS T-Mobile SDA ALK CoPilot Live Smartphone 6 54 DIGITAL CAMERAS Canon PowerShot SD430 Kodak EasyShare V570 Olympus Evolt E-500 57 DIGITAL CAMCORDERS Panasonic PV-GS400 Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 Sony DCR-SR100 58 DIGITAL AUDIO Creative Zen Vision:M Delphi Roady XT Think Outside Boomtube H201 60 DIGITAL LIVING Hitachi 55HDT52 HP LC3200N

Running Intel’s new Core Duo CPU, the E1705 is one of the fastest laptops we’ve ever seen.

Toshiba HD-XA1 62 SOFTWARE Microsoft Works Suite 2006 Corel WordPerfect Office X3 Standard Edition Citrix GoToMyPC Personal 5 DVD Copy 4 Platinum H.264 Edition Photo Finale Premium 4.0 Advanced Uninstaller Pro 2006 7.5 HyperSnap 6 PodPlus 1.1

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

computershopper.com May 2006

25

REVIEWS DESKTOPS

Apple Power Mac G5 Quad Fastest, burliest Mac to date WITH TWO dual-core 2.5GHz PowerPC G5 CPUs and 4GB of DDR2 RAM, Apple’s Power Mac G5 Quad is the fastest Mac we’ve tested. Our $6,524 review unit (without a monitor) included a professional-grade nVidia Quadro video card, but we expect great performance from lesser Quad setups, as well. (Our test box also added EDITORS’ RATING 7.7 nearly $3,000 in options to the baseline > > 0 BETTER 10 $3,299 Quad configPROS Powerful, workstationuration, which may class graphics card; excellent be overkill for performance on multithreaded average users.) applications Faster Power Macs CONS Difficult to add additionare imminent, given al storage; no RAID option Apple’s plan to outfit SPECS Two 2.5GHz PowerPC all its desktops with G5s; 4GB DDR2; two 500GB hard Intel chips by year’s end. drives; double-layer DVD±RW; no monitor; nVidia Quadro FX If you need a serious con4500 graphics (512MB); Mac OS tent-creation system today, X 10.4 however, you’ll find few Apple Computer, 800-692-7753 machines more-suited to www.apple.com the task than the Quad. Direct Price $6,524 The PC retains the striking

case design of past Power Macs, down to the impeccable assembly and liquidcooling system. You don’t get much room internally for storage upgrades, however, nor does Apple offer any hardware RAID options, though you can configure RAID via the OS. We ran the desktop through our battery of multimedia tests and saw a marked improvement over the previous Power Mac heavyweight, the Dual 2.7GHz Power Mac G5. On our Adobe Photoshop CS test, the Quad beat its older incarnation by 15 percent. Then, on our iTunes test, the Quad encoded an MP3 file 52 percent faster than its predecessor did. Our Sorenson Squeeze video-encoding test showed no improvement, however. Still, Mac-happy digital developers will be pleased with the Quad’s overall CNET.com improved performance. —Daniel Drew Turner

Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 8500 SE Cheap power for everyday apps, plus passable gaming performance FOR GAMERS with modest budgets, Cyberpower offers a dualcore gaming rig capable of two-card Scalable Link Interface (SLI) graphics for $999—and that’s including an LCD and 2.1 speakers. Even so, the Ultra 8500’s sleek red-and-chrome case doesn’t scream “bargain system.” The PC features design elements you’d expect only from pricier gaming PCs, including tucked-away cables for clear airflow, a seethrough side window, blue fluorescent interior lighting, and cool retro-looking analog gauges. While the components inside are midrange, you get abundant room for upgrades. (You can fill the vacant x16 PCI Express slot with a second 256MB nVidia GeForce 6600 graphics card, for instance.) The case is cooled by a mix of quiet and noisy components. A pair of 120mm case fans are whisper-quiet at low speeds, but the clear 80mm fan on the case door is rather noisy, as is the stock

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May 2006 computershopper.com

EDITORS’ RATING 0

BETTER >>

6.9 10

PROS Stylish case; excellent processor heat-sink fan. performance with productivity The PC runs on the lowapps; inexpensive; highly configurable, including SLI capability; end, dual-core 2GHz Athlon three-year warranty 64 X2 3800+, but because it’s CONS Wimpy graphics card for backed by 1GB of memory, a gaming PC; some noisy fans; multitasking and productivpoor documentation ity work won’t be an SPECS 2GHz Athlon X2 3800+; issue. The desktop 1GB DDR; 200GB hard drive; douhit an above-average ble-layer DVD±RW; 17-inch Viewscore of 213 on BAPSonic LCD; nVidia GeForce 6600 Co SYSmark 2004, graphics (256MB); Windows XP Home Edition but the aforementioned Cyberpower, 800-707-0393 GPU only www.cyberpowerpc.com recorded a Direct Price $999 pedestrian 41.7 frames per second on our Half-Life 2 test at 1,024x768. The Ultra 8500 should play all the latest games, but you may have to tone down some of the graphics to get playable performance. Cyberpower’s standard three-year warranty and lifetime support are impressive for a budget system. Plus, onsite service is available at minimal extra cost. DocuCNET.com mentation is bare-bones, however. —Denny Atkin

ASUS recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP

Dual Core. Zero Snore. Personal Multimedia Center • Intel® Core® Duo Mobile Technology -Intel® Core® Duo Processor T2500 -Mobile Intel® 945PM Express Chipset -Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection • 17” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X1600 256MB • 1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM • 100 GB Hard Drive • 8x Dual Layer DVD-RW • Built-in TV Tuner • Virtual 5.1 Channel Speakers and Subwoofer • Microsoft® Windows® Media Center 2005

$2599 he ASUS W2J utilizes Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology for improved battery life and a system that doesn’t snooze in even the most intense multi-tasking environment. Housed in a classy, award-winning brushed aluminum design, the W2J makes competing mobile solutions seem outright boring. A6Jc – Value and Performance

W3J - Performance in Style

W5F – Stylish Ultraportable

• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology -Intel Core® Duo Processor T2300 -Mobile Intel® 945PM Express Chipset -Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection • 15.4” Ultrabright Display • 1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM • 100 GB Hard Drive • NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 128 MB • 8x Dual Layer DVD-R • Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro

• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology -Intel® Core® Duo Processor T2300 -Mobile Intel® 945PM Express Chipset -Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection • 14” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • 1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM • 100 GB Hard Drive • ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X1600 256 MB • 8x Super Multi DVD-RW DL • Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro

• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology -Intel® Core® Duo Processor T2300 -Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset -Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection • 12” Ultrabright Widescreen Display • 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM • 100 GB Hard Drive • 4x Super Multi DVD-RW DL • 1.3 Megapixel Camera • Microsoft® Windows® XP Home

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© 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 Centrinno, 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.

REVIEWS DESKTOPS

Shuttle XPC G5 1100h An everyday desktop for your desk’s top YOU’LL PAY a premium for the petite design, but Shuttle’s XPC G5 1100h is an able mainstream performer that’s a smart choice for space-constrained dorm and apartment dwellers, as well as anyone with an eye for design. Shuttle made a name for itself by pioneering the smallform-factor (SFF) PC case, and the G5 1100h is the company’s EDITORS’ RATING 7.2 smallest system yet. Lose the graph> > 0 BETTER 10 ics card and its noisy fan, and PROS Clean, attractive design; we’d wager it could also stake small footprint; built-in wireless a claim as Shuttle’s quietest networking; efficient mobile system. We typically don’t Pentium M CPU recommend integrated graphCONS Noisy graphics-card fan; ics over a midrange graphics relatively pricey card—a card is money well SPECS 2GHz Pentium M 760; spent for 3D-gaming power 1GB DDR2; 200GB hard drive; and overall application perforDVD±RW; 17-inch Shuttle LCD; nVidia GeForce 6600 LE graphics mance. The G5 1100h, howev(256MB); Windows XP Profeser, will most likely sit atop sional; Microsoft Works 8 your desk instead of tucked Shuttle Computer, 888-972-1818 away underneath it, so we’d us.shuttle.com accept the performance hit in Direct Price $1,904 exchange for the silence.

Despite its small size, the G5 1100h serves up a full range of mainstream desktop features, including a DVD burner, a multiformat media-card reader, and a healthy mix of ports. Shuttle also includes an 802.11g wireless-LAN antenna and a Creative Sound Blaster Live 7.1-channel sound card. Our $1,904 review unit employed a 2GHz Pentium M 760 mobile-style processor and came with an excellent 17-inch LCD. Configured with 1GB of DDR2 memory, the PC kept pace with the desktop competition. Its BAPCo SYSmark 2004 score of 175 placed it in a statistical tie with PCs that use mainstream Intel desktop CPUs. And the 256MB GeForce 6600 LE graphics card (now replaced by a 6600 Fanless model) delivered an outstanding Half-Life 2 gaming experience at the bundled LCD’s native resolution of CNET.com 1,280x1,024. —Matthew Elliott

Dell Dimension E310 Budget Media Center falls short on expandability

EDITORS’ RATING 0

ENTRY-LEVEL PCs are generally good for Web surfing, e-mailing, and word processing, but not much else. Dell somewhat exceeds buyers’ expectations with its low-end Dimension E310, mainly because the PC operates on the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 OS. Besides a 17-inch LCD and speakers, our $874 review unit came with a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 521 processor and 512MB of DDR2 RAM. For serious multimedia work and frequent multitasking, we’d prefer a dual-core PC such as Dell’s XPS 200. On the other hand, we like the E310’s attractive price and 64-bit CPU. We also favored the advanced data security provided by Dell’s DataSafe technology: a dual-drive RAID 1 array paired with software that automates backups.

BETTER >>

5.8 10

PROS DataSafe hard drive array The silver-and-black E310 provides data security; quiet, looks about as middle-ofcool-running BTX case the-road as you can get—unCONS FireWire port not derstated and unadorned. standard; no graphics-card Behind its front panel is a expansion slot centrally located fan exhaust SPECS 2.8GHz Pentium 4 521; that keeps operation cool 512MB DDR2; two 160GB hard and quiet—a staple of drives; double-layer DVD±RW; the BTX design. You 17-inch Dell LCD; integrated Intel also get a media-card graphics; Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; Corel reader, a double-layer WordPerfect DVD burner, and two Dell, 800-915-3355 USB 2.0 ports. A www.dell.com FireWire port is Direct Price $874 only available as a $30 option. (We think it should come standard.) The PC also lacks an upgrade path for the integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics, which were unable to run our graphics tests. The desktop scored a middling 158 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004, but it performed better on our Internet-content-creation tests, which focus on tasks more CNET.com applicable to Media Center PCs. —Asa Somers SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 36

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May 2006 computershopper.com

REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS

Hypersonic Aviator FX7 A notebook that can truly replace a desktop EDITORS’ THE HYPERSONIC AVIATOR FX7 is a brawny CHOICE portable with a feature set that approaches the absurd. Our shiny-green $4,806 review unit featured a 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-60 desktop CPU. A high-end desktop processor is EDITORS’ RATING 8.5 nothing new for a note0 BETTER >> 10 book, but PROS Desktop-level features, backing it with 2GB performance; gorgeous automoof RAM, two double-layer tive finish (optional); excellent DVD burners, two 7,200rpm audio; comfortable keyboard; three-year warranty 100GB hard drives (in a RAID 0 array), a built-in Webcam, CONS Expensive; runs very hot; and a TV-tuner card certainly loud cooling fans; heavy is. Can you blame it for SPECS 2.6GHz Athlon 64 weighing 13 pounds? FX-60; 2GB DDR; two 100GB hard drives, two double-layer If that isn’t enough, you DVD±RW drives; 17-inch TFT; also get wireless LAN and Windows XP Professional Bluetooth connectivity, a Hypersonic PC Systems multimedia-card reader, dual 800-520-0498 FireWire ports, a DVI connecwww.hypersonic-pc.com tor, and a front-edge digital Direct Price $4,806 display with full audio con-

Alienware Area-51 m5500 Nimble portable has pep but gets poor mileage

trols, including a Shuffle button. The excellent keyboard and fully programmable touch pad were marred only by an undersize Tab key and spacebar. In terms of raw performance, the FX7 is more desktop than notebook, even if its overall score of 230 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004 falls short of the scores of desktops using the same processor. The FX7’s score still represents blazing notebook performance, albeit with one downside: All this power generates significant heat, and the cooling fans create plenty of noise. The laptop churned out 85 frames per second in our 1,024x768 Doom 3 test. It also delivered excellent video playback on its 17-inch LCD, which is complemented by an impressive 4.1-channel audio system. Hypersonic covers the FX7 with an outstanding three-year warranty, including 24/7 toll-free phone support. —Asa Somers

EDITORS’ RATING 0

ALIENWARE is known for its futuristic-looking muscle machines. True to form, its Area-51 m5500 performs impressively, but at the cost of battery life. Our $2,233 test unit came with a 2GHz Pentium M 760 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a double-layer DVD±RW drive. An external switch lets you toggle between the internal 256MB GeForce 6600 3D-graphics chip and powersaving Intel integrated graphics. The laptop’s 15.4-inch widescreen display has an ultrasharp 1,920x1,200 native resolution, which is great for video playback but renders text too small. Weighing 7.3 pounds (8.6 pounds with its AC adapter) and measuring 1.4x14.3x10.8 inches, the m5500 is relatively compact and light-

36

May 2006 computershopper.com

BETTER >>

6.2 10

PROS Fast application perfor-

weight given its high-end mance; plays CDs/DVDs without parts. Despite an undersize booting; can switch between Tab key and spacebar, the GeForce and integrated graphics keyboard is comfortable to CONS Short battery life; highuse, as are the touch pad res screen makes text tiny and mouse buttons. Plus, SPECS 2GHz Pentium M 760; you can use the laptop’s 1GB DDR2; 80GB hard drive; InterVideo InstantOn softdouble-layer DVD±RW; 15.4-inch TFT; Windows XP Professional ware to play DVDs, CDs, and media files without Alienware, 800-254-3692 www.alienware.com booting Windows. Useful connections inMfr. Est. Price $2,233 clude a FireWire port, three USB 2.0 ports, and a four-format flash-memory slot. You also get an S/PDIF digital-audio port and integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi connectivity. Mobile application performance is the m5500’s forte. The laptop recorded an exceptional BAPCo MobileMark 2005 score of 237 but mustered battery life of only 2 hours and 51 minutes. Alienware covers the laptop with a one-year onsite warranty that includes around-the-clock, tollfree phone support. —A.S.

REVIEWS NOTEBOOKS

HP Pavilion DV1000t Powerful, stylish and packed with multimedia tricks FEATURING an advanced dual-core Intel mobile processor, Hewlett-Packard’s $1,862 Pavilion DV1000t serves up power and multimedia functionality in an attractive, well-priced package. Our high-end test unit came with top-notch components, including a 2GHz Intel Core Duo T2500 processor, integrated Intel 945GM graphics, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, and a spacious 100GB hard drive spinning at 5,400rpm. You also get a double-layer DVD burner and a built-in Webcam. A 14.1-inch wide-aspect display with a native EDITORS’ RATING 7.5 resolution 0 BETTER >> 10 of 1,280x768 PROS Fast performance; comproduces crisp, plete set of multimedia controls; clear text and images. attractive design; crisp display Clad in black and silver, CONS Battery life could be the DV1000t has a clean, better; keyboard isn’t full-size modern feel. It weighs 5.5 SPECS 2GHz Core Duo T2500; pounds (6.3 pounds with its 1GB DDR2; 100GB hard drive; petite power brick), making double-layer DVD±RW; 14.1-inch it moderately portable. AlTFT; Windows XP Professional though the keyboard isn’t Hewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747 full-size, it’s responsive and www.hp.com comfortable, complementDirect Price $1,862 ing the standard-size touch

pad and mouse buttons below. Also, a row of multimedia controls above the keyboard enables you to play CDs and DVDs or access photos without booting Windows. The solid array of connections includes a PCI Express slot, three USB 2.0 ports, a four-pin FireWire input, a six-format media-card reader, and built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi connectivity. In our tests, the DV1000t turned in an impressive BAPCo MobileMark 2005 score of 232. The laptop’s battery lasted 3 hours and 52 minutes—good, if not outstanding. HP covers the DV1000t with a one-year warranty that includes parts and repairs, and provides CNET.com toll-free, 24/7 phone support. —Justin Jaffe

Apple iBook G4 Apple offers simple, elegant computing—but minimal support

EDITORS’ RATING 0

WITH A FEW welcome enhancements over its previous iteration, Apple’s latest version of its attractive and popular iBook, the iBook G4, has enough features, power, and battery life to please users who have basic computing needs. Our $1,299 evaluation system came with a 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 512MB of memory, a 14-inch LCD screen, and a 60GB hard drive protected by Sudden Motion Sensor technology, designed to guard against damage from bumps or drops. A single-layer DVD writer handles disc burning, and a low-end ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics chip drives the 1,024x768resolution display. The 5.9-pound white case is fairly portable, measuring 1.4x12.7x10.2 inches. Although the keyboard’s arrow keys are tiny, the key layout is otherwise comfortable. Below the keys sits a one-but-

38

May 2006 computershopper.com

6.7

BETTER >>

PROS Respectable perfor-

10

ton touch pad with handy mance, battery life; iLife ’06 scroll areas. bundle; hard drive protection In our tests, the iBook CONS Only 90 days of free completed our Photoshop phone support; mediocre graphics CS workout in less than half chip the time of the previousSPECS 1.42GHz PowerPC G4; generation iBook. It also 512MB DDR; 60GB hard drive; earned faster scores on our DVD±RW; 14.1-inch TFT; Mac OS X iTunes and Unreal Tournament 2004 benchmark Apple Computer, 800-692-7753 www.apple.com tests. The unit played our test DVD for a decent 4.1 Direct Price $1,299 hours before petering out. Core connectivity features include one FireWire port and two USB 2.0 ports. Also built-in are Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11b/g wireless radios. Though the iBook lacks a true productivity-software suite, you get the latest version of Mac OS X, and Apple’s robust iLife ’06 software bundle. Apple offers only the bare minimum in service and support for this notebook, however: a one-year warranty, and just 90 days of tollCNET.com free support by phone. —Stephanie Bruzzese

REVIEWS COMPONENTS

Plextor PX-740UF Rapid drive outraces competition, stalls on tech support PLEXTOR’S PX-740UF double-layer DVD±RW drive runs like an Italian sports car and is priced like one. Still, if 0 BETTER >> 10 you don’t mind the $179 price, the drive PROS Speedy performance; delivers top performance. offers both FireWire, USB connectivity; ships with a version of In our tests, the PX-740UF wrote a Nero’s software suite 4.4GB movie to a single-layer DVD+R disc in just 5 minutes and 45 seconds, CONS Expensive; limited support options and a 7.9GB movie to a double-layer DVD+R disc in a speedy 14 minutes and Plextor, 888-999-4700 www.plextor.com 47 seconds. In addition, it ripped 4.4GB from a single-layer disc in 6 minutes Direct Price $179 and 6 seconds, and 7.9GB from a doublelayer disc in 11 minutes and 47 seconds—both excellent results. Its DVD+RW times were also impressive: It took 6 minutes and 25 seconds to read 4.2GB from a DVD+RW disc, and 7 minutes and 29 seconds to write the same amount to one. The PX-740UF works with both FireWire and USB 2.0, and features a generous software bundle that includes the Nero 6 OEM suite. But Plextor offers little tech support for the drive; phone support is available only on weekdays, and the company’s Web site lacks live chat CNET.com or user forums. —Jon L. Jacobi

EDITORS’ RATING

Creative I-Trigue L3800 Sleek speakers offer wireless remote CREATIVE’S I-Trigue speakers have never fallen short on looks, but for the $149.99 L3800, the company added one thing competing models don’t have: a wireless remote. As surprising as it may sound, no 2.1-channel speaker EDITORS’ RATING 7.7 set in this price and quality range comes 0 BETTER >> 10 with a wireless rePROS Impressive 2.1-channel mote, and for Media sound; attractive design; Center PC owners, wireless remote that might be the CONS Weak satellites; no deal sealer. console adapter The L3800 feaCreative Technology tures a frequency 800-998-1000 response of 30Hz to us.creative.com 20KHz and an outDirect Price $149.99 put of 9 watts per satellite. Despite the anemic satellites, Creative found a way to make their sound mesh with the 30-watt subwoofer. The satellites feature lateralfiring transducers, meaning they have two small drivers facing forward and a midtone driver facing out, theoretically creating a wider stereo field. The speakers include a wired control pod, which connects to the subwoofer and features all the usual volume controls. In addition, the unit has a headphone jack and a 0.1-inch input. It lacks a game-console adapter, however. With the bass set just over halfway, the L3800 proved its musical capabilities on a wide array of tracks. From the subtleties on Animal Collective’s Feels to the low ends of MIA’s global beats, the set never failed to impress. Likewise, our movie and gaming tests produced near-religious experiences. It wasn’t until we cranked the volume to uncomfortably high levels that we noticed distortion. Of course, you can combine the speakers with any of Creative’s Zen MP3 players. With this combination, you get total control over your music. That includes track skipping, play/pause, volume, CNET.com bass volume, and power. —Tim Gideon

6.8

WD Raptor X FIRST

Hard drives aren’t known for their sultry looks, but if you’d like a

TAKE little flair in yours, the folks at Western Digital have just the drive for you. The $349.99 150GB Raptor X is the industry’s first see-through hard drive, and if its transparent design doesn’t have tech-heads drooling for more, its lightning-fast speed surely will. Upside: Spec-wise, there are several reasons to want the Raptor X. The Serial ATA internal drive features a 10,000rpm spin rate and a 16MB buffer. Plus, a crystal window gives you a view of the drive’s disk and head assembly. Coupled with its black chassis, the window makes the Raptor X unlike any drive you’ve seen. Downside: For its capacity, the Raptor X is far from value-priced. Furthermore, you’ll need a clear acrylic computer case (Western Digital has a list of case partners online) to garner the appropriate oohs and ahs a drive like this demands. At press time, the drive was available only in one capacity (150GB). Outlook: The Raptor X should provide fast, solid performance. Gamers and modders get the added bonus of owning the industry’s first sexed-up internal hard drive. —Louis Ramirez

p Western Digital, 877-934-6972, www.wdraptorx.com Direct Price $349.99

SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 44

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May 2006 computershopper.com

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REVIEWS DISPLAYS

Samsung SyncMaster 204T Versatile display performs well but lacks some features MEDIA-CENTRIC display or corporate workhorse? Samsung’s $599 SyncMaster 204T is such a solid performer, it could be both—as long as you can tolerate a few oversights. The 20-inch 204T rests atop a large, square base and is very flexible for an LCD its size. The thick, telescoping neck, for instance, offers 4 inches of variable height, although we found the sliding action to be a little stiff for our tastes. Otherwise, the panel smoothly swivels, tilts, and pivots EDITORS’ RATING 7.2 from landscape to portrait 0 BETTER >> 10 mode. On the rear, you’ll find both digital and analog PROS Above-average image quality; solid, highly adjustable inputs, but no extras like a base; includes a set of imageheadphone jack, USB ports, enhancement technologies or built-in speakers. CONS No speakers, headphone Samsung offers four projack, USB ports; stiff height prietary technologies deadjustment; mediocre DVD signed to enhance image performance quality: Natural Color, Samsung Electronics America MagicTune, MagicRotation, 800-726-7864 and MagicBright. Natural www.samsung.com Color is a color-manageMfr. Est. Price $599 ment tool used to calibrate

NEC MultiSync LCD1970VX

Philips Brilliance 230WP7NS

Stylish panel is a mediocre performer

FIRST

THE FOLKS at NEC paid extra attention to detail when they designed the MultiSync LCD1970VX. It’s one of the company’s most striking LCDs, and, at $424.99, also one of its most reasonably priced. The display has a narrow 0.5-inchthick bezel that leaves the 19-inch panel as the center of attention. No adjustment buttons mar the frame; instead, they’re aligned along the bottom of the bezel. The unit lacks dedicated preset buttons for brightness and contrast, however. These controls are buried in the onscreen menu, which makes basic adjustments difficult. The LCD1970VX performed unremarkably in our tests. Text looked sharp and full of conEDITORS’ RATING 6.5 trast, but gray-scale rendering was less impressive. Also, while most colors appeared decent in photos and other Web-based color images, reds veered toward orange. Our gaming and DVD-playback tests showed average levels of background noise, mild ghosting, and some loss of detail in darker areas.

CNET.com

—Kristina Blachere

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0

BETTER >>

10

PROS Elegant design; reasonable price; sharp text

CONS Mediocre image quality; reset modes hidden in onscreen menu NEC Display Solutions of America, 866-632-6673 www.necdisplay.com

Mfr. Est. Price $424.99

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colors for uniformity among your monitor, printer, and scanner. MagicTune works with MagicRotation to rotate your desktop after you turn the panel, and it also offers a desktop utility for adjusting brightness, contrast, resolution, and other aspects of the image. MagicBright offers six preset viewing modes you can choose among when reading text or watching movies. Tested at its native 1,600x1,200 resolution, the 204T scored well on our DisplayMate-based tests. Type was dark and legible, while colors were solid and bright. DVD-playback performance, however, was mediocre due to the LCD’s 16ms response time. On the other hand, casual gamers will find no fault with the LCD’s gaming performance, as the display produced CNET.com vibrant colors and only slight ghosting. —Jeffrey Fuchs

Mixing work with pleasure is no easy feat, but Philips

TAKE strikes this balance with the multitude of business

features it packs into the retro-designed, pearlescent 230WP7NS LCD monitor. Upside: It’s not often Philips treats us with a PC-centric display, but the 23-inch 230WP7NS is just that. It offers both digital and analog inputs, a four-port USB 2.0 hub, and a stunning 1,920x1,200 (WUXGA) resolution. In addition, it delivers a 12ms response time (8ms gray-to-gray), so it should perform respectably well with day-to-day video and gaming. On the business side, the display’s 16-to-10 aspect ratio is big enough to let you browse the Web while working on a spreadsheet, and you can read documents in either portrait or landscape modes. Downside: We’re big fans of big-screen displays, but, at $1,499, this contender is overpriced for our budget and its size. Also, though we like the iPod-inspired design, most Windows PCs aren’t white, so fashionistas will want to think twice before coupling the 230WP7NS with their PCs. Outlook: We’re not fond of this monitor’s price, but we’re impressed by its generous set of features. Combined with its Macfriendly design, this is one LCD that we hope performs as well as it looks. Stay tuned for a full review. —Louis Ramirez p Philips, 877-835-1838, www.philips.com Mfr. Est. Price $1,499

REVIEWS HOME NETWORKING

Netgear RangeMax 240 Wireless Router Next-generation MIMO router is a short-distance scorcher NETGEAR’S $179 RangeMax 240 Wireless Router has nearly twice the short-range speed of our previous performance champs, thanks to Airgo Networks’ True Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) Gen 3 chip. The device didn’t fulfill one of MIMO’s core benefits, however— fast performance at long range. Along the back of the router are three flexible antennae you can bend at 90-degree angles. You can also rotate the outer two antennae 180 degrees each and the middle one 360 degrees, orienting them in ways to maximize coverage. We wish the company included brackets for mounting the router high on a wall for an unobEDITORS’ RATING 8.0 structed signal, though. Installation was a snap 0 BETTER >> 10 with Netgear’s SmartWizard PROS Awesome short-range utility. Plus, you can tweak performance; ample security network settings via the features; easy setup browser-based configuration CONS Mediocre long-distance tool. Extensive security feathroughput; no wall-mounting tures include Wi-Fi Protected brackets Access 2 (WPA2) encryption, Netgear, 888-638-4327 Media Access Control (MAC) www.netgear.com address filtering, and netMfr. Est. Price $179 work address translation

(NAT) and stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewalls. With a rated maximum speed of 240Mbps—more than double that of first-generation MIMO routers—the RangeMax 240 annihilated the competition in lab tests conducted at a 10-foot range. The device pushed data through our maximum-performance trial at a scorching 93.8Mbps, crushing previous top scores. In our mixed-mode test, the router earned a similarly stellar 83.3Mbps. When we increased the distance to 200 feet for our long-range test, however, the router slowed down significantly, managing only 24.2Mbps—a number that trailed even some CNET.com first-generation MIMO routers. —Stephanie Bruzzese

Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera Remote-monitoring Webcam needs smoother setup CISCO SYSTEMS’ $129.99 Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera is an inexpensive way to remotely monitor your home—or your pet or nanny—from a Web browser. The IP Webcam doesn’t require an attached PC and can be wirelessly connected to your home network. Configuring it can be tricky, however, and it works best in brightly lit environments. Setup was a mixed bag. We had no trouble linking the cam to our Wi-Fi router via Ethernet. When we unplugged the Ethernet connection, however, the camera didn’t wirelessly connect until we tweaked some settings. To view the camera from an external Web browser, you must first configure the cam to use an open port on your router. Linksys also offers an optional

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EDITORS’ RATING 6.5 service called SoloLink that enables you to assign a 0 BETTER >> 10 permanent URL to the PROS Inexpensive; can connect camera, but the into home network via Ethernet or stallation guide proWi-Fi; lets you view video from remote IE browsers vided inadequate instructions for setCONS Somewhat difficult to configure; dim image; not ting up the camera compatible with Macs, Firefox for external access. Also, the company’s Cisco Systems, 800-546-5797 www.linksys.com support staff was unfamiliar with Mfr. Est. Price $129.99 both the device and SoloLink, and couldn’t immediately resolve our issues. Once we got the cam up and running, we were able to view the image remotely using Internet Explorer. (Mac systems and Firefox are not supported.) Image quality, at a resolution of 320x240, was good for remote monitoring, but the image was dim, and inadequate for nighttime use. Linksys includes a variety of useful features. You can make the camera private, have it alert you when it detects motion, and record video to your PC’s hard drive. —Rik Fairlie

REVIEWS MOBILE PRODUCTS

T-Mobile SDA Windows phone has big features, small keypad THE $299.99 T-Mobile SDA smartphone offers a winning package of function and performance. We just wish it had a better keypad layout. At 4.5x1.8x0.7 inches and 3.7 ounces, the SDA is compact and comfortable to hold. The phone, shaped like a candy bar, has a 2.2-inch screen with a crisp 320x240 resolution. Below the display is a backlit, numerical keypad that’s tactile but cramped, making dialing difficult. The tiny navigation joystick is also tricky to maneuver. Another design misstep: The phone’s Mini SD card slot is located in an inconvenient spot, behind the battery. EDITORS’ RATING 8.0 The SDA runs Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 5.0 Smart0 BETTER >> 10 phone Edition OS and inPROS Compact; sharp, vibrant cludes Microsoft Outlook screen; outstanding battery life, Mobile. (You can sync Outcall quality; Windows Mobile 5.0 OS; 1.3-megapixel camera; look’s e-mail, Calendar, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi radios and Contacts to the phone CONS Cramped keypad, via the included USB canavigation controls; inconveniently ble.) The phone supports placed Mini SD slot personal e-mail accounts T-Mobile U.S.A., 800-866-2453 (POP3 or IMAP4) and severwww.t-mobile.com al instant-messaging clients. You also get WestDirect Price $299.99

tek’s ClearVue software, which lets you view but not edit electronic documents. In addition to Bluetooth networking, the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900, EDGE) phone is equipped with a Wi-Fi radio. A 1.3megapixel camera enables you to snap pictures and record video clips on the go. Plus, the phone can play MP3, WAV, and WMA (including WMA DRM-protected) audio files, as well as MPEG-4 and WMV video files. We tested the SDA in San Francisco, and found call quality to be excellent using either the earpiece or the builtin speakerphone. The phone turned in an extended talk time of 11 hours and hit its rated standby time of CNET.com five days. —Bonnie Cha

ALK CoPilot Live Smartphone 6 Bluetooth kit turns a smartphone into a GPS receiver

EDITORS’ RATING 0

WITH PDAs fading from the marketplace, it’s not surprising ALK Technologies transformed its generally exceptional Pocket PC mapping-and-navigation software, CoPilot Live, into a format compatible with Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 2003 smartphones. CoPilot Live Smartphone is a success, adding smartphone-specific features such as autozoom on 2D maps, while remaining as simple to use as possible. The $299 package we tested included a small Bluetooth GPS receiver, a car power adapter, in-vehicle mounting hardware, a software install disc, and a data disc with street-level maps for the continental United States. Installing the Windowsonly software was easy. Note, though, you will need to have Microsoft’s ActiveSync software on your system. You can run CoPilot in one

BETTER >>

7.0 10

of three modes: Walking, PROS Excellent GPS software, Guidance, or Planning. Bluetooth receiver; easy, Walking mode, designed to one-hand navigation provide directions CONS Drains phone’s battery; while you’re on small-screen viewing of maps; foot, only worked, Walking mode worked only sporadically spottily at our downtown New ALK Technologies, 888-872-8768 www.alk.com York location. In a vehicle, Guidance Direct Price $299 gives you immediate voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, while Planning allows you to nail down a route before you drive. We found both to be quite accurate. The abundant options are easily navigable with one hand, and you can tailor your routes, customize the display, and even choose between a male or female voice for reading directions. Viewing the maps on our Audiovox SMT5600’s small screen was acceptable, though some may find it inconvenient, especially while driving. The biggest problem we encountered, however, was battery life. Unless you carry a car-phone charger, you can quickly deplete your phone’s battery. —Joshua Goldman SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 54

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REVIEWS DIGITAL CAMERAS

Canon PowerShot SD430 Popular ultracompact is now Wi-Fi-enabled EDITORS’ RATING 0

7.0

BETTER >>

10

PROS Wi-Fi capability includes full remote control, capture; ultracompact design; fast performance

CONS Average images; limited manual controls

Kodak EasyShare V570 Dual-lens cam offers ultrawide view UNLIKE MOST ultracompacts, Eastman Kodak’s $399.95 EasyShare V570 is a wide-angle ace, thanks to its unusual dual-lens construction. Kodak pairs a fixed-focal-length, super-wide-angle lens with a narrower 3x zoom lens. The result is a shooter that’s versatile, whether you’re snapping pics indoors or creating landscape EDITORS’ RATING 7.2 panoramas. Less than an inch 0 BETTER >> 10 thick and accented PROS Zoom lens, 23mm with chrome, the 5fixed-focal-length lens; inmegapixel camera gets camera panorama stitching; versatile video capture high marks for style. The 2.5-inch LCD is CONS Mediocre image quality; sharp and bright no optical viewfinder enough to use in direct Eastman Kodak, 800-235-6325 sunlight. The body www.kodak.com lacks an optical Direct Price $399.95 viewfinder, however. The ultrawide 23mm (35mm-equivalent) lens makes the panorama-stitching feature a blast to use—you can capture a full 180-degree vista with only three shots. When all three images are exposed, the camera automatically aligns and assembles the photos into one image. Movie makers will love the 640x480-pixel, 30-frameper-second movie capabilities, bolstered by built-in image stabilization. You can edit or split your videos in-camera, and each clip can be as long as 80 minutes. The V570’s performance was unremarkable for its class. One exception was shutter lag, which was minimal at 0.6 second under high-contrast lighting and 0.7 second under low-contrast conditions with a boost from the LED focus-assist lamp. Dual lenses didn’t translate into outstanding image quality. The 3x zoom lens shot images comparable to those of an average 5-megapixel camera; the wide-angle lens performed similarly. Color reproduction was appealing: Blues and reds were fully saturated, and flesh tones had only a slight reddish cast. We noted limited dynamic range and an abundance of JPEG artifacts, however. —David D. Busch

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CNET.com

Canon U.S.A., 800-652-2666 usa.canon.com

Mfr. Est. Price $499.99

CAMERA BUFFS keen on experimenting with wireless image transfers and remote operation will be intrigued by Canon’s $499.99 PowerShot SD430. A 5-megapixel ultracompact, it’s basically the company’s popular PowerShot SD400 with a slightly different body and a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter. Like the SD400, the SD430 has a 3x optical zoom lens, a 2-inch LCD, an optical viewfinder, and limited manual controls. Performance is similar, too: Shooting speeds are fast, but image

quality is only middling. The camera lets you transfer images automatically to a Wi-Fi-enabled computer, and it can also be controlled by that PC in almost any way, from setting shooting parameters to the final image transfer. Settings you can control remotely include zoom, image size, compression level, ISO speed, white balance, macro mode, and flash mode. The Wi-Fi capability also allows you to print wirelessly—no computer required—straight to any Canon printer, via a Wi-Fi adapter that connects to a PictBridgeCNET.com compatible USB port. —Shams Tarek

Olympus Evolt E-500 A solid dSLR with a dust-reduction feature THE 8-MEGAPIXEL Olympus Evolt E-500 EDITORS’ RATING 7.4 digital SLR (dSLR) offers a broad set of features for its class, including the com0 BETTER >> 10 pany’s signature dust-reduction system. PROS Excellent images; dustWell-designed and compact, it’s available reduction feature for image sensor; for $799 in a one-lens kit, $899 in a twosharp LCD lens kit, and $699 for the body only. CONS Slow startup time when The camera’s 2.5-inch LCD is bright, dust reduction is enabled; small sharp, and colorful. It’s also easy to view optical viewfinder from a variety of angles. The optical Olympus Imaging America viewfinder is a bit small, however. 888-553-4448 www.olympusamerica.com When you turn on the camera, the dust-reduction feature automatically Mfr. Est. Price $699 (body activates, leading to a 2.6-second delay only); $799.99 (kit, with one lens); $899.99 (kit, with two before you can take your first shot. lenses) Performance was otherwise average compared with its dSLR competitors. Images are generally excellent, particularly at the lower ISO ratings. Under most shooting conditions, our test photos looked sharp, with nicely balanced colors, accurate automatic exposures, and no purple fringing around CNET.com high-contrast details. —Lisa Gidley

REVIEWS DIGITAL CAMCORDERS

Panasonic PV-GS400 Top-of-the-line videocam shoots sharp wide-screen footage PANASONIC’S $1,499 PV-GS400 MiniDV camcorder is an outstanding value for discriminating consumers. With its three-chip capture system, 12x optical zoom with optical stabilizer, 3.5-inch LCD, and manual control over almost every function, it sits at the pinnacle of the company’s consumer-camcorder line. For those seeking a cinematic look to their videos, the PVGS400 offers both letterboxed and anamorphic (squeezed) widescreen modes, as well as Pro Cinema mode, which gives the image a filmlike motion quality. Pro Cinema is available only EDITORS’ RATING 8.0 when shooting in anamorphic 0 BETTER >> 10 wide-screen format, however. PROS Excellent manual conFor less-ambitious users, the trols; superb-quality video for a camera features the usual consumer cam; solid optical variety of automatic options, zoom; image stabilization; big including a fully automatic LCD mode and a number of autoCONS Mediocre low-light, exposure modes, including still-image performance; sluggish Low Light, Portrait, Sports, automatic systems Spotlight, and Surf and Snow. Panasonic, 800-405-0652 In general, the camcorder’s www.panasonic.com automatic systems perform Mfr. Est. Price $1,499 adequately but not spectacu-

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 A decent, tiny hybrid camcorder ALTHOUGH the $599.99 Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 shoots video footage that falls well below MiniDV quality, this pocket-size hybrid camcorder produces acceptable video and 6-megapixel stills. The device weighs just 5.6 ounces and feels comfortable for single-handed shooting. It comes in three colors: gold, red, or black. Cramped yet bright, the 2-inch LCD screen is readable in direct sunlight. You can save images and video to SD media, but you’ll have to purchase your own memory card. The VPC-C6’s video is, at best, VHS-quality, though it performed relatively well in low to moderate light. We noticed some trade-offs between image quality and storage, however. At the highest quality settings (640x480 at 30 frames per secEDITORS’ RATING 6.8 ond), it can save only 20 minutes of video to a 512MB card 0 BETTER >> 10 or 41 minutes to a 1GB card. PROS Bright LCD; small, Photo quality was more lightweight; solid low-light performance consistent, though the focus was sometimes off, even in CONS Still images unfocused bright light. Colors were usuat times; LCD is small ally accurate, but images did Sanyo Fisher, 818-998-7322 exhibit some postprocessing www.sanyodigital.com artifacts. —David English

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larly. Autofocus performance can be sluggish, and autoexposure and white balance, while accurate, are also a bit slow to respond. The manual controls respond much faster. When shooting in well-lit environments, the camera delivers state-of-the-art image quality, approaching professional standards. Video is bright, colorful, accurate, and detailed. The 16-to-9 mode is superb, with no noticeable loss in sharpness. In low light, the video still looks good, considering it’s coming from a consumer camera, though by professional standards it’s noisy and somewhat muted. The camcorder’s three 1-megapixel imaging chips can capture still images at up to 4-megapixel resolution. While good for camcorder stills, they can compete in quality only with CNET.com those from the lowest-tier still cameras. —Ben Wolf

Sony DCR-SR100 FIRST

Now that it’s tackled DVD camcorders, Sony takes a

TAKE crack at the nascent hard-drive-camcorder market with the $1,099 DCR-SR100. Upside: The DCR-SR100’s most notable feature is, of course, its 30GB hard drive, but the device also features a large (1/3inch) image sensor, a 2.7-inch wide-screen touch-panel LCD, and a built-in flash/accessory shoe. You’ll also be able to shoot in 4-to-3 and 16-to-9 aspect ratios, snap 3-megapixel stills, and record sound via the Dolby Digital 5.1-channel microphone. Downside: The 10x optical zoom is a little weak for the price. Also, the DCR-SR100’s battery life is something we’ll be monitoring closely. (The JVC Everio hard drive camcorders we’ve tested have been rather short-lived.) Outlook: Will Sony triumph with its first hard drive camcorder? We’ll find out when it’s released in May. —Sean Portnoy p Sony Electronics, 877-865-7669, www.sonystyle.com Mfr. Est. Price $1,099

Direct Price $599.99

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REVIEWS DIGITAL AUDIO

Delphi Roady XT XM Satellite Radio receiver is small in size, cost WHILE DELPHI’S $79.99 Roady XT is the smallest, most affordable XM Satellite Radio receiver around, its 0 BETTER >> 10 plug-and-play design keeps it tethered PROS Tiny; includes car kit; to an XM boom box or a car or home built-in FM transmitter docking station. (Plus, you’ll need to CONS Mediocre sound quality; subscribe to XM Radio’s service for home-install kit costs extra $12.95 per month.) Delphi, 877-463-3574 Measuring 2.2x3.7x0.6 inches and www.delphi.com weighing 2.8 ounces, the tiny Roady Direct Price $79.99 has a backlit front-panel color display and 20 control buttons. You also get a built-in FM transmitter that can send a signal to any nearby FM radio, allowing it to play XM broadcasts. The radio comes with a car installation kit, but for home use, you’ll have to buy the $49.99 Delphi Roady XT Home Kit, which includes an easyto-use remote. Sound quality isn’t the Roady’s strongest suit—it isn’t even up to FM-radio standards. Reception, on the other hand, was dropout-free and dead quiet in our tests, lacking the background hiss common CNET.com with FM radio. —Steve Guttenberg

EDITORS’ RATING

Creative Zen Vision:M Video-friendly player rivals the iPod EDITORS’ WITH ITS bright color screen and CHOICE bountiful features, the $329.99 Creative Zen Vision:M gives the Apple iPod a serious challenge. At 4.1x2.4x0.7 inches, the sleek Vision:M is nearly the same size as the fifth-generation 30GB iPod, though it’s a bit heavier at 5.7 ounces. The 30GB Creative device is available in five colors. EDITORS’ RATING 8.0 Though its overall 0 BETTER >> 10 design is not as elegant PROS Bright color screen; or intuitive as the long battery life with video playiPod’s, the Vision:M is back; FM tuner; voice recorder; still easy to operate, customizable Shortcut button; with four function butexcellent audio/video quality tons, including a userCONS No iTunes-like video configurable Shortcut content; imprecise touch-pad key, and a touch-pad control; connectivity requires dongle controller. We liked the touch pad, but some Creative Labs, 800-998-1000 us.creative.com users may find it imprecise and frustrating Direct Price $329.99 to use. Another caveat: Power, USB, and A/V-out ports must be connected to the player via a separate dongle. The Vision:M’s photo- and video-friendly 2.5-inch LCD offers better brightness and color than the iPod’s screen. The player also supports more audio formats, including MP3, WAV, protected WMA, and Windows Media DRM 10 (previously called Janus), so it works with subscription services such as Napster To Go. Unlike Apple, Creative does not sell video content, though the Vision:M supports several video formats, including DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, and XviD. The player also has an FM radio tuner and recorder, a voice recorder, and sync tools for Outlook data. In our tests, the Vision:M sounded outstanding, and video playback was smooth. The battery lasted about 16 hours per charge for audio and an impressive 5 hours for video, the latter CNET.com nearly double the iPod’s. —Rick Broida

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7.1

Think Outside Boomtube H201

Stylish, portable speaker set lacks bass-ics

THINK OUTSIDE’S $250 Boomtube H201 EDITORS’ RATING 6.0 may have a slick design, but it could still use more boom and a lower price. 0 BETTER >> 10 Measuring 12x2.8 inches and weighPROS Stylish, portable design; ing a hefty 3.2 pounds, the silver rechargeable battery Boomtube features a thick metal bass CONS Expensive; so-so bass tube with detachable speakers that unresponse; no holder/slot for screw from either end. (The speakers portable music players then attach to the main tube via a pair Think Outside, 408-297-5100 of included RCA plugs.) You get a miniwww.thinkoutside.com jack cable for inputting the audio sigDirect Price $250 nal, but no slot or base to house an iPod or other music player. You can power the Boomtube using the included AC adapter or its rechargeable lithium-ion battery; the latter is rated for a rather short 5 hours. The unit also comes with a sturdy, stylish carrying case and a pair of earplugs. In our tests, the Boomtube’s remote speakers sounded reasonably rich, but bass response from the main tube was too subtle (even with the bass control cranked up), resulting in hollow sound at higher volumes. —Ben Patterson

CNET.com

REVIEWS DIGITAL LIVING

Hitachi 55HDT52 Stylish 55-inch plasma delivers mixed performance HITACHI’S $5,099 55HDT52 scores high marks for its attractive design and excellent features, but this 55-inch plasma highdefinition television (HDTV) falls behind its competitors in image quality, especially when displaying darker material. The coolest part of the set’s design is its stand, which can mechanically swivel the panel back and forth up to about 30 degrees to either side. Better yet, the TV’s remote lets you control the swivel action from your seat on the couch. Featuring a 1,366x768 resolution, the 55HDT52 has enough pixels to resolve every detail of 720p HDTV sources. A builtin ATSC tuner gives you the EDITORS’ RATING 7.1 ability to receive off-air HDTV broadcasts with an > > 0 BETTER 10 antenna, and a CableCard PROS Solid video processing; slot lets you receive digital ample connectivity; motorized, and HD cable without the remote-control swivel stand cable box. CONS Poor black-level perforThe television offers a demance; color decoder pushes red cent selection of six aspectHitachi America ratio choices for standard800-448-2244 definition sources and three www.hitachi.us/tv for high-definition. It also Mfr. Est. Price $5,099 has a setting that can auto-

HP LC3200N

matically adjust the aspect ratio. The two-tuner picture-inpicture (PIP) function will appeal especially to sports fans who want to keep tabs on two games at once. A pair of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) inputs heads the list of connections. The panel also includes two component-video inputs, two FireWire ports, a subwoofer output, an optical digital audio output, and a side-panel USB connection. The 55HDT52 offers solid gray-scale and video-processing performance, but this upside is outweighed by poor black levels, which appear muddy dark gray at best. Color decoding heavily favors red, forcing you to bring the color control down from where it should be to get accurate CNET.com color. —Kevin Miller

Toshiba HD-XA1

32-inch LCD HDTV is worth high price

FIRST WHILE the $1,899 HP LC3200N certainly costs more than its littleknown competitors, this 32-inch LCD television’s image quality and smart styling may be worth the expense to some buyers. With a native resolution of 1,366x768, the LC3200N can display all the detail of 720p high-definition television (HDTV) sources. You’ll find plenty of connections, including a CableCard slot and an over-the-air HDTV tuner. In addition, the set has both a HighDefinition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and a digital video input (DVI) port, as well as two FireWire inputs, a pair of componentvideo jacks, and an optical digital-audio output. The LC3200N displays one of the best pictures we’ve seen on an LCD of this size. Turning EDITORS’ RATING 7.0 down the adjustable backlight produces a black almost 0 BETTER >> 10 as deep as that of better-perPROS Relatively deep blacks; forming plasmas. Primary accurate primary colors; colors were also impressive, adjustable backlight; ample including vibrant reds and connectivity accurate greens. Gray scale CONS Pricey; inaccurate gray was inaccurate, however, and scale we had to reduce the saturaHewlett-Packard, 888-999-4747 tion level to reproduce exact www.hp.com skin tones.

Direct Price $1,899

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—David Katzmaier

May 2006 computershopper.com

Toshiba has fired the first volley in the war of next-

TAKE generation DVD formats (HD-DVD versus Blu-ray). The company’s $799 HD-XA1, the first HD-DVD player to ship in North America, should be available by the time you read this. Upside: The unit supports a variety of video codecs. It also plays all of your existing DVDs, with the ability to upscale them to high-definition (HD) resolution via its High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output. Downside: Compared with the many films available on standard DVD, the initial HD-DVD catalog will be limited to a few dozen. Plus, the format has fewer major studio backers than does Blu-ray. Another issue is compatibility with older HDTVs. All HD-DVD and Blu-ray players will output HD resolutions only via copy-protected HDMI outputs, so if your set doesn’t have HDMI, you’ll get a downconverted image that’s little better than standard DVD. And while Blu-ray players are said to be able to output video at 1080p—the most cutting-edge HD standard— the first Toshiba HD-DVD players are limited to 1080i. Outlook: While the HD-XA1 may be a solid player, the caveats of the nascent HD-DVD format may give buyers pause. If you’re ready to commit to HD-DVD, however, the HD-XA1 will be your first opportunity to do so. —D.K. and David Rudden

p Toshiba America, 800-631-3811, www.toshiba.com

Mfr. Est. Price $799

REVIEWS SOFTWARE

Microsoft Works Suite 2006 An all-in-one time-saver for basic home-computing tasks A PRODUCTIVITY SUITE for light home-computing needs, Microsoft’s $99.95 Works Suite 2006 contains six bundled programs that can help you with tasks such as organizing photos, planning trips, taking inventory of household items, and managing your finances. Full installation took about an hour on our Windows XP test machine. You can also install the program on Windows 98 Second Edition, Me, or 2000 (with Service Pack 4). A typical installation EDITORS’ RATING 7.0 consumes about 1.5GB of 0 BETTER >> 10 hard drive space, but the PROS Interconnected procomplete installation regrams simplify home computing; quires a whopping 3.1GB affordable price; comprehensive minimum. technical support Launch Works, and the CONS Includes same Word, Calendar tab dominates the Works from last year’s suite; eats screen with white space. lots of hard drive space; awkward Five big buttons (Home, interface Templates, Programs, ProMicrosoft, 800-642-7676 jects, and History) line the www.microsoft.com top of the page. These butDirect Price $99.95 ton classifications can be

fuzzy, however. Birthday-card templates, for example, appear under the Programs button in the Word section, as well as under the Templates button in the Card and Crafts section. Most of the programs bundled in the suite are solid but lightweight versions of their premium editions. If you want to burn images onto a DVD and browse Encarta Kids, for example, you need to upgrade to the premium versions of Digital Image and Encarta, respectively. Microsoft provides toll-free phone support around the clock for the first year, which is a good deal. Support is also available via online chat, a Web knowledge base, and e-mail. Works 2005 users should pass on the 2006 version, because the versions of Works and Word within the suite remain the same, and Microsoft doesn’t offer an upgrade discount. This suite is a bargain, however, if you don’t CNET.com already own those programs. —Laurie Bouck

Corel WordPerfect Office X3 Standard Edition A solid upgrade, but Microsoft Office fans should hold out for 12

EDITORS’ RATING 0

COREL HAS a winner in its $299.99 WordPerfect Office X3, a feature-packed productivity suite that’s less expensive, just as easy to use, and in many ways more innovative than industry goliath Microsoft Office 2003. X3 has three core applications: the WordPerfect word processor, the Quattro Pro spreadsheet program, and Presentations, which lets you create slide shows and PowerPoint documents. Not only can all three applications save files in the popular PDF format, but WordPerfect can also import and edit PDFs. Although the import function needs improvement, it’s convenient for editing long, text-based PDFs used by legal and government workers. In addition, Quattro Pro lets you export to PDF. The X3 interface has updated icons and toolbars that

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BETTER >>

7.0 10

PROS Costs less than Micromatch Windows XP themes, soft Office 2003; Quattro Pro and a new Yahoo toolbar lets gets PDF export; WordPerfect you conduct Web searches can strip metadata from from within WordPerfect. A documents; Yahoo Web search handy new security feature within WordPerfect is WordPerfect’s ability to CONS PDF-import feature strip out hidden metadata needs work; costly phone within documents. This support helps prevent any comCorel, 800-772-6735 ments, undo/redo changes, www.corel.com and sensitive information Direct Price $299.99 (full from reaching an unwanted version); $159.99 (upgrade) audience when you share files. (A similar feature is expected in Office 12 when it ships later this year.) Support via e-mail is free and unlimited, but phone support, after one free call, is costly at $25 per incident. (A trio of incidents costs $70, and a five-pack is $100.) Overall, X3 is a solid upgrade for the Corel faithful, but diehard Microsoft fans may want to wait for the changes expected in the upcoming Microsoft Office 12. That said, current users of Microsoft Office 2003 looking to avoid Office 12’s potentially steep learning curve may prefer the more familiar interface CNET.com and improved tools of the X3 suite. —Jeff Bertolucci

REVIEWS SOFTWARE

Citrix GoToMyPC Personal 5 Fast-working update to excellent remote-access app

Photo Finale Premium 4.0 Newbie tools for digital images ONE OF THE advantages of digital photography is that you can take thousands of pictures with little effort beyond pushing a button. One of the disadvantages, however: You then have thousands of pictures to sort and edit. Enter Photo Finale Premium 4.0, a photo organizer for viewing, editing, printing, sharing, and backing up cartloads of images. When you start the program, you’ll see a dialog box with buttons for the six primary tasks: Find Photos, Fix, Import, Order, Share, and View CD. The interface is friendly and attractive, with the major features easily accessible via a single click: Auto Fix, Red Eye, Crop, E-Mail, Order Prints, Print, and Web Album, as well as commands EDITORS’ RATING 7.3 for CD/DVD creation and adding text or 0 BETTER >> 10 clip art. PROS Friendly interface; batch Photo Finale’s edprocessing; excellent sharing iting capabilities capabilities aren’t extensive, but CONS Laggy text entry; requires they enable quick recent hardware for best fixes. A Photo Adperformance justment box shows Trevoli before-and-after imwww.photofinale.com ages next to each Direct Price $49.95 (boxed); other, letting you $39.95 (download) compare the effect of your changes. You can perform some of the edits, such as Crop and Auto Fix, on batches of files—a splendid time-saver. Sharing photos is straightforward, though you have to join Photo Finale’s sharing service. (The basic membership is free and allows for 100 Web albums.) Once you’ve joined and uploaded photos, you can have Photo Finale e-mail friends and family. It’s just as easy to order prints, or gifts such as calendars and T-shirts. One downside: To get the most from the app, such as the 3D-slideshow feature, you’ll need better-than-basic hardware. Also, on our three-yearold laptop, we experienced severe lag when entering text. If your PC is aging, Photo CNET.com Finale isn’t ideal. —Susan Glinert

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GOTOMYPC Personal 5 from Citrix Systems improves on what was already a strong remote-access program. This latest release is significantly speedier than past versions, an important consideration because sluggishness can be an issue with remote-access apps. Citrix offers three levels of service, starting at $19.95 per month with the entry-level Personal, which gives a single user access to up to 20 individual PCs from one account. You can test-drive GoToMyPC via Citrix’s 90-day free trial, but after that you’ll have to pay. Similar services, such as 3am Labs’ LogMeIn, offer a free version. EDITORS’ RATING 7.8 No configuration is needed on the host computer beyond installing the 0 BETTER >> 10 program and creating an account. On PROS Easy to set up, use; the remote end, you simply access Gosecure; faster than previous ToMyPC’s Web site from any computer version with a browser, and enjoy full access to CONS No free version a remote PC. Plus, access is secure by default: GoToMyPC 5 is preconfigured at Citrix Systems, 888-646-0016 www.gotomypc.com the highest security setting (128-bit end-to-end encryption). Direct Price $19.95 per month; $179.40 per year

CNET.com

—Bruce Stewart

DVD Copy 4 Platinum H.264 Edition EDITORS’ RATING Easy but costly disc copying

0

BETTER >>

6.7 10

INTERVIDEO’S DVD Copy 4 Platinum PROS Copies unprotected DVDs to a wide variety of file H.264 Edition is a powerful, easy-to-use types; creates DVDs from files; program that copies unprotected DVDs easy to use to a number of formats. You can copy to DVD, Video CD (VCD), Super Video CONS Relatively expensive; can’t save DVD-merge projects CD (SVCD), 3GPP/3GPP2 (for third-generation cell phones), and even MP4 and InterVideo, 510-651-0888 www.intervideo.com H.264 (space-saving video formats for excellent-quality movies). Direct Price $79.95 The $79.95 price is expensive, however. In comparison, another $20 will buy you Nero 7 Ultra or Roxio Easy Media Creator 8, full-blown suites that do basically the same things plus a whole range of other disc-related chores. Also, we stumbled over the app’s inability to save or track a DVD-merge project midstream— if you’re combining multiple DVDs and the optical drive or OS freezes up, you’ll have to start over. Still, the program’s minimal learning curve and ease of use overcome these minor CNET.com quibbles. —Jon L. Jacobi




REVIEWS DOWNLOADS

Advanced Uninstaller Pro 2006 7.5 A handy tool kit for PC maintenance WITH ITS PLETHORA of system-management features, Advanced Uninstaller Pro 2006 7.5 is a useful utility for regular maintenance. It won’t make your system new, but it will help shave down the number of files slowing your computer. Installation is brief and uncomplicated. The program’s interface offers a few ways to get to each feature, including menu items and expanded categories. If you’re unsure what each tool does, simply rolling over the name pops up a brief plain-English description. DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING The program’s many system-maintenance features range from useful PROS Straightforward inter(Start Menu Cleaner, Registry face; useful feature mix; detailed Optimizer) to weak (Font tool info Manager). A Quick Cleaner CONS Unreliable cleaning; option runs a number of the uses native application unincleanup features at once. One stallers; short trial period of the most valuable features Innovative Solutions is the Startup Manager, www.innovative-sol.com which lets you easily pick Price Free to try; $39 (full and choose which files exeversion)

cute at system startup. If you’re not sure what a particular file does, just highlight it and click the “Show more info” button, which tells you what the file is for and whether or not it’s safe to disable it. The ability to schedule maintenance sessions is a big plus. The program has separate sections of tools for cleaning up after Internet Explorer and Firefox, as well as for deleting typed URLs, cookies, cached files, and extensions. A few caveats: The uninstaller feature only seems to launch a program’s native uninstall routine, though it does allow you to forcibly remove stubborn programs. Also, it didn’t demonstrate completely reliable performance in our tests, leaving behind a number of folders and other debris after removing programs. Finally, we’d prefer a Download.com longer trial period than just 21 days.

HyperSnap 6

PodPlus 1.1

Wrangle screens like a cowboy

A data aggregator for the iPod

HYPERSNAP 6 is a simple yet professional utility that lets you capture PC screen images that you never could before. For instance, you can grab the image of a button alone, with the button active or inactive, and with or without the mouse pointer showing. The application also lets you nab stills from video games while you’re playing, or create a how-to slide show by capturing active regions of the screen at a constant size. The program’s Capture menu lists all the keyboard shortcuts for available actions, and the help file tells you what those actions do. If you DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING choose the wrong action, built-in tools let you edit your screen grab. PROS Easy to use; pro-level The 15-day trial is short, screen-capture features; built-in and the trial version stamps editing tools all images with ads for the CONS Trial period only 15 days software, but it shouldn’t take Hyperionics Technology long to figure out whether this www.hyperionics.com program is worth paying for.

LOADED WITH features, DOWNLOAD.COM EDITORS’ RATING Purple Ghost Software’s PodPlus puts a smorgasbord of information on your iPod. PROS Adds Outlook data, Installation is easy, but bemovie times, weather to iPods; transfers songs off iPods to PC fore you start PodPlus for the first time, you’ll be asked CONS Short trial period which plug-ins you want the Purple Ghost Software program to download to your www.purpleghost.com PC. Available options include Price Free to try; $15 (full horoscopes, local movie inforversion) mation, and weather. In addition, you’ll find preconfigured lists of podcasts and RSS feeds for a variety of subjects; you also have the option to add your own. The ability to add Outlook e-mail, contacts, and calendar data is another handy task that PodPlus handles with aplomb. All information appears in a logically arranged, easy-to-navigate structure under the iPod’s Notes menu item. And if that’s not enough, the program will even move music from your iPod to your PC, negating the need to download an additional application.

★★★★★

★★★★★

Price Free to try; $35 (full version)

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Download.com

★★★★★

Download.com Download these applications and more at www.computershopper.com/download.

May 2006 computershopper.com

Top25

This month’s best desktops, notebooks, multifunction printers, graphics cards, and VoIP services.

>> Well-configured PCs that won’t empty your wallet.

MAINSTREAM DESKTOPS PRODUCT

PRICE

WinBook PowerSpec MCE 410 www.winbook.com

$899.99

EDITOR’S TAKE

3GHz Pentium 4 530; 512MB DDR; 160GB HDD; Radeon X300 LS

We love this PC’s rack-mount case, solid specs, and bargain price. Pair it with WinBook’s $899 30-inch LCD for a sweet, sub-$1,800 home theater setup.

RATING

8.2

Dell XPS 200 www.dell.com

$999

2.8GHz Pentium D 820; 512MB DDR; 80GB HDD; integrated graphics

The Dell XPS 200 delivers the latest mainstream technology in an attractive, spacesaving chassis that will keep home and office users humming along at a productive clip.

7.4

Alienware Aurora 3500 www.alienware.com

$1,801

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+; 1GB DDR; 160GB HDD; GeForce 7800 GT

Alienware’s affordable gaming rig is an above-average performer with a relatively small footprint and ample room for upgrades. It also features a whopping 10 USB 2.0 ports.

7.1

Apple iMac Core Duo www.apple.com

$1,699

2GHz Core Duo; 512MB DDR; 250GB HDD; Radeon X1600

Apple’s first Intel-based desktop offers better multitasking performance and moreadvanced 3D graphics. It has some software-compatibility issues, though.

7.0

Gateway E-6500D www.gateway.com

$1,563

3GHz Pentium D 830; 1GB DDR; two 200GB HDDs; integrated graphics

The E-6500D provides the right mix of performance and features at a competitive price. Manageability and security options will give business users an added sense of comfort.

7.0

GAMING NOTEBOOKS

>> Get your game on with one of these mean portable machines.

Dell XPS M170* www.dell.com

$2,499

2GHz Pentium M 760; 1GB DDR; 80GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

Powered by a top-shelf processor and graphics engine, the M170 is one of the fastest, slimmest gaming machines we’ve seen. Only deep-pocketed buyers need apply, though.

8.3

Toshiba Qosmio G25AV513 www.toshiba.com

$2,199

2GHz Pentium M 760; 1GB DDR; two 60GB HDDs; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

Combining television, DVR, and high-end performance gaming in one big notebook, the Qosmio delivers the most complete multimedia experience available from a laptop.

8.1

Dell Inspiron E1705 www.dell.com

$2,690

2GHz Core Duo T2500; 1GB DDR; 80GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

One of the first laptops with Intel’s new Core Duo CPU, the full-featured E1705 has enough power for any task, from video editing to gameplay. (See p. 25.)

7.8

HP Pavilion ZD8000* www.hp.com

$1,728

3.4GHz Pentium 4 650; 1GB DDR; 80GB HDD; DVD±RW; 17-inch TFT

A multimedia powerhouse, the ZD8000 combines comprehensive features for television, video, music, gaming, and computing in one powerful, well-priced laptop.

7.3

ABS Mayhem G3 www.abspc.com

$1,247

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3400+; 1GB DDR; 60GB HDD; DVD±RW; 15.4-inch TFT

Thanks to its less-expensive AMD processor, the feature-rich Mayhem G3 offers enough under-the-hood muscle to make gamers happy, while keeping the cost reasonably low.

6.4

MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS

>> Printers that can handle all your home and office needs.

Canon Pixma MP760 usa.canon.com

$249.99

4,800x1,200dpi max. resolution; 25ppm (black text); 36 sec. (4x6 photo); USB 2.0

Impressive speed, top-notch printing, and a wealth of features, including film and slide scanning, help this digital-photo-friendly all-in-one stand out from the crowd.

8.0

HP Color LaserJet 2840 www.hp.com

$999.99

600x600dpi max. resolution; 20ppm (black text); USB 2.0

HP’s business-oriented color-laser MFP can replace the army of devices in your office. It comes with excellent network-management software—plus, it’s Mac- and PC-friendly.

8.0

HP OfficeJet 7410 All-in-One www.hp.com

$499.99

4,800x1,200dpi max. resolution; 30ppm (black text); 27 sec. (4x6 photo); USB 2.0

If network printing and scanning are mandatory, and you have a passion for sharing pics with friends, family, or colleagues, HP’s Wi-Fi-ready MFP is hard to beat.

8.0

Canon ImageClass MF8170c usa.canon.com

$799

600x600dpi max. resolution; 16ppm (black text); no photo printing; USB 2.0

Good print quality, ease of use, and depth of features make this color-laser MFP a good match for a home or home office, though workgroups will bemoan its sluggish printing.

7.7

HP LaserJet 3380 All-in-One www.hp.com

$699

1,200x1,200dpi max. resolution; 20ppm (black text); no photo printing; USB 2.0

This LaserJet is a good match for a small business that doesn’t require color printing. It’s carefully designed and well-equipped, but print quality is merely adequate.

7.7

GRAPHICS CARDS

>> State-of-the-art video boards for silky-smooth game play.

PNY Verto GeForce 7800 GT www.pny.com

$349

GeForce 7800 GT GPU; 256MB GDDR3; PCI Express x16; DirectX 9.0; VGA, DVI

With a couple of exceptions, the Verto GeForce 7800 GT card provides everything we like to see from a 3D-card package, including fast performance.

7.7

ATI Radeon 9200 www.ati.com

$99

Radeon 9200 GPU; 128MB GDDR3; AGP 8x/4x; DirectX 8.1; VGA

ATI’s entry-level Radeon 9200 delivers highly capable performance for a budget graphics card. It’s powerful enough to play many recently released games at lower resolutions.

7.1

ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XL www.ati.com

$329

Radeon X800 XL GPU; 256MB GDDR3; PCI Express x16; DirectX 9.0; VGA, DVI

This graphics-card/TV-tuner combo can handle most current 3D games with aplomb. Plus, it lets you watch, pause, and record live television on your PC.

7.0

ATI Radeon X1800 XL www.ati.com

$399

Radeon X1800 XL GPU; 256MB GDDR3; PCI ATI’s second-best card, a 3D-gaming powerhouse, features superfast DirectX 9 perforExpress x16; DirectX 9.0; VGA, DVI mance and Avivo video decoding. It lags on OpenGL games, however.

6.8

ATI Radeon X1800 XT www.ati.com

$599

Radeon X1800 XT GPU; 512MB GDDR3; PCI Express x16; DirectX 9.0; VGA, DVI

6.6

VOIP SERVICES

ATI’s top card serves up blistering Half-Life 2 performance, but it can’t beat nVidia on OpenGL games such as Doom 3. Note: The card takes up two expansion slots.

>> Internet phone providers that let you hang up on the Baby Bells.

Vonage www.vonage.com

$14.99 per Broadband connection; network router; month and up telephone adapter; telephone

Vonage’s wealth of features, extensive coverage, and strong support combine to make it a solid Internet phone service. It also offers easy setup and tons of features.

8.5

AT&T CallVantage callvantage.att.com

$19.99 per Broadband connection; network router; month and up telephone

Though its plans cost a bit more than those of competing VoIP services, AT&T’s CallVantage stands out for its consistently strong call quality and long list of features.

8.0

Packet8 www.packet8.net

$19.99 per Broadband connection; network router; month and up telephone adapter or Packet8 phone

A pioneer of Enhanced 911 support, Packet8 offers excellent flat-rate international plans and a videophone option. Plus, its unlimited-minutes plan is among the cheapest around.

8.0

FreeWorld Dialup www.freeworlddialup.com

Free

Broadband connection; microphone/speakers, Download FWD, and you can make free calls over the Internet within minutes to other headset, or USB phone FWD users and other Internet phone networks. All you need is a mic and speakers.

7.7

Skype www.skype.com

Free

Broadband connection; microphone/speakers, Though prone to middling voice quality when calling landline phones, Skype is still one headset, or USB phone of the best free VoIP services, and its new video feature makes it even better.

7.5

= Editors’ Choice

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SPECS/REQUIREMENTS

* = Configuration changed from original review.

May 2006 computershopper.com

RATINGS FROM

CNET.com

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> Expert buying guides and product roundups > FREE access to an extensive library of back issues > Chances to win great prizes

The most comprehensive guide to today’s technology. Visit us online. Get more of what you love.

www.computershopper.com

FREELOAD

(

Our Annual Bundle of 50 Free, Useful, & Fun Software Downloads.

)

EACH YEAR, we partner with CNET Download.com to pick 50 free programs that can make your computing life more entertaining, productive, and efficient. Our choices range from the frivolous to the serious, including apps as disparate as retro video games and spyware killers. Whether for play or work, what surprises us every year is the scope of software available on this complimentary smorgasbord. There really is such a thing as a free lunch—here’s the menu.

EDITED BY SEAN PORTNOY REVIEWS BY

Download.com

Icons by Pete Vega

Edited by Sean Portnoy

computershopper.com May 2006

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FUN AND GAMES

ENIGMA 0.92

Daniel Heck Enigma starts as a port of the classic Mac puzzle game Oxyd, but then throws in a whopping 742 levels, plus customizable options. Your mouse controls a slippery black marble that exposes colored stones on contact, but only one at a time. Your challenge is to match all of the pairs of colored stones to complete each level.

AUDACITY 1.2.2 Audacity This feature-rich, flexible audio editor supports uncompressed audio standards such as WAV and AIFF, in addition to OGG and MP3 files. A full complement of basic effects such as reverb, delay, and compression are also part of the package. Plus, VST plug-in support is available if you’re looking to expand. Plug a microphone into your PC, and Audacity provides the perfect way to record a podcast.

JUICE The Juice Team A smooth interface, convenient scheduling features, and a handy cleanup

tool make Juice a boon for any podcast junkie. Its Podcast Directory is a catalog of available podcasts and related URLs. When you find a podcast you like, the app automatically downloads those files to your iTunes library. Plus, the Scheduler lets you set times for the program to automatically update your subscriptions.

LITTLE FIGHTER 2 1.9C Little Empire Little Fighter’s enjoyable retro graphics,

THE UR-QUAN MASTERS 0.4

The Ur-Quan Masters Team An open-source port of the classic DOS game Star Control II, The UrQuan Masters is as fun to play as the original. The graphics may look retro, but the hybrid gameplay—a complicated mix of strategy, role-playing, and space combat—stands up to any current release. Star Control II is one of the greatest PC games of all time, and if you’ve never tried it, The UrQuan Masters is mandatory playing.

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OCULAR INK 0.92 Pistachio Productions This stylish game earns a top rating for its original design, smooth mechanics, and whimsical storyline. Your anonymous hero—a rolling eyeball that totes a magical paintbrush—strives to save his village from a megalomaniacal pirate. Your paintbrush can move objects, spawn explosions, and transport you home. As you progress through the levels, you’ll learn more of the story and gain additional powers for your brush.

PAWN 2.86 Thomas Starke

AUDIOGRABBER 1.83 Audiograbber Strong configuration options make Audiograbber a must-have for those who want more control when they’re ripping CDs. The utility can rip audio to the MP3, OGG, WAV, or WMA formats. Advanced features include music normalization, support for recording LPs and cassettes, external MP3encoder support, and ID3-tag editing.

not to mention its wide variety of characters and special attacks, make it good fun for solo or network play. Compete with up to three others on one computer, or seven fighters across a network. Championship and Battles modes keep gameplay fresh.

Pawn is a chess game that will appeal to novice and intermediate players alike. Not only can you adjust the program’s intelligence by changing the time and depth of its analysis, but you can also adjust its level of errors so that you can defeat it from time to time. Bonus: You can reverse a game to study its sequence of moves.

QUINTESSENTIAL PLAYER 4.5 Quinnware It’s hard to beat Quintessential Player’s efficiency, stability, and flexibility as a media player. Easily customizable and built to support almost any plug-in, this tool features a fine video player with CD-ripping and MP3-converting capabilities, along with digital audio playback and management options. You can also outfit your app in one of many skins created by a large community of developers and fans.

VLC MEDIA PLAYER 0.8.4A VideoLAN Project VLC Media Player provides a one-stop solution for all the audio and video file formats out there. The program supports playback of DivX, DVD, MP2, MP3, MP4, OGG, and a whole slew of other file types. In addition, it can also function as a streaming-media server. If you’ve been looking for a program to open just about any video file you throw at it, look no further.

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY

JAN

ACEMONEY LITE 3.8.3 MechCAD Software This money-minded program helps you keep track of home and small-business finances. It performs all types of calculations, downloads the latest exchange rates, and handles online banking. Plus, you can password-protect your bank-account and credit-card information to keep all your financial data secure.

CUTEPDF WRITER 2.5 Acro Software This utility enables you to convert any printable document to PDF format. To create a PDF from any supporting application, just press Print. How easy is that? This latest version even supports 64-bit Windows operating systems.

EPROMPTER 2.0 Tiburon Technology You can set ePrompter to check up to 16 password-protected e-mail accounts, including AOL, Hotmail, and Yahoo. Notification options include a flag in your system tray—color-coded for each e-mail account—and a choice of five screensavers. When you get a new message, simply click the flag and start reading.

THE GIMP 2.2.10 The Gimp Team The GIMP is one of the most powerful general-purpose image editors around. The application’s advanced features include channels, layers, masks, filters, effects, tabbed palettes, editable text tools, and brightness/contrast adjustments. It’s ideal for amateur photographers, Web designers, and anyone who wants to create and edit professionalquality digital images on a budget.

GOOGLE EARTH

Google Google changes the way you see the world with this informative, fun application. Simply enter the location you seek—specifying a city name, a country, or a street address—and Google Earth will swoop in on your destination to display a satellite image. The program’s Layers pane allows you to determine accompanying information such as roads, hospitals, and restaurants.

KEYNOTE 1.6.5 General Frenetics

OPENOFFICE.ORG 2.0.1 OpenOffice.org

This powerful notepad program compares favorably with commercial applications, and, in some respects, is even more flexible and convenient. A note file may contain any number of notes, which appear as separate tabs. In turn, each tab can hold a tree of subnotes. The software can handle rich formatting, images, and hyperlinks to other files and notes. It also supports templates, plug-ins, and macros. You can even encrypt your files with a passphrase.

An increasingly credible rival to Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org is packed with powerful applications for creating text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, and databases. The interface is similar to that of Microsoft Office, and even advanced Office users will find almost every tool they’re accustomed to. It’s a compelling option for an alternative office suite.

MAXTYPE LITE TYPING TUTOR 1.5.5 AskMeSoft As its name suggests, this program provides some helpful tools for honing your typing skills. Typing Test lets you practice your keyboard-tapping proficiencies with a variety of basic exercises, including typing song lyrics and articles. Once you feel confident, you can either take an exam or type against a computerized opponent in Extreme mode.

PICASA 2.0 Google This photo-organization program is the picture of simplicity. Picasa’s editing tools allow you to see your photo tweaks in real time, and multiple levels of undo make it a snap to revert to the original image if you decide you don’t like a certain change. Picasa really shines when it comes to organizing pictures, with improved search capabilities and a timeline slide-show function for beautifully displaying photo collections.

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WORDWEB 4.01 Antony Lewis This basic but handy utility gives you the definition, synonyms, and antonyms of any given word without requiring you to go online. The app’s most notable feature is its hotkey support. Simply highlight a word in a document or Web page, then enter the appropriate keystroke—WordWeb pops up with all pertinent information.

DESKTOP UTILITIES

Windows’ built-in tools. The main advantage this app has over Windows’ uninstallation utility is that it lets you remove multiple programs at once, saving a few precious clicks. You also can quickly back up and restore your current configuration should an error occur after removal.

FREERAM XP PRO 1.51 YourWare Solutions Need to free up some RAM on your system? FreeRAM XP Pro is the program for you. Have the program automatically optimize your system, or specify how much memory you’d like to make available. FreeRAM also delivers advanced tray support, automatic memory monitoring and optimization, system-metric monitors, and real-time memory information.

ICONOID 3.8.4 SillySot Software

AUTOHOTKEY 1.0.40.12 AutoHotkey This program gives power users the ability to perform complex operations just by pressing a few keys. AutoHotkey’s script language can run programs, manipulate program windows, and send keystrokes or mouse clicks. Multimedia or Internet keyboards are supported, as are nonstandard devices. You can also pack your scripts into EXE files that will run on any PC, even if it doesn’t have AutoHotkey installed.

CCLEANER 1.26.218 CCleaner.com CCleaner makes it easy to wipe away your tracks from Internet Explorer and Firefox histories, various Windows system areas, and a few third-party applications, such as Spybot—Search & Destroy and WinZip. It also supplies a Registrycleaning utility that quickly scans and removes invalid entries. CCleaner can even back up your Registry before removal, in case it accidentally deletes a crucial component.

EASY UNINSTALLER 1.5 BUILD 61 Da-Software Easy Uninstaller makes uninstalling multiple programs simpler than with

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Highly configurable and easy to use, Iconoid makes quick work of customizing your icons’ appearance and behavior. The help files are extensive and useful, and the number of icon variables you can modify is impressive. If

ZIPGENIUS 6.0.2.106

M.Dev Software This handy ZIP application works with almost two dozen file formats. Beyond compression, it can protect archives with a password and work directly with CD-RW drives. Access program functions from a drop-down menu or the large, colorful menu of buttons on the main toolbar. If you don’t like the look of either, you can easily change them to suit your preferences.

you’re looking to gain more control over the icons on your desktop, you’ll find this app helpful.

JETTOOLBAR 3.8.1.5021 Cowon America Perfect for heavy-duty multitaskers, this utility installs as a toolbar on the bottom half of your screen and houses icons for accessing your Control Panel, desktop, system utilities, and Microsoft Office programs. The application can also install bundled bookmarks for topics such as sports, news, and entertainment. With just a few clicks, you can add any other frequently used programs to the toolbar.

PIXIE 3.1 Nattyware Pixie lets you capture the color values for any onscreen object, either from your desktop or in any window of any application. Just point the mouse cursor to a solid or text color. Pixie then displays the color values in a tiny window in several popular formats, including HTML color code, RGB and CMYK codes, HSV, and hex.

SPEEDFAN 4.25 Almico Software PC technicians and those who like to handle their own system maintenance will appreciate this app. Its system-tray icon displays the temperature of your PC’s hard drive, and it can also provide information on voltage and fan speeds. The utility can display Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) data and includes a tool for resetting motherboard clocks.

TWEAKNOW REGCLEANER 2.6.5 TweakNow This utility makes the daunting prospect of cleaning your PC’s Registry safe and simple. The interface is straightforward, and most users will probably need only the Scan and Remove buttons. The settings are configured for immediate use, though you may exclude some Registry branches and references to removable drives from the scan. Should something go wrong after deletion, you can quickly restore the removed keys.

Superior Power & Gaming Technology

Sager brings you unparalleled gaming performance. Through AMD64* Technology Leadership, these processors offer Enhanced Virus Protection as well as energy saving features like Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology. Contact Sager today to begin your Superior experience. NP

5950V

NP 9750V

FEATURES

FEATURES

– nVIDIA SLI GPUs deliver heart-pounding

– Empowerment! The AMD Athlon™ 64 X2

®

™

Dual-Core Processor enables you to do more in less time by delivering exceptional multi-tasking capabilities and increased performance on digital media.

graphics performance and mind-blowing gaming experiences. Combining two nVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 GTX graphics modules in a single notebook allows you to essentially double your graphics performance.

– nVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 GTX PCI-Express™

– nVIDIA® nForce4 SLI™ Core Logic features

NP 5950V

intelligent hardware and software solutions to deliver earth-shattering PC performance in a multi nVIDIA® GPU solution. – The 19" widescreen display redefines the

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

– 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.

visual experience of mobile computing, maximizing the viewing range for the highest visual satisfaction.

NP 9750V

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

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-40 – Dual 256MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 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 Wireless LAN 802.11 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+ – 256MB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 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

$ 3199

$ 2849

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. 72-Hour Repair Promise. For the rest of the 1-year warranty period, if it takes more than 72-hours to repair your computer, we’ll pay 2nd day air return shipping charge. 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 and 72-Hour repair policies apply to hardware only. Software problems may take longer. 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, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, 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.

*

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

Call us toll free at:

sagernotebook.com

800.669.1624

MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD 1.5

INTERNET UTILITIES

Mozilla This full-featured e-mail client offers effective junk-mail filters, compatibility with RSS feeds, HTML support, and support for multiple identities. Thunderbird handles both POP and IMAP accounts admirably. It also offers stellar security features such as digital signing, message encryption, and a built-in phishing detector. If you’re looking for a feature-packed alternative to Outlook Express, this is it.

WWW

FOXYTUNES 1.2 Alex Sirota Firefox users will love this add-on’s easyto-use interface, which lets you control your favorite MP3 player without leaving the browser. The interface, which sits in the lower right of Firefox, provides buttons for performing actions such as playing, pausing, and adjusting the volume. Other helpful controls include forward and backward buttons, and a mute function.

GOOGLE TOOLBAR BETA 4 Google Anyone who relies on Google will find this toolbar an essential add-on. In addition to placing a Google search box in your browser, it offers a highly effective pop-up blocker, a nifty News button, a simple forms filler that automatically fills out Web forms with information stored locally, a translation utility, maps, and many more customization options.

MOZILLA FIREFOX 1.5 Mozilla The most popular alternative to Internet Explorer in years, Firefox features tabbed browsing, a built-in pop-up blocker, an integrated Really Simple Syndication (RSS) reader, and a JavaScript debugger. This latest version also boosts performance—you can reorder tabs by dragging and dropping them, and quickly clean up your surfing history with just two mouse clicks.

NOTETAB LIGHT 4.95 Fookes Software Power users and programmers will find plenty to love in this advanced text editor. The program comes with a set of libraries (including one for HTML), each containing clips—lists of commands that do anything

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from inserting bits of text to generating code. You can also create your own libraries and clips.

PLUCK 2.0 BETA Pluck If you’re looking for an Internet Explorerbased newsreader with some extra features, try your luck with Pluck. It makes adding an RSS feed as easy as clicking the orange XML icon on a site, then dragging it into the RSS Reader column. The program also lets you manage Web bookmarks across multiple computers, share Web pages and notes with friends, and sort and filter Amazon, eBay, and Google queries.

SITEGENWIZ 1.5 Enersoft This program enables absolute beginners to create Web sites and online photo albums. It comes with 10 templates and can automatically build site maps for you. After making your site, you can publish it online with the app’s FTP-connection feature. People who don’t want to learn HTML will find SiteGenWiz quite useful.

SKYPE 2.0.0.81 Skype Getting in touch with friends and family

is easy—and potentially free—with this Internet telephone software. To make free calls, both parties must install the Skype software. Alternately, you can place calls to standard phone lines by signing up for a plan with SkypeOut, the developer’s paid service that offers inexpensive bythe-minute calling.

SMARTFTP CLIENT 2.0.994.8 SmartFTP This powerhouse FTP client takes some getting used to, but it’s worth the effort. With the Local Browser window visible, SmartFTP supports drag-and-drop transfers like those on basic FTP clients. But its real power lies deeper within its option menus, where you’ll find the ability to perform background file transfers, multiple FTP connections, passive-mode transfers, site-to-site transfers, and connections via proxy or SSL.

TRILLIAN 3.1 Cerulean Studios Trillian offers simultaneous access to the fab-five chat clients: AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, mIRC, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. Import your passwords, buddy lists, and client preferences into the Trillian interface, and the program acts as a hub for all your

ALL-IN-ONE SECRETMAKER 4.2.7

some browser hijackers use to hide from spyware removers.

Secretmaker All-in-One Secretmaker will suit most users concerned with their privacy. The program effectively kills pop-up windows, including those sent through the Windows Messenger service, and marks spam. It also features NetBIOS protection, which stops tracking companies from identifying you. Finally, All-in-One Secretmaker deletes temporary and history files from Windows, Microsoft Office, and Internet Explorer, along with cleaning the traces left by Google Toolbar, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, and other apps. chat traffic. This latest version serves up an overhauled interface, tabbed chatting, improved file transfers, and a new Instant Lookup feature.

SECURITY

program current. Bonus: Lavasoft claims this latest version scans hard drives 30 percent faster than the previous version.

AVG ANTI-VIRUS FREE EDITION Grisoft This antivirus program provides all the necessities, including a tool for scanning your hard drive and e-mail, as well as a real-time shield to prevent infections. By default, the application searches daily for new virus definitions, but you can use the scheduling tool to adjust the frequency. AVG Anti-Virus also doesn’t tax your system when running in the background or scanning.

ABSOLUTESHIELD INTERNET ERASER LITE 2.59 SysShield Consulting This utility protects your privacy by scrubbing the traces of your Internet and computer activities. Integrated with Internet Explorer, the tool can erase your browser history, cookies, typed URLs, recent documents, Recycle Bin, and temporary folders in one click, completely removing these files from your hard drive. No practical software or hardware will be able to recover them.

AD-AWARE SE PERSONAL EDITION 1.06 Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE’s excellent reputation is well-justified—it does an outstanding job of quickly finding and removing most adware and spyware components. The app’s simple interface is skinnable, and an autoupdate feature keeps the

CRYPTAINER LE 6.0.1 Cypherix Cryptainer LE is an encryption utility that acts as a virtual drive you can place anywhere on your PC. You can then save files with its 128-bit Blowfish encryption to keep your data safe. Because the program lets you create selfdecrypting executable files, you can send secure documents to anyone, even if that person doesn’t have Cryptainer installed.

HIJACKTHIS 1.99.1 Merijn If persistent spyware is bogging down your computer, HijackThis is a seriously useful solution. This tiny program examines vulnerable or suspect parts of your PC, such as browser helper objects and certain types of Registry keys. Tools help you excise virulent infections, while the unique ADS Spy feature scans for alternate data streams, which

POP-UP STOPPER FREE EDITION 3.1.14 Panicware Whether you use Internet Explorer or Netscape, Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition shields you from intrusive pop-up pests. You can specify different sound and text-bubble alarms, or set your mouse cursor to change colors when the program blocks a pop-up ad. Unlike some utilities of its ilk, this one doesn’t affect the Open in New Window rightclick context-menu command.

PROCESSGUARD 3.15 DiamondCS This proactive utility blocks, at a deep level, all activities typical of malware and Trojan horses. It can prevent illintentioned programs from reading, modifying, or stopping any application in system memory. It can also disable access to physical memory, and stop unauthorized logging of drivers and services. For additional protection, ProcessGuard asks your permission every time a new application attempts to install.

SITEADVISOR FOR FIREFOX BETA SiteAdvisor This ingenious little Firefox extension watches out for you online by flagging potentially hazardous Web sites. It tells you whether a site has been known to unleash a deluge of pop-ups, bundle adware or spyware, or spam visitors. The URL-highlighter feature displays site rankings directly from your search engine, helping you thwart drive-by installs that may initiate as soon as you type a URL.

SPYCATCHER EXPRESS 2006 4.0.4.6 Tenebril After years of including Spybot—Search & Destroy in our top 50 downloads, we’ve made the switch to this free spyware killer. Spycatcher uses three different methods to detect spyware, and its DeepDefense feature intercepts API calls and can prevent rootkits from installing. It also provides real-time protection to prevent new spyware from moving in.

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Multimedia Merger Does Intel's Viiv platform sync with Microsoft's Media Center OS to yield a truly revolutionary entertainment PC—or is Viiv just all jive? EDITED BY JOSHUA GOLDMAN

D E S KTO P CO M P U T E R S have been slowly morphing from home-office drones into digital-entertainment supercenters over the last decade. Microsoft redefined the course for this evolution with the October 2002 launch of Windows XP Media Center Edition. Since then, improvements in technologies and services have converged to yield a reasonably advanced platform for digital entertainment on the PC.

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So when Intel started trumpeting Viiv (rhymes with “five”), its new media-centric hardware technology platform, we wondered just what the company had to offer above and beyond what was already available. Despite two press briefings and frequent fact-finding missions to Intel’s Web site, we couldn’t nail down exactly what all the fuss was about. Finally, we have some answers and some solid product recommendations. Like Intel’s mobile platform, Centrino, the idea behind Viiv is twofold: Deliver the finest combination of Intel components for the best user experience, and provide an easily recognizable marketing logo that will identify PCs with specific capabilities. With Centrino, Intel designated a wireless-ready notebook; for Viiv, it intends to specify a Media Center PC. In both cases, the components that define the platform are the processor, chipset, and network connection.

VIIV DEFINED To qualify as a Viiv system, a PC must employ a dual-core Intel Pentium Extreme Edition, Pentium D, or Core Duo CPU— which means Viiv systems won’t be powered by the fastest processors available. Intel’s 90nm 8xx series processors were not the top performers in our comparison with AMD CPUs in our recent dual-core-CPU blowout (“Dual-Core Duel,” March, p. 61). The newer 65nm 9xx series chips that were in four of the five systems in this roundup didn’t perform much better than 8xx series processors, either. Nonetheless, these are dual-core processors, and they will still be attractive to anyone who has ever wanted to burn a CD, stream a video, and surf the Web at the same time. The chipset, arguably the most interesting part of the trio, is the backbone supporting all of the features Intel mandates for a top-notch digital media experience. These features include high-definition 5.1- or 7.1-channel audio, support for up to 1080i high-definition television, and Intel Matrix Storage Technology for setting up a RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10 array. Another key feature is Quick Resume Technology for instant on (and off), enabling the PC to behave like a true consumer-electronics device. The chipsets that meet the requirements are Intel’s 955X, 975X, 945G/P/GT Express, and Mobile 945GM Express. Broadband Internet access is crucial to

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full enjoyment of what these systems can offer. Intel requires either a Pro/1000 PM Gigabit Ethernet controller (capable of 1,000Mbps) or a 100Mbps Pro/100 VE or VM Fast Ethernet Controller. Oddly absent, however, is a wireless-networking requirement. For a PC to become the heart of your entertainment center, no wireless connectivity only equals more cables. Finally, in terms of software, Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (MCE 2005) operating system is also required to make a Viiv box a full-fledged Media Center. But because the OS is available regardless of configuration or who makes the parts, it begs the question, “Does Viiv certification really matter?” The answer: Yes—and no. The Viiv label is a way to guarantee you’re getting a media PC that will perform at a certain level and that Viiv-verified applications and content will run flawlessly. Its stamp will also allow you to access Viiv-only digital content, Intel says. (Go to www.intel. com/viiv/entertainment.htm to see some of the types of content available.) And because the Viiv platform includes the option to use Intel’s capable mobile components, PCs in form factors more living-roomfriendly than ever will be developed and become part of the ecosystem of digitalentertainment hardware. (See the sidebar, “Nigh Viiv.”) None of this ensures that you’ll get the best deal for your money, however. For starters, Intel’s dual-core CPUs, as noted, don’t perform as well as their AMD competitors, and Viiv’s lack of a wireless-networking requirement is Alienware Area-51 a curious oversight. Another 3550 peculiar omission is the lack of a mandatory TV tuner. TV programming may not be vital to enjoying PCbased digital entertainment, but being able to use your computer as a digital video recorder is a big component of the Media Center OS. Marketing campaigns and tech specs

aside, we gathered five Viiv PCs to put Intel’s hype to the test. In the end, while all of the boxes we tested were capable Media Centers (some more capable than others, of course), none seemed any better prepared for digital content than Media Center PCs did pre-Viiv.

Alienware Area-51 3550 Editors’ Rating: 5.9 out of 10 Pros: Respectable configuration; some room for expansion; tidy cabling; quiet Cons: Basic wired keyboard, mouse; immense case; off-kilter price-to-component ratio; can host only one TV tuner WITH ITS first attempt at a Viiv-based Media Center, Alienware played things very safely with the Area-51 3550. Our build met all the requirements but added little else to the configuration—and it carried an Alienware-typical high price. Our $1,638 test model came in the company’s all-too-familiar full-tower case in Cyborg Green. The case looks great, but it’s huge and certainly not living-roomfriendly. Alienware has smaller, sleeker cases in its arsenal, which makes this choice all the more disappointing. (The company says it selected the full-tower chassis because its customers prefer that familiar design, but added that it has also made a midtower available.) Pop open the front door, and you’ll see only a double-layer DVD±RW drive and a multiformat card reader. After Alienware shipped our test unit, it decided to allow for configuring the system with additional optical drives, which makes sense given the three available 5.25-inch bays. Four USB 2.0 ports lie along the bottom edge of the case’s front, two on each side. Along the back are FireWire and two more USB 2.0 ports, plus the requisite Gigabit Ethernet jack and connections for the integrated 7.1-channel audio. Sliding off the side panel for a peek inside drew a mixed reaction. The interior is tidy, with all cabling sheathed and tucked completely out of the way. Arranging it neatly likely wasn’t very challenging, however, with so few components inside. Alienware chose an Intel D945GPM MicroATX motherboard to support this model. Considering the hulking fulltower case, the board looks like a twinsize bed in the middle of a spacious, empty master bedroom. The board also

severely limits card expansion—the one empty PCI slot is inaccessible, blocked by the graphics card. All that’s open to you is one x1 PCI Express (PCIe) slot. A low-end 128MB nVidia GeForce 6200 TurboCache graphics card fills the x16 PCIe slot, and the remaining PCI slot is occupied by a single-tuner TV card. Our system came configured with one 250GB hard drive and 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, with room for three more drives and two additional sticks of memory. With just two 120mm cooling fans spinning inside, the desktop ran quiet. Bundled with the PC were a basic wired Microsoft keyboard-and-mouse set and a Media Center remote. An Alienware representative said more options for components and accessories would be available by the time you read this. Performance was level with the similarly configured HP Pavilion m7360n, hitting a respectable 206 overall score on BAPCo’s SYSmark 2004 benchmark test. The GeForce 6200 GPU isn’t intended for highend gaming, and its score of 2.1 frames per second (fps) on our 1,024x768-resolution Doom 3 graphics test is proof of that. Finally, the TV tuner performed adequately, providing respectable picture quality, and recorded programming was similarly passable.

Dell XPS 400 Editors’ Rating: 7.4 out of 10 Pros: BTX design; dual TV tuners; sweetsounding 5.1-channel speakers; large widescreen LCD Cons: No wireless keyboard, mouse; little internal expansion space ITS $2,374 price may seem a bit high, but the Dell XPS 400’s powerful dual-core processor and entertainment-rich feature set provide everything you’ll need to watch and record TV programs, create DVDs, and manage multimedia files. In this roundup, the XPS 400 was the most well-rounded Media Center, meeting Intel’s Viiv requirements and edging out the Polywell Poly 975MCEExtreme by a mediacard reader. Clad in glossy white and silver, the attractive tower would add class to your workspace, but Dell XPS 400

Nigh Viiv Today’s Viiv PCs don’t look or perform much differently than yesterday’s standard Media Center models. All that could change, however, as manufacturers design new form factors and debut an extended ecosystem of Viiv-certified digital-entertainment devices. Some interesting software in-

the Viiv logo, such as DVD players or set-top boxes, will allow you to wirelessly connect to digital content on your PC from other rooms in your home. Because they’ll be Viiv-verified, they’ll be guaranteed to work with digital content and should be easy to set up. And for those who have video and music stored in a number of different file formats, Intel will soon integrate an engine that can automatically reformat unprotected files. For instance, it will be able to rewrite formats such as AAC, DivX, WMA, and WMV into more-universal Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) formats such as LPCM (audio) and MPEG-2 (video).

novations are on the Shuttle XPC M2000 horizon, too. Thanks to the mobile Core Duo processors and their low operating temperatures, PC makers can engineer some very slim, compact systems. We didn’t receive it in time to include in this roundup, but Shuttle’s XPC M2000 is a perfect example of what’s coming. While it looks like a slick A/V component, the XPC M2000 is also a full-fledged Viiv Windows MCE 2005 PC with Intel Viiv dual TV tuners, 7.1-channel This will simplify sharing mateprototype digital audio, and built-in rial with friends and family on a wireless networking. You can exPC, and it should also make it easier pect to see boxes similar to the to use Viiv-verified digital-entertainIntel prototype (right), as well. ment devices like portable video and Upcoming digital devices bearing audio players. —J.G. it’s too big and flashy to blend in with most home-entertainment components. The two full-size external drive bays are occupied by a double-layer DVD burner and a DVD-ROM drive, and a media-card reader comes installed in one of the two 3.5-inch bays. Two USB ports, a FireWire port, and headphone and microphone jacks are mounted on a shiny black bezel below the drive bays, and five more USB ports are at the rear of the system. Our PC relied on Intel’s Viiv-mandated integrated audio, but it can also be configured with a discrete sound card. The XPS 400 employs two system fans and a BTX airflow

scheme to keep components from overheating. The machine runs fairly quietly, with the only discernable noise coming from the graphics card’s fan. The interior is tightly packed with components that include a 256MB nVidia GeForce 6800 graphics card and a dual-TV-tuner card. The two hard drive bays each hold a 250GB drive, set up in Dell’s DataSafe (RAID 1) configuration that provides data protection via redundancy but affords you only 250GB of usable drive space. Driven by a 3.2GHz Pentium D 940 CPU and 1GB of DDR2 memory, the XPS 400 packs more than enough power for multimedia tasks. It turned in an admirable score of 229 on our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 benchmark test, second only to the Polywell Poly 975MCE-Extreme and 11 percent faster than the Alienware Area-51 3550. The XPS 400 achieved 46.6fps on our 1,024x768-resolution Doom 3 test, which means it can pull

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isn’t surprising. If you want to turn your den, home office, or dorm room into a media mecca without making the move to an A/V-style case, the Pavilion m7360n offers a lot to like. The two-tone silver tower has a media reader built into the front face, above its LightScribe DVD±RW and DVDROM drives. Two vertical front doors conceal FireWire, S-Video, composite-video-in, and HP Pavilion Media Center TV HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7360n PC dual USB 2.0 ports m7360n PC on the right side, Editors’ Rating: 6.5 out of 10 and an HP Personal Media Drive bay on Pros: 2GB RAM; Personal Media Drive bay; versatile software bundle the left. The Personal Media Drive is a portable plug-and-play hard drive, sold Cons: Single-tuner TV card; limited expansion room; low-end graphics separately, that fits into the bay or can be connected externally to another PC HP WAS a Microsoft Windows XP Media via USB 2.0. Center launch partner back in 2002, so With the exception of two open RAM finding a Viiv sticker on the latest versockets, the m7360n has no internal exsion of its Intel-based Pavilion m7360n pansion space; you’ll have to rely Application Performance: BAPCo SYSmark 2004 on its six USB 2.0 and two FireWire ports for adding devices. That’s not 206 a huge problem—the PC has every242 Alienware Area-51 3550 176 thing most users need—but it’s a red flag for anyone thinking of in229 276 Dell XPS 400 stalling a second TV tuner or an af190 termarket sound card. A single 200 standard-definition TV-tuner card HP Pavilion Media Center 243 m7360n PC is included, which, like the other 165 tuners in these systems, provides 196 decent, though not great, picture iBuypower Viiv-350 236 quality. The onboard audio sup162 ports up to 7.1-chan265 Polywell Poly nel surround 320 975MCE-Extreme 220 sound. 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Stocked with a Overall score Internet-Content-Creation score 2.8GHz Pentium Office-Productivity score D 920 processor, an impressive 2GB iBuypower 3D-Gaming Performance: Doom 3 (1,024x768) of DDR2 SDRAM, Viiv-350 and a 300GB Alienware Area-51 3550 2.1 hard drive, our $1,199 test model 46.6 Dell XPS 400 came well-equipped for use with HP Pavilion Media Center 2.7 TV m7360n PC the Windows XP MCE 2005 OS. On 5.6 our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 benchiBuypower Viiv-350 mark tests, it was statistically tied Polywell Poly 99.1 975MCE-Extreme with the Alienware Area-51 3550 0 25 50 75 100 (Frames per Second) but fell 15 percent behind Dell’s XPS 400. The weakest link in the For details on how we test desktop PCs, visit computershopper.com/HowWeTest and click hardware chain is the nVidia “Windows desktops.” GeForce 6200 SE graphics card,

double duty as a midrange gaming box. The TV tuner did a decent job of displaying live television, but some clipping and signal noise was evident on certain channels, a common problem with PCI tuners. Recorded programs also looked good, but we noted a trace of softness around the edges, another TV-tuner trait. Our XPS 400 shipped with a wired multimedia keyboard and mouse, rather than a wireless setup. It also included Dell’s attractive UltraSharp 2005FPW, a 20-inch wide-screen LCD, and a set of Dell’s solidsounding 5650 5.1-channel speakers. A healthy selection of software rounded out the package.

which simply can’t push pixels fast enough for complex games. HP’s branded wireless mouse and keyboard have an effective range of about 15 feet, and the keyboard has dedicated media-playback controls. The included HP remote is disappointing, however, with an unintuitive button layout and no backlighting. HP includes a generous and useful software bundle, including Microsoft Works 8.0 and a year’s subscription to MSN Encarta Online. We especially like the remote-operable versions of Muvee AutoProducer, which turns home movies into cool music videos, and HP’s Image Zone, which helps you print and share photos.

iBuypower Viiv-350 Editors’ Rating: 5.3 out of 10 Pros: Quiet BTX case; discrete graphics card Cons: Lacks TV tuner, MCE remote; no wireless keyboard, mouse THE IBUYPOWER Viiv-350, a no-frills PC that meets all the requirements to wear Intel’s Viiv badge, lacks many features a Media Center system should have. This $999 configuration is the least-expensive system in this roundup, but it doesn’t represent the best value. The case resembles that of a smallform-factor desktop, with room for only one optical drive and one 3.5-inch drive. These spaces are occupied by a double-

layer DVD burner and a card-reader/ floppy-drive combo unit, respectively. You won’t find a case-mounted display for DVD/CD tracks, song titles, and other multimedia-file information, which is a notable omission in a PC with an A/Vstyle case. Still, the BTX chassis is very quiet and will blend into most homeentertainment rack systems. Although the system’s 160GB hard drive is adequate for storing multimedia files, chances are it will fill up CONTINUES ON PAGE 88

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quickly if you decide to use the PC as an entertainment hub. We recommend springing for a 250GB or even 500GB drive, because the case affords room for only one internal hard drive. An entrylevel 128MB ATI Radeon X300 SE graphics card handles video. Two PCI slots and an x1 PCIe slot are vacant, but they accept only low-profile expansion cards. Behind a door on the front of the system are four USB ports, a FireWire port, and two audio jacks. Four additional USB ports and another FireWire port reside on the back panel, along with jacks for the integrated 7.1-channel audio subsystem. If you want to take advantage of MCE 2005’s TV-recording features, you’ll have to order a TV-tuner card and a Media Center remote control—neither is included in the base price. You’ll also have to pay a few dollars more for a basic keyboard and mouse. The Viiv-350 is not capable of serious gaming, based on its score Polywell Poly of 5.6fps on our 975MCE-Extreme 1,024x768 Doom 3 gaming tests. Running older, less-detailed games should not be a problem, however. DVD-movie playback was acceptable. The Viiv-350 fell behind every other Viiv system on our BAPCo SYSmark 2004 benchmark tests, with its overall score of 196. Still, it provides the basic horsepower to handle most casual multimedia workloads.

Feature Comparison

Polywell Poly 975MCE-Extreme Editors’ Rating: 5.5 out of 10 Pros: Easily handles high-end media, gaming applications; SLI-ready; design fits well into entertainment centers; dual TV tuners; quiet operation; almost 650GB of smartly configured storage Cons: No media-card reader; pricey; poor documentation THE $3,695 Polywell Poly 975MCEExtreme is powered by a top-of-the-line processor and a state-of-the-art graphics card, and includes bountiful storage, making it one of the most capable Media Center PCs in this roundup. The black, component-style metal case makes for a quiet PC, although it’s somewhat bulky. Its smooth, seamlesslooking front end is ideal for livingroom use but lacks a front-panel dis-

play and playback controls. Worse, it has no media-card reader. Behind a spring-loaded door up front you’ll find a double-layer DVD burner and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, along with four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, and audio jacks. Three PCIe slots are inside, two unused, enabling you to install a second graphics card to create a Scalable Linked Interface (SLI) powerhouse. That option is rare among Media Center PCs. Polywell employed an interesting

hard drive configuration, as well: two 10,000rpm 74GB drives set in a RAID 0 array, divided into partitions of 30GB for Windows and system files and 118GB for games and apps. Two additional 250GB drives are intended for data storage. This excellent setup lends itself equally well to performance and easy backups. Many Media Centers come with lowend graphics cards that can handle TV and movie playback but only simple games. Again, Polywell strays from the norm with its choice of a 256MB nVidia GeForce 7800 GT card. As a result, the PC outpaced all others here, hitting 99.1fps on our Doom 3 test at 1,024x768. And thanks to the dual-core processor, it can do so even while recording a TV show (or two) via its TV card with dual tuners. The card also provided better-than-average picture quality. The Extreme Edition 955 CPU, the fastest and most expensive chip from Intel, turned in a superior overall score of 265 on BAPCo SYSmark 2004. In short, the Poly rocks, but we have some issues with the bundled accessories. The monitor (a fabulous-looking 19-inch Hyundai L90D+ LCD) and speakers (the good-and-loud Creative Inspire P7800 7.1-channel set) are fine for an office or den, but they aren’t cut out for larger rooms. Finally, novices take note: Polywell provides manuals only for certain components, nothing covering the system as a whole. The only “setup guide” is a one-page diagram that identifies the PC’s various parts and ports. Reviews by Rick Broida, John Delaney, and Joshua Goldman

Alienware Area-51 3550

Dell XPS 400

HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7360n PC

iBuypower Viiv-350

Polywell Poly 975MCE-Extreme

EDITORS’ RATING

5.9

7.4

6.5

5.3

5.5

CONFIGURATION Processor

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

3.2GHz Pentium D 940

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

TV Tuner(s) Monitor Speakers Operating System Warranty (Parts/Labor)

1GB DDR2 250GB Double-layer DVD±RW None nVidia GeForce 6200 TurboCache (128MB) Single None None Windows XP MCE 2005 One year/one year

1GB DDR2 Two 250GB Double-layer DVD±RW DVD-ROM nVidia GeForce 6800 (256MB) Dual 20-inch Dell LCD Dell 5650 5.1 Windows XP MCE 2005 One year/one year

2GB DDR2 300GB Double-layer DVD±RW DVD-ROM nVidia GeForce 6200 SE (256MB) Single None None Windows XP MCE 2005 One year/one year

1GB DDR2 160GB Double-layer DVD±RW None ATI Radeon X300 SE (128MB) None None None Windows XP MCE 2005 One year/three years

3.46GHz Pentium Extreme Edition 955 1GB DDR2 Two 250GB, two 74GB Double-layer DVD±RW DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo nVidia GeForce 7800 GT (256MB) Dual 19-inch Hyundai LCD Creative Inspire P7800 7.1 Windows XP MCE 2005 Three years/five years

COMPANY

Alienware

Dell

Hewlett-Packard

iBuypower

Polywell Computers

800-254-3692 www.alienware.com

800-999-3355 www.dell.com

888-999-4747 www.hp.com

888-462-3899 www.ibuypower.com

800-900-5836 www.polywell.com

$1,638

$2,374

$1,199

$999

$3,695

System Memory Hard Drive(s) First Optical Drive Second Optical Drive Graphics

DIRECT PRICE

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28 TOP SHOPPING SPOTS

WE SCOUR THE WEB TO UNCOVER THE BEST PLACES TO FIND TECHNOLOGY BARGAINS.

BY KEVIN SAVETZ SHOPPING FOR TECH ONLINE has its advantages—you get to compare prices at dozens of stores with a single click, get detailed specification and warranty information, and, in light of skyrocketing fuel costs, save yourself some gas money, too. Plus, you may even score some free-shipping deals. That’s the fun part. The challenge is sifting through the innumerable technology stores in cyberspace for the right one. To further complicate matters, few technology stores pay the same attention to every product category they carry. The best place to buy printers, for instance, may not be the ideal site for hard drives. There are exceptions, of course—Newegg.com being one of them. For the most part, however, tech-shopping sites do one or two categories right, not all. With that in mind, we combed the Internet and came up with the best sites for specific tech categories, basing our picks on breadth of selection and price.

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COMPUTERS DESKTOPS When it comes to shopping for desktops, PC Connection (www.pcconnection.com) should be one of your first stops. This New Hampshire company offers a wide selection of PCs, ranging from top-of-the-line home models to more-subdued business systems. Although the site doesn’t let you customize a computer, it does offer free shipping and generous rebates that, overall, provide much sweeter deals. Those who feel 3 d T4 om kPa c more comfortable specializes in laptops from alternative Thin ection. o v o Len .pcconn choosing what goes vendors such as Crown, PowerPro, and www inside their PC, Sager. Besides getting to browse the offerhowever, should turn to ings by screen size or processor type, you iDotpc.com. The company lets you can also configure many of the notebooks pick everything from the case to the to your liking. The company frequently ofmotherboard your system will use. fers free extras such as memory upgrades If you’re looking to make the switch and carrying cases. Another excellent from Wintel to Mactel, we recommend choice is DiscountLaptops.com, which visiting PC Connection’s sister site, Mac also sells less-trumpeted brands such as Connection (www.macconnection.com). ChemUSA, Panasonic, Sager, and TwinAs we went to press, the site was offering head. One of the site’s perks is its message Apple’s recently announced Intel Mac board, where users can grade the systems Mini with a free Epson printer. Apple’s the store sells. Hesitant about buying from new iMacs were also available for $100 a site you’ve never heard of? Fear not— both sites have commendable 30-day below their retail prices, albeit with return policies with no restocking fees. mail-in rebates.

49 $1,2

NOTEBOOKS Anyone in the market for a new laptop will likely spend hours checking out the selection of notebooks available at XtremeGear (www.buyxg.com). The site puts you in the driver’s seat and lets you choose the color, graphics chip, and even hard drive capacity of your notebook. If you’re looking for a lesser-known brand, try PowerNotebooks.com. The site

COMPONENTS GRAPHICS CARDS TigerDirect (www.tigerdirect.com) is a virtual smorgasbord of PC components, but its graphics-card selection is particularly impressive. The catalog ranges from highend video powerhouses for gamers and graphics professionals to impressive, yet affordable, cards for everyday computing.

You can shop graphics cards by chipset or interface type, selecting from the latest PCI Expressbased cards. Video-capture devices are also on offer.

HARD DRIVES Because hard drives have become so massive and inexpensive, it’s possible to add 400GB to your desktop for just $250—if you shop at the right places. Drive Solutions (www.drivesolutions.com) sells hard drives for desktops and laptops. Its catalog includes Serial ATA and IDE drives, SCSI storage for your server, and external USB and FireWire drives. Prices are reasonable and delivery times quick.

MEMORY Adding RAM remains one of the easiest and least-expensive ways to boost your PC’s performance. Crucial Technology (www.crucial.com) sells memory upgrades for hundreds of PCs, notebooks, servers, and printers. Although you can usually find memory upgrades a few dollars cheaper through Dealram (www.dealram.com), Crucial delivers name-brand memory with a lifetime warranty—a perk you may not get with generic memory. Don’t know your DDR from your EDO? The site’s Memory Advisor tool tells you precisely what kind of RAM your computer needs. Plus, if the RAM doesn’t work in your machine, you can return it for a full refund.

MODS Can’t decide which power supply to put inside your water-cooled PC? Xoxide (www.xoxide.com) can help. Xoxide specializes in PC cases and case mods. The selection includes water-cooling kits, cold cathode lights, and a bevy of fans and other gadgets for jazzing up your PC. You can even get your caffeine fix here. For more modding supplies, mouse on over to FrozenCPU.com. With a huge selection of liquid-cooling kits, power supplies, noise-suppression gear, and modded cases, FrozenCPU.com—as its name implies—specializes in PC modding and cooling. Truly hard-core overclockers should check out the section devoted to vapor-compression refrigeration.

$199

mines which components you can or can’t add during the PC-building process. J&N Computer Services (www.jncs.com) can help you find the motherboard with the specs you need. The company specializes in selling pretested motherboard/CPU/memory bundles. The abundant custom-configuration options include Athlon 64, Opteron, Pentium 4, and Xeon bundles, many of which come with three-year warranties.

OPTICAL DRIVES

Choosing the right motherboard is critical—your PC’s foundation, it deter-

INPUT DEVICES Amazon.com sells just about every book, computer program, and gadget in existence, so why have we singled it out for input devices? Because few stores have the breadth of choices Amazon does: keyboards, mice, joysticks, and other input devices from dozens of manufacturers. You can shop by price, popularity, or manufacturer,

Nothing’s more embarrassing than owning a Frankenstein PC whose optical drive doesn’t match the case color. With its monstrous drive selection, Directron.com can help both system builders and upgraders avoid the dreaded patchedup look. The catalog One asyShare .com includes DVD writers, Kodak E ra e m achca optical combo drives, www.be

$345

and slim drives for laptops and desktops—all with bezels in colors other than beige.

PERIPHERALS CAMERAS AND CAMCORDERS With more than 20 years in the business, BeachCamera.com focuses on digital imaging on the cheap. The last time we looked, we found 130 digital cameras and more than 40 camcorders to choose from, all with reasonable prices. Whether you’re curious about that new Wi-Fi-connected camera or just looking for a carrying case for your current shooter, chances are you’ll find what you want. Many products are sold below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price—shutterbugs on a shoestring can’t afford to miss out.

DIGITAL AUDIO DEVICES MOTHERBOARDS

ple, Creative Labs, Iriver, and other popular makes of digital music players (including out-of-date iPods), as well as a full complement of accessories, batteries, cases, and music services to keep your new player humming. You can place your order online, then pick up your purchase at a loIriver U www 10 (512M cal Best Buy .best buy.c B) om store. Just be sure your purchase won’t give you buyer’s remorse later—Best Buy reserves the right to charge up to a 25 percent restocking fee on nondefective returns.

When it comes to entertainment on the go, Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) is tough to beat. The Web store sells Ap-

and read informative user reviews to find out how the devices fare in the hands of real customers. Make sure you examine the site’s return policies, however—they vary from product to product. Cyberguys (www.cyberguys.com) is another great spot for input devices, especially if you have a penchant for models with interesting features. Shoppers with cold hands may appreciate the heated USB keyboard ($49), and those with kids may find the $27 pink keyboardand-mouse combo appealing. Unlike

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Amazon.com, Cyberguys has a 90-day noquestions-asked return policy—the best of all the sites we reviewed.

MONITORS Monitor Outlet (www.monitoroutlet. com) has a huge selection of not only CRT and LCD computer monitors, but also of plasma and LCD televisions. Shipping is always free, and specs are available for each model. If the selection overwhelms you, turn to the Quick Compare section for a breakdown of options by price, screen size, or manufacturer.

NETWORKING AND WI-FI With so many choices in wired and wireless networking, setting up a home or office network can be intimidating. Zones (www.zones. com) sells all the networkL ing equipment you 00 X X18 n o e could possibly need, Rad ATI MB) .com whether you’re linkrect 6 (25 .tigerdi ing two computers or www

9.99 $35

200. We especially like the selection of Gigabit Ethernet cards and wireless access points. You can sort through the catalog by manufacturer, platform, or popularity, zeroing in on the products you want in a matter of seconds.

SPEAKERS Whether you need speakers for your computer or living room, Cambridge SoundWorks (www. cambridgesoundworks.com) has the goods. We found more than 30 multimedia and iPod speakers, includShar ing breathtaking p Aqu o www .mon s 32DA5U surround-sound itoro utlet .com systems and compact models for travel. The site offers a 45-day priceprotection guarantee, along with a satisfaction promise on most items. Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more.

$1,46 8

PDAS A new PDA can change the way you communicate with colleagues and organize your life. The selection at CompUSA (www.compusa.com) includes the latest models from HewlettPackard and Palm. You’ll also find memory, cases, and other add-ons. Shipping is free on orders larger than $150, or you can opt for in-store pickup.

PRINTERS MostlyPrinters.com sells an impressive number of printers from a dozen manufacturers, ranging from inexpensive home units to business workhorses. You’ll even find refurbished models. The site matches prices and provides detailed information on every product.

PCs and gaming go hand in hand. When you’re ready to ditch the spreadsheets for some action, surf over to GoGamer (www.gogamer.com). You’ll find PC, Mac, and console games, plus a variety of gaming gear. Budget gamers can check out the Blow-Out Deals section for retro titles that sell for as little as 99 cents. For instant gratification, you can download commercial games at sister site GoLoader (www.goloader.com). If you’re willing to buy used, you can find some great deals on console games at Half.com. Owned by eBay, Half.com lets sellers set fixed prices for used game systems, and you don’t have to win any auctions to get them.

ACCESSORIES

Small Dog Electronics (www.smalldog. com) specializes in everything Macrelated, including printers, storage upgrades, and PowerBook supplies. The site features weekly specials and excellent deals on factory-refurbished systems. Last we looked, we found a 12-inch PowerBook for just over $1,000.

With all the music and image files on our PCs, recordable media has become indispensable. TapeandMedia.com has a huge selection of recordable CDs and DVDs, backup tapes, memory cards for your camera, and flash drives. The catalog includes all types of audio and video tapes, as well as harder-to-find media. You’ll also find accessories such as labels, mailers, disc printers, and duplicators.

SOFTWARE

PRINTER INK

APPLICATIONS AND UTILITIES

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GAMES

BLANK MEDIA MAC PERIPHERALS

Your new hardware is no fun without software. Newegg.com, a veteran Shoppers’ Choice Awards winner and host of the widest assortment of hardware we’ve seen, is also a popular spot for applications and utilities. It’s easy to see why—you’ll Cano n i80 find great www .mos prices on a huge tlyprin ters.c om

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variety of software titles. The “I need it now” crowd can find downloadable versions of more than 500 applications.

Quenching your printer’s insatiable thirst for ink can be hard on your wallet. We recommend Inksite (www.inksite.com). The company sells name-brand, generic, and remanufactured ink cartridges for hundreds of printers, including hard-to-find brands such as Apollo, Citizen, and Star. InkSell.com is another good choice for inkjet and laser cartridges, as well as refill kits and other printer supplies. If you accidentally buy the wrong cartridge, InkSell.com has a 30-day return policy on both opened and unopened products.

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

102 Hardware Weekend Project 106 Software Weekend Project

COMPUTER CURES ALFRED POOR BULLETPROOF BACKUP? My motherboard controller supports RAID 0 or RAID 1. If I apply RAID 1 to my two hard drives, will I be protected from data loss if something happens to one of the drives? Scott Miller Theoretically, yes. RAID stands for “Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks”; it’s a way of linking the data on two or more hard drives. RAID 1 is disk mirroring. Whenever data is written to one drive, the same data is written to a second drive. If one of the drives should fail, the other contains an exact copy of the data. So, if you’re using this mode, you’ve got protection against damage to one of the drives. (Note, however, that RAID 1 provides no protection against inadvertent file deletion or damage from a virus or other malware.) A RAID 0 configuration does not protect data at all. It simply divides the data between two or more hard drives, so the data can be written to (or read from) both drives at once, speeding up data transfers. You’ll get an increase in performance, but if either drive dies, you risk losing all your data. RAID 0+1 is another type of configuration, in which the data is shared between two or more hard drives, and the contents of each drive are mirrored to another set of drives. You need at least four hard drives to achieve this type of backup. GETTING THE PICTURES My daughter’s Windows XP PC wouldn’t boot. I replaced the hard drive, and it worked fine. I connected the old drive as a second drive, but I can’t access any of its data. She has photos on the old drive that we’d like to save, if possible. Can you offer any help? Dale Dorrow

Plenty of products and services are available that may be able to help, but this venture will cost you. I can recommend Ontrack Data Recovery (www. ontrack.com). The company’s products and services range from do-it-yourself recovery software and remote-recovery procedures to high-tech, in-lab data rescue. TYPES TOO FAST I built my own Windows PC, and it works fine—except for one small detail. If I type quickly, the computer starts beeping. Do you have any idea what could be causing this, and how to fix it? Jason Black If you’re losing characters when you hear these beeps, it might mean that some buffer is filling up, and the system is alerting you of an error. Try rebooting in Safe

It’s possible CPU processing is required when you’re not doing anything on your PC because all sorts of programs may be running in the background.

ing up and down, but there is no noticeable lag in system performance. What’s going on? Alex Bricault It’s possible CPU processing is required when you’re not doing anything on your PC because all sorts of programs may be running in the background. Choose the Processes tab in the Task Manager window to see the list of active processes. The CPU column indicates what percentage of the CPU’s capacity is being used by each process. In most PCs, the lion’s share will be allocated to something called “System Idle Process.” This is actually the percentage of the CPU’s power that is not being used at the time. This amount can commonly be 98 percent or higher when you’re not doing anything else with the computer. If this value is low, it means that some process is capturing a lot of the CPU’s time, and you may want to try to identify it in the list of active processes.

Mode to see if the problem persists. If it goes away, I suspect some program running in the background in Normal mode is stealing too many CPU cycles and the keyboard data is piling up before it can be processed. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to selectively shut down apps and processes using the Windows Task Manager until you find the culprit, then uninstall that program.

LEAVE OR DELETE? My C: drive contains two folders I believe are remnants of programs I have removed from my system. C:\RecoveryBin has 722MB of data, and C:\Recycler has 85 bytes. I started to move these folders to another drive using a utility so that I could then erase them, but I changed my mind at the last minute. Is it safe to move these folders? Should I delete them where they are? Or just leave them alone? Stu Godwin

IDLE CURIOSITY When I run Windows Task Manager and look at the graph of CPU Usage on the Performance tab, the line keeps jump-

Always take a cautious approach when deleting unfamiliar files. The RecoveryBin folder likely came from Executive Software’s Undelete

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HELP & HOW-TO COMPUTER CURES utility. The Recycler folder, however, is where files in the Recycle Bin are kept—it’s part of Windows. If you no longer have the Undelete utility on your system, you should be able to remove RecoveryBin safely. Do not delete Recycler, however. I suggest keeping a copy of any such folder for a few days, so you can put it back in its original location if something goes haywire. You don’t need a special utility to move a folder from one drive to another; just use Windows Explorer and drag the folder to its destination. After you move the folder, reboot your computer. If your PC is operating properly after a few days, you can delete the folder permanently. (If you want to be completely safe, burn the folder to a CD first.) FLASH SANS FLOPPY I realize that floppies have just about become obsolete, but I recently needed one to flash the BIOS on my motherboard. Can this be done with a CD instead of a floppy? Don Rinker Indeed, floppies may be going the way of the dodo, but you are correct—they’re still

TIP OF THE MONTH: BATTERY GETS THE BOOT In the March installment of Computer Cures (“Boot, Interrupted,” p. 90), I answered a question from a reader whose computer suddenly stopped booting. I suggested she use the BIOS-configuration utility to write a fresh copy of the configuration data to the CMOS memory to clear the error causing the boot failure. This month’s tipster has an alternate solution I hadn’t thought of, which suggests a different cause for the problem.

I recently had a similar problem with my computer, and I fixed it by replacing the battery for the configuration settings on the motherboard. I was tipped off when I went into the BIOS-configuration utility and saw that the date had been reset to when the computer was manufactured (January 2001, in my case). Edwin Juszczyk

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a staple for updating the BIOS on a computer. Fortunately, many CD-burning utilities now include an option to make the disc bootable, so all you need to add are the flash utility and the BIOS data file, and you should be all set. Note that you may need to change the disk-drive boot sequence in your computer’s BIOS settings for the bootable CD to take precedence over the hard drive. You should see a prompt during the power-on process that tells you which key to press to enter the BIOS-configuration utility. If you don’t see it, check your PC’s documentation or the support section of the company’s Web site. WHERE DOES THIS BUS GO? My system crashes when I play some games. I’m trying to upgrade the graphics card, but I can’t figure out what type of expansion card I need. I know that my motherboard doesn’t have an AGP slot, and it appears that I have three open PCI slots. A sticker on the motherboard points to the second slot and reads “SM BUS ENABLED.” Is this the same as PCI Express? What type of card do I need? Fr a n k S a n t e r a m o

Good detective work, Edwin. The configuration settings are stored in CMOS memory, which requires far less power to maintain its contents than standard dynamic RAM but still requires some juice. When the PC is turned off, a battery on the motherboard provides this power, but it has a finite lifespan. If you have an older computer, it’s entirely possible the battery will die, resulting in the CMOS losing its contents, which in turn causes the BIOS to revert to its default settings. Those default settings may result in an unbootable configuration. Many desktop motherboards use small lithium “button” batteries. You can remove the battery to test its power output. If you must replace it, be sure to get the same model. You should

I’m sorry to report that the sticker has nothing to do with PCI Express (PCIe). The PCIe connector comes in three different formats, none compatible with plain old PCI slots or cards. As a result, your only expansion option is a PCI graphics adapter. “SM BUS ENABLED” refers to the System Management Bus, a simple communications system for expansion devices. It’s typically used for sending small amounts of information, such as a device’s temperature or a level of battery charge. It’s not used for large amounts of data required by graphics processing. Even though you can’t take advantage of PCIe, it’s still probably worth upgrading the graphics. If your graphics processor is embedded in your motherboard, an expansion graphics adapter will likely run rings around it. Plus, the embedded processor uses some of the motherboard memory, so disabling it and using the expansion card will free up some system memory. It’s also possible that your crashes are due to faulty system memory in the region used by the graphics processor. If adding a new graphics card doesn’t solve the problem, consider replacing the RAM module.

be able to get more details about the battery specifications and its location on the motherboard from your computer documentation or on the support section of the company’s Web site.

Send us your favorite tip, and you could receive a tipster’s prize package. “Alfred Poor’s Computer Cures,” Computer Shopper, 28 E. 28th St., 10th Fl., New York, NY 10016-7942 [email protected] Please include your name. Due to the number of letters we receive, we cannot provide personal replies, nor return any enclosures.

HELP & HOW-TO

WEEKEND PROJECT HARDWARE Extend your desktop’s useful life with these four easy upgrades.

New Life for An Old PC BY LEVY VARGAS

your PC was a fire-breathing monster. These days, however, the trusty rig’s performance is noticeably sluggish and unsatisfying, and you’re starting to run low on storage space. Before you ditch the machine, however, consider these upgrades—you might be able to squeeze a few more good years out of it. TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO,

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1

Boost speed with RAM

When your open apps run out of RAM, your PC has to transfer data between its actual memory and the virtual memory on your hard drive. This malady, known as “thrashing,” slows down your PC’s operation considerably. Adding RAM is a quick, easy way to eliminate it. Before you order new RAM modules, however, get some details on your existing RAM, including the number of modules installed, the capacity of each module, the number of slots you have, and the maximum RAM speed and capacity your PC can handle. You can check how much RAM is installed by right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties, or by watching the screen during your PC’s power-on self test (POST). A physical inspection can answer these questions and more, however. Shut down your PC, unplug the power cord, and open the case. Ground yourself by touching metal before you touch the modules. Remove a module by pushing down the clips on either side of its slot and pulling the module straight up. Then, look for a label on it that identifies its speed and capacity. Now check how many free slots you have, if any. The number of modules you’ll have to replace will depend on the capacity of the existing modules and the maximum capacity each slot can accommodate. You can find out that info when you enter your PC’s make and model number into the fields at the memory provider’s site. When selecting RAM, make sure it’s Push the RAM modules straight down until at least as fast the clips snap into place. as your current RAM, and install the fastest memory your PC can handle if you want to achieve a noticeable performance improvement. Installing the new RAM is simple: Just push the module straight down into the socket until the clips snap into place. You know you’ve done it right when the BIOS and Windows report the new amount. Tip: A service such as Crucial Technology’s Memory Advisor (www.crucial.com) can autodetect your upgrade options.

2

Beef up your graphics

Memory demands are highest for tasks such as video editing and gameplay. That’s why graphics cards have their own onboard memory. If your existing card doesn’t have enough memory—or is a motherboard-based solution that lacks a dedicated chip—performance can suffer. Upgrading to a fresh, dedicated graphics card can not only help, but it can add some prime features, too. Look for a card with a faster GPU (denoted by its clock

Insert the new graphics card into your motherboard’s open AGP or PCI Express slot.

speed in megahertz), and shoot for twice as much memory as your current card has. To check these numbers, reboot your machine and watch the screen carefully for this information during the POST. If your PC is a couple of years old, it probably has an AGP slot, so make sure you don’t select a card with the newer PCI Express interface. Also, you may want to consider a card with a built-in DVI port (for digital connection to an LCD) or TV tuner. To install the new card, follow the same procedures for powering down and grounding yourself. Remove the old card (a screw may be holding it in place), and push the new one firmly into position. If the card has a power-input cable, connect it to your PC’s power supply. When you reboot, Windows should detect the new card, and you’ll be able to install its drivers. (For more help upgrading your graphics card, check out “Get the Power to Play” in the June 2005 issue, p. 120, or at www.computershopper.com.) Tip: To get the most out of your new card, be sure to download and install the latest drivers from its maker’s Web site.

3

Upgrade to RAID

The performance of older, slower hard drives worsens as they reach capacity. Speed things up and gain some much-needed space by installing two new hard drives in a RAID array. This is also a good opportunity to upgrade to the Serial ATA (SATA) drive interface, which is faster than conventional IDE and uses smaller cables for less clutter. You can configure RAID in several ways; we recommend RAID Level 1, which writes to both drives simultaneously, creating a mirror image of your data. This way, if one drive fails, your data is safe on the other. When shopping, look for identical or similar drives, with spin rates of at least 7,200rpm and minimum caches of 16MB for improved performance. If your motherboard doesn’t support RAID, you’ll need to install a RAID controller card in a free PCI slot. If you’re going the SATA route, note you may need a floppy drive to install the drivers. (If your PC’s a few years old, you probably still have one.) And, obviously, you’ll need two free 3.5-inch drive bays for the two drives. Other considerations: the length of cable you’ll need, available power-supply connectors, and the

software that comes bundled with the drives you choose. In the last case, you’ll want data-backup and -migration utilities. Also, utilities accessible from the BIOS are valuable should problems arise. Once you have everything you need and you’ve installed the PCI card, position the two drives in their bays, secure them with the included screws, and connect the appropriate cables to the controller card and power supply. The next time you power up, Windows will detect the new drives. You can now copy the entire image of your old drive, OS and all, to one of the new drives using the bundled data-migration software. Next, power down your PC, remove the old drive, and power back up. Before Windows boots, enter the RAID card’s BIOS to create a RAID 1 array using your two new hard drives. (For more info, see “Double Up Your Data” in the January 2006 issue, p. 98, or at www.computershopper.com.) Tip: Take the time to perform a full backup before you install a new drive, and read all the instructions before the upgrade. Also, make sure you have the Windows installation CD handy in case things go awry.

4

Supersize your sound

If you enjoy listening to music, watching movies, or playing the latest games on your PC, integrated audio or an aging sound card may not meet your needs. Many outdated boards and chips don’t support surroundsound speakers or encode popular audio codecs (such as AAC, MP3, or WMA) without offloading the heavy work onto your processor. When selecting a new card, consider your speaker system, and make sure the connectors match. Installation is straightforward. If you’re replacing a dedicated sound card, just remove it and drop in the new one, paying attention to where any internal connectors go. If you’re upgrading from integrated audio, restart your computer and disable this chip in the BIOS. (For more advice, check out “Immerse Yourself in 7.1 Sound” in the August 2005 issue, p. 114, or at www. computershopper.com.) Tip: If you use your PC as a music jukebox, consider a wireless remote or multimedia keyboard.

After disabling or removing your old audio subsystem, insert the new sound card into a free PCI slot.

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HELP & HOW-TO

WEEKEND PROJECT SOFTWARE What you need to know to use this lightning-fast P2P protocol.

BitTorrent For Beginners BY LOUIS RAMIREZ

1

Download the client

Several BitTorrent clients, each with their own set of pros and cons, are available for download. We chose the official BitTorrent client, which you get directly from BitTorrent at www.bittorrent.com. It’s straightforward and easy to use, and, because it’s the official client, it’s always guaranteed to be upto-date. The text-driven interface is utilitarian and uncluttered. During the install process you can choose the folder in which downloads will be saved. Other BitTorrent users will have access only to the files you’ve downloaded via the BitTorrent client, regardless of where you save them, and only while the client is open. Tip: If you’re protected by a firewall, you’ll need to open specific ports on your PC to allow incoming and outgoing traffic. By default, trackers (see step 2 for a definition) connect to ports 6881 to 6999. You need only one port per client, so if you open port 6881, you should have no trouble downloading and uploading files. The simplest way to open the port is by giving your client Internet access when prompted by your firewall. If you’re still having trouble, consult your router’s Web configuration page for information on manually opening the port.

2 the Internet into a digital cornucopia of ondemand media. From videos to music, there’s nothing you can’t find with this far-reaching program. But unlike other peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols, which require you to download your file from one central server or computer, BitTorrent works by breaking files into tiny kilobyte-size fragments. When you want to download one of these files, the BitTorrent client on your PC sniffs out the location of the fragments, initiates the download process, and reassembles the file as it’s downloaded to your computer. Here’s what you need to know to tap into the fun.

Before you launch BitTorrent, it pays to familiarize yourself with the lingo. Torrent files are nuggets of information—usually a few kilobytes in size—that point your client to trackers. The sole function of a tracker is to connect BitTorrent users to one another by creating and managing a swarm, which consists of all the seeders, peers, and leechers on a torrent. A seeder is someone who has downloaded a file in its entirety, whereas peers and leechers are those in the process of downloading it. The more seeders in a swarm, the faster you can download the file. Another term you should know is hit ’n run. This is when you close your client immediately after your download is complete. It’s considered bad BitTorrent etiquette.

May 2006 computershopper.com

Illustration by David Flaherty

BITTORRENT HAS TURNED

106

Know your BitTorrent terminology

A swarm can consist of multiple peers, seeders, and leechers. Here you can see them listed by their IP addresses.

3

Adjust your settings

The first thing you’ll notice when you launch BitTorrent is the large bandwidth meter. This is your maximum upload rate. It’s set to 20K per second, but you can increase or decrease it by adjusting the slider. Keep in mind that it pays to be generous with your upload bandwidth, because the more you give to your peers, the more bandwidth a tracker will allot you on your next download. Another bit of common courtesy is to try to achieve an even upload-to-download ratio. Some trackers even require that you build up to and maintain a minimum share ratio, which ensures you’re not downloading more than you’re uploading. In the BitTorrent client we used, share ratio was expressed as a percentage instead of a ratio. In View > Settings > Seeding, the default is to seed completed torrents until the share ratio reaches 80 percent, meaning you’ve shared 80 percent of the amount of data you’ve downloaded. If you’re feeling generous, you can boost this percentage, choose to share a file indefinitely by checking the “Seed indefinitely” box, or increase the amount of time your client remains open after you’ve finished a download. (The default is 300 minutes.) These settings will affect the share-ratio rating you get on You can specify how much of a file to seed and how long you want the client different torrentto remain open after a download. download sites.

4 5

Search for files

Now you’re ready to start tracking down some torrents. To the right of the BitTorrent bandwidth meter is a built-in search menu you can use to search for the files you want. Before you download any type of file, however, be it an e-book, an album, or a video, make sure it’s legal to do so. One way to make sure is to go directly to the author’s, musician’s, or filmmaker’s site. Another way: Look for files on a site such as Legal Torrents (www.legaltorrents.com), which links only to legal downloads.

Start downloading

Once you’ve found the torrent you’d like to download, simply click on it. You can choose to open the torrent, and the data will begin downloading immediately, or you can save the torrent file, either to the location you chose when you installed the application or to a destination of your choice. Because torrent files are so small, the download will typically take less than 10 seconds. If you saved the torrent file, open it from within the BitTorrent client. Don’t be alarmed if nothing happens for the first few minutes. During this time, your client is communicating with the tracker. Once the tracker finds other peers and

seeders for you to swarm with, your download will begin. Once you enter a swarm and start downloading files, your activity will be indicatThe official BitTorrent client displays the ed at the botstatus of multiple simultaneous downloads. tom portion of the BitTorrent client window. A status bar illustrates the progress of each download, tracks your estimated download time, and calculates your share ratio after each download, again as a percentage rather than a ratio. As you download parts of a file, your client will simultaneously offer the pieces you have to other peers in the swarm. So while you’re downloading part XYZ from one peer, another peer might be downloading part ABC from you. Because everyone is pitching in, downloads are much faster than they would be if you were downloading from a single source. Tip: Do your heaviest downloads at night. This way, you can keep your client open long after you’ve finished downloading without experiencing any bandwidth slowdowns, and you’ll increase your share ratio in the process.

6

Install multiple video players

Now comes the tricky part: deciphering the alphabet soup of file formats. In most cases, your current software should do the trick, but we recommend having multiple programs on hand in case you run into trouble. For music files, we recommend Nullsoft’s Winamp (www.winamp. com). The Pro version, which will set you back $19.95, lets you rip and encode music to AAC, MP3, and WMA, but for listening purposes, the free version should suffice. Video is somewhat trickier, because you’ll likely encounter far more video formats than music ones. We suggest having at least three video players installed: Apple’s QuickTime (www.apple.com/quicktime), DivX Player 6.1 (www.divx.com), and Windows Media Player (www.windowsmedia.com). These should enable you to open most, if not all, popular video files. Sometimes the video you download is compressed. For those occasions, we also recommend WinRAR (www.rarlabs.com), an archive manager that can decompress RAR files and other popular formats. If you’re still having playback trouble, chances are you’ve downloaded a BIN or CUE file. For these, you’ll need emulator software such as Daemon Tools (www.daemon-tools.cc). Daemon Tools creates a virtual drive on your PC that lets you play these files. If you still have trouble, try downloading the file again from WinRAR lets you extract compressed a different torrent video files. search engine.

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107

TECHMARKET THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMART TECHNOLOGY SHOPPING

109 114 118 120 122 124

Media Center Desktops Desktop-Replacement Notebooks Inkjet Printers Large Flat-Panel Displays External DVD Burners Wi-Fi Routers

NEED TO KNOW

MEDIA CENTER DESKTOPS PROCESSOR You don’t need the fastest processor to take advantage of Media Center Edition’s (MCE’s) features. Look at CPUs one or two steps down from the fastest. Upgrade: Expect to spend $90 for every 200MHzincrement upgrade of Intel 3GHz and faster processors. MEMORY We recommend 512MB, but if you can afford 1GB, go for it. Otherwise, opt for a single 512MB DIMM now to make adding memory later easier. Upgrade: Each additional 256MB of DDR memory will cost roughly $50. GRAPHICS Integrated graphics with at least 48MB of shared memory is the bare minimum, but we suggest a dedicated 128MB graphics card—256MB if you plan to do video editing or 3D gaming. Upgrade: A premium graphics card costs about $220 more than integrated graphics. HARD DRIVE Go with the largest drive you can afford, and definitely nothing smaller than 80GB. A RAID Level 1 array ensures your data is always backed up. Upgrade: Each additional 40GB of storage will cost about $36. OPTICAL DRIVES A double-layer DVD±RW should be your first choice, but if you don’t need DVD-burning capability, a

Model

Base Price*

Processor

RAM

Graphics

Next DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive is next best. month: CASE An A/V-style case looks best in the living Performance Desktops room. Keep in mind, though, that the low-profile versions leave little room for internal expansion. Upgrade: A robust power supply (400 watts or higher) will add at least $50 to the price. SOUND Integrated 5.1 sound will suffice, but audiophiles will prefer a dedicated card. Upgrade: A quality sound card will cost about $70 more than onboard audio. MONITOR You’ll probably pair your Media Center with a television. If it’s a high-definition television (HDTV), be aware that MCE 2005 supports only broadcast HDTV. TV-TUNER CARD Most Media Center PCs come with at least one card. Get two if you want to record one show while watching another or record two shows at a time. Upgrade: An extra card costs around $65. REMOTE CONTROL Media Centers don’t always come with a remote, but you’ll want one, so make sure it’s included with yours. Upgrade: A remote control purchased separately will cost around $35. —Joshua Goldman, Desktop Editor

Hard Drive

Optical Drive(s)

Monitor Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES

Ultimate E2 Media Center PC

$1,549

3GHz Pentium 4 530J

1GB

ATI Radeon X300

80GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Component-style case fits nicely inside www.abspc.com your den. A reasonable config; another 800-876-8088 $10 buys an extra 40GB of storage space.

DHS 2 Series

$1,669

3GHz Pentium 4 630

512MB

nVidia GeForce 6600 LE

80GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

An attractive case design; the company also bumped up the CPU from budget to midrange quality.

DHS 5 Series

$1,923

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+

512MB

nVidia GeForce 6200 TC

160GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

A Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card for excellent 7.1 surround audio comes standard.

$3,300

2.4GHz Athlon 64 3800+

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6600 GT

120GB, DVD±RW 1TB (double layer)

None

Pricey, but Creature pays attention to www.creaturehtpc.com details like the tons of storage space you 407-330-1016 get here. Good midrange gaming GPU, too.

Media Center PC 5000

$679

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+

512MB

Integrated

160GB

DVD±RW None (double layer), DVD-ROM

Fine for most media tasks. Case is a standard tower, but you can choose among 12 styles.

Media Center X64

$805

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+

512MB

ATI Radeon X300

160GB

DVD±RW None (double layer), DVD-ROM

Solid choice for doing just about anything. Spend an extra $30 for the Sound Blaster Live card.

Media Center PC 9000

$985

3.2GHz Pentium 4 640

512MB

nVidia GeForce 6600 GT

160GB

DVD±RW None (double layer), DVD-ROM

Adding a second TV-tuner card for $99 will allow you to record one channel while watching another.

Media Center PC Limited Edition

$1,015

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6800 XT

250GB DVD±RW None (double layer), DVD-ROM

Plenty of power, and the 1GB of DDR SDRAM will come in handy for intensive multitasking.

Dimension E310

$599

2.8GHz Pentium 4 521

256MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD-ROM

15-inch LCD

As is, this PC won’t provide all that much media fun. Look for Dell’s frequent online free-upgrade offers.

Dimension E510

$799

3GHz Pentium 4 630

256MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

17-inch LCD

Performance won’t be overly impressive but should handle simple media tasks. $100 to add a TV tuner.

ALIENWARE

www.alienware.com 800-254-3692

CREATURE HTPC

Scylla S301

CYBERPOWER

www.cyberpowerpc.com 800-707-0393

DELL

www.dell.com 800-999-3355

* = 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 May 2006

109

TECHMARKET MEDIA CENTER DESKTOPS Base Price*

Model

Processor

RAM

Graphics

Hard Drive

Optical Drive(s)

Monitor Editor’s Take

Find Out More www.dell.com 800-999-3355

DELL

XPS 200

$999

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

512MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

17-inch LCD

Compact case can be set either horizontally or vertically. Highly configurable despite its size.

XPS 400

$999

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

512MB

ATI Radeon X300

80GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

19-inch LCD

MCE or not, this is a good build for $999 in light of the CPU and the included 19-inch LCD.

XPS 600 Media Center

$1,699

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6800

160GB

DVD-ROM, CD-RW

17-inch LCD

A so-so package. Dell should have included at least a single TV tuner at this price.

DX300X Media Center

$1,099

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

1GB

Integrated

200GB DVD±RW (double layer)

19-inch LCD

Gateway offers some nice limitedtime bonuses. Look for LCD and optical-drive upgrades with this model.

FX510X Media Center

$1,999

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

1GB

nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX

Two 160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

19-inch LCD

An ATI TV tuner comes standard in this model; it would cost you an extra $99 to add one to the DX300X.

Pavilion Media Center TV m7300e Series

$829

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3400+

512MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

One of our favorite designs, this desktop has plenty of nice features and options for multimedia junkies.

Pavilion Media Center TV m7360y Series

$1,049

2.8GHz Pentium D 920

512MB

Integrated

80GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

Intel version of the m7300e, but with an all-important dual-core processor.

$1,149

3GHz Pentium 4 630

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6200

250GB DVD±RW None (double layer), DVD-ROM

The A/V-style case is incredibly huge, but it allows for full-size components.

www.ibuypower.com 888-462-3899

$4,799

2.8GHz Pentium D 820

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6600 GT

500GB DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Built more for the A/V audience than the PC user, a deluxe box loaded with all the right I/O ports.

www.niveusmedia.com 866-258-2929

GATEWAY

www.gateway.com 800-555-2076

HEWLETT-PACKARD

www.hp.com 888-999-4747

IBUYPOWER

Media-XP

NIVEUS MEDIA

Media Center Denali Edition

POLYWELL COMPUTERS

$1,176

2GHz 512MB Athlon 64 X2 3800+

Integrated

250GB DVD±RW (double layer)

17-inch LCD

Not a bad option for modest needs in small spaces. Motherboard has betterthan-average graphics performance.

www.polywell.com 800-900-5836

Media Center XPC G5 8300mc

$1,199

3GHz Pentium 4 530J

512MB

ATI Radeon X550

160GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

Pretty well-stocked for the price, but the small case means limited room for expansion.

us.shuttle.com 888-972-1818

Media Center XPC G5 2000m

$1,299

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+

512MB

Integrated

160GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

A slick little box perfect for adding to your living-room media setup. Config is fairly humdrum, though.

Media Center XPC P 8100m

$1,549

3.4GHz Pentium 4 550

512MB

nVidia GeForce 6600 GT

200GB DVD/CD-RW combo

None

Part for part, one of the best deals in the category. Plenty of muscle, even for 3D gaming.

$2,199

3.2GHz Pentium 4 640

1GB

ATI Mobility 320GB DVD±RW Radeon (double layer) X700

20-inch LCD

We like Sony’s all-in-one design but wish this config offered a dual-core CPU to help with multitasking.

www.sonystyle.com 800-222-7669

CineMagix M50 Entertainment System

$1,495

2.53GHz Celeron D 325J

512MB

ATI Radeon X300 LE

80GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Great quality, but priced too high given the selection of components.

www.velocitymicro.com 800-303-7866

CineMagix S95 Home Entertainment Server

$1,735

2.2GHz Athlon 64 3500+

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6600

Two DVD±RW 200GB (double layer)

None

A solid performance desktop with multimedia benefits. Will handle light gaming, too.

$899

3GHz Pentium 4 530

512MB

ATI Radeon X300 LS

160GB

DVD±RW (double layer)

None

If you’re ready to put a Media Center PC in your living room, check out the MCE 410, one of our favorites.

www.winbook.com 800-254-7806

Pro Media Center ZT-A7059

$699

2GHz Athlon 64 3000+

512MB

nVidia GeForce FX 5200

160GB

DVD/CD-RW combo

None

A good budget PC made even better because ZT didn’t skimp on the TV hardware or a remote.

www.ztgroup.com 866-984-7687

Pro Media Center ZT-X6752

$849

3.06GHz Pentium 4 530J

512MB

nVidia GeForce FX 5200

200GB DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Fairly limited options, including no second optical drive, but a decent entry-level MCE PC overall.

Pro Media Center ZT-X6752

$1,499

3.2GHz Pentium 4 540J

1GB

nVidia GeForce 6600

300GB DVD±RW (double layer)

None

Nice component-style setup. Plus, ZT Group includes a three-year warranty on all the desktops here.

MiniBox2 939NP

SHUTTLE COMPUTER

SONY ELECTRONICS

VAIO VA-TV PC VGC-VA11G VELOCITY MICRO

WINBOOK COMPUTER

PowerSpec MCE 410

ZT GROUP

= Editors’ Choice * = 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.

110

May 2006 computershopper.com

NEED TO KNOW

DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS (MORE THAN 7 POUNDS) PROCESSOR When choosing a CPU, configure your system with a robust processor such as Intel’s desktop Pentium 4 with Hyper-Threading technology, a fast Pentium M, or AMD’s 64-bit Athlon 64. Upgrade: Expect to pay about $50 for every 200MHz-increment upgrade of Pentium 4 processors. MEMORY Don’t be frugal with main system RAM—inadequate memory can drastically slow overall performance. Shoot for 512MB or even 1GB. Upgrade: Each additional 256MB of DDR SDRAM will cost roughly $60. GRAPHICS If you play games, go for the latest graphics solutions with dedicated memory from ATI or nVidia. If you’re not a gamer, save a little money by opting for 64MB or 128MB of graphics RAM rather than 256MB. HARD DRIVE A 40GB or 60GB drive may be plenty of space for casual users, but those who have large digital music collections, play lots of advanced games, or edit digital video should opt for 80GB or more. Upgrade: Each additional 20GB of storage should cost about $30. OPTICAL DRIVES Look for a multiformat (DVD±RW)

Model

Base Price* Processor

Hard Optical Drive Drive

Next

DVD burner, which writes to both plus- and month: Thin-andminus-format media. The drive’s write speed Light is a secondary consideration, and slower Notebooks drives are cheaper. Upgrade: Expect to pay about $100 to upgrade to a DVD±RW from a DVD/CD-RW combo drive. CASE Don’t fear heft and weight, because you probably won’t be traveling with a desktop replacement. Powerful components do tend to run hot, so ensure that the case provides proper ventilation. Note that magnesium and other molded metal enclosures usually dissipate heat better than plastic ones. WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Integrated 802.11 wireless networking (Wi-Fi) is an essential feature. Most notebooks ship with 802.11b/g internal Wi-Fi radios, these are plenty fast for typical users. 802.11a is not widely used. MONITOR Go for a wide-screen 17-inch or 15-inch TFT. Whether you’ll be watching DVDs in all their letterboxed glory or merely viewing multiple documents at once, more screen is always better. —Brian Bennett, Notebooks Editor

RAM

Graphics

Display

512MB

ATI Mobility 40GB Radeon 9700

512MB

nVidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra

512MB

ATI Mobility 100GB DVD±RW 17 inches Radeon X700 (double layer)

Wireless Weight Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ABS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES

Mayhem G3

$999

1.8GHz Mobile Athlon 64 3000+

Mayhem G5

$2,659 3GHz Pentium 4 530J

DVD±RW

120GB DVD±RW (two 60GB)

15.4 inches 802.11a/b/g 7.1 lbs.

17 inches

May not pack all the punch of a Pentium 4 laptop, and graphics engine is showing its age.

www.abspc.com 800-876-8088

802.11a/b/g 12.6 lbs. Lots of cash buys premium components for desktop-level performance. Huge at almost 13 pounds.

ACER AMERICA

Aspire $1,399 AS9502WSMi

1.73GHz Pentium M 740

802.11b/g

8.4 lbs. A nice deal for the price, considering us.acer.com the DVD burner, roomy hard drive, 800-571-2237 and competent 3D graphics.

ALIENWARE

Area-51 m7700

$2,049 2.93GHz Pentium 4 515

Aurora m7700 $2,179

MJ-12 mm7700i

2GHz Athlon 64 3200+

$2,349 2.93GHz Pentium 4 515

256MB nVidia GeForce Go 6800

80GB

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

None

12.6 lbs. Packs a speedy desktop processor, but overpriced considering the meager memory and lack of Wi-Fi.

256MB nVidia GeForce Go 6800

80GB

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

None

12 lbs.

Same specs as the Area-51, except with an Athlon CPU and a higher price tag. Could use a RAM boost.

512MB

nVidia GeForce Go 6800

60GB

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

None

12 lbs.

Another huge, expensive machine with a desktop-caliber CPU. Better deals than this abound, however.

512MB

nVidia GeForce Go 6600

60GB

DVD±RW

15.4 inches 802.11b/g

7.2 lbs.

A low-cost thin-and-light machine with decent parts. 3D graphics could be better, though.

www.alienware.com 800-254-3692

CYBERPOWER

Xplorer X5-5700

$1,245

1.73GHz Pentium M 740

www.cyberpowerpc.com 800-707-0393

Xplorer S4-7000

$1,685 1.86GHz Pentium M 750

1GB

nVidia GeForce Go 6800

80GB

DVD+RW

17 inches

802.11b/g

8.8 lbs. Features a nice set of ports and an upgradable MXM graphics card, but DVD burner isn’t multiformat.

Xplorer X7-9000

$2,525 3GHz Pentium 4 630

1GB

nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX

80GB

DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

802.11b/g

8.5 lbs. An aggressively styled gaming laptop with multimedia capabilities and a sweet 17-inch wide-screen display.

802.11b/g

7.6 lbs. Dell’s first Core Duo-powered laptop www.dell.com is blazingly fast, but has rather short 800-999-3355 battery life. (See p. 25.)

DELL

Inspiron E1705 $1,249

1.66GHz Core Duo T1300

512MB

Integrated

60GB

DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

Precision M70 $2,148 Mobile Workstation

1.86GHz Pentium M 750

512MB

nVidia Quadro FX Go1400

40GB

CD-ROM

15.4 inches 802.11b/g

7.1 lbs.

Designed for mobile graphics gurus. Expensive, but has pro-grade 3Dgraphics prowess.

* = 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.

114

May 2006 computershopper.com

TECHMARKET DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS (MORE THAN 7 POUNDS) Model

Base Price* Processor

RAM

Graphics

$2,199

1GB

nVidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra

Hard Optical Drive Drive

Display

Wireless Weight Editor’s Take

Find Out More www.dell.com 800-999-3355

DELL

XPS M170

2GHz Pentium M 760

60GB

DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

802.11b/g

8.6 lbs. The ultimate in mobile gaming. Features pace-setting 3D speed and application performance.

40GB

DVD/CD-RW 15 inches combo

802.11a/b/g 7 lbs.

FUJITSU

LifeBook E8020

$1,299 1.73GHz Pentium M 740

256MB Integrated

Affordable, but with an unimpressive www.fujitsu.com/us mix of specs. Lacks wide-screen 800-385-4878 LCD or dedicated graphics.

LifeBook N3530

$1,449

1.66GHz Core Duo T2300

512MB

ATI Mobility 80GB Radeon X1400

DVD/CD-RW 15.4 inches 802.11a/b/g 7.9 lbs. For $150 over the N3530, you get a combo wide-screen LCD, a zippy dual-core processor, and dedicated graphics.

LifeBook N6410

$1,649 1.66GHz Core Duo T2300

512MB

ATI Mobility 80GB Radeon X1400

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

802.11a/b/g 9.9 lbs. Big screen and 256MB of video RAM will please gamers. Should include a DVD burner at this price, though.

$1,399

1.66GHz Core Duo T2300

512MB

nVidia GeForce Go 7600

60GB

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

802.11a/b/g 7.8 lbs. Media Center machine has dual-core www.gateway.com CPU and powerful graphics for a low 800-369-1409 price. Thin and light for a 17-incher.

$1,099 1.8GHz Turion 64 ML-32

512MB

ATI Radeon 60GB Xpress 200M

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

802.11b/g

8.1 lbs.

Pavilion $1,299 2.8GHz ZD8000 Series Pentium 4 520

512MB

ATI Mobility 60GB Radeon X600

DVD/CD-RW 17 inches combo

None

9.3 lbs. Features a mighty desktop CPU and decent graphics engine, but at almost 10 pounds, isn’t exactly slim.

DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

802.11a/g

8.3 lbs. Well-suited for gaming, with a hearty www.hypersonic-pc.com CPU and nVidia’s top-of-the-line 800-520-0498 graphics card.

None

12.3 lbs. Huge, powerful, and pricey, with a big, bright screen and userupgradable graphics. (See p. 36.)

GATEWAY

NX860X

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Pavilion DV8000z Series

Well-designed and equipped in terms www.hp.com of multimedia, with a beefy CPU and 888-999-4747 an expansive screen.

HYPERSONIC PC SYSTEMS

Aviator CX7

$2,382 2.13GHz Pentium M 770

1GB

nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX

60GB

Aviator FX7

$3,584 2.6GHz Athlon 64 FX-55

2GB

nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX

100GB DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

IBUYPOWER

Battalion 101 S-Turbo AMD-2

$1,275

2.4GHz Mobile 1GB Athlon 64 3400+

ATI Mobility 60GB Radeon 9700 Pro

DVD±RW

15.4 inches None

7.7 lbs.

Dated graphics engine, but this www.ibuypower.com inexpensive machine still has enough 888-462-3899 muscle for modest gaming. No Wi-Fi.

SONY ELECTRONICS

VAIO $2,229 2GHz VGN-AX580G Pentium M 760

1GB

ATI Mobility 160GB DVD±RW 17 inches Radeon X700 (double layer)

802.11b/g

8.8 lbs. Features a big hard drive for storing www.sonystyle.com media files, plus extras like a built-in 877-865-7669 video camera and a fingerprint sensor.

1GB

nVidia GeForce Go 6600

120GB DVD±RW/ (two DVD-RAM 60GB)

802.11a/b/g 9.5 lbs. The best combination of television, DVR, stereo, DVD player, and highperformance laptop we’ve seen.

www.toshiba.com 800-316-0920

512MB

Integrated

80GB

802.11b/g

www.winbook.com 800-254-7806

TOSHIBA AMERICA

Qosmio G25

$2,199

2GHz Pentium M 760

17 inches

WINBOOK COMPUTER

A710

$1,099 1.8GHz Athlon 64 3000+

DVD±RW 17 inches (double layer)

7.9 lbs. A solid deal on a set of competent components—save for the feeble integrated graphics.

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

THE BEST RECENTLY REVIEWED DESKTOP-REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOKS Dell XPS M170 • $3,470 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating: 8.3 Powered by a top-notch processor and state-of-the-art graphics engine, the XPS M170 is one of the fastest, slimmest gaming machines we’ve seen. Toshiba Qosmio G25 • $2,199 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating: 8.1 Toshiba’s Qosmio G25 delivers the most-complete portable multimedia experience you can get. Dell Inspiron E1705 • $2,762 (as tested) • Editors’ Rating: 7.8 The Core Duo-powered Inspiron E1705 packs solid multimedia features and enough muscle to speed through almost any task. (See review on p. 25.)

116

May 2006 computershopper.com

Dell XPS M170

NEED TO KNOW

INKJET PRINTERS RESOLUTION Resolution figures refer to the maximum number of horizontal and vertical dots a printer can lay down within a 1-inch-square space. In theory, a higher-resolution printer can produce more-detailed text and images, but manufacturers inflate these numbers for marketing purposes, meaning these specs often have little or no bearing on realworld performance. If possible, view actual output from a printer before you decide. PRINT SPEED This spec measures how many pages or photos per minute (ppm) a printer spits out. To come up with the fastest-possible speeds, some manufacturers use basic text documents at the lowest quality settings (draft mode) on plain paper. In our tests, using a printer’s automatic mode for text and its photographicpaper setting for photos, we typically achieve about half the speed the manufacturer promises.

CONNECTIVITY Most printers connect to your PC via USB 2.0, but you’ll have to buy the cable separately. For PC-free printing, look for memory-card slots, as well as ports that allow for direct printing from supported cameras or external storage devices. Many models also support wireless printing over infrared or Bluetooth, or via Wi-Fi access points with built-in print servers. CONSUMABLES Before you buy, consider the cost of items such as ink and paper. Replacement ink can quickly exceed a printer’s price, running anywhere from $12 to as high as $60 per cartridge. More-expensive printers may actually be more economical in the long run because they often have highercapacity ink tanks and separate tanks for each color. As for paper, use what the manufacturer recommends for the best results. These papers can cost anywhere from 10 cents to $2 per letter-size sheet. —Louis Ramirez, Hardware Editor

Price

Maximum Resolution (Color)

Maximum Resolution (Monochrome)

Number of Cartridges*

Max. Number of Print Ink Colors Speed** Editor’s Take

Pixma iP1600 Photo Printer

$49.99

4,800x1,200dpi

600x600dpi

Two

Four

19ppm

Entry-level price, but offers a respectable print speed that should benefit most home users.

Pixma MP130 Photo All-in-One

$99.99

4,800x1,200dpi

600x600dpi

Two

Four

18ppm

Not ideal for offices because of its small ink tanks, but produces good-looking text and photos.

Pixma iP4200 Photo Printer

$129.99

9,600x2,400dpi 600x600dpi

Five

Five

29ppm

Features autoduplexing and two paper input trays; though fast for its class, slower than other Pixmas.

Pixma iP5000 Photo Printer

$199.99

9,600x2,400dpi 600x600dpi

Five

Five

25ppm

A relatively fast, versatile printer that provides autoduplexing and excellent-quality text and graphics.

Pixma iP6600D Photo Printer

$199.99

9,600x2,400dpi 9,600x2,400dpi

Six

Six

18ppm

Media-card slots and a generous 3.5-inch LCD are just some of this printer’s highlights.

Pixma i80 Color BubbleJet

$249.99 4,800x1,200dpi

600x600dpi

Two

Four

14ppm

Highly portable; optional car charger and Bluetooth support will benefit those who print on the go.

Pixma iP90

$249.99 4,800x1,200dpi

600x600dpi

Two

Four

16ppm

An update to the popular i80, but for true mobile printing, you’ll need to spring for the $100 battery.

Pixma MP760 Photo All-in-One

$249.99 4,800x1,200dpi

600x600dpi

Five

Five

25ppm

Digital-photo-friendly MFP also scans film negatives and slides. No fax or auto document feeder, though.

Pixma iP8500 Photo Printer

$349.99 4,800x2,400dpi 4,800x2,400dpi

Eight

Eight

16ppm

Offers fast printing speeds and excellent photo and graphics output that will impress photography buffs.

i9900 Photo Printer $499.99 4,800x2,400dpi 4,800x2,400dpi

Eight

Eight

16ppm

Limited paper-type options, but prints up to 13x19. High-quality, fast color and black-and-white prints.

Model

Find Out More

CANON U.S.A.

usa.canon.com 800-652-2666

DELL

Photo All-in-One Printer 924

$89

4,800x1,200dpi

4,800x1,200dpi

Two

Four

20ppm

Great for tight budgets; all-in-one convenience should satisfy students and households alike.

Photo All-in-One Printer 944

$139

4,800x1,200dpi

4,800x1,200dpi

Two

Six

21ppm

Optional photo cartridge boosts the number of ink colors to six and provides better photo printing.

Photo All-in-One Printer 964

$199

4,800x1,200dpi

4,800x1,200dpi

Two

Six

26ppm

Comes with a plethora of features, including PictBridge compatibility and a 50-page auto document feeder.

www.dell.com 800-999-3355

EPSON AMERICA

Stylus C88

$79.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Four

Four

22ppm

An average budget printer, the C88 won’t thrill but should provide serviceable performance.

Stylus Photo R220

$99.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Six

Six

15ppm

In addition to making 4x6- and 5x7-inch prints, can print directly onto DVDs and CDs.

Stylus CX4800

$129.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Four

Four

20ppm

Hold out for this model’s faster, color-LCD-equipped sibling, the CX7800.

Stylus CX7800

$179.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Four

Four

20ppm

In addition to a built-in LCD and an array of memorycard slots, offers slide and negative scanning.

Stylus Photo R320

$179.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Six

Six

15ppm

A quality choice for the home photo enthusiast who wants computer-free and direct CD/DVD printing.

PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition

$199.99

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

One

Six

Not rated

A color LCD and an optional battery pack make it a formidable portable photo lab.

Stylus Photo RX620

$299.99 5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Six

Six

17ppm

Stocky design; features a rated 39-second 4x6-inch print speed.

* = Indicates the number of ink cartridges the printer simultaneously hosts ** = Fastest manufacturer-rated monochrome print speed

= Editors’ Choice

118

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May 2006 computershopper.com

www.epson.com 800-463-7766

TECHMARKET INKJET PRINTERS Model

Price

Maximum Resolution (Color)

Maximum Resolution (Monochrome)

Number of Cartridges*

Max. Number of Print Ink Colors Speed** Editor’s Take

Find Out More

EPSON AMERICA

Stylus Photo R800

$399

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Eight

Eight

17ppm

Despite the nozzle problems Epsons are prone to, print quality is excellent, and photos print relatively quickly.

Stylus Photo R1800

$549

5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Eight

Eight

Not rated

Its print nozzles are high-maintenance, but this solid medium-format printer produces quality color photos.

Stylus Photo R2400

$849.99 5,760x1,440dpi

5,760x1,440dpi

Eight

Eight

Not rated

Expensive, but worth it for photo enthusiasts, thanks to advanced black-and-white print modes.

www.epson.com 800-463-7766

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Deskjet 3930

$39.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

11ppm

Prints 8.5x11-inch bordered photos and borderless 4x6s at a price that’s hard to beat.

Deskjet 5940

$89.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

30ppm

Streamlined design gives this inkjet a scanner-like look. Can print directly from PictBridge-compliant cameras.

Deskjet 6540

$129.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

30ppm

One of HP’s fastest inkjets. Nice specs and features for its affordable price.

Photosmart 8050

$149.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

30ppm

A true PC-independent printer, but we wish its 1.8-inch LCD were slightly bigger.

Deskjet 6840

$179.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

30ppm

Compatible with 802.11b/g networks; offers lightningfast print speeds and good output.

Business Inkjet 1200d

$199.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Four

Four

28ppm

Solid, low-cost option for small offices that seek budget color output but can’t afford laser printing.

Officejet Pro K550 $199.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Four

Four

37ppm

With a rated print speed of 37ppm (black draft mode), one fast inkjet for a relatively low price.

Photosmart 8250

$199.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Six

Six

32ppm

Despite some grainy output, a fast, able stand-alone printer with a sharp 2.5-inch LCD.

Deskjet 9800

$299.99 4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

30ppm

An attractively styled medium-format model capable of prints as big as 13x19 inches.

Deskjet 450wbt Wireless

$349.99 4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four

9ppm

On-the-road printer delivers great portability, excellent photo quality, and both infrared and Bluetooth printing.

Officejet Pro K850dn

$499.99 4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Four

Four

24ppm

Built-in networking gives this unit an edge, whether you’re using it at home or in the office.

Photosmart 8750 Professional

$499.99 4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Up to nine

19ppm

Designed for pros and serious amateurs, a nine-ink photo printer that produces pics as big as 13x19 inches.

www.hp.com 888-999-4747

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL

P915

$59.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Six

22ppm

PictBridge compatibility and a 2.5-inch LCD make this model a solid choice for easy photo prints sans PC.

X2350

$69.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Three

15ppm

Bargain-basement model has limited features—and only three colors—so use sparingly for photo printing.

Z715

$79.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Four or six

17ppm

Prints borderless 4x6- and 8.5x11-inch photos; its Photo Center software lets you edit before you print.

Z816

$79.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Four or six

22ppm

Slick design, but short on features for the price. Output quality is only average.

P4350

$129.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Six

22ppm

A multifunction model with a 1.7-inch screen and PictBridge compatibility.

P6250

$149.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Six

22ppm

An easy-to-use and beginner-friendly MFP; prints are good-quality but glacially slow, and scans are mediocre.

X7170

$149.99

4,800x1,200dpi

2,400x1,200dpi

Two

Four or six

22ppm

Prints great color photos, but poor text and scan quality mar this well-designed, easy-to-use all-in-one unit.

X8350

$199.99

4,800x1,200dpi

1,200x1,200dpi

Two

Four or six

25ppm

Multifunction model promises 19ppm color and 25ppm black, and offers PC-free faxing.

www.lexmark.com 800-539-6275

THE BEST RECENTLY REVIEWED INKJET PRINTERS Canon Pixma iP8500 Photo Printer • $349.99 • Editors’ Rating: 8.0 It might cost more than your average inkjet, but the eight-ink iP8500 offers an extended color gamut, double-sided printing, and excellent photo and graphics output. HP Deskjet 6840 • $179.99 • Editors’ Rating: 7.1 The low-key design of the Deskjet 6840 hides a solid performer that briskly churns out text, graphics, and photos for up to five networked PCs. Lexmark Z816 • $79.99 • Editors’ Rating: 6.5 Sturdy good looks, quality prints, and an appealing price make Lexmark’s Z816 a good fit for students and home businesses.

Canon Pixma iP8500 Photo Printer

computershopper.com May 2006

119

NEED TO KNOW

FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS (19 INCHES OR LARGER) ASPECT RATIO The standard proportion of width to height for a computer monitor is 4-to-3, although some monitors that double as televisions have a wider format of 16-to-9, designed for viewing movies or high-definition television (HDTV) in wide-screen format. RESOLUTION An LCD looks best at its native resolution. Make sure you’re comfortable with this resolution before you buy the monitor. CONTRAST RATIO A contrast ratio of at least 400-to-1 will provide a more dynamically detailed image. The ratio is measured in varying ways, however, so rely on such figures cautiously. PIXEL-RESPONSE RATE This measure, cited in milliseconds (ms), refers to how quickly a pixel can change colors. Lower numbers mean you’ll tend to see less ghosting or streaking in movies and games. Most panels have response rates of 16ms or less; gamers and video buffs should look for response rates of 8ms or less.

Model

LUMINANCE Luminance, or brightness, is expressed in either nits or candelas per square meter (cd/m2). A measurement of 200 to 250 nits is suitable for most productivity tasks; 450 nits is better for television and movies. DIGITAL VERSUS ANALOG CONNECTIONS LCDs must convert analog signals to digital before they can be displayed. A graphics card with a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) can send the signal straight to the display in digital format—no conversion required. Most LCDs come with an analog input, some have both analog and digital, and a few are digital-only. A digital connection is best. VIEWING ANGLE Brightness and image colors shift if you view an LCD off-center. Make your own observations, if at all possible, of the panel you’re considering, and remember that viewing-angle issues become increasingly critical as panel size increases. —Louis Ramirez, Hardware Editor

PixelNative Contrast Typical Response Resolution Ratio Brightness Time Interface

Price

Size

Editor’s Take

Find Out More

$599

20 inches 1,680x1,050 800-to-1

300cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Flamboyant display features the Ferrari logo and a fire-engine-red stand.

us.acer.com 800-733-2237

20-Inch Cinema Display

$799

20 inches 1,680x1,050 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Digital

An ultrasleek, high-style display—now both Mac- www.apple.com and PC-friendly. Plus, has ports galore. 800-692-7753

23-Inch Cinema Display

$1,299

23 inches

1,920x1,200 400-to-1

270cd/m2

16ms

Digital

Big and beautiful, yet not exactly a budget model. One look, though, and you’ll fall in love.

FP931

$429

19 inches

1,280x1,024 450-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

More expensive than Dell’s 19-inch offering, but has both analog and digital connections.

FP937s

$449

19 inches

1,280x1,024 500-to-1

250cd/m2

12ms

Analog, digital

For only $20 more than the FP931, you get a 12ms response time and a higher contrast ratio.

FP91E

$529

19 inches

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 250cd/m2

25ms

Analog, digital

Extras include built-in speakers and image presets, but image quality is so-so for the price.

FP2091

$799

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Large viewing area and solid image quality makes this model a great choice for watching DVDs.

FP231W

$1,499

23 inches

1,920x1,200 500-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Pricey, wide-screen unit will give your desktop serious home theater appeal.

E196FP

$319

19 inches

1,280x1,024 500-to-1

300cd/m2

8ms

Analog

An excellent bargain, though we wish it had DVI www.dell.com connectivity. Can be found for under $300 online. 800-449-3355

UltraSharp 2001FP

$599

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Decent image quality with lots of features. Only graphics pros will be disappointed.

UltraSharp 2405FPW

$1,099

24 inches

1,920x1,200 1,000-to-1 500cd/m2

12ms

Analog, digital

Gorgeous wide-screen display offers a lot of screen real estate for your dollar.

UltraSharp 3007WFP

$2,199

30 inches 2,560x1,600 700-to-1

400cd/m2

14ms

Digital

Great image quality, but we noted ghosting during DVD playback. Requires high-octane video card.

$749

19 inches

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 280cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

High contrast ratio should offer rich colors; comes www.eizo.com with built-in speakers. 800-800-5202

$279.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 500-to-1

300cd/m2

8ms

Analog

Lacks a digital input, but this big-screen beauty is www.envisiondisplay.com tough to beat if you’re on a tight budget. 888-838-6388

$599.99 21 inches

1,680x1,050 1,000-to-1 300cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Includes component, composite, and S-Video inputs; also HD-ready. Perfect for MCE PCs.

ACER

Ferrari F-20 APPLE COMPUTER

BENQ AMERICA

www.benq.com 866-700-2367

DELL

EIZO NANAO NEW FlexScan M1950

ENVISION MONITORS

EN9410e GATEWAY

FPD2185W

= Editors’ Choice

120

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

May 2006 computershopper.com

www.gateway.com 800-555-2076

TECHMARKET FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS (19 INCHES OR LARGER)

Model

Price

Size

PixelNative Contrast Typical Response Resolution Ratio Brightness Time Interface

Editor’s Take

Find Out More

HEWLETT-PACKARD

Pavilion f1905

$409.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 450-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Dual-hinge design lets you raise and tilt the panel; www.hp.com built-in stereo speakers are a welcome addition. 888-999-4747

Pavilion f2105

$699.99 21 inches

1,680x1,050 900-to-1

300cd/m2

12ms

Analog, digital

Excellent for entertainment purposes; we especially like its brushed-steel look.

319

$999

19 inches

1,280x1,024 600-to-1

270cd/m2

18ms

Analog, digital

The 321’s sibling packs a faster response time, plus better brightness and contrast ratio.

321

$1,599

21.3 inches 1,600x1,200 500-to-1

250cd/m2

20ms

Analog, digital

Offers precise color and shading capabilities, plus multiple inputs—if you can afford it.

$499

19 inches

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 250cd/m2

25ms

Analog, digital

This staid model will serve any office well, but other 19-inchers offer more for less money.

www.lenovo.com 866-458-4465

LG1981Q

$579

19 inches

1,280x1,024 500-to-1

250cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Stylish display features pivot capability and a touch-sensitive on/off switch.

us.lge.com 800-243-0000

L2013P

$799

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Preset brightness controls make it easy to adjust the display’s settings.

LACIE

www.lacie.com 503-844-4502

LENOVO

ThinkVision L191p LG ELECTRONICS

NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS OF AMERICA

AccuSync LCD92V

$354.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 450-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog

Inexpensive, analog-only model features 160degree viewing angle and the ability to tilt.

www.necdisplay.com 866-632-6673

MultiSync LCD1970VX

$424.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 550-to-1

270cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Reasonably priced and well-designed; will fit most users’ needs for flexibility and image quality.

AccuSync LCD200VX

$589.99 20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Bundled NaviSet software lets you tweak display settings with your mouse and keyboard.

MultiSync LCD2180UX

$1,499

21.3 inches 1,600x1,200 500-to-1

250cd/m2

20ms

Analog, digital

This MultiSync’s high 1,600x1,200 resolution promises a crystal-clear view.

$1,169

21.3 inches 1,600x1,200 1,000-to-1 300cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Features solid image quality and a useful array of multimedia and connectivity options.

www.planar.com 866-475-2627

SyncMaster 970P

$549

19 inches

6ms

Analog, digital

Amazing design is complemented by excellent image quality.

www.samsung.com 800-726-7864

SyncMaster 204T

$599

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 700-to-1

300cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

Above-average image quality and a great degree of adjustability; DVD performance could be better.

SyncMaster 204B

$629.99 20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 800-to-1

300cd/m2

5ms

Analog, digital

Similar to the 204T, but with video inputs, a higher contrast ratio, and a much faster response time.

SyncMaster 244T

$1,699

24 inches

1,920x1,200 1,000-to-1 500cd/m2

6ms

Analog, digital

HDTV-ready, with component and composite inputs; a media lover’s dream. Adequate for general use, but specs fall short of similarly priced models’.

PLANAR SYSTEMS

PX212M SAMSUNG

NEW

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 250cd/m2

SHARP ELECTRONICS

LL-191A

$279

19 inches

1,280x1,024 500-to-1

220cd/m2

16ms

Analog

LL-T2020

$1,299

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 350-to-1

220cd/m2

25ms

Digital (two) We applaud the two digital connections, but the response rate is too slow.

www.sharpusa.com 800-237-4277

SONY ELECTRONICS

SDM-HS95P/S

$549.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 550-to-1

400cd/m2

12ms

Analog, digital

Costly for a 19-incher, but advanced in design. Appealing to those who value desktop style.

MFM-HT95

$799.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 450cd/m2

12ms

Analog, digital

Integrated TV tuner, high-definition support, and picture-in-picture will please media enthusiasts.

23 inches

1,920x1,200 500-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog (two), A clean design and decent performance, but few digital extra features for the high price.

19 inches

1,280x1,024 550-to-1

270cd/m2

4ms

Analog, digital

Packs an impressive 4ms response time that will please gamers and home theater buffs.

1,280x1,024 1,000-to-1 250cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Highly adjustable, with great business-oriented software, but offers only mediocre image quality.

PremierPro SDM-P234 $1,399

www.sonystyle.com 877-865-7669

VIEWSONIC

VX924

$469

www.viewsonic.com 800-888-8583

VP930b

$559.99 19 inches

VP201s

$779

20.1 inches 1,600x1,200 400-to-1

250cd/m2

16ms

Analog, digital

HDTV-ready; built-in USB 2.0 ports, and both analog and digital inputs.

VP2130b

$899

21.3 inches 1,600x1,200 1,000-to-1 300cd/m2

8ms

Analog, digital

Above-average contrast ratio should make whites and blacks stand out.

10ms

Analog, digital

Attractive, with built-in speakers and a low price, www.westinghousedigital.com but lacks adjustability and an adequate warranty. 866-287-5555

WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

LCM-19v5

$349.99 19 inches

1,280x1,024 400-to-1

280cd/m2

computershopper.com May 2006

121

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

Model

Price

Format

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

for 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, Hardware Editor

Buffer Size Interface Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ASUSTEK COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL

DRW-1608P2S-D $115

40x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

DRW-1604P-D

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

USB 2.0, FireWire USB 2.0, FireWire

Slightly faster speeds than the DRW-1604P-D, but bulky and requires ample desktop space. Supports both double-layer formats; heftier than most external drives.

usa.asus.com 502-995-0883

32x/16x/16x/4x

24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

$119.99

DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer)

40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

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

www.benq.us 866-700-2367

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer) DVD-RW/ 32x/12x DVD-RAM

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

www.fantomdrives.com 310-320-7272

24x/NA/8x/NA

16x/NA/4x/5x

2MB

USB 2.0

Faster double-layer speed than BenQ’s model. USB interface only; no DVD-R double layer. Adds DVD-RAM to the mix, but with slower overall speeds than the FDDRWDF16D.

$159.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer)

40x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

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

www.hp.com 888-999-4747

IDVD8DBE

$129.99 DVD±RW

40x/8x/4x/NA

24x/4x/2x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

www.iomagic.com 949-707-4800

IDVD16DDME

$149.99 DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer) $179.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

40x/16x/16x/2.4x 24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/2x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Rewrite speeds could be better; provides justbelow-average speeds overall. $20 upgrade from the IDVD8DBE gets you double-layer support. Sacrifices speed for a more compact, slimmer form.

$149.95 DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Fast ripping and burning at a reasonable price; www.iomega.com shame about the toll-based tech support, though. 888-516-8467

$119

DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

FireWire

Porsche-designed drive offers LightScribe technology for disc labeling.

$139

DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer) DVD±RW 40x/16x (double layer) DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire FireWire

24x/8x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

A slight price increase buys you two high-speed interfaces. Similar to the previous d2, but you lose the USB 2.0 interface and gain Toast 7 Titanium software. You’ll take a hit in speed, but this is the slimmest of LaCie’s drives.

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 onto LightScribe disc-label surfaces.

$119.99

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)/ DVD-RAM

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/5x

2MB

USB 2.0

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

us.lge.com 800-243-0000

SOHW-1633SX

$75.99

48x/16x/8x/2.4x

24x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

$95.99

48x/16x/16x/8x

24x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Chunky drive suffers from an outdated 2.4x double-layer write speed. Supports both plus and minus double-layer formats; stands vertically to save space.

www.liteonamericas.com 510-687-1800

SOHW-1635SX

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

BENQ

EW1621

FANTOM DRIVES

FDDRWDF16D

$97.99

FDRAMRWU25

$385

HEWLETT-PACKARD

DVD Writer DVD740e I/OMAGIC

IDVD8PE

40x/12x

IOMEGA

Super DVD 16x16 LACIE

DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 16x d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe Slim DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 8x NEW Slim DVD±RW with LightScribe Porsche 8x

$189 $189 $219

www.lacie.com 503-844-4502

LG ELECTRONICS

GSA-2166D LITE-ON IT

* = 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.

122

May 2006 computershopper.com

TECHMARKET EXTERNAL DVD BURNERS

Model

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

Buffer Size Interface Editor’s Take

Price

Format

Find Out More

SOHW-1693SX

$95.99

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Unlike the SOHW-1673SX, this drive writes to both formats of double-layer media.

SOHW-1673SX

$105.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Similar speeds to previous drive; minor upgrade in double-layer speed.

EZ-Dub

$115.99

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

Huge, desk-hogging drive supports double-layer recording only with DVD+R.

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

48x/16x/16x/4x

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

LITE-ON IT

www.liteonamericas.com 510-687-1800

MEMOREX PRODUCTS

PLEXTOR

PX-740UF

$179

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/4x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Offers multiformat double-layer support; wellpriced for its feature set.

PX-716UF

$239

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/6x

24x/8x/4x/NA

8MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Available in four colors; price jump due to its slightly slimmer design.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS NEW

SE-W164C

$170

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/8x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0

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

NEW

SE-W164L

$170

DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/5x

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 (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

32x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

Features the usual Sony design flair, but has the specs to back up the looks.

DRX-810UL/T

$179.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/8x/6x/NA

2MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

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

PCGA-DDRW2

$249.99 DVD±RW

16x/4x/4x/NA

8x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

FireWire

Even for a drive this slim, read and write speeds are painfully slow.

VRD-VC20 DVDirect

$259.99 DVD±RW 48x/16x (double layer)

48x/16x/16x/4x

24x/8x/6x/NA

8MB

USB 2.0, FireWire

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

PCGA-DDRW3

$399.99 DVD±RW 24x/8x (double layer)

24x/8x/4x/2.4x

10x/4x/4x/NA

2MB

FireWire

Same pocketable size as the PCGA-DDRW2, but slightly faster speeds and a higher price.

www.samsung.com 800-726-7864

SONY ELECTRONICS

24x/8x

www.sonystyle.com 800-222-7669

WIN THIS! Maxtor OneTouch II E01G500 500GB 7200 RPM External Hard Drive > > > > > >

500GB 7200RPM storage

>

9ms average seek time 16MB cache 8.3" x 5.5" x 1.7" 3.5" form factor USB 2.0/IEEE 1394a interface

> > >

1-Year manufacturer warranty Weight: 3.1 lbs Default installation backs up every local drive automatically Full system restore to an earlier version

Tell us what you think about the May issue and be entered to win.

To enter go to computershopper.com/survey No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States who are at least 18 years of age. Winner will be chosen at random from all participants entered by May 31, 2006. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries entered by the deadline. One entry per person. For a complete set of rules, see computershopper.com/survey. As an alternative method of entry, send a postcard with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, age and the month of the issue of Computer Shopper magazine where the sweepstakes is advertised to Computer Shopper Research, 28 East 28th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10016-7922. Postcards must be received by May 31, 2006.

© 2006 SX2 Media Labs, LLC

computershopper.com May 2006

123

NEED TO KNOW

WI-FI ROUTERS NETWORKING STANDARD 802.11g is the current standard for home networks, having replaced 802.11b. While 802.11b, rated at 11 megabits per second (Mbps), typically moves data at speeds up to 5Mbps, 802.11g (rated at 54Mbps) is far quicker, offering actual speeds up to 22Mbps. 802.11g is also compatible with 802.11b, so you can use it with older equipment running that standard. 802.11a (also rated at 54Mbps) has speeds similar to 802.11g’s, but it’s not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g, and it 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 backwardcompatible with 802.11b/g products, but they may not be compatible with the forthcoming 802.11n standard. SECURITY Most routers come with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, which can provide a first layer of security

Model

Price

but won’t deter hell-bent hackers. For greater security, opt for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption. A router that does MAC-address 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. While networking standards list maximum throughput speeds, each model will have its own rated speed. 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. —Sean Portnoy, Hardware Editor

Rated Rated Supported Rated Max. Max. Range Max. Range Standards Throughput (Indoor) (Outdoor) Security Editor’s Take

Find Out More

ACTIONTEC ELECTRONICS

54 Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Router

$99.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

328 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

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

www.actiontec.com 800-752-7820

802.11b/g

54Mbps

300 feet

300 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

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

www.apc.com 877-272-2722

Wireless G Travel Router

$69.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

200 feet

200 feet

WEP, WPA

Don’t let this travel router’s tiny size fool you—it’s no toy and can turn any broadband-equipped hotel room into a hot spot.

www.belkin.com 800-223-5546

Wireless G Plus Router

$89.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

200 feet

1,500 feet

WEP, WPA

Promises speeds 35 percent faster than regular 802.11g, and gives you better performance in mixedmode environments.

Wireless G Plus MIMO Router

$97.99

802.11b/g

108Mbps

200 feet

1,500 feet

WEP, WPA

Exceptional range, but the Pre-N model has this MIMO router beat with its broader coverage.

Wireless Pre-N Router

$115.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

700 feet

1,500 feet

WEP, WPA

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

$68.99 802.11b/g

125Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

Built-in amplifier improves wireless performance, while the one-touch security system creates a secure connection with the push of a button and a mouse click.

AirStation 125Mbps High- $125.99 802.11b/g Speed Mode Wireless Secure Remote Gateway WZR-RS-G54

125Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

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.

AirStation MIMO Wireless $159.99 802.11b/g Cable/DSL Router WZR-G108

108Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

In addition to MIMO, you’ll get security features like Buffalo’s Intrusion Detection firewall and AirStation OneTouch Secure System technology.

$109.95 802.11b/g

108Mbps

300 feet

600 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Four built-in USB 2.0 ports allow sharing of USB hard drives, printers, and Webcams. Works as a media server, as well.

www.cpx.com 800-279-8891

AirPlus G DI-524 Wireless Router

$49

54Mbps

328 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Though the DI-524 has extensive security features, 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

108Mbps

328 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

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 108Mbps

328 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Trimode device is certified to work with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; also, it’s compatible with Xbox Live.

DI-624M Super G With MIMO Wireless Router

$139.99 802.11b/g, 802.3/3u

328 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA

D-Link joins the MIMO pack with this robust router, promising a range that’s eight times that of 802.11g.

AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION

3-in-1 Wireless Mobile Router 802.11G

$61.99

BELKIN

BUFFALO TECHNOLOGY

AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Smart Router WHR-HP-G54

www.buffalotech.com 800-456-9799

COMPEX

NP28G

D-LINK

802.11b/g

108Mbps

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

124

May 2006 computershopper.com

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Bar Code Scanners $295 Metrologic, Symbol, HHP, PSC

Receipt Printers $299 Epson, Star, Ithaca, Citizen

MS SYSTE AT START

Cash Drawers $189 MMF, Indiana, APG, Logic Controls

Portable Invoicing, Inventory/Asset Tracking & Data collecton - $499 Symbol, HP Palm

$495 Bar Code Printers $499 Cognitive Solutions, Fixed & Portable

Pole Displays $289 Logic Controls Touch Screen Monitors $499 ELO Flat Panel, CRT

Credit & Debit Card Processing $349 PC Charge Credit Card Readers, Pin Pads, Signature Pads $179 Unitech, MagTek, Verifone, Topaz, HHP

Cash Register Express software for Windows $495 Replace your Cash Register with Cash Register Express in any type of retail store. With over 1,000 of the most desired point of sale features, Cash Register Express will help you compete in a difficult retail environment by controlling your costs, reducing errors, increasing efficiency, increasing your profits and increasing your sales. Specializing in Point of Sale since 1985

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TECHMARKET WI-FI ROUTERS

Model

Price

Rated Rated Supported Rated Max. Max. Range Max. Range Standards Throughput (Indoor) (Outdoor) Security Editor’s Take

Find Out More

D-LINK

AirPlus Xtreme G Router DGL-4300

$149.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

377 feet

1,509 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Game Mode feature gives precedence to online games over other network traffic; excellent 802.11g performance.

www.dlink.com 800-326-1688

130Mbps

1,000 feet

1 mile

WEP, WPA, firewall

Impressive maximum 802.11g performance and configuration tools, but disappointing long-range and mixed-mode throughput.

www.hawkingtech.com 888-662-8828

www.linksys.com 800-326-7114

HAWKING TECHNOLOGIES

Hi-Gain Wireless $99 AMP Technology Router HWR108M

802.11b/g

LINKSYS

Wireless G Broadband Router WRT54G

$56.25 802.11b/g

54Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

Features strong overall 802.11g throughput, but performs poorly with 802.11b devices.

Wireless G Broadband Router With SpeedBooster WRT54GS

$76.95 802.11b/g

54Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

Much better for mixed-mode performance than the WRT54G, with easy setup and VPN pass-through support.

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router WRT55AG

$106.99 802.11a/b/g 54Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

Slightly pricier than D-Link’s AG DI-784, but provides better speed and range, along with a three-year warranty.

54Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

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 Media Storage $116.99 802.11b/g Link Router with SpeedBooster NETGEAR

NEW

Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

$69.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

120 feet

120 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Like Linksys’ WRT54G, this router offers excellent 802.11g speed but uninspiring 802.11b performance.

Super G Wireless Router Security Edition WGT624SC

$69.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

120 feet

400 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Same fast throughput as Netgear’s other Super-G routers, but kicks up security with a one-year subscription to Trend Micro Home Network Security technology.

108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624

$89.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

200 feet

200 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Fast throughput, though its advanced features are bettersuited for networking geeks than beginners.

WPN824 RangeMax

$99.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

400 feet

400 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Good-looking MIMO router offers excellent throughput at long ranges, except when it comes to mixed-mode networks.

Double 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGU624

$114.99 802.11a/b/g 108Mbps

400 feet

400 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Offers simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11g signals, plus excellent throughput and range, but only a one-year warranty.

108Mbps Wireless Media Router WGT634U

$114.99 802.11b/g

108Mbps

200 feet

200 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Allows networked PCs to share a USB hard drive, but lacks the ability to write to NTFS volumes; not compatible with USB hubs.

RangeMax 240 Wireless $153.99 802.11b/g Router WPNT834

240Mbps

Not rated

Not rated

WEP, WPA, firewall

Along with a serious sampling of easy-to-set-up security features, this three-antenna router promises fast throughput even under heavy wireless multitasking.

$86.75 802.11b/g

54Mbps

328 feet

1,155 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Nicely designed model does 802.11b/g and adds a USB print server for wireless printing.

EZ-Connect g MIMO $129.99 802.11b/g Wireless Broadband Router SMCWBR14-GM

54Mbps

651 feet

1,312 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Along with all the high-speed and increased-range benefits MIMO has to offer, SMC makes setting up a wireless network a simple three-step process.

328 feet

1,000 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Features turbo mode for both 802.11a and 802.11g, but more expensive than its trimode competition.

www.netgear.com 888-638-4327

SMC NETWORKS

Barricade g Wireless Broadband Router SMC2804WBRP-G

EZ-Stream Universal $155.99 802.11a/b/g 108Mbps Wireless Broadband Router SMC2304WBR-AG

www.smc.com 800-762-4968

3COM

OfficeConnect Wireless $70.25 802.11b/g 54Mbps 11g Travel Router 3CRTRV10075

54Mbps

96 feet

197 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Compact unit converts hotel broadband into a Wi-Fi signal, www.3com.com letting you access it anywhere in your room. 800-242-3266

OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Router 3CRWE554G72T

$80.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

328 feet

1,499 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

3Com’s Content Filter service blocks access to pornographic, prejudicial, violent, and other content you choose to block.

$69.99 802.11b/g

125Mbps

160 feet

2,000 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Need to share a USB printer over your network? This box 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

U.S. ROBOTICS

Wireless MAXg Router with Print Server

ZYXEL COMMUNICATIONS

Prestige 334W

$59.99 802.11b/g

54Mbps

492 feet

1,148 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Security features aplenty, but configuration process is complex for networking beginners.

Prestige 334WT

$70.25 802.11b/g

125Mbps

492 feet

1,148 feet

WEP, WPA, firewall

Includes Trend Micro’s antivirus software and parental controls; allows user-controlled bandwidth management.

= Editors’ Choice

126

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

May 2006 computershopper.com

WEB BUYER THE BEST SITES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING • BY KEVIN SAVETZ

>>TECH PRODUCTS 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.

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 ready for pickup at a nearby store.

buy.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.

buydig.com At BuyDig.com, you’ll find a multitude of tech toys, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, scanners, PDAs, DVD players, and video-capture devices. Accessory orders of more than $50 ship free.

ccrane.com In business for nearly 30 years, the C. Crane Company specializes in radios, light, and scientific gadgets. The catalog includes shortwave and scanning radios, home weather stations, and a variety of LED flashlights—educational, techie fun. 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.

circuitcity.com 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.

compusa.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.

computers.ebay.com

computersecurity.com Make sure your computer and data stay right where they belong. Computer Security Products’ PC-protection gear includes steel cables, stealth tracking/recovery software, and disk-drive locks.

computers4sure.com

www.cablemax.com In addition to a substantial variety of computer and networking cables, which the company manufactures itself, CableMax sells surge-protection devices, add-on PC cards, electronics tools, and test equipment.

Illustrations by Bill Rieser

cablestogo.com The mammoth selection at Cables To Go includes esoteric system-specific cables, as well as PDA, cell-phone, and audio/video connectors. Check out the rounded cables for improved internal PC cooling.

Tech Products Graphics Cards Wireless Hardware Direct PC Vendors Software Price-Comparison Sites

GRAPHICS CARDS

cdw.com

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.

Creative Zen MicroPhoto from BuyDig.com

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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.

crucial.com One of the largest providers of memory upgrades on the Web, Crucial Technology offers RAM for 20,000 computers, along with a lifetime warranty. Crucial also sells speedy USB drives and seven types of flash storage media.

dalco.com Dalco Electronics stocks everything from motherboards to monitors. Bargain hunters will want to start with the specials found on the home page, which change regularly—but watch out for the 20 percent restocking fee.

databazaar.com Visit Databazaar.com for inkjet and toner cartridges, specialty paper, backup tapes, flash memory, and cables. All orders ship free.

caplinktech.com

dbuys.com

Stocked with hard drives, motherboards, and CPUs, Caplink Technology is a system builder’s dream come true. The site also offers an enticing mix of digital music players, GPS receivers, and other gadgetry, with free shipping on most items.

Dbuys.com shoppers get to choose from a firstrate selection of home theater products, including DVD players/recorders and all-in-one surroundsound systems. Shipping is free on many items, such as big-screen televisions.

buyxg.com XtremeGear offers ATI- and nVidiachipset cards from several manufacturers. You’ll find an ample selection of graphics cards with dual DVI outputs, PCI Express interfaces, and other high-end features. Shipping is free on many models. diamondmm.com/store Diamond Multimedia’s online store stocks the Viper and Stealth graphics cards, as well as digital video recorder (DVR) and TV-tuner cards. The company provides free shipping on every order. shop.ati.com Get an ATI graphics card direct from the source at the ATI Store. Gamers and graphics professionals will go for the speedy Radeon cards, and video enthusiasts will tune in to the TV Wonder PCI cards, which include TV tuners. Hard-tofind video adapters and cables are also for sale. shopmatrox.com Matrox’s specialty graphics cards include low-profile PCI cards, PCI Express cards, and models that can drive three or four monitors. You’ll also find upgrades for adding memory or multimonitor support to some graphics cards. the3dshop.com The 3Dshop.com stocks graphics cards for home, professional, and high-end-workstation users, including dozens of choices from ATI, Leadtek, Matrox, PNY Technologies, and 3Dlabs. 3btech.net Don’t mind a video card that’s a couple of years old—so long as it’s cheap? Visit 3B Tech Computers, where we found deals like a Radeon 9200 SE card for $36.99. The site sells new PCI Express graphics cards, too. Ground shipping is free. turtlebeach.com Want to convert your home videotapes to DVDs? Voyetra Turtle Beach’s line of Video Advantage capture cards includes all the hardware and software you need to bring your analog video into the digital age.

computershopper.com May 2006

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WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES digitalfotoclub.com

ecost.com

www.pcliquidator.com

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.

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.

At PC Liquidator, the inventory is inexpensive and ever-changing. You might choose an older Pentium 4 motherboard for $24.99 or a 4GB hard drive for $14.99. Check the Dollar Bin for ultracheap software and parts.

WIRELESS HARDWARE

ewaggle.com Yes, eWaggle.com has a silly name. It also has good deals on all types of PC peripherals, including monitors, external hard drives, and networking cards—all with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Look for the tiny truck icon, which means you’ll get free shipping on that product.

geeks.com

actiontecstore.com Actiontec Electronics’ store delivers products to enhance your Wi-Fi network, including a network camera that lets you monitor any part of your home wirelessly. Bluetooth adapters and headsets will let you do more with your mobile phone and PDA. buynetgear.com At Netgear’s site, you’ll find wireless access points for home and office, as well as Wi-Fi adapters and cable modems. The MP101 Wireless Digital Music Player lets you connect your home stereo to your wireless network for under $115. catalog.belkin.com Belkin’s networking hardware ranges from inexpensive to cutting-edge. Its online catalog includes low-cost 802.11b, speedy 802.11g, and advanced Pre-N hardware that blazes at six times the speed of 802.11g. The selection includes Bluetooth hardware, print servers, and Ethernet bridges. dlinkshop.com Browse D-Link’s line of networking hardware at its online shop. The line encompasses 802.11g routers, PC Card adapters, PCI cards, and a wireless videophone. Check the Business section for high-gain antennae, wireless print servers, and rugged equipment for outdoor networking. pacwireless.com Pacific Wireless manufactures and sells antennae that can give your wireless router and receiver signals a massive boost. Ceiling-mount and “stealth” antennae keep your network out of sight. rflinx.com Set up the ultimate Wi-Fi wireless network with help from RF Linx. The site stocks wireless LAN hardware such as antennae and amplifiers, as well as indoor and outdoor frequency converters. shopbuffalotech.com Buffalo’s wireless hardware includes speedy AirStation adapters, routers, and cable modems. A variety of mounting kits and brackets make antenna installation a snap indoors or outside.

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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.

With no qualms about the tech-savvy of its customers, Geeks.com is a fun-to-browse tech site that’s perfect for people piecing together a PC or looking for a geeky project. Check out the new and refurbished computer gear, such as cheap optical drives, and gadgets like a wearable TV watch.

pdasmart.com

geekstuff4u.com

radioshack.com

Looking for something different? GeekStuff4U. com specializes in high-tech gadgets from Japan. The selection includes hard-to-find and downright weird products like an iPod movie recorder and sushi-shaped USB memory keys.

RadioShack stocks a variety of phones, cables, digital-audio players, and PC peripherals. Get free shipping on orders of at least $50.

Is your broken PDA out of warranty? PDASmart.com offers do-it-yourself repair kits, as well as mail-in repair and upgrade services for many PDAs and iPods. Look for extended-life batteries, replacement LCD screens, and bezels.

insight.com 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.

kvm-switches-online.com Let your monitor, keyboard, and mouse share more than one PC. KVM Switches Online is dedicated to keyboard/video/mouse switches for every type of hardware. You’ll also find video splitters and rackmountable LCDs.

laptoptravel.com If you tote a computer wherever you go, take a trip to Laptop Travel, a site that specializes in portable-computing and international-travel gear. The site stocks cases, electrical adapters, modem converters, mobile desks, and security accessories.

memorysuppliers.com MemorySuppliers.com’s customer-friendly policies include $4.95 flat-rate shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee with free return shipping, and lifetime warranties on memory and hard drives. The Upgrade Guides explain how to install RAM and troubleshoot common memory problems.

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.

outpost.com 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.

pcconnection.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.

HP Officejet 5610 All-in-One from RadioShack

store.palm.com This is where Palm sells its popular Tungsten and Treo PDAs, plus software, accessories, and replacement parts. Visit the Factory Outlet for deals on blemished and open-box units.

styluscentral.com Use your mobile device in style. Stylus Central has a large selection of PDA styli, cases, and chargers, plus a complete line of iPod accessories. Have your initials engraved on many items for free.

superwarehouse.com Super Warehouse stocks printers, monitors, storage, scanners, and digital cameras. The site’s selection of printers is particularly large, including plotters, dot-matrix, and other printers for special needs.

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.

tristatecomputer.com TriState Camera stocks a plethora of digital and analog cameras, plasma televisions, computer peripherals, and necessities for home or office.

WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES unityelectronics.com

gateway.com

Check out Unity Electronics’ impressive selection of PC peripherals, including hard drives, optical drives, and networking products. The site is also well-stocked with cables and batteries, as well as parts for handhelds.

One of the biggest players in online computer sales, Gateway has an enormous and informative site that sells custom-built desktops and notebooks.

usbstuff.com

At this site, choose among Hewlett-Packard and Compaq desktop and notebook computers, plus networking accessories, printers, handhelds, and digital cameras.

Need gadgets to fill those empty USB ports? USB Stuff has it all, including digital cameras, CD-RW drives, printers, and input devices. Check out the USB microscopes, GPS receivers, and other remarkable peripherals.

usedhandhelds.com UsedHandhelds.com is a marketplace dedicated to pre-owned Pocket PC, Palm, and other PDAs, with plenty of information on the differences between older models. The company also buys used Windows Mobile, Windows CE, and Pocket PC handhelds.

hpshopping.com

hypersonic-pc.com 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.

ibuypower.com

hour repair-turnaround guarantee and free lifetime tech support.

shopprostar.com 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.

sonystyle.com/vaio Sony Style is a sleek-looking site selling Sony’s line of VAIO desktops and notebooks, plus digital cameras, displays, and storage devices.

store.apple.com 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.

toshibadirect.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.

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.

zunafish.com

idotpc.com

Zunafish facilitates trades of used video games, DVDs, CDs, and books. Post your used items, then propose and execute one-for-one trades with others, all for $1 per trade. Use the My Zunafish page to monitor your trade offers.

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.

Fujitsu’s site focuses on portable computing, including notebook PCs and pen-based tablet computers. Each computer has several warranty options.

zones.com

>> DIRECT PC VENDORS abspc.com Expect gaming, multimedia, and business PCs aplenty at ABS Computer Technologies. The company offers a choice of Intel or AMD processors, a three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty, and tollfree technical support. Visit the Outlet Store for shortlived specials.

alienware.com

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.

maingear.com 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.

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.

us.fujitsu.com/shop

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.

voodoopc.com

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 tollfree technical support any time of the day or night.

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.

buympc.com

winbook.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.

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.

cyberpowersystem.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.

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 one day need.

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Maingear Prelude 64

monarchcomputer.com Monarch Computer Systems creates build-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-

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.

WEB BUYER SHOPPING SITES buycheapsoftware.com The name says it all. Buycheapsoftware.com’s selection consists primarily of business and utility apps. The company offers flat-rate $5 shipping on small orders and free shipping on orders over $200.

buypcsoft.com Buypcsoft.com sells Windows and Mac software in categories from business management to virus

PRICE-COMPARISON SITES

prevention. It’s an efficient site with a good selection of big-name applications.

directory.fsf.org The Free Software Foundation’s Free Software Directory catalogs no-cost, useful apps that run with Linux and other free operating systems. Browse by category, or check out the newest additions to the directory, which are listed front and center.

download.com CNET Download.com will help you find shareware and free software, linking to thousands of programs for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Well-written newsletters and down-to-earth reviews help you find the perfect program.

driverguide.com bestwebbuys.com The easy-to-read comparison charts at Best Web Buys will show you the cheapest place to buy books, music, videos, electronics, and bikes. When you’re hunting for a gift idea, use the Top Sellers link to see the hot products in each category. froogle.google.com Froogle (that’s a combination of “frugal” and “Google”) is a shopping search engine that can find products at mom-and-pop shops just as well as the big-name stores. Use the Local shopping link to find stores in your area carrying the products you want. mysimon.com Shop for computer stuff, music, apparel, or in a bevy of other categories at MySimon. The Expert Buying Advice columns tell you which features to look for when shopping for tech products. pricegrabber.com Grab unbeatable deals from online sellers with help from PriceGrabber.com. Compare prices (complete with tax and shipping charges) on computers, photo gear, video games, consumer electronics, and more. The site can show you the most popular choices in digital cameras, MP3 players, notebooks, and other electronics. shopping.com Shopping.com combines price comparisons and consumer reviews into a single well-designed site. Whether you need a PDA, a laptop, or a toaster oven, more than a million product reviews help you decide on a specific model and online store. shopzilla.com Shopzilla is price comparison on a massive scale, letting you search more than 28 million products from about 69,000 stores. In addition to price search, the site lets you compare products, read reviews from other customers, and see 360-degree views of many items. smarter.com Shop smarter at Smarter.com, which delivers price comparisons in 15 categories, such as computers, phone services, and photography. A smart feature: You can use cell-phone text messaging while you’re in a store to have the site check online prices for items.

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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.

ebgames.com EBgames.com is a gamer’s paradise, selling new and pre-owned titles for PCs and every game console under the sun. Check the Hot Deals list for short-lived discounts.

freewarefiles.com FreewareFiles.com is an index to free downloadable software for Windows. Articles and tutorials deliver advice on free software and computer maintenance.

gamehippo.com GameHippo.com provides more than a thousand absolutely free downloadable PC games. You’ll find descriptions, ratings, and easy-to-read icons that show whether a game supports multiple players, a network, and so on. Check the Top 20 Rated Games to discover other players’ favorites.

gamespot.com 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.

gamestop.com GameStop.com is an elegant site that specializes in new and used games for consoles and PCs. Recent price drops, top sellers, and “just arrived” products are highlighted, so you’ll always know the score.

jumbo.com Jumbo is a fitting name for this monstrous file archive, featuring shareware, freeware, and commercial-software demos for PC, Mac, and Linux.

9software.com #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.

999software.com Every program at Just999, including a huge mix of entertainment and educational titles, costs $9.99. A number of themed $29.99 bundles deliver four applications in various categories, such as games and learning. Shipping costs a flat $5, no matter the size of your order.

nonags.com Nonags offers 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.

nothingbutsoftware.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.

palmgear.com Palm OS users will appreciate the large selection of free and commercial programs downloadable from PalmGear.com. Check out the list of “essential” apps, then sign up to get software news and tips.

pdfstore.com The PDF Store specializes in software for creating content. Shop for applications that produce Portable Document Format (PDF) files, e-books, and printed materials.

serverfiles.com ServerFiles.com is a directory of software for network administrators and IT professionals. The selection includes network-security, collaboration, and server applications.

simtel.net 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.

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.

softwarecheaper.com Software Cheaper is a funky little bargain basement that sells Windows and Macintosh software, most for less than $6. Every order gets you a pick from the Free Software page. Domestic U.S. shipping is always free.

softwarediner.com You’ll want to feast on the software selection at SoftwareDiner.com, which focuses on low-cost applications and utilities for home and smallbusiness users. You’ll save money but only receive a CD; manuals and boxes aren’t included.

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.

store.purplus.net 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.

tronixweb.com 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.

tucows.com Tucows is an incredible library of freeware and shareware for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This recently designed site makes it easy to find the newest, most popular, or top-rated software.

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 .....................................................................19 ABS ....................................................abs.com....................................................................90, 91 Alienware .........................................www.alienware.com/fast ............................................47 AOpen ...............................................www.aopen.com...........................................................98 Asus...................................................usa.asus.com ................................................................29 Antec.................................................www.antec.com............................................................89

Now Online.

Ateck Computers, Inc. ....................www.ateck.com ..........................................................128 ATI .....................................................ati.com .....................................................................Cov. 3 Beach Camera ..................................www.beachcamera.com ....................................104, 105 BFG Tech ...........................................www.bfgtech.com/physx...........................................115 Buffalo Technology..........................www.buffalotech.com/cs-seamless.............................6 CDW Corporation ............................cdw.com/whyhp .....................................................10, 11 CDW Corporation ............................cdw.com .........................................................67, 112, 113 Crucial Technology..........................www.crucial.com/computershopper.........................85

> 1000’s of product reviews > Help and How-To with step-by-step videos > Guides to the best online shopping sites

Cyberpower, Inc ...............................www.cyberpowerpc.com......................................31 - 33 Dell ....................................................dell.com/cs ..............................................................42, 43 Dell ....................................................dell.com/shopper ...................................................74, 75

> Expert buying guides and product roundups

eCost .................................................ecost.com.................................................................94, 95 Gateway URL TO COME..................gateway.com .......................................................Cov. 2, 1 HP ......................................................hp.com/go/mag1.....................................................34, 35

> FREE access to an extensive library of back issues

iBUYPOWER......................................www.ibuypower.com .............................................52, 53 InFocus..............................................www.infocus.com/workbig .........................................13

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Kingston ...........................................kingston.com/dt .........................................................101 LG Electronics ..................................www.lgusa.com ............................................................15 Newegg.com.....................................newegg.com ................................................................8, 9 PC Alchemy ......................................www.pcalchemy.com...................................................61 PC America .......................................www.pcamerica.com .................................................125 PC Pitstop .........................................pcpitstop.com/shopper ...............................................45 PC Tools Software ............................www.pctools.com.........................................................65 Penn Foster Career School .............www.pennfoster.edu ............................................49 - 51 Polywell.............................................www.polywell.com/us/business ..............................131 Prostar Computer ............................shopprostar.com...........................................................37 Sager .................................................sagernotebook.com ..........................................77, 86, 87 Siber Systems ..................................www.roboform.com/cs ..............................................117 Softwaremedia.com........................www.softwaremedia.com .........................................108 Systemax ..........................................www.tigerdirect.com..............................................20, 21 Thermaltake ....................................radioshack.com ............................................................59

PLUS! Sign up today for the FREE Computer Shopper EXTRA Newsletter

ThinkPad ..........................................lenovo.com/newthinkpad/m109 ..........................55, 56 TigerDirect.com ...............................www.tigerdirect.com/vitality................................Cov. 4 Toshiba .............................................toshibabydesign.com/M4 ......................................26, 27 Trandscend USA ..............................www.transcendusa.com..............................................16 UltraProducts.com ..........................www.ultraproducts.com/x2 ........................................69 U.S. Robotics.....................................www.usr.com/talk ........................................................41 Videoguys .........................................www.videoguys.com..................................................133 Visionman ........................................www.visionman.com.................................................111 Willoughby's ....................................www.willoughbys.com ..............................................127 Xerox .................................................xerox.com/office/1982 ...............................................2, 3

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Xtreme Gear .....................................www.buyxg.com ...........................................................39 Zalman..............................................www.zalmanusa.com ..................................................80 Zipzoomfly.com ...............................www.zipzoomfly.com .................................................63, ZT Group...........................................ztgroup.com/go/computershopper ........................4, 97 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. Computer Shopper, 28 E. 28th St., New York, NY 10016-7922 Sales Info: 800-999-7467 Editorial: 646-472-3900, Fax: 646-472-3995 Customer Service: 877-214-7390

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HELP & HOW-TO

BUYING BASICS HOW TO BUY

The Right Laser Printer BY SEAN PORTNOY SHOPPING SPECS

COLOR VERSUS MONOCHROME Not long ago, color lasers were so expensive that only large corporations could afford them. Now, color models are available for as little as $300, so if you have a small business that could use the extra pop of color in printed materials, it’s worth the splurge. Otherwise, monochrome lasers are a better value.

RESOLUTION Most low-end lasers print 600 dots per inch (dpi), a resolution more than adequate for many printing tasks. If you desire even crisper printouts, consider models that bump it up to 1,200dpi.

SPEED Today’s lasers should pump out more than 10 pages per minute (ppm) of text, with slightly slower speeds for a mixture of text and graphics. Most budget color lasers perform four separate passes on color printouts, however, so expect slower print speeds from them. Note that the maximum print speeds listed by manufacturers are often inflated.

Samsung CLP-510N

Laser printers deliver crisper text output and lower per-page printing costs than inkjets. Plus, they can save you time because they’re faster than inkjets and their toner cartridges last longer, which means less down time for maintenance. Here’s what you need to know to pick an affordable model for your home or small office.

NETWORKING If you plan to share your printer with two or more computers over a wireless network, look for a printer with an Ethernet jack, which will allow you to attach it to your router. Alternatively, you can purchase a print server that you can connect to your printer via USB cable and that also works as a wireless access point for your network.

3 GREAT BUYS GOOD Dell Laser Printer 1100 (www.dell.com, $99) The monochrome 1100 is a home-office bargain, printing 600dpi output at 12.5 pages per minute (ppm) for text and 10.7ppm for graphics in our lab tests. Text is easy to read at all font sizes, and graphics prints also look good. Dell will even recycle your old printer free of charge.

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BETTER Brother HL-2040 (www.brother-usa.com, $119.99) In our tests, the compact HL-2040 nimbly printed 16.5ppm of text and was almost as fast printing graphics (16ppm), both impressive numbers for this 2,400x600dpi monochrome laser. Brother offers wired- and wireless-networking options for the printer.

BEST Samsung CLP-510N (www.samsung.com, $399.99) One of the best all-around deals for an affordable color laser, the Ethernetequipped, 1,200dpi CLP-510N cranks out monochrome text at 17.9ppm and monochrome graphics at 17.5ppm, as well as color text at 5.7ppm and color graphics at 5.3ppm.