Pc Magazine Oct 17 2006

INTRODUCING INTEL® CORE™2 DUO. THE WORLD’S BEST PROCESSORS.

Intel’s new Core™2 Duo desktop processor multiplies everything you and your computer can do. Now you can experience performance up to 40% faster and over 40% more energy efcient. Learn why at intel.com/core2duo For more information on why Intel® Core™2 Duo processors are the world’s best overall processors, please visit www.intel.com/core2duo Performance based on SPECint*_rate_base2000 (2 copies) and energy efficiency based on Thermal Design Power (TDP), comparing Intel® Core™2 Duo E6700 to Intel® Pentium® D Processor 960. Actual performance may vary. See www.intel.com/performance for more information. ©2006 Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Core, the Intel Core logo, Intel. Leap ahead, and the Intel. Leap ahead. logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved.

MAKE FREE VIDEO CALLS . . . FINALLY, IT REALLY WORKS

HOW TO BUY A VISTA-READY PC WEEKEND PROJECT BUILD A HIGH-TECH DOGHOUSE

S ’ A C I R AME TED S U R T T S MO S E I N A P M O C H TEC GET MORE FROM TECHNOLOGY

TE A R S R READE

U.S. $5.99 / CAN. $7.99 / U.K. £4.00

WWW.PCMAG.COM OCTOBER 17, 2006

TY I L I B A I RE L & E C I SERV

/IBM O V O N E L P SONY • L • HP • SHAR NT PRI DE L S • • E L N P O AP BILE • CAN O T M & T T • A • NIKON SAMSUNG • XM INK • CISCO R• THL E R ON E A Z N I E R O • I E P G V L US • LA • I R O I R S O • NIES T N A I P G MO M R I O R•V RE C A O L M U 2 G 8 N CI AN D C I N O S PANA

There are benefits to getting a complete security solution. (And not all of them are to the network.)

McAfee Total Protection for Small Business Defend against viruses, spyware, hackers and identity thieves with always-on, always-up-to-date protection across desktops and servers.

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Fujitsu LifeBook T4210 Tablet PC Work anywhere, anytime using this Fujitsu notebook featuring Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology for easy, wireless access.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Work remotely and securely using the latest Microsoft Windows® technology with built-in support for high-performance systems. RECEIVE WINDOWS VISTA UPGRADE RIGHTS1

The Technology Solutions You Need When You Need Them. Today’s sophisticated security threats go way beyond what antivirus can handle. That’s why CDW has all the technology you need for full client security protection. From encryption to content filtering to antispyware and beyond, we have a wide variety of the top names in the industry. And we have the expertise to answer questions, offer advice and build solutions that will hold up to the worst threats out there. So call today and get the total protection you need.

1 Buy Software Assurance now and receive Windows Vista Enterprise upgrade rights; call your CDW account manager for details; offer ends 11/1/06. Offer subject to CDW’s standard terms and conditions of sale, available at CDW.com. © 2006 CDW Corporation

© 2006 CDW Corporation

Toshiba recommends Windows® XP Professional.

We can’t keep it from getting knocked around, but we can keep it from getting knocked out.

The Tecra® A8

If you’re making the transition from a desktop to mobile PC, you had better be prepared for it to take a few unexpected blows. That’s where the Tecra® A8 Notebook comes in. It offers Toshiba’s exclusive EasyGuard™ Technology1 to better protect critical components and data from the everyday hazards of your mobile work life. Plus, it’s powered by Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology and features genuine Microsoft Windows® XP Professional. To learn more about why this reliable, highperformance computer is such a smart investment, visit www.reliable.toshiba.com. 1. Toshiba EasyGuard technology comprises a number of features some of which may or may not be available on a particular Toshiba notebook depending on the model selected. See www.easyguard.toshiba.com for detailed information Toshiba’s standard limited warranty terms and limitations apply. Visit www.warranty.toshiba.com for details. Tecra is a registered trademarks and EasyGuard are trademarks of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and/or Toshiba Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, Centrino and the Centrino logo are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, prices, system/component/ options availability are all subject to change without notice. Toshiba is not liable for pricing, typographical or photography errors. Reseller/Retailer pricing/products may vary. © 2006 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

PCONTENTS OCTOBER 17, 2006 VOL. 25 NO. 18

Free video calls page 105

Buy a Vista-ready PC page 32 High-tech doghouse page 105

Reader survey page 80

COVE R STO RY

READERS’ CHOICE: CAMERAS, CELL PHONES & SERVICES, MP3 PLAYERS, HDTVS, AND MORE

80

Is tech support up to snuff when things go wrong? PC Magazine readers give us the lowdown on product reliability and tech support quality. Our survey results cover their experiences with thousands of digital cameras, cell phones, cell-phone services, VoIP services, HDTVs, satellite radios, ISPs, routers, and MP3 players.

29

FIRST LOOKS

30 Hardware Sony VAIO VGC-LS1 HP Photosmart A516 Dell XPS M1710 (Intel Core 2 Duo)

36 Consumer Electronics

Olympus Stylus 720 SW

Technology BOB

BlackBerry Pearl

Nikon Coolpix S6

Mpire.com

Archos 604

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1, DMC-LZ5

Glide Effortless

Wi-Gear iMuffs MB210

Gateway FX510XT

Canon PowerShot S80

Falcon Northwest Mach V with Core 2 Extreme

Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital Elph

WinBook Jiv Mini Dell XPS 700

Kodak EasyShare V570, V705, C533

Sony VAIO VGC-LS1

Photo: Corbis

There.com

Casio Exilim EX-Z850

Netgear Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter HDX101

Samsung Digimax L85

63 Small Business

HP Photosmart 927 50 Software

Dell 1200MP Projector

32 Buying Guide: Vista-Ready Desktops

46 Buying Guide: Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras

Gateway FPD1975W

Napster 2.0

Fuji FinePix E900, FinePix V10

Iomega Rev 70

MTV Urge

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1, Cybershot W100

AllPeers (beta)

Hamachi for Windows 1.0.0.61 (beta)

eMusic

73 The Best Stuff Award-winning products, all in one place.

Hopscotch OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 7

PCONTENTS

SMB 20 AWARDS

89

Our first small-business awards celebrate 20 companies using technology in innovative ways to grow their businesses. From la la media to YoYoNation, companies are using tech to shave costs, expand market share, speed time to market, and improve customer relations. We also tell you how to nominate your business for our 2007 awards.

OPINIONS 11 First Word Jim Louderback 75 Bill Machrone 77 Michael J. Miller 78 Inside Track 148 John C. Dvorak

PIPELINE 21 Welcome to guided Web searches ChaCha hooks you up with a human assistant. Also, unmanned underwater vehicles. 22 Future Watch Take a gander at the sharpest man-made object ever.

CONNECTED TRAVELER 24 Seattle

TECHNORIDE

REAL-WORLD TESTING

FREE VIDEO CALLS

105

Free phone calls are great, but what about video? Today’s instant-messaging clients bundle live video in with free phone calls and chatting—a cool way to connect family and friends. But is the quality good enough? And will Aunt Sophie use it? BUILD IT

26 Toyota Camry Hybrid Solid-oxide fuel cells test successfully; next-gen Chevy Camaro for 2009; third-generation BMW iDrive.

SOLUTIONS 119 Ask Neil Force unique numbers in Excel; send e-mail on the road; Windows updates for a slow machine. 122 Ask Loyd Access Raid 1 hard drives; transfer mirrored Raid 1 data. 124 SMB Boot Camp Opening your Web storefront. 126 Security Watch Getting to the bottom of rootkits. 128 Software Solutions: Which letter goes with which drive? Customize your drives’ icons and you won’t forget.

GAMING & CULTURE 144 Games on a plane Here are some you can play on short or long fl ights.

GEARLOG 147 Yamaha’s Silent Cello Through muting electronics, this instrument stays quiet.

27 Bill Howard

ALSO INSIDE 16 Feedback 16 Abort, Retry, Fail

THE ULTIMATE DOGHOUSE

111

The surge in smart home electronics got us thinking, What about our four-legged friends? For all the world’s Fidos, we present the totally hooked-up doghouse. Featuring a dog’s-eye-view collar cam, motion detectors, and temperature sensors and controls, the doghouse links to a handy Web interface, letting you check on your pooch from work. PC Magazine, ISSN 0888-8507, is published semi-monthly except monthly in January and July and three issues in November at $44.97 for one year. Ziff Davis Media Inc, 28 E. 28th St., New York, NY 10016-7940. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY 10016-7940 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Address changes to PC Magazine, P.O. Box 54070, Boulder, CO 80328-4070. The Canadian GST registration number is 865286033. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40009221. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 503, R.P.O. West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6, Canada. Printed in the U.S.A.

8 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

PCMAG ONLINE After reading about your favorite (or least favorite) tech companies in this year’s Reader Satisfaction Survey, visit us at PCMag.com, where we’ve posted the results of our cell-phone satisfaction survey. Which manufacturer makes the phones with the best call quality? Web browsing? Tech support? The answers, provided by our knowledgeable readers, are online now at go.pcmag.com/bestphones.

©2006 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

imagine your emotions amplified.

Samsung Blu-ray Disc™ player BD-P1000

Imagine a whole new way to see, hear, and feel movies. The new Samsung Blu-ray Disc™ player BD-P1000 gives you an amazing 5 times the resolution of standard DVD — making full use of your HDTV. With backwards compatibility, it also converts your existing DVDs to near high-definition, adding sharpness, richness, and color. Add to this superb 24-bit audio and you’ll discover details that heighten the emotional experience of everything you view. With Samsung, it’s not that hard to imagine. To learn more, visit www.samsung.com/bluray

Available at: ®

F I R ST WO R D BY JIM LOUDERBACK, EDITOR

APC is not a huge company, and it sells fairly simple products. But if this company can get tech support right, what’s stopping Dell, HP, and others?

I

N T H I S I S S U E , W E B R I N G YOU T H E

second part of our annual Reader Satisfaction Survey. We heard from nearly 15,000 of you, and you told us which companies are doing best at delivering reliable products and good service. Before you head out to buy a digital camera, HDTV, camcorder, wireless router, or satellite radio, see what users of these products think. Combine that with our excellent reviews, here in the magazine and at PCMag.com, and you’ll be equipped both to save money and to buy a reliable product for today and tomorrow. With all the reports of bad customer service outsourced around the world, I wanted to share

TALK TO THE CHIEF You can contact Jim Louderback at Jim_Louderback @ziffdavis.com For more of his columns, go to go.pcmag.com/ louderback

an experience I had recently with a product that stopped working. I’d picked up an external universal notebook battery from APC to fuel my addiction to computing on long flights. It routinely doubled my computing time. But as I was preparing to fly to California from New York before Labor Day, it inexplicably stopped charging. APC’s phone number was conveniently printed on the underside of the battery. The receptionist answered on the second ring and transferred me straight to tech support. That alone was a breakthrough. It’s often impossible to find a vendor’s phone number, and if you do find it and call the main number, often you end up in an endless phone-tree loop, or they give you the tech support number and make you hang up and call again. The

very helpful and clearly American tech support rep picked up in less than a minute, and after about 5 minutes of diagnosis, cheerily offered to send me a replacement. He didn’t even take a credit card, asking only that I return the dead battery. With that, I became APC’s biggest fan. That’s how tech support should be done. APC is not a huge company, and it sells fairly simple products. But if this Rhode Island tech company can get it right, what’s stopping Dell, HP, and others? Business innovation. I was energized by the hundreds of submissions for our first SMB awards, from which we picked 20 companies that have truly used technology to deliver a competitive advantage. The winners range from a tiny yo-yo community to an innovative user of scheduling technology to fly jets around the country. Don’t miss our profi les of the winners, starting on page 89. My congratulations go out to them and to all the companies and individuals using technology to build better businesses and lead better lives. The more we get out of technology, the better the world can be. Executive editor Carol Gonsher and West Coast editor Sebastian Rupley put together a tremendous package of stories about these businesses. Want to know more? Join me and three of the CEOs we honored in a free Web-based seminar as we explore how they are making a difference. You can register for the live event right now, at www.pcmagcast.com. There’s a lot more inside this issue as well. I was particularly amazed by the following: AT&T has gotten its VoIP act together. Skype and Vonage may steal the headlines, but AT&T’s CallVantage program gets the nod for service and reliability from our readers. Other big winners include Sony for HDTV, Motorola for cell phones, and tiny Cowon, challenging Apple for the MP3 crown. Results and winners on page 80. Video calling has arrived. I’m still scarred by our webcam experiment at ZDTV, where we gave 50,000 of the cameras away and invited the audience to participate. They weren’t ready for prime time, but they are now! SightSpeed and Skype came out on top, but you’re the real winner. You can now use your PC to make video calls that not only cost nothing but sound and look good. Page 105. Wait until you see the picture of this virtual cello. It sounds as good as it looks. Page 147. Q OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 11

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR, REVIEWS

Jim Louderback

Lance Ulanoff

Robyn Peterson Stephanie Chang, Carol L. Gonsher, Vicki B. Jacobson (online), Jeremy A. Kaplan ART DIRECTOR Richard J. Demler MANAGING EDITOR Paul B. Ross EXECUTIVE PRODUCT DIRECTOR, PCMAG.COM NETWORK EXECUTIVE EDITORS

REVIEWS SENIOR EDITORS Sean Carroll (software, Internet, networking), Dan Costa (consumer electronics), Laarni Almendrala Ragaza (hardware), Carol Mangis (TechnoRide), Sebastian Rupley (West Coast, Pipeline) LEAD ANALYSTS Cisco Cheng, Robert Heron, Davis D. Janowski, Mike Kobrin, Neil J. Rubenking, Joel Santo Domingo, Sascha Segan, M. David Stone, Terry Sullivan REVIEWS EDITORS Brian Bennett (consumer electronics), Gary Berline (software, Internet, networking), Jen Trolio (hardware) WEB PRODUCERS Rachel B. Florman, Molly K. McLaughlin PRODUCT MANAGER Gina Suk COMMERCE PRODUCER Arielle Rochette PRODUCT REVIEW COORDINATOR PJ Jacobowitz INVENTORY CONTROL COORDINATOR Nicole Graham FEATURES FEATURES EDITORS SENIOR WRITER

Cade Metz

Dan Evans, Sarah Pike, Erik Rhey Tony Hoffman

STAFF EDITOR

Michael St. George ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Liana Zamora Aaron Able GRAPHICS DIRECTOR David Foster Scott Schedivy

ART SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER COPY CHIEF

Elizabeth A. Parry

Jennifer Murray Margaret McVeigh, Ann Ovodow, Steven Wishnia

COPY EDITORS

Yun-San Tsai PRODUCER Mark Lamorgese Whitney A. Reynolds NEWS EDITOR Mark Hachman NEWS REPORTER Natali Del Conti ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kyle Monson ASSISTANT EDITOR Jennifer L. DeLeo UTILITY PROGRAM MANAGER Tim Smith COMMUNITY MANAGER Jim Lynch ONLINE SENIOR PRODUCER ASSISTANT PRODUCER

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Helen Bradley, John Clyman, Richard V. Dragan, Craig Ellison, John R. Delaney, John C. Dvorak, Galen Fott, Bill Howard, Don Labriola, Bill Machrone, Ed Mendelson, Jan Ozer, Larry Seltzer, Don Willmott INTERN

Veronica DeLeon Loyd Case Victor Loh

EXTREMETECH.COM EDITOR TECHNOLOGY ANALYST

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©2006 Diskeeper Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Diskeeper, The Number One Automatic Defragmenter, I-FAAST, I/O Smart, SmartScheduling, Terabte Volume Engine, “Set It and Forget It”, and the Diskeeper Corporation logo are registered trademarks or trademarks owned by Diskeeper Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Windows is a registered trademark or trademark owned by Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Diskeeper Corporation • 7590 N. Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504 • 800-829-6468 • www.diskeeper.com

Business is tough enough without your company’s content working against you. Problems with creating, managing and distributing digital content can hurt productivity and slow business processes. Whether it’s documents, spreadsheets, graphics, images, video or another content type, anything that makes it difficult for team members to put content to work creates a roadblock no business can afford.

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Is your content getting “stuck”? If it is, CDW can help. See the special section in this issue, “Content Can’t Wait: Digital Flow and the ContentDriven Business.” Or visit pcmagconnect.com/cdw for a downloadable PDF.

Gregory Barton

Scott McCarthy (Game Group), Sloan Seymour (Enterprise Group), Jason Young (Consumer/Small-Business Group)

GROUP PRESIDENTS

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PERMISSIONS, REPRINTS For permission to reuse material in this publication or to use our logo, contact Ziff Davis Media’s director of rights and permissions, Olga Gonopolsky, at [email protected], or by phone at 212-503-5438 or by fax at 212-503-5420. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. For reprints, please contact Stella Valdez at FosterReprints: telephone, 866-879-9144; fax, 916-983-6762; e-mail, [email protected]. The following are registered trademarks of Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc.: i-Bench, NetBench, PC DIRECT, PC Labs, PC MAGAZINE, PC MAGAZINE AWARD FOR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, PC MAGAZINE EDITORS’ CHOICE,PC MagNet, ServerBench, WinBench, Winstone, Ziff Davis Media’s corporate logo, and PCMAG.com. The following are trademarks of Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc.: After Hours, Backspace, CPUmark, EasyComputing, ExtremeTech, First Looks, First Looks Plus, i-Bench, Lab Notes, Lab Tales, PC Bench, PC Labs Scorecard, PC Magazine At Home, PC Magazine CD, PC Magazine Extra, PC Magazine Marketlink, PC Solutions, PC Tech, Pipeline, Power Programming, Quick Clips, ScreenDemos, Tech Notes, and WinDrain. Other trademarks and trade names used throughout the publication are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2006 Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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FEEDBACK

THE FUN SIDE OF THE FORCE

In Jim Louderback’s First Word column (August 22, page 11) he asks, “Was I missing any recent humorous games?” The first game that came to my mind was LEGO Star Wars. While it’s not a game of comedy, the cutscenes were hilarious to watch. What’s even better is that someone finally learned to not take the Star Wars universe so seriously!—Tim Rabaut I agree . . . I loved that game! And I can’t wait to play the sequel (LEGO Star Wars II, scheduled to be released in September). —Jim Louderback

WHERE SPEED MATTERS In First Word (September 5, page 11), Jim Louderback wrote, “around 2001, it

happened: Except in rare cases, the PC was fast enough.” I disagree with this. I think what actually happened was that a chip/ system being less than twice as fast as its predecessor didn’t make a difference, and that was the total non-graphics, non-disk speed gain for five years or so. As Jim says, network stuff became more important.

ABORT, RETRY, FAIL BY DON WILLMOTT

Therefore, a small processing gain was low on the list of buyers’ needs. However, there are many uses for speed gains of a thousandfold or even a millionfold and more. The examples you give for needs—encryption, security, and transcoding—require at most only a couple of extra processors to keep up with I/O improvements and multicore chips (where “multicore” is 2 to 16). The real needs are for the various things that are essentially unbounded (NP-complete or more computationally intensive) and for graphics stuff. For image enhancement and improvement, users would like to be able to s e e t h e re s u l t s o f m ov i n g s l i d e r s “instantaneously” (say, in 1/30 second). Most of the tools don’t react nearly this fast when working with full images of even 100K pixels. The tools normally process just a small part of the image, say 40K pixels or so, and don’t update even this rapidly enough. We could use performance gains of 500 or so to see 4-megapixel images five times as fast; this is just for the simplest image enhancement on medium-sized images. —Mark Fineman

That’s one heck of a migraine.

Refreshing honesty from the folks at Monster energy drinks.

ARF on the Road: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Wi-Fi surf shop trend continues!

Well, wait a minute and maybe it’ll change. ARF NEEDS YOU! If your entry is used, we’ll send you a PC Magazine T-shirt. Submit your entries via e-mail to [email protected]. Ziff Davis Media Inc. shall own all property rights in the entries. Winners this issue: Jeff Wells, Warren Wong, Phil Osman, and Roxanne Adams. 16 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

THAT OL’ HARD DRIVE BOTTLENECK Jim Louderback’s column (First Word, September 5) about chips mattering again missed the mark. He talks about chips not mattering much in the recent past, but says they will now experience a rebirth of sorts. The reason chips don’t matter and will continue not to matter is that no matter how fast they get, they still have to go through the hard drive bottleneck. I’ve upgraded my computers many times with the latest chipsets, and although the speed difference between chips might be fourfold, the overall gain in the speed of my programs is maybe 10 to 15 percent. What we need is not more chipset speed or larger hard drives; what we need is faster throughput. How about a 10-gigabyte flash memory drive? Most of my programs would work on that, and my speed would be lightning fast. This is where the drive makers need to

concentrate their efforts, and then chip speed would be important once again. —Rick Sutliffe

Throughput is important, I agree. The new hybrid drives and Windows Vista’s ability to use flash for a special RAM cache should help. But you are right in that larger hard drives alone don’t solve the overall system performance problem.—JL

I’LL STICK TO KNOCKING DELL Regarding Jim Louderback’s “We Should Praise Dell, Not Bury It” (go.pcmag .com /jldell), Dell didn’t recall those batteries out of the kindness of its heart. Everyone knows that safety issues are a public relations nightmare—especially if someone gets seriously hurt. Dell does recalls only on safety issues. If a product is known to be defective but is not dangerous, it’s nearly impossible to get Dell to fix it for free. My Dell Inspiron 5150 had a known issue with the motherboard, but because it was just out of warranty, I was told that there was no way I could get it fixed for free—even though I pointed out the 57 pages (not posts) of users with exactly the same problem (the machine shuts down

if you touch the case in a certain spot) on Dell’s own support forum. It took more than a week of fighting as well as a complaint to the Better Business Bureau to get to speak to someone who was not in a Bangalore call center reading from a script. The BBB complaint got me through to a representative in Round Rock, Texas, who took care of my issue, but only after I had fought with her for days. This was the first issue I have encountered with Dell’s dismal record of “customer support.” Companies should not be applauded for doing the right thing. It should be the norm, not something that warrants a pat on the back.—David Eckert

HELP US EVADE GOVERNMENT SPOOKS Jim, my request is simple. I believe the only expense you may incur is a little labor for the time it takes to set it up! Can you please give your entire staff the okay to modify all their e-mail software so we can send them encrypted e-mails? Since we are aware of George W. Bush and his nasty habit of listening in on our telephone conversations and trying to read our every e-mail, I think we should encrypt all e-mail!—Kelly

We’re sorry, your e-mail was rejected by the SENDMAIL program at PC Magazine due to offensive and/or antigovernment content. Please cleanse and send again.

NO BOZOS! I am so incensed with the “Be Your Own DJ” article that appeared on page 74 of your August 22 issue (“fire that overpriced bozo you hired for your daughter’s wedding”). Obviously, I’m in the business. Where do you get off publishing such an insulting article? I and other “bozos” have been entertaining for years, and we have been responsible for a lot of very happy memories from a lot of families. Your article suggests that all you need in order to be a DJ is a computer or iPod, but there is a lot more involved with running a wedding than just playing tunes. The worst part of it is that a lot of us “bozos” use iPods and computers in our work, and some of us even read your magazine (until now!), so how dare you insult us like that? I will do my best to let my fellow “bozo” DJs know what trash you’re printing, if they haven’t seen it yet. Please, please, please cancel my subscription!—Russ Moschetto, Russ McQueen Entertainment

Stan, I depend on that Ricoh printer for just about everything. You’re still getting your own lunch, right Jerry?

Ricoh dependability moves your ideas forward. ricoh-usa.com/itchannel 1.800.RICOH.43 ©2006 Ricoh Corporation

The author states clearly later in the piece that yes, it does take more than simply plugging in an iPod or laptop to be a real DJ. Beat-matching, cross-fading, and hooking up a microphone for announcements are among the important skills that a DJ needs to master. The term “bozo” was not intended to be a statement on the entire industry of professional DJs, but rather a lighthearted call to action for those of us who have been to weddings or other events at which the DJ disappointed us by not playing requests, playing inappropriate songs, or otherwise imposing an awkward progression to the event. The Chicken Dance: Need I say more? —Erik Rhey

IS GETTING CHIPPED BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH? I hope the photos and instructions on inserting RFID tags into a human (September 5, page 99) will be your last on that subject. This is not necessary, as there are many other ways to have a personal RFID tag without inserting it. The disturbing trend is that this has been promoted as being “cool”—as in your caption, “Got one yet?” The possible aftereffects on a reader who does this are bad enough (injury, infection, and more), but that this is somehow made to appear to be the trend of the future is distressing. RFID tag technology will certainly be changing, and it will be much more convenient to be able to have a tag on a wristband, wristwatch, ring, or another item where it can be swapped, updated, or improved without surgery. Let’s bury this harmful trend now. If you want to provide a service on the subject of RFID, then cover the obstacles to implementation of RFID systems, such as the high cost of the middleware necessary for businesses to use them. That is a much more relevant topic.—Larry G. DeVries

The intersection of technology and our bodies has fascinated science-fiction writers and fans for decades. Today, cyborgs and bionics—as popularized in the 1970s by The Six Million Dollar Man—are rapidly becoming a reality. In most cases, failing organs are replaced or enhanced by technology, but I think the use of this type of technology to facilitate everyday activities shows just how safe and commonplace it’s becoming. This disturbs you? Better not read our upcoming story, tentatively titled “Cryogenics, Cybernetics, and You: A User’s Guide to Subdermal Technologies.”—Jeremy Kaplan

IN SEARCH OF PRODUCT FEATURES INFORMATION What happened to the Summary of Features that used to be in the hard copy of PC Magazine? It is truly a valuable tool, as no one product is good for everyone. I use it with my personal criteria, and when it is inconsistent with the reviews, I analyze the review for the reason for the discrepancy. This ensures that I make an informed decision, knowing what the pitfalls are with the product that I pick. —Eric Goldman

We provide feature summaries in our Buyers’ Guides where it makes sense, along with specs and features in our reviews. But we are also providing an expanded set of features, specs, and much more online. Just follow that “go” link that accompanies the review for more data than you can shake a stick at—and a nifty and convenient way to compare multiple products together on one screen.—JL

WHO IS BILL GATES? I’ve been working on Microsoft Windows since its first few years; the first version I worked on was Windows 3.0. Since then, I discovered that Windows is just a poor imitation of the Apple Macintosh System. I am wondering why Apple didn’t just sue Bill Gates for having used the idea that their software was built on using “telepathy.” The only explanation I have received for this was from the director of the business-school program during my study for an MBA in the U.S. She said, “He’s a shark.” From my study of business administration, I believe he must have done something much more shrewd than sharklike. Maybe he bought a controlling share of Apple’s stock (I have no idea, I am just presuming). If you have another explanation, please tell me.—John Clinckerhosen I wouldn’t call Bill Gates a shark; he seems like more of a mockingbird to me. Or at least he used to. Now, based on what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been able to accomplish, he seems more like a saint.—JL HOW TO CONTACT US We welcome your comments and suggestions. When sending e-mail to Feedback, please state in the subject line of your message which article or column prompted your response. E-mail [email protected]. All letters become the property of PC Magazine and are subject to editing. We regret that we cannot answer letters individually.

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PIPELINE WHAT’S NEW FROM THE WORLD OF TECH

AQUANAUT

Searching with a Partner

A

ChaCha uses the “two heads are better than one” approach to searching

from search engines all over the map, so that you have to sift them to fi nd what you were looking for? Scott Jones, an entrepreneur from Indiana, wants to change that with his new ChaCha search engine. Jones helped reinvent voice mail in the 1980s, and owns a slew of patents. “Over 600 million people now use the voice mail technology I invented,” he says. His proposition for overhauling Web searching is simple: introduce living participation. Human assistance in searches has occurred at sites such as Ask.com, but ChaCha mobilizes armies of paid human assistants who specialize in certain topic areas. Unlike other efforts to include human intelligence in the Web search process, and unlike Yahoo! Answers, ChaCha provides guides who help searchers in real time.

Some ChaCha guides earn $5 an hour to aid in searches, while experienced ones with good success rates can make twice that. Do you have a friend who recently received a diagnosis of breast cancer? A topic expert who knows how to navigate available Web information about the general category of cancer and the specific type of breast cancer can instant-message with your friend as she searches, helping to narrow down results so that she fi nds sought-after information quickly. Jones bristles at the suggestion that human assistance has been tried before in Web searching. “It hasn’t been tried before in terms of the real-time interaction we’re pursuing,” he says, adding that the site is driven by advertising; it’s not a paid search service. Hook up with a guide and try some of your own searches at the site— and let us know whether or not the human touch helps.—Sebastian Rupley

GOT GAME?

LIGHTS, CAMERA…CLICK

RE THE RESPONSES YOU GET BACK

Microsoft intends to open Xbox 360 game development to all comers. At the company’s site you can download XNA Game Studio Express software and start creating, though currently you can create games only for Windows. Later this year Microsoft will release tools to migrate the games to Xbox 360. Through a partnership between Microsoft and DigiPen, summer workshops beginning in 2007 will encourage kids, ages 10 through 16, to build their own Xbox 360 games.

As evidenced by Sony's $65 million deal to acquire Grouper, online video sites are red hot. YouTube continues to rule the roost by a wide margin.

Top Online Video Sites, by Market Share YouTube

42.9%

MySpace Videos

24.2%

Yahoo! Video Search

9.6%

MSN Video Search

9.2%

Google Video Search 6.5%

Source: Hitwise

Can you build a stealth submarine? If so, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is interested. In August DARPA held its annual event to evaluate student-built autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Teams from MIT, Johns Hopkins University, and other schools showed their stealth subs. Each team was required to build a completely autonomous underwater system capable of traversing a body of water, navigating a series of gates, returning to a recovery zone, and determining the maximum depth of the zone. No remote assistance was permitted. In this photo, Ian Williams from the University of Texas (go Longhorns!) is seen submerging his autonomous underwater vehicle. DARPA’s event is less a competition than a show, but SubJuGator, an AUV built at the University of Florida, has dominated several annual competitions.

BOOK NOOK As part of Google’s effort to scan the world’s books and distribute them online, you can now download PDF versions of classic public domain works at books.google .com. Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford Universities all have libraries participating in the effort. OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 21

FUTUREWATCH

BUT CAN IT FLIP PEOPLE OFF?

EXTREME CLOSE-UP

A

LTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIK E SOME K I ND OF SCI-FI

snake, that’s actually an extreme close-up of the sharpest man-made object ever. The photo is a field-ion microscope image of the tip of a very sharp tungsten needle. Each semispherical globular shape is an individual atom. The longer shapes are traces—like comet tails—of the atoms as they moved while being photographed. This photo, made by researcher Moh’d Rezeq working with Robert Wolkow at the University of Alberta and the National Institute for Nanotechnology, illustrates how powerful microscopes assist nanotechnologists in exploring, altering, and improving materials at nanoscale. As for the needle itself, its sharpness can aid its role as an ultraprecise electron emitter—a key process as nanotechnologists work on creating everything from ultrastrong, steel-like alloys to hard drive materials that can rapidly expand storage capacities.—Sebastian Rupley 22 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

The robotic hand seen here is flashing “scissors” in a game of rock-paperscissors. It’s the end result of a new brain-to-machine interface created by Honda and ATR International. The technology enables the decoding of brain activity and the use of the extracted data as instructions for a robotic hand without cutting into the brain. How does it work? Magnetic resonance imaging technology (commonly called MRI) tracks hemodynamic responses in the brain—essentially mapping the brain activity that’s associated with a certain gesture. For example, when you make the shape for “scissors” with your hand, the associated activity in your brain can be identified and mapped by software. The brain’s responses are decoded by a computer and then sent to the robotic hand. Look for commercial applications in the coming months.

ONE FAST MACHINE Get a load of the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) plane, from Supersonic Aerospace International. The company has finalized the design for one of the fastest passenger jets ever, designed to cut the travel time for longdistance jaunts in half. The supersonic jet is supposed to be able to fly coast to coast in an eye-opening 2 hours. The speedy bug-smasher (seen in an artist’s rendering here) was achieved by placing Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works under contract. It’s designed to produce a sonic boom noise level of less than one-hundredth of the Concorde’s, earning the jet permission to fly at supersonic speeds over populated areas. The QSST will travel at speeds up to Mach 1.8, should seat 12 passengers, and is aimed at government and business travelers. For a progress report, see Supersonic Aerospace’s Web site, www .saiproject.com.

Stan, you can depend on Ricoh color to stand out. We could use a little color, Jerry.

Ricoh dependability moves your ideas forward. ricoh-usa.com/itchannel 1.800.RICOH.43 ©2006 Ricoh Corporation

CONNECTEDTRAVELER S E AT T L E TOP TECH ATTRACTIONS

BEST WIRED HOTELS

Experience Music Project

Grand Hyatt Seattle 721 Pine St. www.grandseattle .hyatt.com The Grand Hyatt Seattle is located in the city’s business district and within walking distance of the Pike Place Market and Washington State Convention and Trade Center. All rooms offer both wireless and highspeed wired Web access (around $10 a day), digital video on demand, and even remote-control blackout drapes, as well as an in-room safe (in which you can both store and charge your laptop).

325 5th Ave. N. www.emplive.org, www.sfhomeworld.org Rock fans will swoon at the obsessively detailed, interactive exhibits at this swooping Gehry-designed museum, especially the gallery dedicated to hometown son Jimi Hendrix. Make your way through the EMP with the Museum Exhibit Guide, a digital gadget that provides audio and text information about whichever exhibits you’re next to.

Hotel Andra

The Microsoft Visitor Center 4420 148th Ave. NE, Redmond, Building 127 www.microsoft.com/ museum At the Center you can explore the software giant’s history (a 30foot timeline shows key events in Microsoft’s 30 years), its current products, and futuristic research on such topics as gesture-based computing. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but call ahead to make sure it’s not privately booked.

Space Needle 400 Broad St. www.spaceneedle.com This Seattle icon was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair and has been giving visitors a breathtaking view of the city ever since. After you’ve ascended and circled the outdoor terrace, head inside to play with interactive touchscreen displays that offer info about the sights you’ve just seen.

WHILE YOU’RE IN TOWN Bordered by Puget Sound, deepblue lakes, and gleaming mountains, Seattle could hardly have a more stunning setting. Downtown is quite walkable (despite a few steep hills); make sure to take in the lively Pike Place Market and its fish tossers. Hop on the Bainbridge Island ferry for a terrific skyline view, then disembark for a tranquil waterside lunch. There’s plenty of nightlife; music, bars, and galleries abound. Try the stylish Pink Door restaurant on Post Alley for great Italian food and (the night I was there, at least) an accordion cabaret act.

FREE WI-FI HOT SPOTS

Ancient Grounds 1220 1st Ave. This peaceful coffee bar and folk-art gallery near the Seattle Art Museum offers free Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets. City Buses Since the beginning of 2005, Seattle bus commuters have enjoyed free wireless Internet access as they ride. Read the Net while you roam! Seattle Public Library, Central Branch 1000 4th Ave. Not only can you hop onto free Wi-Fi at the new public library in the heart of downtown Seattle, you can even buy a cup of coffee there.

FA ST FAC TS Seattle is home to Microsoft and Nintendo of America in nearby Redmond; mobile-phone content provider InfoSpace; and dot-coms Amazon and drugstore.com. Wet Rep Though it’s actually just 44th on the annual rainfall list for the U.S., Seattle boasts three of the six floating bridges in the world. And it has more houseboats than any other American city: Close to 500 reside on Lake Union, Lake Washington, and Portage Bay.

2000 4th Ave. www.hotelandra.com For the trendier traveler, the coolly modernist Hotel Andra is situated in the Belltown neighborhood, with its artsy restaurants, coffeehouses, and galleries. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, and suites feature wall-hung plasmas. Even the elevators have plasma TVs. Wireless Web access is available throughout the hotel ($9.95 a day), and high-speed wired access is available at lobby workstations.

W Seattle 1112 4th Ave. starwoodhotels.com The W Seattle prides itself on providing a peaceful oasis for the traveler, complete with Bliss Spa toiletries. Rooms offer DVD players and 32-inch plasma TVs with Internet access and current movies on demand. You can also borrow DVDs and CDs. Each room has two dualline telephones (one cordless), and Ethernet Web access.

AIRPORT FACTS The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) offers high-speed wireless Internet access (from AT&T) everywhere

(except in the subway and the upper floors of the garage), and it’s even free. I was able to hop onto the network easily from several different locations within the airport. Instead of traditional public phones, Sea-Tac has Internet phones with keyboards; you can e-mail from them for 50 cents per message, or voice-call for a fee that starts at $1.30 for 5 minutes.—Carol Mangis 24 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

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TECHNORIDE

av system The Denso n because is a bargaindard LCD of the stan

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID $26,480 to $30,390 llllh

EPA MILEAGE 40 mpg city, 38 mpg highway. PROS Very good fuel economy. Roomy cabin. Reasonable power. Nearflawless fit and finish. Affordable navigation system. Easy-to-negotiate site.

CONS Some trunk space lost to hybrid batteries. Odd mechanical noises (common to hybrids), some shudder when engine starts (uncommon). Build-your-own site is missing some options. Little personality. BOTTOM LINE A roomy five-passenger hybrid with very good fuel economy. You can learn to live with the minor hybrid drivetrain noises and noticeable engine restarts. Other than that and a lack of personality, this is a near-perfect car.

Eight programmable keys make the new iDrive easier to use

AN INCREDIBLE PACKAGE

W

HY HAS TOYOTA BECOME THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE

automaker? Look no further than the 2007 Camry Hybrid. It’s an incredible combination of fuel economy, roominess, and fit and finish. About all that’s missing is the sense of automotive character found in its competitors and in its sibling, the Prius Hybrid. The Camry Hybrid costs about $2,400 more than a non-hybrid Camry. You get a four-cylinder gas engine, electric motors/generators at the two front wheels, a continuously variable transmission, and a huge NiMH battery pack. The Denso navigation system has more tech features than on past Toyotas and thus is harder to use, but it’s learnable. On our car, it was a bargain: $1,200 for DVD nav plus premium audio and Bluetooth, according to the window sticker. Other tech goodies include a keyless-start fob (standard), a “multi-info” LCD, a line-in jack for music players, six airbags, tire-pressure monitoring, and the ability to attach XM or Sirius satellite radio. There is no sport package for the hybrid; if you want that, go for the V6 gas-engine Camry. And the government tax credit on this car ($2,600) drops 25 percent after September and will fade away within the year. But most drivers should make back their hybrid premiums anyway. So long as you need transportation and not an extension of your ego, the Camry, either hybrid or gas, is hard to beat.—BH

THIRD-GENERATION BMW IDRIVE NEED MORE REVIEW? Check out Bill’s extended analysis of the Camry at go.technoride.com/ camryhybrid

26 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

In November, BMW will debut a new and improved iDrive cockpit controller with the X5 SUV. Focus-group sources report that BMW has sought feedback on a system not unlike Audi’s best-of-breed MMI controller. The result: The new iDrive will have eight keys on the center console stack to assist its four-way controller. You’ll be able to program destinations, numbers, or audio settings into each button, bypassing the iDrive’s previous slide, turn, and press methodology. Yet another version may be in the works with the 2008 replacement of the BMW 7 Series.—BH

B I L L H O WA R D

B

AUTO BLACK-BOX DISCLOSURES IN 2011 IG BROTHER HAS BEEN WATCHING SOME OF US DRIVE

for a decade now. In another couple years, you’ll know if you’re under scrutiny. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered automakers to disclose which of the cars they sell have black boxes, starting with 2011 model-year vehicles. Black boxes, or Event Data Recorders (EDRs), are nothing new. PC Magazine columnist Bill Machrone reported four years ago that black boxes were built into passenger cars as early as 1996. In 2005, two-thirds of GM and Ford cars had black boxes installed. The safety-related reasons are obvious: As younger Americans run out of other things to die from, automobile accidents have become the number-one cause of death for people up through their late 20s. An EDR can capture the seconds before, during, and after a crash and report speed, acceleration, whether brakes were on or off, whether seat belts were worn, and airbag deployment. This would help researchers to understand more about accidents and to design safer cars. As EDRs become more sophisticated, they’ll be able to record not just a few seconds but all data from the previous hour, day, or month. And they could upload the information to you for analysis. EDRs are “good news, bad news” technology. The information could be used to help you in a court case. But if you’re in a collision while doing 74 mph in a 65-mph zone, your EDR data might count against you. Insurers could even use that information to decline to renew your insurance. EDRs are great for monitoring teen drivers but not so great when police who are looking to write more tickets want to plug into your EDR. Luckily for speed fiends, getting a warrant for a car’s EDR isn’t easy. GM’s policy essentially maintains that it won’t use the recorded data unless the cops ask for it, you sue GM, or you sue someone else. Are EDRs infallible? Some people involved in lawsuits say the sensors may get some data, such as vehicle speed, wrong. But the presumption of the police and of juries is that the technology just plain works. Bill Howard is the editor of TechnoRide.com and a contributing editor of PC Magazine.

An EDR can capture the seconds before,

SOLID-OXIDE FUEL CELLS TEST SUCCESSFULLY In August, Franklin Fuel Cell reported a successful test of Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology on 16 different types of fuels, including propane, methane, ethanol, natural gas, and diesel. Franklin’s technology requires no desulfurizing process, which it claims allows for smaller, more efficient, and cheaper cells. The company believes this technology will be the key to a smooth transition from fossil fuels. Since 1999, automakers such as BMW and Delphi Automotive have looked toward SOFC as a promising alternative to combustion engines. The system’s ability to run on many hydrocarbon fuels could help eliminate our dependency on any one kind of fuel in case of a shortage. But SOFC’s high operating temperature makes it impractical to use in a car. Even so, BMW has said it hopes to introduce SOFC systems as auxiliary power units into its automobiles by the next decade.—Errol A.

during, and after a crash.

Pierre-Louis

NEW CHEVY CAMARO FOR 2009 GM Chairman Rick Wagoner announced plans to build an all-new version of the Chevrolet Camaro sport coupe, based on the award-winning concept car showcased at this year’s North American International Auto Show. The company was apparently inspired by the overwhelming response from car enthusiasts to bring the concept into reality. The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept car: a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension and will be offered in a variety of models. Buyers will choose between manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines. The new Camaro will complement Chevy’s already popular portfolio of performance vehicles, led by the Corvette and including its broad SS lineup.—EAP OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 27

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FIRST LOOKS OUR RATINGS KEY: l l l l l EXCELLENT l l l l m VERY GOOD l l l m m GOOD l l m m m FAIR l m m m m POOR

CH-CH-CHANGES RIM’s BlackBerry, the e-mail addict’s constant companion and best friend, sure has changed over the years. But from the looks of things, it’s for the better. Our review has all the details (page 36). Speaking of change, Intel’s introduction of the Core 2 Duo marked a significant speed shift in desktop computing. Now it’s gone mobile. We review Dell’s new laptop on page 31. No category changes more rapidly than software. Inside we cover the latest in music services from MTV and Napster and new ways of making online connections work for you, whether it’s entertainment (There.com) or utility (AllPeers). PC Magazine has seen its share of change this year, but one thing remains consistent: We love technology as much as you do. The 38 products we cover in this edition of First Looks should tell you why.

30 HARDWARE 32 Buying Guide: High-End VistaReady Desktops

36 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

46 Buying Guide: Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras

50 SOFTWARE 63 SMALL BUSINESS 73 THE BEST STUFF

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 29

F I R ST LO O KS HARDWARE

Integrated webcam

Looks like a widescreen TV

PC's in the back!

Clear polycarbonate base

board Wireless key and mouse

Sony VAIO VGC-LS1 $2,099 direct llllm

PROS Compact all-inone form factor. Looks like a widescreen TV. Wireless keyboard and mouse. Dual-core goodness. Vista Premium compatibility. Integrated webcam. CONS No HDMI or composite-video input. Tuner isn’t HDTV. Short, 60-day Internet security subscription. Ugly IR receiver.

SONY VAIO VGC-LS1

NOT AN IMAC, BUT JUST AS PRETTY

I

NTO THE EVER-SHRINKING WORLD OF ALL-IN-

one desktops comes Sony’s latest entry, the Sony VAIO VGC-LS1. Its gorgeous, 19-inch, silver-bezeled WSXGA widescreen “floats” in a clear polycarbonate base, and carvings in the polycarbonate are backlit for the power indicator, drive light, and Wi-Fi lights. The entire PC is built into the screen and comes with an integrated webcam, a built-in TV tuner, and a slot-loading dual-layer DVD burner. Its integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics don’t handle 3D games that well, but the LS1 isn’t meant to be a gaming system. Instead, it's a great multimedia system. With a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 CPU, 2GB of system

30 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

memory, and a 250GB hard drive, the LS1 achieved near tower-PC-level performance on our Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Windows Media tests. Built-in SD card and Memory Stick readers make the LS1 a great base station for your digital life. In my opinion, the LS1 gives the iMac a real run for its money, but it doesn’t go far enough. If only Sony had built the IR receiver into the screen bezel and included HDTV, it would have been a shoo-in for an Editors’ Choice nod. Still, the LS1 is a goodlooking, powerful Media Center PC. If you don't care about HDTV, it will fit right into your bedroom or home office.—Joel Santo Domingo >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/vgcls1

Prints 4by12-inch panoramas HP PHOTOSMART A516

A QUALITY LOW-END PHOTO PRINTER

T

HE PHOTOSMART A516 COMPACT PHOTO PRINTER BRINGS SOME-

thing new to the party: nearly waterproof output. Measuring 4.6 by 8.7 by 4.6 inches (HWD) and weighing 2.6 pounds, this dedicated photo printer can print from most memory cards, PictBridge-enabled cameras, and computers. It lacks a photo kiosk–style menu, but the 1.5-inch LCD and front-panel buttons let you print multiple copies, print multiple photos per page, and choose which photos to print from a memory card. On my tests, it took up to 1 minute 45 seconds to print from a computer, and up to 2:06 to print from a camera or a CompactFlash card. All the photos I printed with the A516 displayed true photo quality—they were easily a match for photos you’d get from a local drugstore or consumer photo lab. Although the photos will show a water stain if you let a drop of water dry on the surface, they didn’t smudge when I held them under running water and rubbed them, even immediately after printing. For now, the water-resistant output is worth the higher price (29.2 cents per photo)—a result of HP’s new ink and paper. The total package offers enough features to earn the A516 an Editors’ Choice for low-cost photo printers.—M. David Stone

1.5-inch LCD screen

>> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/hpa516

DELL XPS M1710 (INTEL CORE 2 DUO)

A WINNING CHOICE FOR GAMERS

O

HP Photosmart A516 $99 direct llllm

PROS True photo quality. LCD for previewing photos. Water-resistant output. Prints panoramas at 4 by 12 inches. CONS The LCD is small by today’s standards. Users can’t adjust the LCD angle for better viewing.

Now has built-in draft-n wireless

UR FAVORITE LAPTOP FOR GAMING, THE DELL XPS

M1710, gets a performance boost with an upgrade to the new 2.33-GHz mobile Intel Core 2 Duo R7600 processor. On SYSmark 2004 SE benchmark tests, this iteration of the laptop shows a 19 percent improvement over the previous M1710 (with its mobile 2.16-GHz Core Duo CPU) on Internet Content Creation and a 5 percent increase on Office Productivity. On the video-encoding tests, its scores improved by more than 20 percent, and the system finished Adobe Photoshop tests in exactly 1 minute—the fastest I’ve seen for any laptop. The combination of the Core 2 Duo CPU and the nVidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics card helped improve the system’s 3DMark 2005 scores (at 1,024-by-768 resolution), too. Its Doom 3 scores leapt 28 percent, and Splinter Cell scores rose 15 percent. Battery life suffered a little—the system ran for just 2 hours 23 minutes—but chances are you’ll be plugged in most of the time anyway. Dell also integrates the as-yet-unratified n-standard wireless. In informal testing, I saw pretty fast transfer rates. The Dell XPS M1710 (Intel Core 2 Duo) continues to shine as the best gaming laptop on the market, retaining its Editors’ Choice.—Cisco Cheng >> Check out our extended Intel mobile Core 2 Duo (codenamed “Merom”) coverage in our next issue. For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/dellm1710

Dell XPS M1710 (Intel Core 2 Duo) $3,789 direct llllh

PROS Outstanding overall performance. Integrated 802.11n wireless. Improved gaming performance. Netgear 802.11n router included with purchase. CONS Lack of range with 802.11n. Cheaper than other Core 2 Duo laptops but still pricey.

2.33-GHz mobDile o Intel Core 2 u e d si in CPU

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 31

F I R ST LO O KS HARDWARE

BUYING GUIDE

High-End Vista-Ready Desktops ides Plain exteriorrehme a Core 2 Extnd 1TB processor a of space

GATEWAY FX510XT

$3,966 direct, $4,240 with 21-inch widescreen monitor llllh

The Gateway FX510XT doesn’t look as flashy as boutique gaming boxes, but when in comes to performance, it’s what’s inside that counts. This gaming/media system boasts an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, a terabyte of hard drive space, and a pair of ATI Radeon X1900 XT graphics cards. The system proves more than ready for Windows Vista Premium, with a built-in TV tuner, 4GB of DDR2-667 SDRAM memory, and space for upgrades. The FX510XT turned in a 501 on my Internet Content Creation test—it’s only the second PC I’ve seen score over 500 points. It scorched my Adobe Photoshop CS2 action set, posting the second-fastest time of any desktop I’ve tested. This monster even runs our gaming tests at 60 frames per second (the benchmark for smooth game play) or faster, including at the highest (2,560-by-1,600) resolution. Of course, these goodies come at a price—but compared with the $6,000 and $7,000 PCs the FX510XT is up against, it’s a relative bargain. With plenty of power inside, most buyers will overlook one of its only drawbacks—a less-than-flashy facade. —Joel Santo Domingo >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/fx510xt

Remote for integrated TV tuner

T

HE HOLIDAY BUYING SEASON

is almost here, and if you’re shopping for a desktop PC this year, here’s one more thing to consider: the 800-pound gorilla that is Microsoft Windows Vista. For the consumer with a high-end machine in mind, that means looking for a system that can handle the best that Vista has to offer. Once Vista is released (in January 2007, according to Microsoft), U.S. customers will have three versions to choose from: Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, and Vista Ultimate. Vista Home Basic will

32 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

be the default for budget PCs, just as Windows XP Home Edition is the current standard. Vista Premium will be the standard for mainstream and Media Center PCs. It features the much-vaunted Aero effects (including translucent windows and Flip 3D), as well as HDTV and DVD authoring, and mobile and tablet interfaces. Vista Ultimate takes the kitchen sink approach, tacking on all the business-related features of Vista Business and Vista Enterprise. It includes such high-end features as a built-in Web server, dual-processor support, remote desktop capability, virtual PC, game performance enhancements, and podcast creation support, as well as special online services and tech-support options.

DAZZLING VISTA-READY DESKTOPS RED denotes Editors' Choice. All prices are direct.

Products are listed from best to worst by rating.

Falcon Northwest Mach V with Core 2 Extreme

llllh

$6,995

SILENT SPEED The Mach V's amazingly fast Core 2 Extreme processor should handle Aero effects with ease. A unique liquid cooling system means it’s quiet, too.

Gateway FX510XT

llllh

$3,966

INNER BEAUTY The FX510XT's plain-Jane exterior hides plenty of Vista Premium– ready power inside.

WinBook Jiv Mini

llllh

$1,200

MINI-ME PC One of the smallest PCs available with a built-in TV tuner, this compact Media Center PC packs plenty of power—and Vista capability—into a slim space.

Sony VAIO VGC-LS1

llllm

$2,099

PICTURE PERFECT An all-in-one MC PC, the LS1 puts a 250GB hard drive, a 1.83-GHz Intel Core Duo, and Vista Premium compatibility behind a pretty, 19-inch widescreen.

Dell XPS 700

lllhm

$3,700

BIG AND FLASHY Its LED-ringed chassis is supersize but sexy—and there are gameready graphics, Vista-compatible components, and space for upgrades inside.

>> For the full Vista-ready desktop reviews: go.pcmag.com/desktops

For a system to earn a “Vista Capable” sticker from Microsoft, all it needs is an 800-MHz processor, 512MB of system memory, and a DirectX 9–capable graphics processor—specs that are common even in “budget” (read: cheap) systems these days. As long as you’re using a system bought within the last few years, Vista Home Basic should run on your current machine. Systems that are Vista Premium-ready carry a longer list of goodies: at least 1GB of system memory, a 1-GHz or faster processor, DX9 graphics capability, Pixel Shader 2.0 at 32 bits per pixel (millions of colors), 128MB of graphics memory, 15GB of free drive space on a 40GB or larger hard drive, DVD-ROM, and an audio-out port. Most if not all high-end gaming systems produced in the last few years, as well as more recent mainstream systems, fall into this category. There’s no “Ultimate” certification program (yet), so you’ll want to look for really high-end features to make it worthwhile. Since Ultimate supports the BitLocker data encryption scheme from Vista Enterprise, you should look for a PC that supports TPM (Trusted Platform Module) security hardware if you plan on encrypting your files to keep them away from prying eyes. If you’re going to use other features—like IIS (Internet Information Services), Ultimate’s builtin Web server—then you should go for a dual-core (or quad-core) system with at least 2GB of system memory and a large hard drive, particularly if you’re going to build your own Web sites and serve multimedia. You can do work from home, accessing your work desktop and vice versa using Ultimate’s Remote Desktop feature, but you’ll need an always-on Internet broadband connection to use this function effectively. If you’re a hard-core gamer, a high-powered enthusiast graphics card (or two) like the ATI Radeon X1950, the nVidia GeForce 7950 GX2, or the upcoming GeForce 8 series will give you a leg up

on the game grid. HDTV tuners will come in handy if you’re looking to build the Ultimate PC to go along with Windows Vista Ultimate. The Gateway FX510XT, our Editors’ Choice, is a good example of a high-end desktop that can handle all that Vista Ultimate has to offer. Keep in mind that, while the system you buy (or even the one you currently own) may not be Vista Premium- or Ultimate-ready, you can bring many recently produced desktops up to speed by adding system memory (an easy process), a new graphics card (somewhat more complex), or more drive space (easy with an external drive, slightly more complex with an internal). The situation is similar to the transition from Windows 98 to XP a few years ago: A good system today with room for upgrades tomorrow will be fine for using Windows Vista.

Falcon Northwest Mach V With Core 2 Extreme, it should easily handle Aero effects.

VISTA-READY, AND THEN SOME The Falcon Northwest Mach V with Core 2 Extreme will certainly

handle Vista in all forms. Our test system came with

ARE YOU READY FOR WINDOWS VISTA? A high-end system will let you take advantage of more of the features in Windows Vista. GOOD

BETTER

BEST

(Vista–capable)

(Premium-ready)

(Ultimate-ready)

Processor

800-MHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

1-GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

Dual-core, 64-bitcapable processor, 1.66 GHz or faster

RAM

512MB

1GB

At least 2GB

Graphics card

DirectX 9 graphics support

DirectX 9 graphics support with a WDDM driver*

DirectX 10 graphics support**

Hard drive space

20GB with 15GB of free space

40GB with 15GB of free space

As much as you can afford

Optical drives

CD-ROM drive (can be external)

DVD-ROM drive (can be external)

Dual-layer DVD burner (can be external)

* 128MB of graphics memory (minimum); Pixel Shader 2.0 at 32 bits per pixel. ** 512MB of graphics memory.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 33

EXPERT VIEW BY JOEL SANTO DOMINGO

O

CAN YOU UPGRADE TO VISTA? NE QUESTION I HEAR A LOT THESE DAYS IS “CAN I UPGRADE

to Vista when the time comes?” Depending on your current setup, you may be able to get your system ready for the brave new world of Vista. Or you may decide that you’re better off just getting a new Vista-ready system instead. Here’s what you need to consider. MEMORY Do you have at least 512MB? One gigabyte of system memory is a more comfortable amount, and 2GB is just about perfect for all iterations of Vista, though you may want 4GB to 8GB if you’re a hardcore gamer or a multimedia maven. GRAPHICS If you have integrated graphics or a DX9-capable graphics card, it is likely that you can use Vista in its basic form, without all the fancy Aero effects. If your graphics card has at least 256MB of dedicated graphics memory, Aero will work fine for you. Users of PCs with PCIe X16 slots will be able to upgrade to the new DX10 graphics cards when they’re available later this year. DX10 will be a Vistaoptimized graphics standard. HARD DRIVE While you can install Vista on any machine that has at least 15GB free, you may want to upgrade to at least 250GB if your current system has less than 80GB. You’ll need the room if you upgrade to any new Vista-optimized programs. PROCESSOR Upgrading a processor is intimidating. If your processor is too slow for Vista (Intel Celeron Via C3, or AMD Sempron processors that are slower than 800 MHz), buy a new PC. CUT AND RUN If your system came with Windows 95, 98, or ME originally, buy a new system—even if you have the wherewithal to upgrade, it will likely be up to only the minimum Vista requirements. If your system came with Windows 2000, it will probably be able to handle the hardware upgrades needed to run Vista Business or Home Basic, but won’t run Vista’s multimedia offerings. If your Windows XP system’s invoice reads 2004 or later, then you should be in good shape for Home Basic and Premium. For those brave souls who plan to upgrade to Vista-ready levels, I salute you. One hint: Wipe your machine’s C: drive and install Vista from scratch rather than upgrading from an existing copy of Windows XP. Just remember to back up your data.

You may decide

you’re better off buying a new Vista-ready system instead.

2GB of system memory and a whopping 300GB of hard drive space for digital photos and video, music, and games. An overclocked Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 processor and dual ATI Radeon graphics cards in a CrossFire configuration should handle Vista’s Aero effects without breaking a sweat. If you want to keep Vista on its own hard drive, adding extra drives to the Mach V’s case is a cinch. RUN VISTA, SAVE SPACE The class leader among mini Media Center PCs, the WinBook Jiv Mini also bears a Vista Capable sticker. One of the smallest 34 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

WinBook Jiv Mini Packs power and Vista capability into a slim space.

PCs available with a built-in TV tuner, it comes with 1GB of system memory, a 100GB hard drive, and a 1.66-GHz dual core Intel Core Duo T2400 processor that makes it perfect for light multimedia duties (like those it will perform as a Media Center PC with DVR capabilities). Since it is a mini PC, there’s no room for internal upgrades, which limits you to the integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics. This setup should be capable of running the Aero effects in Vista Premium, though I’ll be testing GMA950’s performance with Aero once more stable versions of Vista are available. WHAT A DELL! The Dell XPS 700 is a high-powered

gaming system with a case that is certainly unique. I looked at a system built around an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 CPU, which, while not Intel’s top-of-the-line, will certainly get the job done quickly. Dual nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX cards make this a system that will also benefit from Vista Ultimate when the time comes. It’s in some ways a better value than the Mach V, but the Gateway FX510XT wins the bangfor-the-buck battle with its kitchen-sink approach for less money. PRETTY, TO BOOT The attractive Sony VAIO VGCLS1 is a very good all-in-one Media Center. Only a

couple of faults, like its external MCE IR receiver and lack of HDTV inputs, keep it from earning a perfect score. It dons a Vista Capable sticker and should also run Vista Premium, though the system won’t be able to take advantage of some of Premium’s features, like game optimization and HDTV. Two gigabytes of memory, a dual-core Intel Core Duo T2400 processor, a dual-layer DVD burner, and a 250GB SATA hard drive help the LS1 earn its Vista stripes.—JSD

MFC-8460N LASER FLATBED MFC about $399

Compatible with sales, accounting, marketing... and most important, your vision.

Bu

ilt-i

n N et w o rk I n t e r f a

ce

Multi-Function Center® models that are designed with exactly your needs in mind. Business today is about communication. And sometimes a single networked imaging device is not ideal for facilitating that communication.

COLOR LASER MFC SOLUTIONS

NETWORK COLOR MFC SOLUTIONS

That’s why we offer a full range of intelligent Multi-Function Center ® solutions designed to optimize the productivity of any part of your company. More than print, fax, copy, and scan, we have some models with unique features like duplexing, networkability, expandable paper trays, even a security function that enables only specific personnel to access printed documents. All of which makes this one product line with the vision and value to see things your way.

LASER MFC SOLUTIONS

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A VARIETY OF MODELS AVAILABLE AT: Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Fry’s Electronics, Costco, Brandsmart, PC Richard, MicroCenter, BJ’s Wholesale Club, J&R Computer World, CDW, Insight, Techdepot.com, PC Connection, PC Mall, Zones, Quill, PC Nation, TigerDirect.com, Gateway.com, Provantage, Amazon.com, Buy.com, and other fine resellers.

© 2006 Brother International Corporation, Bridgewater, NJ • Brother Industries Ltd., Nagoya, Japan For more information please visit our Web site at www.brother.com

F I R ST LO O KS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Move the cursor with Pearl's glowing trackball

First Blackberry with a built-in camera

oard Hybrid kepybthe e helps ke ll phone sma ick

Just 0.6 inch th

BLACKBERRY PEARL

A BERRY NICE E-MAIL DEVICE

Blackberry Pearl $299; as low as $199 with contract llllm

PROS The first BlackBerry with a camera as well as music and video players. Sharp Sharp screen. Very pretty. CONS Tiny keys. Music and video players lack navigation and good PC sync options.

T

HE PEARL, A DELICIOUS LITTLE MULTI-

media smartphone, just happens to be a BlackBerry as well. Slimmer than a closed RAZR, this is the first Berry with a camera and music/video players. The Pearl looks elegant—black with chrome accents—and slips easily into any pocket. After six years, RIM has ditched the BlackBerry scroll wheel in favor of a glowing trackball set right below the screen. Not only is it well placed for one-handed use, but you can finally move the cursor horizontally without resorting to a key combination. Of course, something had to go to make the Pearl this tiny, and that’s the keypad. The device comes with RIM’s hybrid SureType keyboard, which puts two letters on each key and relies on predictive text to guess what you meant to type. And the keys are really, really small.

36 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

A quad-band world phone, the Pearl has strong reception and sharp, clear audio. The speakerphone is loud enough for indoor and in-car use. The new 1.3-megapixel camera, an MP3/AAC music player, and an MPEG-4 video player are all of startlingly high quality. But RIM’s desktop suite handles multimedia rather clumsily. For example, there’s no easy way to reformat songs, videos, or pictures for optimal playback on the phone. The BlackBerry’s traditional push e-mail features remain very strong, with the ability to merge POP3/IMAP, Yahoo! Mail, and corporate accounts. Web browsing also works well on the phone’s small, bright 240-by-260 screen. As long as you can cope with the small hybrid keyboard, the Pearl is a classier, more powerful alternative to the Sidekick and to other BlackBerry models.—Sascha Segan >> For more in depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/pearl J U M P T O N E X T PA G E >>

DIGITAL FLOW

D

Special Advertising Section

Can’t Wait: Digital Flow and the Content-Driven Business Content

We live in the age of digital content— documents, spreadsheets, images, graphics, video, and any other digital information. Anything that slows the movement of content is slowing down your business. Whether you’re creating, managing, delivering, or preserving information, digital content only succeeds when it can easily move from place-to-place, user-to-user, and application-to-application. Anything that makes it difficult for team members to share, comment upon, and revise their content is a productivity roadblock your company doesn’t need.

800.399.4CDW | CDW.COM/DIGITALFLOW | PCMAGCONNECT.COM/CDW

A CDW Special Report

You’ve got a lot of content. (We’ve got everything you need to manage it better.) Managing a growing amount of content can be time-consuming and frustrating for any business. That’s where the concept of Digital Flow comes in. Digital Flow uses technology to make dealing with your information more efficient—from content creation to content management and storage. CDW is your one-stop resource for Digital Flow. We’ve got the hardware and software products, as well as the expertise to answer your questions and create solutions. So call today and start creating, sharing and working at your very best.

©2006 CDW Corporation

Special Advertising Section

It’s a fact: If content can’t move, neither can your business. —Lisa Jonas Manager, Digital Flow Category, CDW

How does your company create, capture, or acquire content? What is your team or business doing to manage and control the flow of information? How are you archiving and storing this information to assure preservation and make reuse possible? Ultimately, how do you share, deliver, and output your business information and communication assets? Did any of these questions get you thinking about how your business information flows? The questions you’ve just read address the challenges that people and businesses face when dealing with digital information. Each question demonstrates an example of how the creation, flow, and management of information can get bogged down, costing valuable time and wasting profits. Worse, this “information traffic jam” can result in tremendous inefficiency and missed opportunities. If you are spending more time “fighting with content” than creating or using it, or if the access to or movement of content around your business just seems “too slow,” you have a problem with Digital Flow, a term we use here at CDW to describe how information flows in our customers’ organizations. At CDW, Digital Flow is the ongoing process of delivering intelligent solutions that evolve with our customers’ need to manage digital content. For our customers, Digital Flow is the movement of content, in whatever form it takes, and the constant effort to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and remove barriers to using content effectively and securely. CDW has found that many—even most—of our customers suffer these problems to at least some degree. Best case, they are annoyances. Worst case, they can strangle a business’ ability to communicate effectively with customers, partners, or even with itself. Because the problem is so widespread—yet difficult for people to fully understand— CDW has created a Digital Flow team to examine the problems and help our customers and friends find solutions for them. I’m part of this team and this report is part of my work.

PRODUCTS FOR DATA, DOCUMENT, AND DIGITAL MANAGEMENT

3

To be creative, all you need is your mind. (To be productive, a little technology can help.)

Adobe® Studio 8

Adobe® Creative Suite 2 Premium ®

• Includes the latest releases of Dreamweaver , Flash® Professional, Fireworks®, Contribute and FlashPaper • Offers Web designers and developers a new level of expressiveness, efficiency and simplified workflow to create Web sites, interactive experiences and mobile content • Provides easier-than-ever, high-quality video tools – new graphic effects like blends and blurs, performance optimizations, improved user interfaces and integration support for today’s latest technologies ™

™

Upgrade $409.99 CDW 895737 Full version $955.99 CDW 895738

• Combines full versions of Adobe Photoshop® CS2, Adobe Illustrator® CS2, Adobe InDesign® CS2, Adobe GoLive® CS2 and Adobe Acrobat® 7.0 Professional software and includes Version Cue® CS2, Adobe Bridge and Adobe Stock Photos • Delivers the next level of integration in creative software • Includes Adobe Photoshop CS2 for all your professional image-editing needs

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• Digital SLR with Sony DT 18-70mm lens • 10.2 (effective) APC CCD Sensor; 23.6 x 15.8 mm; RGB primary color filter • Bionz Processor LSI with Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO/DRO+) • Memory Stick® Duo/Memory Stick PRO Duo media (via MSAC-MCF1N adaptor); CompactFlash Type I/CompactFlash Type II / media • 30 ~ 1/4000 sec. shutter speed with Bulb ™

™

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The Creative Solutions You Need When You Need Them. Being creative can be difficult. But translating that creativity into something tangible can be even harder. Whether it’s a design idea, a digital photograph or even a video clip, CDW’s Digital Flow solutions can help bring your ideas to life and set the content you need into motion. Content Creation provides creative solutions to make your ideas work with you, not against you. Let the experts at CDW customize a solution for you today, and get those great ideas in your head out into the world around you. CDW is an authorized Adobe® Reseller.

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

Special Advertising Section

The Elements of Digital Flow Digital Flow includes all the content that a business uses. In trying to understand how content flows in our customers’ businesses, we’ve divided the content processes into four distinct groups: • • • •

Create/Capture/Acquire Manage/Control Share/Deliver/Output Archive/Retrieve

Surrounding these four sets of processes is an overriding factor: Security, the lack of which is the ultimate roadblock to Digital Flow. Without security, the very foundation of a business’ content processes, its Digital Flow, are undermined and vulnerable.

Create/Capture/Acquire Digital content is all around us, but where does it come from? And how do we make the process of creating, capturing, and acquiring content as efficient as possible? Answering these questions are important first steps toward an improved Digital Flow. Most people think they know where “content” comes from—they create it themselves. But content can also be captured from other applications, like a database, or acquired from outside sources. Capturing might also include scanned documents and digital photographs, as well as audio and video files. Digital Flow encompasses all of the information paths within a business, as well as the entire lifecycle of that information. Obviously, there are many places where Digital Flow can be slowed or break down entirely. When that happens, people and businesses lose valuable time, money, and opportunities. Many times, an inefficient Digital Flow is so much a part of a business or process that no one recognizes the problem until the problem impacts mission-critical business processes. It is in these painful moments that businesses come to realize that productivity and efficient processes can have a significant impact on the bottom line. A clean, unrestricted Digital Flow begins, well, at the very beginning, where content is created or enters your business. The keys here are improving user efficiency, increasing team effectiveness, and removing roadblocks. Factors that impede Digital Flow include: • Choosing the wrong tool for the job. Sometimes it’s best to use specialized tools, even if a general-purpose tool might also do the job. • Poor user training. Many businesses assume users have somehow figured out the most efficient ways to use their applications. What if everyone could use their core applications 10 percent more efficiently. How much time would that save? • Not having the proper tools. Not everyone needs the highestperformance desktop or notebook computer. Not everyone needs a high-speed wireless connection when they travel. But some workers do. Hampering these people’s productivity to save a few bucks is short-sighted and can actually cost more over the long term.

• Likewise, it can pay to invest in automated systems, including document scanners with automatic document feeders that can speed important company workflows. Would turning your company’s paper documents into electronic documents improve productivity? These are certainly factors to consider, and CDW has tools for the job.

Manage/Control Digital Flow sometimes breaks down because no one is responsible for managing the content or because there’s no easy way for a group to work with it. Here are some of the issues: • Many users have access to collaboration tools, but don’t use them. Why? Because they can be confusing and represent a new way of working with content. • Adobe Acrobat 8.0 Professional and Microsoft Office include powerful collaboration tools. But, they are most effective only if everyone both knows how to use them and puts the technology to regular use. One “non-user” can create havoc in a collaborative workflow. • Many people don’t realize that Adobe Acrobat can be used to create a review process for almost any document type. It can track responses, monitor changes, and allow users of the free Acrobat Reader to fully participate. • The “Track Changes” feature in Microsoft Word allows workers to pass a document around, add comments, make changes, and see what changes have already been made by others. • Content can be managed in FileMaker Pro, an easy-to-use database that allows content to be stored along with the descriptive information necessary to retrieve it.

PRODUCTS FOR DATA, DOCUMENT, AND DIGITAL MANAGEMENT

5

Have any ideas you’d like to share with the group? (We can make it easy.)

Stapler/ stacker (CDW 721946) sold separately

Kingston® DataTraveler Elite - Privacy Edition

HP LaserJet 4345mfp Multifunction Printer

HP Designjet 130nr Printer

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• • • • •

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512MB 1GB 2GB 4GB

$64.99 $99.99 $166.99 $339.99

Printer, copier and color scan to e-mail Print and copy speed: up to 45 ppm Print resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi with HP FastRes 1200 Duty cycle: 200,000 pages per month Parallel and Ethernet ports

CDW 948190 CDW 948193 CDW 969700 CDW 948197

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A PDF file Archive/Store/Retrieve can be used electronically or printed to create an exact duplicate of the original, regardless of the application used Digital Flow’s Swiss Army Knife to create it.

Creating effective content can be expensive, but some of it will be vital to your business. Having a means to safely store and easily retrieve content is important to protecting your investment and allowing your content to be easily found for reuse and reference. • Questys Pro, GlobalTech Archive X, and FileBound Enterprise Content Management: These three applications are designed to preserve, protect, and retrieve your digital content. • Roxio Easy Media Creator 8: This popular program makes it easy to create backups of your important content in either CD or DVD format. • Quantum SuperLoader: Provides a complete backup, recovery, and archive solution in one box. • LaCie EthernetDisk: Provides independent, stand-alone storage accessible to anyone on the network . • Adaptec SnapServer: Network-attached storage for data protection and data availability.

If you could have only one tool for improving Digital Flow, Adobe Acrobat might be that tool. This versatile program was first designed to allow creative professionals, such as graphic designers, to share their work with others who needed to view a file, but didn’t have the program used to create it. Acrobat has since evolved into the preeminent business tool for sharing, collaborating, and distributing virtually any document. Acrobat allows work to be shared between Windows, Mac OS X, and other operating systems. It has also become a standard for publishing paper documents in digital form. Acrobat makes it easy to revise and comment upon digital works, and includes features that enable an efficient digital workflow. Many people think that’s where Acrobat stops, though it’s really just the beginning. Acrobat’s breadth of features addresses the desktop-level needs of virtually any document process. Acrobat also supports the design, creation, and distribution of electronic forms. These can look like their paper counterparts, but are easily filled out and submitted online.

Share/Deliver/Output Putting content to work usually requires the ability to share it with others. The tools you use depend largely on how you plan to present the content to the recipient: • Adobe’s PDF (portable document format) is a powerful tool for creating electronic versions of content that can be shared across different kinds of devices running different operating systems. • A PDF file can be used electronically or printed to create an exact duplicate of the original, regardless of the application used to create it. • Inkjet is the choice for printing the highest quality photographic images and can also be used for business documents, graphics, and other output. • Printers should connect directly to your office network for easy access by all users. • An investment in paper handling accessories, such as duplexers, envelope feeders, and additional paper trays can save money by improving efficiency and allow you to create professionallooking documents.

Document management tools, from the desktop to enterprise systems, can ready and index content created in the Acrobat PDF format, which is increasingly accepted for long-term storage of online documents and copies of paper documents that have been scanned and preserved digitally. Adobe Acrobat files can be created and read by many programs. There are third party vendors that offer a PDF component, but these programs generally lack the functionality and features of the Adobe products. Adobe Acrobat and other products that implement the PDF file format are useful additions to almost any Digital Flow.

Conclusion Effectively managing Digital Flow—how your company creates, manages, shares, and stores its digital content—can make an important contribution to business success. In this report, I’ve offered some of what CDW has learned in helping our customers optimize Digital Flow in their small and medium-sized businesses. CDW has the technology and tools that can improve your company’s Digital Flow. A dedicated account manager is ready to help make the right choices for your business. Call us anytime.

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F I R ST LO O KS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Plays many types of video files, including DivX

Bright 4.3-inch LCD screen ARCHOS 604

A PMP WITH MASS APPEAL

Archos 604 $349.99 direct llllm

PROS Excellent audio quality. Fine video quality. Removable battery. CONS No analog video recording out of the box. Button layout still isn’t optimal.

T

HE ARCHOS 604 IS THE FOLLOW-UP TO

the company’s impressive AV 500 portable media player. The new version has a slightly bigger screen and a different button layout, but it retains many of the features that made me love its predecessor. But one big difference is that you get a lot less this time around. Many of the accessories are now optional extras—including the DVR docking station, which is required for recording video from analog sources.

WI-GEAR IMUFFS MB210

WIRELESS IPOD AUDIO

I

F YOU’RE LOOKING FOR WIRELESS HEAD-

phones for your iPod, the iMuffs MB210 make a compelling choice. An upgrade to the MB200, these headphones deliver a decent wireless audio experience for users of the latest generation of iPod or Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Available in black or white, the headphones support Bluetooth 2.0 and easily connect with Bluetooth-enabled phones. Controls are conveniently placed, and the band fits snugly over the ears. The sound quality is a little better than that of the originals, with less muddiness and more clarity, plus a decent amount of bass. But the MB210 headphones definitely fall short of greatness. On most of my phone calls using the headset, I had no trouble hearing people on the other line. On one call, however, my friend jokingly asked whether I was calling her from the inside of a tunnel. So much for noise canceling. On the whole, the iMuffs MB210 are good alternatives, but not replacements, for your favorite earbuds or headphones. I just wish they didn’t cost $50 more than the previous version, which provided a similar audio experience when paired with older iPods.—Molly K. McLaughlin >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/mb210

The brushed-aluminum body, which is equipped with a kickstand, feels solid and slim. The 4.3-inch, 480- by 272-pixel LCD is brightly backlit and sharp, with a very good viewing angle. I got 4.5 hours of continuous video playback, a good performance for this type of device. If you already have a DVR, you can easily forego the $99 docking station and simply use the Archos 604 as a very competent portable video player that has plenty of nice features. For example, the player comes with a 30GB hard drive and a removable, rechargeable battery. It’s a bit of a shame that the portable DVR functionality is now optional, but ultimately, it may help avoid the sticker shock that has kept many of Archos’s high-end players out of the hands of the masses.—Mike Kobrin >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ archos604

Wi-Gear iMuffs MB210 $179.99 direct lllhm

PROS Wireless dongle fits securely into your iPod and through most cases. Product makes calls with Bluetooth phones. CONS Mediocre audio. Noise-canceling function doesn’t work consistently on phone calls.

Wireless uses adapter tery iPod's bat for power

Shuttle buttons control the iPod remotely OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 45

F I R ST LO O KS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

BUYING GUIDE

Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras Has both glass viewfinder and a 2.5-inch LCD

CANON POWERSHOT S80 $549.95 list llllh

ngle Nice wide-ans le om zo 3.6X

Weighs only 7.9 ounces

T

HIS PAST SUMMER A SLEW OF

companies launched more than three dozen new digital cameras, all in anticipation of the coming holiday season. And although high-priced D-SLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras) certainly made news, most of the new devices were inexpensive point-and-shoot models. Professionalgrade D-SLR cameras with all their fancy features and accessories are simply overkill for the average shutterbug. If you’re looking for a solid, easy-to-use digicam that’s perfect for capturing—and not missing—life’s important events, you’re in luck. Here’s a down-and-dirty laundry list of what you need to know when comparing cameras. First off, know how many megapixels your prospective camera has, since this spec directly affects the size of photograph you’ll be able to print and how much cropping you can expect to do. If you’re

46 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

Sure it’s a bit of a splurge, but the Canon PowerShot S80 is without a doubt the best, most full-featured compact I’ve ever used. Though the device weighs just 7.9 ounces, it comes loaded with features. For example, I love the 3.6X zoom lens. And it has a wide-angle, 28mm view that’s perfect for capturing large slices of an interior or outdoor landscape. There’s a beautiful 2.5-inch screen for framing shots, and the camera’s sensitive 8-megapixel sensor captures excellent images. I’m also impressed by the S80’s smooth and clear video quality. As versatile point-and-shoot cameras go, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better.—Terry Sullivan >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/s80

a first-time buyer and are interested only in printing relatively small, 4-by-6 or 5-by-7 snapshots, I suggest a 6-megapixel, entry-level digital camera. Cameras ranging from 6 to 10 megapixels provide enough resolution for 8-by-10 and 11-by-14 prints. For those who also view their camera as a fashion accessory and plan to tote it along everywhere, many models are extremely compact, some less than an inch thick. The Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital Elph, for example, slips easily into the pocket of your jeans but comes with a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Still, you’ll definitely give up some features on tiny cameras like these, such as manual settings and articulating LCDs screens. You should keep in mind that the smaller the device, the smaller its buttons tend to be. Be sure to feel a camera’s dials and buttons to see if they’re too small, too big, or just right for your fingers. Definitely take into account the camera’s zoom. Most point-and-shoot digital cameras give you at least 3X optical zoom, but a number do have 5X, 6X,

POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERAS IN REVIEW RED denotes Editors' Choice. * Optical zoom lens. Products are listed from best to worst by rating.

Canon PowerShot S80

llllm

$549.95 list

8MP

3.6X*

THE BEST Although it's a bit expensive, this solid, compact camera takes excellent photos and is packed with nice features.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital Elph

llllm

$449.95 list

7.1MP

3X*

VERSATILE Fun and ultrasmall, the Elph performed very well on our tests. It will appeal to a broad section of shooters.

Fuji FinePix E900

llllm

$500.00 street

9MP

4X*

FOR ENTHUSIASTS With its high megapixel count and sophisticated imaging system, this compact camera will please many enthusiasts.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1

llllm

$499.95 list

8.1MP

3X*

NICE VIEW A unique ultracompact that combines good shooting and photo viewing, all wrapped up in a stylish design.

Fuji FinePix V10

lllhm

$349.00 list

5.1MP

3.4X*

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! The V10 takes very good photos, offers advanced shooting features, and even includes four games.

HP Photosmart R927

lllhm

$399.99 list

8.2MP

3X*

SHAPE UP Versatile and affordable, the R927 has a myriad of features, from capture options and shooting modes to an unusual Slimming Effect.

Kodak EasyShare V570

lllhm

$349.95 direct

5MP

5X*

WIDE ANGLE For those who want to capture unusual views of the world, the V570 is compact yet has both a zoom and a wide-angle lens.

Casio Exilim EX-Z850

lllmm

$399.99 list

8.1MP

3X*

SLIM BUT SO-SO Small, sleek, and silver, this ultracompact takes pretty good pictures—but we expected sharper images.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1

lllmm

$599.95 direct

8.4MP

4X*

ALMOST PRO Good for those who want something smaller than a DSLR, with lots of pro features and controls. But images are noisy.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5

lllmm

$279.95 list

6MP

6X*

STEADY SHOT Image stabilization works well, but this camera's performance falls a bit short in other respects.

Kodak EasyShare C533

lllmm

$179.95 list

5MP

3X*

BUDGET BUY A decent choice for budget shoppers looking for an easyto-use compact camera that snaps reasonably good pictures.

Sony Cyber-shot W100

lllmm

$349.95 direct

8.1MP

3X*

LIGHTS OUT Though it takes sharp pics, this ultracompact doesn't quite live up to the promise of its low-light features.

Samsung Digimax L85

lhmmm

$400.00 street

8.1MP

5X*

STAY AWAY Not quite as bad as last year’s Digimax, but pretty close. It takes images that aren't sharp and suffers from major shutter lag.

>> For more camera reviews online: go.pcmag.com/digitalcameras

or 7X optical zoom lenses. (Many may advertise digital zooms as well, but keep in mind that using a digital zoom degrades your image quality.) Note the aperture range, too, and see how low the telephoto end of the zoom range is: The lower the number, say f/4 or f/3.5 (which indicates a more open aperture, even at full zoom), the better the lens will perform in low light. ANGLES, FLASHES, AND FORMATS Also consider the camera’s wide-angle capabilities. Some models give you a much wider view than the standard 35mm-to-40mm (35mm equivalent) view. For example, the dual-lens ultracompact Kodak EasyShare V570 and its successor, the EasyShare V705, both have a 23mm lens, one of the widest on the market. Nearly every point-and-shoot comes with a flash. Find out how versatile it is. For example, you may want to try using the slow-sync mode in certain situations. Slow sync lets you avoid the “blackcurtain effect,” in which your subject is exposed correctly but the entire background is completely lost in black. A camera with a slow-sync mode leaves the shutter open after the flash is fired to get better exposure for the background. Not all cam-

eras have this, but high-end models such as the Canon PowerShot S80 do. Before you buy, check out the list of supported file formats. The great majority of point-and-shoot cameras support only the highly compressed JPEG image format. However, some higher-end pointand-shoots, such as the Fuji FinePix E900, offer RAW modes. What’s the difference? In short, when shooting JPEGs, you’re letting your digital camera choose what kind of sharpening, color settings, and other settings, such as white balance, to apply to the photo. With RAW images, you’re seizing control, and it’s assumed that you’ll be applying these settings in a final image-editing phase. Of course, the downside to working with RAW files is that they’re large and take up lots of memory. In most cases, it’s best to shoot in the highest quality JPEG mode on your digital camera. I’ve found that the default mode is generally the secondhighest setting and/or compression rate. SPECIAL FEATURES Then there are specialized

features that you might find useful at times. The Kodak EasyShare V705 and EasyShare V570 have a

Fuji FinePix E900 Compact, but will satisfy even pro users.

Sony Cyber-shot DSCN1 This 8-megapixel shooter is also stylish.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 47

EXPERT VIEW B Y T E R RY S U L L I VA N

M

PHOTO MANAGEMENT: YOU NEED A PLAN Y WIFE OFTEN ASKS ME IF I’VE PRINTED ANY OF

the hundreds of images that I take each month. My response is always the same: “I’m working on it.” Part of the reason for my digital picture backlog is that I’m reluctant to print anything unless I’ve noodled around with it in Photoshop first. But in truth, what I really need to improve is my workflow—or, to put it more precisely, my “picture management process.” No matter what you call it, you must have a system for handling images or your pictures will go nowhere fast. PICK A FORMAT Most people usually end up printing small, 4- by 6-inch snapshots and maybe sharing a few pictures on the Web. To do this, you can shoot in the default JPEG format of most cameras. But if you want larger, fine-artstyle prints, I recommend taking pictures at the maximum possible quality setting, or even in RAW format, which allows for higher-quality image files. GET THEM OFF THE CAMERA Once you’ve captured pictures you’re satisfied with, you need to move them over to the PC. One way is to hook up the camera directly (via USB cords) to your computer. More convenient is to remove the camera’s memory card and transfer the images using a memory card reader. BACK THEM UP Once the images are on your system, be sure to back them up. I suggest making copies of untouched, original image files, perhaps by dumping them onto an additional hard drive or burning the files onto a DVD or CD. EDIT FOR BEST QUALITY Virtually all image-editing software products let you crop, rotate, adjust, and manipulate your shots for best printing results. Check out color-management tools as well to ensure that your computer monitor is displaying your images correctly. PRINTING IS OPTIONAL If you want to print in the comfort of your home, an inexpensive photo printer will do the trick. A machine like this is fine for printing the occasional snapshot, but because you have to supply your own ink and paper, costs can quickly add up. SHARE ONLINE Instead of printing, consider using a photo-sharing site such as the Kodak Gallery (www.kodakgallery.com) or Phanfare (www.phanfare .com). You can also order prints directly from these sites. That means your distant relatives—or even your wife—can print your photos themselves. Terry Sullivan is PC Magazine’s digital camera expert.

You must have a

The V570 packse both wide-angl and zoom lenses

Kodak EasyShareV570 Two lenses are better than one.

system for handling images, or they will go nowhere fast

panorama mode that stitches three photos together, right in the camera. A number of Fuji cameras, including the Fuji FinePix V10, quickly snap two shots—one with and one without flash—letting you decide which image best captures the moment. Or how about taking the Olympus Stylus 720 SW right into the pool with you? This camera is waterproof up to 10 feet, so you can take both photos and video, with sound, under water. 48 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

A big point-and-shoot bonus that’s lacking in DSLRs is the ability to shoot video clips. The quality of these movies varies tremendously, however, from one camera to the next. At the moment, the best devices, including the FinePix E900, shoot video clips in VGA-size (640-by-480) at a rate of 30 frames per second with sound. For an even greater level of control over your images, check whether you can set the exposure— through the shutter speed and aperture—manually. Also, some point-and-shoots, like the Nikon Coolpix S6, now offer wireless options. It’s tricky to set up, but the S6 features an integrated Wi-Fi radio for transferring picture files over to your computer. Others, like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1, offer non-telescoping zooms and image stabilization. In addition, camera companies are now increasing image sensor sensitivity (which you set in the ISO settings of the camera), allowing you to shoot in low-light situations without using a flash. In the past, high ISOs often increased image noise (usually evident as tiny colored dots). Newer cameras are better at controlling image noise at higher ISOs. Accessories are important, so see if your camera can handle them. For example, some small cameras come with a tripod socket for attaching a tripod. No single camera can be perfect for every occasion. But with unparalleled ease of use and superior image quality, the point-and-shoots listed here come pretty darn close. Be sure to choose carefully before you buy, though I’m confident you’ll find these models quite compelling—TS

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F I R ST LO O KS SOF TWARE

Our reviewer subscribed, but to take a test drive, you don't even have to sign in

Legit albums. The RIAA won't bust down your door

Napster 2.0 Limited version, free; unlimited downloads, $9.95 monthly; with To Go option, $14.95 llllm

PROS Three free plays of every song in the Napster library. No software or registration required. Cut-and-paste Web link for songs. Dozens of prefab playlists you can stream instantly. CONS Low-quality streaming for nonsubscribers. No videos or radio stations. A few tracks play only 30 seconds for nonsubscribers.

NAPSTER 2.0

FREE—AND THIS TIME, LEGAL—NAPSTER TUNES

N

APSTER’S FREE AGAIN—SORT OF. NO,

you can’t swap MP3s with strangers— that ship sailed in 2003. But from any Web browser, with no client software and no purchase, Napster 2.0 lets you stream complete songs, free. Well, three times each. Still, you get access to over two million tracks. Napster is basically a subscription service, though. You pay $9.95 per month for unlimited streaming and downloads to your PC, and for $5 more you can add To Go, which lets you copy downloads to portable players. For downloading and ripping CDs, you need Napster’s client. Even if you don’t subscribe, however, Napster 2.0 deserves bookmarking. It requires no sign-in, sign-up, or plug-in installation (which Rhapsody requires). Still, there are catches. The biggest: 32-Kbps bit rate for

50 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

free songs. They sound better than expected, but it’s still AM-radio league. To hear tunes a fourth time, you’ll have to buy them for 99 cents or subscribe. Napster’s pop-up player works very well in Internet Explorer and Firefox, and has good features. I also like Napster’s innovations, such as the oneclick mail-this-song-to-a-friend option. Don’t look for music videos or radio stations (Rhapsody has both), and the once-promising wiki-like Narchive community feature is AWOL—at least for now. But neither that unfortunate loss nor the anemic bit rate for free songs diminished my enjoyment of the site’s musical feast. I expect that many past subscribers will strongly consider rejoining Napster. I know I did.—Rick Broida >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ napster20

Not easy to sift through playlists MTV URGE (BETA)

ONE HIP MUSICAL MESS

M

TV’S NEW MUSIC SUBSCRIPTION

service, Urge, debuted alongside Windows Media Player 11—or rather, inside WMP 11; the service is fully integrated into Microsoft’s latest player. While there’s debate about whether that gives MTV an unfair advantage, I’m more interested in judging Urge on its own merits. It’s a solid—but confusing—addition to a crowded space. Unlimited streaming and downloads (128 Kbps and 192 Kbps, respectively) cost $9.99 per month. With All Access to Go, which lets you copy tunes to two PlaysForSure-compatible portable players, you pay $14.99 total. Single tracks cost 99 cents to purchase permanently, whether or not you subscribe. The home page hits you with a messy onslaught of new releases, song and album lists, and more. Intuition won’t take you far at this portal—Napster and Rhapsody do instant gratification way better. Still, a simple side-pane nav tree gives one-click access to playlists, 130-plus radio stations, and categories. WMP’s killer search can be slow, but the depth of offerings makes the wait worthwhile.

Genre-specific “super” playlists update regularly and can sync to your portable player. Sifting through playlists can be a chore, though. And while I had no trouble downloading tracks and syncing them with a Creative Zen Vision:M, I couldn't track download progress—a major annoyance. For discovering new music, Urge stomps iTunes, despite lacking a few of the leader’s key staples—podcasts and videos. MTV has both in the works, it says. In the meantime, give MTV Urge a look, especially since you can get the full service free for 14 days—RB >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ urgebeta

lllhm

PROS Seamless integration with Media Player 11. Tons of programmed content. Great for finding new music. Works easily with portables. CONS Busy, convoluted interface. Slow, buggy. Poor playlist organization. No podcasts or videos (yet).

Just one of many features for discovering new artists

eMUSIC

TAKE BACK THE MUSIC

U

MTV URGE (BETA) $9.99 monthly; $14.99 monthly with To Go option

NRESTRICTED. 192 KBPS. VARIABLE-BIT-

rate MP3s. A two-week trial (credit card required) with 25 free downloads, no strings attached. That’s why I’m ears-over-heels for the eMusic online service. You lose unused monthly allotments, but download your quota and you pay 25 cents or less per track. And you keep your songs if you cancel— not so with services such as Napster To Go. There’s a hitch, of course: You can’t buy tunes à la carte, and to get more songs than your subscription includes, you have to buy “booster packs”— ten extra downloads for $4.99, for example. Fortunately, these don’t expire as long as you’re a paying subscriber. The six-year-old service holds more than 1.5 million tracks—most from lesser-knowns, but there’s plenty of mainstream goodness, although not really big names. Still, half the fun is discovering new artists. And eMusic has plenty of features to help you

eMUSIC 40 downloads, $9.99 monthly; 65, $14.99; 90, $19.99 llllm

search, such as the very cool PowerCharts, which lets you find music based on over 100 criteria. Navigation is simple, as is fetching songs. My one gripe: There’s no player for the 30-second song snippets; the service launches your audio player instead. But all in all, eMusic should be your first stop if you have a penchant for new music and a distaste for DRM.—RB

PROS Unprotected MP3s for 25 cents apiece or less; 1.5 million tracks; attractive, easyto-navigate store. CONS Requires subscription. Light on mainstream artists.

>> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ emusic OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 51

F I R ST LO O KS SOF TWARE

ALLPEERS (BETA)

BIG TRANSFER? NO SWEAT

AllPeers (beta) Free lllmm

PROS A quick and easy way to send large files from machine to machine. SSL-protected transfers. CONS Works only with Firefox. Sender or intermediary must be online for receiver to get a file.

A

boxes. You can send off-line recipients a notice that the file is on offer. Once online with the app open, your intended recipient can download the file—provided that you or others you’ve sent the same file to are online. SSL encryption protects transfers. AllPeers plans to make the software browseragnostic, and I expect performance to improve. But even now, the service does what it promises with little fuss.—Cade Metz

LLPEERS HOPES TO EASE THE PAIN OF

sending large files over the Internet by leveraging the power of peer-to-peer networking. Simply drag a file to your browser window and this new service copies the contents to another AllPeers user’s system—for free. The app works only with Firefox, however, and performance was spotty when I tested it. Still, this beta shows promise. I had set-up problems, and the service went down several times during testing, but when AllPeers worked, the speed was acceptable. A customized version of BitTorrent drives the utility, so if you send a file to several people, others can help send it once they receive parts of the file. Using the app is easy. After keying in e-mail addresses or AllPeer usernames to create a contact list, you can choose a name and send files via drag-and-drop or dialog

>> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ allpeersbeta

Minimal interface doesn’t clutter the browser

Hopscotch Technology BOB $100 street llhmm

PROS Simple to set up and use. Works on nearly any AC-powered device. Doesn’t conflict with software. Supports six users. CONS Not so effective for managing multiple devices. Easily defeated as a PC controller. Limited reporting. Time limits not as granular as with PC Moderator.

Cord of the controlled device locks into the compartment underneath

HOPSCOTCH TECHNOLOGY BOB

PARENTAL CONTROL—SORT OF

T

HE INEXPLICABLY NAMED BOB LIMITS THE USE OF ANY

device that plugs into an AC outlet—unlike the similar PC Moderator, which works on desktop PCs only. While I’d recommend BOB for controlling single TVs, it’s less useful in a multiple-TV home, and it’s easily defeated when used to limit access to a PC. BOB can manage time on a daily or weekly basis. The plug of a device you want to manage locks into BOB, which you then plug into an outlet. Using a number pad, you create up to six users, giving each a unique PIN. To turn on a managed device, users must enter the correct PIN. With several kids, TV sets, or both, management is a problem. With one TV, if the kids agree to watch the same programs, they can combine their time, each logging in as another’s time ends. BOBs don’t network, though, so you can’t set a per-child limit on multiple electronics. To limit computer usage, connect the cord of the monitor, not the PC to BOB (suddenly cutting PC power is a bad idea). Unfortunately, most monitors (and PCs) have removable power cords. Plugging in a new cord easily bypasses BOB. Not so with PC Moderator, which also offers more extensive reports and more granular time management. BOB is reasonably priced, simple to set up, and easy to use, but if you want the best, I still recommend PC Moderator.—Ben Z. Gottesman >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/hopscotchbob

52 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

J U M P T O N E X T PA G E >>

Sony recommends Windows® XP Professional.

How did we fit so much performance into such a sleek package? Beautifully.

Sony® VAIO® SZ. Your ideas have never looked so good. Its exceptional battery life1, lightweight design, and built-in wireless WAN2 means uncompromised performance and mobility. Powered by Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology, the SZ bridges the gap between style and performance. sony.com/vaio-sz 1 Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns and environmental conditions.2 Subscription to Cingular Wireless required. See www.sony.com/cingular for complete offer details, price plans, service terms and conditions, and coverage map. Call 1-888-739-VAIO (8246) for service activation. Coverage is not available in all areas and is subject to transmission and other limitations. Display image simulated. ©2006 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Sony, Sony logo, VAIO, VAIO logo and like.no.other are trademarks of Sony. Intel, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Intel Centrino, the Intel Centrino logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Cingular Wireless is a registered trademark of Cingular Wireless LLC 2006. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

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the backbone of business

The SMB market is the backbone of business: nearly 99 percent of all companies are small to mid-sized. The sheer numbers – by some estimates more than 40 million in the United States – make it a crowded and competitive sector. The best and brightest keep their market edge by using their small size, speed, and mobility to their advantage, and by doing business whenever and wherever possible. The technology behind these businesses has to be strong and flexible in order to keep up with the unpredictable nature of mobile business. The right choice in portable, professional computers must be small and light to make a roadworthy companion, but portability shouldn’t mean sacrificing power. Small businesses need all the power of a desktop in a size slim enough for a briefcase or back pocket. Professional notebooks must also easily network and collaborate with other mobile users, while keeping sensitive data safe. And they must be as flexible as their users, many of whose PC demands change daily. In other words, mobile business computers need to serve up the power of a world-class business in a design slim enough for a podium, café bar, or boardroom table. To answer the needs of the small-business market, Sony presents a VAIO® fleet of four distinct mobile computers that can each accomplish top-tier performance for years to come. The BX, TX, UX and SZ Series VAIO computers deliver the kind of industrial power and security one would expect from mobile workhorses, while impressing audiences with smartly-engineered features in a slim, stylish design.

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Sony has tuned their VAIO® computers to the particular demands of the SMB market. The VAIO computer addresses the chief concerns of small business computing, delivering powerful, portable, mobile, secure, and widely compatible computer systems, with a sleek style and inventive design features that make a lasting impression. POWER: Computers deployed into a mobile workforce have to be powerful enough for the most resource-draining demands. VAIO computers offer best-of-breed power, with features that boost chipset and graphics performance, whether running presentations, teleconferencing 8 with the office, or enjoying rich multimedia entertainment during down times. Multitasking becomes easier as well, thanks to Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors, designed specifically for running parallel processes on notebook computers. With two execution cores on a single chip, the processors can boost performance while using less power. On the ultra-portable UX Micro PC, a Core Solo processor powers Windows® XP Professional and other PC applications on a machine that can fit in a pocket. In addition to processors, other VAIO computer’s features are powerful too. The hybrid graphics card available on SZ Series models can, with the flip of a switch, change from a powerful but economizing internal graphics processor to an unreserved and robust external processor that answers high-performance needs. PORTABILITY: In spite of their power, VAIO computers are highly portable computers defined by their slim dimensions and travel-conscious features. All of the computers are built with maximum efficiency in mind. The highly portable TX Series notebook, for example, weighs 2.76 lbs1, carries an 11.1" display2, and lasts up to 7.5 hours3 with a standard battery charge. Portability is part of the overall design approach for Sony VAIO computers, but is perhaps best exhibited by the UX Micro PC . These fully functional computers, running Windows XP Professional, feature smartly designed 64-key keyboards and stylus devices that slide out from underneath a 4.5" screen2. Portability also means having convenient features for on-the-go productivity.

To make for easier viewing in unpredictable conditions on the road, VAIO business computers make use of LCD XBRITE™ and XBRITE-ECO™ technology – the latest in glare-reducing screen technology – that cuts down on reflections while preserving crisp and clear colors in direct light. As another example, the BX Series computer comes with a swappable bay, which keeps the computers slim while allowing the greatest degree of flexibility in configuration: users can add a DVD double layer burner 4, an extra 80GB5 hard drive, or other peripherals when they’re needed. And all of these units can be shared among the office. MOBILITY: In today’s business world, ultimate portability means getting work done from anywhere. For mobile professionals, being productive means having the Internet on demand. Sony VAIO computers provide many options for peak performance on the road and away from the office. The entire Sony lineup comes ready for wireless networking6 with 802.11 compatibility in every computer.

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But sometimes, the most mobile workers need more. Thanks to the built-in WAN capabilities on a select number of VAIO computers, there’s no need to track down hotspots before getting down to business. The TX Series notebooks come wired for compatibility with the Cingular Wireless Broadband Network. VAIO computers also assist mobile workers by helping them achieve state-of-the-art communications abilities from anywhere. Builtin .3 mega pixel cameras included in the UX Micro PC and optional Bluetooth®9 headsets allow mobile professionals to keep in touch with their business, no matter where it takes them. SECURITY: Securing personal information and confidential data becomes even more important when taking computers on the road. Small and mid-sized businesses in particular struggle with mobile security demands, as they lack the deep reserves of IT support available to larger companies. With these SMB needs in mind, Sony designed their VAIO computers with ample built-in security features to help assure user protection while making the systems easy to manage, lessening the demands on administrators.

There is a VAIO computer for every brand of business user, from the ultramobile, always-connected road warrior to the high-end user looking for top processing power in a slim, convenient design. Sony VAIO computer complement individuals’ needs and work styles, assuring that there’s a computer to fit every personality and style. TX Series Truly mobile professionals get their job done anywhere. For those who want to make an impression wherever they roam, the TX Series notebook redefines the look of premium mobility with a sophisticated and smart style. These notebooks are highly portable, weighing 2.76 lbs1, and standing as little as .83 inches thin, with a 11.1" widescreen LCD display2 (measured at its widest point). The notebooks come encased in carbon-fiber shells that are more often the stuff of jet planes and race cars; they are lighter and stronger than typical magnesium alloy casings, and stand out with a distinctive look. The TX stands apart in size and performance. Packed in its small shell, the TX comes with an ample 80 GB5 of hard disk space and is powered by a ultra low voltage Pentium® M processor or Core Solo Ultra Low Voltage Processor that economizes energy. As a result, the notebook can last between four and seven-and-a-half hours with a standard battery charge3, which keeps train and plane commutes productive, even without an outlet. They are also highly connected devices. Besides integrated 802.11 wireless LAN6 and Bluetooth9 connectivity, the TX notebook comes equipped for the Cingular Wireless Broadband Network, granting uninterrupted Internet access across thousands of miles in the U.S. Thanks to Sony SmartWi™ technology, which allows for hassle-free toggling between the three wireless protocols, users can maintain maximum productivity and convenience wherever they roam.

SZ Series

Many of the VAIO® computers come with integrated biometric security systems – fingerprint sensors that provide a simple solution to data protection, while saving resources at small companies who don’t want to spend extra time and effort on password management. The biometric system does the work of remembering other logins, like those to secure Web sites, so protection doesn’t always mean having to memorize passwords. Sony’s Trusted Platform Mobile security chip is another VAIO Professional feature that helps secure company data from thievery. Compatible with TCG Version 1.2b, which assures trusted

For some frequent business travelers, notebook performance is more important than portability. Answering the mobile needs of these demanding highperformance users, SZ Series notebooks can offer the best of both worlds without compromise. The SZ notebook comes as light as 3.7 lbs1 with standard battery. Thanks to a well-thought-out design, despite its small size, the machine is a powerful performer. The SZ notebook is highly configurable and comes loaded with up to 2 GB of RAM, 160 GB5 of hard disk space, and a double layer DVD burner4 that packs up to 8.5 GB of data onto a single disk for easy archiving. The new SZ, with its Intel Core 2 Duo processor, manages parallel executions of memory-intensive programs and features dual graphic chips for the ultimate in visual preference: just flip a switch to choose between a powerful and resource-minded internal processor and a

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computing between devices and platforms, the chip is built onto the computer motherboard and enables cryptographic data to be safely generated and encoded onto an entire computer volume, helping keep confidential data in company hands.

networks, select models of Sony VAIO computers use SmartWi™ technology to manage the three wireless technologies – WAN7, LAN6 and Bluetooth®9—with the press of two keys (this feature is only applicable for systems that include WWAN).

The BX Series and SZ Series of VAIO computers also come with hard disk password protection, a serious security feature that places password protections directly onto hard drives, to protect sensitive content even if a drive is remounted on another computer.

Expansion and compatibility are two more points where VAIO computers shine. The optional multi-bay on BX Series computers, for example, allows swapping of powerful, optional devices like DVD/RW drives4 and hard drives between users, while the highly portable UX Micro PC uses a port replicator.

Data theft isn’t the only concern for mobile professionals. Security also means protecting vulnerable data from drops, dents, and dings. In response, many Sony VAIO BX notebooks come with hard drive shock protection, a special provision intended to reduce the risk of data loss from hard drive collisions. Equipped notebooks employ a 3D acceleration sensor which detects sudden movements like a hit or topple, and quickly locks the hard drive head to prevent it from colliding into the hard disk. COMPATIBILITY: Mobile workers may often work alone, but that doesn’t mean their notebooks should have to. In fact, assuring compatibility over networks and between peripherals becomes even more important when traveling between different workplaces.

The SZ notebooks all support ExpressCard™ technology, which allows special add-on modules for extra memory, wireless devices, or multicard readers at throughput speeds much faster than standard PC cards. The notebooks also accept Memory Stick® storage media, for data from compatible digital cameras, audio players and cell phones. Also on the SZ, TX, and BX Series, Sony has made connecting the PC to projectors and other displays simple. A smart display sensor automatically calibrates the machine to configure video settings and resolutions for the connected display, to launch presentations without a worry.

Sony’s VAIO computers work with networks of handfuls or hundreds.

STYLE: Computers become a reflection of their owners, especially when they become inseparable traveling companions. To make the right impression, notebooks should look good, too.

To ensure the mobile devices mesh with wireless

The Sony VAIO computers are slim but powerful devices

1 Weights and measurements are approximate and may vary. 2 Screen size measured diagonally.

8 A broadband connection is required along with third party services which may require a subscription fee and other service fees. 9 Ability to use this Bluetooth enabled product with other devices may vary as not all Bluetooth

3 Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns battery and environmental conditions. 4 DVD Media/Formats are not universally compatible. 5 GB means one billion bytes when referring to hard drive capacity. Accessible capacity may vary. A portion of hard disk space is reserved as a recovery partition. 6 Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services which may require a fee. 7 See www.sonystyle.com/cingular for complete offer details, price plans, service terms and conditions and coverage map. Call 1-888-739-VAIO (8246) for service activation.

devices are compatible. 10 Not all Windows Vista features are available for use on all Windows Vista Capable PCs. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run the core experiences of Windows Vista, such as innovations in organizing and finding information, security and reliability. Some features available in premium editions of Windows Vista—like the new Windows Aero™ user interface—require advanced or additional hardware. Upgrades to Windows Vista may require additional fees. Check www.windowsvista.com/getready for details.

© 2006 Sony Electronics Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Sony and VAIO are registered trademarks of Sony. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Intel, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Intel Centrino, Intel Centrino logo are trademarks of registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Cingular Wireless is a registered trademark of Cingular Wireless LLC 2006. Third party marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of the applicable owner there.

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high-performance external chip with even greater graphics power. The visual results on the SZ are outstanding, thanks to the 13.3"1 widescreen LCD with layered-on XBRITE technology, which improves visibility and reduces glare. A luxury version, the SZ Premium, adds even more style and choice. The machine features a carbon-fiber case and a LED backlight that portrays brighter, true-to-life colors without reducing battery life.

UX Micro PC Those who are on the cutting-edge of the mobile market and spend more time on the go than at their desks need a compact productivity tool that provides the ultimate in portability and communication.

with a distinctive style all their own, allowing business users to handle work in their own unique way. They reflect a certain kind of sophistication and intuitive design that makes a smart statement, with thoughtful design packaged in sleek, modern casings. TX Series notebooks show a flair for contemporary design with smooth lines and compact features. The 11.1" WXGA screen2 with XBRITE™ Technology makes for a small and attractive footprint, while the 2.76-lb1 case is a slim companion for mobile computing. Some notebooks, like the TX Series, come with carbon-fiber shells that are more durable than the magnesium alloys predominant in the market and show off a unique textured look while offering greater protection against the elements. Other models show off thoughtful design in their small packaging. On the highly portable UX device, a touchscreen slides upwards to reveal a 64-key QWERTY keyboard, while two cameras are encased into the unit, one for taking photos, the other for videoconferencing8 . LONGEVITY: IT managers know how expensive it is to deploy a mobile fleet of computers, and small and midsized businesses don’t have a lot of extra resources to invest in systems that don’t last. Sony products have more than a one-year life cycle. With bestof-breed performance and ability for expansion, the computers will scale with small businesses’ needs, affording ultimate mobile productivity and performance for years to come. For more information visit www.sony.com/business

UX Micro PC’s are tailor-made for the ultramobile set – they weigh 1.1 lbs1 and boast a SVGA screen only 4.5" wide2. And yet, they are powerful, fully functioning PC devices in their own right. With Intel Core Solo ultra low voltage 10 CPUs, UX Micro PC’s are capable of running Windows Vista™ and familiar office applications, allowing users to seamlessly integrate the highly portable computers into existing PC configurations. Smart and sleek industrial design makes interacting with the UX an easy task. A 64-key integrated QWERTY keyboard slides out from behind the screen for traditional input, while a stylus, touchscreen, control buttons, and rotating screen orientation allow the UX to be configured however users choose, for communication at a moment’s notice. An integrated fingerprint sensor adds an additional layer of security to protect sensitive data. The computers are set for next-generation wireless communications, thanks to a built-in camera, microphone and wide area networking through the Cingular EDGE network7.

BX Series Built for a workforce of a handful or hundreds, the BX Series notebooks represent the ultimate in VAIO PC configuration and adaptability, and can equip teams of any size or need. BX notebooks come with Intel Core 2 Duo in an array of sizes (14", 15.4" and 17" wide2), for individual choice in mobility and productivity. The BX notebooks take a modular approach to computing by incorporating Sony’s special AdaptivePlus™ Technology: a design philosophy based on sharing business resources to maximize productivity and efficiency. Here, the technology takes the form of multi-function drive bays that accommodate peripheral setups like a double layer DVD/RW drive4, extra 80 GB5 hard drive, weight saver unit, or adapter bay. Units are interchangeable between all three notebook sizes and can link to a docking station, allowing resource sharing in the office as well as on the road.

F I R ST LO O KS SOF TWARE

THERE.COM

VIRTUAL WORLD, REAL MONEY

There.com Basic service, free; premium, $9.95 onetime fee llllm

PROS A captivating 3D virtual world complete with beaches, lounge chairs, martini glasses, and loads of beautiful people. CONS A virtual Hulk Hogan Fu Manchu mustache will cost you almost $3.

T

HERE.COM COMBINES SOCIAL NETWORK-

ing with 3D-game virtual reality. Graphics quality doesn’t match that of Quake 4, but it’s pretty good. Using keyboard arrows, you move your avatar through the environment, but you don’t shoot anyone—you host parties, do stand-up comedy, walk fashion runways, and above all, talk—via text-messaging or (with the premium service) real-time voice. The client—a 500MB download—runs well on older hardware, and the company says it even works over a 56-Kbps dial-up connection. A simple tutorial walks you through the basics, then drops you into a tropical paradise filled with 3D beautiful people (and their speech bubbles, launched by typing). Others can accept or decline chats, which you can make private. When voice-enabled avatars (marked by microphone icons) get close, the users can hear each other. Therebucks (1,800 per U.S. dollar) let you build a unique persona; you can use them to buy everything from clothing to portable sound systems. The

site encourages users to design their clothes, accessories, and even homes. Personalization stops at nudity (and profanity), however. Premium members can make Therebucks by buying and renting real estate or making and selling products. Worried about privacy (or just weirded out by the whole scene)? You’re at the wrong site. But otherwise, you’ll have a great time just exploring. Jump in and see if you like it.—Cade Metz >> For more in-depth analysis and a video tour: go.pcmag.com/theredotcom

Chat-list that hot avatar

Plenty of ols helpful to

Mpire.com Free for buyers; sellers pay a fee lllhm

PROS Listings from multiple sites can save buyers time and $$$. Stats show going rates, price trends. Advanced search filters results. Tool for listing on eBay. CONS Searches are a bit slow. Interface needs tweaking.

MPIRE.COM

AUCTION MPORIUM

M

PIRE’S AJAX-BASED SITE, WHICH AG-

gregates listings from eBay, Overstock.com, Yahoo! Shopping, and Amazon Marketplace (Craigslist, too, but those listings appear separately), may just become your new deal finder. The simply laid-out home site displays a search box and popular products. Listings on the search results pages, where you'll spend the most time, look much like those on eBay—the source of roughly 50 to 60 percent of the items, says Mpire.

60 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

The site’s cool, Ajax-powered tools and info provide its real appeal. A slider lets you quickly narrow price ranges, for example, and search results supply tons of data, such as the average, the range, and the 30-day trend for prices. Stats can mislead, as with the $8,400 iPod price I got (it was a bulk lot), but the tools are fun and, used wisely, informative. The search engine does well at providing relevant results, which you can tailor with advanced options. Buyers don’t pay, but sellers do. Sellers can also pay extra to place ads on relevant results pages and to have their results listed at the top. MpireLauncher, a free tool, helps merchants set up eBay listings. I have minor gripes—the search is a bit slow, for example, and the interface needs work—but I recommend Mpire.com to anyone who likes auctions and comparison shopping.—Sean Carroll >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ mpiredotcom

Vibrant color. Superior functionality.

Must be one terrific MFP.

Kyocera’s KM-C3232 Delivers Across-the-Board Productivity for Your Team

“#1 Copier/Multifunction Product in Overall Customer Satisfaction Among Business Users”

For an affordable color document solution that maximizes business productivity, harness the power and reliability of the KM-C3232. At 32 color or black and white pages per minute, its versatile print, copy, scan and optional fax capabilities combine with advanced finishing options for compelling business communications. The KM-C3232 is one of a series of color MFPs designed to keep your business color needs in-house and within budget. Optional Kyocera software solutions maximize your hardware investment. It’s everything you need to keep your document communications secure, connected and brilliantly productive. That’s the power of People Friendly. Learn more: www.kyoceramita.com

– According to J.D. Power and Associates

KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION. KYOCERA MITA AMERICA, INC. ©2006 Kyocera Mita Corporation. “People Friendly,” “The New Value Frontier,” the Kyocera “smile” and the Kyocera logo are trademarks of Kyocera. J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Copier Customer Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on responses from 1,730 business decision makers. 16 major brands serving the U.S. market were included. www.jdpower.com

F I R ST LO O KS SOF TWARE NETWORKING

Unique menus give you more ch tool options ea time you click

Glide Effortless 300MB storage, free; 1GB, $4.95 monthly or $49.95 yearly; 4GB, $9.95 or $99.95 llllm

PROS Capable new online word processor. Mobile access. New tool for syncing data with a PC. Glide apps and data are accessible anywhere. CONS A bit unreliable and buggy. Sign-up requires credit card, even for free version.

GLIDE EFFORTLESS

APPS, PLEASE (HOLD THE OS)

G

LIDE EFFORTLESS HINTS AT A FUTURE

in which we access apps and data via browsers, and the OS loses supremacy. Within Firefox or IE, this remarkable Flash environment lets you store, use, and share everything from music to documents. This version nicely dovetails with Glide Mobile, giving you access from Pocket PC devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 (only the Treo 700w has of-

ficial support, though). You can browse and open files—even videos—with amazing speed. The new release adds capabilities beyond email, contact management, and the sharing of photos, videos, and music. Glide Calendar lets you track appointments and share them with other users. Glide Sync lets you synchronize files of all types across Glide, Glide Mobile, and your PC. The most welcome addition, Glide Write, handles average Word docs well, although complex ones can give it trouble. The package is elegant but has rough edges. I especially question why you must give credit card info when registering for the free version. Dialogs could be better, and periods of inactivity cause trouble with file access via Glide Mobile. I had similar problems with the Glide Effortless upload tool, but this elegant app is well worth trying.—Cade Metz >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ glideeffortless

NETGEAR POWERLINE HD ETHERNET ADAPTER HDX101

A WIRED NETWORK—INSTANTLY

W Buy the two-adapter kit—it's $21 less

Netgear Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter HDX101 $110 street llllm

PROS Easy setup and good performance. CONS Expensive. Wall-plug design can block access to other outlets outlets. 62 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

IRELESS NETWORKS SUFFER FROM LIMITED

range, interference, security problems, and, at distances, speed degradation. But wired systems have one obvious disadvantage: wires. Manufacturers have tried to use household wiring to carry network signals but with limited success. The Netgear Powerline HDX101 may revive the technology, though. This is the first such product I’ve seen that’s easy to set up and fast. Using Ethernet cables, you connect each device on your network to an HDX101 adapter that plugs into a nearby AC outlet. That’s it. To increase security or set QoS (Quality of Service) parameters, you can use a simple, well-documented PC utility. The adapters must plug directly into outlets (a surge suppressor or even a power strip quickly degrades the signal), so they can block other devices from plugging in. The hardware costs more than wireless equipment, too. But it works with any OS and connects to almost anything that has an Ethernet port. The 45-Mbps performance I got is better than with wireless technologies when distances increase. Your mileage may vary, depending on the condition of your wiring, but if you run into a snag with wireless, I recommend this alternative.—Oliver Kaven >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/powerlinehd

Volume is strong all enough to fill a sm conference room

DELL 1200MP PROJECTOR

FOCUS ON PRESENTATIONS

N

OTABLE AMONG PROJECTORS WITH AN

800-by-600 (SVGA) pixel resolution, the DLP-based Dell 1200MP Projector offers an impressive package. The easily portable system (weighing just under 5 pounds and measuring 4 by 9.9 by 8.4 inches) is ideal for displaying simple Excel charts or PowerPoint presentations. I measured the 1200MP’s brightness at 1,850 lumens, which should easily display a reasonably large image in typical ambient lighting. An excellent contrast ratio of 339:1 ensures that colors pop off the screen. The 1200MP also projects still images without any visible jitter. The only issues were typical of a single-chip DLP projector: Yellow veered a bit toward mustard, and there was a rainbow effect, with white areas breaking up into red, green, and blue when I shifted my gaze.

Good tactile feedback— firm control for focus and zoom The 1200MP’s weakness is full-motion video. Watching a DVD through an S-Video connection, I found the image to be reasonably bright, with acceptable flesh tones, but the colors were a little punchy, and edges showed some rippling. Despite the less-than-ideal quality of fullmotion video, the 1200MP offers the best value and balance of features in its class. For brightness, contrast, and image quality, it’s way ahead of the competition.—M. David Stone >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ dell1200mp

Dell 1200MP Projector $699 direct llllm

PROS Scores well on brightness, contrast ratio, image quality for presentations, and audio. Reasonably portable. CONS Image quality for full-motion video is less than ideal.

GATEWAY FPD1975W

A JUST-SO LCD MONITOR

T Optional US speaker barB

Gateway FPD1975W $229.99 direct lllMm

PROS Affordable. Good small-text reproduction. CONS Weak grayscale performance. Adjustable stand costs extra. One-year warranty.

HE 19-INCH GATEWAY FPD1975W MAY NOT HAVE THE BELLS AND

whistles of higher-end LCD monitors, but its allure lies in its reasonable price and in basic features that take care of everyday business. Certain upgrades are available for this highresolution, widescreen panel, but they increase the price. The monitor comes with a tilt-only stand and connectivity that is limited to one DVI and one analog port. For an extra $69.99, you can buy a heightadjustable stand that lets you tilt, swivel, and pivot the screen 90 degrees for portrait viewing. The stand also includes a four-port USB 2.0 hub. With a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1,440- by 900-pixel resolution, the FPD1975W supports the HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) protocol for displaying high-definition images through the DVI interface. While watching a movie, I was impressed with the panel’s performance for the most part, although I did notice occasional motion artifacts. There was also evidence of ghosting during a round of Doom 3, but that’s to be expected from a display with an 8-ms pixel response rate (black to white). On a brighter note, the panel did an amazing job of displaying small fonts. All told, the FPD1975W is a serviceable 19-inch widescreen model. For the price, its basic features do the job.—John R. Delaney >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/fpd1975w OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 63

F I R ST LO O KS SMALL BUSINESS

Removable disk—see ya, tape backup

Iomega Rev 70 External, $599.99 list with one cartridge; internal, $579.99; cartridges, $69; four-pack, $249.99 llllh

PROS Small, fast, highdensity disks. Easy installation and operation. Portability. CONS Expensive compared with hard drives. No alternative suppliers for cartridges. Retrospect backup software uses proprietary format.

IOMEGA REV 70

BACKUP REVS UP

E

VERYBODY NEEDS TO BACK UP DATA,

and the Iomega Rev 70 can help. This handy device uses single-platter removable hard drive cartridges similar to those of its predecessor, the Rev 35, but doubles their capacity to 70GB. The backup drive comes in a USB external or ATAPI internal configuration, and Iomega plans to have a SATA version later this year. The included EMC Retrospect Express software took 34 minutes to transfer 10.4GB of files from my IBM T42p laptop and another 30 minutes to com-

pare and verify them. When I tried several Rev 35 cartridges, the device read at full speed but wrote much slower than with the 70GB media. I appreciate being able to tuck the media away off-site, the freedom to use separate cartridges to back up other machines, and the software’s data verification—but not Retrospect’s proprietary format. I want the ability to read individual files in a backup instead of having to search for them using a particular application, so I prefer solutions like the freeware Cobian Backup. The 70GB cartridges are slightly pricier than their 35GB predecessors, but the drive lists for $200 more—a bit of sticker shock if you’re used to the absurdly low cost of high-capacity hard drives. Still, the Rev 70 is a price-performance winner compared with tape backup.—Bill Machrone >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/ iomegarev70

HAMACHI FOR WINDOWS 1.0.0.61 (BETA)

FAST, FREE VPN CONNECTIONS

Hamachi's zero-config claim is no hype

Hamachi for Windows 1.0.0.61 (beta) Free for up to 16 member networks. Premium version, $4.95 and up monthly lllhm

PROS Easy to install, configure, and use. CONS Slow at times. Relies on shared network password instead of individual user passwords.

N

EED TO GET CONNECTED TO ANOTHER MACHINE OVER THE

Internet? Consider Hamachi, a zero-configuration virtual private network (VPN) that runs as client and server software on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows 2000, XP, and 2003. It let me create a network and connect Windows PCs to it no matter where they were as long as they had Internet access. Each node joins a password-protected network mediated by a server that Hamachi runs. My only installation difficulties came from personal firewalls I was running, not the VPN software, and Hamachi easily navigated multiple layers of network address translation (NAT). I separated test machines with four firewalls running NAT, but the utility easily added and connected every computer to the VPN. I also connected a laptop over Verizon’s EV-DO service— performance was painfully slow, though. Over non-cellular connections, the VPN performed just fine, both with a single network and linked ones. This is a good solution for those looking to connect to a remote machine and transfer files. You can leave the software running on your home computer, and access it from anywhere on the Internet for free. You can also run a secure intranet—or any other application that can map a Windows drive—over Hamachi. This is a handy free tool for creating VPNs quickly and easily.—Matthew D. Sarrel >> For more in-depth analysis: go.pcmag.com/hamachiwinbeta

64 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

J U M P T O N E X T PA G E >>

Acer recommends Windows® XP Professional.

September/ October 2006

Enhanced Efficiency. Secure Manageability.

Acer® TravelMate® 8210

Acer TravelMate 8216WLHi

$2,999

New

INTEL® CORE™2 DUO PROCESSOR T7400 (4MB L2 CACHE, 2.16GHz, 667MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL (LX.TEG06.038)

For the name of a reseller near you or further information, please call Acer or visit our Web site: 800-571-2237

- www.acer.com/us

• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology - Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor - Mobile Intel® 945PM Express chipset - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection • Genuine Windows® XP Professional • 2GB DDR2 533 SDRAM • 160GB1 hard drive • Modular Blu-ray Disc™ drive • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™ • 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) TFT display • ATI® Mobility™ Radeon® X1600 graphics • VVoIP via integrated camera • 802.11a/b/g WLAN, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® VoIP phone, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem • One-year limited warranty2

Prices shown are estimated street prices and do not include tax or shipping. Retailer or reseller prices may vary.

The Acer TravelMate 8210 features the new, energy-efficient Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor, providing improved manageability, enhanced security and twice the power to drive your business opportunities.

Acer recommends Windows® XP Professional.

Desktop Replacement

Acer Technology for Your Mobility

Acer SignalUp

New

This technology strategically postions two PIFA antennas on the notebok's top panel to generate an omni-directional signal sphere for superior wireless reception.

Acer® TravelMate® 4670 Acer TravelMate 4674WLMi

Acer DASP+ To limit hard disk damage, Acer has equipped select notebooks with DASP+ technology, featuring: • Acer GraviSense senses sudden directional changes (such as a fall) and automatically retracts the disk heads to prevent surface damage • Acer Anti-Theft alerts the owner if the system is moved • Acer Disk Anti-Shock Protection safeguards the hard disk against knocks and provides an unmatched level of protection.

$1,599 INTEL® CORE™ DUO PROCESSOR T2500 (2MB L2 CACHE, 2GHz, 667MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 2GB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND ATI® MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1600 GRAPHICS (LX.TD706.032)

Acer TravelMate 4672WLMi

$1,129 INTEL® CORE™ DUO PROCESSOR T2300 (2MB L2 CACHE, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND INTEL® GRAPHICS MEDIA ACCELERATOR 950 (LX.TB506.059)

Acer GridVista Easy-to-use software designed to automatically split the screen in up to four separate windows and make the most of available screen space.

• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology - Intel® Core™ Duo Processor - Mobile Intel® 945 Express chipset - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection • Genuine Windows® XP Professional • 120GB1 hard drive • Modular Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM) • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™ • 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT display • 802.11a/b/g WLAN, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem • One-year limited warranty2

Prices shown are estimated street prices and do not include tax or shipping. Retailer or reseller prices may vary.

Acer® ezDock Docking Station The one-plug Acer ezDock allows you to add or remove devices instantly, without turning off your notebook computer. This compact docking solution has 21 interface ports and two card slots.

$299 COMPATIBLE WITH THE TRAVELMATE 8210, 8200, 8100, 4670, 4650, 4400, 3010, 3000, C310, C200; FERRARI 5000, 4000, 1000 (LC.D0103.004)

For the name of a reseller near you or further information, please call Acer or visit our Web site:

800-571-2237

-

www.acer.com/us

Acer’s all-in-one office solutions offer power, security and flexibility comparable to a desktop PC. Benefit from maximum productivity and complete connectivity in a stylish, compact and reliable notebook for the enterprise and medium-size companies.

Acer® Aspire® 5630

New

• Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology ®

®

- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor - Mobile Intel® 945GM Express chipset - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection • Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 • 1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM • 160GB1 hard drive • Integrated Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM) • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™ • 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800), Acer CrystalBrite Technology • Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 • VVoIP via integrated camera • 802.11a/b/g WLAN, 10/100 LAN, V.92 modem • One-year limited warranty2

Acer Aspire 5633WLMi

$1,049 INTEL® CORE™2 DUO PROCESSOR T5500 (2MB L2 CACHE, 1.66GHZ, 667MHZ FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP MEDIA CENTER EDITION 2005 (LX.TEG06.038)

Acer Empowering Technology One touch of the Empowering Key and you can easily take control of your notebook's security, performance, settings and communications.

Acer recommends Windows® XP Professional.

Mobility at Work If you’re a professional or running a small or medium-size business, let Acer’s powerful and efficient mobile solutions give you the freedom to take your work on the road. Optimized for the multitasking you do every day, these notebooks deliver total connectivity and unbeatable value to help drive your growing business.

Acer Flat Panels

Acer AL2416Wd • • • •

24" wide-screen TFT LCD 1920 x 1200 native resolution 1000:1 contrast ratio 178°/178° horizontal/vertical viewing angles • VGA, DVI-D signal connectors • 500 cd/m2 brightness • 6ms gray-to-gray response time

$699 (ET.L6102.018)

Acer AL1916 Fbd • • • •

19" TFT LCD 1280 x 1024 native resolution 700:1 contrast ratio 150°/135° horizontal/vertical viewing angles • VGA, DVI-D signal connectors • 300 cd/m2 brightness • 2ms gray-to-gray response time

$229 (ET.1916B.0DF)

Acer® TravelMate® 2450 Acer TravelMate 2451WLMi

$669 INTEL® CELERON® M PROCESSOR 410 (1MB L2 CACHE, 1.46GHz, 533MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL (LX.TCL06.063)

• Intel® Celeron® M Processor • Genuine Windows® XP Professional • 512MB DDR2 533 SDRAM • 60GB1 hard drive • Integrated DVD-Dual drive (DVD+/-RW) • 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT display • ATI® Radeon® Xpress 200M graphics • 802.11b/g WLAN, 10/100 LAN, V.92 modem • One-year limited warranty2

Acer AL1916 Ab • • • •

19" FT LCD 1280 x 1024 native resolution 700:1 contrast ratio 140°/140° horizontal/vertical viewing angles • VGA signal connector • 300 cd/m2 brightness • 8ms response time

$ 225

Acer Empowering Technology One touch of the Empowering Key and you can easily take control of your notebook's security, performance, settings and communications. Prices shown are estimated street prices and do not include tax or shipping. Retailer or reseller prices may vary.

(ET.1916B.008)

For the name of a reseller near you or further information, please call Acer or visit our Web site:

800-571-2237

-

www.acer.com/us

Acer® TravelMate® 4220 • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology - Intel® Core™ Duo Processor - Mobile Intel® 945GM Express chipset - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection • Genuine Windows® XP Professional • Integrated Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM) • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™

Acer TravelMate 4222WLMi

$899 INTEL CORE DUO PROCESSOR T2300 (2MB L2 CACHE, 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND 120GB1 HARD DRIVE (LX.TCJ06.013) ®

™

Acer TravelMate 4220AWLMi

$799 INTEL® CORE™ SOLO PROCESSOR T1350 (2MB L2 CACHE, 1.86GHz, 533MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 512MB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND 100GB1 HARD DRIVE (LX.TCJ06.085)

New

• • • •

15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT display Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 802.11a/b/g WLAN, 10/100 LAN, V.92 modem One-year limited warranty2

Acer recommends Windows® XP Professional.

Acer Flat Panels

Acer AL1916W Ab • • • •

19" wide-screen TFT LCD 1440 x 900 native resolution 700:1 contrast ratio 150°/135° horizontal/vertical viewing angles • VGA signal connector • 300 cd/m2 brightness • 5ms response time

Acer® Veriton® 2800 • • • •

Intel® Pentium® D Processor Genuine Windows® XP Professional 512MB DDR2 533 SDRAM 80GB1 SATA hard drive, 7200RPM

$195

• • • •

CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Gigabit LAN Three-year limited warranty2

Display sold separately.

(ET.1916B.W08)

Acer Veriton 2800

$689 Acer AL1717 Bbmd • • • • • • • •

17" FT LCD 1280 x 1024 native resolution 700:1 contrast ratio 150°/135° horizontal/vertical viewing angles Two 1.0W integrated speakers VGA, DVI-D signal connectors 300 cd/m2 brightness 8ms response time

INTEL® PENTIUM® D PROCESSOR 820 (2x1MB L2 CACHE, 2.80GHz, 800MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL (VT2800-U-P8200)

Acer® AcerPower™ S285

$ 199

Display sold separately.

(ET.1717B.MD8)

Acer AL1706 Ab • • • •

17" FT LCD 1280 x 1024 native resolution 500:1 contrast ratio 140°/140° horizontal/vertical viewing angles • VGA signal connector • 270 cd/m2 brightness • 8ms response time

$599 INTEL® PENTIUM® D PROCESSOR 820 (2X1MB L2 CACHE, 2.80GHz, 800MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL (APS285-U-P8201) Prices shown are estimated street prices and do not include tax or shipping. Retailer or reseller prices may vary.

For the name of a reseller near you or further information, please call Acer or visit our Web site:

800-571-2237

-

Intel® Pentium® D Processor Genuine Windows® XP Professional 1GB DDR SDRAM 120GB1 SATA hard drive DVD-Dual drive (DVD+/-RW) SiS Mirage™ graphics Gigabit LAN One-year limited warranty2

Acer AcerPower S285

$ 189 (ET.1706B.008)

• • • • • • • •

www.acer.com/us

Acer® Veriton® 6800 Display sold separately.

• Intel® Pentium® D Processor • Genuine Windows® XP Professional • DVD-Dual Drive (DVD+/-RW) • Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 • Gigabit LAN • Three-year limited warranty2

Acer Veriton 6800

$949 INTEL® PENTIUM® D PROCESSOR 945 (2x2MB L2 CACHE, 3.40GHz, 800MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 2GB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND 250GB1 SATA HARD DRIVE, 7200RPM (VT6800-U-P9451)

Acer Veriton 6800

Acer Veriton 6800

$799

$689

INTEL® PENTIUM® D PROCESSOR 945 (2x2MB L2 CACHE, 3.40GHz, 800MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND 160GB1 SATA HARD DRIVE, 7200RPM (VT6800-U-P9450)

INTEL® PENTIUM® D PROCESSOR 820 (2x1MB L2 CACHE, 2.80GHz, 800MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP PROFESSIONAL 512MB DDR2 533 SDRAM AND 160GB1 SATA HARD DRIVE, 7200RPM (VT6800-U-P8200 )

Acer recommends Windows® XP Media Center Edition.

Home Entertainment

www.pleasing.it - ADV

A remarkable solution for stunning mobile multimedia entertainment. Cutting-edge technology combined with the Acer CrystalBrite screen, powerful graphics and complete connectivity make this the ideal choice for no-compromise entertainment all around your home.

Acer Aspire 9805WKHi

$2,799

INTEL® CORE™ DUO PROCESSOR T2600 (2MB L2 CACHE, 2.16GHz, 667MHz FSB) GENUINE WINDOWS® XP MEDIA CENTER EDITION 2005 (LX.AAM0J.017)

Acer® Aspire® 9800 • Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology - Intel® Core™ Duo Processor - Mobile Intel® 945PM Express chipset - Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection • Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 • 2GB DDR2 667 SDRAM • 240GB1 hard drive • Modular HD DVD-ROM drive • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™ • 20.1" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) TFT display, Acer CrystalBrite Technology • NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7600 graphics • VVoIP via integrated camera • 802.11a/b/g WLAN, Bluetooth®, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem • One-year limited warranty2

Prices shown are estimated street prices and do not include tax or shipping. Retailer or reseller prices may vary.

Acer Notebook Service Upgrades Protect Your Valuable Investment Quality is built into every notebook PC Acer makes, and each comes with a one-year standard limited warranty.2 It includes hardware technical support via toll-free phone plus a concurrent International Traveler’s Warranty for travel outside the U.S. and Canada. Extra protection is available with one of these upgrades:

2-Year Extension of Limited Warranty (146.AB820.EX2)

1

2

It’s a tough world out there, and accidents do happen—sticky spills, dangerous drops, nasty knocks—which is why you should consider the Total Protection Upgrade. It runs concurrently with the limited warranty2 and limited warranty extension and covers the cost of a replacement unit if your covered notebook cannot be repaired.

2-Year Extension of Limited Warranty + 3-Year Total Protection Upgrade (146.AD077.002)

$99

$199

Prepays freight to and from Acer repair depot. Excludes extension of International Traveler's Warranty.

Prepays freight to and from Acer repair depot. Excludes extension of International Traveler's Warranty.

When referring to storage capacity, GB stands for one billion bytes and MB stands for one million bytes. Some utilities may indicate varying storage capacities. Total user-accessible capacity may vary depending on operating environments. For a free copy of the standard limited warranty end-users should see a reseller where Acer products are sold or write to Acer America Corporation, Warranty Department, P.O. Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503.

© 2006 Acer America Corporation. Information and prices are subject to change without notice. Pricing is effective from September 17, 2006 through October 31, 2006. Product images are representations of some of the models available and may vary from the model you purchase. Acer, TravelMate and Veriton are registered trademarks and AcerPower a trademark of Acer Inc. Aspire is a trademark of Acer America Corporation. Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Logo, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

For the name of a reseller near you or further information, please call Acer or visit our Web site:

800-571-2237

-

www.acer.com/us

THE BEST STUFF EDITORS’ CHOICES IN KEY CATEGORIES

iPOD DOCK Soundcast iCast Immune to interference. Excellent sound quality. Easy to set up and operate. $299.99 list Soundcast Systems go.pcmag.com/icast SPEECH RECOGNITION Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0 Professional Impressively accurate speech recognition without training. Even better with training. $899 direct (other editions, $99 and up) Nuance Communications Inc. go.pcmag.com/DNS9

COLOR LASER PRINTER HP Color LaserJet 1600 SOHO-perfect. Great color laser quality. Fast. Low price. $299.99 list Hewlett-Packard Development Co. go.pcmag.com/hp1600

SECURITY SUITE Zone Alarm Security Suite 6.5 Our favorite firewall. Decent antivirus. New ID theft prevention/ recovery resources. $69.95 direct Zone Labs LLC go.pcmag.com/zass65 ANTISPYWARE Spy Sweeper 5.0 Streamlined UI. Fewer annoying pop-ups. Improved rootkit and keylogger protection. $29.95 direct Webroot Software Inc. go.pcmag.com/ spysweeper5 Spyware Doctor 4.0 Removed nearly everything we threw at it. Status page clearer to use. Multiple “guards” keep spyware off your clean system. Protects itself against direct attacks. $29.95 direct PC Tools go.pcmag.com/ spywaredoctor4

CAMCORDER (HD) Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam Incredible video quality. Excellent sound. Performs well in extreme lighting scenarios. $1,499.99 direct Sony Electronics Inc. go.pcmag.com/hc3 HDTVS Sharp Aquos LC-32D40U Stylish. Stunning color quality. Realistic picture. Lots of ports. $1,599.99 list Sharp Electronics Corp. go.pcmag.com/ 32d40u CELL PHONES Chocolate By LG/LG VX8500 Beautiful. Stereo Bluetooth. MP3 support. $149.99 to $249.99 direct LG Electronics go.pcmag.com/ chocolate LAPTOP Dell XPS M1710 (Intel Core 2 Duo) Outstanding performance. Integrated 802.11n wireless. Improved gaming capability. $2,845 Dell Inc. go.pcmag.com/ dellm1710 PERSONAL FINANCE (BASIC) Quicken Basic 2007 Excellent tools. Easy setup. Terrific interface. Inexpensive. $29.95 direct Intuit Inc. go.pcmag.com/ quickenbasic07

PORTABLE MINI HARD DRIVE Seagate ST9160821U2RK External 160GB Hard Drive Massive storage capacity. Dual-head cable. Works with current Mac and Windows OSs. $130 street Seagate Technology LLC go.pcmag.com/ seagate160 SUPERZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 12X optical zoom. Good image stabilization. Decent video. Very inexpensive for a superzoom. $399.95 direct Panasonic Corp. of America go.pcmag.com/ lumixDMCFZ7

DESKTOP Gateway Profile 6 SB All-in-one spacesaving design. Dualcore performance. TPM and other businessrelated security features. Room for expansion. Easyto-service chassis. $1,049.99 direct Gateway Inc. go.pcmag.com/ gateway6sb

MORE ON THE WEB We’ve got 87 Product Guides and thousands of up-to-date reviews on the Web. See them all at go.pcmag.com/guides

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 73

The Xerox DocuMate® 152 scans at 30 images per minute and creates searchable PDFs with the touch of a button. Put information you need right at your finger tips for under $600. There’s a new way to look at it. ®

High standards. Remarkable performance.

that allows you to scan-to print, -to- e-mail, or -to-

The Xerox DocuMate 152 scanner, winner of

storage, and then share documents while offer-

PC Magazine's Editors’ Choice Award is the

ing the highest level of image quality and OCR

ultimate office productivity tool. Convert docu-

accuracy. The scanner offers nearly $400 in

ments into PDF, TIF, JPG, BMP or most other

bundled software including ScanSoft PaperPort,

major file formats with One Touch. Drop in an

OmniPage Pro, business card scanning software,

original. Push a button. It’s that easy! The

and X1 Desktop Search. Control of your paper

DocuMate 152 also features One Touch scanning

documents is one button away!

Learn more: xeroxscanners.com/pcm10a © 2006 XEROX CORPORATION. All rights reserved. Xerox, DocuMate and There’s a new way to look at it are registered trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and other countries and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

B I L L M AC H R O N E

Spectacular Speakers

M

Y SON AND I HAVE BEEN

talking about personalizing computers— adapting them to our hobbies and interests. We have a lot of music gear between us, and right now a Toshiba Qosmio is poised above the synthesizer keyboard. It’s a pretty good shot at being an all-around digital media workstation, equally competent at both audio and video. I’d love to have the dual-core version and another gig of RAM, which would help for video editing. He’d like more disk space for big video files. I suppose, in time, we’ll both have what we want— because mix-and-match personalization, formerly the sole province of desktop/tower machines, is now an integral part of the notebook market. A tower machine can kick the stuffing out of most any notebook in sheer performance, but it lacks the portability and silent operation, not to mention the built-in uninterruptible power supply. There are some very quiet tower machines and cases, but they’re big and bulky, not really suitable to my lifestyle. Just in this past week, I’ve moved that Qosmio around incessantly. From its usual location, on the rack over the synthesizer, I edited a slide show for church. I brought it to the basement, where I was testing the frequency response of an upgraded output transformer in a guitar amp that I was modding. Then it was up to the family room, where I was testing some new monitor speakers. The speakers in question are the JBL LSR4326P studio monitors, the most technologically sophisticated speakers I’ve ever worked with. (Studio monitors are speakers used by audio engineers and musicians to monitor sound while they’re recording, but they’re good for anyone who enjoys hearing nuances. They’re bi-amplified two-way speakers, intended for near-and mid-field listening. They come with a measurement microphone and have onboard hardware and software so that you can adjust them to the room’s acoustics. Unless a room has nonreflective panels, nonparallel walls, and similar acoustic treatments, it has a natural resonant tone or two, somewhere in the bass range. These resonances, or room modes, can make bass notes sound unnaturally heavy. If you’re listening, the tone is muddy. If you’re mixing, you’ll tend to

de-emphasize the bass, which will make it sound thin in a different acoustic environment. The JBLs implement HiQnet, an Ethernet-based protocol. The speakers communicate with one another, as well as with HiQnet-equipped studio consoles, amplifiers, and even wireless microphones. You connect the speakers to your PC through a USB cable. With JBL’s software, you can initiate and monitor the room-mode correction (RMC) process, manage the configuration of additional surround speakers, and fine-tune the frequency response with parametric low- and high-frequency equalization controls. The software displays the frequency and amount of room-mode correction.

The new JBL computer speakers I tested are the most technologically sophisticated speakers I’ve ever worked with. I positioned the Qosmio and the measurement mic at my listening position and started the RMC sequence. The speakers emitted several fast sweep tones, lights on their front panels flashed, and the equalization was done. The JBLs had found the same bump at 50 Hz that I had found with my test tones and spectrum analyzer. I played one of my favorite test tracks, Karrin Allyson’s “Robert Frost,” which has a prominent bass line. I switched RMC on and off from the Qosmio, and the difference was marked. It took less than a minute to make the necessary adjustments, as opposed to the hour or more I had spent tuning my old surround decoder/equalizer. I compared the JBLs with two other studio monitor systems—the highly regarded NHTpro M-00 and S-00 monitors and subwoofer, and an M-Audio Studiophile LX4 three-piece system. The two-way JBLs stayed right with the subwoofer-equipped systems in bass performance, but few monitors can touch the NHTpros for creating a laser-sharp stereo image from their aggressive tweeters. They’re a hair’s breadth away from harsh, but they reveal every nuance in a mix. I should mention that the JBLs’ street price is around $1,200; the three NHTpro pieces will set you back about $1,000; and the LX4 setup is under $300. The LX4s can’t quite match the effortless power and crisp imaging of the others, but they’re amazingly good for the price. Q

MORE MACHRONE You can contact Bill Machrone at Bill_Machrone @ziffdavis.com For more of his columns, go to go.pcmag.com/ machrone

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 75

Fujitsu recommends Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition.

Taking Tablet PC reliability to the ends of the earth. And beyond. The LifeBook® T4200 Tablet PC takes reliability and convertibility farther than ever before. The Fujitsu LifeBook T4200 Tablet PC with Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology proves just how far Fujitsu will go to deliver the most reliable products. It’s manufactured in-house so we can maintain the highest quality standards. The Fujitsu LifeBook T4200 Tablet PC also features the industry’s first bi-directional LCD hinge and a brilliant, 12.1" XGA display with wide viewing angles, so it’s impressive any way you look at it. And whether you use its keyboard or powerful inking capabilities and pen-driven navigation, you get the best of both worlds. Go to us.fujitsu.com/computers/reliability for more information.

SUPERIOR CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, modem and optional Bluetooth 2.0

BUILT-IN MODULAR BAY add a weight-saver, media drive or 2nd battery

DUAL-FUNCTIONALITY it’s a notebook and a Tablet PC

© 2006 Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation. All rights reserved. Fujitsu, the Fujitsu logo and LifeBook are registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited. Centrino, Centrino Logo, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Inside and Intel Inside Logo 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. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

MICHAEL J. MILLER

Vista’s Unknowns

A

S I WRITE THIS, I’VE JUST BEGUN

using release candidate 1 of Windows Vista and the beta 2 technical refresh of Microsoft Office 2007. These are versions that, though they aren’t quite ready for shipment, are good enough that Microsoft is trying to get them into the hands of lots of testers. In fact, the company expects to get out over six million copies of Vista RC1 in the next few months, leading up to shipping the final version to large companies in November and to the rest of us in late January. Lots of questions remain for Microsoft, for system makers, and for those of us who have to decide whether to upgrade to the new operating system. How stable and compatible will Vista be? My biggest concern is with applications and drivers that just don’t work with the new OS. Some programs, such as communications and security packages, will clearly need new versions. Though Vista RC1 appears to be more stable, I’ve still run into a few issues and have therefore concluded it’s too early to make a judgment. How well will Vista and Office perform? The latest builds are clearly faster, and Microsoft continues to make improvements. On a machine with a modern processor and 1GB of memory, the combination seems to work pretty well. But I’m not so sure about the performance of Vista and Office, particularly on machines with 512MB of memory or less. The manufacturers of computer systems also face some unknowns at this point. Which version of Vista will customers buy? Retail computer vendors have to decide which version to preinstall. Although Microsoft says users can upgrade, most people won’t do that. The lowend version, called Home Basic, will be in the leastexpensive models, but most PC Magazine readers— and most U.S. consumers—will likely opt for Home Premium, which has the new graphics, Media Center, and Tablet PC functions. Small businesses will probably choose Vista Business, and big companies will get Vista Enterprise. Most consumers won’t have a choice between Vista and Windows XP; Vista will be on all retail computers the day it ships. Direct customers will be able to choose between Vista and Win XP. I expect small businesses to choose Vista and big businesses

to continue to buy Win XP. Such businesses typically wait for the first service pack to upgrade. 32-bit or 64-bit? For the next year or two, I expect nearly every system maker to choose the 32-bit version because it provides better support for legacy devices. Only those systems with very large memory requirements really need 64 bits right now. Who will upgrade to Ultimate? This is a special upgrade that combines the features of the business and the Home Premium versions. You’ll be able to upgrade without installing a new OS. But so far, it’s unclear what you’ll get from such an upgrade. Peripheral support is also an interesting question, as the OS will come with a variety of features that are enabled only as you add special hardware: Tuner or no tuner? Home Premium has all the features of Media Center Edition. Most machines will ship without a TV tuner, but adding one and getting the TV features will be easier.

My biggest concern is with applications and drivers whose current versions just don’t work with Vista. Tablet or no tablet? With Vista Premium or above, you plug in a tablet PC to get all the features of the tablet, including improved handwriting recognition and gesture support. Some questions won’t be answered until after the OS is out and people get to use it. How secure will Vista be? Microsoft is addressing security in several ways, including forcing people to accept system changes. But no OS that allows users to install applications can be totally secure. How cool will Vista games be? The best games we’ve seen so far are simulated demos that use Vista’s Direct X 10 graphics, but no hardware supports it yet. For the first year or two, most games will be designed for older hardware and XP. It’ll take a while to see if Windows games can make a difference in a world dominated by the Xbox and PlayStation. The big question is: Will Vista really matter now that more applications are appearing on the Internet? Vista may herald the development of more applications that have both online and offline modes. The next few months promise to be interesting, as Vista is finally moving toward completion. Q

MORE MILLER ONLINE Read Michael J. Miller’s insights daily on his blog, at blog.pcmag.com/miller

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 77

I N S I D E T R AC K BY JOHN C. DVORAK

W

AT C H I N G T H I N G S

Fa l l A pa r t D e p t . : Video on the Web has f inally found itself after years of struggle. The model is simple and easy; just look at YouTube .com and you’ll see it. Flash animation. It’s ubiquitous, it’s universal, and it works everywhere except among the stubborn few who “hate Flash” only because it is used in certain obnoxious advertising campaigns. The alternatives to Flash movies are grim and inadequate. Certain sites use proprietary players. They work when they work, but who needs the aggravation? There are WMV players or streams that open up a Windows media player. The

Unless you’re streaming hi-def content to the TV over the network so that you can watch IPTV shows, anything you play on your computer should be Flash and only Flash.

WANT MORE DVORAK? John writes a weekly column for our Web site, too. go.pcmag.com/dvorak You can e-mail him at [email protected]

old RealPlayer also requires itself to be loaded and opened. And the Apple QuickTime player constantly asks you if you want to upgrade. Upgrade? Why? Unless your system is virgin, you can get numerous annoying error messages, download requests, or failures from WMV content as well as RealNetworks stuff. (At least the Apple player always works.) Worse, with RealNetworks, old players overwrite new ones, and the whole thing fails. You can end up with a mess of players on the system, none of which work right. I’m amused at how the Windows player refuses to play certain AVI files, saying that it cannot find the codec, while curiously, it played them fine the year before. As far as I’m concerned, unless you’re streaming hi-def content to the TV over the network so that you can watch IPTV shows, anything you play on your computer should be Flash and only Flash. The alternatives are painful, flaky, and most important, unnecessary. Genuinely Interesting Hardware Dept.: Okay, I haven’t plugged a printer recently, but now I must. I am incredibly impressed with the Epson Stylus RX700. This little sub-$400 six-color ink jet device is the best all-in-one printer, copier,

78 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

and scanner I’ve ever used. My advice: Go out and buy one. It even scans slides with incredible accuracy, typically producing a 7,200-by-4,725 image. With a slide-in tray to hold discs, it can label or decorate those now-popular printable CDs and DVDs, making your collection slicklooking and without a lot of stick-on labels. And it’s also a great high-res photo printer. What also impressed me a lot was the setup. It’s brain-dead easy. Flawless. This is one incredible personal printer. A model of perfection. Do I sound enthusiastic enough? What’s Wrong with the Batteries Dept.:

Apparently, the millions of faulty batteries Sony shipped to Dell and Apple will be recalled. If you have a Dell or an Apple laptop, please get these dangerous batteries replaced. They could ignite just sitting there. A bigger question to me, though, is exactly how long these batteries have been in the wild. I wonder, because almost a year ago a friend of my son’s had a Dell laptop battery blow up in his dorm room. This was long before the problem was identified. He was thrown out of the dorm, as nobody believed his story that he didn’t do anything. I wonder how many other odd mishaps went unreported. Interesting Study Dept.: EETimes.com recently did a study of American versus Indian engineers. In the summary, it states that there is an interesting contrast “between go-getter engineers in India and today’s typical U.S. engineer, who is older, better compensated, and generally more complacent.” I thought this was a somewhat disingenuous summary, because the results—the way I read them—actually said that American engineers are simply happier in their respective companies than Indians, who feel they are getting gypped. I suppose this means complacent, but it seems more like an indication that American firms are better to work for. It’s no coincidence that many Indians are here in the U.S., happily working in American companies. Are they therefore complacent? I just think that complacent is the wrong word to use. Untold Story Worth Telling Dept.: At the most recent LinuxWorld meetings in San Francisco, IBM went on and on about how it’s going to push even more forcefully into the open-source game, saying that its impact over the next few years will be more significant than over the past 15 years. I have this theory that open-source is unlike closed-source in that it gains momentum over time, while closedsource loses momentum over time. Apparently, IBM thinks that time has come. Yikes. Q

Last month you told us all about your desktops, notebooks, and printers. Now you tell us about everything else.

BY CADE METZ

H

ERE’S PART 2 OF OUR ANNUAL READER SATISFACTION SURVEY. YOU — the die-hard PC Magazine subscriber and PCMag.com member —share your experiences with several thousand digital cameras, cell phones, cell-phone services, VoIP services, HDTVs, satellite radio services, Internet Service Providers, network routers, and MP3 players. If it’s a digital must-have, you rate it—and the company that sells it. How reliable is it? Is tech support up to snuff when things go wrong? Would you buy it again? It’s all here, and quite a read, if we do say so ourselves.

• ISPs • Cell Phones & • • • • • •

Service Providers Satellite Radio VoIP Digital Cameras HDTV MP3 Players Network Routers

ISPs THIS YEAR WE treat Internet service providers a little differently. Rather than lumping all providers together, we separate these ISPs by technology: cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, dial-up. Among cable providers, the Readers’ Choices are WOW! Internet, which offers its services in the parts of the Midwest, and EarthLink, available in various states around the country—with an honorable mention for Central Florida–based Bright House. Each receives an overall score of at least 8 out of a possible 10—significantly better than average. Meanwhile, Adelphia and Charter bring up the rear, with overall scores of 6.9 out of 10—significantly worse than average. DSL isn’t as localized, and some services are available nationwide. The best provider this year is one of the smallest: Speak-

SURFSPEED UTILITY (Kbps)

easy was head and shoulders above the competition. It wins a Readers’ Choice with the category’s only significantly aboveaverage overall score (8.6). BellSouth gets an honorable mention with a better-than-average 7.6, and AT&T (including SBC Yahoo!) tanked, with a significantly worse-than-average 7.2. Verizon is the only vendor with enough responses in the high-speed fiber category, but its overall score of 8.5 is quite good, and its 9.1 for satisfaction with speed comfortably tops every other ISP’s. For satellite, HughesNet (formerly DirecWay) is the only company with enough responses to be included here, but its overall satisfaction score is so low (5.4) that we can’t award it a Readers’ Choice. Heck, people who have stayed with dial-up (here, EarthLink is king) are more satisfied.

OVERALL READER SATISFACTION SCORE

CABLE Optimum Online

235

8.0 a

Cox

210

7.7 a

Comcast

206

7.1

Road Runner

198

7.7 a

Adelphia

191

6.9 d

EarthLink

190

8.1

Charter

178

6.9 d

Insight Broadband

177

7.1

Mediacom Online

149

7.0 c

d

a c

DSL AT&T Yahoo!

195

7.2 d

BellSouth

171

7.6 b

Verizon

165

7.4

EarthLink

129

7.4

Qwest

109

7.2

80 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

BETTER VS. FASTER The best ISPs aren’t necessarily the fastest ISPs. At least, that’s what our readers say. Two months before PC Magazine readers rated their ISPs for our Reader Satisfaction survey, we asked them to run a software utility that would actually test the speed of their broadband connections (“Find the Fastest ISP,” August 22 issue), and the results don’t always match the survey’s. AT&T receives one of the lowest DSL scores on our survey—even though the utility test puts it among the fastest services. Meanwhile, EarthLink’s cable service receives one the highest reader satisfaction scores for speed, even though tests show that its speed is average at best. Tests can tell you something about a service, but not everything.

7.9

7.8 a

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

8.2 a

REPAIRS

8.3 b

PERCENTAGE NEEDING REPAIR

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

7.0 a

CUSTOMER SERVICE

8.2 b

ISP-PROVIDED E-MAIL

8.2 a

RELIABILITY

d Significantly worse than average

SPEED

c Worse than average

FEES

Within the average range

INITIAL SETUP

b Better than average

OVERALL SCORE*

a Significantly better than average

CABLE WOW! Internet (104 responses)

7.0

26%

—

8.4 a

8.1 a

8.2 a

6.0 a

8.1 b

8.2 a

7.9 b

7.4 b

6.5

15% a

6.6

8.0 a

Bright House (320)

8.0 a

8.2 a

5.6 b

8.3 a

8.0 a

7.8 b

7.6 a

6.8

32% c

6.9

8.0 a

Optimum Online (782)

8.0 a

8.1 a

4.8 d

8.4 a

8.1 a

7.5

7.0

6.6

21% b

7.0 b

7.8 a

Cox

7.8 a

EarthLink (353)

7.7 a

7.8

5.4 b

8.1 a

7.7 a

7.6

7.2 a

6.6

25%

6.7 b

Road Runner (2,356)

7.7 a

7.9 a

5.0 d

8.1 a

7.7 a

7.6

7.0 b

6.6

30% d

6.7 b

RCN (120)

7.5

7.7

5.7 b

7.9

7.6

7.4

6.8

6.5

20%

Cable One (141)

7.3

8.0

5.3

7.8

7.0 c

7.5

7.2

7.0 b

20%

7.1

7.5

5.5

7.0

7.9

6.4 c

Comcast (4,806)

7.1 d

7.3 d

4.2 d

8.0 b

7.2 d

7.4 d

Insight Broadband (103)

7.1 c

7.2 c

5.4

7.9

6.9 c

(1,477)

AOL

(102)

7.1 c

6.5 d

— 6.0 d

6% a 30% d

7.1

6.8

6.1

30%

— —

7.3 6.9 c

—

7.1 d 7.4

Mediacom Online (241)

7.0 c

7.2 c

4.6 d

7.5 c

6.9 c

7.7

6.3 c

6.2

34% c

6.2

7.1 c

Adelphia

(830)

6.9 d

7.5 c

4.5 d

7.5 d

6.9 d

7.0 d

6.5 d

6.2 c

27%

6.2

6.6 d

Charter (1,096)

6.9 d

7.5 c

4.8 d

7.4 d

6.9 d

7.2 c

6.3 d

5.9 d

27%

5.8 d

6.8 d

AVERAGE

7.5

7.7

5.3

7.9

7.5

7.5

6.9

6.5

24%

6.5

7.5

Speakeasy (61 responses)

8.6 a

8.4 b

5.2

8.1 b

8.9 a

—

10%

BellSouth (911)

7.6 b

7.6 b

5.9 b

7.4 b

7.8 b

7.8 a

7.1

Alltel

7.4

7.4

6.1

7.2

7.5

7.6

7.2

7.1 b

EarthLink (388)

7.4

7.5

5.3 c

7.1

7.5

7.7

7.0

5.3 d

Verizon (1,572)

7.4

7.3 c

6.5 a

7.1

7.7

7.3 c

6.9 c

6.1

MSN (84)

7.3

7.4

6.2

7.3

7.6

7.5

6.7

DSL

(132)

—

8.6 a

6.4

—

16% c 13%

— 6.8

8.0 b 7.5 a

—

7.3

7% a

—

6.9 c

10% a

6.5

7.6 a

8%

—

7.1

AT&T** (2,171)

7.2 d

7.2 d

6.4 a

7.0 d

7.5 c

7.5

6.5 d

5.8 d

13%

6.4

7.2

FrontierNet

7.2

7.6

5.5

6.8

7.3

7.4

6.9

6.4

27% c

—

6.8

(431)

7.2

7.3

5.9

7.0 c

7.2

Sprint (142)

7.1

7.2

5.2 c

AOL (89)

7.0

7.6

5.5

CenturyTel (94)

7.0

7.1

AVERAGE

7.4

7.5

8.5

(94)

7.5

7.0 c

6.9

6.6

14%

7.1

7.1

7.4

7.5

6.8

6.4

15%

—

7.1

7.3

7.5

7.9 b

7.0

—

4% b

—

6.9

5.4

7.1

7.4

6.9

7.0

6.5

21%

—

7.1

5.8

7.2

7.6

7.5

7.0

6.3

13%

6.7

7.2

8.4

7.3

9.1

8.9

8.0

7.8

7.1

11%

—

8.9

5.4

6.2

3.3

5

5.4

6.2

5.2

4.5

17%

—

5.0

EarthLink (136 responses)

7.3 a

7.8 b

5.9 c

5.7 b

7.8 a

7.9 b

7.3 b

1%

—

MSN (78)

7.0 b

7.2

5.9

5.4

7.2

7.6

6.9

—

0% a

—

7.1

NetZero (59)

6.4

7.6

7.8 a

5.3

7.0

7.0

—

—

2%

—

6.8

AT&T** (76)

6.3

7.1

6.2

4.7

6.9

7.3

6.2

—

3%

—

6.5

PeoplePC Online (53)

6.3

6.9

7.6 a

5.2

6.8

—

—

—

2%

—

6.7

AOL

5.8 d

7.1

4.6 d

4.4 c

Qwest

FIBER Verizon (270 responses)

SATELLITE HughesNet (124 responses)

DIAL-UP

(16)

AVERAGE

6.5

7.3

6.4

5.1

6.1

7.1 b

6.1 d

7.2

5.8 c

5.2

2%

—

5.7 d

7.0

7.4

6.6

5.6

1%

—

6.7

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this Internet service provider?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table. ** Including SBC Yahoo!

CABLE: WOW! INTERNET, EARTHLINK WOW! scores highest. But you can’t get its service unless you live in certain parts of the Midwest. And EarthLink, available in various states across the country, is only just behind.

DSL: SPEAKEASY It’s a small company, but readers love Speakeasy. No other DSL vendor—or cable company, for that matter—even comes close to its overall score, an 8.6 out of 10. HIGH-SPEED FIBER: VERIZON Yes, Verizon is the only vendor in this subcategory. But check out its amazing 9.1 for satisfaction with speed.

RED denotes Readers’ Choice. Except where noted, scores are on a scale to 1 to 10, where 10 is best.

7.7 a 7.6

— 6.1 d

HOW TO READ THE TABLES

– Indicates that we do not have enough survey data to give the company a score. a Significantly better than average (at least 2 confidence intervals up from the average) b Better than average (at least 1 confidence interval but less than 2 confidence intervals up from the average) Within the average range c Worse than average (at least 1 confidence interval but less than 2 confidence intervals down from the average) d Significantly worse than average (at least 2 confidence intervals down from the average) Confidence intervals are calculated with a statistical t-test, and these will vary from vendor to vendor, depending on the number of readers providing data and the consistency of their responses. This can give different meanings to identical numerical scores, because the more responses a vendor gets— or the more in agreement readers’ assessments were—the smaller its confidence interval. (That is, we’re more confident in the statistical sample.)

SATELLITE: NONE Satellite may be your only broadband option and HughesNet may be the only vendor, but its incredibly low scores— including an overall score of 5.4!—are in no way deserving of a Readers’ Choice. DIAL-UP: EARTHLINK Still wanna go the cheap but slow route? EarthLink is your best bet. Readers rate its service a 7.3 out of 10. OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 81

Cell-Phone Services

CALL QUALITY WITHIN HOME AREA

COVERAGE OUTSIDE HOME AREA

7.7 a

7.8 a

7.7 a

7.8 a

7.7 a

7.8 a

7.5 a

7.5 a

7.4 b

7.5 a

7.6 a

7.4 a

7.4 b

7.2

7.0

7.1 a

6.9

6.3 c

7.1 b

Alltel

7.2 b

6.1

7.2 a

6.7 a

d Significantly worse than average

PLAN OPTIONS 6.8

6.3 b

c Worse than average

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

7.7 a

6.2

5.7 d

7.3 a

Within the average range

COVERAGE WITHIN HOME AREA

CUSTOMER SERVICE

6.3 a

CHOICE OF HANDSETS PROVIDED

7.0 a

7.5 a

US Cellular (391)

b Better than average

CALL QUALITY OUTSIDE HOME AREA

Unfortunately, you can’t use just any cell phone with any service. And, strangely enough, some phone manufacturers’ results vary by provider. For instance, LG phones on Cingular’s GSM network score 6.5, significantly worse than average, overall, but on Verizon Wireless’s CDMA network, LG phones score 7.2, better than average. The results on individual phone models are available at go.pcmag. com/readerschoicephones. You’ll also find there a full list of Readers’ Choices for cell phones.

Verizon Wireless (6,672 responses)

a Significantly better than average

FEES

PREPAID: VIRGIN If you’d rather pay by the call, readers recommend Virgin. They’re happy with the fees as well as the service itself, giving Virgin an overall score of 7.4 out of 10.

OVERALL SCORE*

CONTRACT: VERIZON WIRELESS Like paying a fixed fee each month for a bundle of minutes? Readers say your best bet is Verizon, though they complain fees are a bit high.

R ATING THE CELLULAR universe can be tricky. Satisfaction with service providers is driven by network quality, but also by the phones offered. Satisfaction with phones is driven in part by the network. We start by comparing the major services, separating contract plans from prepaid plans. Among contract plans, Verizon Wireless is the Readers’ Choice, with 7.5 out of 10; among the prepaids, it’s Virgin Mobile, with 7.4—both scores are significantly above average.

CONTRACT

(687 responses)

T-Mobile (1,774) Cingular Wireless

CELL-PHONE EXTRAVAGANZA! What else do readers say? Be sure to check out the ratings for specific cell-phone models—and a full list of cell-phone Readers’ Choices—at go.pcmag.com/ readerschoicephones

Qwest

(79)

Sprint

(2,361)

(5,613)

7.1 b 7.4 a

6.6

6.7

6.2

6.9 a

7.3 a

6.6 a

6.9

5.8 d

6.7 c

6.9 a

6.4 d

5.9

6.8

6.2

6.6

6.0 c

7.2 b

—

7.1 7.2 b 7.4

7.1 c 7.5

7.3 a 7.0

7.1 7.3 a

7.4 b 7.4 a 7.2 a

7.1

6.8 6.9 c

6.8 c

5.9 c

6.8

6.6

6.2 d

5.4 d

7.0

7.2

7.0

7.2

Cellular One (297)

6.6 c

5.7 c

6.7

6.6

6.4 c

5.1 c

6.8 c

6.8 c

6.9

7.0

6.8

SunCom

6.5

6.7

6.8

6.6

6.3

—

6.4

6.5

6.3 c

6.3 c

6.6

6.4 d

5.4 d

6.2 d

6.5 d

6.3 d

6.5 d

6.4 d

7.2

7.0

7.1

Nextel

(57)

(748)

AVERAGE

6.9

6.3 d

6.2 c

6.4 c

5.8

6.1

6.8

6.6

6.7

6.0

7.1

7.1

PAY-AS-YOU-GO Virgin Mobile (301 responses)

7.4 a

7.6 a

7.4 a

6.1

7.5 a

—

7.2

7.5 b

6.9

7.1

7.5 b

T-Mobile (342)

7.2

7.0 a

7.3 a

6.5

7.2 a

6.4

7.0

7.3

6.9

7.1

7.3

TracFone

7.2 b

6.9 a

7.0 b

5.4 d

6.3 c

5.3 c

7.2

7.3

7.1

7.4 b

7.1

5.7 d

6.3 c

6.4

6.8

6.6

7.5 b

7.5 b

7.5 a

7.4 b

7.4

7.0

6.6

7.2 b

6.8 b

6.8

—

7.8 b

7.4

7.2

7.3

7.3

6.7 c

5.9 d

6.4 c

6.3

6.3 c

5.9

6.9 c

6.9 c

7.0

7.0

4.9 d

6.0 c

6.3

6.5

—

6.4 c

6.7

6.5

6.5 c

6.7

—

6.8

7.2

6.6 c

6.9

6.7 c

6.0

7.1

7.2

6.9

7.0

7.2

(467)

Verizon Wireless (339) Alltel

(90)

Cingular Wireless

(543)

Nextel

(72)

6.7

Sprint

(187)

6.6 c

5.7 c

6.3 c

6.3

5.7 d

7.0

6.3

6.8

6.3

6.6

AVERAGE

7.1

7.1

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this cell phone provider?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

Satellite Radio THERE ARE ONLY two satellite radio vendors: the

one that has Howard Stern (Sirius) and the one that doesn’t (XM). In readers’ eyes, not much more separates the two. Both receive overall scores of 8.1. Both services require technical support 10 percent of the time. And scores are similar for initial setup, ease of use, variety and quality of content (take that, Howard!), customer service, and technical support. It’s worth noting, however, that Sirius users are a bit happier with what they’re paying for the service, and XM users are a bit happier with 82 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

sound quality and reliability. Sirius users rate fees at 7.0 out of 10, whereas XM users give a 6.6. XM’s sound quality score is 8.4, compared with Sirius’s 8.2. And XM’s reliability score is 8.3, compared with Sirius’s 8.1. Because there are only two vendors in this category and their scores are fairly similar across the board, we aren’t awarding a satellite radio Readers’ Choice. Pick based on the features you’re most interested in—and probably, whether or not you like Howard Stern.

VoIP the Voice over IP phone service ads are right: If you’re still using plain old telephone service, you’re paying way too much. But we also know that horror stories from those who have made the switch are all too commonplace. So what’s your safest choice if you’re going to make the jump? According to readers, Cablevision’s Optimum Voice leads the way, with AT&T CallVantage just behind. Both land Readers’ Choices. Optimum Voice receives a significantly better-than-average overall score of 8.0, and all its other scores are at least better than average—save an ease-of-setup score of 8.4, which is merely average. Worth noting, however, is that Optimum Voice is available only in the New York metro area,

CONNECTION RELIABILITY

SUPPORT FOR NONTECHNICAL VOIP ISSUES

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

where Cablevision’s broadband service is available. By contrast, any broadband user can sign up for CallVantage. AT&T’s overall score is a tad lower, at 7.9—still better than average. Readers are also pleased with Skype, but that’s a different animal. Skype is free for PC-to-PC calling, but you pay if you want to connect with people who have regular phone numbers. Skype also won’t work with just any telephone; it needs a headset, or a set of speakers and microphone connected to a PC, or a dedicated Skype phone like the Linksys CIT300. We’ve removed Skype from the overall VoIP averages, but note that the overall scores for both PC-to-PC Skype and PC-tophone Skype are better than the average for pure phone setups.

SOUND QUALITY

EVERYONE KNOWS

Optimum Voice (244 responses)

8.0 a

8.4

8.2 a

8.2 a

7.6 b

6.9 b

AT&T CallVantage (102)

7.9 b

—

8.3 b

7.9

7.7 b

Cox

7.8

—

8.4 b

8.1

b Better than average Within the average range c Worse than average

OPTIMUM VOICE Readers give Optimum Voice the highest rating of any VoIP offering in the country. The only trouble? Optimum is available only in and around New York City. AT&T CALLVANTAGE Scores a bit lower than Optimum (a 7.9 compared with an 8.0). But anyone can use it—anywhere in the country.

d Significantly worse than average

EASE OF SETUP

OVERALL SCORE*

a Significantly better than average

ALL VOIP PHONES

(55)

Road Runner (312)

7.7

Packet8

8.5 b

8.3 a

8.0 b

—

— 7.7 a

— 6.7 b

7.5

—

7.5

8.0 b

7.3

Vonage (1,478)

7.5

8.0

7.4 d

7.6

6.7 d

Comcast

7.3

7.9

8.0 b

7.7

7.3

5.9

7.7 c

7.0 d

6.9 d

6.9

5.9

5.8 d

(84)

(227)

SunRocket Lingo

7.1 c

(226)

(68)

6.5 c

—

6.4 d

6.5 c

7.5

8.1

7.7

7.7

Average of VoIP for Phones

— 5.3 d

—

7.1

6.1

Skype: PC-to-PC only (205)

7.7 b

8.5 b

7.8

7.9 b

6.9

—

Skype: PC-to-phone users (359)**

7.6 b

8.7 a

7.6

7.8

6.5 c

—

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

CUSTOMER SERVICE

RELIABILITY OF SERVICE

VARIETY AND QUALITY OF CONTENT

d Significantly worse than average

SOUND QUALITY

c Worse than average

FEES

Within the average range

EASE OF USE

b Better than average

INITIAL SETUP

a Significantly better than average

OVERALL SCORE*

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this VoIP provider?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table ** Indicates people who did not respond “Yes” to the question “Do you only use this service for PC-to-PC calling?”

ALL SATELLITE RADIO Sirius (1,568 responses)

8.1

8.2

8.4

7.0 a

8.2

8.4

XM (2,730)

8.1

8.3

8.5

6.6

8.4 b

8.3

8.1 8.3 b

7.8

6.1

8.4

7.6

6.0

8.3

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this satellite radio service?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

NONE Only two players, and their scores are pretty similar. It all comes down to what you’re looking for. Sirius users are happier with price. XM users are happier with sound quality.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 83

Digital Cameras

8.9 a

8.3 a

7.0

7.4

8.1

7.9

8.1

9.1 a

8.0 a

8.8 a

8.1 a

—

8.0 a

8.2

—

—

—

8.3 a

8.6 a

—

NIKON Most of Nikon’s digital cameras get middling ratings from readers, but boy, do they like Nikon’s digital SLRs. Nikon is right up there with Canon in that subcategory.

Konica Minolta (694)

8.0 a

—

7.4

7.8

7.8

8.8

7.9

8.4 a

6.7

7%

—

7.3 d

Pentax (318)

7.8 b

—

7.4

8.0

—

8.6

7.8

8.3 b

—

7%

—

7.8

Sony

PANASONIC The place to go for superzooms. And although Panasonic’s scores are down slightly from last year, its overall score is neck and neck with Canon’s. SUBCATEGORIES: Budget: CANON Compact: CANON, CASIO Ultracompact: CANON Enthusiast: CANON Superzoom: PANASONIC Digital SLR: CANON, NIKON

7.9 a

8.5 a

8.3 a

8.4 b

9.1 a

8.2 a

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

8.2 a

7.0 b

REPAIRS

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

—

EASE OF USE

8.8 a

DIGITAL SLR

8.2

SUPERZOOM

—

ENTHUSIAST

7.7

d Significantly worse than average

ULTRACOMPACT

7.5 a

—

c Worse than average

COMPACT

8.8 a

8.4 a

Within the average range

BUDGET

8.4 a

Panasonic

b Better than average

OVERALL SCORE*

Canon (6,560 responses)

a Significantly better than average

CANON A great choice—no matter what sort of camera you’re buying. Readers give Canon better-than-average ratings for everything from budget models to digital SLRs.

required repair. Here, its score (5 percent) is merely average. That’s worse than Kodak, Panasonic, Polaroid, Samsung, and even Vivitar—but it’s not as bad as Nikon’s repair rate. Nonetheless, Nikon gets a second Readers’ Choice for digital SLRs, alongside Canon, even though its 8 percent overall repair rate is significantly worse than the survey average. Only one vendor outside the top three receives Readers’ Choice in a subcategory: Casio, which scores particularly well with compact cameras (a significantly above-average 8.0 out of 10). Who brings up the rear among camera makers? Polaroid and Vivitar. But HP isn’t that much better.

RELIABILITY

in last, Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic are the overall Readers’ Choices among digital camera manufacturers, though Panasonic’s ratings take the slightest of downturns. Of those three, Canon is the undisputed king of the hill, with better-thanaverage (if not significantly better than average) ratings for every camera type, from budget models to digital SLRs. The Japanese manufacturer also receives Readers’ Choice awards in each of the subcategories except for superzoom models, where Panasonic again takes the prize. There’s only one area in which Canon’s scores are less than stellar: percentage of cameras that

PERCENTAGE NEEDING REPAIR

THE TOP THREE are still the top three. This year, as

7.2 a

9.0 a

ALL DIGITAL CAMERAS

Nikon

(529)

(2,612)

Casio (444)

7.9 c —

— 7.7 a

5% 3% b 8% d 8% c

— 7.3 a —

8.6 a 8.7 a 8.3 a

7.8 a

6.6

7.6

8.2

8.0 b

8.2

—

8.0 a

8.4 a

6.4

4% b

6.5

Olympus (2,251)

7.7 a

6.6

7.4 c

8.1

7.9

8.1

8.5

7.6 d

8.3 a

6.6

6%

6.4

8.1 a

Fujifilm (1,271)

7.6 b

6.9

7.5

8.1

7.8

7.9 c

8.1 c

7.9 b

8.2

6.4

5%

5.7 c

7.9 b

Kodak (2,826)

7.5

6.6

7.3 c

8.2

7.7 c

8.2

7.8 c

6.7

4% a

6.3

8.0 a

Samsung (179)

7.3

—

7.1 c

—

—

2% b

—

7.1 d

7.9

6%

—

7.5 c

8%

—

6.3 d

(2,890)

6.4 c

— 7.6 c

8.1 a

8.2

—

—

7.8

7.9 c

—

—

7.8

7.8 d

7.5

7.6 c

—

6.0 c

8.2 a

7.6

HP (802)

7.1 d

Toshiba (78)

7.1 c

—

—

—

—

—

—

Polaroid (58)

5.8 d

—

—

—

—

—

—

7.1 c

7.0 d

—

3%

—

6.5 c

Vivitar (82)

5.8 d

—

—

—

—

—

—

7.0 c

7.1 d

—

4%

—

6.0 d

AVERAGE

7.5

6.7

7.5

8.1

7.9

8.2

8.6

7.8

8.2

6.8

5%

6.6

8.7 b

7.7

DIGITAL CAMERAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD Canon (2,813 responses)

8.7 a

7.4

8.3 a

8.7 a

8.5 a

Nikon

8.7 a

—

7.8

8.2

8.3

Panasonic (315)

8.6 a

—

—

—

—

8.9 a

Konica Minolta (200)

8.4

—

—

—

—

8.3

Casio (259)

8.3

—

8.2

8.3

—

—

—

Sony

8.3

(1031)

9.2

8.4 a

9.0 a

7.5

4%

7.2

9.2 a

9.2

8.3

9.1 a

7.9

4%

—

9.0 a

—

8.4

9.0 a

—

4%

—

8.8 a

9.0

8.3

8.8

—

8%

—

7.6 d

8.5 b

8.6

—

11% c

—

8.5

8.3

8.7

—

4%

—

8.6 b

8.0 c

8.6

—

4%

—

8.5

8.1

8.6

—

4%

—

8.3

8.1 c

—

8.1 b

8.6 b

8.4

8.3

—

Olympus (499)

8.1 c

—

7.7 c

8.3

8.1

—

8.7

Pentax (109)

8.1

—

—

—

—

—

—

(868)

Fujifilm (339)

8.0 c

—

7.9

8.3

Kodak (948)

8.0 d

7.0

7.8

8.3

Samsung (88)

8.0

—

—

—

HP (238)

7.7 d

7.1

7.7

—

AVERAGE

8.2

7.2

7.9

8.4

—

—

8.4 c

—

2% b

—

8.2 c

8.4

—

8.3

8.5 d

—

3% b

—

8.4

—

—

—

8.3

8.5

—

2%

—

8.1

—

—

—

8.3

8.2 d

—

4%

—

8.3

8.2

8.5

9.1

8.3

8.7

7.7

5%

7.2

8.5

8.1 8.0 c

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this camera?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

84 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

HDTV

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

9.0 a

REPAIRS

8.7 b

PERCENTAGE NEEDING REPAIR

RELIABILITY

9.1 a

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

REAR PROJECTION

d Significantly worse than average

Readers’ Choice for this segment of the market, with a 9.1 out of 10. It’s also the Readers’ Choice for rear-projection TVs, with an 8.7. In the big picture, across all technologies, Sony is just behind Pioneer, with an overall score of 8.5, and it receives a Readers’ Choice award for CRTs (8.4), and LCDs (8.6). Readers also shared their experiences with front-projection TVs, but Sony was the only vendor rated. And because Sony received only 50 responses in total, a Readers’ Choice in that niche category will have to wait until next year.

PLASMA

c Worse than average

LCD

Within the average range

FRONT PROJECTION

b Better than average

CRT

a Significantly better than average

OVERALL SCORE*

IT’S ABOUT TIME. This year, along with satellite radios, we add HDTVs to the mix. And, as you might expect, readers rate all sorts of vendors offering all sorts of HD technologies, from plasma TVs and rear-projections to good ol’ CRTs. But two companies stand out: Pioneer and Sony. If you look at the overall scores across all technologies, Pioneer is king, with a significantly above-average overall score of 9.0 out of 10. This has a lot do with the fact that readers prefer plasmas to all other HD technologies. Pioneer is one of the biggest plasma vendors, and it’s the lone

ALL HDTVS Pioneer (206 responses)

9.0 a

—

—

LG (133)

8.5 b

—

—

8.5 b

8.6

Sony

8.5 a

8.3

8.6 a

8.5

(2,082)

8.4 a

—

— 8.5 a

8.8 a

—

7%

—

8.7 b

—

5%

—

8.3 b

7.0

8.6 a

8.8 a

7.4 b

6% a

Sharp (282)

8.4 b

—

—

8.4 b

8.6 b

—

—

8.3 a

Panasonic (838)

8.3 a

7.8

—

8.3

8.8 a

7.9 c

8.6 a

6.7

7% b

6.5

8.3 a

Samsung (1,192)

8.3 a

7.8

—

8.3 b

8.5

8.4 a

8.5 b

6.6

12% c

6.5

8.3 a

Hitachi (433)

8.2

—

—

—

8.4

8.2

8.5

6.6

11%

—

8.1 b

HP (51)

8.2

—

—

—

—

—

8.2

—

Mitsubishi (641)

8.2

—

—

—

—

8.2

8.4

6.8

Dell (168)

8.1

—

—

8.0

—

—

8.2

—

JVC (132)

8.1

—

—

—

—

8.3

8.2

—

Vizio (128)

8.0

—

—

7.9

—

8.3

—

Toshiba (643)

7.9 c

7.9

—

8.1

8.3

Philips (331)

7.8 c

7.6

—

8.0

Westinghouse (107)

7.8

—

—

7.8 c

Sanyo

(57)

7.7

—

—

Zenith

(59)

7.7

—

—

7.5 d

—

—

RCA (204) Syntax Olevia

(108)

AVERAGE

7.5 c 8.1

—

—

7.9

8.3

—

8.2 c — 8.0 c

—

7.9 c 7.7 c

8.1 c

8%

4%

—

7.8

6.6

8.0

11%

—

7.9

19% c

—

7.9

6%

—

8.2 b

6.5

9%

6.5

—

7%

—

7.6 c

3% b

—

7.5 c

2% b

—

7.8

12% c

7.8

—

—

8.3

—

—

—

—

8.3

—

—

—

—

8.2

—

10%

—

7.1 c

—

—

7.9 c

—

13%

—

6.9 d 7.4 c

7.5 c 8.1

7.5 d

—

—

8.0 c

8.5

8.1

8.4

—

9%

—

6.8

8%

6.6

7.9

PIONEER No one comes close. Pioneer garners the highest overall score. The company comes out ahead on rearprojection TVs and, in particular, plasmas. SONY Looking for an LCD model—or even a good old CRT? Look to Sony. And Sony’s scores are pretty darn good for rear-projection models, too. SUBCATEGORIES: Plasma: PIONEER Rear-projection: PIONEER CRT: SONY LCD: SONY Front-projection: NONE

HDTVS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD Pioneer (94 responses)

9.2 a

—

—

—

9.2 a

—

9.2 a

—

5%

—

9.1 a

Panasonic (361)

8.7 a

—

—

8.4

8.9

—

8.9 a

—

2% a

—

8.8 a

8.6

8.9 a

8.1

3% a

—

8.8 a

8.8 b

—

5%

—

8.5 b

8.5

—

6%

—

8.3

—

8.6 a

LG (106)

8.6 b

—

—

8.5

—

—

Mitsubishi (111)

8.6 b

—

—

—

—

8.6

Samsung (574)

8.5 b

7.8

—

8.5 b

8.6

8.7

7.2

6%

—

8.4 b

Sharp (153)

8.5

—

—

8.6 b

—

—

8.6

—

8%

—

8.4

JVC

8.1

Sony

8.7 a

(830)

8.4 b

8.9 a

8.7 b

8.4

—

—

—

—

—

8.4

—

18% c

—

Dell (107)

8.3

—

—

8.1

—

—

8.3

—

11%

—

8.1

Hitachi (98)

8.3

—

—

—

—

—

8.6

—

2% b

—

8.2

Toshiba (214)

8.1

—

—

—

—

8.3 c

—

12% c

—

7.9 c

Vizio (110)

8.1

—

—

8.0

—

8.4

—

6%

—

8.2 7.9 c

(71)

8.3 c —

Philips (178)

8.0 c

—

—

8.1

—

—

8.3 c

—

6%

—

Westinghouse (94)

7.9 c

—

—

7.9 c

—

—

8.3

—

2% b

—

7.5 c

RCA (55)

7.8 c

—

—

—

—

8.3

—

5%

—

7.5 c

7.5 d

—

—

7.5 c

—

11%

—

7.3 c

8.3

8.1

—

8.2

7.7

7%

—

8.2

Syntax Olevia AVERAGE

(73)

—

—

—

8.8

8.6

7.9 c 8.5

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this HDTV?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 85

MP3 Players IT’S NO SURPRISE: Apple is a Readers’ Choice for a

8.5 a

Archos

(200)

7.8 b

COWON AMERICA Never heard of ’em? They’re the guys behind the iAudio players. And Cowon’s survey scores are almost as high as Apple’s.

8.7 a

8.6 a

8.3 a

6.5

—

—

9.0 a

8.0 a

8.7 a

—

6%

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

8.3 a

8.3 a

REPAIRS

7.8 a

(109)

d Significantly worse than average

PERCENTAGE NEEDING REPAIR

10GB OR MORE

APPLE You knew it would be. iPods are the most widely used MP3 players, and the most popular. Overall score: 8.4 out of 10.

RELIABILITY

1GB TO 10GB

8.4 a

Cowon

Within the average range c Worse than average

EASE OF USE

1GB OR LESS

Apple (6,292 responses)

b Better than average

SOUND QUALITY

OVERALL SCORE*

a Significantly better than average

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

of units needing repair among its players less than a year old as well. (Oddly, so does Cowon.) It’s also interesting to note that Apple’s tech support and repair satisfaction numbers are relatively low compared with the company’s inordinately high scores for desktops and notebooks (6.5 compared with 8.1 plus; see go.pcmag.com/sr). With so many PC users buying iPods, this may support the theory that Apple’s desktop and notebook scores are artificially inflated by the antiWindows crowd. Or maybe not. We also notice that reader satisfaction with MP3 players increases as the capacity increases— and this applies even with iPods. Readers are much less happy with players with less than 1GB of storage—like the iPod shuffle—than they are with hard drive–based and large-capacity flash storage–based units.

line of MP3 players known as iPods. You may have heard of them. But here’s some news: A company called Cowon America, part of a Korean multimedia giant, scores nearly as high for its players, which generally go by the iAudio moniker. And, radical as this may sound to Apple, a few of the Cowon players are actually compatible with music subscription services, earning the company a Readers’ Choice as well. Just a few steps below those two you’ll find Archos, Creative, and iRiver; on the low side, three vendors score particularly poorly: Philips, RCA, and Rio. Despite its high overall score—8.4 out of 10— Apple does have one problem area: quality control. According to readers, 8 percent of its units require repair. Worse, this isn’t just because of older players dying: Apple had a high percentage

ALL MP3 PLAYERS —

8% d

6.6

8.6 a

—

8.4 a 7.6

—

7.9

8.4 b

7.6

7.9

—

8%

—

Creative (1814)

7.7 a

7.4 a

7.8

8.1

8.4 a

7.7 a

8.1 a

6.3

5%

6.4

iriver

7.6 b

7.4 b

7.7

7.9

8.4 a

7.2 c

8.0 a

—

4%

—

7.5 b

—

—

8.4 b

7.1

7.8

—

4%

—

7.6

(609)

—

7.9 a

mobiBLU (55)

7.5

—

Dell

7.4

6.8

7.3 c

8.0

7.6

7.6

—

9% c

—

6.9 c

7.4

7.2 b

8.0 b

—

7.9 c

7.4

7.8 b

—

4% b

—

7.6 a

Samsung (307)

7.3

7.5 b

7.1 c

—

8.2

7.4

7.8

—

5%

—

7.3

Sony

7.3

7.0

7.9

8.2

7.9 c

7.5

7.7

—

2% a

—

7.5 b

Toshiba (61)

7.0

—

—

—

7.9

7.2

7.4

—

7%

—

Rio

6.9 d

7.7

8.0

7.6 d

7.3

7.3 d

—

5%

—

1% a

—

(400)

SanDisk

(897)

(682)

(662)

6.5 d

7.7 c

Panasonic (153)

6.8 c

6.7

—

—

7.4 d

Philips (163)

6.8 d

6.3 c

—

—

7.7 c

7.4

—

—

7.7

—

—

7.5 d

7.7

8.1

8.1

(55)

6.7 c

(328)

6.6 d

6.5 d

7.3

7.0

MPIO RCA

AVERAGE

—

7.1 c

7.1 6.5 d

7.3 c

—

7.3 c

—

4%

6.4 c

7.1 c

—

4%

—

6.1 c

7.0 c

7.2 d

—

3%

—

6.4 d

7.4

7.7

6.4

5%

6.5

7.3

6% d

—

7.1 6.6 d

MP3 PLAYERS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD Apple (3,343 responses)

8.5 a

Cowon

8.3 a

(71)

7.8 a —

8.4 a

8.8 a

8.6 a

8.4 a

6.5

6.8

8.6 a

—

8.7 a —

9.0 a

8.0

8.7 a

—

7%

—

8.5 a

6.5

4%

—

8.2 a 7.7

Creative (804)

8.0 a

7.7 a

8.0

8.4

8.5 a

7.8 a

8.2 a

Samsung (171)

7.7

7.8 b

—

—

8.5 b

7.7

8.0

—

4%

—

iriver

(190)

7.6

7.5

—

8.5 b

7.2 c

7.9

—

2%

—

7.7

Sony

(259)

7.6

7.4

8.0

7.7

8.0

—

2% b

—

7.8 b

7.5

7.3

8.0

—

8.0 c

7.2

6.7 c

—

—

7.8

7.0 c

6.5 c

SanDisk Dell Rio

(649)

(124)

(123)

Philips (75)

6.9 c

RCA (101)

6.9 c

Panasonic (66)

6.8 c

AVERAGE

7.5

— 6.8 c

7.6 c —

8.1

7.5 7.1 c

7.9

—

4%

—

7.7

7.4

—

7%

—

6.9 c 6.9 c

—

—

7.7 c

7.5

7.3 c

—

4%

—

—

—

7.9

7.4

7.3 c

—

3%

—

6.7 c

—

—

7.8 c

7.2

7.5

—

1% b

—

6.9 c

7.4 c

7.0 c

7.0 c

7.0 c

8.2

7.6

7.8

—

—

—

7.3

8.1

8.2

—

2%

—

6.5

4%

6.8

* The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this MP3 player?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

86 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

7.6

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APPLE Steve & Co., take another bow. But in this case, they’re not exactly king of the hill. Cisco scores higher.

CISCO Yes, this is bit odd. Cisco routers are meant for corporate networks, not the home kind. But readers use them—and give them the highest marks of any vendor. LINKSYS This is how Cisco intends to sell home routers: through Linksys, the company it purchased in 2003. And unlike Apple, Linksys targets everyone.

LIKELIHOOD OF RECOMMENDING

REPAIRS

d Significantly worse than average

PERCENTAGE NEEDING REPAIR

c Worse than average

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Within the average range

RELIABILITY

b Better than average

WIRED

a Significantly better than average

OVERALL SCORE*

WE DIVIDE ROUTER manufacturers into two subcategories. No, not wired and wireless, but companies that offer primarily routers integrated with your broadband modem (listed in italics in the table) versus standalone routers, which connect via Ethernet to the modem. You’d think integrated models would be easier to set up and use, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Readers are generally happier with vendors that focus on standalone models. All three Readers’ Choices—Apple, Cisco, and Linksys—sell dedicated routers primarily, and the vendor with the lowest scores, Actiontec, for the most part sells integrated routers. Linksys doesn’t score quite as high as Cisco (its parent company), or Apple, but it’s worth noting that Linksys routers are the best mainstream option. Apple routers are typically used only with Macs, and Cisco routers are meant for corporate networks. Linksys’s overall score is significantly above average (8.1), as are its scores on reliability (8.2), percentage requiring repairs (3 percent), and likelihood of recommending (8.4). An honorable mention goes to Buffalo, which had a better-thanaverage overall score (8.1) and also garnered the best ratings for routers less than a year old. As with Apple, only 1 percent of its units required repairs.

WIRELESS

Network Routers

ALL NETWORK ROUTERS Cisco (137 responses)

9.0 a

9.2 a

—

3%

—

Apple (132)

8.8 a

8.8 a

—

9.0 a

—

1% b

—

8.8 a

SonicWall (54)

8.4 b

7.9 b

—

8.7 b

—

7%

—

8.0

Buffalo (105)

8.1 b

8.1 b

—

8.4

Linksys (9,537)

8.1 a

8.1 a

8.3

Belkin (1,064)

7.9

7.9 b

7.9 c

USRobotics (179)

7.9

7.9 b

D-Link (3,469)

7.8

Netgear (2,697)

7.8

Siemens (77)

7.8

2Wire (436)

7.8

Motorola (183)

7.7

SMC Networks (239)

7.7

Microsoft (260)

7.6 c

AirLink+ (89)

7.5

ZyXel (72)

7.5

3Com (97)

—

9.2 a

—

1% b

—

8.2 a

6.5

3% a

5.7

8.9 a

7.9 8.4 a

8.0

6.3

3%

—

7.7 b

—

8.0

—

3%

—

7.6

7.7 b

8.2

8.0

6.5

3% b

6.5 b

7.9 a

7.7

8.3

8.0

5.6 d

2% a

4.9

7.9 a

—

—

8.3

7.8

7.9

8.2

7.7

—

8.0

—

2%

—

7.5

7.4 c

8.1

7.9

—

4%

—

7.4

7.5

—

8.0

—

1% b

—

6.5 d

7.5

—

7.7 c

—

2%

—

7.3

7.4

—

7.6 c

—

6%

—

7.1

7.5

7.5

—

7.7 c

—

3%

—

7.4

Westell (291)

7.3 d

7.2 c

—

7.5 d

6.2

6%

—

6.6 d

Dell (78)

7.2 c

7.1 c

—

7.5 c

—

5%

—

6.7 c

Actiontec (181)

6.9 d

6.9 d

—

7.1 d

6.6

9% c

—

6.3 d

AVERAGE

7.8

7.7

8.1

6.5

4%

5.7

8.3

— 7.3 a

3%

—

7.5

3%

—

7.4

7.5

NETWORK ROUTERS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD Buffalo (54 responses)

8.5 a

8.5 a

—

8.6 a

—

2%

—

2Wire (167)

8.0 b

8.0

—

8.2 b

—

5%

—

Linksys (3,377)

8.0 a

8.0 a

8.1

8.1 a

6.4

4% b

Belkin (439)

7.9 b

7.9 b

D-Link (1,298)

7.9 b

7.8

8.5 b

Netgear (1,011)

7.9

7.8

USRobotics (75)

7.8

7.9

5.5

8.4 b 7.6 8.4 a

8.0

6.4

4%

—

7.8 b

8.0 b

6.5

4%

6.2

8.0 a

8.2

8.0

5.6 c

3% a

—

7.9 a

—

8.0

—

3%

—

7.6

—

Motorola (63)

7.7

7.7

—

8.1

—

5%

—

7.6

AirLink+ (60)

7.5

7.4

—

7.6

—

3%

—

7.4 6.6 c

Westell (102)

7.3 c

7.3 c

—

7.5 c

—

9%

—

Actiontec (77)

6.9 c

6.9 c

—

7.1 c

—

10%

—

AVERAGE

7.8

7.7

6.2

5%

5.8

8.3

7.9

6.1 d 7.6

Italic type denotes primarily integrated cable or DSL modems and routers. * The overall score is based on answers to the question “Overall, how would you rate this router?” It is not the average of the other scores in this table.

READERS’ CHOICE PART 1 RECAP MISSED PART 1 OF OUR SURVEY? IT WAS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE

last year’s desktop, notebook, and printer survey. Once again, Apple and Sony were Readers’ Choices for desktops, receiving some of the highest ratings—while HP/Compaq and Lenovo/ IBM got some of the lowest. Only eMachines and its parent company, Gateway, showed major improvements here. For notebooks, in another repeat of 2005, Apple took another Readers’ Choice, followed closely by Lenovo/IBM, scoring much higher—as always— than on the desktop portion of the survey. At the other end of the spectrum, Averatec and HP/Compaq notebooks scored lowest. And yes, we had the same two Readers’ Choices for printers—Canon and HP—though with HP showing a few signs of faltering.

THE WINNERS Desktops: APPLE, SONY Notebooks: APPLE, LENOVO/IBM Printers: CANON, HP

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 87

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OUR FIRST SMALL-BUSINESS AWARDS

I

We celebrate small and midsize businesses that use technology in innovative ways to drive growth. T’S NOT THE GO-GO NINETIES ANYMORE, BUT

the capitalist spirit is alive and well among the hundreds of small and midsize businesses we considered for our first PC Magazine SMB 20 Awards. From YoYo Nation, a two-person outfit using open-source software to cultivate an active worldwide community of yo-yo enthusiasts, to a Web-based T-shirt company making a tidy profit in customer-designed wear, there’s no shortage of innovation. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. There are millions of them, and they generate 60 to 80 percent of new jobs every year. Thanks to the Web and the abundance of services and tools that have sprung from it, small businesses have unprecedented possibilities. Using technology smartly can help companies shave costs, expand market share, get products and services to market faster, and improve customer relations. Our SMB 20 Awards celebrate the entrepreneurs—many of them PC Magazine readers—who are using technology in innovative ways to grow their businesses. Several themes emerged among our winners. Some are successfully using existing models such as online auctions, and many companies are lowering the cost of goods through technology. Open-source software made a strong showing as well. We selected the winners by how effectively and imaginatively they’re using technology, with quantitative metrics such as revenue growth also considered. To nominate your own business for our 2007 awards, visit us online at go.pcmag.com/ smb20.—Carol L. Gonsher

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 89

GRAND WINNER

JETS INTERNATIONAL

Employees: 25 Location: Quincy, Massachusetts Launched: 1999 Best tech advice: “You have to be flexible, so make sure your technology is flexible.” www.jets.com

Not every small business can compete against highfliers like Warren Buffett, but with its innovative use of technology Jets International has managed to carve out a niche in the aviation business. Seven years ago, company founder and CEO Nathan McKelvey was managing a few private aircraft and taking evening classes when he began writing code for the aviation industry. “At the time, everyone was focused on private airfare as if it were a commercial airline ticket, that is, always a round trip,” says McKelvey. Instead, he based his reverse-auction system on a long-haul-trucking model, which enabled passengers to book flights one way, say from New York to Palm Beach, with other passengers booking otherwise-empty return flights. For private operators, the system meant fewer jets sitting on the tarmac and fewer “dead head” or empty flights. For customers, it offered flexible schedules and the advantage of lower fares to enjoy the luxury of private air travel. The traditional private aircraft options can be extremely costly and often

HIGHFLIER Jets International CEO Nathan McKelvey survived the dot-com bust with an innovative reverse-auction system for booking private flights. 90 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

lack flexibility. Fractional ownership outfits such as the Buffett-backed NetJets offer deals that cost upward of $400,000—plus monthly maintenance charges—for a 16th share of, say, a Hawker 400XP. But most people, even the superrich, don’t want to be concerned with the hassles of rising maintenance and fuel costs. “They just don’t want to be in the aviation business,” points out McKelvey. Then there is the jet card alternative; Marquis Jet is one outfit that uses them. A jet card works like a very-expensive commuter’s ticket. It can cost $299,000 for a Marquis Jet Card with 25 hours of air travel time on a Gulfstream IV-SP. Conversely, at Jets International, buyers can book a private jet for just one short flight for a few grand. What makes Jets International’s deals possible is an online booking and auction site that gives fliers a choice of preapproved aircraft operators. Buyers post a trip request and operators can instantaneously enter a cost quote. Customers can even specify a specific type of jet, get detailed safety reports on operators, look at reviews from other customers about previous trip experiences with particular jets and crews, or check out interiors and flight amenities using an online 360-degree photo tour of the jets. Fliers can also receive RSS feeds apprising them of special discounts on one-way empty segments. In its first year of operation, Jets International made $1.2 million in revenue. Last year, the company topped $17 million in sales, says McKelvey. But getting there wasn’t easy. “It was a major integration project to get schedule information from operators,” says the CEO, who recalls training aircraft operators in logging on to AOL so that he could track minute-by-minute aircraft availability. “When I first started, I had a server running faxes; then it was e-mail, then finally XML feeds.” McKelvey still has to work with operators uploading flight data to FTP sites and filing Excel spreadsheets, “but we’ve made huge inroads,” he says. Launched into the teeth of the dot.com bust, McKelvey’s business had an inauspicious debut. “I thought I had made a huge mistake. I was having a difficult time getting jet operators to bid on flights,” he says. But then scores of high-flying Internet companies shut their doors and other firms cut back on expensive travel. “Suddenly, I had jet operators pounding on my door,” says McKelvey. Today, Jets International enables buyers to use reputable regional operators at competitive prices. It also avoids the expense of maintaining its own fleet of planes, and it helps operators squeeze additional revenue from their aircraft. With its innovative technology Jets International eliminates the traditional broker and the card programs and gives fliers the freedom of choice.—John R. Quain

RUNNERS UP

YOYONATION Employees: 2 Location: New York City Launched: 2005 Best tech advice: “You can use free or open-source software without compromising quality.” www.yoyonation.com

YO! Weber Hsu, a partner at YoYoNation.com along with Pat Cuartaro, turned a passion into a Web phenom with the help of open-source software.

By using the right technology and tapping into the social-networking phenomenon of online communities, Weber Hsu and F. Patrick Cuartero have managed to launch a successful business on a shoestring. Or rather, a yo-yo string. YoYoNation is a specialty e-tailer for hard-core yo-yo enthusiasts, conceived by Cuartero to feed his passion for yo-yos. (He enjoyed a “semiprofessional yo-yo career” before college beckoned, and is the reigning yo-yo world champion.) He and Hsu examined the yo-yo community online and thought they could do better. The company set up its retail space using XCart and built a community forum using Simple Machines Forum (SMF) open-source software. SMF proved to be critical to developing the kind of community in which “customers are treated like friends because they have the same passion,” says Cuartero. And if he couldn’t figure something out on his own, he’d have help within an hour from the SMF community. Indeed, several key features of YoYoNation were developed with help from the open-source community. The company uses its Web site to develop brand loyalty. A few hours spent on an e-mail blast and a discussion forum are significantly less costly than a traditional marketing campaign. So far it seems to be working. Collectors, professional players, and people who simply want top-of-theline yo-yos are flocking to the site. Results have been modest so far, with just over $33,000 in sales last year and 700 active members, but the founders say they’ve experienced double-digit growth every month. They hope to be a million-dollar company by the end of this year.—JRQ

SURVIVING KATRINA CEO Charles Coe Jr. (front) says Skype and Blogspot kept his tech consulting firm afloat during and after Katrina.

COE & COMPANY Employees: 19 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Launched: 1992 Best tech advice: “The integration of communications is key.” www.coesolutions.com

While evacuating from the New Orleans area ahead of Hurricane Katrina, Charles Coe Jr. tapped a couple of times on the screen of his HP iPAQ and by doing so may have saved his small accounting technology consulting business, Coe & Company, from a disaster of its own. From his car, Coe approved a change request from his technical manager to switch the company’s e-mail and Web site to Network Solutions’ off-site hosted service. “I had backup tapes in the car, but having a backup is not the same as having the right software and hardware—and it’s not the same as being able to communicate with employees and customers,” he says. Thanks to the prescient change in e-mail service and the adroit use of several other communications tools, Coe was able to keep his company afloat. After the storm, Coe contacted employees on their handheld Pocket PCs and pointed them to the company’s BlogSpot blog for more information. Then he held Skype conference calls and, using Microsoft Dynamics software to identify key customers (“the ones without whom we wouldn’t be able to pay the mortgage”), divided up the chore of contacting clients. “BlogSpot literally saved our company,” says Coe, by allowing customers to tell him they needed assistance. The phones couldn’t be forwarded because the switch was under 6 feet of water, but with Skype, customers knew the company was up and running. A programmer in Australia was able to maintain communications with the company using Skype. And one client who had evacuated from Cozumel to Mexico City in front of Katrina contacted Coe using Skype soon after the storm. But how does Coe measure success? “We’re still in business, and we didn’t lose a single employee.”—JRQ OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 91

E-COMMERCE

FINALISTS

BACKCOUNTRY.COM Employees: 250 Location: Park City, Utah Launched: 1996 Best tech advice: “Plan on spending the same amount of money on your e-commerce site as you would on a physical store.” www.backcountry.com

TOG TEAM Backcountry.com founders John Bresee (left) and Jim Holland (right).

For outdoor e-tailer Backcountry.com, choosing open-source software wasn’t so much a political decision as it was a practical one. “When we started in the nineties with just $2,000, we would have paid for a solution at the right price, but it didn’t exist,” says John Bresee, company president. Off-the-shelf options were simply too expensive for a small business just starting out, so the company set about building what it needed with open-source code. Today, what makes the company a standout is how it uses Linux, Apache, PostgreSQL, and XML in everything from site design to its call center to its back-office operations. In character with its open architecture, Backcountry.com even uses an 8,000-page wiki run on open-source MediaWiki software as the company intranet; the wiki acts as a repository of company information and a place where any employees can have their say in the business. Keeping it all running smoothly and reliably takes 20 IBM blade servers and a smart team of 22 software engineers. But the company’s CIO, David Jenkins, says open-source software has been saving the company roughly $1.7 million annually. Investing in such technology development helped make it possible for revenues to nearly double last year, to approximately $52.5 million. Backcountry.com’s growth is likewise reflected in the five specialty sporting-goods stores it has added, as well as its recent move into a 208,000-square-foot warehouse.—JRQt

OPEN SOURCED Online retailer Backcountry.com uses open source software in everything, from its back office to its Web site. 92 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

TEES TO GO CustomInk founders Dave Christensen (left) and Marc Katz model some of their products.

CUSTOMINK LLC Employees: 100 Location: Tyson’s Corner, Virginia Launched: 2000 Best tech advice: “If a technology is critical to your business success, it’s got to be something that you control.” www.customink.com

Turning custom T-shirts into a $23 million dollar business takes technological ingenuity. CustomInk has done it with a mix of CRM software, an online just-in-time ordering and supply system, and a custom-built online design application. At the online store, which also sells custom mugs, hats, and more, buyers create their own custom T-shirts using a Java-based “design lab.” Online shoppers can add logos, clip art, and custom letters and then see how their designs will look on particular shirts onscreen before they place an order. Once a customer makes a selection, the order is routed to one of dozens of preapproved screen printers, the blank apparel is ordered, and the shirts are drop-shipped from the manufacturer to the printer. The streamlined process can accept orders for as few as six shirts. “We have thousands of orders at any given time,” says Marc Katz, company president and cofounder, who adds that the average order is $400. He says his company should sell over three million shirts this year. “You could never do that without the right information technology.” CustomInk is now experimenting with digital textile printing. Using a machine akin to an inkjet printer, the company can offer one-off, what-yousee-is-what-you-get custom shirts.—JRQ

FOR MORE WINNERS, TURN THE PAGE AND OPEN THE GATEFOLD.

Are you working with old systems? (Or should we say, working around them?)

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transaction for the company’s more than 300 specialists nationwide. And though gross sales were just $500,000 in 2005, the company hopes to triple revenues in 2007.—JRQ

LA LA MEDIA INC. Employees: 23 Location: Palo Alto, California Launched: 2005 Best tech advice: “The most powerful technology you can build is the part that lets customers give you feedback.” www.lala.com PLAY IT AGAIN FoundValue’s CEO Stella Kleiman uses e-specialists to help people sell their garage goodies for top dollar on eBay.

FOUNDVALUE Employees: 20 Location: San Francisco Launched: 2004 Best tech advice: “Don’t start a technology company for technology’s sake. You have to solve a consumer or business need.” www.foundvalue.com

Everyone knows you can make money selling stuff on eBay, but not everyone knows what will sell and what won’t. FoundValue has developed a unique service to help sellers. What’s different about FoundValue is that it has added a layer of automation and service to help people sell items on the world’s largest auction site. Rather than opening storefronts where customers can drop off items to sell online, founder and CEO Stella Kleiman decided that first people needed help determining what to sell. So using Microsoft .Net and AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), the company developed a Web-based service that lets sellers find a local, trained FoundValue “especialist” who will assist them. Customers can tell e-specialists online what goods they have so that the specialist can research items before visiting a client’s home. E-specialists then pick up the customers’ goods and sell the items on eBay. Kleiman estimates that FoundValue’s platform saves from 1 to 3 hours of time per

We all make mistakes, like buying ABBA and Ted Nugent CDs that we end up hating but can’t return. So Bill Nguyen, founder of lala. com, thought music lovers should be able to correct such unfortunate errors in judgment by trading those CDs with someone else who wants them. Lala.com is the first online music store in which fans can trade CDs they have for CDs they want for $1. The company connects members with other members who have discs they want and charges an average of 75 cents to ship a CD. To date, Nguyen claims the service has a music catalogue that is twice the size of Amazon’s, and he says that la la makes it easier for customers to discover new music they might like. “You identify other people as friends, and so their musical interests are given a weight on your taste.” The vast array of CDs and the complexity of the site’s virtual trading floor require some nifty search techniques, as well as AJAX programming. Indeed, the custom-built technology is essential to la la, with 21 of 24 employees listed as software programmers. To keep everyone happy, la la gives 20 percent of every trade to the musicians who contributed to the recording. And if an artist is no longer living, la la makes a contribution to a charitable foundation that provides health care for working musicians. Now that sounds like a fair trade.—JRQ

Business success s

TRIO La la media founders (from left) Billy Alvarado, Bill Nguyen, and John Cogan rely heavily on Web software and search techniques to fine-tune their virtual trading floor for unwanted CDs.

SAN DIEGO SIGN COMPANY Employees: 10 Location: San Diego Launched: 2001 Best tech advice: “Google AdWords can have the biggest impact on a small company.” www.sdsign.com

If it weren’t for technology, some companies wouldn’t even be in business. According to the folks at the San Diego Sign Company, they were nearly out of business before they learned to leverage technology. “We closed our sign shop and moved it into our house,” says company vice president Eric Van Velzer. “We had mortgaged everything and were nearly broke.” Then the company started working online. Customers could browse designs and formats on www.sdsign.com, or upload their own designs, which could be made into banners on a Seiko printer that could print signs 6 feet wide. Van Velzer and his colleagues now use several Web services to keep costs down: PayCycle for payroll, Google AdWords for marketing, Guru.com for outsourcing its catalog, Alibaba.com to locate Asian subcontractors, and Skype for communication with international clients and vendors. Today, the company has graduated to a 10foot-wide printer and is moving into a 7,000square-foot warehouse. It had sales of $1.7 million last year.

LA LA LAND Lala.com is the first online music store where music fans can trade CDs they have for ones they want for $1 each.

Now San Diego Sign deals with customers ranging from small churches and mom-and-pop businesses to Apple, Taylor Made Golf, and Cold Stone Creamery. And the business now reaches clients in Canada and Puerto Rico. “These are customers we couldn’t have even imagined having several years ago,” says Van Velzer.—JRQ

BANNER YEAR San Diego Sign moved its brick-and-mortar sign shop online—and found a profitable market.

starts with a great idea.

SERVICES

FINALISTS CASESTACK INC. Employees: 110 (420 with recent merger) Location: Santa Monica, California Launched: 1999 Best tech advice: “Get the right people who can figure out where the technology should be applied—and where it shouldn’t be applied.” www.casestack.com

KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ CaseStack uses sophisticated Webbased software to orchestrate delivery of packaged goods across the country.

“It’s the kind of industry where a lot of things can go wrong,” admits Dan Sanker, CEO and founder of CaseStack, a nationwide logistics, warehousing, and shipping services company for medium-size businesses. So Sanker turned to technology to reduce costly mistakes. “What’s different is that our software has filters and built-in intelligence to make sure the data is all accurate,” says Sanker. The Web-based Microsoft .Net programs have enough smarts not to hold up a customer’s 40,000-pound order just because 5 pounds of products are not in the warehouse. And optimizing software links the company’s network of 21 warehouses to over 1,000 independent truckers to determine if orders can be consolidated, what trucker has the best on-time reputation, and who has the best pricing. By reducing errors and integrating with customers’ order-management systems, CaseStack has grown revenue 620 percent over the past three years. It’s now looking to expand internationally, thanks to its recent merger with AtomicBox Logistics, which has a distribution center in Shenzhen,

China. The merger expands CaseStack from 110 to 420 employees. Sanker says the key is the flexibility to work with not only XML but also EDI and flat files from customers. Now he’s working with RFID systems to squeeze out even more efficiencies and information in the future.—JRQ

HANDYMAN MATTERS INC. Employees: 22 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Launched: 1998 Best tech advice: “Technology is constantly changing, so it’s important to keep up with the changes and be open-minded.” www.handymanmatters.com

Sometimes it’s the small things that matter. Like odd jobs around the house that are too small for a contractor but too difficult for you to tackle during half-time on Sunday. Getting someone reliable to do the work can be difficult, which is where Handyman Matters comes in. The franchising outfit trains local craftsmen (and women) and then sells their services nationwide online. Jobs are distributed to regional franchisees who then perform maintenance, repair, and minor remodeling on residential and commercial properties. The typical job is about $300. Handyman customers fill out a work request online, which is then sent to the appropriate territory. “We created our own Web-based software that then estimates the amount of time required, schedules a time, and does the dispatching,” says company vice president Mark Douglass. All job tracking is done online and downloaded into QuickBooks Online. Cellphone text messages alert craftsmen to jobs, including links to Google maps with driving directions. It’s a level of customer service and global reach that would be difficult without the tech infrastructure. The company has 130 franchisees in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. “Our motto is to do the little jobs,” says Douglass. And thousands of little jobs a day can really add up. The company says it posted $3.4 million in sales last year.—JRQ

(But it grows with the right techno

SEW WHAT? INC. Employees: 33 Location: Rancho Dominguez, California Launched: 1992 Best tech advice: “Try to have a technology budget, even if it’s small. You can do it incrementally.” www.sewwhatinc.com

Video conferencing and search-engine optimization aren’t technologies one would naturally associate with a custom theatricaldrapery manufacturer. But those are just two of the technologies Sew What? has enlisted to raise the curtain on new business opportunities. With a sophisticated Web site that includes digital swatches, instructions on using different types of fabrics, and the ability for customers to upload multimegabyte designs, founder and president Megan Duckett says she’s shaved days off the time it takes to produce custom curtains. She also deployed a host of technologies to improve customer service. “We can now

olgy.)

do daily reporting to clients using live video feeds, send progress photos, and trade installation diagrams,” she says. The practical benefits have been immediate. By creating customized templates in QuickBooks Enterprise, Sew What? enabled sales reps to send copies of flame-proofing certificates to clients’ PDAs so that fire marshals can see the documents instantly. How has such technology affected Sew What?’s business? The company has gone from about 600 clients a year to around 3,000, says Duckett, with the likes of Sting, Madonna, and Prince seeking its services. “Eighteen months ago, 80 percent of our customers were in California,” she says. “Now it’s about 33 percent in California and 67 percent around the world.”—JRQ

RAISING THE CURTAIN Sew What? founders Megan Duckett and business partner/husband Adam James Duckett turned a kitchen-table business into a global enterprise.

FOR MORE WINNERS, TURN THE PAGE.

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TO THE RESCUE Moving to the Web was a lifesaver for Pamela Isom’s business, ICE Safety Solutions.

ICE SAFETY SOLUTIONS Number of employees: 5 Location: Fremont, California Year launched: 1999 Best tech advice: “Large corporations are so techsavvy. If you’re trying to get their business, you have to be savvy too.” www.getice.com

Unlike so many ultrasmall businesses, ICE realizes that technology is vitally important to even the simplest of tasks. ICE, short for “In Case of Emergency,” provides safety instruction, including training in CPR and first aid, to individuals and businesses. The five-person company recently applied for and won an Intel Technology Grant; it used the money simply to move scheduling and invoicing onto the Web. The result cannot be exaggerated: Founder Pamela Isom is sure ICE would have folded without the grant from Intel and the move online. As the company attracted more and more business clients, its basic internal operations couldn’t keep up. It lacked the staff to schedule training sessions promptly over the phone, and sending invoices via snail mail was a nightmare. Now the company’s Web site offers an online calendar, where clients can book training sessions on their own. Big clients use customized product sites, where they can quickly purchase the equipment they’ll need. And online databases notify clients when their training certifi cations have expired. Not only is the company still operating, but revenues have increased by 45 percent in the past year.—Cade Metz

HERMANN BROS. LOGGING & CONSTRUCTION INC. FOR MORE WINNERS, TURN THE PAGE AND OPEN THE GATEFOLD.

100

Number of employees: 86 Location: Port Angeles, Washington Year launched: 1968 Best tech advice: “You don’t have to invest tons of money for a technology to be effective. Sometimes, all you need is $500.”

Technology can transform any business, old school or new. Look no further than Hermann Bros., a 38-year-old logging and trucking company that hauls lumber and wood chips across

PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

the Pacific Northwest. Two years ago owner Bill Hermann and his team streamlined truck routes with a pair of wide-area wireless services and boosted revenue by $500 a day. One of the company’s key customers is the nearby Interfor-Pacific sawmill. As Interfor cuts its lumber and wood chips pile up in massive overhead bins, Hermann Bros. empties them and shuttles the chips to various paper mills. Interfor runs 24 hours a day, and Hermann’s truck drivers had to swing by every so often to see if the bins were full. If they weren’t, that was valuable driving time—at $75 an hour —down the tubes. Today, drivers and dispatchers can check the bins remotely via BlackBerry handhelds or the Web. Each bin is equipped with a weight sensor that sends out a wireless signal the moment it’s full. And a new GPS system keeps tabs on the trucks, so the closest driver is dispatched. The GPS service was $500 per truck, with ongoing costs of $40 month. It’s a high-tech way to spruce up a low-tech business—and it works. Over the past three years, total revenue is up 20 percent.—CM

WEDRIVEU INC. Employees: 35 Location: San Mateo, California Launched: 1988 Best tech advice: “Before you convert your backoffice software, put some extra money aside, because it’s going to take a lot of time.” www.wedriveu.com

Until early this year, WeDriveU relied on QuickBooks and ACT! by Sage to conduct its business. The company, which provides chauffeurs to customers who want to use their own cars (“Your car, our chauffeur”), was like many others. It had started out with a modest investment in technology, but it needed to grow. “I was managing Los Angeles remotely,” says president Dennis Carlson, “but I couldn’t get any important data out of it.” So he purchased Everest Software’s ERP business automation software. It’s already improving customer service and should help the company expand beyond the five cities WeDriveU currently serves. One of the business processes that take a lot of time is gathering ride details. The new software enables customers to sign into their personal accounts, letting them see their ride history, pay online, and change their profi les. It has helped improve WeDriveU’s accuracy and allows the company to forward information automatically to drivers via e-mail or the Web. Moreover, Carlson will finally be able to expand. The new platform should be able to handle up to 22 cities.—JRQ

OUTSOURCING

FINALISTS DIAMOND DATA SYSTEMS Employees: 75 Location: New Orleans Launched: 1993 Best tech advice: “Use collaboration and conferencing software to share information.” www.diamonddata.com

After Katrina, Joey Auer, the CEO and founder of Diamond Data Systems, found himself in a Red Cross shelter. “They were logging in people in Excel, and there was no way to find somebody,” he recalls. Fortunately, Auer’s firm, as an information technology consultancy to federal, state and commercial clients, was able to help. The Louisiana Department of Social Services hired the company to set up wireless communications for the shelters and delivered Verizon EV-DO wireless cards to about 30 shelters following the storm. Of course, to do that, Auer had to keep his own company running. He accomplished this initially by using SMS to communicate, then using Microsoft Windows SharePoint to form collaborative sites online. “People posted their status online this way, and then we began using WebEx”—which the company now finds invaluable for day-to-day operations. The result was not just corporate survival: “We actually realized growth in 2005,” he says, with revenues of $7.6 million. Quickly deploying such collaborative tools also enabled Diamond to do the necessary heavy lifting to help clients after the storm. “We had one guy fly in on a helicopter with guards to land on a roof downtown just to carry out the client’s servers,” says Auer. Now that’s what we call customer service.—JRQ

EQUATION RESEARCH Number of employees: 34 Location: Everywhere, U.S.A. Year launched: 2000 Best tech advice: “If an off-the-shelf software package handles only 80 percent of what you need to do, why use it to handle anything it all? Build your own.” www.equationresearch.com

NUMBERS GUY Equation Research CEO Mike Travis runs his business virtually, with employees around the U.S. working from home.

Full disclosure: Equation Research runs PC Magazine’s annual Reader Satisfaction Survey. Are we biased? It just means we know firsthand what an incredible company this is. Handling research for all sorts of media companies, ad agencies, and big brand names, this 34-person business took in over $2.3 million in revenue in 2005—and it doesn’t have an office. Equation is a virtual company. Every employee works from home, in cities from New York to California. That saves all sorts of office costs and commuting hours. But it also means Equation can seek out new talent anywhere in the country.

BACK TO SCHOOL InfoHandler’s Steve Daugherty and Tom Crumbaugh help schools across the country manage services for special-needs kids.

One important technology that makes this possible is a specialized Web-based application that keeps close tabs on company operations. Built with Java and AJAX, this “job tracking system” monitors everything from daily employee task lists and long-term company goals to billing and invoicing. And it’s designed in such a way that key employees can quickly change it—without any programming experience. The application is so effective that many of Equation’s clients are asking if they can use it in their own businesses. Will the company sell it? Maybe, maybe not. At this point, Equation Research is doing just fine, with revenue expected to grow another 20 percent to 30 percent in 2006.—CM

INFOHANDLER Employees: 7 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Launched: 1994 Best tech advice: “Approach open-source software with caution, because integrating it yourself can be difficult.” www.infohandler.com

InfoHandler helps schools to reduce the administrative overhead required to meet the needs of special-education students. Its ezEdMed software service, aimed at managing Medicaid payments, “can take a therapist less than 5 minutes a week to fill out, and yet a school district may recoup as much as $1 million in revenue,” says CEO Steve Daugherty. Ironically, the company found it also needed a solution to solve its own administrative headaches. It found one, says Daugherty, by going to a hosted service. The company tried using contact managers like ACT, online CRM services, and open-source bug tracking software, but Daugherty says all the solutions were underpowered, expensive, or awkward to manage for a small staff working out of separate home offices. Now he uses Visitar’s 360° Care, which includes VoIP services, follow-me numbers, e-mail, CRM, and project management. “For the first time we’ve been able to generate a report on what’s in our pipeline,” he says. “I don’t know how we ever made it before.”—JRQ OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 101

ON CAMERA To manage workforce outsourcing around the world, oDesk monitors worker productivity online.

oDESK CORP. Employees: 40 Location: Menlo Park, California Launched: 2004 Best tech advice: “Don’t be afraid to try different things—just monitor the results.” www.odesk.com

“Small and medium-size businesses are waking up to globalization,” says Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk. His company manages workforce outsourcing for companies seeking programmers and technical writers, enabling companies in Chicago and California, for example, to hire programmers in places as far-flung as Moldova and India. oDesk’s largely open-source–based platform includes online team rooms that allow clients and hourly employees to check in, collaborate, and monitor work projects. “The biggest hurdle was helping companies monitor worker productivity,” says Swart. So the company uses keystroke monitoring and software that takes a screen grab of workers’ desktops six times an hour. About 50 percent of oDesk’s developers also use a webcam so that employers can see their work. Rather than finding such technologies invasive, “many developers like it because they no longer have to constantly justify their existence,” says Swart. oDesk also uses its team rooms for its own developers, and has automated recruiting with online exams, English-aptitude tests, and follow-up interviews over Skype. Is it working? Swart says the company is growing at a rate of about 15 percent a month.—JRQ

REVENUE CYCLE SOLUTIONS INC. MEET THE WINNERS! Join PC Magazine editorin-chief Jim Louderback for a live, interactive, online chat with three of our SMB 20–winning CEOs. October 5, 2006, at 2 p.m. EDT.

Employees: 151 Location: Westchester, Illinois Launched: 2004 Best tech advice: “Build your own technology only when it’s going to be a differentiator.” www.revcs.com

“Technology costs put an enormous burden on health-care providers,” says Greg Richards, managing partner of Revenue Cycle Solutions (RCS). “So when they have a budget for IT, they usually spend it on clinical care and neglect the back

102 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

office.” That’s why millions of dollars in insurance claims go unpaid every year. RCS hopes to stop that trend. RCS developed its own platform, built on Microsoft FoxPro, to automate the collection of unpaid small-balance hospital insurance claims. They’re usually for $200 or less; it isn’t costeffective for most hospitals to collect them. To reduce the cost of collection, RCS’s systems integrate with hospital patient records and insurance companies’ electronic systems, looking for filing-rule errors and performing automatic queries with insurers. As a reward, RCS collects a 10 percent commission on recovered money. RCS is also deploying new systems in its own back office, particularly for job recruitment and training. Initial interviews are conducted via an interactive voice-response system and uploaded to the Web. In the end, recovering money for its customers is the bottom line for RCS, which says its technology not only makes the job possible, but also reduces labor costs by 33 percent.—JRQ

37SIGNALS LLC Number of employees: 7 Location: Chicago Year launched: 1999 Best tech advice: “Less is better. The beauty of a good technology is that it’s simple.” www.37signals.com

37signals was just another Web design firm in danger of bursting with the dot-com bubble. Today, it’s one of the hottest software developers on the Web. How did it succeed? By keeping things simple. Software development is often much too complicated and ridiculously timeconsuming—and the end result is bloated and buggy applications. 37signals realized it could compete with the big boys by reducing the practice to its bare essentials. In 2003, CEO Jason Fried and his cohorts built a tool called Basecamp for managing their own client projects. The app was so simple and effective, the company decided to sell to outside businesses. Then Fried realized that he could adapt Basecamp to create all sorts of business apps. So the company built a wonderfully modular development platform called Ruby on Rails, and the rest is history. In just two years, the company used Rails to build four more apps, and revenue jumped by 500 percent in 2005 alone. Rails soon became the hottest development platform on the Web, and the company now has thousands of developers across the world working to improve its code—all for free. This has raised the company’s profile to heights you’d never expect of a seven-person operation. Revenue continues to grow at a 10 percent clip each and every month.—CM

Intelligent info sharing Imagine secure search within your organization that’s as easy as search on Google.com. With the Google Mini or the Google Search Appliance, you’ll get fast search across all the information in your organization – including corporate networks, document and content management systems, file servers and desktops. The Google Mini supports 50,000 to 300,000 docs, and with a starting price of $1,995, it’s as cheap as a laptop. The Google Search Appliance also works right out of the box and can scale to meet the search needs of any size organization. For more information about the Google Mini or the Google Search Appliance, please visit www.google.com/enterprise

© 2006 Google Inc. All rights reserved. Google and the Google logo are trademarks of Google Inc

R E AL-WO R LD TE STI N G

Free Video Calls Instant-messaging clients with video are a cool way to connect to family and friends. But is the quality good enough? And more important, can you get your Aunt Sophie to use it? BY DAVIS D. JANOWSKI

T

HE FIRST EXAMPLE OF THE VIDEO-

phone concept appeared in 1927, in Fritz Lang’s sci-fi masterpiece Metropolis. Even though that was nothing more than a guy standing behind a fake video screen, it sparked the imagination of technologists around the world. Video calling became a reality decades later, but it did not garner wide adoption for several reasons: The phones were too expensive, the quality was pathetic until broadband came along, and many people don’t want others to know what they look like when they answer the phone. Although the newer video-calling services are not a replacement for your landline phone or commercial VoIP services such as Vonage, they’re a cool

way to connect with people in your life who are far away. You’ll need a PC, a broadband connection, and a webcam, but using such services should make you feel like you’re really getting your money’s worth out of your monthly Internet bill. Yes, there are hurdles—namely, getting less techsavvy family members and friends to download the client and set it up correctly; then they’ll have to deal with a frustrating array of webcam and headphone quirks as they get the setup to work. And they’ll have to leave the client running on their PC regularly, with the volume up high enough to hear you call. We had four testers try four chat clients with video—SightSpeed 5.0, Skype 2.5, Windows Live Messenger 8, and Yahoo! Messenger 8.0 with Voice—to see if the quality is really up to snuff.

MORE ON THE WEB To read reviews of fullfledged video phones from Ojo, Packet 8, and AOL, visit go.pcmag .com/videophones.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 105

REAL-WORLD TESTING

WEBCAM REVIEWS

Skype 2.5

Logitech QuickCam Fusion

family and friends scattered far and wide—even in different countries—with few occasions to gather in-person. Skype 2.5 may well be one of the best ways out there to keep in touch without running up an astronomical phone bill. Skype 2.5 is a free software app that lets you make free Skype-to-Skype phone calls, chat via instant messaging, do conference calls with other Skype members, and even make calls to landlines (for a small fee). And now that it has video capability, it is perfect for calling an overseas relative who wants to see the new baby or reconnect to a long-lost friend from high school. Skype was pretty simple to download and install on my system (the webcam I used took longer to set up). Once I created a log-on password, I could update my online profile and search for people I know to see whether they were Skype members. Once the service and my webcam were enabled, I called my parents in the Philippines and my sister in Philadelphia (both Skype members), and we could actually see each other as we spoke. My parents got to talk and interact with their grandson, whom they haven’t seen in person in two years. The quality of the video wasn’t ideal, and there was some lag time in the transmission of the video signal, but this is to be expected when calling overseas, where broadband quality and Internet connections can be spotty. The biggest boon is the money I save on longdistance calls. Before using Skype, I was doling out 19 cents a minute off-peak (and about 25 cents peak) on my landline, along with a monthly surcharge for just having the service. I’m saving about $45 a month, and my parents, who are retired, are saving even more. Being able to have a face go along with the voice is icing on the cake. My family and I love this service and will keep using it.—Laarni

$99.99 direct Llllh

The QuickCam uses a true 1.3-megapixel sensor, and thanks to a colorful 640-by-480 video feed, the image quality is excellent. Logitech’s RightLight helps brighten videos. $99.99 direct go.pcmag.com/quickcam

Creative WebCam Live! Motion $129.99 direct llllm

This double-duty webcam can rest on your desk or clamp onto an LCD monitor. A 200-degree pan and 105-degree tilt with face tracking means you don’t have to sit motionless. go.pcmag.com/ webcamlive

Digi/Inside Out Networks Watchport/V2 $180 street llllh

This expensive but powerful CCD webcam lets you swap lens covers for a wide-angle, closeup, or telephoto view. Its detachable base lets you mount the camera on a wall or tripod. And with the AnywhereUSB program, you can watch the video feed remotely. go.pcmag.com/ watchport

Axis 205 $199 list Llllm

About the size of a deck of cards, this camera has a built-in Web server. Just plug it in to your network and it’s ready to stream video images directly into Internet Explorer. Axis now offers the upgraded 206. go.pcmag.com/axis205

Yahoo! Messenger 8.0 with Voice

M

Y BOYFRIEND AND I PRACTI-

cally started our relationship on Yahoo!’s instant-messaging program, so it seemed appropriate for me to test Yahoo!’s video chat with him. We both have webcams and are the self-proclaimed dorkiest techie couple ever, so I did not have to walk him through the process. Although we both live and work in downtown San Francisco, we chatted three times over the course of a week with Yahoo!’s video chat, for about 10 minutes or so each time. If more people had webcams, I would certainly have more Yahoo! video conversations, but on my list of 75 IM contacts, I could locate only three people who had one. Yahoo! does not really have video chat, but it has voice service and webcam capabilities that can work together for a video-phone feel. The voice service works well. The caller hears little or no echo of her own voice, and the recipient’s voice is just as clear as, if not clearer than, on a mobile phone call. There is some delay, but that mostly depends on broadband availability. The video is a little choppy but otherwise adequate. It certainly wouldn’t work for showing off dance moves, but you do get the feel of the conversation just fine. It’s not that easy to use, though. You have to manage three separate windows for just one conversation: the initial IM window, where you manage video and voice; the webcam window; and another window for the person you’re calling. Why can’t Yahoo! put the webcam views side by side with the IM window in a single interface? And it’s somewhat annoying that Yahoo! puts ads into the video window of the person you’re talking with. I’d say the overall Yahoo! video experience is positive, although I still prefer Skype for video calls because of the window manageability. I will continue to use Yahoo! on occasion because I like the music channels that the messenger offers, and I’m quite amused by its smiley icons.—Natali T. Del Conte

106 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

I

F YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU PROBABLY HAVE

Almendrala Ragaza

Windows Messenger Live 8

A

SightSpeed 5.0

C

ONVINCING ME TO TRY OUT SIGHT-

Speed was easy. I’ve already got a video camera, and I’ve been itching to get my family and friends to join me online. Persuading them turned out to be the toughest part. I visited my mom in Boston and installed a webcam for her, but it was only after I stressed the “free phone calls” aspect (oh yeah, with video too!) that she jumped on board. Once she was ready, she surprised me by installing the software on her own and calling me at the computer one day. Apparently, the software setup really is that simple. Once it was up and running, SightSpeed worked pretty well, though we saw several “network congestion” errors, and dropped frames were fairly common, too. That’s Comcast’s service, however, not SightSpeed. (And we can prove it! Visit www.pcmag.com/fastestISP to learn more.) It was harder to get my aunt in Israel on board. She already uses Skype to chat with my cousin in Atlanta, and since the service works very well, she saw no reason to switch. Who can argue with that? I explained that SightSpeed uses some very advanced codecs, giving it markedly better video quality. She signed on—and marveled at the improved video quality. There was a bit of a lag between audio and video, but to be fair, that was on an international call, and I didn’t see the same lag between New York and Boston. At first we called each other on the phone to set up the video calls, but eventually, we enabled a phone-ring sound from our computers’ speakers. This made receiving calls extremely easy: Leave the app running in the system tray, and it’s just like a regular incoming phone call. We’ll definitely be sticking with SightSpeed.—Jeremy A. Kaplan

FTER COLLEGE, I MOVED BACK HOME

with my parents on Long Island, landed a job in Manhattan, and commuted to save money. After two years of living at home, ridicule from my friends, and the release of the movie Failure to Launch, I decided not to make that movie a reality. I found a studio apartment in Manhattan, moved in, and planned not to see my parents for a while. Back at Jacobowitz headquarters, however, my overbearing, computer-savvy parents (a dangerous combination) insisted on staying connected and knowing every detail of my life. Enter Logitech and Windows Messenger Live 8. I thought I’d help alleviate their empty-nest syndrome by giving my father a virtual tour using the Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro attached to my Dell laptop, and the Windows Messenger client. The chat client installed without a hitch, and Messenger’s Vista sign-in color scheme makes the program pretty to look at. But unfortunately, the user experience was not as flawless. Both my father and I were on cable-modem connections, behind routers. We had no problem making the connection for video calls to each other, but audio was choppy and video was far from smooth. To make sure the problem wasn’t with our PCs or Internet connections, we signed on to AIM and tested audio calls through there. We began killing services, programs in our start-ups, and anything we could think of that might be hogging bandwidth and system resources. Unfortunately, we were stumped; nothing we did significantly improved the quality. I think video chat is definitely a good way to stay in touch with the ’rents, but I think I’m going to look elsewhere for a better app—because I’m sure not moving back home.—P.J. Jacobowitz

VIDEO CHAT AT A GLANCE Here’s a summary of our findings after testing, along with some tips for video chatting with family and friends.

1

2

3

4

SightSpeed rules!: It proved the easiest to set up and use, and video quality couldn’t be beat. Even in our lab-based testing, SightSpeed came out on top. More Skype users means more free calls: Because this is the most commonly used free VoIP service, you’ll be more likely to find friends and family using it (meaning the calls are free). Skype has a handy account to deposit money for making nonSkype calls. It’s slower to go across the pond: For international calls, VoIP is fine, with little or no lag time. But if you want to do video, expect delays—no matter if you’re calling Madrid or Manila. Use it to call your kids at State U: Kids are always online, so take advantage of their greediness and the school’s broadband by giving them a webcam when they ship off to college.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 107

BUILD IT

The Ultimate Doghouse Motion sensors, video cameras, and Internet access create the very best canine château. Is your dog worth the ultimate treatment? B Y G R E G ST E E N

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 111

BUILD IT

Where Do I Start?

A SMART DOGHOUSE NEEDS . . . • A force-sensor mat, to tell me when my dog is at home

• A temperaturesensitive doghouse fan

• A controllable pan/ tilt webcam with audio and Internet streaming capabilities, perched atop the doghouse to check on my dog

• Dog Vision, a wireless cam mounted on a dog collar, also with streaming capabilities, to let me see what my pet sees

• Two temperature gauges, to monitor the environment inside and outside (comfort is key to a happy pooch)

P

EOPLE ARE PET LOVERS. THEY HAVE

been for thousands of years, and day after day, their pooch passion grows stronger. But modern man no longer prowls the fields with his best friend, so he can’t keep constant tabs on his prized companion. Until now. For all you dog lovers out there, this Build It’s for you. I’m going to show you how to build a high-tech doggy domicile that delivers real-time status updates on your favorite slobberer while you toil away at your day job. But fi rst—and I cannot stress this enough— before you start your DIY pet project, go over your ideas with your local veterinarian or the ASPCA to ensure the safety of your beloved companion. Dogs like to chew and nibble, so you should take precautions (which we don’t have room to cover here) for those things with any gadgetry that you put into your project. Also, each dog is differ-

ent and has different needs; be sure your project won’t be stressful for your dog. After researching several turnkey sensor solutions, I discovered Phidgets, sensor and control interfaces that deliver real-time data to your computer via the USB port. The friendly and helpful folks at Trossen Robotics hooked me up with the Phidgets and sensors that I needed for installing both the sensor mat and the motion sensor. For the camera, I picked up a cool JMK wireless model that runs on battery power. Then I built a dog-monitor service with Microsoft Windows to keep an eye on my doghouse. The service sends e-mail alerts to my custom Web application, which I’ve dubbed the Doggy Dashboard. But of course, it all starts with a doghouse— in this case, the Handyman’s Large Doghouse from PetSmart. After setting that up, here’s how I integrated the hardware and then developed the software.

The Force-Sensor Mat

A

T HEART, THE FORCE-SENSOR MAT IS

a large, pressure-activated switch. When the dog lies on the mat, the completed circuit sends a signal to the computer, via a Phidget 8/8/8 interface kit. (And for double verification, you can use the Dog Vision collar-cam.)

2

• A motion sensor,

Wire it together. Connect wires to the thinner strips of metal at each end of the mat that run perpendicular to the metal strips.

3

to let both the dog and me know when someone or something is roving in the yard behind the doghouse

1

Shape the mat. The mat is made of parallel strips of conductive metal separated at 1-inch intervals by nonconductive foamy material. When pressure is applied, the metal strips bend and complete the circuit. Trim the mat parallel to the main strips so you don’t cut your switch.

112 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

4

Add the Phidget. Connect one wire to one of the digital input grounds on the Phidget interface and the other wire to one of the numbered digitalinput connectors. Try not to get too tangled in the wires connected to the digital outputs from other parts of your doghouse.

Place the mat. Finally, slip the mat under a rug on the doghouse floor. Now you’ll know when your pooch is in his domicile.

Assemble a Pan/Tilt Camera

T

HE PAN/TILT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A COUPLE OF SERVOMOTORS ATTACHED TO THE

PhidgetServo controller. One servomotor controls the horizontal axis of the camera (pan) and the other controls the vertical (tilt). This gives you a high-level and programmatically simple way to change the position of your webcam remotely via the Web site. Remember, this is going to stream over the Internet, and because most of us don’t have a lot of upstream bandwidth at home, choosing a lower bit rate will give a more consistent stream. You’ll have to test to see what frame rate works best, balancing clarity with consistency.

1

5

Attach the mounting bracket to the pan servomotor. Keep your screwdriver handy.

Mount the assembly and PhidgetServo controller. Then connect the servos to the controller circuit board.

2

6

Attach the “C” bracket to the mounting bracket. Later you’ll attach the camera.

Hook the board to your PC via USB. Create a Windows Media Encoder session, following the handy Wizard.

3

7

Put the second servomotor into the pan-mounting bracket. Then attach it to the “C” tilt bracket.

Select compression settings. In the Live Broadcast wizard, choose Low Bandwidth video and Voice Quality audio.

4

8

Mount the USB webcam. Fix it to the top of the tilt servomotor bracket.

Choose an open TCP/IP port. (The default is fine.) Then click Start Encoding to get broadcasting!

Dog Vision: An On-Collar Camera

D

OG VISION IS A WS-309AS WIRELESS VIDEO CAMERA ATTACHED TO

a normal dog collar. The CCD camera connects to an A/V radio receiver that in turn connects to an A/V converter on my PC. Then, using Windows Media Encoder again, I grab the stream and make it accessible to the Doggy Dashboard, to see in real time what the pooch is seeing. Take precautions to protect the battery and camera assembly from those big paws: After all, dogs like to scratch beneath their collars.

1 ELECTRIC BLING In retrospect, I should have trimmed the extra RCA jacks. Kaya didn’t mind.

Camera meets collar. Position the camera toward the bottom as ballast. Hook the 9-volt battery adapter to the power input and you’re ready to stream.

2

Tune in. Set the camera receiver to the dog-collar camera’s frequency. Then mount it to the doghouse roof and adjust the antenna.

3

Capture the stream. Next you’ll need to hook the analog composite-video output of the receiver to the video capture card in your computer.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 113

BUILD IT

A Temperature-Activated Doghouse Fan

I

THE MOTION SENSOR Fido doesn’t like surly neighbor dogs sneaking up on him from behind his doghouse, so as an added tidbit I mounted a motion sensor just under the pinnacle of the roof in back, cutting a hole for it with a keyhole saw. Again, the Dog Monitor service writes a log entry when motion is detected; I thought e-mail alerts would be too frequent to be useful.

DIGITAL DOGHOUSE PARTS Interface kit.................$90 Motion sensor ....................................$40.50

house not get too hot. Though Dog Vision and the pan/tilt house camera give a good view of Fido’s world, I needed something to get a sense of what it feels like as well. I hooked up a pair of temperature sensors to an old PC case fan, so the computer could activate the case fan if either sensor re-

corded that the temperature was above a certain point. Heat rises, and a doghouse roof will absorb heat from the sun, too, so mount the sensors out of direct sunlight and where they won’t feel roof heat. For parts, I used the Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8, a 9-volt battery, an IRF510 power MOSFET transistor from Radio Shack, some wire, and two analog temperature sensors.

1

Wire the interface. Connect a wire to one of the Phidget Interface digital output grounds and another to a digital output.

2

3

Ready a battery connection. Attach a 9-volt battery connector to the battery and strip some wire casing from each lead.

4

5

Add a transistor. This acts as a switch, turning the power source on and off when you tell the Phidget Interface to change the state of the digital output.

6

Mount your sensors. I hung two sensors, one inside and one outside. I drilled a hole to bring the lead to the interface kit, which I mounted outside.

7

Insert the fan. I measured the case fan carefully. Then with a keyhole saw, I cut out a section of the back wall and mounted the fan.

8

Link it with code. A few lines of code make the system write entries to the log at specified intervals, recording temperature and turning on the fan.

T WAS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT MY DOG-

Prep the fan. Cut the PC power connector from the case fan and strip the positive and negative power leads to the wire. Expose about an inch of wire.

Wire the fan. Attach the positive lead from the battery connector to the positive output of the fan.

Two analog temp sensors.........$19.80 9-volt battery connector.................$0.50 JMK WS-309AS wireless camera/ receiver kit.............$49.95 Pan/tilt kit..............$119.75 Video capture card...............................$100 MOSFET transistor....................$1.99 Floor mat switch........................$12.50 Logitech Quickcam Pro 3000.......................$70 Old case fan.................free TOTAL...................$504.99

114 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

BUILD IT

Tying It All Together with Software THE DOGGY DASHBOARD Check in on Fido from your office cube.

T

O TIE IT ALL TOGETHER, I CREATED A

“Dog Monitor” Windows service to keep an eye on my doghouse. The service sends e-mail alerts to my custom Web application, which I’ve dubbed the Doggy Dashboard. It lets me see the Dog Monitor and use Dog Vision—that’s live, streaming video from my pooch. The Doggy Dashboard consists of two components: a sortable view of the messages from the Dog Monitor service and a control panel for the webcam streams. The webcam on the doghouse is pan/tilt enabled, and the Doggy Dashboard lets me rotate the camera’s position. The pan/tilt control is AJAX-enabled as well, so the page doesn’t have to reload completely when the camera’s position changes. The people at Phidgets have developed a great API for their devices. It lets you easily create cus-

tom programs to work with the monitoring data collected from the different Phidgets sensors. Libraries are available for many different programming languages, but I chose to the use the .Net framework’s COM wrapper to help create the Windows service that sends those e-mail alerts. Not a super-duper developer yet? Don’t worry, sample code and a pretty good set of documents are provided on www.phidgets.com, or you can just download the stuff I wrote from PCMag.com (go .pcmag.com/doghousecode).

Next Steps

M

AKING THIS ULTIMATE DOGHOUSE DIY PROJECT LAST IN

the outside world means you’ll need to protect the gadgetry from the elements, as well as from dog breath/teeth/ slobber/fur. For example, you could encase the battery on the dog-collar cam with a rugged, nontoxic plastic shell, so the dog won’t eat battery acid. And a Mini-ITX flash-based computer system would be ideal to manage the sensors, run the Doggy Dashboard, power the webcam encoder, and host the Doggy Dashboard Web site. There are also many great Phidgets I didn’t use that would add great extensions to the project. For example, a pH sensor could check the acidity of the dog’s water to make sure it’s drinkable. If the sensor detects an unacceptable value, it could trigger a servomotor to dump the water bowl and refi ll it again with a simple pump hooked to a Phidget interface kit. Or you could take an analog force sensor and place one under the dog’s food bowl to detect when the bowl is empty. The possibilities for the DIY-inclined are limitless. I hope this introduction has inspired you to start your own DIY adventure. So good luck, good computing, and set the servos to scratch Fido’s chin one time for me. Q 116 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

DOGGY.NET Phidgets are easy to code, even for nonprofessional coders.

Want to see n io your creat ine? z a g in PC Ma s! E-mail u

YOU BUILT IT!

Our DIY MP3 boom-box project was enticing, but the ratty old Sanyo we used lacked polish. Leave it to MIT mechanical engineering major Alisha Schor to one-up us. Here’s her (mostly finished) project. Have you been working on something great? Send your submissions to [email protected]

AS K N E I L S O F T WA R E

Q

FORCE UNIQUE NUMBERS IN EXCEL

Is there a way I can keep duplicate numbers from being inserted into a column in Microsoft Excel (in other words, allow only unique numbers in the column)?—Wayne Buchler

NEED ANSWERS? Each issue, PC Magazine’s software expert, Neil J. Rubenking, tackles your toughest software and Internet problems. Send your questions to [email protected]

Excel’s Data Validation feature can confine the user to entering only numbers that are not already present in a given column.

Create your own error message

A

Sure, it’s easy enough to do. Suppose you want all the numbers in column A to be unique. Start by clicking in cell A1 and selecting Data | Validation from the menu. Click the drop-down list that is titled Allow and select Custom from the list. A box titled Formula will appear; enter this formula: =COUNTIF(A:A,A1)=1. Now click the Error Alert tab and enter an appropriate title and error message. For example, you could set the title to “Unique Values Only” and the message to “You must enter a value that is not already present in this column.” Then click OK to accept the validation rule. Now click the heading for column A to select the entire column. Again select Data | Validation from the menu. Excel will ask if you want to extend data validation to the additional cells. Click Yes, click OK, and you’re done. If you accidentally attempt to enter a nonunique value in column A, Excel will block it and display the error message you defined.

CAN’T SEND E-MAIL WHEN TRAVELING

Q

I have a dial-up NetZero account. It works well for me, and I download my e-mail to Microsoft Outlook whenever I need to. When I use my laptop with hotel or airport Wi-Fi, though, the incoming messages I get through NetZero’s POP3 come into Outlook okay, but I can’t send anything out of the application. Is there anything I need to change in the SMTP settings?—Art Sagy

A

The POP3 and SMTP e-mail protocols are fairly brain-dead—witness the ease with which hackers and viruses can “spoof” messages so they seem to come from somebody else. One way ISPs can limit abuse by hackers is to lock down their SMTP servers, making them available only for IP addresses inside their network. When you log on through Wi-Fi or plug in to a foreign network, you get an IP address belonging to that network. You look like an intruder to your ISP, so it refuses you access to its SMTP servers. One solution is to use Web-based e-mail while on the road. Your ISP may offer Web access to your regular e-mail account. If not, you may need to read your mail and write your responses, then connect via dial-up long enough to send your outgoing mail.

UPDATES FOR A SLOOOOW COMPUTER

Q

Although we have broadband at work, I can’t yet get it at home in North Cornwall, England (I have a 56-Kbps dial-up connection). My Microsoft Windows XP updates are way out of date. Even a 2.75MB download can take over an hour. With a few “critical” updates and other wise “fixes,” I’d need a 24-hour dialup connection, and no need to use the phone! Can I download the updates at work (which I am permitted to do), save them on my pen drive, and then install them at home? My software is legal, so needing the serial number isn’t a problem, but would it work? Or does Microsoft offer a solution?—Andy Hearnden

A

A system that’s so out of date probably doesn’t even have Windows XP Service Pack 2. SP2 is over 100MB to download, so you may want to take advantage of Microsoft’s CD offer. Visit www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2 and click the link that says Order the CD. Shipping is free in the U.S.; you’ll have to pay £6 for shipping to the U.K. Once you’ve installed SP2, Microsoft encourages you to share the CD with your friends. OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 119

ASK NEIL

There’s no problem with downloading updates at one location and installing them elsewhere. Here’s what you’ll want to do. At your slow home system visit www.windowsupdate.com and let it conjure up a list of the updates you need. Make a copy of this list, take it with you to work, and go to support .microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=323166. Follow the instructions and links there to download your updates from the Windows Update Catalog. Then bring the update files home and install them. You don’t need a serial number to download the updates, though you may need to validate your existing copy of Windows. When finished, check in at www.windows update.com to see if more updates are needed.

This setting in Microsoft Word’s Options dialog dictates whether or not the Tab key controls indentation.

TAB IN WORD NO LONGER INDENTS BULLETS

Q

I have done something to Microsoft Word. The Tab key no longer indents bullets. Instead, it inserts a tab character. How can I change its settings to cause it to indent a bullet when the Tab key is pressed?—Lee Fields

A

You can remedy this in a trice. Select Tool | Autocorrect Options from the menu and click the tab titled Autoformat as you type. Check

the box called Set left- and first-indent with tabs and backspaces and click OK. Despite the description, this setting also affects how the Tab key changes indents. With it checked, Tab and Shift-Tab increase and decrease the indent level. Without it, they both insert a tab character into the document. Q

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Fujitsu LifeBook T4200 www.us.fujitsu.com/reliability Google www.google.com/enterprise

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Nuance PDF Converter Professional 4 www.nuance.com/businesspdf Ricoh Color Printers www.ricoh-usa.com/itchannel

OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 121

AS K LOY D H A R DWA R E

Q

ACCESSING RAID 1 HARD DRIVES

I’ve tried different methods of backing up my hard drive data. My latest was to set up two 400GB hard drives in a RAID 1 configuration (on my Dell XPS 600) where

one drive duplicates the other drive’s data. The drives are used for photo storage only

and have an operating system installed.

NEED ANSWERS? ExtremeTech.com’s editor, Loyd Case, tackles your toughest hardware problems each issue. Send him yours at [email protected]

Intel’s Matrix Storage Manager RAID management software ships with RAID-capable Intel motherboards. This screen shows two RAID 1 volumes, including their associated hard drives.

I haven’t found a way to differentiate between or look at both drives. Is there a way I can be sure that both contain the same data and one drive hasn’t died?—Gerald Wallace

A

A RAID 1 volume behaves like a single drive while replicating the data on both drives. You can’t access them individually. But should one drive fail, or begin generating errors, you’ll get a message from the RAID manager software that one drive is corrupt. Most modern RAID systems, including those built onto motherboards, will begin the rebuilding process automatically. If you get an error message that leads you to believe that one drive is starting to fail, you can reboot and go into the RAID BIOS to see which drive is failing. The key combinations vary between RAID BIOSs, but there’s usually enough of a delay during boot time for you to press the proper keys. You can then power the system down and replace the failing drive with one of equal capacity. When you reboot, the system will rebuild the mirrored volume. That process could take several hours.

122 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

TRANSFERRING MIRRORED RAID 1 DATA

Q

My motherboard supports two SATA drives through the Intel connection. I have a Maxtor 130GB and a Western Digital 160GB drive in RAID 1 (in two partitions). I want to replace both with 300GB drives and mirror what’s on the 130GB drive to the new drives, with new partitions so I can use the full 300GB. How do I get the current mirrored information (includes boot Windows XP) to the 300GB drives?—Stephen

A

There are many ways to do this, but by far the easiest is to use a partition cloning tool, such as Symantec Ghost or Acronis True Image. These either clone a hard drive or back up exact copies of the disk (called a disk image) to files for archiving. We’ve used both in the lab and tend to prefer the current (9.0) version of True Image. Since you have only two SATA connections, it’s likely to be a multistep process. The current versions of True Image and Ghost support backup to optical drives, other hard drives (including external drives), and over the network. Install the imaging software on your system and then create a bootable CD or DVD (containing all the software you need to restore the disk image) from the app. With just the two SATA ports, you will need another physical drive or DVD burner. The physical drive could be external (USB or FireWire), or an internal IDE drive if your motherboard has free IDE ports. If you use a DVD burner, you’ll need multiple DVDs (about 15 to 20 DVD-R single-layer discs for 80GB of actual data). If you use a hard drive, make sure it’s at least as large as your RAID array. Be sure to enable any error-checking options on the disk-imaging software. (If one of the DVDR discs is corrupt, you’ll lose all the data.) Imaging your hard drive can take several hours. As your data is precious, consider making a second backup. Once you’ve backed up the hard drive images, power the system down and remove the existing hard drives without formatting them or destroying their data. Make a note of which SATA port each drive was connected to. Set up your new RAID 1 array with the RAID BIOS setup, then insert the bootable CD you made earlier and boot into the image-restore utility. You can then clone the disk image onto the new RAID array. Once that’s done, you should be able to boot normally from the hard drives. The process of setting up the RAID mirror might change the boot drive order. You can correct this in the system BIOS setup. Q

Light the way.

Pledge to make your next light an ENERGY STAR® at energystar.gov/changealight and join a growing number of people doing their part to preserve energy resources and help reduce the risks of global climate change. With your help, others will surely follow. Change a Light. Change the World. ENERGY STAR is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

SMB BOOT CAMP

Your Web Store’s Grand Opening A hosted online storefront solution can launch your e-commerce showroom. Yahoo! SiteBuilder, the software included with Merchant Starter, uses simple templates and tutorials.

BY MATTHEW D. SARREL

WEB STORE PROVIDERS Yahoo! Merchant Starter llllh

This makes it easy to build and manage your Web store. And SiteBuilder 2.1 software is simple to use yet powerful. Setup, $50; $39.95 a month go.pcmag.com/yahoo merchant

ProStores Not rated

ProStores offers Website hosting with 5GB storage space, up to 50 e-mail boxes, and tollfree 24/7 tech support. $29.95 per month www.prostores.com

GET MORE ADVICE For more about smallbusiness issues, go to: go.pcmag.com/smb

A

S A TEENAGER, I HAD A SUMMER JOB

working in White’s Barnegat Light Market as a stock boy. Mike White, the second-generation owner, used to walk around the store constantly with a clipboard and take inventory. Then he would walk back to the stockroom, present us with the clipboard, and say, “You can’t sell a product that isn’t on the shelves.” Businesses today don’t rely only on physical shelves but also on virtual shelves. If you’re looking to open a Web storefront, then at the very least you’ll need to build the shelves, stock them, and provide an easy checkout process. The first step in building a Web storefront is to shop for and select an e-commerce service. The process will be easier and faster if you know beforehand which features are most important and how to evaluate them. One of the most powerful features a hosted e-commerce solution offers is a wizard that will take you from start to finish in the development of a fully operational Web storefront. Along with the wizard is usually a choice of templates, so you can update the site. Make sure that your provider offers a template that you can customize easily. The ability to import catalog data is crucial because you don’t want to waste time and employee resources typing in product information. Equally

124 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

important is the ability to export data so that you can track and analyze it locally. Another vital element is to have multiple ways to accept payment. PayPal is a big convenience, as is the ability to process credit cards directly. Also, a good shipping program is absolutely necessary for a successful Web storefront. Any hosted e-commerce solution must include automated and accurate shipping modules that tie in with the major shipping companies, such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. It’s not enough merely to build a store; you’ve got to bring customers in via successful marketing. Look for a provider that lets you build and use a mailing list. The ability to run promotions, such as gift certificates and coupons, and an affiliate program can also be important. Integration with XML-based shopping feeds, such as Yahoo! Shopping, is critical because it will increase your exposure. The importance of good service and support at a fair price goes without saying. Make sure that support is available when you need it and in the method that you need. You can’t underestimate the value of picking up the phone and straightening out a problem instantly. Every minute your site is down or acting flaky could translate into dozens of lost sales when users become frustrated and decide to click somewhere else. Also, make sure to demo each service that interests you and evaluate it in terms of the features listed in this article. If none of the Web storefront providers seem right for you, then you may want to consider building your own site and adding a standalone e-commerce shopping cart, such as MIVA Merchant or Actinic Catalog. There are also plenty of ASP, PHP, and Perl solutions that a Web developer can integrate into your site. Whatever solution you choose, it will definitely save you the headache of carrying around a clipboard like Mr. White. Matthew D. Sarrel is a consultant and former technical director of PC Magazine Labs.

HP recommends Windows XP Professional ®

Silence is sweet. HP engineers work hard to make our industry-leading workstations perform noiselessly. The HP xw8400 Workstation with Intel® Dual-Core Xeon® Processor comes in a whisper-quiet chassis to give you precision—and peace. To get quiet, call 1-800-799-MYHP. Find a reseller at hp.com/go/reseller or visit hp.com/go/xw8400. Starting at $2,299.

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

SECURITY WATCH

Your Own Personal Matrix How rootkits can take over your computer and steal data under your nose—and how to stop them. BY ROBERT LEMOS

FAST FACTS ON ROOTKITS 5.7 million Number of computers on which malicious software was detected.

3.5 million Approximate number infected with “backdoor Trojan horses.”

530,000 Approximate number infected with rootkits (not counting Sony BMG’s DRM rootkit). Source: Microsoft Corp., 2006.

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE! Subscribe to our Security Watch newsletter and get up-to-date info on the latest threats delivered to your inbox automatically: go.pcmag.com/ securitywatchletter

T

HE MATRIX HAS YOU.

Those four words—which appeared on the retro computer screen of Keanu Reeves’s character, Neo, in the 1999 hit movie The Matrix—have resonated with hackers around the Internet. No wonder, then, that a technology for taking control of a user’s computer, more often than not for malicious ends, echoes the reality behind those words. Just as Neo had to come to grips with the fact that the world as he knew it was a well-crafted simulation, computer users today have to watch out for programs, known as rootkits, that attempt to take over a computer that appears normal. Rootkits are all about stealth: In the past, such programs have replaced common commands with their own modified versions. When the user of an infected computer connects to the Internet using Microsoft Windows’ network driver, the system might instead route data through a malicious driver that also copies any important data—such as usernames and passwords—to the attacker’s servers. The programs are not yet all that common. When Microsoft released data on the malicious code cleaned from its customers’ computers by the company’s free Malicious Software Removal Tool,

CODE OF STEALTH

Rootkits find many places in a computer's software to hide, using their concealment to eavesdrop on the user or control the system.

HIDING IN USERLAND

A PARASITE IN THE VIRTUAL HOST

Example: HackerDefender Userland rootkits, such as HackerDefender, hide in files and processes of the OS’s kernel. They essentially clone certain system tasks, allowing attackers access.

Example: Blue Pill Many companies run servers as virtual machines; infecting a host machine allows the rootkit to control all the virtual machines running on that host.

THE SHIM IS IN Example: ACPI rootkit research project Infecting firmware with a rootkit—sometimes called a shim—is difficult, but once there, the shim can be hard to detect and has complete control over how the operating system boots. Source: Rootkit.com, 2006.

126 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

backdoor Trojan-horse programs took the top slot, infecting 62 percent of the 5.7 million computers found to have a malicious-software problem. Rootkits accounted for only 9 percent of the total PCs infected—although that would increase to 14 percent if you count the “rootkit-like” copy-protection software that music giant Sony BMG included on some CD titles. Yet researchers worry that hiding techniques are only getting better. The next generation of such rootkits adhere more to the hidden-matrix concept, offering up a simulated reality not only to the user but also to the operating system. At this year’s Black Hat Briefings security conference, researchers Joanna Rutkowska and Dino Dai Zovi gave separate presentations on rootkit techniques that would fool a user and the operating system into thinking that the computer was completely clean—when the system was really running inside a virtual software world. One of the rootkit concepts even borrowed its name from The Matrix: Blue Pill. While rootkits are a pernicious problem today, there are defenses. Several security firms offer rootkit detection utilities. Antivirus firm F-Secure offers a rootkit detector, dubbed BlackLight, in its Internet Security Suite product. And as mentioned earlier, Microsoft’s free Malicious Software Removal Tool also gets rid of some rootkit programs. A third popular rootkit-detection utility, RootkitRevealer, comes from software firm Sysinternals.com, which Microsoft acquired in July. However, detecting that the operating system is running inside a virtual computer will likely become a lot tougher as companies become more enamored with virtualization. Many companies run virtual servers on large mainframes for reliability reasons: If one virtual machine goes down, another can instantly be created to take its place. Computer-chip companies, seeing the interest, have built features into their latest processors to make virtualization easier. Future rootkits will exploit these functions to hide better. In the end, running your operating system of choice in a virtual environment may become the norm. It’s just that some people will be in the wrong virtual world. Robert Lemos is a freelance journalist and the editorat-large for SecurityFocus.

Tools to help secure your network, where and when you need them. The Microsoft® Malicious Software Removal Tool— over 16 million instances of malware removed and counting. Read the white paper, based on data collected by this effective tool. It arms you with a clear view of the security landscape, including the latest trends, threats, and countermeasures. Find it now at microsoft.com/security/IT © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Customize Your Drive Icons

I

N THE EARLY 1980S, WHEN THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION BROUGHT US

removable storage media, all we had to worry about was two floppy drives—A: and B:. By the late 1980s, the advent of consumer hard drives eliminated the need for swapping those 5.25-inch disks, but we had another drive letter, C:, to contend with. Since then, the alphabet soup has boiled over—the latest Media Center PCs with multiple memory-card slots can have drive letters A: through P: inside. My Media Center PC is one of several computers in my home, and I’d given up on keeping track of what these letters represent—until I figured out that Microsoft Windows could show me at a glance which leads to the SD card from my camera, the Memory Stick Duo card from my Sony PlayStation Portable, or the CompactFlash card for my PDA. Your system will of course vary, but I have two hard drive partitions, a large media drive, two optical drives, and a bunch of letters corresponding to the four memory slots on the front of the machine. Drives that have hard disks or flash memory can easily be labeled by creating an Autorun.inf file in the root directory of the drive, which calls up the icon from one of the files within the hard drive. Drives with removable storage, such as DVD-R and memory card slots, cannot. They must be labeled within the Windows Registry.—Dave Mathews (www.davemathews.com), freelance writer, inventor, television host

3

FUN WITH AUTORUN If all you’ve got is hard drives and USB drives, you can avoid editing the Registry and use an Autorun file instead. To set up the label, open Notepad and input these three lines of code: [autorun] label=Your XYZ Drive icon=\foldername\filename.dll,5

1

2

128 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

REMOVABLE DRIVE P??? To name your drives, you’ll need to figure out which drives and slots correspond with which drive letters. Just insert discs and plug in memory cards one at a time, and when you get the pop-up dialog asking What do you want Windows to do? select Open folder to view files, then check the address bar.

CHEAT SHEET Next, make a cheat sheet of the drive letter that you see in the address bar and the type of memory that you inserted. If you do not have all the memory types, you can use a process of elimination to figure out the missing ones, borrow some from friends, or perhaps accept a mysterious drive icon or two for now.

Save the file as Autorun.inf in the root directory of the drive. Note that you must change the type named in the Save as type box to “All files,” or the file will end up being named Autorun.inf.txt, and it won’t work. The second line of code, the one beginning with label=, simply indicates the text you’ll see under the drive icon. The final line of code refers to the icon DLL file and the number of the icon you want to use. Several hundred icons are stored within DLLs; you use this number to select the icon. But finding that number is a roundabout process: Open a Windows Explorer window, then click Tools | Folder Options, then select the File Types tab. Leave the first file type selected and click on Advanced, then on Change Icon. This will show you all the icons that Windows has available in its core system32.dll file. To choose one, start counting with zero in the upper left corner and count up by one as you go down. The first icon in the second column is numbered 4, the third column begins with 8, and so on. Of course, if you have a bank of icon files stored elsewhere on the drive, you can point to one of those instead. With some versions of Windows and certain removable drives, you will need to put the icon file on the drive and point the icon path to that volume. You also may have to reboot for the changes to appear.

4

ENTER THE REGISTRY For the rest of your drives, you’ll need the Windows Registry (Start | Run, then enter regedit). Before you make any changes, back up the current settings (File | Export; then choose a name like Backup.reg). That done, navigate to HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons. If your

for all your You’ll be doing thiswant to make drives...you mighteet as well. an icon cheat sh

5

vendor’s version of Windows doesn’t contain the entry DriveIcons, right-click on Explorer, select New, right-click on Key, then name it DriveIcons. Refer to your cheat sheet to help create these entries: Right-click on DriveIcons, then New, then Key. Name this key the drive letter of your first device—just the letter. Right-click on this entry, select New, then left-click on Key and input DefaultIcon for its folder name. Right-click on the drive entry again, select New, then left-click on Key and input DefaultLabel for its folder name. Now we need to assign the values to these keys. Click on DefaultIcon on the left, then double-click the (Default) REG_SZ entry on the right pane. For the Value data, input C:\windows\ system32\shell32.dll,204—the last number corresponds to the icon you want for your drive type. Next, click on the DefaultLabel folder on the left, then again double-click the (Default) REG_ SZ entry on the right. For the Value data, input the name you want to see under the icon.

OR, TAKE THIS SHORTCUT The bad news is that you now have to repeat all those steps for each of your remaining drive letters. To make things a bit easier, you can also just copy the following lines into a text file, modify them and add entries according to your system (see the screenshot for more examples of entries from mine), save it as Driveicons.reg. and close. . [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ DriveIcons\E] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\ E\DefaultIcon] @=”C:\\windows\\system32\\shell32.dll,204” [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons\ E\DefaultLabel] @=”Dual Layer DVD-RW”

Double-click on the file and tell the dialog box that yes, you’re sure. All the Registry entries will be created automatically

6

PRETTY PICTURES Finally, take a look in My Computer at your listing of drives. You should see the sweet success of your efforts—and an end to the drive-letter alphabet soup of frustration. OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 129

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G A M I N G + C U LT U R E

Games on a Plane! Who needs snakes when the right titles can entertain you in-flight? BY JEREMY PARISH, 1UP.COM

I

IN-AIR GAMES ONLINE We’ve picked even more games ideal for in-flight entertainment. See the list at our gaming site, www.1up.com

T’S A SCIENTIFIC FACT: SAMUEL L. JACKSON

is the Man. In his career, he’s been a Jedi, a hitman, and most recently, a tough-as-nails FBI agent who battles venomous snakes at 15,000 feet. Not everyone can be Sam Jackson, of course, which is bad news if you ever end up on a serpent-infested plane. Fortunately, there are a number of game titles that are perfect for wasting time on snake-free flights. Until the Department of Homeland Security gets totally hysterical and outlaws all electronic devices, you can tote the following titles on your flight. Enjoy ’em while you can. REGIONAL FLIGHTS Short flights of an hour or so are tricky when it comes to killing time; half the flight is spent rising or descending, with the stewardess looking sternly over your shoulder to make certain that your approved electronic devices are switched off. Since you don’t really have a lot of

144 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

time in the air, you need something you can jump into, enjoy, and put down a few minutes later. For flights like this, the PSP reigns supreme. Capcom Classics Collection Remixed | PSP

Short flights are made for short games, and when it comes to instant gratification, it’s hard to top the classic arcade titles. After all, coin-op games were designed to give you 3 minutes of frenetic fun before killing you off and demanding another quarter. Capcom Classics, as it happens, has more than 20 titles fitting that description—and fortunately, it requires no quarters. WarioWare Inc. | GBA

When it comes to quick bursts of intense fun, WarioWare: Mega Microgames is pretty much impossible to beat. And with a structure that alternates microgames with brief breathers, you can even keep up with the in-flight film between rounds. Illustration by A. Richard Allen

TOP10 MOST POPULAR PSP GAMES

CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHTS These jaunts are re-

OVERSEAS FLIGHTS The Game Boy Advance is the

ally ideal for most portable games. It’s about 6 hours from one end of the U.S. to another, which is enough time to really get into a game—although you’ll likely want something with a little more lasting power than WarioWare’s microgames. For these trips, the Nintendo DS is the perfect system. With the Wi-Fi off (and FAA regulations prohibit the use of wireless devices, blah blah blah), a DS is good for about 5 to 6 hours of game time.

perfect hardware for those seemingly endless halfday overseas flights. With both an expansive library of games from which to choose and unparalleled battery life, Nintendo’s 32-bit workhorse is the perfect thing to take your mind off being 30,000 feet in the air. Even the superbright GBA SP+ is good for a dozen hours of gaming, perfect for the meaty, tactical RPGs it has in abundance. That’s more than enough to keep you entertained while you journey to Japan. Advance Wars | GBA

War is hell, except when the warriors are cute little guys in adorable little engines of destruction. In that case, war is advanced— Advance Wars, that is. The New Super Mario Bros. is ideal friendly little death machines are for cross-country flights. Play as deceptive, though, because these Mario on a DS or a PC. wars require serious strategy and planning. You’ll need every minute of your air time to work out effective battle plans in campaign Lumines | PSP & PC mode. Bring along the superb sequel for surviving Lumines is a pretty lousy game if you can get to the flight home. it only in little spurts. The music always plays in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance | GBA the same order every time, and as great a song as With all its battles, side quests, level-raising, and job “ Shinin’” is, even the strongest mortal starts to training, a full game of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance crack after a few hours of listening to it over and clocks in at, oh, about 120 hours. That’s half a dozen over again. On the other hand, if you have a few round-trips from Texas to Tokyo. Of course if you hours to devote to Lumines, it’s totally great. Bring can afford to fly internationally that often, you can some headphones, slip into the zone, and don’t let probably afford to hire someone to power-level your those ladies with their delicious pretzels and soft characters and save you some serious trouble. Q drinks distract you.

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Part-time jobs as wacky mini games.

2 Monster Hunter

Multiplayer hunting RPG.

3 Bounty Hounds Obliterate alien races!

Profile: 4 Valkyrie Lenneth

A remake of the PS1 RPG.

5 Earthworm Jim

A revival of the classic title.

New Super Mario Bros. | DS & PC

New Super Mario Bros. is handily broken down into dozens of stages, all of which are easily finished in just a few minutes each. But it works best on longer flights thanks to the dopey save system, which lets you record your progress only after you’ve completed certain vital landmarks. “Mamma mia” indeed.

Work 1 WTF: Time Fun

6 SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo Warlike action— including online.

for Speed: 7 Need Most Wanted Car customization and police chases.

8 Exit 2

The sequel, with spy-vs.-spy action.

9 HOT PXL

Collection of varied mini games.

10 Ghosts ’n Goblins

3D version of Ghouls and Ghosts. Source: 1Up.com. Ranked by online buzz.

MOD WORLD Cyrus Bavarian wanted to do a case mod based on thinking outside the box—the beige box, that is. So he outfitted a chair with computing muscle, using Plexiglas and bolts. The computer chair has an AMD FX-53 chip, an ASUS SK8V motherboard with a power supply sitting alongside it, an ATI 9200 graphics card, a 320GB Seagate hard drive, and an NEC CD/DVD drive that opens right between the chair’s legs so the user doesn’t have to lean or get up when flipping discs. “It’s still just a box!” Bavarian proclaims about other case mods. OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 145

BUILD IT, TWEAK IT, KNOW IT

Log on today. The best place on the Web to learn about new technologies, find new gear, discover new ways to build and modify your systems, and meet fascinating techheads… just like you!

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LOOK MA, NO NOISE

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ARENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LIFE WITH A BEGINNING STUDENT

of any instrument played with a bow will want to give a shout-out to Yamaha. The company’s silent cello is the newest addition to its line of silent instruments, which also includes a silent viola, silent violins, and even silent brass instruments. For the silent cello, viola, and violin, Yamaha eliminates the internal amplification cavity found in traditional instruments. Instead, a studio-quality audio pickup is connected to a digital internal effects processor (powered by two double-A batteries) that places the sound in a user-selected acoustic space, such as a concert hall or practice room. The instruments aren’t entirely silent, but they allow a musician to practice at 1/1,000 of the unmuted volume. We found the cello (shown above) online for prices ranging from $1,395 to $1,857. Shop carefully, and harmonize quietly.—Sebastian Rupley OCTOBER 17, 2006 PC MAGAZINE 147

J O H N C. D V O R A K

Citizen journalism is like citizen professional baseball. You can’t play pro baseball just because you think the Seattle Mariners stink.

A

DVORAK LIVE ON THE WEB Go to www.Cranky Geeks.com on October 5, 2 p.m. eastern time, to see Dvorak and Neil Gaiman, New York Times best-selling author, discuss blogging and online publishing.

NUMBER OF HOPELESS CITIZEN

journalist initiatives are emerging, most of them promoted by idealistic professionals such as Jay Rosen, Dan Gillmor, and Jeff Jarvis, who are disappointed with the way things are going in the world of news reportage. The most notable is Backfence, a series of mundane, localized news sites that focus on reports submitted by citizen journalists. But in this instance, a citizen journalist is no more a journalist than someone who adds comments to a football forum—it’s laughable. For local insight, I’d suggest a list of local bloggers—and note that most bloggers call themselves bloggers, not journalists. There is no pretense. What trumps these citizen journalist schemes is Digg, one of the two or three hottest new sites on the Web. Though its founders, Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson, speak about democratization of the news, Digg is actually a watchdog or consolidation site where you can link to stories written by professionals on real news sites. Digg points you there by user votes.

148 PC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 17, 2006

To get the most out of Digg, you should be in the right nerd/geek demographic and immune to its celebrity-obsessed groupthink. The site skyrocketed to prominence with the story of Paris Hilton’s hacked PDA. That can’t be a good sign. Whatever you think of Digg, it’s not destroying the old establishments or reinventing news reporting. But unlike the citizen journalism initiatives, it doesn’t pretend to. Citizen journalism, to me, is like citizen professional baseball—it’s just not practical. You can’t play professional baseball just because you think the Seattle Mariners stink. You’re not a good enough ballplayer. Yes, bloggers have been breaking news stories here and there, but it’s usually because they amplify something that media professionals have already written about but that was ignored by the major media. Bloggers, millions of gadflies, have been hounding Big Media. The main reason these anti–Big Media initiatives have appeared is that the media are seen as letting us down in every way. Big Media picks the wrong stories, so we have to use Digg to find the right ones. The media’s news-gathering problems aren’t going to be solved by bloggers or citizen journalists. Newspapers are not disrespected and dying because of their reporters. The business model is the problem. They have cut investigative and international reporting significantly. They are top-heavy with entertainment-news coverage and excessive pandering to advertisers to meet corporate bottom-line requirements. Pandering means not just writing softball articles but creating an uncritical editorial cushion of fluff upon which advertisers can feel comforted. And there is the pervasive fear of offending the reader with reality. Once, the newspapers all got fat from what Rupert Murdoch once called the “river of gold”— the classified ads. That river is drying up fast. Ironically, this loss of classified-ad revenue and the complaints about it have hurt newspapers’ credibility the most. They are supposed to be smart and on top of things; didn’t they see this coming? How can we trust anything they say about anything if they can’t even see a trend in their own business? It will be a while before this is resolved and the public finally gets served quality information. My fear is that it’s too late; that the public doesn’t care and would rather hear about Britney’s baby than about corruption in high places. It’s easier to take. Q Illustration by Geoffrey Grahn

TAKE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND MULTIPLY IT. TAKE THE FUN, THE GAMES, THE CURIOSITY, THE EXPLORATION, THE CREATIVITY, THE EXCITEMENT, THE PROGRESS, THE LEARNING, AND THE PASSION… AND AMPLIFY IT. NOW TAKE EVERYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE – THE LAG TIMES, THE LOCKUPS, THE STUTTERSTEPS... AND DELETE IT. IT’S A NEW WAY OF COMPUTING. IN FACT, IT’S COMPUTING THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE.