Sunday, July 20, 2008

Money & Business

Entries for January 2007

Skip Windows Vista as an Upgrade

January 30, 2007 01:25 PM ET |

The question of the day is whether it's worth upgrading to Microsoft's Windows Vista. From personal experience, my answer is no–unless you're willing to futz around with your computer or pay someone to do it.

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Atomic-Age Clocks That Set Themselves

January 24, 2007 03:05 PM ET |

Life has gotten just a bit easier at home by scattering around a few radio-controlled clocks, also called atomic clocks, that set the time automatically. No more wondering if we've got the right hour and minute, and no more resetting when it comes to daylight saving time or a power outage.

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Jukeboxes for the Digital Home

January 23, 2007 03:15 PM ET |

The jukebox is joining the digital age, and what a beautiful thing it is. We're not talking bland, black-box media players sold by the PC world–no, it's Rock-Ola turning its nostalgic, '50s-era beasts into MP3-playing splendors.

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Juicing Up Rechargeable Batteries

January 22, 2007 06:00 PM ET |

Rechargeable batteries have their appeal, including cost savings over time and ecofriendliness, but they have been too inconvenient to be wildly popular. It's hard to keep them charged–the power fades quickly, much more quickly than in traditional alkaline batteries. You also have to charge them for initial use.

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An MP3 Player That's Credit Card Size

January 19, 2007 02:30 PM ET |

Tech keeps shrinking. An MP3 player now fits in your wallet. The Israeli company Walletex Microelectronics has reduced a full-fledged music machine to the size of a credit card, less than a tenth of an inch thick, and says it's durable enough to carry alongside your MasterCards and Visas.

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HP Putting a New Touch on Windows Vista

January 16, 2007 06:00 PM ET |

Besides making computers prettier and more secure, the next release of Windows will open new markets, PC makers hope. Hewlett-Packard, for example, is showing off its new TouchSmart PC, which makes use of Windows Vista to combine a touch-screen with a full-fledged media server. HP is aiming the device toward the kitchen, or other family center, with software that organizes calendars and to-do lists, as well as media like photos and music.

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A Populist Challenge to Apple's iPhone

January 12, 2007 05:00 PM ET |

Many phones will step up to challenge the iPhone, over which analysts appeared all agog after Apple's announcement this week. In one effort, a phone called the "Neo1973" will enlist an army of developers around the world.

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Big HDTV Promise From a Small Stick

January 04, 2007 02:00 PM ET |

In my quest to get good digital pictures without cable or satellite service, I've tried TV tuners that come installed in flat-panel sets, in set-top boxes, and as add-on cards for a desktop PC. Surprisingly, none have done much better at pulling in a crisp signal than the tiny PCTV HD Pro Stick from Pinnacle Systems ($130 list price).

...continue reading.

About this Blog

Our in-house gadget guru, Senior Writer David LaGesse, tries out all the latest technologies and gizmos, from computer software to GPS systems -- and reports back to you in plain English.

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