Computer Shopper back issues from August 1998:
Insider Advice for Shrewd Shoppers. (features of the Shop Smart issue)(Editorial)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Fall is the season when technology buyers start to shop in earnest, spurred by annual provocations such as back-to-school sprees, a year-end fiscal spending mandate, or even early-bird shopping for the holidays. Whatever your reason, this month, our annual Shop Smart issue provides unusually ...
Feedback Forum.(Letter to the Editor)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Support Forums Should Be SampledDear Editor:In Scott May's article on diagnostic utilities in the May issue, any mention of users' experience with product support is missing.Unfortunately for users, the days of good--and free--phone support are over. Many ...
Correction.(Correction Notice)
Aug 01, 1998 ... In the June 1998 Networking section (p. 280), we reported that adding a stapler unit, a duplex module, a 2,500-sheet feeder, and a hard disk to the Xerox DocuPrint N24fn and N32fn ...
How to Talk to Us.(press release, authory query and subscription information) (Question and Answer)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Computer Shopper1 Park Ave., 11th Fl.New York, NY 10016ZDNet/CompuServe Edition: Go ZNT: CSHOPPERInternet: www.cshopper.comWe periodically make lists of our customers available to carefully screened mailers of quality goods and services. If ...
Get the Picture: Vendors Consider Bundling Videoconferencing Tools With PCs.
Aug 01, 1998; ... With the International Telecommunications Union's ratification of the H.323 data-transmission standard and the proliferation of high-powered PCs, vendors are working to equip their mainstream PCs with videoconferencing capabilities.Videoconferencing, once available only with ...
Intel Announces Bluetooth.(Intel, Ericsson, IBM, Nokia and Toshiba to develop new wireless technology) (Company Business and Marketing)
Aug 01, 1998; ... New Wireless Technology Keeps Users ConnectedMobile devices--notebooks, PDAs, and cellular phones--are a given for business travel, but staying connected and current can be tricky. Now Intel Corp. has joined forces with Ericsson, IBM Corp., Nokia, and Toshiba to deliver a new ...
Getting Yours: Will a Myriad of New Computing Devices Alter the Equation for Value?(product selection criteria) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... The search for value is a pastime for some and a matter of business life or death for others. For most, it's a matter of practicality: Money saved on computing equipment can be spent elsewhere.Computer Shopper has helped readers find the magic mix of features and price that equates ...
Search Services Race to Create Web Portals.(Yahoo leading Web access service) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... High-Traffic Web Sites Evolve Into Next-Generation Online ServicesA rivalry to become the main portal to the Web has spurred AltaVista, Excite, Microsoft, Netscape, and Yahoo to act as would-be ISPs and content aggregators. As Ken Rutsky, program manager for Netscape's Netcenter, ...
Renovating Online Storefronts.(improving Web site security and usability) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Vendors Seek to Alleviate Security Concerns and Improve UsabilityMost PC vendors have enabled their Web sites for electronic commerce, but perceived security issues and poor site designs have discouraged many buyers from closing the deal online. Now vendors are updating their sites ...
E-commerce Toolbox.(e-commerce solutions show rapid improvement) (Technology Information)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Power Tools Level The Playing FieldDirect vendors are continually seeking ways to grow their customer base while retaining gross margins. Opening an electronic storefront is one route to achieving these goals. While larger vendors such as Dell Computer Corp. and Gateway often have ...
Biometrics Initiatives Signal Need for Digital Identification.(BioAPI Consortium focuses on standards for biometrics technologies) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... BioAPI Consortium Launched To Set Standards for IndustryConducting business in the digital age means having better, more secure means of identifying the customers, companies, and employees with whom you interact. This need is leading to new initiatives in the development of digital ...
Do You Feel Sticky?(Gateway's lease-like YourWare purchase plan) (Company Business and Marketing)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Gateway's Yourware Is Designed to Keep You That WayShortly after dumping the soon-to-be dated "2000" from its moniker, Gateway announced a new lease-like plan to help consumers buy PCs. The YourWare program's relatively low monthly payment options garnered the most attention, even ...
If I Only Had a Brain.(Natrificial's Brain context-driven interface) (Product Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... PCs Get a New Associative InterfaceThe graphical user interface (GUI) revolutionized the PC interface, enabling even novice PC users to navigate their systems. Now 24-year-old programmer Harlan Hugh says there is a better way: Use his Brain.The Brain, invented by Hugh in ...
Midyear Processor Flurry.(microprocessor industry news) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... CPU Options MultiplyIt's been a busy time in the microprocessor world. There are lots of new product names, new clock speeds, and even a few new products. Here is a quick tour of the developments; in the next few months, I will address the changing market conditions and technical ...
AMD's K6-2 Presents Viable Alternative to Intel.(Advanced Micro Devices)(Product Announcement)
Aug 01, 1998; ... New Chip Includes 3DNow InstructionsWith the introduction of Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD's) graphics-intensive 333MHz K6-2 chip at the E3 Expo show in Atlanta this May, AMD may have one up on Intel for the time being. Not only does the K6-2 offer solid performance, it mercilessly ...
The Facts of Form Factor.(considering a PC's form factor in purchasing decisions) (Technology Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Desktops Take on the TowerOf all the features that factor into the decision to buy a particular PC, the form factor gets the least attention--even though it is fundamental to a PC's design. The form factor (or physical package) isn't a glamorous topic, especially since it doesn't ...
Board the Bus, Carefully.(Windows 98's USB support expected to drive sales of USB-based peripherals) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... USB products Arrive, But is Compatibility Ironclad?You can (almost) believe the USB hype now. For years, the hot-swappable, daisy-chainable connection technology has been lauded as the Next Big Thing in PC peripheral connectivity, but the lack of native operating-system support and ...
Smart Shopper.(shopping tips) (News Briefs)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Viper ValueBuy Diamond Multimedia Systems' $149 Viper V330 graphics card and get $20 back. Based on Nvidia Corp.'s Riva 128 chip set, this 2-D/3-D PCI card comes with 4MB of SGRAM. The mail-in rebate offer ends August 31, 1998, and applies only to retail--not OEM--versions of the ...
The Buyer's View: Windows 98.(Microsoft Windows 98 operating system) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... If you are buying a new system, Windows 98 will most likely be preloaded for free. Current PC owners, however, need to know whether the upgrade is worth the $90 price. To help you make the right decision, I teamed up with ZD Labs to find out if Microsoft's improvements are worth your money. ...
It Doesn't Pay To Build Your Own.(building instead of buying a PC depends on expertise level) (Technology Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Unless it's thrills you seek, building your own PC can't compare with buying one newMaybe it's the modern version of the midlife crisis: I hear more people my age wanting a CPU upgrade than a cherry-red Dodge Viper. Or maybe it's just that the new processor is more attainable. ...
Shopper's One-Stop Solver. (Question and Answer)
Aug 01, 1998 ... S.O.S. sits by the phoneA reader writes:I ordered a new PC from Nimble Technologies on April 1, 1998. The computer system was sent to me on April 4, but it was left on my doorstep while I was at work and it wasn't there when I got home. After several weeks of ...
Speak Up.(vendors offer unadvertised specials) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Some of the biggest names in the direct channel routinely host unadvertised specials on back inventory, returns, refurbished equipment, and even brand-new stock. But you may never know about these deals because sales reps are usually promoting new items from the company catalog and may not ...
Underground Deals.(how to find the hidden market with unpublicized savings) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Some of the hottest values are just beneath the surface, and here's how to find themIf you're a long-term direct shopper, you probably think you know every trick in the book on how to wrest the best deal from vendors. Don't be so sure, however: We've taken an in-depth look behind ...
Dig For Deals.(tips on finding PC bargains) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Swap leads with other buyers in chat rooms and newsgroups. Subscribe to online notification ...
The Start of the Deal.(vendors employ innovative ways to sell inventories without undercutting their traditional sales channels) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Unadvertised discount-shopping opportunites are nothing new, but they've never before been available to PC buyers in such great quantity and diversity. Their rapid growth is the product of several recent industry trends that are radically altering the topography of the direct channel. ...
Strictly Software.(direct sales channel offers bargain surplus software) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Although most direct-channel sales center around hardware, smart shoppers shouldn't necessarily give software short shrift. Once again, if you know where to look, you can dig up surplus software at great prices.Insight Direct features a Software Grab Bag service that offers steep ...
The Outlet Option.(factory-outlet stores offer PC and software bargains) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Another increasingly popular trend is the factory-outlet store. Larger resellers and manufacturers have begun setting up small numbers of these retail outlets at selected locations across the country. Specifically designed to avoid competing with the companies' traditional sales channels, ...
Used, Not Abused.(surplus-equipment vendors offer bargains on unused or good-as-new PCs and peripherals) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Sometimes the best deals hide in plain sight. Even a cursory search through any issue of Computer Shopper will turn up ads for companies that specialize in used and surplus equipment. But buyers focused on concerns such as configuration flexibility, getting the latest technology, and ...
When Buying Used.(tips on purchasing used computer equipment) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Always ask about warranties. Verify that the items have been recertified by an authorized ...
Beyond the Basics: Shopping for Services.(the underground market offers great deals on services, warranties and support) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Opportunities in the shopping underground aren't limited to hardware and software. If you know what to ask, you can also uncover ways to get great deals on services, warranties, and support.Some resellers provide one-stop shopping convenience to customers planning to implement a ...
Bid Online.(tips for shopping online) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Register for automatic e-mail or fax notification services.Look for events not held on ...
Hit The Outlets.(tips for computer shopping at factor outlet stores) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Find the number of the store's direct phone line from the company that owns the outlet.Request a list ...
After the Lease.(leasing companies offer computer purchases at bargain prices) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Leasing or renting equipment can sometimes make more sense than buying, but few consumers realize that leasing companies can be a great source for outright purchases at bargain prices. It might not be obvious, but the leasing industry represents a significant resource within the direct ...
Better Bidding.(online auctions offer great PC bargains) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... One of the hottest trends in product marketing is online auctioneering. Web sites such as eBay, OnSale, and WebAuction rack up enormous numbers of hits from users eager to bid on products like computers, consumer electronics, sporting equipment, and even antiques.Competing ...
Dialing for Discounts.(computer vendor phone numbers and Web sites)(Directory)
Aug 01, 1998 ... ABS Computer Technologies: 800-876-8088; factory outlet, 562-695-8823; www.abscorporate.comCDW: 800-726-4239; www.cdw.comCompUSA: 888-267-8628; www.compusa.comComtrade: 800-969-2123; www.comtrade.comCyberian Outpost: 800-856-9800; www.outpost.com ...
Seek Special Services.(purchasing special computer services) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Ask your sales rep specific questions about every type of service in which you're interested. If your vendor doesn't bill for ...
Digging for Deals.(locating special deals on computers and software) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998 ... With a few exceptions, just about anybody can qualify for these great deals. The tough part, though, is finding out about them before you sign the on the dotted line. It's not uncommon to drudge through a laborious purchase decision without suspecting that you could have bought a different ...
Power For The Long Haul.(Intel Mobile Pentium II processor offers more MIPS for the money in notebooks) (Industry Trend or Event)
Aug 01, 1998; ... If you're a notebook user looking for the most MIPS for your money, you've probably already set your sights on Intel Corp.'s new Mobile Pentium II processor. With its latest mobile CPU, the chip maker has shoehorned the advanced 0.25-micron technology employed in its Pentium II desktop ...
AMS Rodeo 5032ECX.(AMS Tech Rodeo 5032ECX) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... The Rodeo 5032ECX from AMS Tech turns in solid performance at an estimated price of $3,795, below average for this roundup. Though the Rodeo weighs a strapping 8.6 pounds, it delivers some extremely useful features for the poundage, including a 14.1-inch TFT screen, simultaneous internal ...
Digital HiNote VP 765. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Digital Equipment Corp.'s $3,999 HiNote VP 765 delivers good performance at an average price and weighs in at a relatively lightweight 7.6 pounds. The downside? The HiNote VP's battery life was somewhat limited, providing only 2.5 hours of untethered computing time in our tests. ...
Fact File. (Question and Answer)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Category Tested 266MHz Pentium II NotebooksPrice Range $3,332 to $5,329Minimum Configuration 266MHz Mobile Pentium II processor, 64MB of RAM, 4GB hard drive, 20x CD-ROM or 2x DVD-ROM (16x ...
Gateway Solo 9100 XL. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... The $4,699 Gateway Solo 9100 XL serves up the best overall performance among this pack of portables, plus impressive features that include its 14.1-inch TFT screen, a DVD drive, a 5.1GB hard drive, and a good software bundle. You'll pay for a feature set like this, in more ways than one: ...
IBM ThinkPad 770E. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... At $5,329, IBM Corp.'s ThinkPad 770E is the priciest portable in this roundup, costing $630 more than the next-most-expensive system. But after you recover from the sticker shock, you'll notice that the 770E provides excellent battery life, great overall performance, and features that ...
Mag Verity 850CDT. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... While a number of the notebooks in this roundup are stuffed with high-end features, Mag Portable Technologies' $3,332 Verity 850CDT provides just the basics. By doing so, the Verity ranks as the least expensive notebook in the roundup and also is the lightest of the lot at 6.8 pounds. These ...
Transmonde Vivante SE 2266. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Transmonde Technologies' $3,519 Vivante SE 2266 notebook is an attractive package for the price. This 7.6-pounder, the lightest in our feature, includes a DVD drive and 56Kbps PC Card modem, and delivers the best battery life. But it consistently turned in subpar benchmark ratings, making it ...
Product Listing, 1.(AMS Rodeo 5032ECX) (Product Information)
Aug 01, 1998 ... AMS Rodeo 5032ECXAMS Tech12881 Ramona Blvd.Irwindale, CA 91706800-886-2671; 626-814-8851www.amstech.comMfr. Est. Price: $3,795Digital HiNote VP 765Digital Equipment Corp.111 Powdermill Rd. ...
The Match Game.(Pentium II-based notebooks) (Product Information)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Improved performance is the reason you'll want a Pentium II notebook. Besides delivering better performance today, Pentium II systems are now the mainstream of desktop computing, which means that tomorrow's software will be optimized for this platform.Whatever your ...
WinBook XLi 266. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... WinBook Corp.'s $3,408 XLi 266 is priced right and, at 7.6 pounds, is lightweight. The XLi has an Achilles' heel, however: It delivers the worst battery performance of the roundup.The XLi offers two drive bays: one to house the floppy, another for the CD-ROM drive. Neither of the ...
Worth Noting.(IBM ThinkPad 770E, Gateway Solo 9100 XL, Transmonde Vivante SE 2266 Pentium-based portables) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... IBM ThinkPad 770E: With a 14.1-inch TFT, a 5.1GB hard drive, a DVD-ROM drive, hot-swappable drives, and excellent battery life, this is a an impressive machine. But at $5,329, you're paying a premium for these features.Gateway Solo 9100 XL: The best overall performance and ...
Go the Whole Distance With Micron's GoBook 266.(Micron Electronics GoBook 266 slimline notebook) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... To many business users, the price of a notebook is important--but not if it means a major sacrifice in features or performance. Micron Electronics has adopted this philosophy with its latest high-end slimline notebook, the GoBook 266.The GoBook eschews the Mobile Pentium II ...
The GeoBook: A Non-Win 95 Value Notebook Alternative.(Brother International Brother GeoBook NB-80C under-$600 notebook) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... What do you do when you need full-size portable computing, but can't afford more than $600? Well, if you're willing to go with a unit that isn't based on Windows 95, Brother International's Brother GeoBook NB-80C may fill the bill.The GeoBook includes a color screen, a built-in ...
The ThinkPad 600 Puts Desktop Performance in a Slim Case. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... The IBM ThinkPad 600 is an elegant and feature-rich solution to the age-old problem of making portables smaller. IBM Corp.'s engineering group has come up with an 11.8x9.4-inch case that is a mere 1.4 inches thick and weighs only 5 pounds.Inside, though, are the components of a ...
Take Your Presentations With You.(CTX Opto's EzPro 700; Proxima's UltraLightDS1 Projector; NEC's MultiSync LT80 ultra portable projectors) (Product Information)
Aug 01, 1998; ... At less than 10 pounds each, these new ultraportable projectors make giving presentations light, bright, and easyIf giving presentations on the go is part of your job description, then so is lugging around a presentation projector. One easy way to lose some weight is to upgrade to ...
CTX EzPro 700. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... The CTX EzPro 700 is the only one of the three projectors that lacks a built-in handle, but it's still the same small size and light weight as the others.In addition to the core set of cables you get with all three projectors, the EzPro 700 comes with an audio/video cable for ...
NEC MultiSync LT80.
Aug 01, 1998 ... High on the NEC's distinguishing features list is a handy built-in laser pointer in the remote, which is otherwise identical to those of the other two projectors.The LT80 comes with the fewest cables, including only the core set for connecting to your computer's video output and ...
Product Listing, 2.(CTX EzPro 700) (Product Information)
Aug 01, 1998 ... CTX EzPro 700CTX Opto1178 Bordeaux Dr. Ste. BSunnyvale, CA 94089800-888-2120; 408-541-6060Fax: 408-541-6068www.ctxopto.comList Price: $7,495NEC MultiSync LT80NEC Technologies1250 N ....
Proxima UltraLight DS1 Projector. (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998 ... Proxima's UltraLight almost literally splits the difference between the CTX and NEC versions. The projector itself is virtually identical to the LT80, right down to the handle and the multistep magnification feature with its effectively continuous zoom. However, the remote is identical to ...
Bypass Your Parallel Port With the EigerMedia CD-ROM.(Eiger Labs EigerMedia 20X Portable CD-ROM Drive) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Most notebooks these days have CD-ROM drives, but many legacy systems and some slim notebooks do not. Traditionally, users and corporate help desks have used parallel-port CD-ROM drives with these units, but a new product from Eiger Labs is faster and more convenient. The Eiger Labs ...
JFax Lets You Get All Your Messages Wherever You Are.(JFax.Com's JFax service routes voice-mail messages and faxes to e-mail in-box) (Company Business and Marketing)
Aug 01, 1998; ... When you're sitting in your hotel room and you want to check all your messages, it often becomes a marathon session. You have to call for your voice mail, check your e-mail account, and then fetch your faxes from the hotel business office. Now with JFax.Com's JFax service, all you have to do ...
The Presario 1621: A Low-Cost, Pentium-Alternative Notebook.(Compaq notebook) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Notebooks that offer processors other than Intel Corp.'s Pentium have been few and far between. Such units tend to take a hit in performance because they often include less performance-oriented components. One of the first major notebook vendors to brave the waters is Compaq Computer Corp ....
The MicroFlex-300/AGP Gives You AGP Without Intel Inside.(Micro Express MicroFlex-300/AGP) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... If you want more computing power than is typically available in the sub-$1,000 category, but you want to spend less than $1,500 (the cost of a well-equipped 233MHz Pentium II system from Dell Computer Corp. or Gateway), consider Micro Express' new MicroFlex-300/AGP system. This $1,249-direct ...
The Video Sphinx Pro Lets You Capture Video Without Hassles.(FutureTel Video Sphinx Pro) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Does capturing motion video for presentations or distribution on the Web have you baffled? FutureTel's $399-list Video Sphinx Pro may help solve the riddle. This small external device combines the good picture quality and small file size of MPEG-1 video with the ease of use of a parallel ...
ThingMaker 1.0 Lets You Add New Energy to Your Web Site.(Parable Web authoring software) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... If your Web site suffers from a lack of pizzazz, maybe what it needs are a few bouncing, squawking, blinking Things. Parable's ThingMaker 1.0 is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that lets you create intelligent objects called Things that perform all sorts of multimedia trickery on the Web. ...
Creative's 3D Blaster Voodoo2 Is First With New 3Dfx Chip.(3-D graphics accelerator) (Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Aug 01, 1998; ... If all the players in the 3-D graphics accelerator market, the name that carries the most clout with hard-core gamers is 3Dfx. For this reason, gamers everywhere have been trying to get their hands on Creative Labs' 3D Blaster Voodoo2, the first 3-D board to use 3Dfx Interactive's new ...
Unrestricted Access Gives You All the Facts on 'The X-Files'.(Fox Interactive's The X-Files: Unrestricted Access CD-ROM)
Aug 01, 1998; ... Fox Interactive's official encyclopedic offering to "X-Files" aficionados everywhere, The X-Files: Unrestricted Access, provides you with more information about "The X-Files" than you ever needed to know.There are several ways to navigate the disc. The most direct is to use the ...