Computer Shopper back issues from November 1999:
Tackling the Top 100.(Editorial)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Getting a group of editors to agree on what to order for lunch is hard enough, so you can imagine what a task it was for them to agree on the best products of the year. Nevertheless, after much consideration and several, shall we say, "animated" discussions regarding the pros and cons of ...
Feedback Forum.(Letter to the Editor)
Nov 01, 1999 ... Thanks for the Tips I think the September Technology feature highlighting 11 ways to improve computer performance is great. (See "Eleven Tune-Up Tips," p. 312.) Although much, if not all, of the information is common knowledge for anyone who works with computers on a daily ...
Correction.(Correction Notice)
Nov 01, 1999 ... The Altos 930 server mentioned in the September Networks Feature, ...
Contact Us.(Editorial)
Nov 01, 1999 ... PRODUCTS Send press re leases regarding new and updated computer products to "New Products" at the above address. AUTHOR QUERIES Send your ideas for articles to editor Janice Chen. No calls please. Include a writing sample and also some information about your background ....
Beyond Feel-Good Computing.(microcomputers move away from Wintel and toward closed, single-use devices given away with services)(Industry Trend or Event)(Column)
Nov 01, 1999; ... In a segmenting PC market, customer confidence is the new baseline. If you've seen Gateway's TV ads or dialed in by phone, you've heard the same reassuring female voice greet you. Such consistency is a key to successful branding, and Gateway, proven a master of feel-good ...
The Mysterious Compact Disc Interactive.(Technology Information)(Column)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The Life and Times of a Format That Never Quite Found Its Niche It was a curiosity. It was supposed to be the biggest thing in the '90s and something that might eliminate the PC altogether. It was called compact disc interactive (CD-I) a device you could hook up to a regular ...
Next-Generation PC Platforms.(Intel's 820, 810 and 810e system-logic chip sets)(Product Announcement)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Casual users might want to wait. This fall, Intel will roll out two new system-logic chip sets that will usher in a new generation of PC platforms. The advantages of the new systems will not be immediately apparent to most users, but under the hood, some significant changes will ...
The Free PC Cuts In On Secondhand Sales.(Industry Trend or Event)(Column)
Nov 01, 1999; ... With new PCs priced so low, used systems are depreciating faster than ever. The so-called "free PC" is on deck again, but this time, it's affecting the prices of secondhand or used PCs. After all, for many companies and buyers, the ability to get a few hundred dollars out of ...
Let the Deals Come to You.(companies offering online reverse-bidding services create demand-driven electronic commerce)(Company Business and Marketing)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Reverse-shopping services route vendor offers to interested buyers. The laws of supply and demand may be alive and well on the Internet, but shoppers are no longer limited to what online merchants are supplying up front. Buyers can now shop on demand, deciding what they want and ...
Computer Shopper Best Buys Hot List.(the top 100 products of 1999)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... The best value, performance, and technology we've seen over the past three months. Desktops ABS Supreme DVD-1 Although you may think you've seen this system before (it does bear the same name as our May 1999 Best Buy winner), trust us this is a whole new ...
Computer Shopper's Top 100 Products of 1999.(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... With thousands of new computer products appearing each year, it's no easy task to narrow the field down to a mere 100. But that didn't stop the Computer Shopper editorial staff from handpicking our Top 100 favorites from the huge number of products, services, and technologies we've ...
Top Desktop Systems.(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... The downward spiral of desktop pricing has resulted in unbeatable deals for buyers, no matter what position on the pricing spectrum they inhabit. Intel launched a much faster Celeron line, new multimedia-enhanced chip sets, and a rapidly proliferating selection of high-speed ...
Top Mobile Products.(notebook and hand-held computers)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... Whether you're a telecommuter, a frequent traveler, or someone who just likes to flaunt your collection of portable gizmos in public, going mobile has never been easier. Today's Pentium II and Celeron-based notebooks are thinner and lighter, and those once-clumsy mini-notebooks ...
Top Hardware.(the top printers, scanners, digital cameras, graphics cards and other devices)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... No, it's not your imagination. Computer hardware really does get more space-age each year, and the prices keep on plummeting. Here are the year's tops in printers, digicams, graphics cards, and more. This was a shakeout year for scanner vendors, in which fierce price wars ...
Top Software.(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... It seems like every new piece of software, from Microsoft Office to Adobe Photoshop, has just added some sort of Internet functionality. Whether it's Family Tree Maker's online genealogical links or Audio Anywhere's streaming-audio capabilities, vendors today seem reluctant to ...
Top Games.(the best computer games of 1999)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... This was the year that gamers finally reaped the benefit of technologies that had, until now, been more talk than walk. Game developers fell over each other to pack new releases with hyper- realistic 3D graphics, lifelike artificially intelligent characters, and jaw-dropping ...
Top Networking Products.(the best modems, network adapters and network management devices of 1999)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999 ... As businesses incorporate a far-reaching web of employees, most of whom have computers, effective intercomputer communication has become a priority. Today, network solutions both LAN- and Internet-based are a necessary component in businesses of all sizes. Our product picks in ...
Top New Technologies.(the best of the new technologies of 1999)(Technology Information)
Nov 01, 1999 ... As businesses incorporate a far-reaching web of employees, most of whom have computers, effective intercomputer communication has become a priority. Technological advances this year jumped ahead at the usual whiplash pace. But besides faster speeds and feeds, technology became ...
The Best Products Of The Year.(Buyers Guide)(Illustration)
Nov 01, 1999 ... Desktop SystemsABS Supreme DVD-1 - An outstanding deal on a fully loaded Pentium III multimedia powerhouse - ABS Computer Technologies - 800-876-8088 - www.buyabs.com - Direct Price: $1,999Apple iMac - The most stylishly packaged computer of 1999, and the least-costly Mac ever - Apple ...
Banks Vault To The Net.(Bank One and Citibank among the banks moving to the web, but customers may be slow to follow)(Company Business and Marketing)(Column)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Big banks and their hidebound boards of directors have been circling the Web like packs of uncertain coyotes. They know they have to make a strike to survive, but they're still wary of the Web. Now, pressured by an explosion in the number of online banks and demands from under- served ...
Cash Back from Dash.com.(service offers discounts for online purchases)(Company Business and Marketing)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Wouldn't it be nice if someone followed you around as you shop and dispensed cash? This is hard to come by in the physical world unless you're married to the right person but in the Web world you can rely on Dash.com. Just download the Dashbar, and whenever you shop at ...
Pretty Sly For A Flight Buy.(United Airlines teams with Buy.com in electronic commerce venture)(Company Business and Marketing)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The Web is as packed with travel sites as a fully loaded 747 is with passengers, so you might be tempted to dismiss United Airlines' latest enterprise as just another ho-hum entry in the crowded ether. But you'd be grounding yourself, especially if you like a great deal. United ...
The Sound of Savings.(CDUniverse is the top online CD merchant, according to Internet marketing company Xceed)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Looking for the best deal on CDs? Based on a recent study by Xceed Intelligence, you'll find a world of savings at CDUniverse. Xceed, an Internet marketing company, compared 12 major Web sites that hawk CDs, determining an average price for each, including costs for shipping and sales tax ...
Surfing Is Such A Gas.(BP Amoco installs Tokheim gas pumps that are also web kiosks)(Company Business and Marketing)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Soon, you'll be able to fill up on more than unleaded when you pull into the service station. BP Amoco is set to install gas pumps that will do double duty as Web kiosks, dispensing weather forecasts, traffic updates, and no surprise advertising along with petroleum. And eventually, you'll ...
Ringing Up Sales.(eCharge's Internet credit-account service)(Company Business and Marketing)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The cell phone-addicted will find new reasons to spend quality time with their handsets sometime late next year. That's when a new Internet payment system will enable consumers to purchase small-ticket items like a soda by dialing a vending machine with their cell phones. One ...
The Electronic Exchange 2000.(electronic commerce overview)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Here's the scoop on the buying and selling of goods and services online. Savvy consumers know that they can purchase nearly anything, from airline tickets to flowers to stocks, simply by logging on to the Internet. And for some things, such as hotel reservations or auto ...
The E-Buying Game: Playing to Win.(tips for buying a PC or other consumer items online)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Despite the growing popularity of online shopping, ordering that new PC on the Web isn't the same as walking into a store and walking home with it the same day. Here are several strategies you can use to make online purchasing faster and more efficient, and to save you more money. ...
Reading the Fine Print.(purchasing a 'free' PC)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The process of "buying" a free PC requires some detailed comparison of hardware specs and the total cost of ISP service contracts. People, get out your magnifying glasses. If you're a computer novice looking to save a bundle by picking up a "free" PC, be prepared to wade ...
Rebates! Money Back Guaranteed.(News Briefs)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Gamers' Discounts Microsoft Corp. and Red Orb offer discounts on sequels to their popular games. Microsoft's Rise of Rome, an expansion pack to the real-time strategy game Age of Empires, lets users chart the path of the Roman Empire. Purchase by December 31, 2000, and receive a ...
PC Connection Connects With And Serves Customers.
Nov 01, 1999 ... www.pcconnection.com PC Connection is an entrenched and reputable player in the direct- catalog business. During the past 15 years, the company has amassed a colossal variety of products for sale more than 25,000 items in total and has won the loyalty of businesses and ...
eShopper Resources for Web Buying.(overview of online commerce sites)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The sites in this listing sell products from multiple manufacturers. See Computer Shopper's online Source Directory (cgi.zdnet.com/slink?8145) for more information on PC manufacturers offering only their own brand (such as Dell or Gateway). PC Shopping Sites Aberdeen ...
ComputAbility www.computability.com.(Web site)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 1999; ... ComputAbility's Site Offers Shopping Aids As Well as Inventory Beginning its mail-order business in 1982, ComputAbility has aged considerably better than the Commodore 64 home computers sold the same year. The company's spiffy Web site offers a range of desktop, notebook, and ...
E-Stamp Corp. www.estamp.com.(Internet postage)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Purchase Printable Postage at E-Stamp For people particularly small-business owners who find themselves making frequent trips to the post office just to buy postage, E-Stamp Corp. can deliver convenience. E-Stamp lets customers buy postage via the Internet, then print the ...
AtYourOffice.com atyouroffice.com.(Brief Article)
Nov 01, 1999; ... At Your Office More Than Meets Your Office-Supply Needs This site is an office-supply managers' dream. It offers up everything from the mundane to the essential that the well-prepared business needs. Shoppers can load their carts with stationery products such as pens, paper, ...
Places To Stay www.placestostay.com.
Nov 01, 1999; ... Nice Prices, Many Rooms, All a Click Away Once you've locked in the transportation, one of the toughest trip- planning challenges is finding a place to stay. You can ease the process at Places To Stay, a tool for finding lodging and making timely reservations. It lists nearly ...
Norman Camera www.normancamera.com.
Nov 01, 1999; ... Norman Camera Showcases A Big-City Selection at Small-Town Prices Well-established in traditional retail, Norman Camera Online is working hard to build the same reputation with cyber customers. This Kalamazoo, Mich.-based camera and video-product supplier has been in the ...
Boring Is Not Beautiful.(eMachines' eOne and Gatewayy's Astro microcomputers, Dell Computer's Webster notebook computer)(Product Announcement)
Nov 01, 1999; ... PC makers are introducing new consumer desktops that are stylish, easy to use, and affordable. Once again, computer makers are thinking outside the big, boring beige box. Thanks in no small part to the influential, eye-catching Apple iMac, it's now clear that consumers ...
Value Line Desktops.(Sep 1999 prices)(Industry Trend or Event)
Nov 01, 1999 ... Average Desktop Configuration For September 1999*450MHz Intel Pentium III96MB RAM12GB hard driveDVD-ROM drive8MB AGP graphics card17-inch monitor56Kbps modem *Based on ads in September 1999 Computer Shopper Here's a sampling of desktop configurations and ...
ABS Supreme DVD-1: More PC for Your Money.(ABS Computer Technologies' Supreme DVD-1)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... ABS serves up a sumptuous home system with a 600MHz Pentium III CPU, 256MB of RAM, and all the trimmings. If you thought you saw ABS Computer Technologies' Supreme DVD-1 in our May issue, get ready for some serious deja vu. This new version of the Supreme has a faster 600MHz ...
Micron Millennia C500: Getting Down To Business.(Micron Electronics' PC)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Micron puts Intel's 500MHz Celeron processor to work in a moderately priced system for the small-office user. The Micron Millennia C500 features the impressive power of the 500MHz Celeron CPU in a stylish, tidy package. Micron positions the $1,339- direct system as one of its ...
Crossline Endeavor GX: Seek and Ye Shall Find.(Crossline Communications' PC)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Crossline's latest Endeavor features the power of the 500MHz Pentium III and the affordability of a Celeron. Although it's no longer the fastest CPU in Intel's Pentium III fleet, the 500MHz Pentium III processor is picking up steam in the value segment of the market. Crossline's ...
Atlas Micro GS9000: A Tower of Raw Power.(Atlas Micro Logistic's Pentium III-based system)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Atlas Micro's 600MHz Pentium III system targets users looking for speed, flexibility, and an affordable price. The Atlas Micro GS9000 might lack some of the polish of systems offered by top-tier manufacturers, but it does provide a lot of functionality for its $1,989-direct ...
Corporate Comes Home.(IBM's ThinkPad i Series line of notebook computers, market share)(Product Information)
Nov 01, 1999; ... PC makers have traditionally focused on businesses and taken their eyes off the consumer prize. IBM is changing that. It's been said time and time again that the meat of the notebook market is in the corporate segment. And when you look at a list of the top notebook ...
Value Line Notebooks.(Sep 1999 pricing)(Industry Trend or Event)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Average Notebook Configuration for September 1999*366MHz Intel Pentium II64MB RAM6.4GB hard drive24x CD-ROM drive13.3-inch TFT display * Based on ads in Computer Shopper, September 1999 Here's a sampling of notebook configurations and pricing based on ...
Mobile Gear.
Nov 01, 1999 ... See it on the small screen If you're a hard-charging road warrior who's all about work, try a little play with the $1,099-estimated Panasonic DVD-L50, the smallest self-contained portable DVD player on the market today. The device features a 5-inch LCD, virtual surround sound, ...
Perfectly Portable.(notebook computers)(Buyers Guide)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Get equipped with the perfect notebook to suit your mobile needs At any given time, more than 100 different notebook models are available for purchase, each one featuring some nifty detail, some flashy feature, or some design element setting it apart from the rest. So the ...
21st-Century Laptop.(future look and feel)(Technology Information)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Time travelers from roughly 15 years ago would probably be stunned to see the growth of power and capability in modern laptops, but they would still recognize the rectangular box and components. That familiar look and feel may soon begin to change as revolutionary technologies currently in ...
IBM ThinkPad 240: Big Blue Gets Very Small.(nootebook computer)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... IBM steps lightly into the mini-notebook arena with a solid unit priced to take on the competition. It seemed inevitable that notebook veteran IBM would enter the mini- notebook market, especially considering the massive amount of attention heaped on Sony and Toshiba for their ...
Dell Inspiron 7500 C466LT: Clark Kent-Style Computing.(Dell Computer's notebook)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Under this notebook's plain exterior lie superhero-like performance and expansion capabilities. With the recent popularity of sleek, awe-inspiring mini-notebooks, it's easy to understand why chunkier mainstream machines attract less attention. But when you really need to hunker ...
Franklin Rocket eBook: Books by Browser.(Franklin Electronic Publishers' hand-held data device)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... It takes great ingenuity to improve on a 600-year-old medium, but with its tremendous storage capacity and an Internet-based distribution channel, Franklin Electronic Publishers' Rocket eBook has done just that. What's more, this electronic book brings a new paradigm to published matter, ...
Compaq Aero 2150: A Color Comeback.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The latest Windows CE-based Palm-size PCs (PPCs) are starting to popularize pocket-size multimedia by incorporating color displays, enhanced audio, and entertainment-oriented software. So it's no big surprise that Windows CE proponent Compaq Computer Corp. has unveiled a new color unit, ...
Compaq MP1600 Microportable Projector: Project a Lighter Image.(DLP projector)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Portable projectors have been on a shrinking spree, plunging in both pounds and price. New comer Compaq Computer Corp. is leading the charge with the smallest yet the 4.2-pound MP1600 Microportable Projector that's also light on the budget at $4,499 estimated. And this Digital ...
CD-Writer Plus M820e: CD-RW Runs for the Road.(HP's disk drive)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Today's best bet for hefty removable-storage needs is CD-Rewritable (CD-RW), which gives you the ability to write and rewrite up to 650MB of data to a single disc. CD-RW has gained a growing and enthusiastic following among desktop users, and now it's going mobile, thanks in part to ...
What Dreams May Come.(Sega's Dreamcast gaming system)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Sega of America raises the stakes with its new 128-bit, Internet-ready Dreamcast gaming system. Fueled by a massive $100 million marketing campaign and more hype than a Ricky Martin fan-club newsletter, the Sega Dreamcast officially arrived here on September 9. Though the ...
News Bits: Hardware.
Nov 01, 1999; ... Motored Mayhem Logitech is gearing up to zoom past the competition with its new Wingman Formula Force racing system. Equipped with Immersion Corp.'s I- Force 2.0 force-feedback technology, the $179-estimated rubber-gripped wheel is designed to let racing-sim fans experience many ...
Actiontec 56K USB Call Waiting Modem: Keeping Your Connection.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... If your online time is preventing you from getting important phone calls, Actiontec's new 56K USB Call Waiting Modem can help solve the problem without requiring the installation of a second phone line. This $129.95-estimated external modem works with both Windows and Mac systems, and ...
Canon CanoScan FB 1200S: The Near-Perfect Imager.(scanner)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... When Canon Computer Systems announced the $499-estimated CanoScan FB 1200S with ratings matching those of more expensive scanners, we eagerly awaited its arrival. We were most interested in the scanner's dynamic range of 3.3, which indicates the ability to produce decent scans of ...
Evergreen AcceleraPCI: Overcoming Obsolescence.(Evergreen Technologies)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Evergreen Technologies has transcended one of the great, sad truths of product obsolescence: A Pentium motherboard can't be upgraded to run an Intel P6-class processor. Evergreen's AcceleraPCI manages this feat by adding a Celeron CPU, 64MB of SDRAM, and a portion of the Intel 440ZX- 66 ...
Sony CPD-G200: Brightening Up the Office.(monitor)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... With its new CPD-G200 17-inch flat CRT monitor, Sony Electronics is targeting IT managers who need to replace older 15-inch and smaller displays. The monitor, which meets or surpasses all industry standards, is a solid choice despite its hefty $499.99 estimated price. Because ...
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 710: The Diamond on Display.(monitor)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... While 17-inch monitors may be the present-day standard for new PC purchases, most of us are still making do with our older, smaller 15- inch screens. If you're looking for the bigger picture or simply need to replace an aging display, Mitsubishi Electronics America's new 17- inch Diamond ...
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer: A New Breed of PC Mouse.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... Let's be honest: The computer mouse is a vile little creature. It's awkward to use, eats up valuable desktop space, and is forever getting clogged with dust and food crumbs. Surprisingly, this inanimate rodent has remained essentially unchanged in the 31 years following its inception ....
HP DeskJet 970Cse: Images Worth the Wait.(color inkjet printer)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... It seems that each new generation of color inkjet printers comes closer to the mark of delivering true photograph-quality prints. With the ability to produce output at a maximum resolution of 2,400x1,200 dpi, Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP DeskJet 970Cse color inkjet is certainly a step in the ...
Creative Labs 3D Blaster Riva TNT2 Ultra: A Blasting Boost.(graphics board)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
Nov 01, 1999; ... With rapid-fire bullets, blazing tanks, and plenty of sudden explosions, 3D game play is becom ing more vivid than ever. As developers continue to add detailed and realistic-looking graphical scenes to games, graphics-chip and -board manufacturers work to provide today's PCs with the power ...
The Ultimate Upgrade A New Motherboard.(Technology Tutorial)
Nov 01, 1999; ... The most cost-effective and popular PC upgrade is adding memory. Doubling your system memory from 16MB to 32MB or from 32MB to 64MB can deliver a performance gain approximating a CPU speed-grade increase (such as 333MHz to 366MHz), and your system will run multiple applications more ...
Live! On computershopper.com and ZDNet.(Directory)
Nov 01, 1999 ... On computershopper.com Free E-Mail Alert Sign up for Buyer's Alert, computershopper.com's e-mail newsletter, and you'll receive shopping advice, special offers, rebates, and other important updates, delivered free to your in-box each week. ...