Consider Your Needs, Then Use This Guide to Buying a Laptop
With laptops outselling desktop PCs, Walt Mossberg offers a quick guide to the key factors you should consider when buying notebook computers.
Personal Technology Columns Tagged ‘Microsoft’
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Apple’s Time Capsule Gives You Easy Way to Back Up Wirelessly
Apple’s new Time Capsule packs both a giant hard disk and a speedy Wi-Fi wireless router into one slender case, allowing computers to easily back up their hard drives wirelessly.
Big Update for Vista Leaves Little Changed for Mainstream Users
Microsoft’s first major update to its Windows Vista operating system, called Service Pack 1, is probably worth installing, but for most average consumers it will likely be a nonevent.
Multitouch Interface Is Starting to Spread Among New Devices
“Multitouch,” the iPhone-style interface that lets users manipulate lists or objects without a mouse or keyboard, is catching on. Rival companies are scrambling to add multitouch features to laptops and other digital gadgets.
Asus Offers Travelers Small, Mobile Eee PC, but It’s Too Cramped
A tiny new computer called the Eee PC is better than competing products in certain respects, such as text entry and price. But it still has too many compromises to pry most travelers away from their larger laptops.
New Office for Macs Speeds Up Programs, Integrates Formats
The new Microsoft Office for the Mac isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a solid program that does its job faster than old versions, Walt says.
Ford, Microsoft Create Car System That Lets You Ask for a Song
The SYNC system from Ford and Microsoft is a big step forward in integrating cellphones and portable music players into cars, says Walt Mossberg.
Leopard: Faster, Easier Than Vista
Apple’s new version of OS X, called Leopard, builds on Apple’s quality advantage over Windows, says Walt Mossberg. Leopard is better and faster than Vista, with a set of new features that make Macs even easier to use.
Some Basic Features You Should Demand When Buying a PC
It’s time for Walt’s annual fall PC buyer’s guide and, surprisingly, 10 months after Microsoft’s Vista operating system emerged, Vista is still the biggest puzzle in consumers’ computer-buying decisions.
Linux’s Free System Is Now Easier to Use, But Not for Everyone
Walt reviews Linux’s relatively slick Ubuntu variation and finds the alternative operating system too rough around the edges for the vast majority of computer users. (Video)
Years in the Making, Powerful Yahoo Mail Is Worth the Wait
Yahoo Mail has emerged from testing as a polished, fairly powerful online email program. It beats Google’s Gmail both in terms of features and its ability to act like a computer program instead of a Web page, writes Walt Mossberg.
Apple’s iWork Package Is Elegant but Wimpy Compared With Office
Apple’s answer to Microsoft Office isn’t as powerful or versatile as its rival. Walt faults iWork ‘08 for emphasizing elegance over the nuts and bolts of writing and number-crunching, but praises Apple’s alternative to PowerPoint. (Video)
Fusion Is Latest Way For Macs to Operate Windows, PC Software
Walt Mossberg tests Fusion, another option for running Windows, and Windows programs, on a Mac. The program let him switch between each operating system rapidly and smoothly without slowing down his computer.
Now, It’s a Picnik To Edit Your Photos Using a Web Program
Walt Mossberg says Picnik — a Web-based photo-editing application — is good for tweaking and improving photos, then posting them to photo Web sites, saving them to a computer, emailing them, or even printing them.
You Have Weapons In Your Computer To Monitor Your Kids
Many parents don’t realize that the latest versions of the two main computer-operating systems have parental controls built in. Walt tests some of these tools that help parents get a handle on their children’s computing activities. (Video)
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