Many people resort to time-consuming methods for transferring key files between computers. Walt looks at services that automatically keep certain folders synchronized among multiple PCs, without any work on your part.
Google’s two newest releases, Google Desktop and Google Talk, are bold, major steps for the company — and useful programs that have great potential, Walt writes.
Fujitsu got the size right when making its tablet PC, but like other models, it’s still annoying to use more often than it should be, because not enough thought has gone into tablet-specific hardware innovation, writes Walt Mossberg.
EverNote, a new contender in the information organizer field, is fast and logical and a good way to round up random thoughts and resources scattered around your computer.
Microsoft Student is designed to help middle-school and high-school students to attack their homework efficiently. Walt says it can provide some aid, but is confusing and clumsy to use, and disappointing in some respects.
Walt says the Pepper Pad, a new info appliance, mostly did what was promised, but it isn’t quite as easy and intuitive to use as its makers claim. And, at $799, it costs more than some laptops.
Google Earth lets you view satellite and aerial photos of pretty much any spot on the planet. While the program may not be practical for most people, it’s still worth fooling around with just because it’s cool.
Walt says the Slingbox — a new gadget that allows viewers to watch TV shows they receive at home in other locations, and on devices other than their TV sets — is a very good product that makes place shifting a reality.
If you are a news-oriented Web surfer who wants the latest stuff from a broad range of sources, RSS — a system that allows you to quickly scan large numbers of newsy, frequently updated sites — can be a great boon.
Edited by Walt and written by Katie Boehret, this is a guide to gadgets, web services and other consumer technologies.
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