Computer Makers Cater to Big Business, Slight the Rest of Us
The world would be better off if the biggest computer companies started catering more to the non-IT part of the market, where most computers live, writes Walt Mossberg.
Personal Technology
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Boot Camp Turns Your Mac Into a Reliable Windows PC
Apple’s “Boot Camp” software lets Mac users turn their machines into a fast, full-fledged Windows computer if they choose, with only a few minor annoyances.
In Our Post-PC Era, Apple’s Device Model Beats the PC Way
In early battles for dominance of the PC market, Microsoft’s component-based platform crushed Apple’s end-to-end model. But in today’s post-PC era, where the focus is on music players, game consoles and cellphones, the end-to-end model is the early winner.
Novatel Laptop Cards Can Access Internet, But Services Vary
Novatel has come out with a couple of new ExpressCard versions for Cingular and Verizon cellular broadband networks. I recommend both new cards. But the two high-speed networks are very different.
Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting
Vista is the best version of Windows that Microsoft has produced, Walt Mossberg says. But while navigation has been improved, the successor to XP isn’t a breakthrough in ease of use.
Ways You Can Avoid Getting Junk Programs on Your New Computer
Many people are furious about so-called craplets, the unwanted programs that come loaded on most new PCs. Until computer makers stop dumping these junk programs on us, here are some strategies for avoiding them.
These Two Laptops Are Small and Sleek, But Come With Flaws
New laptops from Toshiba and Dell tackle the design challenge of being both small and powerful. Both machines are stylish and worked fine in the tests, but Walt finds flaws that might give a buyer pause.
A $99 Desktop Comes With Software, Backup and Too Many Catches
Walt Mossberg tests a $99 desktop computer that comes with software, online backup, and has a design that cuts energy use. However, there are several catches that prevent him from recommending the computer.
New Dell Vostro Line Misses Mark in Aim For Tiny Businesses
The new line of Dell computers aimed at small businesses without IT departments are mostly a marketing ploy at the moment. Video
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)
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.
New Gateway Desktop Takes on Look of iMac, but Can’t Match It
Gateway One is striking like the iMac but offers smaller screens and lower resolution — huge factors in an all-in-one machine — for prices that can exceed the iMac’s, says Walt Mossberg. Video
Dell’s All-in-One PC Has the Guts, Design to Compete With iMac
Dell’s new all-in-one PC, the XPS One, is a stylish Windows Vista machine that runs well and won’t cost a fortune. If it didn’t have the Dell logo on it, the XPS One might be mistaken for a product of the PC industry’s design leaders, Apple or Sony.
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.
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.
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