Two Ultralight Laptops Offer Lots of Features, Improved Portability
Walt puts two new full-featured ultralight laptops to the test and finds they both pass the in-flight exam.
Personal Technology
Sort by: Newest First | Oldest First 1-15 of 22 Results
New Microsoft Program Offers Homework Tools But It’s Clumsy to Use
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.
Sony’s New Laptop Is Smaller and Lighter, But Its Screen Is Bigger
Sony’s latest coup is an ultra-portable laptop series that manages to be both smaller and lighter than its predecessor while expanding screen size. An impressive design, Walt says, though the wireless capability has problems.
Two Tech Leaders Aim For Bold New Portable, But Miss the Mark
Samsung’s Q1, an Ultra Mobile PC that’s smaller than the smallest mainstream laptop, goes on sale next week, but the machine is so deeply flawed in key respects that it amounts to little more than a toy for techies.
Once You Experience Wide-Screen HDTVs, Hassles Seem Small
Walt Mossberg lives for several weeks with a big, beautiful HDTV and finds that it’s a joy to watch. But there are some hitches.
Before Going to Buy High-Tech Devices, Learn the New Terms
Walt Mossberg offers a quick glossary of techno terms shoppers may encounter when looking for a computer, television, digital camera or cellphone this holiday season. (Video)
These Services Make Backing Up Your Files Safe and Inexpensive
Walt Mossberg tests two online services for remotely backing up his computer data that offer unlimited capacity for around $50 a year.
Don’t Get Caught In a Losing Battle Over DVD Technology
LG’s new combo player can handle both new formats vying to replace DVDs — Blu-ray and HD-DVD. At $1,200, it’s only for videophiles with deep pockets, but Walt hopes it’s the start of a trend that will end the DVD format war.
Buying a Laptop Means More Attention to Special Features
Walt provides some tips for making laptop purchases. First, you may want to wait to get that new laptop until later this year or early in 2008. There are a number of interesting new hardware features coming.(Video)
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.
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)
If You Are Drowning in Remote Controls, Harmony Is a Lifesaver
Two new Harmony remote controls help to reduce living room clutter by replacing multiple remotes and make it much easier to use an entertainment system.
Apple’s MacBook Air Is Beautiful and Thin, but Omits Features
Apple’s MacBook Air is a beautiful, amazingly thin computer, but one whose unusual trade-offs may turn off some frequent travelers. It’s impossible to convey in words just how pleasing and surprising this computer feels in the hand. But there’s a price for this laptop’s daring design: Apple had to give up some features road warriors consider standard in a subnotebook, and certain of these omissions are radical.
Price May Be Steep, but Thin ThinkPad Has Abundant Features
Lenovo’s thin and light ThinkPad X300 is an innovative laptop that will be perfect for many mobile PC users. But its file-storage capacity is low and its price tag is high.
SnagFilms Finds Virtual Theaters for Documentaries
SnagFilms is a great idea for getting documentary films in front of more people, writes Walt Mossberg. It’s a new service that allows anyone with a blog, a Web site, or even a page on a social-networking site, to open a virtual movie theater and show these documentaries, free.
Latest Personal Technology Videos
api-video/find_all_videos.asp&fields=all&site=atd&count=40&doctype=128&type=allthingsd-subsection&query=Personal+Technology
View All Jobs | Post a Job Job Listings
A sponsored service from SimplyHired
Personal Technology Articles by Date
Personal Technology Articles by Category
Click below to browse or search past editions of Walt and Katie's columns.
Personal Technology »
Walt's main column, written since 1991, in which he reviews hardware, software and web sites, and comments on technology issues.
Mossberg’s Mailbox »
Walt's weekly column in which he answers readers' questions.
The Mossberg Solution »
Edited by Walt and written by Katie Boehret, this is a guide to gadgets, web services and other consumer technologies.
Ethics Statement
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
