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.
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.
The latest version of Microsoft Office, called Office 2007 and due out Jan. 30, is a radical revision, the most dramatic overhaul in a decade or more. (Video) Plus, Mossberg’s Mailbox.
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)
A new version of Wi-Fi, generally known as draft-N, promises greater speed, greater range and standardization, but may not deliver any of those things. Walt Mossberg tests some of this latest Wi-Fi gear, with mixed results.
Apple’s Intel-powered computers can run both Windows and Mac OS X, but now there’s an even better approach. Parallels Desktop lets users run Mac and Windows programs simultaneously, giving them the best of both worlds.
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.
Walt’s annual spring buyer’s guide to desktop computers offers hardware guidelines for users who can’t wait till January for Microsoft Vista, but want to be able to upgrade later.
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.
TransMedia’s slick consumer Web service, Glide Effortless, can store, display, and share photos, music, videos, Web links, blogs and other documents, but its focus on adding features means it hasn’t fixed a lot of glitches.
The new Mac Mini runs Apple’s Front Row software and can stream music and videos from Windows computers. It is still too much of a regular computer to be a true media hub, but makes a solid addition to any entertainment center.
Edited by Walt and written by Katie Boehret, this is a guide to gadgets, web services and other consumer technologies.
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