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)
Personal Technology
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New T-Mobile Phones Use Wi-Fi Networks That Save on Minutes
A new type of T-Mobile cellphone can place calls over Wi-Fi for a flat monthly fee without using regular cellphone minutes and can switch seamlessly to regular cellular service, but has a few drawbacks.
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.
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
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.
Ooma Puts Out a Call to Ditch Landlines for Web-Based Service
Walt tests a new type of VOIP option that differs radically from Vonage and other current providers. You pay for it only once, and you can keep your regular phone service as an integrated backup. (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.
Ask.com Takes Lead In Designing Display Of Search Results
The look of Ask.com’s new search-results pages is more compelling than Google’s, writes Walt Mossberg. “Ask3D” is a bolder advance in unifying different kinds of results and presenting them in a more effective manner.
Ahead of the iPhone, Other Makers Offer Some Quality Devices
Walt Mossberg tries out two new smart phones ahead of the iPhone’s highly anticipated release. One is the latest attempt by BlackBerry’s maker to appeal to consumers. The other is a high-resolution camera phone by Nokia. (Video)
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)
When I Was Your Age, We Didn’t Have Sites For Writing Our Bios
Sarmad Ali tests two Web sites that help people to write accounts of their life stories or family histories. But the results can be disappointing, especially for those who opt for the least expensive services.
This Time, Samsung Has Made a Tiny PC That’s Practical to Use
Walt Mossberg tests Samsung’s Q1 Ultra, and says the tiny PC addresses the biggest weaknesses of an earlier model and throws in other improvements such as a built-in keyboard. (Video)
Helio’s New Ocean Has a Clever Design For Phone and Email
Walt Mossberg tests out the new smart phone from Helio. He finds the Ocean has an elegant solution to the common design problem of how to optimize smart phones both for making voice calls and for email and Web surfing.
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)
How to Eliminate That One-Word Page That Trails a Print Job
Walt Mossberg tests a new software product that aims to reduce the amount of paper wasted when printing Web pages. (Video)
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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.
