HP Pavilion Slimline S3700F Desktop PC Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)NOTE: Amazon had recently consolidated the reviews for both the S3720 and the S3700's into one page. This review refers to the HP Pavilion Slimline S3720F Desktop PC (2.5 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core Desktop E5200 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive,Vista Premium).
The HP Slimline S3720F is an excellent slim form-factor pc with a few limitations. I needed another small sized PC at my engineering lab, so I purchased the S3720F. Typically I build my own machines, so I was quite impressed when I purchased this model, assuming one understands its limitations.
The HP Slimline S3720F runs Intel's Dual Core E5200 processor (mid-range processor line). Note that this is not Intel's "Core 2 Duo" line (the high-range which has a faster front-side bus). Regardless in conjunction with a healthy 4 gb of RAM, there is enough horsepower to run most of my engineering applications, which can be quite intensive. The 500 GB harddrive is adequate, though I see myself needing more storage space in the future (easily remedied with an external HDD).
The S3720F runs Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack1. Contrary to the negative sentiment against Windows Vista, I have to clarify that Windows Vista SP1 is very functional. I use numerous operating systems including, various Linux packages, OS X (Mac), Windows XP, even Windows 7 Beta. So after uninstalling some "bloat-ware" and removing some unneeded startup programs (msconfig), the S3720F runs Vista like a dream. Some slowdown occurs when one uses some Aero features (graphic-intensive features). But aside from that, it is surprisingly smooth. I can load firefox pages in seconds, run Matlab, Itunes, and an array of other programs simultaneously with no noticeable slowdown.
A very important exception to note is that this computer comes with a 64-bit Windows OS. This may cause some incompatibility issues with some 32-bit software. This is arguably of no fault of the OS in its own, but rather that the software was not designed to run on a 64-bit OS. Aside from these issues, once you optimize the system, the performance is much better than one would expect.
The physical design of the system borrows from the concept of minimalism. In the front, there are two USB ports, a covered CD/DVD tray, a HP pocket media drive bay, and the many different memory cards ports. The backside houses the standard ports, with no exceptional features. Note that the video-out to the monitor is VGA and NOT DVI or HDMI. Overall there is some great aesthetic appeal, and one would not be embarrassed to stash this PC in an entertainment center. Be sure to place it in an area that is well ventilated (as with most to all PCs).
Overall, I am very pleased with the overall package for the price. Whether you use it for common office tasks, light engineering work, or a living-room media center (though only one VGA-out is limiting), the HP Slimline performs its tasks admirably.
Product Positives:
+Compact form-factor
+Less bloat-ware than comparable computers
+Windows Vista SP 1 64bit (needed to take advantage of the 4gb+ of ram)
+Great performance after some tweaking
+Wireless B/G Network Card built-in
+Quiet operation
Product Negatives:
-Limited room for upgrades
-VGA out only (no DVI, HDMI)
-Some 32-bit software may not work on a 64-bit OS
-Built-in video card is a bit on the weak side, poor performance in graphic-intensive programs (Solid-graphic modeling, games)
-Midrange CPU E5200 slower than Intel's Highline of Core 2 Duo's
-I don't like the "tactile feel" of the included keyboard
Updates and Other Thoughts:
-I thought I'd post the "Experience Rating" from Windows Vista, which is built-in Vista tool that rates your hardware against some performance metrics. The scale ranges from 1.0 (poor performance) to 5.9 (excellent performance). This tool can be found by right-clicking on "My computer" and scroll to properties. For the HP Slimline S3720F here are the results:
Processor: --------- 5.4
Memory (ram): ------ 4.6
Graphics: ---------- 3.7
Gaming Graphics: --- 3.0
Primary Hard Disk: - 5.9
Overall Score of: -- 3.0
The overall score is 3/6 which would suggest an average score. However, the "Overall Score" is based on the lowest subscore, which is the Gaming Graphics. Otherwise, this machine scored exceptionally well in the processor, memory, and harddisk subtests. So in conclusion, unless you plan on using this machine for heavy gaming, or artwork/graphic applications, the S3720F is an exceptional value computer.


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The HP Pavilion s3720f Slimline desktop PC gives you all the power of a fully loaded home/office desktop in a sleek, silver-and-black chassis that's one-third the size of a traditional PC tower, enabling you to place it unobtrusively anywhere--from your office to entertainment center to kitchen. You can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc.
This desktop is powered by the 2.6 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual-core processor, which increases the efficiency and speed of the PC while running multiple programs and the latest multi-threaded software. It features a large 320 GB hard drive, and it includes an open drive bay for an optional HP Pocket Media Drive (which can add up to 160 GB of storage). Other features include 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE graphics with 128 MB of dedicated memory (and up to 1343 MB of available memory), multi-format memory card reader, a wide variety of connectivity options (including both USB 2.0 and Firewire), and digital audio output for home theater surround sound.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit, Service Pack 1) includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

Processor: AMD's Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual-core processor is built for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, which will require a processor with significant power. Dual-core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications, so power-users actually experience greater performance when multiple applications are running. Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the enhancements while simultaneously working in high-definition video and photo editing and audio mixing programs. It includes such AMD features as HyperTransport Technology (which increases the communication between integrated circuits) and Enhanced Virus Protection.
This 2.6 GHz processor offers a system bus with speeds up to a blazing 2000 MHz and each core offers a 512 KB L2 cache--for a 1 MB total. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)



Hard Drive: The 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive has a 3Gb/s interface speed that enables up to 300MB/s data transfer rates (double the speed of the current SATA interface of 1.5Gb/s).
This Slimline PC also includes a drive bay that fits an optional HP Pocket Media Drive, which enables you to add up to 160 GB of additional storage. The Pocket Media Drive also works with any USB-enabled PC, for easy transferring of multimedia files from other computers in your home.



Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC6400, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 1 GB) helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this desktop's video card. It also offers a fast 800 MHz speed. This notebook has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.


DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 12x DVD±R DL Write Once, 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, 32x CD-RW write speeds and 40x CD-ROM, and 16x DVD-ROM read speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.



Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).
Video & Audio This desktop features an integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE graphics/video card with 128 MB of dedicated graphics memory. Windows Vista can also allocate up to 1343 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory. It features NVidia's PureVideo technology--which provides great picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for video content--and full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 for stunningly realistic cinematic effects for all DirectX-compatible applications. It also offers an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion For expansion, this Slimline desktop has one PCI x1 Express slot (occupied), one PCI x16 Express slot (occupied), one 5.25-inch external bay (occupied), and one 3.5-inch bay (occupied). It comes with the following external connections:

6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 front, 4 back)
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
15-in-1 multi-format memory card reader, compatible with CompactFlash I/II, IBM Microdrive, Secure Digital (SD), miniSD, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC), MultiMediaCard Plus (MMC plus), MultiMediaCard Mobile (MMC mobile), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, SmartMedia, and xD Picture Card
2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
1 VGA monitor port
1 line-in, 1 line-out, 1 microphone, and 1 digital audio output
Fast Ethernet port for 10/100 networking
56K modem

Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 (32-bit) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software

HP MediaSmart Software Suite: Your one-stop multimedia and entertainment center to create photo slideshows, share personal videos, listen to your favorite music playlists and watch DVD movies.
muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD.
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs.
Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar.
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (60-day trial version).
Adobe Reader 8: Read and print PDF files.
Norton Internet Security 2009 protects your PC and your identity when you email, bank and shop online; 60 days of protection updates included.

Dimensions & Weight This Slimline desktop measures 13.39 x 4.2 x 10.9 inches (LxWxH/D) and weighs approximately 19.7 pounds.

What's in the Box This package contains the HP Slimline s3700f desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

Note: Monitor not included.

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PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld Review

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(More customer reviews)If you can afford the...wireless, and realize that this is not going to replace your desktop for web surfing, the Palm VIIx is a good way to stay connected. And it fits in your pocket!
Like the other Palms, the VIIx does what it claims, and never complains.
There are two catches, though.
1) wireless applications are a very limited version of the net. There's no built-in web browser that lets you go to any old web page. So unless you install 3rd party programs, you're limited to the 40 bundled destinations (Amazon, AskJeeves, CBS Marketwatch, Fidelity, ...). Surprisingly, there was no built-in wireless phone book.
2) the wireless connection is slow and expensive. The bandwidth is under 9600 baud, and there's a 2-4 second delay between clicking and getting a response.
If you're an information junkie (stock quotes, news, email, eBay--is this you?) you will easily blow through the limited wireless plans...
On the plus side:
1) I was always able to connect to the wireless net (in buildings, in a car, in a park where cell coverage is spotty)
2) The device always did what I expected.
3 stars. I'd give it 5 if the wireless service was cheaper and faster.
--Pat

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With 8 MB of memory, the new Palm VIIx handheld has four times the memory of the Palm VII, which means you have the capacity to store four times the number of addresses, appointments, to-do items, memos, and iMessenger messages. You can customize the Palm VIIx with your choice of hundreds of Web clipping applications and thousands of third-party add-on applications. You have instant access to a variety of Web-based information such as weather and traffic reports, news items, flight information, showtimes, and restaurant reviews. The Palm VIIx also lets you communicate via e-mail and stay on top of your information wirelessly and easily.
It comes with integrated hardware, software, and wireless communication service so you can activate it right out of the box. The included HotSync cradle allows you to quickly back up and exchange information between your handheld and your PC. The display's enhanced technology makes it easier to see at all angles, in dim light, and in bright sunlight. The Palm VIIx also includes a carrying case to protect your handheld from scuffs and scratches.
What's in the box
Palm VIIx
Stylus pen
AC adapter
PC serial port
Hotsync docking cradle
Protective leather cover
Palm Desktop software

*Note: The Palm VIIx WIRELESS FEATURE CAN NO LONGER BE USED if you don't already have a palm.net account.

Get 32% OFF

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Sylvania SYNET07526 7" Netbook Review

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(More customer reviews)Is it junk or is it not? I took a chance on this product because it seemed to me that most of the negative reviews associated with it were not based on product quality (though who knows how long it will last), but on how the product failed to live up to the purchaser's expectations. And it is those expectations that I think are misplaced.
I bought this at CVS for $100+tax; MY expectations were that it could replace my Palm TX, which got a cracked screen in a mishap. The Palm TX was a handheld PDA with pretty similar specs - in terms of processing power, ROM memory, CF slot, etc. It was no speed demon on the internet - luckily, most sites would call up a page optimized for mobile devices. So you avoided most of the fancy stuff that bloats web pages down (or, depending on your POV, adds rich and exciting content). I think what helps foster unrealistic expectations is that this Sylvania unit looks like a laptop, not a handheld PDA. So people come to it with expectations that it will perform like a laptop. Instead, it runs Windows CE 6, which, I understand, was an OS designed for PDAs, handheld PCs, etc. So it is against THAT class of device that this product should be judged. So far, I am impressed with what you get for the money, and I'm having a bit of nostalgia in terms of configuring things. It's not that hard, but if you never had a Win98 computer, you may be spoiled in the sense that you've never had to go under the hood and change a few settings. I'm no expert - there are many settings that I don't understand at all - but I did remember enough to get it going.
I did consider a modern netbook (I have a regular laptop and desktop too), but I decided to take a chance on this first. Here's why. I learned that my 2.5 year old laptop had a processor that was something like 3-5 times as fast (depending on benchmark) as a new netbook. Yes, you pay for it in battery time, but the real problem is that netbooks try to do everything a full blown laptop can do - including accessing full-blown websites that are, day by day, getting weighed down more and more by Flash and other "enhancements" that just cripple the rendering time on a netbook. What I liked about my palm TX was that it didn't even try to load a regular website, for the most part. It did the "lightweight" mobile versions instead (even then, not really fast). I realized that the problem of netbooks is that they were trying to do too much. It was like putting a Honda Fit engine in a schoolbus and going to pick up 50 kids in a hilly subdivision. This Sylvania thing should do OK if you treat it more like a 65 hp classic Beetle driving on the flat roads of central Ohio.
With that, let's take a brief look at the good, bad, and the ugly.
The good:
Screen is quite good and large - again, compared to PDAs. Compared to a laptop it's tiny.
size and weight is amazingly small.
Keyboard arrows have inverted T, a layout I much prefer.
3 USB ports; I've heard that two are USB 1.1, one is 2.0. Have not tried them.
CF card slot. Not sure if this will be limited to 2 GB, but it would not surprise me, as that was the limit on my TX, I think. I have a card from it and have used it - it works.
Touchpad pretty good, though the buttons are stiff.
Has headphone and microphone jacks. I've used the headphones for earbuds, and sound is much improved over the built in speakers. My regular laptop has weak speakers too, so not a big deal.
Keyboard is small (as you would expect) but pretty good. I used to have a Psion 5mx and it reminds me of that, though it is about 1" wider than the Psion. The left shift button is not quite as big as I'd like, though. For some reason, the caps lock above it is bigger.
Windows CE uses reasonably familiar methods of arranging icons, launching programs, etc.
The bad:
Documentation is sparse. Just enough to tell you to fully charge it before use, and to label the features.
Windows CE is not quite as easy to customize - nor, probably, as capable of it. . For instance, you can copy/paste new programs (see below) into the "program files" but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll show up in the start menu programs list. Come to think of it, I'm having the same trouble with Windows 7, too!
If you update the OS using the patch on the digitalgadgets.com website, you'll lose some features and gain others. For instance, I noticed that Wordpad disappeared - and all the office apps were just viewers. Wordpad appeared to be replaced with a basic text editor named Ke or something in alpha release. But I came out ahead (see below). Another downside was that instead of connecting to a lightweight google search page, it connects to the full blown one now, which I did not want. And I cannot find the lightweight search page anymore using my desktop PC. It appears Google is only supporting such for mobile phones now. But supposedly this OS update fixes a "memory leak" and hotkeys, etc. I just didn't know they'd change the programs that were pre-installed.
Not expandable or upgradeable - but then again, neither was my TX. Compare it to a handheld.
Case is a fingerprint magnet - OK, this part you can compare to regular laptops.
Battery indicator was kind of unhelpful. I got maybe 2.5 hours out of the first charge of the 1800 mAh battery, with a good deal of that on WiFi and installing/copying/pasting. But I don't recall the indicator going anything like linearly to low. It kind of abruptly warned me power was low and it would shut down in 60 seconds, so I'd better save my work. Better than nothing, but still, not great.
As best I can tell, there's no email client. You have to use webmail (and I have - gmail works - though gmail chat does not). There are some chat programs though - one called Pigeon, which apparently is not Pidgin.
The ugly:
The tomato-soup-red color is just awful. I am trying to think of a way to decorate the outside or "skin" it.
One thing I thought might help on this computer is to use Linux - it tends to have lower overhead than windows, but again, this is not full blown windows, so Linux could actually be a greater burden than Win CE. But in the process of looking into that, I came across "Bento Linux" - someone is working on a distribution for this system, and helpfully posted links to a "Mega Pack" of programs that he (or she) found to work with Windows CE. These included browsers, game emulators, utilities, media players, games, and even spreadsheets and word processors. I found two that appeared to be close cousins of Word and Excel - even able to read/write to "Office 97" formats. Not too shabby. Beware of the game Doom, though - it's a DOS port that only appears to work on CE. You can't exit it without forcing a shutdown of the machine (I didn't know how and could not alt-tab or ctrl-alt-del out of it, but holding the power button for 5 seconds did it).
So perhaps the $100 laptop has arrived ... but it's a PDA in netbook clothes. In some ways, better (keyboard, USB, ethernet jack, larger screen, productivity programs, clamshell design to protect that large screen) but in other ways, worse (can't find a PIM or calendar that imports modern file formats, though even among contemporaries, such importing is hit-or-miss; also, it's an older OS that is not really being developed any more). On balance, I think it is good replacement for the TX, if it has reasonable durability. But make no mistake - it's slower than a laptop, it's slower than a netbook. It's a PDA in netbook form - not unlike the original Asus EEE, frankly. For $100, it's a trip down memory lane (lack of memory lane?), eminently packable, and, if I can dig up some more freeware CE programs, quite capable of fully replacing my Palm TX as my computing travel companion.

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Compaq Presario CQ5600F Desktop PC - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I specifically bought this computer for my kids to learn about computers and play online games. It was two twenty plus tax on special at fry's. I doubt I would have liked to pay more that three hundred for this.
For the purpose intended it is fine, plus I can check my email, search the web and write this review on Amazon :-)
I can actually watch TV through its media center (off my HDHomerun) without dropout at HD video so better than I thought it would be actually.
I would not try to run more than 2 applications and I doubt it would be useful for high end games and video editing etc but it's better than I thought.
Additionally I really like windows 7 x64 that it runs.
I doubt that I could make a computer for the components used in its manufacture. Plus the CPU is on an upgradable socket that later I could switch out for a core 2 Athlon - seen on sale for $30 at fry's (this runs a single core 170u).
So overall for the price I paid and use intended 4.5 out of 5.
I like it!

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Apple Mac mini M9687LL/B (1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Mac Mini was released in January 2005 at Mac World, and was then updated, for the first time, in July 2005. This Mac Mini is the result of that update.
Improvements - The $599 Mac Mini now sports 512 MB of DDR SDRAM, which is twice the memory the original Mac Mini included. This is a significant upgrade. The majority of users can now buy, out of the box, a machine that performs beautifully and allows a fair amount of multi-tasking. The Mac operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, thrives on memory, and 512 MB helps to create a speedy experience, for users.
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is a great wireless technology that Apple heavily backs, and it is included with this Mac Mini, an addition, from the original Mac Minis, when bluetooth was an optional add-on, at Apple.com, for $50 more. Purchase a bluetooth keyboard or bluetooth mouse, and they will work wirelessly, with your Mac Mini. It makes for a very clean and uncluttered desktop. There are also many mobile phones and PDAs, which utilize bluetooth technology, which you can sync to your mac using isync, included with Mac Mini.
Airport Extreme - This is the wireless networking card now included with the $599 Mac Mini, after being a $70+ upgrade at Apple.com, on the previous model. Do you have a wireless-b or wireless-g network in your home? If so, the Mac Mini will be able to connect to it, without problem. Again, making the computing experience simpler and less tangled.
The Good Things that Continue to Shine with Mac Mini - A buyer of the Mac Mini will continue to enjoy Mac OS X Tiger, which is the best consumer operating system in the world. It works with the hardware beautifully to provide a simple, fast, elegant, and reliable experience. One of the favorite descriptions of Mac fans, to describe Macs, is simply, "it just works."
The Mac Mini continues to include iLife '05, with great applications such as iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, iTunes, and Garageband. These are all included, with every Mac Mini. You will be challenged to find any PC that includes applications that come anywhere close to the iLife suite. Manage thousands of your digital images in iPhoto, create home movies in iMovie, and create professional music in Garageband.
Appleworks is included for simply word processing, spreadsheets, etc., but you might want to pick up Microsoft Office for Mac. A student/teacher edition is available, for just over $100.
Speed - The 1.42 GHZ PowerPC G4 processor makes the Mac Mini a very capable machine. This will satisfy the horsepower needed to complete tasks in the iLife suite, included with your Mac Mini.
Hard Drive - 80 GB is a significant-sized hard drive, so you will be able to store thousands of photos and songs.
ComboDrive - The Apple Combo Drive allows you to burn music and data CDs, plus you can watch DVDs!
Drawbacks? The $599 version of the Mac Mini no longer includes a modem, if you want this version of the Mac Mini with a modem, you will have to custom-order it at Apple.com. However, the ethernet port is included on the back, to plug into a DSL or cable modem, plus you have the Airport Extreme, for wireless connections. However, if you don't have broadband, you'll need a modem for dial-up, so you will either need to order a custom-built Mac Mini at Apple.com, or buy the stock $499 model, which includes a modem, but lacks the wireless components.
Overall, Apple has created another fantastic product, with the Mac Mini, and the July 2005 update only made it better. You get more memory, plus wireless connectivity via bluetooth and airport extreme. This Mac Mini really includes everything the average user needs to enjoy the internet, manage his or her digital life, and have fun doing it all.

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Includes: VGA/DVI adapter, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger, iLife '05 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD & GarageBand), AppleWorks, Quicken2005 for Mac, & more. Apple Mac Mini - Incredibly inexpensive, but definitely not cheap, this miniature Apple Macintosh Computer is perfectfor handling your day to day computing, and then some! The main feature is it's petite exterior. The Mac Mini is only 6.5" square, 2" high, andweighs only 2.9 pounds. Its attractive platinum and white, rounded square design gives it a sophisticated modern look that can't be matched. Italso has the convenience of having all of its buttons and ports placed in the back, so cables are kept tidy and neat, giving you a clean overallappearance. But what's even more amazing than its good looks, is the shear amount of technology Apple has packed inside! Slot-Loading CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive - up to 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 24x CD-ROM, & 8x DVD-ROM Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 1 FireWire 400, 2 USB 2.0, DVI Out, VGA Out, & Headphone/Audio Line Out Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter) Bluetooth Support

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Linksys WPC11 Instant Wireless-B Networking Adapter, PCMCIA Card Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the Linksys WPC11 to go into a Toshiba Tecra 780CDM notebook running Windows 98 SE. The network I have is an Airport Express bridge connected to a Belkin 4 port router. After following the instructions and installing the software, I got a couple error messages indicating that I couldn't have more than 6 TCP/IP configurations, and no more than 4 PPP configurations. But the software seemed to install just fine. However, I could only connect to the Airport basestation, but couldn't access the internet, nor the network.
I called Tech Support, and got a very polite and knowledgable service rep in about 5 minutes (on a Sunday night). He troubleshot the installation, and agreed that the software was installed correctly, and the card was working correctly. His diagnosis was that the card was communicating with the basestation, but not to the router. He suggested I speak to Belkin.
Then I called a friend, who suggested I open the Device Manager and remove all the network devices. When I restarted the computer, only 2 (out of an original 6) were recognized by Windows, and it installed both devices. Then I connected to the Airport Basestation, and voila! Full connectivity and compatibility!
I take away 1 star because Tech Support was not able to correctly identify and fix the problem. Otherwise, this is an excellent card, and can be found at an excellent price.

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Whether you're at your desk or in the boardroom, the Linksys Instant Wireless Network PC card allows you to share printers, files, and more anywhere within your wireless LAN infrastructure, increasing your productivity and keeping you in touch.
The Instant Wireless card gives you the freedom to work your way, from where you want--letting you take full advantage of your notebook PC's portability while providing you with access to all your network resources. A high-powered built-in diversity antenna means that you're covered--at a distance of up to 150 meters (492 feet) inside and 500 meters (1,640 feet) outside. And because it occupies only one Type II PCMCIA slot, you're free to use your other slots for additional accessories.
Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Because they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.
Which Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use.
Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed.
For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time:
802.11b
802.11a
802.11g

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Cisco-Linksys BEFSR11 Cable/dsl Router with 1-PORT Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This lil' linky does wonders for it's price. I got it up and going in about 15 minutes. First I connected my cable modem [provided by roadrunner] directly to the WAN port and out from the LAN port I connected my already existing HUB with both my computers already connected, and in about 2 - 3 steps and one restart both my computers were prtected by a firewall. It couldn't get any easier. I was prepared by downloading the latest version of the firmware before i even got it in the mail and before anything i upgraded and everything worked perfect.
I recommend this product for anyone with a Cable/DSL connection and more than one computer. That includes beginners and advanced users. A definate plus to anyones home office.
It takes more time to reconfigure applications like napster, webcam32, and ICQ than it does to setup the router. And don't forget a 3' CAT 5, because it doesn't come with the product.

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The Linksys BEFSR11 EtherFast cable/DSL router connects multiple PCs toa high-speed broadband Internet connection or to an Ethernet backbone.Configurable as a DHCP server, the EtherFast cable/DSL router acts as the onlyexternally recognized Internet device on your local area network (LAN). It alsofunctions as a firewall to shield your network from unauthorized users bymonitoring all incoming data packets. The router can also be configured tofilter internal users' access to the Internet. This product comes with a limitedone-year warranty.

Note: All Linksys routers now include a special edition of Norton Internet Security! Claim your free CD-ROM by calling (800) 814-0180, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific, seven days a week.

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Apple Mac mini M9687LL/A (G4 1.42 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For all of the things the Mac mini is, there are some that it is not. As the owner five Macs -- from a iMac G4 to a dual G5 tower -- I'll try to help.
(1) If you need a Mac to surf the Web, send e-mails and IM, write the next great novel or screenplay, organize and fix your photos, encode and hold your music library, and do some semi-serious movie editing, the Mac mini is just your ticket. For these tasks, it's downright snappy -- but, please, bump up the RAM to at least 512 MB. (Remember, the Mac operating system, OS X, thrives on RAM. You'll see a noticeable speed improvement between 512 MB and 1 GB of RAM, for example.) In fact if these are your needs, there is no better personal computer to buy. Period.
(2) If you need a Mac to some serious GarageBand multi-track recording, serious movie-editing with long clips and multiple effects (even under iMovie), or heavy photo manipulation, you probably should look elsewhere. If you want to play serious games on the Mac -- and, yes, you'll be able to do that -- you might also want to look elsewhere. (Doom III, soon to come out for the Mac, requires a G5 processor. The bigger and better games will.) For those who fit these criteria, you should seriously look at the iMac G5, or even a G5 tower. Remember, you can get the iMac G5 for just a little bit more than the Mac mini with a screen, keyboard, and mouse. It's a great computer and a real step up from the Mac mini's G4 processor.
Of course, there are other reasons to want the Mac mini. It's a miracle of engineering -- amazingly small and with so much more functionality than Windows computers costing twice as much ... and taking up five times the space! (Don't just go by price tags. Take a bottom of the line Dell and add up the cost of all the extras that come standard with an Mac mini ... a firewire port (essential for many DV camcorders to off-load video), a CD burner and DVD player (for most PC, you might be able to get one or the other -- as an extra), a full blown graphics card with its own 32 MB of RAM (not one of those "on the motherboard" Intel graphics sets that cannibalizes system RAM and does a lousy job of running even rudimentary games), and best-in-the-business photo and movie editing apps, etc.
And on top of all this, you get the best operating system out there. No viruses. No crashes. No fuss, no muss. OS X is a dream ... built from the ground up on solid UNIX foundations. If you've had Windows PCs, you'll immediately know something's afoot ... an operating system that just ... works. What a wonder! And you don't need to but a single anti-virus program or subscription. Not even a utilities program!
Enjoy!

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Includes: VGA/DVI adapter, Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther", iLife '05 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD & GarageBand), AppleWorks,Quicken 2005 for Mac, & more. Apple Mac Mini - Incredibly inexpensive, but definitely not cheap, this miniature Apple Macintosh computeris perfect for handling your day to day computing, and then some! The main feature is it's petite exterior. The Mac Mini is only 6.5" square, 2"high, and weighs only 2.9 pounds. Its attractive platinum and white, rounded square design gives it a sophisticated modern look that can't bematched. It also has the convenience of having all of its buttons and ports placed in the back, so cables are kept tidy and neat, giving you aclean overall appearance. But what's even more amazing than its good looks, is the shear amount of technology Apple has packed inside!Slot-loading Combo Drive at the front of the Mac Mini (DVD-ROM/CD-RW - up to 8x DVD-ROM, 24x CD-R, 10x CD-RW, 24x CD-ROM) Ports - 1 FireWire 400, 2 USB 2.0, DVI Out, VGA Out, 10/100 Ethernet, Headphone/Audio Line Out Built-in 56k v.92 Fax Modem Built-in Speaker Unit Weight - 2.9 pounds

Click here for more information about Apple Mac mini M9687LL/A (G4 1.42 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

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ASUS Eee PC 1005HAGB - Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 1 GB - HDD 160 GB - GMA 950 - cellular modem - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n - Win XP Home - 10.1" Widescreen TFT ( WSVGA ) - camera - black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for myself and a second for my parents. My opinion on it is a mixed bag.
The good:
-Very light/mobile
-Good screen
-Great battery life
-decently fast (especially if you upgrade the ram to 2GB)
The bad:
-Buttons below touchpad are stiff and difficult to click
-The built in Gobi 2000 wireless modem can be difficult to connect with a wireless internet carrier. Supposedly it is compatible with Sprint, Verizon, and ATT, however in my experience the laptop will only work with one of these providers, depending on how the ESN number was registered with.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Eee PC 1005HAGB - Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 1 GB - HDD 160 GB - GMA 950 - cellular modem - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n - Win XP Home - 10.1" Widescreen TFT ( WSVGA ) - camera - black

Click here for more information about ASUS Eee PC 1005HAGB - Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 1 GB - HDD 160 GB - GMA 950 - cellular modem - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n - Win XP Home - 10.1" Widescreen TFT ( WSVGA ) - camera - black

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APC 1423-6 6-Feet HD15 Male to HD15 Male Foil Shield Molded VGA Monitor Cable with Thumbscrews Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A major reason I bought this product was the APC name. I know their battery backup products are very good, so I thought this monitor cable would be also (after all, I figured it would be difficult to screw up a cable). I was very wrong on all accounts. I plugged in this cable and noticed ghosting of all images. Text became harder to read, and my eyes became tired very quickly. I replaced the cable with the one that came with my Dell LCD monitor, and everything was perfect. I would NOT recommend this product at all.

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CyberPower CPS500NBP Notebook Surge Suppressor - 500 Joules 2&3 Prong RJ11/RJ45 EMI/RFI Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used this product for the past two years in Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa. Since there is virtually no electricity in Sierra Leone, power is produced by generators which are notoriously unstable: several laptops and other pieces of equipment in my office were ruined by surges, including one laptop whose power box actually blew up (sending pieces to all four corners of the room!) and a printer that spewed sparks during the surge. With the CyberPower, my laptop never had a problem!

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Classic Straight USB Cable for the Samsung YP-Z5 with Power Hot Sync and Charge capabilities - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My factory charger stopped working about five months after purchase due to stress on the cable near the USB plug. This Gomadic cable is perfect and high quality and the tip exchange is a great idea. The YP-Z5 tip fits exactly as it should and there is no difference in performance between this and the factory cable. Do not hesitate to purchase this.

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Tripp Lite TLP1208TELTV Outlet Surge Protector, Tel/DSL, Coax, 8ft Cord, 2880 Joules Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I needed something that was going to be able to take care of the large plugs, and the small ones. I had quite a few, and naturally I had less larger ones. This one took are of all of them easily. After looking around for a decent surge protector it seemed impossible to find one within a reasonable price range (40 dollars or so). This surge protector seems to be of high quality. I am no expert on surge protectors, but I am happy with what this one delivers for the price. You won't find one like this for a very cheap price.
Pros- Good for a combination of a lot of large plugs,and also small ones, lights show that it is working, attractive design, and overall sturdy product
Cons- I really can't of any for the price

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tripp Lite TLP1208TELTV Outlet Surge Protector, Tel/DSL, Coax, 8ft Cord, 2880 Joules

Tripp Lite's TLP1208TELTV offers economical AC surge suppression for protection of workstations, PCs, telecom systems, home electronics and other sensitive equipment. The TLP1208TLTV features 12 outlets, an 8-ft. cord with a space-saving right-angle plug, and diagnostic LEDs to warn of suppressor damage. The unit has a surge suppression rating of2880 joules to shield equipment from line noise and the strongest surges. Built-in RJ11 jacks prevent surges from damaging your modem/fax/phone equipment. Built-in digital 2.2GHz coax jacks prevent surges from damaging your cable/satellite equipment. $150,000 Ultimate Lifetime Insurance

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Dell Latitude C610 P3 1ghz. Laptop with 256mb Ram, 20gb Hard Drive, Dvd, 14.1" Screen Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These latitude laptops are workhorses, I use 1 at work and it just kicks butt, also 3 of my family members own the same model and everybody is really happy. Laptop is not heavy slim model and very very durable. Overall a 5 out of 5.

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GSI High-Powered Ultra-Secure 500mW 54Mbps USB Wireless WIFI Long Range Network Adapter with Detachable External 5dBi Antenna - IEEE 802.11 b/g Interface - For PC/Laptop/Notebook/Computer Hot-Spot Internet Connection - For Travel or Home Use Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was my second try at a long range wifi antenna. My previous purchase was a "802.11g USB WiFi Wireless Lan Adapter w/5dBi Antenna", which failed miserably. So far, in the last few weeks, this has been pretty good at detecting signals. Installation was a breeze on the Windows XP laptop. Only suggestion would be to make this connect directly to the usb port instead of using a long wire -- would make a cleaner look.

Click Here to see more reviews about: GSI High-Powered Ultra-Secure 500mW 54Mbps USB Wireless WIFI Long Range Network Adapter with Detachable External 5dBi Antenna - IEEE 802.11 b/g Interface - For PC/Laptop/Notebook/Computer Hot-Spot Internet Connection - For Travel or Home Use

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Click here for more information about GSI High-Powered Ultra-Secure 500mW 54Mbps USB Wireless WIFI Long Range Network Adapter with Detachable External 5dBi Antenna - IEEE 802.11 b/g Interface - For PC/Laptop/Notebook/Computer Hot-Spot Internet Connection - For Travel or Home Use

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Maruson Technology TOW-1800LCD 1600VA/900W LCD Tower UPS System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Using this on a DLP and rack stereo, but when i hooked it up to a floor fan to run it down, it changed speed dramatically when the mains where pulled. Ran the fan for more than 4 hours on the first charge easily. Havn't tried to run down on the Mitsubishi, cuz don't want to fry the bulb.
Which is why i got this after a power hiccup.
Don't think it is a very clean modified sine, but havn't scoped it. Havn't been able to turn off the beep on this one or its little sister either, tho it says you can ?
BRIGHT blue display, and nice to see the mains voltage fluctuations on the screen from across the room. Narrow and heavy, good build quality. decent spacing on the hot plugs. Happy with it.
Overall, a good deal for the money.


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Belkin A3L791-S 50-Foot RJ45 CAT 5e Snagless Molded Patch Cable (Blue) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought these Belkin cables. They are very nice quality. They seem heftier than a lot of the other cables. My system analyst neighbor mentioned that he prefers to buy the 1000 foot roll. He runs them to wall outlets, then uses the 7 foot or 14 foot snap in cable from the wall to the PC. That way, you don't have to buy a 40 dollar crimping tool.
You can't solder these cables. They require a metal to metal contact, and lead-solder doesn't qualify. Also, it is critical to keep them spiraled, all the way up to the end. Even when attaching, instructions call for twisting them right up to the connection.
Since the tech instructions, tell you to keep them down to under 350 feet, these cables, whether they are long or short, are in the right lengths.
I know Amazon doesn't print prices in their reviews, but they have the local major chain office supply stores beat hands down. The 50 foot roll was half again as much locally.
These are the Category 5e cables. They give you a better return feed, which results in better overall performance. So insist on 5e instead of just 5. I initially bought some wall plates from Radio Shack that were Category 3, then I returned those for the snap in option Category 5. Those were returned also, when I went to Home Depot (of all places to go networking) and they had the complete Leviton line of 5e accessories.
If I had to do it over again, I would still buy the Belkin 50 footers. I don't want to have a 500 foot roll of ethernet cable hanging around.
These are tops. Gold plated connectors, Snag free ends, that protect that little lock in tab on the ends. You know the frustration of unsnarling a phone wire, out of a wiring mess, and the little tab bends over backwards, never to work properly again. Well Belkin built twin arches over the sides to prevent just that. Way to go. Highly recommended, good stuff, for a good price.

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Perfect for use with 10/100 BASE-T networks, Belkin's A3L791-S RJ-45 CAT-5e patch cable delivers the durability, quality, and--at 50 feet--the length required of a connection linking all the hardware destinations in a Local Area Network (LAN). Replete with a snagless, molded casing for extra protection, the PowerSum-tested cable actually exceeds the performance requirement of Category 5e. Its 50-micron, gold-plated connectors ensure a clean and clear transmission, and the cable is guaranteed for life.
What's in the Box One 50-foot blue CAT-5e RJ-45 Ethernet patch cable.

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