Make the Most of Your New PC

by Eric GriffithDid you receive a pristine, mint Windows 7 (or even Vista) computer this holiday season? Great, but right out of the box, every computer is far from perfect. Unlike most electronic devices, which you can plug in and use instantly, PCs—particularly those with Windows—need some adjustment before they're ready for everyday use. You need to make your new system safe, and also personalize it with your own preferences. There are programs on the hard drive you should get rid of, and other things you should add immediately. If you haven't yet been introduced to Windows 7, or it's been a while since you've set up a new machine, we'll walk you through it all in these 12 simple steps. If your new baby is a Mac, you've got a much shorter to-do list.After you've devised clever ways to...

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Spring-Cleaning for Your PC

by David CardinalIs your computer filling up with old files or slowing down, cluttered with applications? Just like your house, it likely needs a good spring-cleaning. Fortunately there are a few simple steps you can take and utilities you can use to clean up the debris that may be cluttering up your machine. Here's part 1 of our guide. Part 2—on physically cleaning your PC and peripherals—arrives tomorrow.First you should decide how thorough you want to be. Like your basement, your PC can potentially benefit from hours of cleaning, but you probably have other things to do with your time. So if your hard drive is filled to bursting, spend some time backing up and clearing off your data files. Otherwise, though, honestly, your time is better spent on other chores.There are two exceptions to...

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Disney Netpal by ASUS

produc by amazoneASUS and Disney have teamed up to bring the magic of creative learning and fun into a perfect first laptop for your child.Designed for kids aged 6-12, the Disney Netpal by ASUS is durable, with a reinforced mechanical design, and offers a truly magical and engaging computing experience with a unique Disney user interface. With colorful Disney-themed style, your child can explore a web-safe world of technology on their own with ease.The Disney Desktop “gadget tray” offers a creatively designed 2D menu displaying a Disney-themed browser and a robust suite widgets and applications.The Netpal includes more than two dozen robust parental...

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Windows 7

Posted By: Larry SeltzerBots and botnets have been around for a long time. There's some innovation in the programming form, but the large majority are Windows executables in PE (Portable Executable) format.Cisco's security blog has started a series studying one new attempt they discovered to break out of the Windows-only mold: A bot written in Java.The sample they study comes as a normal Java JAR file, as it would have to, and this is immediately a weakness compared to native bots, which usually come disguised by a variety of programs called "packers". Cisco's sample showed no attempt at all at obfuscation: It actually included the source code and the project file for Eclipse, a Java development platform. Malware analysis doesn't get any easier than this.Craig Williams, the author...

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HP Mini 110-1125NR 10.1-Inch

Product DescriptionThe Internet is at the center of modern life keeping you connected and informed through email, IMs, RSS feeds, social networking sites and Search. Keeping up often requires time shifting with companion devices like netbooks. Powered by energy-efficient Intel Atom processors, the HP Mini 110 is optimized for Web access and can handle standard productivity apps - but is light enough to carry everywhere at just 2.33 lbs. Its LED anti-glare display reduces reflection that can distract from the visual experience, especially when used outside. The 92% of full-size keyboard enables much more efficient and comfortable use than texting...

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Toshiba Mini NB205-N230 10.1-Inch

Amazon.com Product DescriptionSmall enough to throw in a purse or bag, the affordable, super-compact 10.1-inch Toshiba mini NB205 netbook--which weighs just under 3 pounds--is designed with smart features like a full-sized keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, 3 USB ports (including one Sleep and Charge port) and a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data. You'll also get excellent battery life with the included six-cell battery that provides up to 9 hours of battery power--enabling you to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge.With up to 9 hours of battery life the Toshiba mini NB205...

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ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK 10.1-Inch

Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005HA-P Seashell shines as the ideal mini-notebook for the traveler looking to have it all.Utilizing ASUS' exclusive Super Hybrid Engine, the Eee PC 1005HA-P boasts an astounding 10.5 hours of uninterrupted battery life so you can work on important documents and surf the Web longer than ever before.Inspired from the sea shell's contour shape, you will appreciate the attention to detail and eye-catching beauty that makes the Eee PC 1005HA-P a true work of art. Dressed in a sparkling pearlescent "shell" casing that gives it a captivating sheen, the Eee PC 1005HA Seashell is beautiful inside and...

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Acer Aspire One AOD150-1920 10.1-Inch

I love it when a company sees fit to shake things up a little and cook up some crazy new design. The Acer Aspire One AOD150 is not that netbook. In fact, many of the changes made from the original Aspire One make the AOD150 seem more like everything else on the market. And that isn’t necessarily a good thing.Seem a little harsh? Let me put this in perspective: The original, 8.9-inch screen model packed a huge keyboard onto a fairly tiny frame. That keyboard was practically dripping over the sides and I was genuinely impressed for the effort. Here, with its new 10.1-inch screen (which looks great), I’d expect a little more room to work with. Instead,...

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Dell Inspiron 14z

The Dell Inspiron 14z laptop makes a clear statement: You are probably a student, you want a whole lot of battery life on a Windows 7 machine, and you probably don't care much about performance. A small, sleek portable, the 14z mainly looks good and has a very long battery life. There's nothing wrong with it, as long as you know exactly what you're getting. As reviewed, the 14z would cost about $849--a sizable chunk of change considering its lack of horsepower. At first sight, this model seems to be an echo of the Dell Studio 14z that we reviewed just a few months back.The Inspiron 14z is a pretty notebook. At 13.4 by 9.5 by 1.1 inches, it's...

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Asus UL80Vt-A1 Delivers Impressive Flexibility

Nokia spokespeople are quick to correct you if you slip and call the Booklet 3G a netbook. Well, let's see: It has a tiny, clamshell, laptop-like design. It has meager specs (1GB of RAM, Intel's Z530 1.6-GHz Atom CPU, and a 4200-rpm 120GB hard drive). It has a 10.1-inch screen. Last time I checked, that was pretty much the definition of a netbook. The Booklet 3G just happens to be a reasonably well-constructed model with a focus on being 3G wireless-ready. But are you willing to shell out $599, sans contract (price as of 11/13/09), for Nokia's maiden effort in the netbook market (or $299 subsidized through an AT&T data plan)?As you can probably...

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Asus UL80Vt-A1 Delivers Impressive Flexibility

Asus has its work cut out for it in finding a market for the UL80Vt-A1. This ultraportable laptop has a higher price ($849) than many similarly specced competitors, though it's in the same ballpark as its $800 stablemate, the Asus UL30A. So how does Asus justify the price tag?The answer is surprisingly simple: long battery life (6 hours on our review unit) and better-than-average flexibility. The UL80Vt-A1 includes both a discrete nVidia G210M graphics system and an integrated Intel alternative, so users can switch on the fly to adjust the laptop's performance and battery life to the task at hand. Another appealing feature is the unit's power-sipping...

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Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 (2847-22U)

Lenovo's new SL510 won't surprise anyone who has used a ThinkPad before--it's an excellent laptop that's oriented entirely toward no-nonsense use. The matte black housing, the iconic nub in the middle of the keyboard, and the deep-set keypad are all comfortingly familiar, as are its black, boxy looks, with the familiar "ThinkPad" logo on the top of the case's corner. The machine's lightweight feel is surprising but welcome. It's the return of an efficient, gifted friend--a friend who is now marginally less awkward at social events. And it'll set you back $889 (as of 11/9/2009).At 15-by-9.7-by-1.4 inches and weighing 5.7 pounds, our review unit...

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