Editorial Review

The Archos 500201 Jukebox HD-MP3 Player-Recorder is one of those rare hardware products that are surprising in nearly every way. The first surprise is its small size. You'd expect an MP3 player equipped with a 6 GB hard drive to be at least the size of a portable CD player, but the Archos Jukebox takes up little more space than a deck of playing cards. The rounded corners are covered in thick blue rubber, adding shock protection for the relatively fragile internal hard drive and providing just enough grip to keep the player from sliding off a car dash (although we recommend you leave it on the seat).

Archos provides nearly everything you need to get the most out of this device right out of the box, including a USB cable for connecting the device to your PC and an audio adapter cable that lets you connect the headphone jack or input jack on top of the Jukebox to the RCA input or output jacks on your stereo equipment. This allows for all sorts of possibilities. You can easily output audio from the Jukebox to your stereo equipment, or hook the device up to a tape player and record your tapes directly into MP3 format. It's this ability to record that really sets the Archos Jukebox apart from the pack.

Another nice thing about the Archos Jukebox is that you can use it as a portable hard drive as well as an MP3 player-recorder. Take it between home and work and use it to transport all your important files. Take it to the library to download files and listen to music as you bring them home.

All this would be for naught if the audio playback quality wasn't up to snuff, but output is stellar. Provided the MP3 recordings you have are of high quality, the Archos Jukebox plays them back without a trace of hiss, popping, or other anomalies, and the fidelity is outstanding. The device really thumps out the low-frequency bass, while maintaining crisp, tight mid- and high-frequency output even at the limits of its amplification.

The LCD display on the front of the unit makes it easy to navigate folders and load playlists, as well as control the unit's advanced features like the bass boost, balance controls, and playback modes. One of the nicest things about the display is that it is flanked by four green LEDs, which provide even backlighting without consuming much power.

The pitiful headphones included with the device are about the only thing we could find fault with, along with the fact that you can't listen to music through the headphone jack when the device is connected to a PC. You can play the MP3 files stored within using MP3 playback software installed on the PC, however, and the package comes with a copy of Musicmatch Jukebox to get you started.

It also comes with a driver CD, but we didn't even need it to use the Archos Jukebox with Windows XP. We plugged it in, XP instantly recognized it as an external hard drive, and we were in business. All this convenience comes at a relatively high price, but it's worth it if you need the recording abilities this device offers. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Excellent output quality
• Can record directly into MP3 format
• Uses rechargeable batteries that last for a long time and comes with an AC adapter
• Playlists and music folders can be copied directly from a PC to keep everything organized.

Cons:

• Low-quality headphones
• Relatively expensive considering there are 20GB MP3 players on the market

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Kodak's DX3215 sets new standards for simplicity and picture quality in an entry-level digital camera.The 1.3-megapixel resolution captures plenty of detail for most needs, producing sharp prints at sizes up to 5 by 7 inches. A lower-resolution 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixel) mode is perfect for pictures you're sharing online, and lets you store four times as many images in the camera's memory.

The DX3215 is clearly designed for people who prefer a camera that's easy to use to one that's packed with manual controls--it's a true point-and-shoot. Turn it on, aim, and press the button, and the camera does the rest, selecting exposure and activating the flash when necessary. The photographer does have a few options, including a 2x optical zoom lens to aid in image composition, plus manual control of the flash (if desired).

Numerous battery options make it easy to keep the camera ready for action. For the longest life between changes, use a disposable CRV3 lithium battery. A more environmentally friendly solution is to use the rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack that comes with the bundle and recharges automatically whenever the camera is in the dock. If you're on vacation and you've run out of power, you can throw in any pair of ordinary AA batteries. Though this is a very handy option, it's also an expensive one, as alkalines have a relatively short lifespan in a digital camera.

The included docking station makes image transfers to your Mac or PC one-button simple. Drop the camera into the cradle, press the button, and images are transferred automatically. In addition, the included battery pack recharges automatically when the camera is in the dock.

Images are stored in the camera's 8 MB of internal RAM--enough memory for 20 high-resolution photos or 80 low-resolution snapshots. Memory capacity can be increased with the use of MMC MultiMedia memory cards, which is a smaller (and less common, though still readily available) format than either SmartMedia or CompactFlash.

To keep the price low, Kodak has omitted a few options often found on more expensive cameras. The lens is focus-free instead of autofocus, and the included memory is internal instead of removable. In addition, the 1.6-inch LCD viewscreen on the back of the camera is a touch smaller than the screens found on some competing models. For most people, these shortcomings are unlikely to have a major impact on image quality or overall enjoyment of the camera.

If you're currently using a basic point-and-shoot film camera, the DX3215 is a great way to get into digital photography. It's simple to operate, is a fraction of the price of more advanced models, and the pictures look great, both on your computer screen and at print sizes up to 5 by 7 inches.

Pros:

• Simple to use, with sharp prints at sizes up to 5 by 7inches
• Versatile battery options
• Included dock makes camera even easier to use

Cons:

• Focus-free lens instead of autofocus
• Internal memory less versatile than removable memory
• Optional removable memory is in a less-common format

Editorial Review

Hewlett Packard's 560 line of Jornada PDAs includes the 32 MB Jornada 565 and our 64 MB 568, members for the first batch of Pocket PCs to ship with Microsoft's new Pocket PC 2002 operating system.

On the surface, the Pocket PC 2002 OS looks much the same as the old OS. But there are a variety of enhancements to the stable of applications (like Word and Excel), new software such as MSN Messenger, added security and antivirus protection, and improved handwriting recognition.

The Jornada 568 features a CompactFlash Type 1 slot, so you can add more CF memory as well as hook up CF peripherals, such as modems or network cards. You'll probably want to expand on the memory front--64 MB is decent for a Pocket PC, but you always want more to play back any video or audio files. And CompactFlash memory prices have plummeted in recent months, making it an affordable upgrade.

The well-designed Jornada 568 sits nicely in hand, with a sturdy flip-up cover adding little to the overall weight (6.1 ounces without the cover and 7.0 with). The bright, 16-bit color TFT screen can be easily read from even sharp angles. While the 240 x 320 pixel, 3.5-inch diagonal screen isn't as large as some, it's big enough to keep you from squinting, even while reading books with Microsoft Reader.

Hooking the Jornada 568 up to your PC is handled either through the USB cradle (with a pass-through connector for the AC power adapter) or via infrared. In addition to the ActiveSync 3.5 software, HP includes Outlook 2002, Audible Player 2.0 for playing audio books, and MusicMatch for ripping and playing digital audio files. In addition to syncing up with Outlook files and directories, the Pocket PC versions of Word, Excel, and Media Player enable you to transfer almost any of your desktop files to the 568.

Powered by a 206 MHz StrongARM processor, the Jornada 568 can handle extensive multitasking without any slowdown. The bottom of the PDA offers four buttons for quick access to menus and applications--Home, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks--as well as a four-direction navigation pad and scroll buttons on the side panel.

The Jornada 568 also functions as a voice recorder--just press the red button on the side and talk away--with a built-in microphone and speaker. But the speaker, while adequate for the normal beeps and burps of the OS, isn't great for music playback. You'll want to connect some headphones to the Jornada and, unfortunately, HP doesn't include any.

The rechargeable battery for the Jornada 568 promises up to 14 hours of life and we were able to get right around that. It also features a light at its top that glows green when the PDA is fully charged, and also flashes to alert you to appointments.

With its power, expandability, and the new Pocket PC 2002 operating system, the Jornada 568 makes an excellent all-around workhorse palmtop. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Easy transfer of Word and Excel files and synchronization with Outlook
• CompactFlash Type 1 expandability
• Crisp, colorful display
• Sleek design

• Speaker not adequate for playing back music
• No headphones

Editorial Review

The D-Link DI-713P is a broadband IEEE 802.11b compliant wireless gateway. It provides the ability to share a broadband connection as well as a print server function. You can share a DSL or cable modem connection through its three local 10/100 Ethernet ports or via its integrated Wireless IEEE 802.11b component. The DI-713P is equipped with a bidirectional LPT port to support a direct printer connection. Its integrated router and firewall provide NAT, DHCP, and packet filtering services between the local network and the Internet.

D-Link's DI-713P allows wireless LAN users to share the Internet connection while providing the security of 128-bit encryption. Static address support, integrated DHCP, PPPoE, and device name support will allow it to connect to nearly any broadband provider, whether cable or DSL based, and at the same time simplify local area network settings.

The DI-713P provides two levels of security support. First, it masks local users' IP addresses from others on the Internet, making it much more difficult for a hacker to target a machine on the network. Second, it can block and redirect certain ports to limit the services that outside users can access. Specific ports can be opened by the user to ensure that games and other Internet applications will run properly.

The router and access point combo also provides special pass-through for common VPN implementations including PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol), L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) and IPSec*. The Virtual Server feature allows the user to expose HTTP, FTP, Game Servers, and other local services to be accessible to Internet users located outside the LAN. The User-Definable Application Sensing Tunnel feature allows the user to define the attributes to support special applications requiring multiple connections, such as Internet gaming, video conferencing, and Internet telephony. A DMZ setting can be applied to a single client behind the DI-713P to expose it to the Internet and ensure complete Internet application compatibility, even if specific ports are not known.

Unlike proxy server or NAT software that requires the software server to remain visible on the Internet, no local computers are directly externally visible when using the DI-713P. Also, the DI-713P, like broadband, is always on, removing the need to constantly boot a software server when Internet access is desired from a client.

Integrated DHCP services allow up to 252 users to obtain their IP address automatically on bootup from the DI-713P. Client machines require no software; simply set them to accept a dynamically assigned IP address and reboot. Each time they are powered up, the DI-713P will recognize them and set their IP address to instantly connect them to the LAN.

Editorial Review

Most people silently suffer with the cheap keyboards that came with their PCs, never even considering there might be a better option out there. With its Office Keyboard, Microsoft offers an innovative, well-designed alternative. Its extra buttons, customizable control software, and tight integration with Windows and Office applications simplify many common tasks. Bottom line, this clever keyboard lets you get more done easier and faster.

To install the keyboard, we simply ran the setup program on the included CD-ROM. We then plugged the keyboard into the USB port, and Windows instantly recognized it. The keyboard also comes with a PS/2 adapter for connecting to the PC's traditional keyboard port; either option works just as well.

What sets the Office Keyboard apart isn't the physical design. It has a standard shape and layout, as opposed to Microsoft's Natural Keyboard with its sloped shape. Instead, the Office Keyboard makes its mark with highly programmable extra keys. Above the function keys you'll find a row of 13 gray buttons with labels like Word, Excel, Mail, Volume, and Sleep. Press them to launch or switch between applications, control volume, etc. A gray plastic hand-rest skirts around the bottom and left of the keyboard. On the left you'll find seven more buttons, handling functions like cut, copy, and paste, as well as a scroll wheel that turns easily, letting you page through documents and Web pages.

Typing away, we found that these extra buttons came in handy almost immediately. It's a real pleasure just pressing one key to undo an action or copy some text instead of having to reach for the mouse or to remember a complicated keyboard shortcut. The long scroll wheel is very handy and much easier to use than the tiny wheels found on many mice. And, since we always keep Microsoft's Web browser, word processor, and e-mail client open at once, we especially enjoyed the ease of switching between applications. The keys themselves have a solid, slightly spongy feel, and the hand-rest makes it comfortable to type for long periods of time.

Though the default settings work well, it's the customizability that gives this keyboard its true power. The keys can be remapped to launch any application or open any Web page. So, for instance, using the included software, you could map the calculator key to bring up your brokerage account on the Web or the calendar key to launch your non-Microsoft contact manager.

Our only quibble with the keyboard is that it doesn't act as a hub for connecting other USB peripherals. That aside, it's an outstanding keyboard that's sure to make your work go more quickly and smoothly. --Ken Feinstein

Pros:

• Over two dozen programmable keys
• Easy-to-use scroll wheel
• Comfortable hand rest
• USB and PS/2 support

Cons:

• Doesn't have additional USB ports

Features

• No cord to limit your movement or clutter your desk
• Use up to 6 feet from the receiver
• 5 customizable buttons
• Line of sight not required
• Compatible with Mac and PC platforms

Reviews (106)

Building a better mouse -> like building a better mousetrap
This is all you really need to know:
(1) The mouse works GREAT. It works just like a wired mouse.
(2) It feels HEAVY due to the 2 AA batteries inside. Although, few actually prefer the added weight as it makes the mouse feel more solid, but most just got tired quicker from the added weight.
(3) I'm on the computer 4-5 hours a day. I change the batteries every 3 months. Get 4 NiMH RECHARGEABLES (2 in the mouse & 2 in the charger) so you'll never be without batteries.
(4) For $17 (lowest price of the year--9/24/2004), this is a BARGAIN.

Overall great mouse, very small complaints
I got this mouse with the Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite for US$105 in Australia, the mouse is a silver Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 model 1007. Amazon has it at a bargain price, which means you should buy one NOW!

TIPS
Buy it for general everyday use, or get the Logitech MX700 mouse if you are a gamer and it feels comfortable (i found the ridge on the right side uncomfortable).
Install the software and restart before plugging in the devices, this solves some problems.
And remember to uninstall any previous keyboard/mouse drivers or software, i forgot to remove my old multimedia keyboard software and WinXP kept going into standby everytime i used the scroll wheel!!

NEGATIVES
Mouse is a little heavy with batteries, can get tiring with long sessions or gaming.
Far thumb button is a bit far to reach easily, a rocker style switch would have been better.
Third mouse button (wheel) is pretty bad, it takes too much effort to click it without scrolling.
Mouse software has basic functionality to customize the mouse, but no advanced features like Logitech's. Even nVIDIA has mouse gestures in their graphic drivers and they don't even make mice! So i think Microsoft should have spent much more time and money developing their software and drivers.
Software doesn't monitor actual distance from receiver, it says "high" signal quality, but from 2m away it is still "high", keep using it and it suddenly drops to "low". Software recommends a max of 3ft (1m).
Batteries a little hard to remove when replacing them.
The mouse feet are bad quality and easy to scratch, my old $10 mouse had better ones.
Recessed IntelliEye logo on mouse looks cheap, a translucent one or no logo would look cooler (yes i'm complaining about the logo, why? because it cost me over $60 and i've seen $10 mice without dodgy logos)

POSITIVES
Comes with Energizer batteries, did last 5 months before they got low, then they lasted a few more weeks before i had to replace them.
Mouse scroll wheel is fantastic, a small amount of pressure makes it move. But is bad for gaming as it is hard to control precisely like for changing weapons.
Comfortable for my smaller hands, and slight dents for fingers is good. I found the Logitech MX700 very uncomfortable because the ridge on the right is where my ring finger is.
My mouse actually worked at 4.5m (nearly 15ft) away from the receiver! But as soon as the software detects this (takes about 10 secs) it stops working properly!?!
Tracking seems fine for me, i seem to be able to get reasonable control for photo retouching. Maybe you should check the surface you are using it on, it doesn't like transparent or reflective surfaces. I use a 3M Precise Mousing Surface.
If you like buttons then this has 5 (but only 3 are easy to use), but the Logitech MX700 has 8 and much better software.
Don't really notice any lag from 0.5m from the receiver.
Software helper pops up if the signal is weak.
Very quick to resync, press the button on the receiver then device and it is synced immediately.
I can't hear the high pitched noise from the mouse unless i put it to my ear. This is probably because my PC sounds like an air conditioner! You might notice it in a really quiet room.
Some people complained about the delay when moving mouse as it "wakes up", I can't notice it, maybe they fixed it?
Nice matte black finish on the mouse, but it would be better if it was soft touch (like on some Pilot writing pens).
I don't notice any "sticking" on my mouse pad.
The LED angle is quite low so it's harder to blind someone (or yourself) and believe me, it's a VERY bright LED. I can see you looking at the bottom of your own mouse now :) lol

Features

• Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, Me, and XP; Mac OS 8.6 to 9.1
• 640 x 480 video resolution
• Microphone required for sending audio
• USB 1.1 interface
• Includes video conferencing software

Reviews (7)

Piece of crap.
I agree with most of you on here, I bought this, and at the time I had WinME, could not get the thing to work and ended up returning it.This was after trying, unsucessfully I might add, to contact tech support.

No WinMe Driver Support
Product is not compatible with WinME and D-Link tech support was useless.Never did get the camera to work and had to return to vendor.

Editorial Review

Windows XP is the operating system release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the desktop versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the shakier foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a great upgrade for users of the now obsolete 9x and Me line, but for those already on Windows 2000 Professional it is a closer call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy between Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows 2000.

XP certainly looks different, with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop that on first installation shows only the taskbar and recycle bin. XP is also more customizable than previous versions of Windows, and includes visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are some significant improvements. One of the most interesting is Remote Desktop. A standard XP feature, this uses technology from Microsoft Terminal Server to enable users to access their computer over any connection; for example, by dialing into the office from home. This is not just file access--this technology lets you run applications remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at work. This is mature technology, stable and carefully thought-out. So, for example, you can print from a remote word processor to a local printer. A variation on the theme is Remote Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view their desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and mouse, in order to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also be disabled to ease security concerns.

Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display brightness. IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows 2000, XP can easily use modems in mobile telephones via infrared. A new screen font, ClearType, improves legibility for laptop or other flat screens, and there is built-in support for wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard. A great feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to synchronize network files with offline copies. Previously these files could not be stored securely, but now they can be encrypted.

For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and application sharing.

The most significant new feature for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair, but does prevent most types of unauthorized connection.

Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. Although there is loss of quality as a result of compression, the process is easy and convenient. Media Player 8.0 can play back DVD video, but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and MPEG videos, but sadly not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end, Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated.

The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs.

Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file system, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes.