HARDWARE
bulletMODEM TIPS
Bmorgan wrote: I'm considering adding a 56K modem to my Windows 95, but I've been told  that the city's telephone system can't handle this faster speed. Is there any way to find out for sure?
Jeff's Answer: Yes, there's a way to test your phone system before you purchase a  high-speed modem. US Robotics/3Com has set up a toll-free number that will allow you to test the phone system in your area. You can use your current modem to conduct the test. Although this test is designed for US Robotics/3Com's x2 protocol, the phone system can handle the K56flex  protocol if the test is successful. To conduct the test, you use Windows 95's HyperTerminal application to create a new connection for US Robotics Support BBS at (888) 877-9248. When   HyperTerminal makes a connection, you'll be asked how you want to receive graphics. You won't need graphics for this test, so press [Enter] to answer No. Next, you'll be asked for a username. Simply type Line Test to initiate the x2 test, which will take up to a minute to complete. When it's finished, US Robotics will tell you whether the phone system in your area can handle the higher speeds.Before you buy a 56K modem, check with your ISP and find out which of the two high-speed protocols (x2 or K56flex) it supports. Also be sure that the modem you buy is upgradable to the standard. The upgrade should be done via software, not by sending your modem to the factory.
bulletTIPS ON HOME NETWORKING
Another way to connect PCs and peripherals in your home is through a set of radio transmitters. Diamond Multimedia, for example, sells home networking radio transmitters under its HomeFree product line. Radio transmitters give you more range than the cable approach discussed yesterday. With most radio transmitters, your PCs can be 150 feet apart or even separated by walls (or floors and ceilings). On average you'll spend about $200 to connect two PCs. Diamond says it will ship a new version of HomeFree in the first quarter of 1999 that uses your home's phone lines to connect your PCs. There's no word yet on how much this version of the product will cost.
bulletTIPS ON HOME NETWORKING
For a complete home networking solution, you might look into IBM's new home Director product line. Home Director involves built-in wiring in your home (it's really targeted at brand-new homes under construction). Home Director will network up to four PCs as well as control lighting, heating, phone lines, and home security cameras. Pricing is based on the design you choose. For more information, browse

http://www.ibm.com/homedirector
bulletTIPS ON MULTIPLE MONITORS
You've probably read about Windows 98's multiple display support feature. The new Windows OS lets you add several graphics adapters and attach several monitors to one PC. With multiple monitors you can keep an eye on several applications (in full-screen mode) simultaneously. You may, however, be confused by the many ways you can achieve this
upgrade. Over the next few days, I'll discuss some tips that should help you make your way through all the choices.First of all, remember that your monitors don't need to be the same. You don't even have to configure them to the same resolution. So to save yourself some money you could use a small, inexpensive monitor as your second tube. If you just plan to check your e-mail on it, it needn't be a large or expensive display.
bulletTIPS ON MULTIPLE MONITORS
Before you venture off to the computer store, do some research on your current video graphics card. Some video cards do not support Windows 98's multiple display scheme. Your product's manufacturer can tell you if your video card will work. If you card does not work, you may want to reconsider your multiple monitor goal, because the solution will end up being quite expensive. You'll have to either buy two new graphics cards or a single card that supports two displays by itself.
bulletTIPS ON MULTIPLE MONITORS
Count your card slots before you sign on the dotted line for multiple monitor equipment. Most systems still have only a few open card slots. Do you want to sacrifice a slot for two displays? If you do, you may not have room for that new DVD-RAM drive or other new piece of hardware down the road.
bulletTIPS ON MULTIPLE MONITORS
Finally, don't panic if you can't find your mouse once you've configured your two monitors. If you've set your two displays at
different resolutions, you probably have a "dead" virtual space, which the operating system uses to connect the two screens virtually. This won't cause any problems during normal use, except that you may not be able to see your mouse pointer when it rests in this unseen area. If you want to fix the problem, set both displays to the same resolution. With matching resolutions, there won't be any virtual space that isn't visible.
bulletUSB SPEAKERS SOUND OFF
Users running Windows 98 have been waiting to take advantage of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Unfortunately, USB-capable products have been slow in coming. And the first products that arrived often had no competitors, so consumers didn't know whether to buy or wait longer. Finally, more USB products are beginning to arrive, and consumers can now choose among products from different manufacturers. Both Altec Lansing http://www.microsoft.com  have introduced digital USB speakers. The products range from $150 to $260 and offer the convenience that USB provides. You don't even need a sound card to run these speaker systems. You just plug the speakers into the USB ports on the back of your PC or into other USB ports that are attached to your system. Keep in mind that informal testing at PC World has shown that these
USB speaker systems don't yet provide the same level of fidelity that high-end traditional computer speakers offer. But for ease of use, and the benefits of a spare card slot in your PC, USB speakers are a good value.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
Are you considering a WebTV purchase? Recent price cuts have knocked down the current price of the WebTV Plus unit to about $200, making it a more viable option for most homeowners. Over the next few days I'll pass along some tips that should help you decide if WebTV will work for you. First, be aware that a new version of WebTV should arrive sometime
this year. The rumor is that EchoStar Communications and WebTV Networks are negotiating a deal to create a new set-top box that will use satellite communications and add new VCR-like features to WebTV. At this point, no other details are known, but look for an announcement from both of these companies in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the WebTV Plus product is an affordable and available option.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
How large is your television screen? If you're still watching TV over a 19-inch or smaller set, you may want to upgrade your TV before you buy WebTV. The real benefit of these set-top boxes is that more than one person can view the Web at the same time, and you won't really see this benefit on a small TV screen. If you can afford it, go for a 27- or 30-inch TV. You'll enjoy WebTV much more.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
In some stores, you'll still find the older WebTV product on shelves next to the new WebTV Plus model. The original WebTV unit sells for about $100, while the newer version sells for about $200. Is the original WebTV a bargain? Not really. The differences between the two models are many. WebTV Plus offers a faster processor, more RAM, a faster modem, picture-in-picture (WebTV and regular TV windows) capability, a cache for faster performance, and much more. The introduction of WebTV Plus has basically rendered the older version obsolete, so don't waste money on it.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
Examine your home's phone line jacks before you buy WebTV. Most people need to do some preparation before they can install the WebTV unit (which rests on top of your TV), because the TV doesn't reside anywhere near a phone line jack. You might want to reorganize your living room furniture so your TV sits near a jack. Or you can invest a few cents in a phone jack splitter, a small plastic device that lets you run two phone cables (one for your phone and one for WebTV) from one phone jack. The WebTV box includes one long phone cable, but not a phone jack splitter.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
All versions of WebTV Plus come with a handheld remote control, but you'll find that some versions also offer a wireless keyboard. To really enjoy WebTV, you need the wireless keyboard. Without it, you'll be stuck hunting and pecking characters from an on-screen keyboard with the handheld remote--a very time-consuming and frustrating process. For faster e-mailing and quick access to specific Web sites you need to enter by hand, use the keyboard. The keyboard adds about
$50 or $60 to your WebTV purchase, but it's well worth the money.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
Do you have the Call Waiting feature on your home phone line? If you do, great. If not, you may want to get it before installing WebTV, because when you are surfing you'll tie up the phone line. If you have Call Waiting, WebTV alerts you when you receive an incoming call so you can answer the phone, then press the Reconnect button to continue your WebTV session when the call is complete. Without Call Waiting, your callers just get a busy signal or get routed to your Message Center phone service.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
Perhaps the biggest drawback of WebTV's design is that you can't save any data except a list of your favorite Web sites. The Plus model does have a printer port on the back so users can print out browsed pages--but be warned: the printer port is not compatible with all printers. You may buy WebTV thinking you can plug in your printer, only to find out WebTV doesn't support that printer brand or model. Here's the list of supported printers: Hewlett-Packard 400 and 600 DeskJet color printers and Canon 80, 200, 600, and 4000 BubbleJet printers.
bulletWEBTV TIPS
WebTV does not provide a local access number for its service in every U.S. city. This means you may be making a toll call when you dial in to search the Web with your set-top box. To manage this situation, WebTV lets you access the Web via some third-party ISPs that support its OpenISP compatibility specifications. If you do use a third-party ISP, however, you can't send and receive e-mail over your WebTV device. To check whether WebTV provides a local access number for its
service in your area, call 800/469-3288.
bulletMORE INSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
After a little more hands-on time with the latest DVD-RAM drives, I have some more information to pass along. I'll mention my latest revelations over the next few days. First, there's an interesting rumor about DVD-RAM media that is unsubstantiated, yet worth mentioning. The optical storage industry seems to be whispering about the compatibility of DVD-RAM media with
fourth-generation DVD-ROM drives. Everyone freely admits that only the single-sided 2.6GB DVD-RAM media--not the double-sided 5.2GB variety--will be playable in future DVD-ROM drives. But it seems that not all 2.6GB media are alike. You must first remove the DVD-RAM disk from its cartridge before you can drop it into a DVD-ROM drive. Apparently, some media manufacturers have created 2.6GB DVD-RAM cartridges that can't be opened--thereby ruining their compatibility
with DVD-ROM drives. Be sure to find out whether or not you can open the DVD-RAM cartridge before you buy extra media.
bulletMORE INSIGHTS INTO DVD
Software Associates, the creators of the Write DVD software all the first DVD-RAM products include, has built a flexible program. Write DVD lets you write out to DVD-RAM media in both the standard DVD UDF (Universal Disk Format) and the older Windows FAT 16 formats. This means you can create archives other computers on your network can share even if they aren't capable of reading the new UDF format.
bulletMORE INSIGHTS INTO DVD
DVD-RAM drives write out data to their disks much more quickly than CD-RW drives write out to CD-RW disks. In rough general terms, DVD-RAM drives can record data about twice as fast (in terms of kilobytes per second). This means your backup and archiving procedures happen much faster on a DVD-RAM drive than on a CD-RW drive. Of course, you pay
for this extra speed. CD-RW drives cost around $200, while the new DVD-RAM drives run from $700 to $800.
bulletMORE INSIGHTS INTO DVD
All DVD-RAM drives can read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM discs, in addition to DVD-RAM media. Panasonic's LF-D101 DVD-RAM drive also supports Panasonic's proprietary 640MB PD media. If you or your company already use PD media, keep this fact in mind as you choose among DVD-RAM drives.
bulletMORE INSIGHTS INTO DVD
All in all, I recommend waiting on the purchase of a DVD-RAM drive. The initial drives are very expensive ($700 to $800), and at the moment very few DVD-ROM drives are available with which you can share the DVD-RAM media. Meanwhile, companies such as Sony, Ricoh, Philips, and HP are developing a competitive set of products called DVD+RW drives. DVD+RW drives read and write 3GB (single-sided) disks. Unfortunately, we'll all have to wait a while before we can compare DVD-RAM and DVD+RW drives head to head. Sony says its first DVD+RW drive won't be here until late summer.
bulletNEW 250MB ZIP IS BACKWARD COMPATIBLE
In case you were confused about Iomega's latest 250MB version of the Zip drive, it IS backward compatible with the older 100MB Zip. The Zip 250 drive reads and writes the 100MB disks as well as the newer 250MB media. Iomega released this new higher-capacity Zip in order to compete with other high-capacity removable storage drives such as Sony's 200MB HiFD. Fortunately, though, Iomega realized it needed to maintain the ability to share the popular 100MB cartridges among all Zip models.
bulletNEW UPGRADE CHIP
Kingston Technology (http://www.kingston.com) plans to introduce a 366-MHz version of its TurboChip upgrade kit this month. Browse its site for a list of compatible PCs and the price of this new performance upgrade. In general, upgrade chips deliver reasonable performance improvements for the money.
bulletOLD PARTS IN A NEW COMPUTER?
Before you buy any budget computer system, do a thorough inventory of the components inside the case. Budget systems (from big-name vendors as well as mom-and-pop shops) might contain over-the-hill parts you'll have to spend additional money to upgrade sooner than you'd like. Like what, you ask? Video cards with only 2MB of video memory are one
example. If you use any multimedia software, 2MB of video memory is a performance bottleneck. These days, 4MB is a minimum and 8MB or more is recommended for most game and multimedia titles and applications. You might also encounter ISA-based sound cards. The more modern PCI-slot sound cards handle audio much more effectively than the older
ISA cards. Likewise, double-check that modem. Some systems contain older 56-kbps modems that haven't been upgraded to the new V.90 firmware. This means you'll have to find the latest drivers yourself and muddle through the flash ROM update process before your modem will communicate with all brands of 56-kbps modems. Always look beyond the processor speed and RAM amount when you buy a new computer. No system goes faster than the sum of its components.
bulletOPTICAL STORAGE UPDATE
You may have heard about CD-ROM drives breaking the 32X speed barrier. Kenwood http://www.kenwood.com   for example, now sells a 40X CD-ROM based on Zen Research's TrueX Multibeam technology. Basically, Zen increased the CD-ROM drive speed by designing a read head that reads multiple tracks simultaneously (instead of just reading one track at a time, as traditional CD-ROM drives do). Are faster CD-ROM drives better? Not for the average user. You'll only really notice the improved performance when you copy files from a CD to your hard disk or when you install software from a CD. In general, CD titles are still optimized for 2X and 4X speed playback so that they run on older PCs as well as the very latest models.
bulletOPTICAL STORAGE UPDATE
When did you last check your CD-ROM settings under Windows? It’s a good idea to take a quick look to see that you're getting all the performance you can from your CD-ROM drive. To investigate your CD-ROM settings, choose Start, Settings, Control Panel from the Start menu. Then select the System object. Click the Performance tab on the System Properties sheet. Choose the File System button within the Advanced Settings box. Finally, select the CD-ROM tab on the File System Properties sheet. There, you'll find two important settings: Supplemental Cache Size and Access Pattern. Unless your PC is very old, you probably have a 4X or faster CD-ROM. In this case, you want both settings set to their maximum: Supplemental Cache (Large) and Access Pattern (Quad-Speed or higher). Read your system's documentation if you're unsure about the
speed of your CD-ROM drive and the appropriate settings for a slower drive.
bulletOPTICAL STORAGE UPDATE
Recordable CD drives are becoming more and more popular, and fortunately they are dropping in price every few months. If you plan to ride this wave, you should definitely consider a CD-RW drive rather than a CD-R drive. Why? CD-RW drives are more flexible and more useful in the long run. All CD-RW drives can record CD-R discs as well as CD-RW media, meaning that you can use the CD-R write-once discs or CD-RW rewritable discs in the drive. You can now purchase a CD-RW
drive for as little as $300.
bulletORIENT YOUR MOUSE
Repetitive stress injuries still affect thousands, if not millions, of computer users every year. One way to prevent unneeded strain is to orient your mouse to a comfortable hand position. Windows 98 lets you set the orientation of your mouse. Here's how. From the Start menu, choose Start, Settings, Control Panel. Select the Mouse object. Choose the Productivity tab. Press the Set Orientation button. Then follow the wizard's instructions to orient the mouse to a comfortable position.
bulletPC-PHONE CONVERGENCE
Qualcomm http://www.qualcomm.com   has announced its new Thin Phone cellular phone. The Thin Phone connects to a PC via an optional cable so you can download data to the product's phone book memory. Qualcomm also says the Thin Phone will support future microbrowsers for wireless Internet access.
bulletPCI VERSUS AGP FOR GRAPHICS
AGP (Advanced Graphics Port) graphics boards have now been out long enough for us to draw some general conclusions. As a group, AGP boards outperform PCI-based boards in PC World's battery of tests, though usually only by a few points. Most of the improvement is in 3D graphics rendering. If AGP boards were any more expensive, the small performance
improvement might not be worth the extra money. But generally AGP boards are only $10 to $20 more than similarly configured PCI boards. Therefore, if you run any 3D games or applications and your PC features an AGP interface, go with an AGP board for your next graphics upgrade. If, on the other hand, you only run 2D business applications, you really won't notice any improvement with AGP, and there would be no point in spending the extra $10 or $20.
bulletSTORING MEDIA SAFELY
Are you storing all your storage media safely? Over the next few days, we'll run through a quick refresher course on safe storage in case you've forgotten. First, we'll discuss magnetic media, which includes floppies, removable hard drives, and removable storage drives such as the Zip. The key thing to remember is the word magnetic. Remember not to place your magnetic media near any magnets that might alter or erase your disk's contents. Speakers and monitors usually contain magnets, so don't store your disks on or near either of these devices. It's a good idea to keep magnetic disks off your desk completely and store them in a file cabinet or on a bookshelf.
bulletSTORING MEDIA SAFELY
You don't need to worry about accidentally erasing your optical media, such as DVD or CD discs. But you should be careful not to scratch these types of media. Always put optical discs back into their jewel cases when you've finished using them.
You don't really need to clean CDs as some product marketers would have you believe. Just pick the discs up by the edges and try not to ever touch the shiny flat surfaces where they store data.
bulletSTORING MEDIA SAFELY
Mass storage media like MO (magneto-optical) cartridges and tape are commonly used for backup. Don't risk losing backup media by simply placing it on a shelf. In a worst-case scenario (fire, flood, earthquake), these cartridges would be as vulnerable as your computer systems. Store backup media in a fireproof, airtight safe. Even better, take your backup media offsite and store them at a separate, convenient location.
bulletTHE HIDDEN COSTS OF A PC PHONE ANSWERING SYSTEM
Several software companies offer phone message and management packages. These software products answer your telephone, take and route messages, and so forth. Here's what they don't tell you on the product box: If you use your PC for Web surfing and e-mail and you have a fairly high level of phone traffic, you may need a second modem and phone line to support the phone software. The vast majority of regular phone-line modems can't answer an incoming call while they're
in use. Calculate these costs into a phone software purchase if you are in this situation.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
Optical recorders have come a long way. They've improved in performance and features, and dropped in price in the last year. The most versatile optical recorders are the CD-RW drives. Here's the latest scoop on CD-RW drives. CD-RW drives can create both CD-RW discs (which few CD-ROM drives can read) and CD-R discs (which almost every CD-ROM drive can read). The CD-RW discs are rewritable, so you can use them for regular backups. CD-R discs are write-once, so they're more useful for permanent archives.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
In the past, your system's performance was crucial for successful optical recording. Your PC had to maintain a high rate of data transfer--from the hard disk to the optical recorder--or the recording session would fail and the disc you were creating would be useless. Times have changed. Optical recorders now use "packet" algorithms, which break the data into smaller chunks. Your system's performance level is no longer so crucial to successful burning. Just make sure your PC matches the CD-RW drive's minimum system requirements.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
CD-RW drives are faster than ever. The latest drives record CD-RW discs at 2X and CD-R discs at 4X, and play back regular CD-ROMs between 10X and 24X. These speeds are twice as fast as drives of a year or two ago.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
A few years ago, you needed an engineering degree to use the software included with an optical recording drive. With some of the recording packages, you had to understand the technical definitions--red book, yellow book, and so forth--of the different CD-ROM formats (CD-ROM, PhotoCD, audio CD) just to set up a recording session. Most of these packages have undergone major usability revisions. Now you can start recording in just a few clicks of the mouse, and all your choices are
labeled in layperson terms.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
Have you decided to add a CD-RW drive to your PC? If so, I recommend adding it WITHOUT replacing your current CD-ROM.
Why? Many CD-ROM drives are still faster than even the latest CD-RW drives, so when you're installing new software, a CD-ROM drive gets the job done quicker. Also, with a CD-ROM and a CD-RW drive, you can make CD copies by playing a disc in the CD-ROM drive and recording in the CD-RW drive.
bulletTHE LATEST ON CD-RW DRIVES
Another tip if you plan to record CDs: Invest in a CD label maker kit. These kits are inexpensive and worth every penny. Instead of handwriting your title or data information with a black Sharpie pen, you can quickly create a professional-looking label.
bulletTIPS FOR COMPUTER SPEAKERS
Consumers now face more options than ever in PC speakers--so many, in fact, that you may be confused as to what you need. Over the next few days, I'll mention some things you should consider when purchasing and installing new speakers.
The first choice you face will be interface type. You can now buy speakers that use the standard PC audio jacks (from a sound card), USB ports, or even the Dolby Digital (S/PDIF) port on a DVD playback board. Here's a quick breakdown of the target audiences for these different speaker types.

USB:
USB speakers best suit those who don't own a sound card or don't need high-end audio. Real-world testing has shown that USB speakers can't yet match the fidelity of traditional PC speakers while playing back games or multimedia titles. Furthermore, USB speakers may hiccup occasionally when connected to a system running other USB devices (due to USB bus traffic). On the other hand, nothing beats the convenience of hot-swapping your USB speakers from your desktop to your notebook for mobile audio. In fact, USB speakers may produce better audio than traditional speakers on a notebook.

Dolby Digital:
Consider Dolby Digital Surround Sound speakers only if you own a DVD-ROM drive. You'll be spending an extra $200 or more for the 5.1 channels (five speakers and a subwoofer) these speakers produce. Currently, only DVD movies and DVD games take advantage of Dolby Digital audio.

Traditional PC speakers:
Nothing yet matches the fidelity traditional PC speakers produce for game play. If you already own a sound board, investigate a regular speaker system before considering other interfaces.
bulletTIPS FOR COMPUTER SPEAKERS
Subwoofers aren't necessarily just for games any more. A subwoofer provides the deep bass rumble that adds depth to music and sound effects. These units provide an audio realism that approaches what you would hear if you were watching a live event rather than a virtual one. Fortunately, subwoofer speaker systems have come down quite a bit in price. You can now buy three-piece sets (two speakers plus a subwoofer) for as little as $80. If audio is important to your computing experience, think subwoofer.
bulletTIPS FOR COMPUTER SPEAKERS
Always remember the key difference between computer speakers and regular stereo speakers: Computer speakers are designed for up-close listening rather than across-the-room listening. For this reason, the placement of computer speakers is critical. Surround-sound computer speaker setups such as Dolby Digital products need precise focusing so that you hear the directional audio (left, right, in front, behind) as intended. Read your product's instruction manual carefully for placement tips. In general, for surround sound, you want the four corner speakers at ear level. The front center speaker should lie directly in front of you just below your monitor, and the subwoofer should sit on the floor, also in front of you. For three-piece speakers, put the right and left speakers at head level, then put the subwoofer unit on the floor near your feet. It's all right if the subwoofer sits just to the right or left of your feet.
bulletTIPS FOR COMPUTER SPEAKERS
Given the chance, audiophiles will spend hours telling you about the importance of speaker cables. If you use poor-quality speaker cables, the signal may become distorted as it travels from your computer to your speakers.
If audio fidelity is important to you, check into upgrading your speaker cables. Monster Cable http://www.audioc.com  sells
high-quality speaker cables you can customize with specific jacks.
bulletUSB NETWORK INTERFACE
3Com has introduced its new $69 USB Network Interface product. The device lets you connect USB-capable Windows 98 systems to an Ethernet network by simply attaching the product to a PC's USB port. There's no need to open the PC and install a network interface card. 3Com's home page is:

http://www.3com.com
bulletVOICE RECOGNITION FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE
Aren't voice recognition products software-based? Yes. So why are we discussing them in Hardware Upgrade Tips? Because, more so than most software, voice recognition products are intricately linked to the hardware they run on. This product category is booming, but there are some things about these products you may not know. So we'll mention some tips about them over the next few days.

First, don't believe the product creators when they tell you about the minimum system requirements for running their software. In the real world, voice recognition software runs frustratingly slow even on a very fast computer. On most systems, you'll find yourself waiting for the computer to catch up as it transcribes what you say, so don't start off on the wrong foot by running the software on a minimally capable PC. For example, IBM lists a 166MHz Pentium-class computer with 32MB of RAM as the minimum for its ViaVoice product, and Dragon Systems suggests a 133MHz Pentium-class system with 32MB of RAM as the minimum for its NaturallySpeaking product. However, most reviewers, including myself, would rather run these products on a 266MHz Pentium-class PC or better with at least 64MB of RAM. In voice recognition, speed matters.
bulletVOICE RECOGNITION FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE
Do you own a sound card? Most voice recognition products require one. That's where you plug in the microphone headset, which voice recognition companies include in their product boxes. Now for the tougher question: How good is your sound card? If it's some ancient hardware card, it may negatively affect the performance of your voice recognition package. You see, voice recognition products build a database of your speech patterns matched to text words and phrases. If your sound card is of poor quality, signal noise may throw off the software's ability to match your speech to text. You might also find
that an older sound card is just incompatible with voice recognition software.

Before you decide on a voice recognition package, check your hardware setup against the product's compatibility list. For example, Dragon Systems supplies a list of PCs, sound cards, and other hardware tested and certified for use with its NaturallySpeaking products. Dragon Systems' Web site is at

http://www.dragonsys.com
bulletVOICE RECOGNITION FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE
Most voice recognition packages include a headset microphone so you can get the product up and running quickly after you install the software. Truth be told, most companies spend much more time and money on developing their software than on obtaining the best microphone to package with it.

For this reason, I suggest you try out the headset included with your product, but feel free to shop around for a replacement if the headset isn't living up to your expectations.

If you find yourself considering a replacement, look for two key features: a high-quality microphone and comfort. Voice recognition software works more effectively if your voice signal is accurate and clear. And you'll feel more able to spend several hours dictating documents if your headset fits nicely.

As always, shop around. If at all possible, try out different headsets in a computer store, even if you ultimately buy a product through an online store or a mail order catalog.
bulletVOICE RECOGNITION FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE
Adding RAM to your PC is the easiest and most cost-effective way to increase the performance of your voice recognition product. These packages use memory to record your voice and to match those signals to a large database of words and phrases. The more RAM your system has, the faster transcribing goes. RAM is relatively cheap nowadays, so try to upgrade your system so it holds between 64MB and 128MB of RAM. You'll get much more use out of your voice recognition software.
bulletVOICE RECOGNITION FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE
Finally, for the best performance during voice recognition, try to limit your other computer tasks. Multitasking while you're dictating slows down the transcribing process. If you browse the Web, run database applications, or play back multimedia files during a dictation session, you'll see a major slowdown in overall performance.
bulletADVANCES IN UPS
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) products have continued to evolve. In the past, UPS systems were expensive and normally only protected one or two PCs from power surges and power outs. Now you can find UPS products for as little as $120 that protect several systems as well as printers and other office equipment. If you've spent more than $5,000 on your small office's computer equipment, make sure you protect your investment with a UPS.
bulletANOTHER USE FOR YOUR PC MICROPHONE
Motorola has developed a markup language for voice applications on the Web, called VoxML. Now Web developers can embed voice commands into their Web pages as they would regular HTML tags. To use it, you will need a microphone attached to your PC to activate these segments of a Web page. Fortunately, you don't need a special microphone, so you don't need to head to the store. Any microphone you've been using for Internet phone calls, Web broadcasting, dictation, and so on will work with VoxML. Check Motorola's home page at http://www.motorola.com for further information (and demo sites) on VoxML.
bulletBUYING COMPUTER HARDWARE FROM ONLINE AUCTIONS
Have you noticed the boom in online auctions? They're popping up everywhere, particularly online auctions for computer products. EggHead.com http://www.pcmall.com  are just a few examples of companies that offer online auctions.

Why the sudden popularity? Two reasons. First, consumers are getting more comfortable with online financial transactions and companies find that online auctions are a good way to keep products moving out the door.

Many consumers have reported finding deals on computer equipment through online auctions. But just as with in-person auctions, consumers should protect themselves against ripoffs. We'll mention some tips for careful auction shopping over the next few days. First of all, make sure you use the same safety measures in online auctions that you would with any online purchase--namely, protect your credit card numbers. Either use a secure server or use a third-party e-commerce company that will make the transaction for you while keeping your credit card information private.
bulletBUYING COMPUTER HARDWARE FROM ONLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions can be addicting. If you need proof, just venture over to live, in-person auctions in your area. You'll often see the same group circulating at every auction event. The excitement of online auctions is very similar to that of traditional auctions. Bidding moves quickly. Some online auctions have one-hour limits on bidding. The fast pace of auctions may be overwhelming for those new to the scene. Thus, newcomers should spend a few days simply observing. Browse the sites that offer auctions for computer products and just get a feel for how things work. Read all the relevant information about the process at the site you are considering using.
bulletBUYING COMPUTER HARDWARE FROM ONLINE AUCTIONS
Be the same smart shopper at an online auction that you are at a regular store: Don't bid for items you don't need, even if a product looks like a bargain. Also, do your research before you enter the auction. Know the products you're interested in, and know how much these products go for in stores before you bid for them online. Only enter bids below the cost you would pay in a store.
bulletCABLE MODEM SERVICES EXPANDING
Home computer users may now have more options in faster Internet access. At the beginning of this year, cable modem access was still not widely available throughout the United States. However, cable services such as @Home and MediaOne (as well as others) have been steadily expanding their coverage areas during the year. Before you pay for that extra phone line, check into cable modem Internet access in your area. Cable Internet access is still more expensive than regular Internet service, but the incredible access speed may be worth the price for some users.
bulletCHEAPEST RAM EVER
Computer memory is cheaper than ever before. You can now buy RAM for as little as $1.55 a megabyte when you buy a 64MB upgrade. At this point, there's very little excuse for running your PC with less than 32MB. Remember, adding RAM is the most cost-effective performance upgrade you can buy. Make sure you read your system's documentation about which RAM types are compatible with your PC. Even then, ask about your retailer's return policy in case the RAM you buy doesn't
work in your system after installation. Shop around for the best deals--Crucial Technology http://www.kingston.com  are two online stores that sell RAM.
bulletCOMPRESS YOUR FLOPPY
Trying to put off that removable storage drive purchase a little while longer? Here's a tip that might help. Windows 98's DriveSpace 3 and Compression Agent utilities (under Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools) work on floppy disks. By compressing a floppy with these tools, you can store over 3MB on it.
bulletCURRENT PENTIUM II CLOCK SPEEDS
It's hard to keep track of how fast the Pentium II chips run. Every few months, it seems, Intel releases a new chip with a higher MHz rating. In case you were wondering, currently the fastest desktop Pentium II runs at 450MHz and the fastest mobile Pentium II (for notebooks) runs at 300MHz.
bulletDIGITAL CAMERA TIPS
Digital camera technology has undergone amazing growth; digital cameras are competing head to head with traditional film cameras among both amateur and professional photographers. But if you're new to digital cameras, you may not be aware of all the differences between traditional cameras and their new digital counterparts. Over the next few days, I'll mention some concepts you should ponder before you buy a digital camera. One major difference between the two is their concept of film, for example. Digital film is really computer memory; you can reuse it over and over again. Traditional photographic film, of course, is a write-once medium. Still, traditional film has one major advantage over the digital variety--there are a lot of choices for film type. Because you can reuse digital film, you won't need to buy an endless supply for your digital camera. Nonetheless, you'll likely need one or two additional cards or disks to supplement the single piece of media your digital camera manufacturer provides in the product box. With the first digital cameras, you could only buy film memory from
the manufacturer. Now competitors are beginning to emerge. Lexar Media, for example, now sells digital camera memory for several popular camera models. Before you buy memory from the manufacturer, always check other sources for better deals.You can contact Lexar at http://www.digitalfilm.com
bulletDIGITAL CAMERA TIPS
Another major difference between digital and traditional cameras is what happens after you capture your images. With traditional cameras, you have the film developed and printed. With digital cameras, most users transfer the images to their own PCs for image editing or to print out hard copies. If you go shopping for a digital camera, pay particular attention to
the camera-PC transfer procedure. Not all digital cameras work the same way in this regard. Some digital cameras use disks that are just like floppies--you can insert them into a floppy drive and copy images over to a PC's hard drive using file utilities. Other digital cameras use special adapters or cables to transfer images. Figure out which approach best suits your needs. Remember that if you travel frequently, you may need to carry the extra cables or adapters with you, unless the camera uses compatible disks.
bulletDIGITAL CAMERA TIPS
The battery consumption of digital cameras surprises many first-time buyers. Traditional film cameras usually run for months on one set of batteries; but digital cameras are much more like personal digital assistants in terms of battery usage. A fresh set of batteries generally only lasts a few days under normal use conditions in a digital camera. Ask questions about the battery consumption of any digital camera you plan to buy. Find out whether or not you can use a rechargeable battery pack. If not, find a discount store that sells batteries in bulk.
bulletDIGITAL CAMERA TIPS
Unlike traditional cameras, some digital cameras can also record short video clips as well as still images. Try to decide whether you need this feature before you buy, because you'll probably pay more for it. Keep in mind that the video quality of a digital camera probably won't match a video camcorder's. If video quality is important, you may want to purchase a camcorder separately and use the digital camera exclusively for stills. On the other hand, for basic home use, a digital camera that produces both stills and video may be the most cost-effective option.
bulletELECTRONIC BOOKS
One new hardware addition you'll be hearing more about in the coming year is the electronic book. NuvoMedia's $500 Rocket EBook, for example, is already available for purchase. The handheld paperback-size tablet lets you download book-length text (from sites such as Barnes and Noble Booksellers) through an adapter attached to your PC. Competing products, like the $300 Softbook, have their own internal modems that do not require a PC at all. Our advice is to examine these new devices yourself in a computer store or bookstore before you buy. Look for bright screens you can read indoors and outdoors. Check the weight for portability. Then find out which books will be available for download and how much they'll cost.
bulletELECTRONIC SNAIL MAIL
Pitney Bowes' Personal Post Office is the first fully electronic postage meter the U.S. Postal Service has approved. This stand-alone device has its own modem. When the meter runs out, the unit dials directly into the U.S. Postal Service for additional metering to the amount you specify. Pitney Bowes leases the Personal Post Office for $19.75 per month (or $24.75 per month if you want the postage scale).
bulletFINGERPRINT SCANNERS GET ON THE BUS
Digital Persona has announced a $99 fingerprint scanner that attaches to the Universal Serial Bus. Most of the earlier fingerprint scanners used serial ports. Fingerprint scanners let you forego using the traditional password process for security. Still, the added expense of these devices would only be worth it for a PC storing highly confidential data. You can contact Digital Persona at http://www.digitalpersona.com
bulletGET MORE OUT OF YOUR SCSI HARD DRIVE OR REMOVABLE DRIVE
Adaptec has announced a product that lets you leverage your existing SCSI hard drive or removable storage drive. Its $175 SlimSCSI 1460 is a PC Card SCSI adapter for Windows CE-based handheld devices. By connecting a removable drive or hard disk to your handheld device, you can increase both storage space and virtual memory. Additionally, the removable storage disks might make it easier to transfer data back and forth between your handheld and desktop PC. Adaptec says the 1460 will be available in January.
bulletGOOD BUYS IN BIG SCREENS
The average 17-inch monitor now sells for less than $500. Three years ago, you would have spent over $1000 for a monitor that size. A larger display makes each and every computing session more comfortable. If you're shopping for upgrades, consider a big monitor.
bulletHOME NETWORKING NEWS
Expect a series of new home networking products to begin arriving this month. These products target the 15 million U.S. homes that analysts say own more than one computer. I'll mention some tips regarding home networking over the next few days. First, keep in mind that home networking products are best used for computers separated by some distance (or residing in completely separate rooms). For computers that sit side-by-side in a work area, a much cheaper way to connect the computers would be a Windows Direct Cable Connection.
bulletHOME NETWORKING NEWS
Wireless radio frequency transmission is one method new home networking products use. The main advantage of this approach is that it doesn't force you to make your home's electrical outlets or phone jacks do double duty (which other home networking products require). The biggest disadvantage of the wireless method is distance--wireless home networking receivers and transmitters generally need to be within 100 to 150 feet of one another, though this distance can include walls
and ceilings.
bulletHOME NETWORKING NEWS
Some new home networking products use your house phone lines. On the plus side, distance between computers does not pose a problem for these products. Your PCs will talk over your phone line no matter how far apart the jacks are located. Additionally, phone line networking products won't likely receive any electrical disturbance from wireless products in your home (portable telephones and baby monitors could cause interference with a wireless home networking product). The downside of using phone line products relates to the layout of your phone jacks. If the phone jacks in your home reside next to your computers, then you're in pretty good shape. If not, you might need to run long phone cables or move furniture in order to use these products.
bulletHOME NETWORKING NEWS
Most home networking products still rely on hardware add-in boards that you insert into one of your PC's open card slots. However, there are some exceptions. WebGear, for example, offers new $199 AviatorUSB home networking products that attach to your PC via its USB port. The USB plug and play capability allows you to network your home systems quickly.
bulletHOME NETWORKING NEWS
Feel the need for speed? Most home networking products connect your computers at about a 1-megabit-per-second data transfer rate. That rate is about 15 times faster than your 56-kbps modem. Transferring files or even playing multiplayer games is a breeze at these speeds. Still, most corporate LANs connect at 10 to 100 mbps. Home networking products are much slower than their corporate brethren.
bulletINFRARED RESOURCE
If all goes as planned, you should see more infrared communication ports and infrared-capable devices within the next year. For the latest infrared news and product information, check the Web site of the Infrared Data Association at http://www.irda.org.
bulletINPUT OPTIONS
Keyboards now come in a range of ergonomic and functional designs. Many companies offer keyboards, but here are two noteworthy manufacturers: Cherry Electrical Products, at http://www.cherrycorp.com sells ergonomically split keyboards and keyboards with integrated mouse pointing devices.

Another company, Workplace Designs, at http://www.wpdesigns.com offers a unique chair-mounted split keyboard where the left and right halves of the keyboard are completely separated and attached to the arms of your chair.
bulletINPUT OPTIONS
Very few PC makers include joysticks when you buy a new PC. For gaming, however, nothing beats the control of a joystick. The latest innovation in joystick devices is the force-feedback capability that lets you "feel" the action when you use it with software that takes advantage of this feature. Several companies now offer force feedback joysticks. Here are three products worth a look:

CH Product's Force FX http://www.chproducts.com  

Microsoft's SideWinder Force Feedback Pro http://www.microsoft.com  

Logitech's WingMan Force http://www.logitech.com
bulletINSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM drives are just starting to arrive. These drives are the very first of several formats for rewritable DVD that will ship during the next year. How do these DVD-RAM drives look and feel? I'll mention some things about this new technology over the next few days that you may not know.

First off, the initial DVD-RAM units all appear to be SCSI based, not IDE based like their DVD-ROM kin. This means you may need to purchase a SCSI host adapter separately if your kit doesn't include one or you don't already own one.
bulletINSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM drives use cartridges to hold their DVD-RAM discs. The cartridges come in single-sided (2.6GB) and double-sided (5.2GB) versions. The drives can also read DVD-ROM and CD-ROM discs, but you don't need a cartridge for these discs. You can just slide discs into the same slot as the cartridge, and they lock into place.
bulletINSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
The first DVD-RAM drives use software from Software Associates, called DVD Write, to write to the DVD-RAM media. DVD Write lets you write out in the standard DVD-ROM format called UDF (Universal Disk Format) or the older FAT16 format Windows uses. The software creates two separate drive letters under Windows' My Computer for each DVD-RAM drive you own. Your PC uses one drive letter for reading from and writing to DVD-RAM media, and the other for reading from DVD-ROM and CD-ROM media. Sound confusing? It is initially, but you get used to it after a few hours.
bulletINSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
With whom can you share your DVD-RAM discs? Currently only with people who also own a DVD-RAM drive. The DVD-ROM drives now on store shelves are not compatible with DVD-RAM media. Future DVD-ROM drives, which should arrive shortly, will read DVD-RAM media.
bulletINSIGHTS INTO DVD-RAM
Ready to install your new DVD-RAM drive? You should set aside the better part of a day for this upgrade. DVD-ROM drive installations were tough enough. DVD-RAM is tougher still. Why? Because you have all the same components as for DVD-ROM (including the drive, DVD playback board, and cables) AND you need to install a SCSI host adapter if you don't already have one in your PC. Add to this the new software for writing to DVD-RAM media, and you'll find yourself restarting,
restarting, and restarting your system before all the changes have finally taken effect.
bulletIS PRINTER SHARING A WASTE OF MONEY?
You should always keep an eye on the shifting prices of computer products. Price drops sometimes alter the cost-benefit analysis of your computing solution. For example, for many years it was more cost effective to share a printer within a small office rather than buy an extra one. Now ink jet printer prices have dropped below $200 (and in some cases, below $150). At these prices, the cost of printer-sharing devices (and routing the necessary cables) is almost the same as the cost of buying a second printer. With a second printer, you get an easy installation process, more flexibility, and fewer office disputes
over equipment. Think twice before you invest in printer-sharing products--maybe it’s time to increase the number of printers in your office.
bulletUPGRADING YOUR HARD DISK DRIVE
If you've upgraded a hard drive in the past, you'll find the process much faster this time. In terms of usability, hard drive kits have come a long way. Now most include decent documentation as well as utility software that eases the frustration of upgrading. If you've never installed a hard drive before, you'll want to set aside a few hours to perform this upgrade. Even with the usability improvements, a hard drive upgrade is one of the more difficult ones you can perform on your PC. You'll have to fit your hard drive into a drive bay (which may involve using rails), as well as partition and format the new disk.
bullet21-INCH MONITORS FOR CHEAP
Remember when all 21-inch monitors were several thousand dollars? If you haven't checked the recent pricing for these big displays, you should. Lower-end 21-inch models from almost all the manufacturers are less than $1000, and some sell for $600 to $700. Yes, you'll still pay more for the very best monitors, but these cheaper displays are worth examining at your local computer store, especially if you're shopping for a new tube.
bulletALWAYS SPECIFY YOUR NEW DEVICE FOR WINDOWS
Windows' Plug and Play capability has its good and bad points. For example, you can plug just about any monitor into the back of a Windows PC and it works. That's good. Normally, Windows asks you to specify which monitor you've connected (if it can't detect the monitor automatically) as soon as it recognizes you've added a new device--but the monitor still works even if you bypass this step of the installation process. This is not really such a good idea.

If you don't specify exactly what monitor model you have, Windows may use the wrong driver for your device--and an incorrect driver can mean you don't get all the benefits of the hardware you bought. For example, if it is using an incorrect driver, Windows may not be able to suspend or turn off your monitor automatically during shutdown.

Always take the time to specify your make and model of monitor if Windows prompts you. The same advice goes for other types of hardware upgrades.
bulletANOTHER PORTABLE MP3 PLAYER
Soon Diamond Multimedia's Rio won't be the only portable MP3 player available. LG Electronics at

http://www.lgeus.com 

plans to ship its new MP Free player this month. In fact, the product comes in three versions: a basic MP3 player, one that includes an FM tuner for listening to the radio, and one that features a minicassette player.
bulletBUY EXTRA MEMORY FOR YOUR HANDHELD
Don't be fooled by the cheap prices on the low end of the handheld devices market. Most vendors offer at least two versions, the main difference between the two being the amount of on-board memory. Just as with your PC, the best way to gain faster performance in your handheld is to add memory. So when you shop, always note the cost of the larger-memory model versus the cost of the memory upgrade module (most handheld devices accept memory modules). Many people using handheld devices opt for more memory after owning their product for a couple of months. Don't let this be a hidden cost in your
purchase. Calculate the additional memory costs before you buy.
bulletCAN AN OPERATING SYSTEM UPGRADE AFFECT YOUR HARDWARE?
Many users struggle over which operating system to use. With the arrival of Windows 2000 sometime this year, in order to prepare for the future some users are considering upgrading now to Windows NT 4.0 (the foundation of Windows 2000) from Windows 98, or to Windows 98.

Unfortunately, the Windows NT upgrade may affect your hardware setup negatively, particularly if you already use Windows 98. You see, Windows NT 4.0 does not currently offer the USB support Windows 98 provides, nor does NT support the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface power management standard. This means your USB devices may not work, and you may not be able to save power by automatically slowing down or shutting off your components.

Microsoft promises Windows 2000 will have these Windows 98 features. But you should strongly consider waiting for Windows 2000 rather than going with Windows NT if you currently use either USB or ACPI.
bulletCHEAP TAPE BACKUP
Tape remains one of the most affordable backup mediums. The latest tape drives, such Sony's SuperStation and Aiwa's Bolt, store up to 10GB of data in a compressed format on tapes that only cost about $35 apiece. Moreover, the drives themselves cost ONLY about $150--much cheaper than most large-scale storage drives. A small office would probably benefit from a tape backup drive.

Sony can be found at