Desktop Reviews

The built in nVidia nForce 220IGP grahpics are very low quality and are not suitible for gaming or business grahpics (such as CAD). Of course for a hundred or two more you can buy a new video card and get good graphics. But then for that much money you could buy a faster system with better grahpics already installed and you don't have to deal with opening up your computer, installing a new card and messing with the graphics drivers. So the low price is deceptive. This system will cost you a lot more in the end.

This is another excellent entry from Sony CE, again gaining high marks for its value. It features an Athalon (AMD) XP processor running at 2.0 GHz and offers 512 megs of very fast DDRAM. It also has 4 2.0-ready USB ports, a large 80 gig hard drive and a very good CD-R/W + DVD player. My only complaint is the lack of a true game-ready, 64 megs (or higher!) of video RAM. The included 32 meg Sony in-house, on-chip setup here just won't cut the mustard. There is, however, an open 4x AGP slot, so an upgrade can be bought and slid into place in 10 minutes without any fuss. In addition, there is no monitor included here, so that's another important expense to add. Nonetheless, it's a quality machine with lots of great features and it's one you'll probably be happy with for years to come. Having said that, I'd take the upgraded 850 model, which features a much better Intel Pentium 4 processor (running at 2.4 Ghz) for just a little bit more money.

This product IS NOT backwards compatible with 56KFlex or V.90 service providers even though US Robotics claims "V.90 56K and x2 technology compatible". It may function correctly if your service provider has upgraded to the new V.92 digital service but, if not, you'll be very disappointed and very lucky to connect as high as 28Kbps. US Robotics admits the modem has problems connecting at advertised speeds with V.90 service providers and I would not recommend purchase until US Robotics can prove they have fixed the flaw.

Never had a problem with ANY US Robotics modem. Always a strong-man in the modem arena. A real modem (i.e., hardware; not a software "Win Modem").

Having recently purchased both the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer for Bluetooth and the Belkin Bluetooth card I was hoping for compatibility between the two. I could not locate presales literature for either device indicating compatibility. Net result is that the PC card does not have the "input device" (according to Microsoft phone support), service needed by the mouse, therefore your mouse will not work with the Belkin card. Belkin phone technical service says they will have a software upgrade to support Bluetooth mice by March 2003. One additional challenge is that the driver software is not signed. It will still load on Windows XP if you allow it. Driver upgrade is confusing. The driver upgrade from Belkin, Version 1.2.2.4c, when loaded indicates that it is Version 1.2.1.20, which is the same as the old version. Technical support says that the new driver is loaded but they "forgot" to update the version number. Good points - simple to install if you follow the directions, small and sturdy form factor, easy to contact support, good price.

I bought this USB external modem for a used Blue and White G3/450 which came without an internal or external modem. At the time of the purchase, there was only one other external modem I could find for the Mac, and that was made by Zoom at twice the price. I still can't explain the discrepancy in price between the two modems.

The Best Data comes with a USB cable and phone cord, FAX software, no on/off switch or volume control (this is controlled by the Mac OS), and is plain in appearance (grey plastic). In Mac OS 9.2.1, the modem does what is supposed to. Drop the 56USBP file into the Modem Scripts in your Extensions folder, select it in your Modem control panel, and log on. Best Data advertises faster log-in and log-off times and faster download speeds due to the v.92 protocol, but I have never seen these improvements. There seems to be little difference from the v.90 protocol. Note that the box says "v.92 Lite." I don't know what that means.

Many factors affect modem speed. According to CNET's bandwidth meter, surf speeds for this modem range around 38k via fastermac.net. Connect speeds with the Best Data are usually in the 44 - 46 range. With the internal GV modem in my blueberry iMac, I occasionally hit 48, as I did with the even more reliable and speedy Diamond Supra USB. The Diamond had the fewest disconnects, the GV internal had the most, with the Best Data somewhere in between but still on the low end.

While I was shopping, it was difficult to distinguish between models, and Amazon is not always on top of such things, so here is the official name: Best Data Macintosh 56K USB Data Fax Modem, SmartOne series, Model 56USBPMAC, controller-based hardware modem with five-year limited warranty. The box says Mac OS 8 or higher but there is a sticker that reads that the USB chipset in this modem is compatible only with OS 9.1 and higher.

I think this looks great and easy to use and not heavy in case of moving or just rearannging furniture!

This mic is easy to start with and it gives you the most basic function - voice input for your computer. Yet it does not, as it claims, "eliminate surrounding noice": I tested its performance and there is much "hoowwww" sound after each input is received! But if you want an inexpensive mic, it is a choice.

I tried to config this on a Linux only net but couldn't do it. Had to get a friend with a Windows laptop to make it work. Turns out the problem is that the HPS3P can't reassemble packets when receiving a GET request with authentication (always lost the authorization and kept asking for a password). Hawking tech support was responsive until I pointed out their firmware was buggy. I had used a Hawking PN7337 until it died and it was much easier to setup on a Linux network.

I wanted to use it to replace the fan on my piano. It a nice looking thing, but it has a high-pitch whine that is audible over the earphones (unlike my bigger, older, cheaper deskfan.) It's actually pretty cool if you don't mind the sound, but I'm returning mine.

I purchased a PCG-670P about a year ago, because I loved the large screen and the great feel of the keyboard. It was also factory configured about the way I wanted it.

After having it for about a month I started having problems with the fan running heavy and it then began to shutdown unexpectedly. I then noticed it was not recognizing all the memory, so I knew it had a bad motherboard.

I sent it in to Sony to have it repaired and it was returned promptly and seemed to work better. After another couple of months it started to have the same problems again. Unfortunately, I had to limp along with a half functional computer because I was a graduate student and couldn't afford to be without my, even half functional, computer.

I was finally able to contact Sony to get it back in to fix the problem, but now because it has been barely a year the warranty is not longer good and they want me to pay nearly half again what I originally paid to fix a problem they failed to fix the first time.

There tech support is horrendous and they care very little about making things right with their customers. I now own a $2,0000. Sony VAIO paper weight.

Buy a notebook from someone who cares about their customers.

I purchased two of the subject systems and was pleased with the quality of the sound provided. They were superior to other off the shelf hands free systems I tried.

Unfortunately, the phone connector that attached to the phone and included the built-in microphone was too fragile and both had "posts" to assist in securing the connector to the phone. In both of my adaptors, one of the posts broke and therefore the connector will not stay in the phone.

It would be nice if the connectors could be replaced; any suggestions?