Digital Point and Shoot Camera Reviews and More

Camcorder Reviews, Digital Products FAQ...

Frequently Asked Questions on today’s digital products and technology.  Mouse over for pictures.

Camcorders Cell Phones Computer Monitors Computer Storage Desktop Computers Digital Point and Shoot Cameras Digital SLR Cameras Gaming

Home Audio/Video Home Printers Laptop Computers MP3 Players Smart Phones Software Televisions Wireless Routers

Camcorders
	There seem to be a lot of different types of digital camcorders out there. What are all the formats and which one is the best?
	Camcorders use one of four different formats to record and store movie footage – MiniDV tapes, MiniDVDs, memory cards, or built-in hard drives. All have their pluses and minuses though some are easier to use than others, especially MiniDVDs, an increasingly popular format which makes playing back your footage as simple as Netflix. For a breakdown on all the different formats and their advantages and disadvantages, check out the article “The ABCs of Digital Camcorders” on our site.
	I’ve heard a lot of talk about camcorders that record high-definition video (HDV). Should I get one?
	While HDV camcorders are clearly the wave of the future, before you get one, you have to ask yourself one question – do I have some way of playing back the HDV footage I capture? If you don’t already own an HDTV or a computer with a high-resolution screen, you’re better off saving your money and buying a camcorder that records in standard definition. On the other hand, if you home theater is already HD-ready, it might be worth it to plunk down a few extra bucks and buy an HDV camcorder that can record video with stunning detail.
	How do I edit my digital video footage to turn it into a real movie?
	There’s lots of good video editing software out there but if you own a recent Mac you likely have a great program already installed on your computer – iMovie HD. First transfer the video over to your computer via a FireWire cable (usually sold separately). Once you make the connection, iMovie HD should open automatically and ask if you want to import your footage. The program will let arrange your clips on a time line and edit them so that they flow together smoothly. If you don’t have a Mac, you should consider purchasing Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 for your PC, which has more advanced editing features than iMovie HD but is just as easy to use.
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Cell Phones
	I’m trying to pick out a cell phone carrier and have been told that some offer CMDA service and some offer GSM service. What’s the difference between the two?
	CMDA and GSM are two different cellular networks offered in the United States. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access (yes, it’s a mouthful, we know) and is offered by Verizon Wireless and Sprint. CDMA coverage is generally better in the U.S. but has some limitations abroad. GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile Communication, is offered by Cingular (now AT&T) and T-Mobile. While GSM service is fairly prevalent in the United States, it’s much more common overseas. (GSM is the standard in Europe, for instance.) So if you travel abroad fairly often, a GSM phone is likely a better choice. The other major difference between CDMA phones and GSM phones is that GSM phones use a SIM card, allowing you use different handsets while still keeping your phone number and list of contacts.
	Why does the camera on my cell phone take such lousy pictures?
	Though camera phones generated a big buzz a few years ago, most people have come to accept that they take pretty bad pictures. One of the reasons is resolution. While there are some phones out there with imaging sensors offering several megapixels of resolution, most are one megapixel, at best. Furthermore, because cell phones are so small, the size of the imaging sensor is tiny and doesn’t allow in nearly as much light even when compared to a compact digital camera. Consequently, most camera phones produce images that are dark and grainy. Another big liability is the lens. Most phones have cheap, tiny lenses that don’t allow you to zoom optically, only digitally, which will degrade image quality. Put it all together and you get a camera that can capture images that are suited for, at best, emailing purposes. But don’t count camera phones out just yet. Imaging improvements in phones that have been pioneered in Japan are slowly making their way to the United States. While a camera phone will likely never be a match for a digital SLR, the convenience of carrying a phone around in your pocket means you’re always ready to snap a candid shot.
	How do I go about setting up a cell phone plan for my family?
	Funny you should ask that. Every major cell phone carrier offers at least one plan for the whole family. Choosing which plan is right for your family though can be a confusing process. To help you sort through the options, check out this Demystifying Digital.com story entitled “Designing Your Family Cell Phone Strategy."
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Computer Monitors
	Should I buy a CRT or an LCD monitor?
	As of this writing, big, bulky CRT monitors were not quite a dead category but rapidly approaching extinction. In just about all cases these days, you’ll want to get an LCD monitor for your computer. Along with being very slim and lightweight, LCD monitors are brighter than CRTs, render text more clearly, and don’t “flicker” like CRTs. Because they’re flat and not convex like a CRT, there’s less geometric distortion with an LCD monitor.
	Should I get a widescreen (16:9) monitor?
	The movement away from standard size monitors with 4:3 aspect ratios towards widescreen monitors with 16:9 aspect ratios is another welcome recent change in the computer monitor category. Along with being able to watch DVDs of movies in their true widescreen format, 16:9 monitors let you to maximize your screen space so you can multi-task between several different windows and applications on your computer screen. Along with movies, many new video games are going widescreen and just about all the latest digital camcorders and several digital still cameras offer widescreen, 16:9 modes. This is a trend you should definitely take advantage of.
	What size monitor should I get?
	As with many similar questions about products, it’s really a matter of personal preference and depends on what you’re going to use your monitor for. For most users, a monitor around 17 inches in size should be enough to help you perform basic tasks without straining your eyes. If you are someone who does a lot of photo or video editing or graphic art or CAD (computer aided design) work, consider a monitor at least 20 inches in size, if not bigger. If, however, you are someone without a lot of space who just uses the computer for word processing and email, a monitor around 15 inches should be adequate and will be a relative bargain to buy.
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Computer Storage
	Why do I need an external hard drive when my computer already has a large hard drive?
	There are lots of reasons, actually. For one, while hard drives on computers – especially desktop computers – are quite large these days, digital cameras and camcorders are capturing images and video footage that’s larger than ever. So while your new 10 megapixel camera can take pictures with enough resolution to make huge prints, those digital images are also going to gobble up huge amounts of space on your computer’s hard drive. And High Definition Video (HDV) footage? Fuggedaboutit. Put one too many high-res images or HDV home movies on your computer and before you know it you’ll be getting those scary warnings that your hard disk is almost full. But there’s another, perhaps more important reason, to get an external hard drive. Safety. Backing up your computer to an external hard drive is something we can’t recommend enough. While it’s rare that a hard drive on a computer will fail completely and fry all your documents and digital memories, it does happen and you should be prepared. Regularly backing up your hard drive is even more critical if you have a laptop since there is always a chance it will get stolen or damaged in transit.
	What is RAID storage?
	Literally RAID stands for “Redundant Array of Independent Disks.” What a RAID array does is link together several hard drives to provide greater storage, increase overall performance and, most importantly, provides a higher level of protection from data loss if there’s a malfunction. Most regular consumer don’t need to know if a particular hard drive they’re buying is “RAID capable” but for someone, such as a professional photographer, who does serious archiving of digital images, being able to create a RAID array from several hard drives is essential.
	What’s the difference between a portable USB drive, a jump drive, a key drive, and a thumb drive?
	Pretty much nothing, actually. They’re all just different names for what is essentially the same product – a portable flash memory storage device that uses a USB (universal serial bus) interface for easy access to other electronic devices such as computers. These little devices are great for quickly connecting to your computer via its USB port, transferring over data such as documents, photos, or program, and then ejecting and bringing with you. Since portable USB drives use flash memory they don’t need to be powered by an electrical source to maintain content storage and can be erased and rewritten again and again.
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Desktop Computers
	What advantages does a desktop computer have over a laptop?
	While it’s true that laptop computers have come a long way in terms of usability and processing power, desktop computers still have advantages in several areas. For one, they’re quite a bit cheaper than laptops, about $200-300 cheaper depending on which models you’re looking at. Another advantage to a desktop computer is screen size. With a laptop computer you’re restricted to the size of the attached screen while with most desktops, the sky’s virtually the limit when it comes to display size. (You can, of course, connect a larger screen to a laptop but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a portable computer.) There are also many people who still prefer using the larger keyboards that attach to desktop computers compared to the smaller, integrated keyboards on a laptop. (As with adding a display, you can always attach a larger keyboard to a laptop but this decreases portability.) Desktop computers will also give you a lot more storage, with their built-in hard drives typically offering at least 3x more capacity than what’s in a standard laptop. Though even entry-level laptops have more than enough processing power to handle all the basic computing tasks – checking email, surfing the net, word processing and simple photo editing – if you want to do more sophisticated and complicated tasks such as extensive photo correction with Photoshop, high-definition video editing, or advanced gaming, you’ll need to either buy a more expensive laptop with extra processing power, or go with a desktop computer. Many basic desktop set-ups still eclipse entry-level laptops when it comes to overall performance.
	How much memory do I need?
	Making sure you have a good supply of RAM (Random Access Memory) in your computer is one of the keys to a good computing experience. Because RAM is used by your computer to juggle multiple programs, the more RAM you have, the “faster” your computer will run when it’s multi-tasking between, for example, word processing, watching videos on YouTube, and editing images in Photoshop. Of course, the more RAM you have, the better your computer will run, but how much do you really need? We recommend at least 1GB of RAM for your computer, which is now a pretty standard amount for most desktops. However, if you plan to do any serious photo or video editing and might be playing around with large RAW image files or High Definition video, you should definitely consider adding more RAM. At least 3GB should be enough to prevent your computer from getting bogged down in the memory mud.
	How big should my hard drive be?
	This is a relative question that depends on what you’re going to be storing on your hard drive. Most desktop computers come with large hard drives (160GB and up) which should be more than enough to store Word documents, digital images, video footage, and a whole slew of music files. If you find yourself needing more space, purchasing an external hard drive to add on to computer is always a possibility and a relatively inexpensive investment. It’s also a good way to back up your files should your computer’s hard drive ever – perish the though – crash and burn.
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Digital Point and Shoot Cameras
	What’s the difference between optical image zoom and digital image zoom?
	When you’re looking to find out how much “zoom” a digital camera has, always look at the “optical” zoom not the “digital” zoom. While optical zoom physically adjusts the lens to get closer to the subject, digital zoom “crops” the digital image to enlarge the subject which can degrade the quality.
	How much optical zoom do I need?
	Again it depends on what you’re going to use the camera for. Most point and shoot digital cameras come with at least 3x optical zoom (35mm –105mm) which is more than adequate for most snapshooting purposes. If you want to get in closer – if you’re photographing nature, for instance – consider a camera with 4x and beyond.
	So how many megapixels do I need?
	Well, if you want to make prints of up to 8.5 x 11-inches in size, six megapixels is really all you’ll need. If you want to print larger than that, find a camera with over six megapixels which, these days, in not hard. Remember though, the more megapixels your camera has, the more space your images will take up on your computer’s hard drive. And yes, you’ll also need to buy a bigger, more expensive memory card to fit all those high-resolution pictures.
	Do megapixels matter?
	It depends on what you need them for. While a digital camera with an image sensor that has large number of megapixels (above 6MP, for example) means you will be able to make extraordinarily large prints (above 8.5 x 11-inches in size) without a major degradation of resolution, it does not necessarily mean the image will be of good quality. Along with megapixels, a good point & shoot digital camera has to have a sharp lens, a powerful and effective image processor, a robust feature set and, if possible, built-in optical image stabilization, to take a good-quality, non-blurry picture. Of course, it also depends on the photographer having a “good eye.”
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Digital SLR Cameras
	What is a Digital SLR (DSLR)?
	The “SLR” part of Digital SLR stands for “single lens reflex,” a camera system in which light passes through the lens and is reflected by a mirror to the camera’s optical viewfinder, giving the user a clear image of their subject. When the shutter is pressed on a DSLR, the mirror flips out of the way and the image is projected onto an imaging sensor to “capture” the picture. (In a traditional SLR, the image is projected onto film.)
	With so many good compact digital cameras out there, why would I need to buy a digital SLR?
	While they’re more expensive and still considerably larger than point & shoot cameras, digital SLRs offer more control over the picture-taking process including extensive exposure adjustment, quicker shutter response time with virtually no lag, and the benefits of detachable lenses. Most importantly, digital SLRs are the camera of choice for serious photographers because they allow for more flexibility and creativity while offering generally superior picture quality.
	Which brand of DSLR should I buy?
	It all depends on whether you already have lenses from a particular manufacturer or not. Since detachable lenses for DLSRs only fit on corresponding brand camera bodies – Nikon lenses on Nikon DSLRs, Canon lenses on Canon DSLRs etc. – you wouldn’t buy a Pentax camera, for example, if you wanted to use your Olympus lenses on it. If you don’t currently own any detachable lenses, the field is wide open with several manufacturers making excellent DSLRs – Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Pentax are the top brands. We suggest you go to a photo retail store and try out some of these cameras to see which one you’re most comfortable with. Also, there are some excellent magazines and websites that review digital SLRs. Some of our favorite online spots for camera reviews are CNET, Imaging Resource, and DP Review. In print, be sure and check out Popular Photography magazine, PC Magazine, and David Pogue’s column in the New York Times.
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Gaming
	What’s the difference between the Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo?
	They’re three different gaming systems from three different companies –Microsoft makes the Xbox 360, Sony makes the Playstation 3, and Nintendo has the Wii. While they’re similar in that they all play video games – including some of the same titles – they also have individual features that set themselves apart. It would take a long article to fully explain all the difference but here are some of the highlights. • The Microsoft Xbox 360 has been on the market the longest, since November 2005, so it has the most gaming titles available. It also has a sophisticated and popular online gaming service (which costs an extra monthly fee), a new method for downloading pay-per-view movies and TV shows, and a built-in 20GB hard drive. • While there still aren’t a lot of games for Sony’s Playstation 3, which was introduced in November 2006, and supplies of the console are still frustrating scarce in stores, it boasts some impressive extras. For one, the PS3 as a built-in Blu-ray player for playing high-defintion DVDs. It also has built-in wireless networking, a 60GB hard drive, HDMI output, and free online gaming. It’s the most expensive of the three, retailing for $600. • From the family-friendly folks at Nintendo: the Wii game console, which despite its awful name, offers easy-to-grasp, hard-to-put-down gaming action for young and old thanks to an innovative motion-sensitive controller. It’s also the cheapest of the three consoles though its graphics and features are inferior. Like the Sony PS3, the Nintendo Wii has been hard to find since it was introduced last November because of heavy demand.
	So many video games seem so violent. Is there anything out there that’s educational that my young child will like?
	Unfortunately, there isn’t much educational software available for video game consoles, and even the computer gaming selection at retail has gotten a little thin. However, you’ll find a variety of high-quality games and activities online from trusted sources such as Public Television (pbskids.org), Children’s Television Workshop (sesameworkshop.org), Nickelodeon (nickjr.com) and Disney (playhouse.go.com), with all but the Disney site offered free of charge.
	What the heck is World of Warcraft and why do my kids keep talking about it?
	World of Warcraft is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It’s the fourth game in the Warcraft series and one of the most popular online games ever. The subscriber base for World of Warcraft includes 8.5 million players worldwide and there’s a good chance your kid is one of the horde of World of Warcraft (otherwise known as “WoW”) players out there. Don’t fret though – it’s only a game and so amusingly addictive you might find yourself becoming a “WoW” fan too.
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Home Audio/Video
	What is 5.1 Surround Sound?
	In a home theater set up, 5.1 surround sound means that separate audio tracks are sent to five speakers – two in the front of the room (on the left and right), a front center channel (handling most of the dialogue) plus left and right rear speakers behind you, creating that “you’re-surrounded” feeling. The “.1” is for a subwoofer, a special speaker designed to recreate deep booming bass notes that is usually placed on the floor.
	What is “Virtual” Surround Sound?
	The deal breaker when it comes to installing a surround-sound system in many homes is the difficulty in running wires from the front of the room to the rear speakers. That’s where virtual surround systems come in handy. Based on the science of psychoacoustics, virtual surround systems process audio input to trick your ears into thinking you’re hearing three-dimensional sound, when it’s really coming from just two or three speakers. No, it’s not as pulse-pounding as a full-fledged surround-sound system, and the effect doesn’t quite work for some people (it has to do with the size of your head and the layout of your ear canals, believe it or not), but at the very least you’ll get lots of volume and clearer reproduction of spoken dialogue.
	What is Home Theater in a Box?
	Some people don’t mind grappling with the complexities of mixing and matching separate audio components to create a surround-sound system, but for most buyers the way to go is a single “home theater in a box” (HTIB). HTIB includes the receiver and speakers you need (and usually a DVD player as well), all pre-selected to work well together, complete with cables and easy setup instructions. As HTIB systems have become increasingly popular, we’ve found both quality and pricing have improved dramatically.
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Home Printers
	I’ve heard that photos made on my inkjet printer will fade in just a few years. Is that true?
	While it’s true that light and environmental conditions can made prints fade, the longevity of prints made from inkjet printers has dramatically increased in the last few years thanks to advances in inkjet technology. Canon now has the ChromaLife100 system, including Canon ChromaLife100 dye-based inks and select Canon photo papers. Properly made prints using this system should last a long time before the colors show any noticeable change: 100 years in dark storage (an archival-quality photo album); 30 years on display in a glass frame indoors, without direct sunlight or other high-intensity light; and 10 years of resistance to gases found in indoor air (ozone, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides.) At Epson they’ve chosen a pigment-based approach, the DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink system, with fade resistance of up to 100 years – not only for prints made on special photo paper, but even for prints made on good-quality plain paper. Other manufacturers have also made advances in inkjet print longevity so do some research on the Internet to find out which one is best. One of the leading inkjet research sites to check is Wilhelm Imaging at www.wilhelm-research.com.
	I’m shopping for a home printer and I’m confused by all the choices. What’s the difference between an inkjet printer, a laser printer, and an all-in-one printer?
	You know that old expression – “different strokes for different folks?” Shopping for a home printer is a lot like that since there are so many different types of printers out there. Here’s a quick breakdown of the three most popular options: Inkjet printers An inkjet printer shoots out tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper to create text, a graphic, or an image. While standard inkjet printers often use four colors to print, inkjet photo printers typically use six, seven, or eight different colors. The more colors, the better the quality of the photo. While inkjet printers are great for printing photos, color ink tanks can be expensive so they’re not economical for high volume work. If you want a less expensive and faster alternative for printing text, you might want to consider a laser printer. Laser printers A laser printer uses a laser beam to transfer text or an image to paper with toner powder. While there are color laser printers, they’re mostly for business users. A black-and-white laser can produce crisp text documents faster than an inkjet, at a significantly lower cost per page. The ink alone can cost 11 cents for an inkjet-printed page versus 3 cents for toner (used instead of ink) in a laser printer. What’s more, the toner cartridge lasts for months, virtually eliminating frantic runs to the office supply store. Laser printers, however, only print mediocre quality photos. All-in-one printers A booming printer category, an all-in-one machine combines a printer (usually a color inkjet) with an image scanner (for turning documents into digital files), which also lets you make copies and (in some cases) send faxes. For photo printing, look for an all-in-one with more than three ink colors. Also, if family members like to print photos directly from their digital camera or memory card, a large LCD preview screen and memory card slots are important features.
	Can’t I get better quality photos if I print my digital images at a retail store versus on a home printer?
	There has actually been a pretty hot debate on this issue for a number of years now. While having your digital images processed at a photo retail store will usually give you better quality prints, there are strong arguments for printing at home as well. For one, the quality of prints made at home has improved greatly, especially if you purchase a high-quality inkjet photo printer with at least six color inks. (There are some professional inkjet printers with 8 inks and higher.) Aside from print quality, home printing means you can tweak your photos at home using an image-editing program such as iPhoto or Photoshop. It’s almost like having your own darkroom right in your home office or living room. Printing from home also means you don’t have to drive to the store to pick up your prints.
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Laptop Computers
	I can’t decide whether I want to get a laptop computer or a desktop computer. Which do you recommend?
	This is a very common question with a very common follow-up response – what type of computer user are you? If you’re the type of person who could never imagine yourself leaving home with a computer tucked under your arm, then by all means, get a desktop. With bigger hard drives, larger screens, and a host of standard features that would put most entry-level notebooks to shame, you’re usually going to get more bang for your buck with a desktop computer. If, however, you ever need a computer outside your home, then a laptop is an excellent option. As prices on laptops have gone down, their speed, performance and features have gone up, making them very powerful portable computers. Best of all, just about all new laptops come with built-in wireless capability which is great for accessing the Internet and checking emails even if you’re a thousand miles from home. On the downside, hard drive space is rather meager when compared to desktop computers, and a laptop’s smaller screen, keyboard and track pad take some getting used to. If you really can’t decide, consider what is called a “desktop replacement” laptop which is a jumbo-sized notebook computer with a big screen and extra memory and features, but is still portable.
	How do I access the Internet with my laptop?
	If you bought your laptop recently, there’s a pretty good chance it has built-in wireless capability. If this is the case, turn your computer’s wireless receiver on. This is done slightly differently depending on the brand of your laptop and whether it’s a PC or a Mac. Your computer’s manual should have some basic instructions on how to do this. Once your notebook’s wireless receiver is on, it should be able to tell you whether there’s an accessible wireless network nearby. If you’ve set up a wireless network in your home, just connect to it and you’re in. If you’re outside your home, check to see if the location you’re at – such as a hotel or a coffee shop – offers wireless service and whether it’s free. If it’s free, just log on to that network and start surfing the net. If it costs money, you can pay by credit card. There are so many wireless signals out there that you’re bound to find one to piggyback onto in any major metropolitan area. Keep in mind though that a lot of these wireless signals are private and require a password to get in. Also keep in mind that if you do get in, by jumping onto a private network you will be slowing it down for the people it actually belongs to, not to mention posing a possible security risk to your computer.
	How much memory do I need?
	Making sure you have a good supply of RAM (Random Access Memory) in your laptop is one of the keys to a good computing experience. Because RAM is used by your computer to juggle multiple programs, the more RAM you have, the “faster” your notebook will run when it’s multi-tasking between, say, word processing, watching videos on YouTube, and editing images in Photoshop. Of course, the more RAM you have, the better your computer will run, but how much do you really need? We recommend at least 1GB of RAM for your laptop, which is now a pretty standard amount for most notebook computers. However, if you plan to do any serious photo or video editing and might be playing around with large RAW image files or High Definition video, you should definitely consider adding more RAM. At least 3GB should be enough to prevent your notebook from getting bogged down in the memory mud.
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MP3 Players
	My iPod is frozen and won’t respond. Is it dead or is there something I can do to repair it?
	Though they’re certainly a lot of fun to use, iPods, like any electronic devices, are susceptible to technical problems from time to time. Though some of these problems in extreme cases can mean the “death” of your poor little music player, many times they’re easily solvable. In your case, it sounds like your iPod just needs to be “reset” which is a very common procedure and something you can easily do at home. For full instructions on how to reset your particular iPod model, visit Apple’s iPod support web page at: http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/ If your iPod’s still not functioning after following advice from Apple’s iPod support website, you may need to bring it to a specialist. If you’re near an Apple store, it might be worth it to schedule an appointment at the Apple “Genius” bar. Genius bar staff members offer free on-the-spot consultation on how to repair Apple products, including iPods. To make an appointment at a Genius bar near you, visit http://www.apple.com/ and use the store locator at the bottom of the home page. Go to the Apple “Concierge” section on your store’s page and make your appointment online. While consultation with an Apple “Genius” is free, some out-of-warranty repairs will cost money.
	What’s the difference between a portable music player with a hard drive and a music player that uses “flash” memory.
	Though hard drive music players have ruled the portable market for years – think iPods – flash memory music players continue to grow in popularity. While they don’t yet have close to the amount of storage space offered on a music player with a hard drive – some hard drive music players have as much as 160GB of storage while flash-based players max out at just 8GB – there are other significant advantages. For one, since flash-based players have no moving parts, they’re shockproof and can be incredibly light and thin, making them perfect for jogging, biking, or skiing. (Think iPod Nano.) Another advantage to having no moving parts is that they such less battery power and won’t “skip” if they get bounced around during strenuous activity. In terms of sheer storage, though, hard drive music players still win hands down, giving you much more bang for your buck in cost per megabytes. They also usually have larger screens than flash-based players and offer more video capability and better features. Flash-based players though are catching up and we won’t be surprised if some day soon they aren’t the dominant format in the portable music player category.
	I’ve been hearing a lot about DRM and how it relates to digital music. What is DRM and why does it generate such controversy?
	DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a blanket term for technology that’s used to prevent unauthorized copying of digital content, typically music. While an in-depth look at the pros and cons of DRM as it relates to digital content could warrant pages and pages of discussion, we’ll try to break it down simply as it relates to the digital music buying public. When you buy digital music, such as from Apple’s iTunes store, the file you’ve purchased comes encrypted with DRM technology restricting what you can do with that piece of music. (The word “restrict” here is key as some anti-DRM factions have suggested the acronym should stand for “Digital Restrictions Management.”) Though the DRM restrictions on music purchased on the iTunes store aren’t terribly restrictive – you can, for instance, burn your music files to as many Audio CDs as you like – there are some limitations that are downright annoying. For one, if you want to play an iTunes track on a music player not authorized by Apple, you’re out of luck. It is for those reasons, and others, that there’s been a movement afoot to rid the world of DRM. (DRM is not limited to just Apples iTunes. In fact, most legitimate digital music services have some form of DRM.) In recent developments, Apple’s own Steve Jobs has weighed in on the discussion, announcing that Apple would be willing to sell digital music without DRM if the industry supported it. Jobs’ statement was followed by an announcement by EMI that it would sell music without DRM restrictions, and of a higher audio quality, on iTunes for 30 cents more per song. While this certainly doesn’t signal the end of DRM, it’s one of the first major steps in that direction. Stay tuned.
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Smart Phones
	What’s the difference between a smartphone and a cell phone?
	Truthfully, with all the bells and whistles that come on cell phones these days, smartphones and cell phones are getting harder and harder to tell apart. The main difference though is the existence of a “QWERTY” keyboard or a touch screen on a Smartphone which allows the user to access the Internet and check email. Most cell phones can, at best, just send text messages to other cell phones. The smartphone category was created as cell phones began to take on many of the organizing features of PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). While some PDAs still exist in the markeplace, the category is rapidly disappearing as Smartphones take over. Because of their ability to multi-task and perform many of the functions of a personal computer, Smartphones appeal to on-the-go business people.
	Is a BlackBerry a Smartphone?
	More or less, yes. Though BlackBerrys, which are developed by RIM (Research in Motion), first gained famed for their ability to send and receive real-time email practically anywhere there was wireless cellular network, the devices have other “smart” features including organizing functionality and web browsing services.
	Aren’t Smartphones big bulky devices?
	With all their built-in functionality, Smartphones are typically larger than cell phones, but not by much anymore. Advances in touch screen and keyboard technology have made recent Smartphones slimmer and lighter than products from just a few years ago. The Apple iPhone, which is slated to debut this summer, will feature very advanced touch screen technology, making it one of the sleekest Smartphones on the market with almost no external buttons.
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Software
	A friend of mine recently purchased computer software that I want to try out on my computer. Is it ok if I borrow his disks and install the software on my computer just to see if I like it before I purchase it?
	Any way you slice it, this is still technically “pirating” (aka “stealing”) software without paying for it and is illegal. While in some cases – such as when the owner of the software has a site license allowing multiple installations – you can legally install software on several different computers, this is not common in home usage. If you just want to try out some software, most companies offer free downloads for a trial period of typically ten to 30 days. There’s also plenty of free software on the market (known as “freeware”) along with “shareware,” which is software that can be used for free for evaluation purposes.
	What are some good alternatives to Microsoft Word?
	Even though it’s become the de facto standard in word processing, there are plenty of alternatives to Microsoft Word that can do the job as well and, in some cases better, than mighty “Word.” Here are three of our favorites to consider: Corel WordPerfect Office X3 Before Microsoft Word took over, WordPefect was the big kid on the block. This latest edition – while not nearly the heavyweight in brand recognition it once was – offers as many features as Microsoft Office but at a more affordable price. www.corel.com OpenOffice.org A very decent suite of office programs with a very capable word processor that while it may not dazzle like Word, is very appealing in one area – it’s absolutely free! www.openoffice.org Nisus Writer Express Before Apple switched operating systems to OSX, Nisus Writer was the best word processing program for Macs, bar none. With its latest version of Nisus Writer Express, Nisus is giving Microsoft a run for its money once again. www.nisus.com
	What’s the difference between “software” and “firmware.”
	Software is an external program or suite of programs that must be loaded (aka installed) onto a computer while firmware is software that’s already embedded in a hardware device. Even though firmware is written into a device’s read-only memory (ROM), like software, it can be updated by a user.
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Televisions
	I’m thinking of buying a high-definition television but I’m confused by all the numbers jargon. What’s the difference between 720p, 1080i, and 1080p?
	There’s plenty of potential confusion awaiting in these three different high-definition display resolutions but try not to let it intimidate you. If you want to understand the underlying tech, there’s a wonderful HDTV backgrounder at HowStuffWorks.com. In a nutshell, though, high-definition TV is broadcast in either 720p or 1080i, and sets with either resolution spec can display both. 1080p is the latest-and-greatest videophile feature, but there’s no sign that any programming will take advantage of this enhancement in the foreseeable future. As a general rule of thumb – we suggest you stick to HDTVs with 1080i.
	Which is better, LCD or Plasma TVs?
	This, like many decisions in consumer electronics, is a matter of opinion and one that’s been raging for several years in TV land. These past few months, however, have seen the differences between plasma and LCD, continue to narrow. It used to be that LCD was the choice for smaller sets – say 37 inches and below – while plasma ruled above that. But LCD manufacturers have inched up to the point where they’re competitive in price and performance up to the popular 40- and 42-inch sizes (larger than that and plasma sets are still the logical choice). Plasma still claims an advantage when it comes to reproducing fast motion, and it has slightly better off-angle viewing, though LCD screens are somewhat brighter than plasma and use less electricity. Basically, at this point, if the screen size you’re after is available in both LCD and plasma at roughly similar prices, your choice should be based on how a particular set performs rather than the technology driving it.
	What’s the difference between televisions with 4:3 aspect ratio versus 16:9 aspect ratio?
	The TV you grew up with had a nearly square picture tube – the ratio of width to height is 4:3. HDTV uses a 16:9 screen (more commonly known as “widescreen”), delivering a panoramic view of movies and other wide-screen content. While there are still some high-def sets with 4:3 screens (they show wide-screen content with black bars at top and bottom), true 16:9 sets are the only serious contenders.
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Wireless Routers
	What is a wireless router and why would I need one?
	If you want to set up a wireless network in your home or office, you’ll need to get a wireless router. A router is a computer networking device that’s used to move data wirelessly via radio signals between multiple destinations, such as between an Internet service provider, a laptop computer, and a printer. To create a wireless network with your router that allows several computers to wirelessly connect to the Internet, all you need to do is plug the router into a wall and connect it to your DSL or cable modem service. Other than installing some set-up software on your computer, that’s all it takes to start surfing the net wirelessly. For more information, learn how our Digital Grandparent, Maryan Pelland, set up a wireless network in her home.
	I see a lot about “802.11” when I search the Internet for wireless routers. What does that mean?
	802.11, or IEEE 802.11, is a wireless standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for what is commonly known as “Wi-Fi.” (The IEEE sets standards for a range of technological protocols and uses a numbering system to classify these standards.) 802.11 is actually the prefix for several Wi-Fi protocols of increasing speeds – 802.11b, 802.11g, and the current cutting-edge protocol, 802.11n. The faster the Wi-Fi protocol the faster your computer will receive the wireless signal. Keep in mind though that your computer’s Wi-Fi protocol needs to match that on your router if you want to take full advantage of the transfer speeds. So, for instance, if your computer is 802.11g, you will not get the full speed benefits of a 802.11n wireless router.
	How do I prevent unwanted users from jumping on my wireless network?
	Encrypt, encrypt, encrypt. The manual with your router will tell you how to encrypt your wireless network by setting a password. Along with the security benefits of encrypting your wireless network, preventing unwanted visitors from piggybacking onto it will ensure that it runs at full speed. The more users who use into your network, the slower it will run.
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