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Episode 39: Mac vs. PC
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Get the true story about the difference between Macs and PCs, where the Gurus of Cool discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms. Plus, you'll hear hands-on reports about the first shipping HD DVD player and the 17" MacBook Pro, as well as a special luxo-sport edition of the Rapid-Fire Roundup® of Cool Products.
Features by the Gurus of Cool
Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD Player
by Charlie White
The Toshiba HD-A1 ($500) is the first high definition disk player on the market. At the same time, HD DVD movies in this new format are slowly becoming available -- at this writing, there are approximately 20 titles on sale for the nascent HD DVD format. We took a close look at this first HD DVD player, putting it through its paces with both HD DVDs and standard-definition DVDs, and found it to be a frustrating experience that we hope amounts to the consumer electronics equivalent of opening-night jitters. ...Read More »
PixelClean Deluxe LCD Screen Cleaning Kit
by Charlie White
PixelClean is an LCD screen cleaning solution that its makers say is specially designed to clean high-gloss antireflective laptop and LCD screens. Its manufacturer also claims it has an extraordinary ability to clean any traditional anti-glare LCD screen better than any other. The company supplied us with the Deluxe LCD Screen Cleaning Kit ($19.95 including two microfiber polishing cloths, four towelettes and 5oz of the cleaner) and even a high-gloss LCD screen on which to test its products. To see if there really was a difference, we compared PixelClean to Windex and water. Here's what happened. ...Read More »
Griffin PowerJolt, TuneFlex and iTrip for iPod nano
by Charlie White
Griffin makes a variety of accessories for iPods, and we've accumulated three of them that are specifically made for the nano: iTrip for iPod nano ($50), an FM transmitter that lets you use the nano with a car radio; TuneFlex ($50), a power adapter/recharger which plugs into a car cigarette lighter and has a stalk that allows you to position the iPod exactly were you want it; and PowerJolt ($20), a simple but effective adapter/recharger. We took all three out for a spin, and assessed not only how they performed separately, but how they worked with each other. ...Read More »
The Sims 2: Open For Business Expansion Pack
by Ella Turner
The Sims 2: Open For Business ($35, EA Games) has shipped to stores -- and computer screens -- all across the world for over a month. This expansion pack to the extravagant Sims empire that has been built over the past six years appeals to all ages, but the target audience of this God game is teenagers. In Open For Business, players get a chance to follow their Sims to work as they make or break their bank accounts in the quest for a successful small business. Here's our review. ...Read More »
Show Note Links
Apple 17" MacBook Pro
Dell Inspiron E1705 17" Notebook
Macs First with Quad-Core Intel Chips?
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Rapid-Fire Roundup® of Cool Products
COMMENTS
Mvix (MV-5000U) Multimedia Center w/FM
Claiming to be the next evolution in portable entertainment, this portable multimedia center has the ability to play dozens of video, audio and digital image formats over your TV, projector or home-theater system. It uses a standard 3.5" HDD and works just like an external USB 2.0 hard drive when you connect it to your PC. And because it uses a standard hard drive you can expand it wherenever you need it!
Dell XPS X-Men Gaming System
Here's a collector's edition PC from Dell, a $10,000 workstation using Dell's redesigned XPS aluminum case with an Intel Pentium 965 Extreme Edition dual core processor inside. It has user-controllable lighting with six color choices, lots of RAM and an SLI graphics card. Plus there's a killer paint job commemorating the X-Men on the side. Best of all, you can win one by entering Dell's contest.
SEGATOYS HomeStar Planetarium
This novel device allows you to project 10,000 stars and constellations in your own home. Never again do you need to travel to those snooty know-it-all scientists who regail you with their smarter-than-thou minds -- you can do it all at home, in your bedroom, or the bath, or (because it is battery operated) to your friends' houses.
Nintendo Wii
It has a goofy name, but this $200 gaming system looks like it's going to be a winner, with its spectacular new controller that has speakers inside and motion sensors that let you conduct music, or shoot various weapons which make you feel like you're actually doing some damage. Can't wait to see this new gaming system that was just announced last week; expect to see it toward the end of the year.
Rarewood iPod cases
The iPod case can really define who you are – and now, thanks to Miniot, you don’t have to be like Paris Hilton and have a diamond-encrusted case. You can tell the world you are a true ruler of the world with the iWood Heritage. These high quality cases are made from rare or extinct woods like Zebrawood, purple heart and wedge…. Not cheap, they start at 175 Euros.
2007 Mercedes SL550
2007 is the 50th anniversary edition of the Mercedes-Benz SL series, and commemorating that milestone is the SL550, a two-seat roadster with a 382 hp V-8, seven-speed automatic, 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth capability, active body control and an electronic stability program. It has a retractable hardtop, and it's a limited edition. All that for just $130,000.
"Week after week, Stephen and Charlie boil down the morass of tech info into solid gold nuggets of information, with a dash of opinion thrown in. Nothing sterile here, they have timely hard-hitting news each week. "
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"Stephen Schleicher is very knowledgable about his technology and I can only assume he would surround himself with like company. Which is why I think Stephen and Charlie definitely know what they are talking about in the venue of tech tips and reviews. They rock my face off!"
This week's featured music:
"This Summer" by Spoilsport
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