Eric Grevstad

We never hesitate to list the bad as well as the good in product reviews, but we feel an odd urge to be polite when describing the Systemax Epic notebook. The initials S.L.G., S.A.L., J.S., B.M.C. and M.L.D. — found scribbled on a sticker inside the box — belong to the assemblers and inspectors who […]

Marketing mavens typically refer to this time of year as the “back-to-school” or even the “holiday” shopping season. But that doesn’t mean smart small-business owners can’t take advantage of the fact that this is a favorite time for digital camera manufacturers to introduce their newest and most-improved products. Not surprisingly, this fall’s first wave continues […]

Different computer owners value different numbers. One might pat his briefcase and say proudly, “Dual-core”; another might pop a DVD into her portable and smile, “Seventeen-inch widescreen.” Fans of the Gateway E-100M will brag, “Three-point-two pounds.” Or maybe “Five-and-a-half watts.” The E-100M is Gateway’s slimmest and lightest business laptop — what nerds call a one-spindle […]

Shuttle Launches Its Smallest Small-Form-Factor PCShuttle Inc. is no stranger to small-form-factor PCs and chassis, but its new XPC X100 desktop sets records for full functionality and performance in roughly the size of a ream of paper — 8.3- by 11.7- by 2.1-inches, with a standard vertical-placement base. The 120-watt compact features ATI Mobility Radeon […]

There’s a famous running gag from Saturday Night Live‘s 1975 season: Week after week, Chevy Chase would open the “Weekend Update” news segment by announcing, “This just in — Generalissimo Francisco Franco still dead.” In other news, this November will mark the fourth anniversary of, “This just in — Microsoft says Tablet PCs to take […]

Ever sat at a poker table and said, “I’ll see your $100 and raise you $200?” Printer manufacturers play a similar game with each other, but they bet less money instead of more —”I can sell that color laser for $299!” It’s no longer rare to find a color laser printer priced under $1,000, so […]

Canon Rounds Out Its All-in-One Inkjet LineupHome office workers and digital camera owners are used to multifunction printer/scanner/copiers with border-less photo printing, but Canon USA says they’ve never seen anything like its four new Pixma all-in-one machines. The inkjet devices sport a slanted, low-profile design with rounded corners, as well as Canon’s dual-color-gamut processing technology […]

Extra processing power in the form of dual-core processors continues to be the trend in desktop and notebook computers, while large flat-panel display prices slide into the $500 and less range. Gateway Singles Out Dual-Core Desktops, Bundles MS Office BasicGateway PCs are becoming familiar sights on retail shelves, but the company hasn’t forgotten its direct […]

Airport security attendants will ask you to take the notebook PC from your briefcase, but usually send other stuff through the X-ray machine with only a glance. If they see a rolled-up rubbery strip with a cord hanging from it, they’ll assume it’s the cuff of a blood pressure monitor (four out of four of […]

Is it just us, or are mice names getting longer? Last month we reviewed the Logitech V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks, and now we’re maneuvering Microsoft‘s Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000. You’d think the labels would be lighter, considering that both are pre-shrunk, portable alternatives to a laptop’s touchpad or pointing stick. Perhaps the […]

Did somebody at Xerox not get the memo? Color laser printers, once rare deals at under $1,000, are now mainstream inkjet alternatives readily found for $400 or less, with some manufacturers and retailers hawking entry-level models for $299. So is Xerox aiming too high by putting a $449 price tag (officially $499 with a discount […]

Plenty of laptop owners prefer the comfort and precision of a mouse instead of a keyboard-integrated alternative, but even the most passionate touchpad- and pointing-stick-haters may be overwhelmed by the options offered at Logitech‘s Web site. The company sells no fewer than eight notebook mice, ranging from a $20 corded carry-on to the $70 model […]