PCWorld Jun-12

GET MORE, pay less. Those four words pretty much sum up our pricing expectations around consumer tech. Consider the following snapshots in time. Back in 1996, I grudgingly parted with $3500 for my first laptop, a Toshiba Portege (loved that 28.8-kbps dial-up modem!). Today a spanking new Ultrabook will run me $900, with a few bucks to spare. And that 500GB external drive I snagged in 2005 for $500? New 1TB drives can be had for $100. Wireless sticker shock is likely to increase, as the mobile carriers prepare to take an even bigger bite out of your wallet. The trend has been remarkably consistent, as every year, tech value per dollar keeps increasing. The one great exception: smartphone data service, where prices remain infuriatingly high. And with the introduction of zippy 4G…

Browser Pros and Cons I was a bit surprised that the April review of browsers (“Which Browser Should You Use?”) left out the really good browsers in favor of the older but slower ones. The only newer browser you tested was RockMelt, but some users prefer Flock. I like Comodo Dragon the best of all. I also regularly use SlimBrowser and Maxthon. I don’t think IE, Opera, or Safari can hold a candle to them. I think you should have included some of the cutting-edge programs and not just the most popular. Ed Paul, South Bend, Washington Editor’s note: The alternative browsers mentioned are available at pcworld.com/downloads/downloads.html. After reading your article, I decided to see if Chrome or Firefox should replace Internet Explorer, which is often interminably slow at loading Web pages. Chrome does indeed…

ONLINE TRACKING IS a hot topic these days, with the Obama administration and the Federal Trade Commission asking for tougher online privacy protections. The FTC recently issued a report urging voluntary practices for online businesses regarding data collection (find.pcworld.com/72871). Another proposal suggests building a universal “do not track” function into future Web browsers. The proposed universal “do not track” tool wouldn’t be robust: It would simply make your browser send a “please don’t track me” request to a website. Given the past misbehavior of Internet behemoths such as Facebook and Google, it’s hard to put much faith in a proposal that wholly relies on the best intentions of site owners. Nevertheless, that’s the gist of the FTC’s appeal to Internet businesses for voluntary cooperation. Specifically, the agency suggests that privacy controls should…

COBRA TAG With the Cobra Tag ($60), you may never lose your keys again. Attach this sensor to your keys (or bag), and you’ll be able to locate it when you use the associated app on your Android or BlackBerry phone. Cooler still, it’s a two-way finder: If you misplace your phone somewhere in the house, for example, tap the button on the Cobra Tag, and your phone will ring. MAGELLAN WEATHER STATION KEYCHAIN This compact device, priced at about $23, is the perfect gadget for outdoorsy types. Attached to a heavy-duty carabiner, the Weather Station Keychain supposedly can forecast the temperature and humidity anywhere in the world. The keychain also features an alarm clock, a calendar, a compass, and a built-in LED light. FLIPSYNC II KEYCHAIN CHARGE AND SYNC CABLE Ever find yourself with…

I’VE BEEN LOOKING forward to Windows 8, but I’m concerned about how successful its launch will be—and I’m not alone. Looking at the Consumer Preview, many bloggers, analysts, and experts are saying that the OS as it stands is not ready for prime time. Here are four things Microsoft should address before the official release if it wants to avoid another Vista-style debacle. Default to desktop mode: The Metro interface is an innovative approach to interacting with Windows on a touch device. But on a PC with a keyboard and a mouse or touchpad, it is awkward and tedious. Windows 8 should default to desktop mode when installed on a desktop or laptop, or at least let the user choose the default interface at installation. Allow tile grouping: Within Metro, Microsoft should…

Best Buy Closing 50 U.S. Stores, Thinking Small In an effort to stay competitive, Best Buy will be closing 50 of its big-box locations in the next fiscal year, while opening 100 smaller stores focusing on mobile devices. According to the Wall Street Journal, it also plans to increase staff training by 40 percent. What this means for customers isn’t clear yet. Members of Best Buy’s Reward Zone Silver program will see a few benefits, including free expedited shipping, a 60-day return-window and price-match policy, and early access to some popular products. Android Could Eclipse Windows by 2016 An IDC report predicts that within four years, ARM-based devices using Android will dominate computing, supplanting x86-based Windows devices. IDC says Windows’ market share will drop to 25.1 percent in 2016, down from 35.9 percent…