Blog Archives for 2009

When the Internet wants to drum up business, but has no solid facts to present, it slaps the label "rumor" on its speculation and calls it a day. We then gather those non-sensities together and make fun of them. This is called our Rumor Roundup. So, come inside and see what the frequency is, Kenneth.

Don't have a yard? Despite the initial start up cost, a well-planned container garden can save you money compared to shopping at the grocery store. We'll show you the materials you need to set one up right in your apartment.

Whether you're training for your first 5K or embarking on your third marathon, the editors at Runner's World offer their advice on the gear you need to get you from the couch to the finish line.

In this latest installment of our Rumor Roundup we've collected together a fine assortment of the best — or is that worst? — rumors that the Internet has to offer. So enter, and leave all hope behind.

From layaway plans to discounted tickets, the music industry is finally loosening its grip on over-priced tickets. Find out which concert deals you can look forward to this summer.

With the whole world falling in love with the new Kindle DX, our very own Jeff Somogyi felt it was time that someone pointed out that it might just be a huge failure. In this letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Jeff Somogyi vents his spleen about his concerns over the new device.

In the market for a netbook? We analyzed the last year's-worth of netbook deals to see where you'll find the best values on netbooks. Our conclusion surprised us.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include HP's 15" Pavilion 2.16GHz laptop for $430, ASUS' 15" 2.13GHz gaming laptop for $900, Sony's 15" 2GHz VAIO laptop for $650, and more.

Once a week (give or take) we take an expedition into the darkest depths of the Internet on a rumor-hunt. If we find an example of wild speculation, we stalk it, shoot it, gut it, drink its blood, then hang the carcasses on the wall and mock them. We call this process our Rumor Roundup.

Whether you're looking for a contractor to install new flooring or in search of deals on auto parts, we've gathered a few Web sites to help keep your repair costs manageable.

High-def isn't always synonymous with high prices. We took two sub $200 pocket camcorders out for a test drive to see which can give your home videos some much-needed HD pizazz.

Whether it's for work or an upcoming wedding, a suit is an essential part of every man's wardrobe. Fortunately, thanks to the Internet you don't have to spend a fortune to buy one. AskMen.com and Men.Style.com show us how to make your first online suit purchase both easy and affordable.

Thinking of buying a new bike? We spoke with the experts at Bicycling magazine for some tips on how new and experienced riders can find the right bike.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include HP's new Neo-based 12" Pavilion 1.6GHz laptop for $600, Compaq's 15" 2.2GHz Presario laptop for $380, Acer's 14" 2.16GHz Aspire laptop for $450, and more.

Want to go green, but can't decipher the lingo? We've broken down the terminology so you know what's behind some of today's most important certifications.

These days, everyone is out to save money. To help on your cost-cutting mission, we've gathered a list of tech-related online services, from warranties to PC repair, that will help you cut fees.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 14" Acer 2GHz laptop for $500, Sony's 15" 2.16GHz VAIO laptop for $600, Dell's 15" 2.16GHz Inspiron 15 laptop for $550, and more.

Earth Day is once again upon us. For us, it's a time to reflect upon how we're harming the environment, simply by living. For news organizations, it's a time to dust off all the old tips from last year and re-present them as new. With that in mind, we've put together a handy checklist of "tips" that you're sure to hear more than once over the next week.

When the Internet makes stuff up, we collect those lies and compile them, each week, into what we like to call our Rumor Roundup. We're also pretty sure that that last sentence was a run-on.

Like it or not, online video streaming is about to change. In an effort to attract more viewers, Hulu, Joost, TV.com, and other online video destinations are adding social networking features to their respective sites. But are these features worth checking out or will they simply bombard your viewing experience with chat widgets and emoticons? We hit our favorite sites to find out.

With the holiday season long gone, your chance at buying an inexpensive, new LCD HDTV is over. Or is it? We analyzed the past nine months-worth of TV deals — with price trend graphs — to find out if now is still a good time to buy.

Still haven't filed your taxes? Don't panic. With more than 24 hours to go, you still have several options for filing your 1040. One of our editors tried out three different methods to do his federal taxes — see which worked out the best.

Dell's new Adamo is the company's most aesthetic laptop to date. But is this luxury notebook worth its $2,000 asking price? We compared it to its biggest rivals — Apple's MacBook Air and Voodoo's Envy 133 — to find out which machine offers the best value.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 10" ASUS 1.6GHz netbook for $350, Compaq's 15" 2GHz Presario laptop for $450, Acer's 14" 2GHz Aspire laptop for $500, and more.

Someone once said, "Man cannot live on facts alone." Even though we're pretty sure that person was lying when they said that, why take the chance? Check out our Rumor Roundup to see what the Internet is probably lying about. What else have you got to do for the next five minutes, anyway?

If not properly maintained, household appliances can bleed money via expensive repairs and replacements. We spoke with Marshall Brain, founder of Discovery Communications' tutorial site HowStuffWorks.com and Monica Teague, spokeswoman for appliance manufacturer Whirlpool to find out how to keep your household appliances running like new.

Paying too much for your smartphone's data plan? At $19.95/mo, the Peek Mobile Handheld delivers one of the least expensive data plans we've seen. But can this e-mail- and text-only handheld pry us from our smartphone? We spent a week with the device to find out.

Eating out can be expensive, especially if you live in a major city. Fortunately, the following food sites can help you keep track of food deals from New York to San Francisco.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 16" HP 2GHz laptop for $600, Toshiba's 15" 2.16GHz Satellite L305 laptop for $430, Asus' 16" 2.13GHz gaming laptop for $900, and more.

More fiction than fact, that Internet continues to go above and beyond to deliver all sorts of false information direct to your computer terminal. Well, we've taken these falsehoods and rounded them up in what we like to call our Rumor Roundup.

From ultraportable laptop recommendations to advice on overpriced A/V cables, we answer our first batch of reader mail.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 15" Compaq 2GHz laptop for $400, Toshiba's 15" 2GHz Satellite A305 laptop for $600, HP's 15" 2GHz media laptop for $700, and more.

Ever wonder what news would be like if it were reported without worrying about facts? Then check out our Rumor Roundup to see what the Internet can "report" while turning a blind eye to reality!

Tired of spending your money on items you only use once? From unwanted CDs to used apparel, the following sites will let you swap your old media with others for free.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 16" Toshiba 2GHz laptop for $650, Lenovo's 13" 2GHz IdeaPad U330 laptop for $900, Gateway's 13" 2.16GHz laptop for $550, and more.

Heading out to the Game Developers Conference? We've put together a list of advice and etiquette for you to follow that will make your n00b self seem just a bit more 1337.

The Internet is like rice pudding. Rumors are like raisins. Some people like raisins in their Internet, some prefer their pudding to be rumor free. No matter how you feel, we still think you'll enjoy our Rumor Roundup in which we mock all of the raisins.

This weekend's most popular laptop deals include a 15" Gateway 2GHz laptop for $550, Apple's 13" 1.6GHz MacBook Air laptop for $999, Everex's 13" 1.6GHz StepNote for $448, and more.

When the Internet gives you rumors, you make rumor-ade. Check out all of the sweet, sweet items that we've freshly squeezed for this week's Rumor Roundup.

Despite the recession, about 13,000 different wines are still on sale in the United States, and that's one thing people are not likely to give up on. So if we can't live without it, how can we find a good bottle for little money? We spoke with the experts to find out.

The Internet is to rumors as New York City apartments are to cockroaches. Each is crawling with the other, no matter how many times you spray. So, why beat 'em when you can join 'em? Enjoy our cockroach roundup Rumor Roundup.

Purchasing concert tickets is getting increasingly expensive, but what if you could stay at home and watch your favorite concerts for free? Thanks to the Internet, music fans can do just that. From Radiohead to The Rolling Stones, we've found several websites that let you stream live and pre-recorded concerts so you don't have to deal with overpriced beers and sticky floors.

Want to reconnect with distant relatives and friends? Unless you're aware of your carrier's international calling plans, you may want to think twice before picking up the phone. We've compared some VoIP-based calling plans that can help you make inexpensive calls across the globe.

Do you need advice on how to buy a refurbished laptop? Or have you ever wondered how we pick the deals that make it up on our site? Drop us a line — we want to hear from you. Read on to find out how you can contact our editors.

Someone once said, "Man cannot live on facts alone." Even though we're pretty sure that person was lying when they said that, why take the chance? Check out our Rumor Roundup to see what the internet is probably lying about. Your life might just depend on it.

The MagicJack phone adapter is the least expensive VoIP plan we've seen. However, numerous complaints have hit the blogosphere, from both press and customers, claiming the company lacks proper customer support. We revisited MagicJack to find out what the customer support experience is like.

Mainly "who is laying off how many" and "which company is going to close forever" rumors were the norm for the past couple of weeks. It was quite depressing. But, we come to find out that tech rumors are recession-proof! So we've rounded up a smattering of the good stuff for you. Enjoy!

Your desktop PC is about to get a makeover. The same companies that refined the netbook have set their sights on the all-in-one in hopes of dethroning today's models with lower prices and smarter features. But are these new desktops better than their current counterparts? We compare three incoming models to find out.

Flowers and chocolates are the classic staples of Valentine's Day, but there's plenty more gifts to get for your sweetie, especially if she's sweet on gadgets and tech. For the wired woman of your life, this list will help get you through this year's day of romance.