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WINTER 2006 EDITION
BEYOND HI-DEF
TV Will Never Be The Same
VIDEO CAMERA
LAB TEST
We Rank Them on
Picture, Price, Features
PLUS:
Expand Your WiFi Network
Install a Graphics Card
Optimize your HDTV
and More!
THE DIGITAL
LIFESTYLE GUIDE
> THE SKILLS AND GEAR YOU NEED NOW
THE DIGITAL L I F E S T Y L E G U I D E
T H E S K I L L S A N D G E A R Y O U N E E D N O W
Welcome
to the Popular Mechanics
UPGRADE
Digital Lifestyle Guide brought to you by
Newegg.com. Inside you’ll fi nd reviews and THE ULTIMATE PRODUCT GUIDE
comparison tests of the latest must-have
Eye-Phones for Your iPod
electronics, articles on the hottest trends in
Digital Camera Wishlist
new technology and expert tips, advice and do-
it-yourself projects that will help you get the Creative Outlets
most out of your gear.
The Next Generation in Gaming
The Digital Lifestyle Guide is completely
A Photomat for Every Home
interactive, allowing you to go beyond the
electronic “pages” of the magazine. Look for Cool Gadgets to Give, and
Receive this Year
text underlined in blue – clicking on any of
these embedded links will take you directly to
HD-DVD vs. DVD
the web where you can fi nd more information
Abusive Laptop Sleeve Test
and shop for great products from our partner,
Newegg.com. You can also download the Digital Dramatic Home Theater
Components
Lifestyle Guide onto your computer to save for
future reference and email it to your friends.
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Now that you know how to navigate
the Digital Lifestyle Guide, it’s time to start
experiencing the great products and stories
inside. Happy Holidays from Popular Mechanics
and Newegg.com!
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WINTER 2006 EDITION
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PPIICCTTUURREE??
VIDEO
TTRROOUUBBLLEESSHHOOOOTT CCOOMMMMOONN HHDDTTVV GGLLIITTCCHHEESS..
CAMERA
THE DIGITAL LAB TEST
DORM Six new camcorders go head-to-head
in our grueling comparison test.
TECH CLINIC
DIY PROJECTS AND HOW-TO ADVICE
EXTRA-RUGGED LAPTOPS
How they work. Plus: USB drive-removal rou-
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE A DORM FULL lette; a close look at over-the-air movie rentals;
OF KIDS A TRUCKLOAD OF ELECTRONICS?
and how to choose and install a graphics card.
BEYOND CABLE GUIDE
It helps to know your wires – we cover them all
HI-DEF right here. Plus: image stabilization; and protect-
ing your MAC.
EXTEND YOUR RANGE
Pushing the Limits of your Wi-Fi Network.
Plus: transferring software to a new PC; text
messaging intricacies; and doing the math on
widescreen TVs.
DVR SPILLOVER
What to do when your drive is full. Plus: pass-
VIEWER-CENTRIC TECHNOLOGY WILL LET
YOU WATCH ANY PROGRAMMING – word protecting your fi les; saving power on a PC;
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. and software for the visually impaired.
FEATURES
Situational
Awareness
The Myvu isn’t
a virtual reality
headset. Sure,
walking or
driving is out of
the question,
but users can
glance down or
to either side
of the action
and view their
surroundings
normally. This
lets you access
video controls—
or fi gure out just
Best Seat in the House who’s laughing
at your excellent
eyewear.
There’s no avoiding it—MicroOptical’s Myvu
Sight for Sore
personal media viewer for the iPod ($399)
Eyes The Myvu’s
will make you look like a certain head of lens array and
engineering on the Starship Enterprise. But focal length
are designed
you’ll be too busy to notice, as you watch
to avoid eye
TV shows, movies and music videos saved strain for most
users, even
to your video iPod. View it all on the focal
during hours
equivalent of a 27-in. monitor seen from of extended
6 ft. away (as opposed to the iPod’s 2.5-in. viewing. If the
Myvu still causes
screen). The Myvu comes with a combined
headaches,
iPod case and supplemental battery, boosting optional snap-
on prescription
video playback from a couple of hours—if
lenses are
you’re lucky—to a more reasonable 6 hours. available for $99.
| 4
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAN SAELINGER POPULARMECHANICS.COM DIGITAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE
1 2 3 4
Fujifi lm FinePix F30 Canon DC40 $900 Olympus FE-190 Pentax K100D With
$349 /// This 6.3- /// Whether it’s the 10x $200 /// The FE-190’s 18-55mm Lens $700
megapixel digicam was zoom lens or the 4.3- best feature is that it /// Digital SLRs aren’t
born to shoot in the megapixel CCD sensor, doesn’t look, feel or just getting cheaper,
dark, with one of the this DVD camcorder has shoot like a $200 cam- they’re getting better.
most light-sensitive the crisp image quality era. The 6-megapixel This model has all the
sensors for its size (up we’ve come to expect ultracompact takes bases covered: a large
to ISO 3200) and a fl ash from Canon. It shoots great photos, is 0.7 in. 6.1-megapixel sensor
that gauges the fore- about 60 minutes per thick, and has a large and compatibility with a
ground and background, disc in standard (4:3) 2.5-in. LCD screen and range of lenses, as well
to avoid washing out and widescreen (16:9) image stabilization. as sensor-based shake
subjects. fujifi lmusa.com formats. canonusa.com olympusamerica.com reduction. pentaxslr.com
2
3
1
4
5
STOCKING STUFFER
Joby Gorillapod (5) $25 /// The fl exible Gorillapod can act as a standard
stiff-legged mini tripod, or it can wrap its tentacles around branches and guard-
rails for on-the-fl y image stabilization. It’s stronger than it looks, and the rub-
berized ring and foot grips prevent slipping in precarious positions. joby.com
5 |
DIGITAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE POPULARMECHANICS.COM
Creative
Outlets
FEATURES
Data Line
Security Some
surges are
sneakier than
others. Because
sensitive devices
such as PCs and
HDTVs can be
damaged by even
minor spikes,
rear-mounted
in and out jacks
help guard
against surprise
electrical attacks
via phone lines
(for DSL and dial-
up connections)
and coaxial
cables (for cable
service).
Multilayered
Defense The
PowerSquid’s
defensive arsenal
includes power
fi ltering to reduce
electromagnetic
and radio
frequency
interference, and
a 15-amp circuit
breaker to block
fi re-starting
overloads. If
all else fails,
it comes with
a warranty
for connected
equipment worth
up to $500,000.
It sounds like something out of a monster fl ick: a tentacled creation that har-
nesses electricity to save us from ourselves. In fact, the PowerSquid Calamari
($80) from Flexity is a surge protector with six fl exible outlets, reining in bulky,
plug-blocking adapters once and for all. Two of the plugs house blue neon indica-
tors, useful for illuminating dark or obscured outlet areas. But this surge protec-
tor is more than a gussied-up cephalopod. It blocks surges of up to 3240 joules,
emitting a dying gasp—an audible alarm—if the circuits fail. powersquid.net
6
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAN SAELINGER POPULARMECHANICS.COM | DIGITAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE
P
UPGRADE
M
Playing for Keeps
Whether you love them, hate them or couldn’t care less, video games are on the march. Three powerful game consoles
are battling this holiday season for home entertainment supremacy—here’s our report from the front. — erik sofge
MICROSOFT XBOX 360 SONY PLAYSTATION 3 NINTENDO Wii
PRICE: $300 to $400 PRICE: $500 to $600 PRICE: $250
RESOLUTION: Up to 1080i RESOLUTION: Up to 1080p RESOLUTION: Up to 480p
xbox.com us.playstation.com/ps3 wii.nintendo.com
HARDWARE: With one year HARDWARE: Delayed HARDWARE: No longer
and some 100 games by about six months, the dark horse in this
under its belt, the 360 the PS3 has some next-gen contest, the
is the next-generation explaining to do. Will Wii (pronounced “we”) is
console to beat. But its powerful RSX and Cell proc- grabbing headlines with its motion-
now the 360 is in danger of becom- essors deliver better visuals and sensing mojo. Gyroscopic sensors
ing the least technologically impres- smoother game play than the 360? turn the controller into a virtual
sive of the pack, lacking the PS3’s It plays 1080p-resolution Blu-ray fi shing rod or pistol. But will revolu-
supercomputing power and the Wii’s discs, but what if HD-DVD wins the tionary game play make up for the
motion-sensing controller. Microsoft format war? The PS3 seemed worth mediocre graphics and an inability
is counting on innovative games to the wait when we played it. But will to display HD-quality images? Only
maintain its lead. the price tag—as much as $600— time, and possibly Mario, will tell.
ONLINE: Xbox Live, a pay-per-year sideline this contender regardless of ONLINE: Like Sony, Nintendo hopes
network that launched with the its heavyweight technology? to lure away millions of Xbox Live
original Xbox, extended the life span ONLINE: Sony is off ering free access users with free access. The Wii can
of some titles, letting gamers jump to its gaming network, with the stay online at all times to accom-
into massive fi refi ghts or establish standard roster of downloadable modate those rare games that run
online racing leagues. You also can games, add-ons to existing titles, in real time. And the downloadable
download cheap “arcade” games. and the ability to host open or titles draw from previous, cult-clas-
Every 360 title is Live-compatible. private games. sic-packed Nintendo consoles.
BREAKTHROUGH GAMES
TEST DRIVE UNLIMITED 360 ASSASSIN’S CREED PS3 RED STEEL Wii
This massively multiplayer racing The crumbling masonry and teeming Bringing a sword to a gunfi ght is a
game supports over 100,000 play- marketplaces in the Crusades-era bad idea, but lots of fun. Red Steel
ers cruising around a virtual Oahu, Holy Land are gorgeous, but the arti- gives you both kinds of weapons—
heading for league matches or spoil- fi cial intelligence (AI) is even more and showcases the Wii’s motion sen-
ing for a pickup race. It comes with stunning. Shove through a crowd and sors by letting you aim your control-
90 vehicles, including bikes and con- some bystanders shove you back. The ler like a gun or swing it like a blade.
cept cars, and more are available over AI extends to brawls, where enemies The graphics aren’t as detailed as
Xbox Live. Online bells and whistles won’t always fi ght to the death, but the PS3’s and 360’s, but game play
aside, it’s a great racing game. may beg for mercy or run for help. doesn’t get more immersive than this.
7 DIGITAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE • POPULARMECHANICS.COM
XBOX 360 Wii
1
Super Mario Galaxy $50 ///
Nearly every game we’ve tried on
Nintendo’s Wii was plagued with
a lack of precision in the much-
hyped motion-sensing controls.
But this title was a diamond in
the rough, an intergalactic leg of
Mario’s ongoing quest to, well,
jump on things. Gimmicks like
wiggling the controller for a spin
attack were fun, but didn’t get in
the way of the simple game play,
the psychedelic visuals or the
2 sheer thrill of leaping through a
cartoon cosmos. wii.nintendo.com
PLAYSTATION 3
Wireless Racing Wheel (1) $150 HD DVD Player (2) $200 ///
With a year to gain momentum, the Xbox 360 is entering the holidays with
too many promising games for us to recommend just one. But when it
comes to the console’s peripherals, there are some clear standouts. The
solidly built wireless racing wheel, which can rumble in your lap or mount
to a table, comes with gas and brake pedals, plus one of our favorite games,
Project Gotham Racing 3. The HD DVD player is an external addition to the
Xbox 360. At $200, it’s a much cheaper alternative to Toshiba’s $500 HD
DVD player, at least for anyone who already owns the console. xbox.com
Resistance: Fall of Man TBA
///At press time, news was grim
STOCKING STUFFER for the PlayStation 3, still priced
at $500 to $600 and facing pro-
GameZnFlix $9 to $21 per
jected shortages at launch. We
month /// We’re going out on a bit
of a limb by including this Netfl ix- have good news, though—this
style service, which lets you rent up to fi rst-person shooter, which
six games or movies at a time, because merges World War II environments
we think the currently skimpy selec- with an alien invasion story line,
tion will grow. The plan is to have
was one of the most impressive
something for every media taste: new
games we’ve ever played. Huge
games for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii,
as well as movies on Blu-ray, HD DVD, battles and adaptive enemies
regular DVD and even the abandoned reminded us why the PS3 is worth
UMD format. gameznfl ix.com all the trouble. us.playstation.com
36 NOVEMBER 2006 | POPULARMECHANICS.CPOOMPULARMECHANICS.COM • DIGITAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE 8
