k i s a h k i t a

 

 

If you want to pack a bunch of full-featured basic x86 servers - with at least one big hard drive each, nothing much shared, and at least a current-issue desktop processor, not some low-power basic chip - into a small space, your only option is rack mounting.

People who only need a few servers can make do with standard tower or desktop enclosures. But you can fit a proper server-class PC into a “one unit” (1U) rack enclosure, and by definition that means you can have a whole server that takes up only 1.75 inches of vertical space. Forty machines will fit in a rack that’s shorter (though not necessarily lighter…) than the average human male, and it’s no big thing for them each to have two hard drives and two CPUs, if that’s what you need.

So that’s all very well, but the tricky bit is doing it all for a reasonable price. Like things sold for medical purposes, and things sold in camera shops, and things sold to people who’ve already demonstrated such bad financial judgement as to have purchased a radio controlled helicopter, things with “Server” written on the box generally feature a surprisingly large mark-up, given their basic specifications.

There’s nothing magic about this kind of server hardware; if you’re talking four or more CPUs and/or non-x86 architecture then there’s a considerable real baseline price increase, but any old PC can do many server tasks. And a PC built with better-than-average components - good PSU, motherboard that you didn’t buy at an open air market, maybe a 10,000RPM drive - should be just as durable as a purpose-built x86 server.

Once you start talking rackmount, though, you also start talking excitingly pumped-up prices. Maybe you’re paying for a serious support contract, but disturbingly often, you’re not (or the contract you do pay for turns out not to be worth what you pay…).

Server makers also have an annoying tendency to assume you want a “server class” CPU. Now, if you want multiple processors in an x86 server, then you definitely do want a Xeon or Opteron box. But a lot of people buying up-to-two-processor Xeon and Opteron machines with only one chip in them will never add another processor - or will, by the time they do need more speed, be able to buy another single-chip box that’s faster than upgrading their current machine.

Buying a one-chipped two-way box is not a totally crazy idea on its face, given that basic 533MHz and 800MHz-bus Xeons are going for only around four hundred Australian dollars now, for the 2.8GHz versions at least.

In the meantime, though, the substantial premium you pay for a brand name server with one chip may well do your business more harm than the machine’s upgradability will heal.

So let’s say you’re looking for a plain old single-Pentium-4 1U server, or perhaps a dual Xeon box. With two chips. At a reasonable price. What should you buy?

Well, perhaps one of these.

Option A

This is Tyan’s Transport GS12 (model B5103). It’s a 1U Socket 478 machine with all of the features you’d expect, these days - except the price.

The GS12 looks almost as dull as every other suit-and-tie rackmount server. No funky colours, no array of blinkenlights. But you do get a yellow power button. And a two-line LCD display.

The display doesn’t just give you basic status info, like this; it’s a programmable device, permanently connected to a COM port as far as the GS12 mainboard’s concerned. The GS12 comes with driver software for the display for Win2000, XP and 2003, Red Hat, SuSE and Turbo Linux, and FreeBSD; you can use it to display whatever you like. System load, error messages, Winamp playlist…

Actually, if you’re not doing anything else with the display, tying it into some kind of media player could work pretty nicely, seeing as the display’s flanked by four-way cursor buttons, plus a Select and a Cancel button. All controllable via the driver, of course, provided you have something resembling coding ability.

Apart from the display, the only points of interest on the front panel are two USB ports, ideal for impromptu keyboard and mouse connection.

(They’re USB 2.0 ports, of course, so you can plug storage devices in there as well and not have to wait an age for your CD to finish ripping important OS patches to install.)

The Transport line comes with a couple of other server utilities, for the same collection of popular server OSes. There’s a watchdog driver so you can auto-reset the system if it hangs, and an ASF (Alert Standard Format) utility to allow the server to send an SNMP trap if its hardware monitor notices a slow fan or high temperature.

A firewall protects a computer against unauthorized access by hackers, hijackers, nefarious websites and malicious software. All firewalls, except the one integrated into Windows XP, also block threats already on your computer from communicating with the perpetrator or a third party so that hackers can’t gain access to your personal data or computer. Hardware and/or software firewalls are essential components of computer security.Reviewers have not done the best job keeping pace with reviewing software firewalls. Because several companies have merged or gone out of business, many slightly older reviews are no longer relevant. For example, PC Magazine and PCFlank.com (a security site) have excellent reviews, but haven’t reviewed enough current versions of programs to provide a useful basis for comparison. Consumer Reports mentions firewalls in passing in some of its outdated security software articles. Some other reviewers do a better job of keeping pace.

Computer Shopper, InformationWeek and Matousec.com offer very good reviews supported by testing. Reviewers test each firewall program for its ability to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic, including tests for port-scan attacks and leak tests. Firewall Leak Tester doesn’t review products, but tests all major firewall programs with leak tests. A leak test is a malware program that tries to connect to an outside server from a computer to give a hijacker access. Reviewers also try to disable the software, as some malware programs try to do. While features and ease of use are important, technical performance is the most important buying consideration for firewall software.

The sources covered in our report review both commercial and free programs. Commercial programs generally include updates for one year, with automatic updates. Most of the commercial programs have 30-day free trials, but setting up and training a firewall is a time-consuming hassle that few people would want to repeat. You can buy a standalone firewall program or an integrated Internet security suite. Suites also include antivirus software, a spam filter, anti-spyware software and parental controls. They are cheaper to buy than separate programs and most are more convenient to use. However, the consensus of reviewers is that standalone programs are more effective. See our report on Internet security software for more information.

Symantec’s Norton brand is the best known and best selling brand of computer security software, but Norton Personal Firewall 2006 (*est. $45) garners mixed reviews. British magazine Computer Shopper is one of the few sources to recommend the program. It blocked all web-based attacks in their tests. Norton Personal Firewall 2006 produced above average results in Firewall Leak Tester’s leak tests. But other reviewers say Norton Personal Firewall can be frustrating. Serdar Yegulalp of InformationWeek.com says “its desperately sluggish interface makes it a chore to use.”

While the average rating for Norton among professional reviews is in the middle of the pack, people who have tried to use it in the real world reach a much stronger consensus. Amazon.com customers unanimously disparage the product. Installation problems were prevalent, and tech support responded slowly and couldn’t solve problems. Customers also complain about system drag, conflicts with other security software and crashes. Enough customers have reviewed Norton Personal Firewall 2006 to raise a red flag. Symantec has not yet released a 2007 versionA firewall is a barrier between the Internet and your computer. The computer term is named from physical firewalls in buildings or cars that block fire from spreading. A firewall is also analogous to a lock on a door: it prevents those without keys or access codes from entering. Firewalls enforce security policies. These policies or rules are in the form of built-in (usually user-controlled) filters that permit access only to authorized users.

There are two types of firewalls: software firewalls and hardware firewalls (such as those built into routers). Both examine the data that comes from the Internet and into your system. When packets of information enter your computer, the filters examine them for the source of the data and the destination of the data. The firewall does this by comparing this incoming information to the criteria set or established by the filters. If the information passes scrutiny, the information is forwarded on to its destination. Any unacceptable data is deleted or blocked before it reaches your hard drive.

Firewalls can also control the traffic that comes into and out of your computer system. A good firewall is customizable. This means that you can add or remove the filters that you want. With a firewall, you can set up these rules to restrict the information that is allowed to enter your home computer or network. Practically speaking, these rules give you control over what websites people can view or what activities they can perform. Users can grant or deny access to specific sites, and most firewalls have a preapproved list of common, reputable websites, which shortcuts configuration.
Every computer has a unique numerical IP address, which is used to identify your particular computer on the Internet so you can receive e-mail and view websites. A firewall’s filters can hide your computer’s IP address, making your computer invisible to hackers. Your computer uses ports to connect to various services. HTTP (Internet), for example, uses port 80. FTP (file transfer protocol) uses port 21. A firewall can close unused ports to prevent an attacker from entering through an open port. Another firewall filter can block specific domain names. You can also configure the firewall to prevent FTP activity (which allows you to upload or download files to and from the Internet). There are also filters relating to words or phrases, which allow you to block access to sites containing objectionable material.

Software firewalls vs. hardware firewalls

Software firewalls work differently than hardware firewalls, but the two can be used together to create a powerful level of security. Hardware firewalls are devices that sit between the Internet and your computer. If you own a router (wired or wireless), for example, it probably includes a hardware firewall. A main advantage of hardware firewalls is that they use no system resources because they work independently of your computer. They can also protect multiple computers on a network at once. They can be more difficult to customize, especially for beginners, but hardware firewalls are usually effective even without configuration. Since a router has its own IP address, potential hackers can’t see your computer; they can only see the router.

Software firewalls provide some of the best protection against viruses, worms, Trojans and other malicious programs. One disadvantage of software firewalls is that they can slow down system performance, especially if you have an older computer. Software firewalls monitor both incoming and outgoing traffic. A flaw of a software firewall is that it doesn’t totally hide your IP address from the outside world. It closes unused ports and monitors traffic to and from open ports. Radio host Kim Komando recommends a combination of hardware and software firewalls.

If you use your computer mainly for e-mail and casual web surfing, a software firewall is probably all you need. However, if you use your computer for work, store financial information on it, or use online banking, then you should also consider a hardware firewall. If you have a wired or wireless router, it likely already includes a hardware firewall. Wireless routers are covered in our wireless router report.

Windows XP and Vista firewalls

If you use Windows XP or Vista, you are already protected by their included firewalls, but most reviews still say you will likely be safer with a third-party firewall.

Windows XP includes a rudimentary firewall, but it only protects against inbound threats. Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows Vista, includes a more robust firewall that also protects against outbound threats. Microsoft is touting security enhancements as a main reason for upgrading. Most of the reviews we found of Vista are of beta versions in various stages of development. Computer magazines are brimming with excitement and criticism about Vista. In spite of the buzz, no one has tested the performance of the Vista firewall yet or compared it with third-party firewalls. We do cover a couple of good reviews that focus on Vista’s security features and evaluate the look and feel of its firewall.
The Windows XP firewall is turned on by default when you install Service Pack 2 (SP2). SP2 also includes a Security Center that allows you to easily control the Windows firewall, as well as third-party firewalls and antivirus applications you may have running. With SP2 installed, Windows will alert you when updates are available for third-party security applications.

The consensus among reviewers is that the Windows XP SP2 firewall is merely adequate. Reviewers such as PC Magazine’s Neil Rubenking say that several free third-party firewalls are a significant upgrade from the XP firewall. WebUser.co.uk’s Brad Jackson describes the default option as “a workable measure of protection for those who don’t like the setting up and interaction involved in other firewalls, and would otherwise be going unprotected.” Yet, he adds, “However, this is a risky strategy and we’d thoroughly recommend installing one of the more sophisticated firewalls instead.”

Because the XP firewall only monitors inbound threats, Computerworld.com’s Scot Finnie and Preston Gralla say that “If your PC [is] invaded by a Trojan or spyware, those programs would be allowed to make outbound connections unimpeded.” Reviewers say that this is the key reason why they recommend using a third-party firewall. To rely completely on the SP2 firewall, you’d need to be certain that your computer harbors no intruders already, such as previously downloaded programs that might be dialing out. In that case, blocking inbound traffic might be enough.

Other firewalls not only block incoming traffic, but also monitor Internet activity initiated from your computer. This enables them to catch intruders that have been planted in your computer, and are trying to pass personal information and files to a tracker, hacker or hijacker.

At least on paper, the Windows Vista firewall is a big improvement since it monitors outgoing traffic as well as inbound traffic. If you already plan to upgrade to Vista or buy a new computer, you may wish to use a free firewall program in the interim, and wait to learn whether the Vista firewall will be adequate for your needs. It’s also not clear at this time which third-party firewalls will work with Vista. Microsoft says that BlackICE (*est. $40) and Norman Personal Firewall (*est. $30), two programs that performed poorly in reviewers’ tests, aren’t even compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Patrick Marshall of Federal Computer Week (FCW) says of Vista, “The new firewall is more configurable than firewalls in previous versions of Windows, but it still does not match the configurability of most high-end hardware firewalls.” Reviews in FCW and ComputerWorld imply that the Vista firewall interface is complicated to use. We’ll revise our report when more reviews firm up their opinions on the Vista firewall.

Best software firewalls

For a third-party firewall, more experts recommend ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5 (*est. $40) more than any other program. A basic, bare-bones ZoneAlarm firewall is free (http://www.zonelabs.com), but not as robust. The latest version of ZoneAlarm Pro is bundled with anti-spyware software as a bonus. ZoneAlarm Pro includes identity theft protection, spy site blocking, privacy protection, and a new feature called game mode that allows the user to turn off program alerts (like a “do not disturb” sign).

ZoneAlarm Pro is rated as the best software firewall by Personal Computer World and CNet.com. CNet’s Robert Vamosi claims that ZoneAlarm is fast and efficient. Vamosi says, “As new threats emerge, ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5 is able to pass along new firewall rules and, in the case of extremely malicious activity, shut down any program that attempts dangerous activity.” He also likes the interface.

Although Matousec.com isn’t satisfied with any of the firewall programs it tests, the organization concedes that ZoneAlarm is the best of the bunch. It performed very well in most tests. ZoneAlarm Pro ranked in the top three programs tested for leaks by Firewall Leak Tester. Computer Shopper and InformationWeek recommend the free version of ZoneAlarm, which is a very stripped-down version of ZoneAlarm Pro. A review at PC Today says, “Even the free version includes an up-to-date interface and well-thought-out design.” The free version does need a lot of user configuration. After installing ZoneAlarm, you must respond to numerous confirmation popups to teach ZoneAlarm what programs are allowed. ZoneAlarm Pro does a lot of this work for you, with a preapproved list of several thousand highly reputable websites.

ZoneAlarm Pro automatically disables the Windows XP SP2 firewall to prevent conflicts. Technical support is free on the Internet, including chat and a user forum, but phone support costs $2.95 per minute. Only a few ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5 users have posted comments or reviews on websites that invite customer reaction. All the CNet.com readers complain about conflicts with other software, which is a common complaint about other ZoneAlarm products. ZoneAlarm, Norton and McAfee products experience the highest percentages of conflicts, according to owners reporting trouble.

If concern about conflicts or other issues discourages you from considering ZoneAlarm Pro, reviews also recommend Agnitum Outpost Pro. Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0 (*est. $40) is the salutatorian of firewall programs — ranked number two by many review sources. Outpost Firewall Pro produced the second-best results in Firewall Leak Tester’s “outbound application filtering” tests. It is ranked as the second-best program by TopTenReviews.com, Matousec.com and Adware Report.

Outpost Firewall Pro will automatically update itself. It blocks popup windows and unwanted ads in web pages. It protects itself from being disabled or shut down by attacks. Outpost Pro has its own version of ZoneAlarm’s game mode. Computer Shopper asserts that Outpost is very easy to use. Firewall Leak Tester recommends the program based on its technical performance.

Reviewers are mixed about the value of Kerio Personal Firewall 4 (*est. $20). Kerio Technologies used to offer a commercial version for $40 and a stripped-down free version. When Sunbelt acquired Kerio Personal Firewall in December 2005, Sunbelt discontinued the free version and halved the price of the commercial version.

Computer Shopper says Kerio Personal Firewall is the best in its class and an exceptional value as well. The UK magazine says, “With its good range of features, simple interface and a great price, Kerio is our preferred standalone firewall for those on a budget.” Personal Computer World concurs, “Kerio Personal Firewall is a safe bet for those on a budget.” The program produced average results in Firewall Leak Tester’s leak tests.

PCFlank.com’s Andrew Cooper does not recommend the program “because it failed to block some security risks” in his tests. He does like Kerio’s ease of use and features, such as blocking a variety of advertising including popups and pop-behinds. Matousec.com is completely unsatisfied with Kerio’s security capabilities, saying, “Kerio could be classified as an average packet filter with a nice interface, not a personal firewall.”

On the other hand, Computer Shopper says, “The interface is nearly identical to ZoneAlarm’s, but the program is more powerful and has more levels of user control.” You can password-protect the firewall, manage cookies, protect privacy and manually configure security levels. Instead of Kerio Personal Firewall, PC Magazine says you should consider Comodo Personal Firewall (discussed below), a free firewall that outperforms all but the highest-rated paid firewalls.

Sygate Personal Firewall Pro was highly regarded in its time, but Sygate was acquired by Symantec last year. Symantec develops Norton security products. The company has discontinued the highly regarded free version of Sygate, but says it will continued to develop the paid version.

Free software firewalls

For non-business users, free firewalls may give you enough protection, especially if you are using a hardware firewall as well (such as a wireless router). Free firewalls often don’t have as many customizable features, and they can take more work to configure. One of the best-known free firewalls is the free version of ZoneAlarm. In coverage at PC Magazine, editors say ZoneAlarm is a good firewall for those using older Windows operating systems, but overall testers recommend a different free firewall.

PC Magazine designates Comodo Personal Firewall 2.0 (http://www.comodogroup.com) the best free firewall. Neil Rubenking had previously reviewed four free firewall programs, including free versions of ZoneAlarm (since updated) and Kerio (since discontinued), and concludes that Comodo is much better. Rubenking asserts that Comodo “works as well as all but the best for-pay firewalls.” Comodo survived a dozen leak tests. Rubenking enthuses, “It keeps hackers out and tricky unauthorized programs off the Internet, and it resists being terminated.” He also likes Comodo’s “spiffy interface and impressive performance.” Rubenking’s only criticism is one that he says is a problem with most firewalls: users must deal with popups to accept each program on their computer when first opened after installation. Comodo has been upgraded to version 2.3.4 since the PC Magazine review.

We found no other professional reviews of this program, but PC Magazine readers and amateur (but geeky) reviewers on the Tweaks R US website report mixed experiences with the free Comodo firewall. The same types of issues that many people have with commercial security products, such as installation and system drag, are expressed about Comodo. Comodo Personal Firewall aced PC Magazine’s leak tests, but only produced average results in Firewall Leak Tester’s tests, well below ZoneAlarm Pro and Outpost Pro.

Jetico Personal Firewall v.1 (http://www.jetico.com/) is another free firewall. A beta version of version 2.0 is also available. Jetico Personal Firewall lets you choose and edit a predefined security policy or create your own. Remarkably, no commercial program produced better results in Firewall Leak Tester’s leak tests.

At Personal Computer World, reviewer Chris Wiles compares Jetico favorably to the Windows XP firewall. Personal Computer World rates the program 4 stars on a 5-star scale. The rating equals that of two commercial programs, Kerio Personal Firewall and Outpost Personal Firewall Pro, and is only topped by ZoneAlarm Pro. However, in a review at CNetDownload.com, editors say Jetico is too confusing for all but those with experience in Internet security. According to CNet: “How should the average user reply to the prompt svchost.exe is attempting to communicate with the Internet. Should this be permitted? No tutorials exist to guide you through the configuration process either.”

Mac firewalls

Macintosh pundits disagree about the need for security. Apple’s operating systems are structured differently than Windows operating systems and are less vulnerable to attack. Also, since Apple systems represent a minority, they have been less attractive targets for hackers. Mac users running OS X already have a firewall included in the operating system. By default, the Mac firewall closes the most-exploited ports, requiring users to actively enable ports for file sharing, print sharing or personal web hosting. Rebecca Freed, in her article for PC World, writes that the Mac OS X firewall “has some advanced features, including activity logging and a stealth mode. If enabled, the stealth mode makes your Mac invisible to incoming data inquiries, which is essentially the same thing that hardware firewalls do.” Freed notes that users do need to turn on the Mac firewall, which isn’t turned on by default. However, the firewall settings are a little hard to find. You can find them under System Preferences>Internet & Network>Sharing.

SecureMac reviews ContentBarrier (*est. $60), DoorStop Firewall (*est. $50), IPNetSentry (*est. $60), NetBarrier (*est. $70) and Norton Personal Firewall (*est. $60) . Programs are rated on a 5-point scale. DoorStop is only rated 4 (out of 5); the other four programs get the highest rating. As all the programs receive rave reviews, this review isn’t very valuable.

Macworld also reviews Norton Personal Firewall and DoorStop Firewall. Both are rated higher than the integrated Mac OS X firewall, but reviewer Jeffery Battersby seems to believe a third-party firewall is unnecessary. Like the Windows XP firewall, the OS X firewall only protects against inbound threats. Battersby gives little indication that he or Macworld tested the performance of any of these firewalls. Norton Personal Firewall is top-rated, however. It is “simple and effective.”

Several free firewall programs have been developed for Linux. None have been formally reviewed.

Important Considerations: Firewalls

Experts recommend keeping these factors in mind when selecting and using security software:

• If possible, start with a clean computer. If burglars were already in your house, you wouldn’t just install a new lock and then expect to be safe. Similarly, it’s wiser to install a firewall before your computer is already harboring anything nasty. It may take more than one anti-spyware application to catch all the spyware on a computer. See the ConsumerSearch reports on anti-spyware and antivirus software for recommendations.

• Reviews recommend using a (wired or wireless) router with its own firewall as
  the first layer of protection, with the software firewall as the second. This is worth consideration even if you don’t have a network. (See the ConsumerSearch report on wireless routers for details.)

• Though you have security software installed, you must still monitor your Internet behavior. Research before clicking on an ad or download, and don’t open e-mails or attachments that look suspicious. Stay up to date about the latest Internet dangers by browsing computer news sites or subscribing to e-mail alerts. (See the Best Research section below for recommendations.)

• Disable file and printer sharing if you aren’t using this feature.

• When choosing a firewall, be sure to check system requirements. Choose the correct version for your operating system. All work with Windows XP, but some don’t work with older operating systems.

• Update security software regularly. Be sure your software is set to check for updates automatically, preferably at least once a day. Most security software does this automatically.

• After the firewall is installed, test that it’s working properly. Use a testing site like Security Space Desktop Audit (http://www.securityspace.com) or one of the websites listed in the Best Research section below to make certain your firewall is working properly and is configured correctly.

• Turn on auto-updates or regularly check the Microsoft website for security updates and patches to the Windows operating system. It doesn’t take long for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in Windows operating systems, and keeping your system up to date is the best foil. If you’re running Windows XP, be sure to update to Service Pack 2.

>> Firewalls prices

 

Consensus Report

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart. The Consensus Report also appears in the Full Story.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
10	ZoneAlarm Pro (*est. $40)	details
6	Outpost Firewall Pro (*est. $40)	-
5	Kerio Personal Firewall (*est. $20)	-
2	Comodo Free Firewall 2.3.4 (free)	-
1 each	Norton Personal Firewall , ZoneAlarm (free version), Jetico Personal Firewall (free), Norton Personal Firewall (Mac version, *est. $63) , Mac OS X Firewall (included)

* Also see our Comparison Chart.

Reviewers recommend ZoneAlarm Pro over any other software firewall. Many of the same reviewers rate Outpost Firewall Pro as the second-best program. At half the price of the top two programs, Kerio Personal Firewall is specifically recommended by two British computer magazines as the best budget choice. PC Magazine ranks Comodo Free Firewall as the best of the five free firewalls it has reviewed. Computer Shopper rates Norton Personal Firewall 2006 a Best Buy, but other reviews aren’t as positive. Jetico Personal Firewall produced the best results in Firewall Leak Tester’s leak tests, but hasn’t been featured in mainstream reviews.

Advertisement — report continues below

 

Alternative Considerations

If you want to avoid installing a software firewall, there are some options. Most reviews say you could get by with the one-way firewalls included with Windows XP and Max OS X, especially if you don’t use your computer to store banking and financial information, or other sensitive personal information. Windows Vista includes a two-way firewall that has not yet been subjected to full reviews or extensive tests. Early reviews suggest that existing third-party firewalls are still better than Microsoft’s new offering, but for many home users, the Vista firewall may be fine.

If you need other security software as well as a firewall, Internet security suites include firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and parental-control components. See the ConsumerSearch report on Internet security software . The top-rated firewall program, ZoneAlarm Pro, includes anti-spyware software.

A wired or wireless router with an integrated firewall is an excellent first line of defense. Routers can be complicated to configure, but experts note that they provide good protection even with no configuration. They won’t tax your system’s resources at all, and most experts say they are more effective than software firewalls. If you need to protect a network of small business computers, experts recommend a dedicated hardware firewall.

Experts who address the subject say that a software firewall in tandem with a router provides the best protection for a home user or home network.

Best Research

The National Cyber Security Alliance offers tips for online security: http://www.staysafeonline.info/

An October 2004 article at PC Magazine, “You Need a (Properly Configured) Firewall,” offers a simple explanation of firewalls. This article also suggests an approach that simplifies setting up a newly installed firewall, a process that can be confusing: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1647698,00.asp

It can be confusing when a firewall asks permission to let a program on your computer access the Internet. Windows has many tasks running in the background whose names are not likely to be familiar. You can look up information about such tasks to find out if they are “good guys” or invaders: http://answersthatwork.com/

PCStats.com offers a Beginners Guide: Firewalls and Internet Security for those wanting to learn about firewalls: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1450

Solutions Review has a tutorial on setting up ZoneAlarm Pro: http://www.solutionsreview.com/ZoneAlarm_Pro_Setup.htm

ZDNet offers guidelines for securing a wireless network: http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4520-7297_16-5540710.html

You can test your system’s security at any of these sites:

Shields Up – www.grc.com/x/ ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

PC Flank – http://www.pcflank.com/about.htm

Audit My PC – http://www.auditmypc.com

Security Space – http://www.securityspace.com. A basic audit or a single test is free.

HackerWhacker – http://hackerwhacker.com. The first test is free.

Staying up to date:

PC Magazine has a weekly online newsletter called Security Watch: http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1738,1356337,00.asp

Home PC Firewall Guide has a list of the newest titles and improvements. This is a detailed online guide to personal firewall software. You can find tips on how to make your computer more secure, including information on firewalls and antivirus software: http://www.firewallguide.com

Shields Up! offers in-depth analysis of the potential dangers to your system. Software developer and security expert Steve Gibson outlines what the dangers are and how to combat them: https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

AntiOnline has anti-hacking and antivirus news and advice: http://www.AntiOnline.com

These sites and articles can help you learn more about firewalls and how to use them:

HowStuffWorks explains “How Firewalls Work” – http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm

Internet Firewalls: Frequently Asked Questions – http://www.interhack.net/pubs/fwfaq/

Global firewalls “outbound application filtering” ranking – http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php

Firewalls FAQ – http://www.faqs.org/faqs/firewalls-faq/

Macworld article, “Protect your Mac: 18 ways to safeguard your data and your privacy right now” (June 19, 2006) – http://www.macworld.com/2006/06/features/protectmac/index.php

Vicomsoft offers a comprehensive explanation of what firewalls do and how they work called “Firewall Q&A” – http://www.vicomsoft.com/knowledge/reference/firewalls1.html

Software developers’ websites:

Agnitum Outpost – http://www.agnitum.com/

Comodo – http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Jetico – http://www.jetico.com/

Netbarrier (for Mac) – http://www.intego.com/netbarrier/

Norton – http://www.symantec.com/

Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall – http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm

ZoneAlarm – http://www.zonelabs.com/

Traditionally Gateway hasn’t been as lauded as Sony or Apple for its computer designs, but that may change with the introduction of the company’s new T series laptops, which feature a slender case and an attractive, glossy finish that’s available in three color choices. What you find within the case, though, is classic Gateway: configurable systems with options that range from the downright cheap to the moderately priced. Our T-6815 review unit is the former. Priced at $899, it includes all the features a typical home user will need, and like most budget-oriented laptops built with previous-generation Core 2 Duo processors, the T-6815 offers just enough oomph for light productivity work, e-mail, and Web surfing. Home users seeking a low-price laptop for basic use will find what they’re looking for–plus a snazzy, expensive-looking design–in the Gateway T-6815.

Price as reviewed/starting price

$899/$899

Although it’s not rugged, the Gateway T6815 feels well constructed and ready to withstand minor bumps and knocks. Though it falls toward the heavier end of thin-and-light laptops, it’s light enough to tote to the local coffee shop or on the occasional trip and is much lighter than Gateway’s previous 14-inch laptop, the E-265M. While the E-265M featured an unremarkable, matte-black case, the T-6815’s case features three color choices–red, blue, and slate–with a glossy, subtly patterned finish. (Virgos and other finicky users should note that the glossy finish is more prone to fingerprint smudges than traditional plastic cases.) The end result of the case redesign is that the T-6815 looks more expensive than it is.

Lift the T-6815’s slim lid and you’ll find a 14.1-inch wide-screen display with a fairly typical native resolution of 1,280×800. The screen on our review unit included a high-gloss coating that helped videos look great, although reflections proved distracting when we tried to work on a Word document in a sun-filled room. Unfortunately at this point, there is no option for a matte-finish screen. In the display bezel sits a 1.3-megapixel Webcam with built-in microphone for video chats.

We were surprised to find that Gateway’s flashy redesign did not extend to the T-6815’s keyboard. Though it’s framed by a thin border of brushed aluminum, the keyboard itself looks a bit too outdated to live in such a futuristic case. But there’s nothing functionally wrong with it; typing is comfortable, all the keys are full size, and there’s no flex to the board. We like the T-6815’s roomy touch pad, which is responsive and provides just the right amount of resistance, and its ample-size mouse buttons. Above the keyboard sit two stereo speakers that produce adequate, but not mind-blowing, sound. There’s also a button to launch Windows Media Center, a row of keys to control disc playback that are cut into the brushed aluminum, and a touch-sensitive slider to control volume. Handy but unobtrusive port labels on the keyboard deck let you know where to plug in peripherals.

Gateway T-6815

Average for thin-and-light category

Given its low price, we weren’t surprised to find a fairly average selection of ports and connections on the Gateway T-6815, though it does lack the mini-FireWire jack found on most home-oriented laptops, such as the Dell XPS M1330. We appreciate the inclusion of an ExpressCard slot, which should make it easy to add a TV tuner or mobile broadband as needed.

The Gateway T-6815 includes multiple elements from Intel’s latest Centrino Duo platform (code-named Santa Rosa), including integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics and the Intel GM965 chipset. But its previous-generation 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo T5250 processor and 1GB of RAM kept the Gateway T-6815 from triumphing on CNET Labs’ mobile benchmark tests. The T-6815 ranked significantly behind laptops with current-generation processors, including the $1,698 Dell Inspiron 1420 and the $1,199 Enpower ENP660. Nevertheless, the T-6815 is speedy enough for the casual productivity programs, media playback, and Web surfing that constitute most home computer use. And it’s worth noting the Gateway’s spacious 160GB hard drive, which is larger than expected in a budget system and can hold a large library of photos, music, and videos.

The Gateway T-6815 uses a common six-cell battery and turned in an average score of 1 hour, 55 minutes on our demanding DVD battery drain test. You can expect longer life during typical use, but we would have liked to see the T-6815 hold out for at least two hours. By comparison, the Enpower ENP660 lasted just 15 minutes longer than the Gateway, while the Dell Inspiron 1420’s nine-cell extended battery provided about 3.5 hours of run time. For the power hungry, Gateway offers the option of a larger, extended-capacity battery for $50.

The Gateway T-6815’s budget price tag includes an industry standard one-year warranty with parts-and-labor coverage and return-to-depot service. For a reasonable $150, you can upgrade to three years of coverage. Gateway offers 24-7 toll-free technical support during the warranty period; the company’s support Web site includes the expected driver downloads and FAQs, as well as the opportunity to send e-mail to a technician. Every T series laptop also comes preloaded with Gateway’s BigFix diagnostic software.

Find out more about how we test laptops.

 

Multimedia multitasking test
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In seconds

 

Dell Inspiron 1420

900

Toshiba Tecra A6-EZ6411

1,123

Enpower ENP660

1,156

Gateway T-6815

1,368

 

Adobe Photoshop CS2 image-processing test
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In seconds

 

Dell Inspiron 1420

269

Toshiba Tecra A6-EZ6411

432

Enpower ENP660

490

Gateway T-6815

665

 

Apple iTunes encoding test
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In seconds

 

Dell Inspiron 1420

195

Toshiba Tecra A6-EZ6411

227

Enpower ENP660

229

Gateway T-6815

273

 

DVD battery drain test
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

In minutes

 

Dell Inspiron 1420

209

Enpower ENP660

132

Gateway T-6815

115

Toshiba Tecra A6-EZ6411

110

System configurations:

Dell Inspiron 1420
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Enpower ENP660
Windows Vista Home Premium; 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Mobile Intel 965GM; 120GB Western Digital 5,400rpm

Gateway T-6815
Windows Vista Home Premium; 1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Toshiba Tecra A6-EZ6411
Windows Vista Business; 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5600; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Nvidia Quadro NVS110M; 80GB Hitachi 5,400rpm Serial ATA/150

A lot of people have been waiting for this, and the day has finally arrived. Today, AT&T and Research In Motion officially released the RIM BlackBerry 8820, the first BlackBerry to offer integrated Wi-Fi. The 8820 supports 802.11a/b/g standards and is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols, giving users another avenue to connect to the Web–a good thing since the device shows no love for 3G just yet. It also continues to offer Bluetooth and GPS support like its older sibling, the RIM BlackBerry 8800, as well as push e-mail and multimedia. It’s a device built with the business user in mind and definitely won’t have the mass appeal of a BlackBerry Pearl or BlackBerry Curve. There’s not even a camera option. That said, for the intended audience the 8820 will certainly deliver the goods and performance. The RIM BlackBerry 8820 will be available starting on September 20 for $299.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.

Design
The RIM BlackBerry 8820 shares a very similar, if not identical, look and feel to the BlackBerry 8800. It sports a classic but sleek all-black casing and measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighs 4.7 ounces. It’s not the quite the compact package of a BlackBerry Curve and as we noted in the 8800 review, the handset is pretty wide, making it slightly uncomfortable to hold when held up to the ear during phone calls. Still, it’s slim enough to slip into a pants pocket or bag.

The RIM BlackBerry 8820 (left) next to the trimmer BlackBerry Curve.

The BlackBerry 8820 sports a 2.5-inch screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 320×240 pixel resolution. Text and images are clear and vibrant, and the screen also features light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting of the screen, as well as the keyboard and trackball, depending on whether you’re indoors or outdoors. We found that this function works well, and we had no problems reading the display under harsh lighting. As with most BlackBerrys, you can adjust the menu style, background image, and theme of the home screen.

The navigation array and full QWERTY keyboard remain unchanged from the BlackBerry 8800. Just below the display you have Talk and End keys, Menu and Escape buttons, and a trackball navigator. These controls are easy to use, but the keyboard may give some users pause. There isn’t much space between the keys and though the buttons are pretty large and have a raised ridge to make them more tactile, we found the lacquered finish made the buttons slippery.

The BlackBerry 8820 features the same keyboard found on its older sibling, the BlackBerry 8800. Though the buttons are large, they’re a bit slippery and lack spacing in between.

There are volume up and down keys on the right spine, while on the left side, you will find a 2.5-millimeter headset jack, a mini USB port, and a convenience key which, by default, launches AT&T’s push-to-talk (PTT) services. There is a microSD expansion slot, but unfortunately, it’s located behind the battery, so you’ll have to take off the back cover every time you want to access it. Finally, the power and mute buttons are on the top of the unit.

Considering it to be a business-centric device, RIM decided not to include a camera on the BlackBerry 8820. This will be a joy to those who work in corporate environments that ban the use of camera phones. And while we certainly appreciate this precaution and understand it’s a growing trend among businesses (for security reasons), we still would have liked the option of having a model with a camera. Without one, we think it’ll be a disappointment to many potential buyers, especially since this is the first BlackBerry to offer Wi-Fi.

The RIM BlackBerry 8820 comes packaged with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a leather belt holster, a wired headset, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.

Features
Obviously, the biggest news here is the integrated Wi-Fi, as the RIM BlackBerry 8820 is the first BlackBerry to offer this option. It supports 802.11a/b/g, whether you’re using your home or corporate network or hopping onto a Wi-Fi hot spot. There are enterprise security features, including WEP, WPA, and VPN settings. Our review unit was able to detect our test access point immediately, and we had no problem connecting to it or the Web.

The 8820 is the first BlackBerry to offer integrated Wi-Fi.

Other wireless options include Bluetooth 2.0 with support for wireless headsets, hands-free kits, dial-up networking, and A2DP for stereo Bluetooth headsets. Disappointingly, the BlackBerry 8820 doesn’t work on AT&T’s 3G network, so you’ll have to settle for EDGE speeds. For easy access, there’s a Manage Connections menu option where you can turn on and off all the various radios.

On a brighter note, we’re happy to see that the smart phone continues to offer integrated GPS like the BlackBerry 8800 does. With the built-in radio, you can use a location-based service, such as AT&T’s TeleNav GPS Navigator, and you can get color maps and text- and voice-guided driving directions, and points of interest right on the device. Just be aware that if you choose TeleNav GPS Navigator, this is an add-on service from AT&T that will cost $9.99 per month for unlimited trips or $5.99 for up to 10 trips; check out our full review of TeleNav for more information.

As far as other voice features, the RIM BlackBerry 8820 offers a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial, and world roaming. The phone book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), offering room in each entry for eight phone numbers, e-mail addresses, work and home address, job title, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a photo to a contact as well to a group category, business or personal. Another AT&T-specific offering is push-to-talk capabilities. Plans start at $9.99 per month, and with it, you can instantly see the availability of your contacts before calling them and make individual or group PTT calls.

Of course, we cannot forget what makes BlackBerrys famous in the first place: e-mail. The RIM BlackBerry 8820 offers the famed push technology and can sync with your company’s BlackBerry Enterprise server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time. All in all, the device can support up to 10 accounts, including POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts, and there is an e-mail wizard on the device to guide you through the setup process. An attachment viewer is also onboard to open popular file formats, such as those from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Corel WordPerfect, as well as PDFs, JPEGs, GIFs, and more. Other messaging options include text, multimedia, and instant messaging, although the IMs are once again limited to the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger client. The BlackBerry 8820 includes a number of PIM tools for the business users, including a calendar, a tasks list, a memo pad, an alarm, and a calculator.

For fun, the BlackBerry 8820 has a media player that works with MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, and MIDI music files and MPEG4, WMV, and H.263 video formats. The music player is pretty basic. Aside from standard stop and play functions, you can create playlists as “folders” and shuffle and repeat songs within a certain folder. It also displays some track information, such as title, artist, and album art if available. You can continue to play music as you use the device’s other programs, and if you happen to get an incoming call, the BlackBerry 8820 will pause the music and pick up where you left off after you hang up. The BlackBerry 8820 also works with AT&T Mobile Music, so you can listen to your songs and watch music videos, shop for music, listen to XM satellite radio, identify songs, and more. The XM access and Music ID services require a monthly subscription of $8.99 and $3.99, respectively.

Save all your large multimedia files on a microSD card. Just be aware that it’s a pain to access the 8820’s expansion slot since it’s behind the battery cover.

For videos, the player has play and stop buttons, and you can fast-forward and rewind clips by clicking the trackball and scrolling right or left. There’s also an image viewer, so you can check out your favorite photos. Just remember there’s no camera on the 8820, so you’ll have so you’ll have to get your images onto your device another way: via USB, multimedia message, etc. There’s about 64MB of flash memory available, but we suggest using a microSD card to store large media files.

Performance
We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) RIM BlackBerry 8820 in San Francisco using AT&T service, and call quality was generally good. We noticed a slight background hiss on our end, but it didn’t prevent us from carrying on a conversation, as voices still sounded loud and clear. We were also able to interact with our bank’s automated voice response system. Meanwhile, our friends said we sounded slightly tinny, but it was nothing so distracting that they couldn’t continue with the call. Activating the speakerphone actually yielded mixed results. Our callers said we sounded better and even more clear, but we found the volume to be a bit weak and had to adjust the audio to the highest setting. On the upside, we had no problems pairing the BlackBerry 8820 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.

General performance was decent. We didn’t experience any long delays when working with the device. Music playback sounded OK through the phone’s speakers, but again, volume was slightly weak, and pumping up the volume would just blow out the sound. Video performance was quite good and offered clear image quality, although there was some pixelation during action sequences, as is to be expected. As we noted earlier, we had no problems connecting to our Wi-Fi access point, and we enjoyed speedy Web browsing. We were also able to surf the Net via AT&T’s EDGE network, but the slower data speeds tested our patience.

The RIM BlackBerry 8820 is rated for 5 hours of talk time and up to 22 days of standby time. In our battery drain tests, we were able to get 7 hours of talk time on a single charge. According to FCC radiation tests, the 8820 has a digital SAR rating of 1.16 watts per kilogram.

Apple’s latest iMac is not the first all-in-one desktop with a glossy screen, an ultra-thin keyboard and a trim profile. But unlike Sony’s, HP’s and others’ all-in-one efforts, no other vendor comes close to Apple’s near-seamless aesthetic. And as the new iMac design impresses visually, so do its features and overall performance compete against other similarly priced desktops.

This fourth-generation iMac comes in four versions–two 20-inch models and two 24-inch models. We looked at the 2.4GHz, 20-inch version, which costs for S$2,488 (US$1,636.92) for the default configuration.

Design
The cosmetic updates to the iMac make a significant impact on the overall appeal of this desktop. The brushed-aluminum, glass and black plastic chassis sets the iMac apart visually from any other desktop on the market. Apple even went so far as to include a black chamois cloth in the box to wipe off fingerprints from the glossy exterior. We found the system gets very hot to the touch after using it for only a few minutes, so you’d be smart to store it in a well-ventilated area.

Alongside the new chassis, Apple has also updated the design of its bundled keyboard. We received the wired model, which comes with a USB input on either side.

Tethered or no, the new keyboard shines for its combination of hyperminimalized design and solid build quality. When we saw the first pictures of the keyboard, we thought it wouldn’t be substantial enough to stay in place while you typed on it. But due to either the aluminum case or the extra weight added internally, we had no trouble with the keyboard sliding around.

Among the typical array of rear-side ports, the iMac’s FireWire 800 input gives you a nice boost to external data transfers.

The MacBook Pro-style key mechanics also have a smooth response that makes it a pleasure to type on. Our only complaint is that the hot keys sit on the top edge, rather than along the sides. We’ve found the latter design provides easier access, although the included Apple Remote gives you the long-distance control capability to make up for it.

The rest of the new design tweaks to the iMac are minor. Apple went to extra effort to hide the built-in iSight video camera and microphone, to the point where the tiny pinpricks on the top edge that reveal the microphone are barely noticeable. We can’t say we found the original design that obtrusive. We’re sad to see that the new model has no power indicator light, though. We found the softly pulsing white LED underneath the skin of the old iMac comforting as it kept its steady beat.

Features
Apple sent us its 20-inch widescreen iMac with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 mobile processor. It also doubled the default memory to 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM, bringing our review model’s price to S$2,744.18 (US$1,805.96), up from the standard S$2,488 (US$1,636.92) for the 2.4GHz model. Our review unit also included a 320GB hard drive, Apple’s SuperDrive dual-layer DVD burner, a new wide-bandwidth 802.11n wireless adapter, a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics chip, and wired versions of the Apple Mighty Mouse and the brand-new thin Apple keyboard.

Apple still doesn’t offer an HD optical drive, although we can’t say we’re all that surprised. Overall, its specs are fairly up-to-date. Be wary of customizing further, as Apple charges more for hard drive and memory upgrades than the industry averages.

At least as far as the internal hardware, the iMac hasn’t changed that much. The new CPU and graphics card are only generational updates, but they help Apple bring strong performance.

The biggest improvement, specs-wise, is in the iMac’s new 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter. 802.11n gives you roughly twice the range and between two and three times as much practical data bandwidth as the older 802.11a, b or g standards. Of course, you’ll need a compatible wireless router to get the benefits of 802.11n, and because the Draft-N standard hasn’t been completely standardized yet (which is why you’ll see it referred to as Draft-N), your best bet is an N router from the same manufacturer as your N Wi-Fi adapter.

The new iMac keyboard is an outstanding example of Apple’s trademark industrial design.

Fortunately, Apple has just updated its Airport Express router to the N standard. For our own testing, we successfully connected the iMac to an older 802.11b router, but your mileage may vary, depending on the make and model of your networking hardware. If you spec out a system from any other PC vendor, the price will be similar to a comparable iMac. But, of all the major computer vendors, only Apple offers Draft-N wireless in a desktop.

In addition to 802.11n wireless, Apple also increased the bandwidth of wired data transfers–as well as the usual FireWire 400 connection, there’s now also a FireWire 800 port on the back of the unit. No Windows PC offers this, either. FireWire 800 should particularly benefit digital video editors who need to transfer HD movies via a digital camcorder–or really, anyone who needs to move large amounts of data from an external device. FireWire 800 was formerly an exclusive to Apple’s Mac Pro, but by bringing it to the iMac, Apple makes its mainstream desktop even friendlier to professional customers.

Apple has also included its new iLife 08 media software suite, which gives you all manner of tools for organizing and editing digital photos and videos.

Performance
Now that the Intel-compatible Mac version of Photoshop CS3 is out, Apple can compete on a level playing field with Windows desktops. And as expected, the new iMac dominates on Photoshop and on multimedia multitasking, and it also does very well on iTunes and CineBench, the latter as much a measure of overall multicore processing power as it is an indicator of a system’s ability to process movie files. Compared with a wide range of competing mainstream desktops, the new Apple iMac more than holds its own, with one typical exception: Gaming.

 

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Rendering multiple CPUs

Rendering single CPU

 

HP Pavilion Media Center TV m8120n

1241

400

Apple iMac

754

400

Dell Inspiron 531

654

354

Sony VAIO TP1 Living Room PC

546

299

Despite its new ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics chip, the iMac still isn’t very well-suited to playing 3D games. On our Quake 4 test, at a forgiving 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution, the iMac turned in an only marginally acceptable 39 frames per second (fps). We were surprised by that since Quake 4 sits on the tail end of what we consider current 3D games.

Comparable Windows PCs from Dell and Velocity Micro perform much better. You should be able to play less advanced 3D games on the iMac, but we’re still disappointed that Apple doesn’t want to take gaming seriously.

 

Quake 4 performance (in frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

1,024 x 768 (4x AA, 8x AF)

 

Dell Inspiron 531

69.5

Apple iMac

39.2

HP Pavilion Media Center TV m8120n

15.5

We have reservations about the iMac’s operating system. Our biggest complaint with this new system is that even though Apple’s new Leopard operating system is only two months away, Apple hasn’t offered any information about its upgrade plans. We find that oversight irksome and inconsiderate, especially since in the past,major operating system updates have cost extra cash. As much as we like this system, we think you’d be smart to wait until October to buy one, when the new OS would presumably be included at no extra cost.

Service And Support
Our other gripe, that Apple’s support is lacklustre, is far from news. That you get only 90 days of phone support with an Apple always feels like a slap in the face when we read it. At least the year-long warranty for parts and labor meets the industry standard. Apple’s user community has also proven itself a useful resource, and you can find tons of helpful troubleshooting tips on Apple’s forum.

Aside from those relatively minor concerns, Apple’s new iMac is the most complete and most attractive mainstream desktop on the market, all-in-one or otherwise.

If you are looking for a compact Windows Mobile PDA-phone, chances are you would have considered both the O2 Xda Atom Life and Dopod D810 at some point. Both these handhelds are armed to the teeth with features and yet manage to maintain their svelte form factors.

The Dopod D810 has recently been replaced by the HTC P3600i. There is no external change in this upgrade, but the newer model comes with more internal flash memory and a faster processor. So, even though the HTC is much newer, it is essentially the same handheld with a few tweaks. Because of that, it doesn’t become an obvious choice over the Atom Life because there is no great leap in features. Their prices are also quite similar, another important factor when buying a new handheld.

So, in the interest of those making a choice between these two hot PDA-phones, the Atom Life and P3600i, we have put them in the ring for a fight to the death. Okay, not quite to the death, perhaps to the point where noses are bloody, just before permanent brain damage.

About the judges

Senior writer Damian Koh doesn’t understand what the hype about the Apple iPhone is about, but heck, if it looks good, it must be good. And he continues to dream of a day when handhelds are actually capable of taking pictures with decent image quality.

Senior writer John Chan loves QWERTY keyboards because he claims having one makes typing messages faster. It’s really because his handwriting stinks so much that recognition technology is useless in his hands.

This article is by no means exhaustive and is only a quick comparison of the O2 Xda Atom Life and HTC P3600i. To find out more about the PDA-phones, check out the full reviews of each device on the CNET Asia site.

 

 

Round 1: Style factor

Their features may shout power user, but no one wants to carry something ugly around. For something as personal as a PDA-phone, style is still king. Our individual judges’ ratings are based on a 0-to-5 point scale, which results in a final score of 0 to 10 per round.

	4 The Atom Life wins by a slight margin here with its choice of piano black and silver finish. When everything is in one color, it’s all dull and unappealing. Next!	3 Side-by-side, the P3600i gives the impression of “hey, I’m a serious user, don’t mess with me” kind of feeling. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just the Atom catches our eye more.
	4 O2 got the formula right here. Sophistication without being dull. The strip of silver may just be painted on, but it breaks up the monotony of a single shade.	3 It’s black, it’s glossy, it’s utilitarian. Black and gray will do the job for those in suits, but we suspect many others will feel the need to further decorate their P3600i.
Total	8	6

Round 2: Design

Sometimes, pretty shells can be pretty empty. Beyond the looks factor, we need to consider a product’s ergonomics, weight and durability.

	3 Both the Atom Life and the P3600i have glossy surfaces, so fingerprints are what one has to live with. There are two problems with the Atom. One, the buttons on the side don’t respond too well to key presses and, two, the silver paint on the stylus has a tendency to chip over time.	3 The P3600i has a slightly more curvaceous body, which may work for some but not for others. Overall, it is also slightly larger than the Atom Life. The placement of buttons is also well-thought-out and I like the scroll wheel which comes in handy for one-hand operations.
	3 The Atom Life is marginally lighter and thinner than its competitor. It has fewer shortcut buttons around the sides, but the directional pad fulfils the secondary task of controlling media.	4 The rounded-ness of the P3600i gives it a slightly pudgier look, though it isn’t much larger or heavier than the Atom Life. The greatest advantage it does have is the scroll wheel for volume control and navigation found on its left side.
Total	6	7

Round 3: Usability

Let’s face it, these are two Windows Mobile devices, and those aren’t famed for user-friendliness. But what manufacturers can do is to provide addons and improvements to their interfaces so you can do simple stuff more easily. Positive hardware aspects like a great screen and proper stylus will also get a thumbs-ups from us.

	4 The LCD screen of the Atom Life (2.7-inch) is marginally smaller than the one on the P3600i (2.8-inch), but the handheld makes up for it with a longer stylus that’s easier to hold. O2 also provides several nifty programs for the user. The MediaPlus program is one I find very useful to access multimedia files. There’s also a hardware key mapped to the application.	3 The short stylus of the P3600i was a pain to use for longer periods of time. What I like is the jog dial and OK key on the side, which make it easy to navigate the phone with one hand. Although the softkeys on this HTC are larger, it has relegated the speakers to the rear and that could possibly muffle audio when the device is lying on its back.
	4 The modified Today screen here is quite appealing. With one look, you get vital information immediately, including which wireless options are active and battery life. The profiles addon also makes it easy to switch to different sound modes quickly so you don’t get embarrassed during an important meeting. That aside, O2 has also provided a host of other applications to make life easier for the user.	3 Though the Today screen looks pretty normal, it does have the HTCHomeplug addon, which gives quick access to vital settings. There is also a Task Manager application which makes closing running programs quicker for better memory management.
Total	8	6

Round 4: Features

More, more, more! Give us those features, and we’ll fork out the cash. ‘Nuff said.

	4 Although both handhelds support miniSD flash memory, the Atom Life is two up on the P3600i with 1GB of onboard ROM compared with the latter’s measly 256MB and also support for FM radio.	4 At one glance, it may seem like the P3600i is going to kick arse in terms of features, but it does lose out in certain aspects such as the lack of a 3.5/2.5mm dedicated audio jack and onboard camera flash. Its quadband GSM radio, triband HSDPA and onboard GPS, however, would appeal to globe trekkers.
	4 So it does have more built-in memory, but given how cheap miniSD cards are these days, it’s a tiny consideration. The Atom Life does have that FM radio for those who still ply the waves for music.	5 The HTC packs it in where it matters. It has quadband GSM and triband UMTS, features that frequent fliers will appreciate. These same globetrotters will also love the fact that it has GPS built-in, so it’s just a matter of buying the right maps for the right city when traveling.
Total	8	9

Round 5: Performance

It’s the last thing we look at, but it’s a potential veto factor. No one wants a phone that looks good but can’t hold a decent voice or video call. Battery life is also a big deal, so let’s see how these two contenders match up.

	4 The Atom Life feels marginally snappier and more responsive than the P3600i. That’s probably due to its faster processor, though the difference wasn’t significant. In terms of battery capacity, the Atom also has a slight advantage with a 1,530mAh cell compared with the P3600i’s 1,500mAh battery.	3 So the P3600i cannot match up in terms of processor speed and battery capacity, but what’s interesting is it has a longer rated talktime of up to 5 hours (4 hours on the Atom) and maximum standby of 250 hours (200 hours on the Atom). Interesting, isn’t it? In terms of voice and video calls, both handhelds performed decently, so no grouses there.
	3 624MHz is about as fast as it gets on such handhelds. The Atom Life holds out well in performance and battery life. Don’t belittle its tiny form factor, it can be quite a workhorse.	4 While it is numerically slower than the Atom Life with a 500MHz chip, I actually found the HTC to be more responsive when multitasking. It’s not always about the clock speed, it seems. The battery rating is also longer perhaps because the processor is more efficient, a big plus for those with heavy phone usage.
Total	7	7

The winner is…

Total points
O2 Xda Atom Life: 37
HTC P3600i: 35

Winner: O2 Xda Atom Life!

It’s just a slight margin, but the older O2 Xda Atom Life finished this fight as the champion. It scored high in the style and user experience factors, overshadowing the HTC P3600i’s edge of having a comprehensive set of features. The two handhelds are available throughout Asia Pacifc and have similar prices. Before you balk at their retail stickers, note that they are available for much less with operator discounts. Check with your local stores for details.

Check out the individual reviews to find out more about the two phones.