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If you want to give a gift that people will look at for years, consider a bigger computer monitor.
   technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

Cheapskate's Buying Guide: Always look for USB peripherals for a modern Windows PC or Mac


Nov. 26, 2000

This is the second installment of the annual Cheapskate's Buying Guide.
   
By Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©2000, Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©2000, The Syracuse Newspapers

   If you're shopping for a printer, a mouse or any other computer accessory this holiday season, I've got good news: It's harder than ever to make the wrong choice this year. Computer peripherals are better than ever.
   They even hook up more sensibly. If you're shopping for someone who has a modern Windows PC or a recent Apple Macintosh, your task is even easier. Late-model PCs and Macintoshes use a new method of hooking up things such as printers, scanners and external drives. It's called USB (Universal Serial Bus), and you should always choose the USB version of any accessory (called a "peripheral" in computer jargon) if possible.
   If you're not sure whether your lucky recipient has a USB-equipped computer, find out the make and model (be sneaky about this -- don't let Santa's intentions become public!) and call a store that sells that brand and ask if it has USB. You won't have to check at all if you're sure the computer was made in the last two years.
   If all else fails, try asking directly. Try something like, "Harry, somebody at the office was asking me what I thought about USB. Do you have USB on your computer?"
   USB is better for PCs because it eliminates the old PC problem of running out of IRQs (in the jargon of computers, "Interrupt ReQuests"). You can hook up dozens and dozens of devices without using more than one IRQ. It's better on Macs because it standardizes the way everything attaches. At last, Windows PCs and Macs can use the same peripherals. All they need is their own software programs to work with them. (The software comes with the products and can be updated on the Web.)
   A great gift for Windows users is a USB mouse. Microsoft makes some of the best computer mice, and the latest ones include models that don't use any moving parts. That means they can't get gummed up and yucky. They even work with older Windows PCs (ones without USB connections) because they come with a dual connector. Choose the standard-looking one, instead of the fancy one with a zillion buttons. Your lucky recipient probably won't need the extra buttons.
   A new color printer is a great choice if your recipient is still doing the old clackity-clack on a black-and-white printer. My favorites are the latest models from Lexmark. They work on Windows PCs, Macintoshes and (get this, Linux fans!) even Linux PCs. (Linux users need to go to the Lexmark Web site and download the latest drivers.)
   Lexmark's Z52 is a good choice. It's fast and produces phenomenal photo-quality color prints along with great brochure-quality normal prints. You can find Lexmark printers under the Lexmark name, of course, but they're also sold under the Samsung, Kodak and Compaq brands. Other good brands include Epson, Canon and Hewlett Packard.
   Don't forget USB when you choose a printer. When I tested a Lexmark Z52, I was encouraged by the dual connections (both USB and the old kind, called a parallel connection). That way, the printer will work on any PC or Macintosh.
   Looking for a scanner? USB is the way to go, whenever possible. My personal scanner is a Visioneer PaperPort, and it does an outstanding job. The current model of the one my wife and I own is the Visioneer 6100 USB. As impressive as the scanner is, I'm even more amazed by the image-editing software that comes with Visioneer scanners. One huge plus: I've tried literally dozens of image-enhancing programs, but only the Visioneer PaperPort software can handle immense files without choking up. Even our smallest PC with only 48 megabytes of memory is able to edit images twice that size using the Visioneer software.
   If your recipient already has "everything" (scanner, color printer, digital camera and so on), splurge a little and give some photo-quality inkjet paper. Kodak makes great glossy photo paper, but be sure to get the kind that says "Kodak Inkjet Photo Paper" on the box. I was not impressed with the cheaper Kodak papers. Open up the the box and check the paper. The one I'm recommending has the word "Kodak" written all over the back of each sheet.
   Another good brand of photo-quality inkjet paper is HP Premium Plus Photo Paper Glossy from Hewlett Packard. It's as good as the Kodak paper in most ways.
   If you want to give a gift that people will look at for years, consider a bigger computer monitor. Buy a 17-inch monitor for those who are still laboring in front of 15-inch displays, or go all the way and choose a 21-inch monitor. Philips makes my choice of 17-inch monitors (I use one at the office), and NEC makes some of the best 21-inch monitors. A caution: Sony monitors and some others (some Hitachi and Mitsubishi models, for example) use a vertical grating behind the screen instead of a standard grid, and this makes words and letters look "striped." The effect bothers me and many others, so check it yourself before choosing a Sony.