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In the Internet, Richard Bangs has discovered a high-tech tool that helps people get to low-tech places. Bangs, co-founder of Mountain Travel-Sobek, an adventure travel company in El Cerrito, Calif., […]

Millions of people, and thousands of businesses, are racing to take advantage of a new electronic medium called the World Wide Web. Simply put, the Web is a system for […]

The World Wide Web is the fastest-growing segment of the Internet, which in turn is the fastest-growing communications medium the planet has ever seen. Unlike most of the over-hyped information […]

Recommends and describes the best consumer products and services that are not new. Monogrammed shirts; Hotel Bel-Air; Alcoholic beverages, including the bee's knees, brass monkey, and dubonnet cocktail; Phone rings; Ice-cream sandwiches; Photo booths; Rolodexes; Fresca soda; Military watches; Horse racing; Orient-Express train; L.L. Bean canvas totes; Others.

This article discusses the trends that are expected from the U.S. high-technology industries and the performance of technology stocks in the market as of March 2001. Telecommunication companies are allotting large budget for the rights to mobile-telephone franchises, in anticipation of selling Short Message Service or wireless Web surfing to families. Companies are waiting in line to fill houses with Internet appliances, game consoles, wireless home networks, high-definition television, DVD, compact discs, and MP3. The expansion of consumer spending on technology devices occurred over a period of unprecedented economic growth. However, consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, has declined for five straight months; that usually portends a slowdown in discretionary spending. Meanwhile, a limited number of voice calls have been zapped across the Internet for years. But now, the sound quality has improved. That makes new-economy voice of interest to a growing lineup of players. Battling over voice marks a departure for telecommunications.

Discusses the trend in the computer industry to make Internet appliances. Description of the appliances which allow users to search the Web and write email; Details of why several early models were discontinued in their first year, including the Netpliance i-Opener; Evaluation of several Internet appliances that are on the market, including Gateway's Connected Touch Pad with Instant America OnLine.

This article presents tips and advice in buying personal computers and computer peripherals. First, remember the immutable law of technology that no matter what you buy today, a better and cheaper model will be introduced tomorrow. Do not be seduced by the rebates offers by Internet access companies toward the purchase of computer. While the idea may be appealing, what you are really locking yourself into is paying monthly fees for three years of online service which can be gotten free. Meanwhile, unless you spend your time playing 3-D computer games, working with digital graphics and video, or developing software, the Pentium IV microprocessor from Intel is not for you. For normal tasks like browsing the Internet and sending and receiving e-mail, choose the cheaper Athlon, Duron or Celeron microprocessors from Advance Micro Devices.

Rating the digital aptitudes of the two candidates. Q: Who would be better for Texas technology, Bush or Gore? ALTHOUGH GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH appears to have the support of […]

The unstoppable digital threat to the recording industry. Q: Will Napster destroy the Texas music scene? A FEDERAL JUDGE CALLS THE MUSIC-sharing Internet service "a monster." Napster's own lawyer concedes […]

PC makers brace themselves for a brave new world. Q: What's all this talk about the "post--PC world," and what does it mean for Texas, the PC capital of the […]

Are Internet taxes inevitable? Do we care? Q: If Congress extends the current three-year moratorium on Internet sales taxes that expires next year, what will it mean to Texas cities […]

What the year's biggest antitrust case means for us. Q: If Microsoft is split in two, how will Texas be affected? Microsoft employees visiting the state will have to wear […]

Nasdaq got you jumpy? Get off that ledge. Q. How will the early springs stock-market gyrations affect Texas tech? ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS COWBOYS LEARN is that when a […]

Dick Tracy was first. But soon, we'll all be able to talk into our watches as well as take photos, listen to music, and watch TV. It took more than […]

The article presents a list of the best gadgets for travelers. Items on the list include the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx handheld mapping system, which keeps hikers and boaters from getting lost, Bose QuietComfort 3 noise-cancelling acoustic headphones, which can be listened to in noisy environments like airplanes, and a portable DVD player for watching movies away from TV.

Reports on Opening Day at two new baseball parks, Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mention of the increased amount of luxury suites in new stadiums; Evaluation of the location and architecture of the stadiums; Review of the opening games at each stadium.

Offers an opinion on Microsoft's Ultimate TV enhanced television service and Interactive TV. Cost of the components of Ultimate TV, which includes subscriptions and a satellite dish; Pros and cons of Ultimate TV and Interactive TV.

Evaluates personal organizers from Palm and Handspring. Features of the Palm m505, including a backlit color screen and expansion slots; Description of the Visor Edge from Handspring, which has an anodized aluminum skin and a so-called fast look-up feature; Costs. INSETS: Pulling the Plug on Home Internet Appliances;Pagin Captain Kangaroo: Handhelds Are a..., by Jimmy Guterman.

This article identifies various technological innovations in the field of video recording as of March 2001. Digital video is putting sophisticated moviemaking tools, including nearly professional-quality digital video cameras and powerful computers with high-end video editing software, into the hands of consumers at matinee prices. This means that people with a passion for storytelling can already make their own broadcast-quality movies and documentaries at home. Digital video has captured the imaginations of such established filmmakers. Digital video submissions to Sundance film festival in February 2001 were up more than 25% and included many filmless films made with the equipment that consumers can buy at the local electronics store. Like Final Draft, Movie Magic has a voice synthesis feature that reads dialogue aloud, although some screenwriters tell that they find voice synthesis to be creepy.

Focuses on the sales practice in electronics known as spiff in which a salesperson receives cash incentives to sell certain products. How many people rely on the recommendations of salespeople when buying products; Suggestion that spiff becomes dangerous when the salesperson's greed outweighs a customer's need; How some salespeople rely on spiffs to supplement their wages.

Evaluates the Apple PowerBook G4 Titanium computer. Features of the laptop computer, including processor speed and weight; Ability of the computer to read and write audio compact discs (CD) and video digital video disks (DVD); Prices.

Discusses several electronic books for digital reading. Evaluation and cost of reading devices including RCA REB 1200 and Franklin eBookman; Appeal of a digital book; Topic of content formats for e-books; Pros and cons of reading on a handheld computer.

Evaluates several digital cameras. Pros and cons of two-megapixel and three-megapixel models; Problem of storage capacity; Key features, cost, and recommendations of the Nikon CoolPix 880, the Kodak DC4800 Zoom, the Toshiba PDR-M70, the Ricoh RDC-7, the Epson PhotoPC 3000Z, and the Umax AstraCam 1800.

Evaluates the Sony PlayStation 2 videogame console. Key features; Pros and cons; Cost; Recommendation.

Focuses on wireless broadband Internet technology and offers a guide to products used for increasing bandwidth. Wireless modem from Metricom, the Ricochet GT; Novatel's Minstrel 5, which connects to a Palm V; the i-Series ThinkPad from IBM; Forecast for the increased speeds of wireless networks.

LEAD: STEPHEN MANES'S office has all of the information-age fire power of a modern corporate environment. On his desk are a high-performance computer and monitor, a modem, laser printer, multiline [...]