Tired of pre-configured off the shelf computer systems? Then listen up. In this episode, Steve shows off two computers by Alienware that have personality and power. The desktop and laptop come equipped with the gamer in mind. Both use high-powered processers, state of the art video cards and tons of memory. Steve walks you through the customizing and ordering process at Alienware’s website.

Satellite Radio has become more portable than ever with the Sirius Stiletto. There are no longer any problems moving your satellite radio from your house to your car. No messy antenna setups. The Stiletto allows you to connect to Wi-Fi making it easy to use in your home. It also comes with a pair of headphones with a built in satellite antenna, so you can use it anywhere. 

Steve also shows you some very useful tricks and tips with Microsoft Word.

On this edition of Urban Upgrade, we walk you through setting up your audio system.

If you are a world traveler, business person or student then you need to listen up. In this episode, Steve shows you the Acer Aspire notebook. At 2.2 lbs and 10 inches in size it is the perfect notebook to carry with you on your travels. The Aspire runs on a Linux based operating system and, at a price of less than $400, the Aspire is perfect for all your word processing needs without the bulk and weight of a regular notebook.

Steve also shows you how to use your Blackberry as a modem so you can have internet access anywhere.

And on this installment of our Urban Upgrade series we will help you choose the best audio system for your space.

On this episode Steve takes us on an Apple adventure. First he introduces us to the slender Mac Book Air, a laptop so thin it fits in a manila envelope. The new notebook features a full-size keyboard and a backlit LED 13.3-inch display. It also ships with a built-in iSight camera, a solid-state drive, and a new larger track pad which supports multi-touch gestures.  This means that just like the iPhone, you'll be able to pan around your photos, pinch to zoom in or out, and rotate with only two fingers!

Original Airdate: March 15, 2008

Steve shows us the Lenovo Tablet PC. No longer do you need to rely on your keyboard to input information – the X61 has fully integrated pen-based functions, allowing you to write directly onto your computer! This new PC is ideal for users who need an ultra-portable notebook but refuse to sacrifice durability or performance.

Steve then explores the world of VOIP, or Voice-over-IP. He looks at Vonage’s V-Portal, which enables you to check your messages on line from anywhere you have an Internet connection. 

Caroline introduces us to Weebly, a clever website building tool for non-techies. It offers a drag and drop interface for adding content such as photos, videos and maps. You can even create your own blog using this online publishing tool.

 Original Airdate: March 1, 2008

Steve thinks green with Lenovo’s Think Center A61e, an energy star compliant computer designed for the small business market. He rounds out his look at small business computers with a peek at Lenovo’s R61 Think Pad notebook.

Steve demos how we can use the internet for our phone service, even if you’re on the road. VOIP with Vonage will enable you to make and receive phone calls through an Internet connection, using your same home number no matter which town you’re in.  

Original Airdate: November 3, 2007

This week Steve looks at the HP Pavilion HDX – a high end notebook that doubles as your home computer and entertainment centre. Steve also shows you Symantec’s new Norton 360, an integrated solution to keep your computer happy and healthy. Plus we look at Clarion's DXZ475MP stereo, which allows you to play your iPod tunes through your car speakers.

Streets & Trips

Dreaming of his next vacation, Steve takes you out for a spin to show off Microsoft’s Streets & Trips software. The GPS locator means your laptop always knows where you are, adjusting your route and pit stops in case things get spontaneous along the way. Need to placate complaining kidlets in the back seat? Samsung’s portable DVD player or digital audio player can entertain them with music and stories.

Stay in Touch

Caroline demonstrates how to keep in touch with yourcontacts when you’re on your adventure, by importing addresses to a web-based email account. And want to keep an eye on things from afar? The Live Motion WebCam from Creative Labs can detect motion and send images through email or the web for remote security monitoring.

Small Business

We’ll show you the best new technologies for small business, such as HP’s Officejet Pro K550 printer. Steve introduces us to Vonage, a new kind of phone company that uses the internet to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world with just a regular telephone and adapter. He also shows us how to turn your computer into atelephone using Vonage’s SoftPhone.

Anti-Spam

Nothing gets Steve’s blood boiling like time wasted wading through spam. With Norton Internet Security 2006 you can efficiently deal with this annoying safety threat. And Caroline shows you how you can finally import all your contacts that are trapped on paper into your email program, with the Targus Mini Business Card Scanner.