Imac

Not satisfied with its remarkable comeback over the past two years, Apple revealed last month an aggressive Internet strategy by revamping its Web site to include a suite of free services it calls iTools. The debut of iTools is the latest manifestation of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' continuing quest to make the Macintosh the ideal Internet platform. One can trace Jobs' strategy back to the introduction of the trend-setting iMac -- the "i", after all, stands for Internet. Last fall Apple released Mac OS 9 with the not-too-subtle slogan, "Your Internet Co-Pilot," on the strength of Sherlock 2's slick Web-prowling abilities and the improved integration of the OS with Net-related functions.

Back in the '60s, when other auto makers were bragging about their sleek styling, Volkswagen advertised its now-legendary minibus this way: "The Volkswagen Station Wagon looks like a box because it's built like a box. It lets you store the most possible stuff in the least possible space." It took other manufacturers 20 years to appreciate the power of this simple message, but catch on they did, and today the minivan is the ultimate suburban cliche. These direct descendants of that clunky, underpowered VW bus are popular for one reason only: They're big boxes that hold a lot of kids, luggage, sports equipment and Labrador retrievers, in any combination.

By the time Steve Jobs took the stage Tuesday morning to announce new Mac products, everyone knew that new iMacs were on the agenda. Because Steve had invited the media to Apple's campus, a rarity he usually reserves for such momentous occasions as the debut of the iPod, expectations were high. Sure enough, Jobs introduced a revamped line of iMacs just minutes after he began his presentation. The new iMacs now have glossy screens, aluminum cases, are significantly thinner and feature an optional wireless keyboard.

In its own special way, my Xbox 360 let me know it was time for some spring cleaning this week. I could've danced with Bill Gates' minions and mailed in my system for service. Instead, like Sarah Palin, I went rogue.  Before we begin, let's get something straight: Microsoft didn't want me to do what I did to my Xbox. I had to break at least three different sticker seals that clearly stated that I was voiding any and all warranties by doing what I did. If you ever plan on sending your system to Microsoft for service or reselling it as a "pure" system, do not do what I'm about to describe.

ACCORDING TO the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 25,150 "places" in the United States, and that means I need a new computer. This is not a non sequitur, just a statement of fact. The thought occurred to me while I was staring at the screen of the PC in my basement, watching Microsoft Excel display an hourglass while it determined where each of those 25,150 locales - from Adak, Alaska to Yoder, Wyoming - ranks in terms of median family income. I watched that hourglass for what seemed like an eternity before Excel figured everything out. So, when I decided to rank the same 25,150 places by housing values, I figured I'd time the process - 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

A mouse is such a little thing. But a mouse can matter a lot. And you'll discover that the moment yours stops working, as mine did last week. Without a mouse, it's hard to control a modern home computer. Oh, Windows and Linux pros can get around it, and some even prefer to work mouse-free, speed-typing their way to better performance than any mouse allows. But this was my iMac mouse, and the Mac is almost impossible to control without mouse power. My iMac mouse had been balky for a while, being slow to move the cursor up or down - though still quick at sliding it right or left.

If you've ever needed to wipe your hard disk completely clean and didn't have a Zip drive or other offline storage device for stashing the information, you already know what a hassle it is to back up all that data onto floppy disks.Now there's a way to get 300 megabytes of storage for free. You can use it for whatever you like, and the uses are limited to times when you need to reformat the disk.This storage is furnished by a Web site, so that means that your most precious information would remain safe, even if your computer were destroyed by fire.

Battery-powered Boostaroo improves sound of portablesHere's a fun little gizmo: the Boostaroo ($17.95), an amplifier and audio splitter for portable stereo gear. Let's face it: That tape player you hastily bought at the drugstore before your big beach weekend has all the fidelity of a tin can telephone. The battery-powered (two AAs) Boostaroo can help.The Boostaroo plugs into the headphone jack of any audio device that has a mini stereo plug. Your headphones plug into it. Once switched on, the Boostaroo cranks up the signal, giving you a brighter, more powerful sound.

WWE's No Way Out pay-per-view this year falls on June 17, the same day as Father's Day. This year will be a very special celebration for WWE's newest dad, Ted DiBiase. His son, Tate, was born May 15 . DiBiase couldn't be happier to be a dad. Nothing could have prepared him for the moment he met his baby boy. “Everyone was telling [me], 'Hey your life is gonna change, it's gonna be the most amazing moment in your life.' I was like, 'Yeah, I'm sure it will be,'" DiBiase said.

CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple Computer Inc., maker of iMac personal computers, will boost the number of its retail stores by 35 percent over the next year by opening 19 more in the United States and one in Tokyo, its first overseas. The computer maker opened its first shop two years ago and now has 57 stores in the United States. Apple Chief Executive Officer Steven P. "Steve" Jobs has been looking for ways to boost revenue during the more than two-year slump in demand for personal computers.