Original Airdate: October 10, 2007

Steve explores Vista, Microsoft’s latest operating system.  Steve looks at some of the new built-in features and looks at some of Vista’s improvements in terms of getting connected and protecting your computer. On Tech Toys Caroline looks at SmartShopper, a high tech way of creating your weekly grocery list.

Original Airdate: October 20, 2007

Steve explores Vista, Microsoft’s latest operating system. Vista has a whole new look with a lot of new built-in features. Steve explores Vista’s communication tools - from mail to messaging to web communications and finds that Vista is a huge step forward in staying connected. Vista has also taken measures in protecting your computer with its Certified for Vista program which assures you will get the most out of your investment in hardware and software.

Caroline prepares for a visit to the grocery store with the Smartshopper,  a digital shopping list maker. Simply press record and say the name of the item you want and Smartshopper’s voice recognition program will enter the item. Smartshopper then saves your grocery list so you can add items throughout the week. When it’s time to head off to the grocery store simply hit print and get a totally legible shopping list. The Smartshopper can even sort your list into logical categories for convenient shopping, so no more back tracking at the store because you forgot an item.

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.