replacement

File finesse

Windows Explorer is a pretty basic application, and if you've ever tried to do any serious file management with it, you've probably wished for an alternative that's easier to work with. NexusFile is just such an alternative. This flexible file manager lets you work with files in ways that would be impossible with Windows Explorer.

The program's interface is fairly intuitive, although aesthetically it might not be everyone's cup of tea. White and colored type on a black background isn't the easiest thing to read, and although the program is skinnable, this is only … Read more

Apple details battery replacement program for iPad

Apple has released details on how it plans to deal with battery-related issues on the iPad. For a $99 service fee, Apple will replace the entire iPad unit, should your device qualify for a battery replacement.… Read more

When your iPad battery dies, dig out $99-plus

Once your iPad's battery conks out, Apple will give you a new device, but it'll cost you.

As with the iPhone, the rechargeable lithium-polymer battery in the soon-to-be-released Apple iPad is not user-replaceable, meaning you have to send the gadgets to Apple for servicing. And under the iPad Battery Replacement Service you'll get a new iPad to go with that new battery.

But the service won't come cheap. It'll cost you $99 plus $6.95 shipping for a grand total of $105.95 per unit. You may also have to pay local taxes on the … Read more

Get a 17-inch Acer or Toshiba laptop for $550

A desktop replacement is, by definition, a laptop that's large enough to take the place of a typical desktop PC and monitor. That means a 17-inch (or larger) LCD and a keyboard wide enough to accommodate a numeric keypad.

In the past I've featured a handful of desktop replacements priced as low as $400, but most of them had pokey processors, limited storage, 90-day warranties, and other shortcomings.

If your budget can stretch to $550, you can choose between a pair of very powerful, nicely appointed 17-inch laptops.

First up: Office Depot has the Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7005 for $549.99 … Read more

Plug-in for Useful File Utilities

Batch Replacer for MS Word is a plug-in for the Useful File Utilities program that allows users to complete find-and-replace tasks in multiple documents at once. The plug-in works but is not particularly easy to use.

We previously reviewed Useful File Utilities on its own and came to the conclusion that it was a mediocre file management tool, more complicated than it really needed to be and without any notable features. Batch Replacer for MS Word adds an extra bit of functionality, but fits in with the general feel of the program, which is that it's not very user-friendly. … Read more

Plug-in for Useful File Utilities

Batch Replacer for MS Excel is a plug-in for the Useful File Utilities program that allows users to complete find-and-replace tasks in multiple documents at once. The plug-in works but is not particularly easy to use.

We previously reviewed Useful File Utilities on its own and came to the conclusion that it was a mediocre file management tool, more complicated than it really needed to be and without any notable features. Batch Replacer for MS Excel adds an extra bit of functionality, but fits in with the general feel of the program, which is that it's not very easy … Read more

Word processing replacer

Replace Pioneer allows users to replace words in multiple documents at once. While initially confusing, this program allows precise changes over several documents.

We started out confused by the program's layout, with its multiple numbered tabs and no onscreen direction. Luckily, reading the topic-by-topic Help file clarified everything's purpose. We were able to easily open up to 16 separate documents for editing using the program's tab system. The tool for searching and replacing words reminded us of Word's intuitive way of having a specific word replaced with another. Once our requests were made, the program searched … Read more

Unintuitive search software

Actual Search & Replace allows users to search for and optionally replace words and phrases in ASCII-based documents. Although it seems simple enough to use, we had trouble getting it to function as desired.

The program's interface is basic, and while its core functions--entering the word or phrase you want to search for, for example--are pretty obvious, the program's other options aren't completely intuitive. The program definitely assumes that users will have some familiarity with advanced search functions, including search-related programming syntax. The built-in Help file gives an overview of the program's features, but it doesn'… Read more

Upgrade your laptop's hard drive

When you buy a laptop you usually get the biggest hard drive you can afford, right? But at some point it starts to seem small. It must be all those episodes of "Venture Brothers" you downloaded. Here's how to upgrade your laptop to a bigger hard drive and give yourself some breathing room.

First you need to find a hard drive. Look online for the best deals. Obviously you want to pick one with more gigabytes of storage space, but pay attention to rpm, too. That tells you how fast the hard drive spins. The faster the … Read more