TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: LEOPARD / BLU-RAY OR HD-DVD / TECH REVIEWS

Happy New Year! I'm back after a bit of holiday merriment, a little skiing, and a valiant attempt to do a really hard jigsaw puzzle. :-) In today's TOURBUS, you'll find a review of the new features in OS X Leopard, the latest operating system for Macs. Will it convince you to switch? I've also got some facts on the Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD controversy, and some advice for folks who want to buy a high-def DVD player.

Oh, and if you're thinking of buying a cheap desktop computer, a touchscreen laptop, a portable inkjet or fast laser printer, a digital camera, pocket-sized videocam, or a kid-friendly MP3 player... I have some great advice and product reviews for you. Read on!

Mac OS X Leopard: What's New?

Apple's newest operating system, released in the Fall of 2007, is Mac OS X Leopard. Like it's feline namesake, this OS is slick and sleek and features all the multimedia bells and whistles Apple users have come to expect.

>From Stacks to Spaces, to the new Finder that looks just like iTunes,
Leopard has some cool new features, and even a Time Machine! Apple claims the new Safari browser will render pages 2-3 times faster than Firefox v2. Is it really true? Read on to take a look at some of the new features of Leopard, the pros and cons, and see how it compares to the competition...

http://askbobrankin.com/mac_os_x_leopard.html

DVD Players: HD or Blu-Ray?

Remember the days of VHS versus Betamax? Consumers didn't know which type of VCR to buy while that battle raged. In a similar scenario, backers of the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats are each hoping to triumph in the marketplace. Blu-Ray is generally regarded as technically superior, but it could flop in the marketplace like Betamax.

Today you can find high-def DVD players that are able to play HD-DVD or Blu-Ray DVD discs. A few combo players will accept both formats, but they're much more expensive. So what should you do? Here are my reviews of three high-def DVD players, and my recommendations:

http://askbobrankin.com/dvd_players_hd_or_bluray.html

Want more background info on Blu-Ray? Read this article:

http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_bluray.html

Out With the Old...

Just before the holidays, I wrote a series of articles about buying desktop computers, laptops, printers, cameras, and related gadgetry. Many manufacturers are still offering great deals or sales this month so if you're thinking of a post-holiday purchase to replace some of your electronic stuff, I'm sure you'll find these articles helpful:

* Cheap Desktop Computers

http://askbobrankin.com/cheap_desktop_computers.html

* Touchscreen Laptops

http://askbobrankin.com/touchscreen_laptops.html

* Portable Inkjet Printers

http://askbobrankin.com/portable_inkjet_printers.html

* Fast Color Laser Printers

http://askbobrankin.com/fast_color_laser_printers.html

* MP3 Players for Kids

http://askbobrankin.com/mp3_players_for_kids.html

* Automatic Digital Cameras

http://askbobrankin.com/automatic_digital_cameras.html

* Pocket Sized Video Cameras

http://askbobrankin.com/small_video_cameras.html

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin