consumer issues
Game On: 'Beatles: Rock Band' an excellent homage
"The Beatles: Rock Band"
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Genre: Music
Publisher: MTV Games
ESRB Rating: T for Teen
Grade: 4 stars
My buddy Luke may be the most intense Beatles fan I've ever known. When the movie "Across the Universe" came out in 2007 -- Beatles love-fest that it was -- Luke was ticked off because actors dared to sing the music.
Compute: Beware of anti-virus software products
More and more computers that I see in my computer service business are infected with fake anti-virus software. These products have various names but end up annoying the heck out of you that your computer is infected and the end of the world is near unless you pay $35 to protect your computer.
Buttonedup: Create a school control center in 2 easy steps
Homework, class trips, extracurricular activities, parent-teacher conferences and important projects - staying on top of all the things your children participate in or bring home from school is a big job. What you need to stay on top of it all is a control center. Think of it as the nerve center for all things in your home that are school-related.
Autos: Have some fun in the new Frontier
At the height of their powers, pickup trucks were instruments of intimidation, casting enormous shadows on the neighbors' lawns and dwarfing lesser forms of transportation.
To help crush the competition, Ford hired the mountainous musician Toby Keith to promote its full-size F-Series and terrify anyone who might be driving around in a subcompact listening to the Dixie Chicks.
Autosside: 2010 Nissan Frontier
2010 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO-4X
TYPE: Four-wheel-drive, four-door, five-passenger, mid-size pickup.
PRICE: $28,980 base, $31,115 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Smyrna, Tenn.
KEY RIVALS: Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota.
POWER: 4-liter, 261-horsepower, DOHC V6 engine; five-speed auto transmission.
DriveWays: KIA returns with 2010 Forte
Hard on the wheels of its funky, youth-oriented Soul hatchback, Kia returns to attack the mainstream compact car market with its 2010 Forte.
The feisty South Korean manufacturer sees an opportunity to capitalize on the woes not only of US automakers but also other Asians bemused as recession-shocked American buyers shun new cars and trucks.
DriveWays Specs: Specifications for 2010 Kia Forte
Specifications for the 2010 Kia Forte SX four-door sedan.
Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, 173 horsepower.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic.
Overall length: 14 feet 10 inches.
EPA passenger/trunk volume: 97/15 cubic feet.
Weight: 2,868 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 23/31 miles per gallon.
Net Worth: Update on stimulus provisions
Time could be running out for some key tax and spending provisions in the federal stimulus act that are set to expire by Dec. 31.
These include beefed-up unemployment benefits, a sales tax deduction for new-vehicle purchases, a federal subsidy for Cobra health-insurance premiums and an $8,000 first-time home-buyer credit.
Compute: Anti-virus products ranking holds surprises
One of my favorite computer magazines, PC World, this month did a rundown of the best free anti-virus products on the market. The results were surprising.
Game On: 'Dissidia' outstanding; 'Guitar Hero 5' rocks
"Dissidia: Final Fantasy"
Platform: PSP
Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Square Enix
ESRB Rating: T, for Teen
Grade: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
The handheld PSP and its titles have largely disappointed me. The graphics may be amazing, but the games have rarely had me itching to keep playing.
