RAM

2009 Dodge Ram is tough outside, tech inside

When we first laid eyes on the Dodge Ram, a few words came to mind: gargantuan, behemoth, colossal. The words that didn't immediately come to mind when the big ol' truck rolled into the CNET garage were "high" or "tech." However, after--literally--climbing into the Ram's cab and spending some time behind the wheel, we found a surprising amount of drive-train tech and, more surprisingly, some very sophisticated cabin tech.

Satellite TV, a hard drive-based audio system, and in-vehicle Wi-Fi are just some of the ambitious, if unrefined, tricks the Dodge Ram has up its … Read more

Slide show: New Dodge vehicles

Dodge brought by a selection of its newest vehicles at a recent media event. We had the chance to photograph and test drive the next generation of Dodge vehicles, including the 2009 Challenger (SRT-8 and R/T versions), the new 2009 Ram pickup truck, and the Durango Hemi Hybrid SUV. Also on hand was the 2009 Dodge Journey, which we've already reviewed.

View New Dodge vehicle slide show.

Dell has the Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T5750, 320GB HDD, 2GB RAM) for $1099, after a $400 Instant savings.

Dell has the Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T5750, 320GB HDD, 2GB RAM) for $1099, after a $400 Instant savings. >> Regular price is $1499 >> Sale price is $1099 >> Savings $400 (26.68%) >> Offer ends 9/15/2008 >> Click here for deal

Next-gen Nissan Titan to get HEMI power

Owners of the next iteration of the Nissan Titan will finally be able to say, "That thang's got a Hemi!"

PickupTrucks.com has confirmation from Chrysler LLC chairman Jim Press that the next-generation Nissan Titan will receive a version of Chrysler's 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 gas engine. This makes sense when you consider that last May, the Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. announced that the next Titan half-ton pickup would be built by Chrysler at its plant in Saltillo, Mexico, and that the next Titan would be based on the all-new Dodge Ram 1500. … Read more

Speed up Windows Vista with a flash drive

Want to speed up Windows Vista? Got a flash drive? Good. You can make your computer faster. Watch this video and then refer to the steps below.

One of the cooler things in Windows Vista is something called ReadyBoost. Normally if a system is slow, you have to open it up and add RAM. ReadyBoost lets you use external storage for that. Nothing new there. Windows 3.1 let you do that, but ReadyBoost makes it really simple.

Plug in your USB flash drive. You will be given a menu. Choose "Speed up my System." You can access … Read more

What discs should I buy for my DVD recorder? Ask the Editors

Q: I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK recorder that I recently purchased. This is all new to me. I would like to know what disc-type I should buy for recording VCR tapes onto a DVD disc. Also, is there a different between +r and -r? -- Lisa, via e-mail.

A: Those are excellent questions. Yes, it can be a confusing (and probably a frustrating) shopping experience to browse your local electronics store and decide between all the disc spindles labeled with + and - signs. Then you notice DVD+RW, DVD-RW, dual-layer, and the elusive DVD-RAM discs that are gathering dust on the shelf but are more expensive than the rest. How does one decide which format to choose without pulling out one's hair?

The short answer: Look for DVD+R--the most compatible, cheapest option out there. Using your Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK recorder, you will be able to record up to 4 hours of decent-looking video on LP mode. Since most VHS tapes hold around 2 hours of video, you should be fine. But if you require more disc space and rewritable capabilities, continue reading.

… Read more

Quick Fix: Put your paging file to work

The all-singing, all-dancing embodiment of frustration is when my computer acts sluggish for no good reason. I know I've got plenty of RAM and a decent processor, so why won't the blasted contraption do as it's told? RAM boosting programs just never seem to work as well as they should, and so a few weeks ago I began digging into other possible sources of those embarrassing and annoying computus interruptus moments.

One possible solution is to manually adjust your virtual memory, stored in a paging file.

Why do this? Isn't your onboard RAM enough? Well, don'… Read more

Reclaim your RAM

Even in these days of cheap RAM, where you can get an extra gigabyte of the stuff for around $40 or so, there's not much you can do about must-have programs that leak memory short of seeking out an alternative. That doesn't mean you're tied to incessant program restarts and operating system reboots, though: a few useful programs such as RAM Idle LE, RAMBooster, and Instant Memory Cleaner make it their business to reclaim wasted bits.

RAMBooster is well-known to longtime Daily Download readers. We've featured it in our Windows Starter Kit and in a First … Read more

Power Downloader monitors his memory

When Power Downloader is hard at work in the Powerlair he often has several programs running simultaneously. Though he has plenty of RAM in his super system, Power likes to keep track of memory usage to see what's taking up the most space. It also helps to have memory tracking apps when he needs to diagnose system slow downs.

To keep track of how much memory is being used by his mission-critical apps, Power Downloader uses FreeMeter. With this free program on his computer, Power can track disk space usage, memory usage, disk transfer rates, and more all from … Read more