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MAC RELIEF FOR WINDOWS EXPLORER ENVY

For the most part and when all is working as it should, Macintosh users are happy with their computers. In fact, I am still somewhat in awe at how the Mac continues to breed a type of loyal fan you just don't see in the Windows community. However with the advent of Windows XP and faster machines to take advantage of Microsoft's latest operating system, I'm beginning to notice some of that loyalty on the PC side. Perhaps it was always there and all it took was a shiny new Windows modern operating system that looks as good as it works. I've personally observed Windows XP users showing off their screens and happily running several applications at once without having to reboot several times a day.

Mac owners have been happily using the Finder to move and copy files. But if you find yourself using both Macs and Windows, then you know that even Apple's latest OS X is missing something Windows users have been using for years. Windows Explorer is an integrated utility provided with every copy of Windows and serves as the primary way to most easily navigate and perform all kinds of file manipulations. And if you'd like something comparable to it on your Mac, then check out Rage Software's "Macintosh Explorer."

Looking similar to its Windows counterpart, Macintosh Explorer vertically displays folders and files in a window pane on the left. Selecting a folder reveals its contents vertically in a pane on the right. Moving, copying and deleting files and folders from one location to another is accomplished with cut and paste or by simply selecting, dragging and dropping.

In addition to Macintosh Explorer's hierarchical filing abilities, other useful features include being able to display extended information about any file, view invisible files, and store links to commonly used files and folders. From within Macintosh Explorer you can preview text, pictures and movies within a file,listen to mp3 files and search for files by its name or other criteria.

Macintosh Explorer sells for $15 and is available directly from the Rage Software web site.

www.ragesw.com/explorer

Let the Sun Shine In

Ever run out of juice? I'm not talking about the fruity kind but rather the electrical variety. There you are, talking on your cell phone or tapping data into your PDA and suddenly the batteries die. And although there's usually a power receptacle or car lighter around to recharge your batteries, now there's a way to brighten your day with the sun while it recharges your piece of equipment as well. The iSun portable solar charger is a pocket sized device that opens like a clamshell to reveal two solar panels ready to soak up light from just about any source and convert it into electricity. The included adapters let you charge or run any small electronic device requiring less than 2 watts such as a cellular phone, video game, PDA, small radio or digital camera. The iSun units are designed so that they link with each other to effectively double the power. Daisy-Chaining two or more will charge and extend the running of any device requiring over 2 watts such as a laptop computer. And if there's no room to put the iSun, the included suction cups lets you mount it directly to a window pane. Don't find yourself powerless anymore. With an iSun, a walk on the beach can truly be an electrifying experience.

Two models available are the iSun Sport in yellow or the standard iSun in silver. $79.

www.isunpower.com