Investing: The Net Wisdom of Peers

Increasingly disenchanted with professional advisers, investors are finding sound advice and improved returns with the help of online communities

They're Making Money From Your Kids

Do children need perfume or $30 haircuts? No, but smart entrepreneurs targeting affluent parents know how to make you think they do

Lincoln Electric Holdings

LECO's stock suffers from investors' fears, but the world's leader in welding and cutting equipment has plenty to gain from industrial growth in emerging markets

E*Trade's Meltdown

The stock price gets slashed in half after the online brokerage says it can't predict new credit losses. Will customers stick around?

Frankly Speaking: Game changer

Will the GooglePhone matter? Last week, Google officially unveiled its long-rumored mobile phone software. Dubbed "Android," the Linux-based software stack is being backed by more than 30 partners, including handset makers Motorola, Samsung, LG and HTC, and service providers Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and NTT DoCoMo. But no Nokia. No AT&T or Verizon. No Apple or Palm. No Symbian, Microsoft or RIM. Without them, will Android matter at all?

Frankly Speaking: Game changer

Will the GooglePhone matter? Last week, Google officially unveiled its long-rumored mobile phone software. Dubbed "Android," the Linux-based software stack is being backed by more than 30 partners, including handset makers Motorola, Samsung, LG and HTC, and service providers Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and NTT DoCoMo. But no Nokia. No AT&T or Verizon. No Apple or Palm. No Symbian, Microsoft or RIM. Without them, will Android matter at all?

Get Rid of That Ugly Date Stamp

Here's how to remove the date from the corner of a photo.

Get Rid of That Ugly Date Stamp

Here's how to remove the date from the corner of a photo.

Japanese ditch PCs for smart phones, big-screens TVs

In Japan the use of the general purpose PC at home may be in steady decline. Will the U.S. follow? Japanese college students are opting for the latest gaming, entertainment and mobile phone technologies in lieu of buying a new laptop or desktop computer, according to a recent Associated Press story. One reason may be that other technologies are taking away functions that used to run exclusively on a PC, such as instant messaging/text messaging and e-mail. Another reason is the general feeling that there's no reason to upgrade older machines. Meanwhile, students are finding more compelling technologies on which to spend their money. In Japan, desktop shipments dropped 4.8% and laptops dropped 3.1% last year. Sony, NEC and Apple have all seen declines since 2006 and Hitachi has thrown in the towel and exited the market, according to the story.

S&P Stock Picks and Pans: AT&T, IBM, Cognos, E*Trade, St. Jude

Analysts' opinions on stocks in the news Monday

Feds Prescribe More Money for E-health Push

Some doctors and health care IT executives are applauding the government's plan to use financial incentives to encourage doctors to adopt e-health records. But not everyone is convinced it will be enough.

Game-Changer

Frank Hayes speculates that Google's mobile phone software is a winner, even if it loses in the marketplace.

Microsoft Fires CIO for Policy Violation

Microsoft disclosed in an internal memo that it had fired CIO Stuart Scott after determining that he had violated unspecified corporate policies.

Security and the One Laptop Per Child sensibility

Simplified, post-desktop computing models such as those embodied by the One Laptop Per Child project look like the future to our columnist, who's seen plenty of everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink systems (hello, Vista?) lead to security mayhem.

OpenWorld kicks off with SNL alumni skits, mellow Ellison

A jovial, self-deprecating Larry Ellison? Believe it -- Sunday night's opening remarks at OpenWorld conference included an affectionate look back at 30 years of Oracle history from officials of a company more usually known for its sharp elbows.

Zune 80GB Media Player - Black

Wireless syncing, good sound quality, and a nice touch control make this affordable player a good choice.

Zune 8GB Red

Wireless and video support may be overkill on a device this size, but the 8GB Zune offers some interesting options as a flash player.

New Microsoft Zune Players: Finally Some Real Contenders

PC World's first look at Microsoft's new wireless-syncing Zune portable media players reveals an intuitive new touch control and some clever updates to the Zune's online presence.

New Microsoft Zune Players: Finally Some Real Contenders

PC World's first look at Microsoft's new wireless-syncing Zune portable media players reveals an intuitive new touch control and some clever updates to the Zune's online presence.

Zune 80GB Media Player - Black

Wireless syncing, good sound quality, and a nice touch control make this affordable player a good choice.