WSJ.com: Portals

Note to Next President: Avoid Computers

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:20:00 EDT

As voters evaluate the two presidential candidates this year, it is fair to ask whether someone who never touches a computer can truly be in touch with what is happening in the world.

The Thinking Man's Game

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:30:00 EDT

There are grim armies of violent, soulless but technically astounding computer games waiting to swallow you whole and spit you out a few weeks later, but there also are lots of games out there that make you think, or at least, figure.

Tipping the Kitchen Scale

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:50:00 EDT

A low-cost, easy-to-use piece of digital technology could make millions of people more productive in their everyday lives: the digital kitchen scale.

Linking Brains, Computers

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:23:00 EDT

Equating computer circuits and brain synapses makes computers seem more complex and brains seem more simple than either are.

Study Refutes Niche Theory Spawned by Web

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:03:00 EDT

In 2006, "The Long Tail" made a splash arguing that the Internet, with its expansive shelf space, would mean a smaller role for mega-hit products. Now, a study suggests the Web is only cementing the prominence of a small number of cultural favorites.

A Taxing Issue for Amazon

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:23:00 EDT

New questions are being raised about an audacious legal strategy Amazon.com has used to avoid collecting sales tax in eight states where it has warehouses or distribution centers.

Real Message About Spam

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:34:00 EDT

The problem with spam used to be all the messages sent to your mailbox. Now, it's all the legitimate messages being blocked by your anti-spam filter. Next time someone starts telling you about how smart computers have become, remind them about this situation, will you?

Readers Views of New Windows 7

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:31:00 EDT

Along with the impossible requests for a bugless, instant Windows 7, Portals received hundreds of practical suggestions from readers about what they would like to see in Microsoft's next operating system.

A Wish List for Windows 7

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:55:00 EDT

While it's still at least two years away, Microsoft is already starting to talk up its Windows 7. Gates and Ballmer last week showed off some eye candy that might end up a part of Windows, but here's a few things our columnist would like to see.

Bloggers Cook the Books

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:48:00 EDT

Among food blogs, the cream of the crop is the "cook-through," in which someone picks a cookbook and then doesn't stop cooking and blogging until they've made all the dishes in it.

Real World Needs 'Net' Taxes

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:57:00 EDT

By giving online businesses a permanent advantage over their bricks-and-mortar competitors, it helps those who need it least -- huge, profitable e-commerce companies -- at the expense of often-struggling local retailers.

H-P's IBM Envy Drives Deal

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:30:00 EDT

With the acquisition of EDS, H-P is trying to make itself less like Dell -- a hardware company -- and more like IBM, which profits in large part from the advice it dispenses.

Some Students Use Net to Hire Experts

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 20:43:00 EST

If U.S. companies can go online to outsource their programming, why can't U.S. computer students outsource their homework -- which, after all, often involves writing sample programs? Scruples aside, no reason at all.