That’s right - you can get a computer with your next 22″ LCD screen.  How?  Purchase Rock’s Meivo.  This 22″ flat panel LCD TV has a computer integrated into it!  Forget about how you can connect your computer to your TV.  Just buy this TV and you’ll have an all-in-one TV and computer! 

Okay, so what’s under the hood?  The TV is a 22-inch screen, is high-definition ready, has PVR functionality, and IPTV and internet TV may be used as platforms.  What does that mean?  You may watch TV through the regular cable company, such as Time Warner, or just use the Internet via Roadrunner or Verizon DSL.  On the computer end, it is loaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Premium, features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 hard drive bays, 7.1 sound output, Wi-Fi, and bluetooth.

This new product is exclusively created by Rock, a UK high-end laptop producer.  It may be purchased for 900 - 1500 pounds and shipped to the US.  If you are an early adopter, this product will be launched in April. 

Should you go with the traditional paper return method or new electronic method that uses TurboTax or another user-friendly software?  Last year, approximately 55% of 135 million tax returns were e-filed.  Is e-filing the way to go this year? 

Here are the advantages of electronic filing:

1.  Fewer errors at 20% more accurate than paper returns as contended by the IRS.  Most errors on paper are due to incorrect social security numbers or forgetting to sign the form.  The IRS uses electronic scanning and bar codes to turn handwritten forms into e-format.  Sometimes, human error in the process may cause errors.

2.  Messy handwriting or inaccurate numbers by hand may trigger an audit.

3.  Direct deposit makes e-filing quick by receiving your federal reund within a week and half and your state refund within two weeks.  This year, direct deposit lets taxpayers specify up to three accounts that refunds may be sent to, such as checking, savings, and retirement accounts.

4.  Free file, a free software, is offered to lower-income people so they are not forced to hire an accountant.

Well, the motivation to do either is based on which one leads to less errors, and hence less red flags by possible audits.  The electronic route seems to offer faster, more reliable results.  However, if you’re comfortable with the paper return and that has been working well for you, why change good habits?

Before Vista arrived, many different types of software were able to be used easily between Windows and Macs.  Now, since Microsoft Vista arrived, using a webcam between Vista and Mac OS Tiger is not so easy.  We have tested many different types of software, and although instant messaging was no problem, there was still the challenge of seeing my buddy through his webcam. 

What didn’t work?

-AIM:  AIM did not work.  Instant messaging worked without a hitch, but there wasn’t a feature to click on a webcam to perform a video conference.  Macs have a feature where you can log in via AIM within iChat.  This was tried with the same lack of success.  AIM came out with a recent beta to install on Windows so that it would be able to be compatible with Macs.  This was exactly what we were looking for, but the results were no better.

-iTunes:  We haven’t seen iTunes offered as a software for Windows so need we say more?!

What worked?

Yahoo IM - That’s right.  Yahoo Instant Messenger worked like a charm.  Set up my fellow webcammer in my buddy list and voila…we watched each other dance in delight!  The software worked great for our webcam communication.  The only downfall was that I realized my friend is still very fond of the “Macarena” dance.