I have a Windows 98 personal "confuser," and use Netscape Communicator as my browser and e-mail program. I occasionally receive e-mailed files in the compressed ZIP format, but I can't seem to get them open. I keep going in circles - saving, opening, saving, etc. - until I end up with dozens of blank browser windows opened. I consider myself somewhat PC literate, so this has become both frustrating and embarrassing. Can you walk me through the procedure?

Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of users having to be "PC literate," the computer industry had to become "people literate"? Just an idle thought - a daydream, really. Until that happens, you have to do way too much work to successfully operate your computer, or "confuser," as you more accurately put it. In the case of ZIP files, you must obtain a ZIP utility program, install it and then reboot your PC. Once that's done, when you click on a ZIP file attached to an e-mail message, this program will launch and will unpack the file so you can get at what's inside. Your browser and e-mail program can't do this alone. There are a number of such ZIP utilities, but my favorite is WinZip. It's available at www.winzip.com or at shareware download sites, including www.download.com.

I am a Palm user and have been longing for a phone/Palm combo. I noticed the Qualcomm pdQ phone sold by Sprint PCS, which incorporates a Palm device right into the phone. I happen to be a Sprint PCS customer already. The pdQ is a bit bulky and very pricey ($800) but it is trading for $400 to $500 on eBay. Have you tried it out? Any opinions?

I reviewed the pdQ phone in my SmartMoney magazine column in April. Like you, I had long looked forward to using this first-ever merger of the Palm and mobile phone. But I was very disappointed in the pdQ phone. It's really huge, at 10 ounces in weight, over 6 inches in length and about 1.5 inches thick. When I stacked my Palm V on top of a standard Qualcomm mobile phone I was using, the combination was lighter, shorter and thinner than the pdQ. Despite this bulk, the pdQ's screen is smaller, and much dimmer, than the one on a Palm V, and the phone's lid interfered with writing on the screen. The full review is at: ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200004.html.

I have heard of something called a "Net device" or "Net appliance," which is apparently a basic machine allowing access to the Internet (i.e. Web & e-mail access). I may have read about these machines in your column. I am in the market for something inexpensive (less than $500). Could you please suggest some particular brands/models and places to purchase?

I've written several columns about such Internet appliances. The main candidates currently on the market are the tabletop iOpener by Netpliance (www.netpliance.com), and two devices that work through your TV, WebTV (www.webtv.com) and AOLTV (www.aoltv.com). The latter is available this summer only in selected cities. But I'd advise you to wait until this fall before buying an Internet appliance. Several new ones are heading for market, and I'm testing a couple now. These are all under $500, have decent-sized colour screens, and won't require a TV set. I haven't yet decided how good they are, but I'll be reporting on those that deserve recognition.

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