PC World March 2004 Contents

What's On the CD

COVER STORY

Helpscreen to the rescue! Tips and tricks special

If you read each month's Helpscreen section you'll be familiar with its bundle of tips and tricks for overcoming PC hurdles. This month we gathered a bumper crop of Helpscreen queries to ensure your problems are answered.

FEATURES

Web and you: Take the privacy test

Even savvy Web users can do more to safeguard their privacy and data. Take the quiz and find out how vulnerable you are; then use our tips to improve your score.

The fabulous 50: Top utilities and add-ons

You may think that big is beautiful, but often it's the little things that make the real difference. Here, we guide you through those modest applications that can make using your PC so much sweeter.

Vinyl tap: Retro revival

We look at reharnessing the power of the needle and the plastic in a digital age. Add your collection of vinyl records and tapes to your MP3 hoard with our tips for bringing them into the digital age.

Goodbye VHS, hello DVD: Digital delights

Converting your old tapes to digital form allows you to edit them, add music or narration, and output them to DVD. You may be surprised at how easy it is to digitise your old videos.

FIRST LOOKS

Hardware
Creative SoundBlaster Wireless Music
LevelOne WPG-1000 Wireless Projector Server, SMC SMC8508T 8-port Auto-sensing switch
Canon Digital Ixus i, iRiver iHP-120

Software
Microsoft Encarta 2004 Premium Suite CD, Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite 2004 CD
WinDVD Creator 2.0 Platinum
NetSuite
Net Nanny Suite

Quick Takes
Hardware: HP iPAQ h4350, Toshiba e800, Sharp Actius RD3D, Apple iPod and iLife, Logitech QuickCam Orbit, Creative NOMAD MuVo², Fuji-Xerox Phaser 6250, Sony Ericsson GC79; SOFTware: Magix Audio Cleaning Lab Deluxe 2004, BrowseControl 1.4, FirstDefense-ISR

BEST BUYS

Tech.Files
Back in a flash: flash memory

Sweet Spot
CPUs
Graphics cards
Motherboards
System RAM
Optical drives
Hard drives
Monitors

PCs: Over $3500
Altech Computers GameForce Commander
Plus Corporation Inspire P32
Acer Veriton 7600G
Plus Corporation Astra A641
ARC Computers P4 3GHz

PCs: $1500-$3500
Altech Computers GameForce Mercenary
Trinity International AMD Super Power Pack
Acer Aspire RC900
APUS Universe Pro 2800
Plus Corporation Astra H31
Trinity International P4 Power Pack
Infocom Gaming Beast 1.2
Pioneer Power PC
Dell Dimension 8300
PC eXpress Invader 2800C Deluxe

PCs: Sub-$1500
Altech Computer GameForce Sniper
Plus Corporation Aspect V27
Trinity International AMD Deluxe Pack II
APUS Universe 2500 Avx
PC eXpress Avatar 2600

Notebooks: Over $4000
Pioneer Power Athlon64 8355
ITC Millennia 7100
Acer TravelMate 803LCi
Hi-Grade Notino C6700
LG Electronics LM50-3

Notebooks:$2500-$4000
Pioneer Power D470
Hi-Grade UltiNote M6600
Mitac MiNote 8060B
HP Compaq nc8000
QDI Alacritas 529-K8

Notebooks: Sub-$2500
Mitac MiNote 8080
Twinhead efio 151i
Targa Traveller C50
Stone M3700
Targa Visionary XP

CD-RW drives
AOpen CRW5232
ASUS CRW5224A
Gigabyte GO-R5232B
Imation IMW523252IA
Lite-On LTR-52327S
Mitsubishi Diamond Data DD523252-061
MSI MS-8352M
Samsung SW-252B
Sony CRX230A

HERE'S HOW

UPGRADER: CD-RW installation
IN DEPTH: Printer troubleshooting
WINDOWS XP: Getting started with Windows Management Instrumentation
LINUX: Create a movie DVD
AUDIO: Guide to plug-in instruments
GRAPHICS: Understanding selection tools: Part I
MAC OS: Running ported software under OS X
PHP: Pattern matching with PHP: Part III
DIGITAL VIDEO: Using still images in video
HELPSCREEN

DEPARTMENTS

  • EDITORIAL
  • NEWS plus Broadband
  • LINUXWORLD.COM.AU
  • READERS' FORUM Plus Dilbert
  • BACKBYTES: Book Review, Skills, Web Review, Gadgets and Gizmos, Games,
  • Bytesback
  • ADVERTISERS INDEX


COMING UP IN THE APRIL ISSUE:

  • Top timesaving tricks: secrets for working faster, not harder
  • Moving to Linux: what to expect if you switch from Windows
  • Start blogging: write your own Weblog with our step-by-step guide
  • Web and you: no-fuss guide to implementing a firewall
  • Test centre: LCD monitors

PC World Staff

PC World

Be the first to comment

*
*
This will be kept private.
*
*
Users posting comments agree to the PC World comments policy.