PC World April 2003
- — 12 March, 2003 08:30
COVER STORY
No strings attached: Roam free
Increasingly, many homes, and most small businesses, have multiple PCs, and it makes sense to connect them on a network to share files, printers, and Internet connections (especially if you have a broadband connection). Setting up a network has become easier over the past couple of years. This month, we present your complete guide to wireless networking.
FEATURES
Web and you: Stay connected on the road
For most of us, attaining road warrior supremo status is just a dream. Thankfully, the Net has loads of information and resources to help you stay connected on the road -- and keep your sanity intact. Just because you're away from home or the office doesn't mean you have to be offline.
Image makers: Photo printers
In the same manner that digital cameras have revolutionised the way we take pictures, inkjet printers have revolutionised the way we print them. Gone are the days of waiting two weeks for a reprint or an enlargement; now you simply turn on your PC and load some glossy paper into your inkjet printer. You can pay a little or a lot for a photo-capable printer, but before you go shopping for the latest addition to your digital darkroom, read our guide to the technology.
Overhaul your notebook: Easy upgrades
When you spent your hard-earned cash on a fantastic new notebook, for a while it felt like it could do anything; now, everything's a chore. Like desktops, notebooks start off guns ablaze, ready to take on any imaginable computing task, but eventually lose their get up and go. This month, we show you how to reinvigorate a lacklustre notebook with a combination of hardware and software upgrades.
Get set for Intel's Centrino: Mobile special report
Just as this issue hit news-stands, Intel launched one of its most ambitious efforts to date: Centrino, its vision for mobile computing. To get you up to speed, PC World went behind the lines to learn what Centrino is all about.
FIRST LOOKS
Hardware
Airpanel V110 Smart Display
PanaView TX-LCD17S
Inspiron 8500, SlimX IMP-400
FinePix M603, Stylus CX5100Software
Personal Video Station 3
pcShadow, Xara Menu Maker 1.0
Eudora for Windows 5.2
MediaStudio Pro 7, ImageZoom Pro 2.0
Picasa 1.5, ACDSee 5, Photoshop AlbumQuick Takes
Hardware: Toughbook Light, SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX, New Apple desktops, Acecat 302 graphics tablet, Palm Tungsten T, Imation FlashGo! 2.0, CanoScan 5000F, Finecam S5;
Software: Opera 7 Internet browser, BitDefender Professional 6.5, FL Studio 4.0
HERE'S HOW
UPGRADER: Add high-speed ports for turbocharged peripherals
IN DEPTH: PDAs: the perfect travelling companion
WINDOWS XP HOME: How to use the Backup and Restore utility
WINDOWS XP PRO: Power up your Power Toys
LINUX: Installing and configuring a screen saver
AUDIO: Introduction to Storm 2.0
GRAPHICS: Enlarging with Genuine Fractals 2 LE
PHP:Using PEAR: Part II
DIGITAL VIDEO: Using Movie Maker 2
HELP SCREEN
BEST BUYS
Tech.Files
AMD Athlon XP 3000+
Sweet Spot
CPUs
Motherboards
Optical drives
Monitors
Graphics cards
System RAM
Hard drivesPCs: Over $4000
Plus Corporation Astra H11
Dell Dimension 8250
Australia IT AIT T5 Series
Altech Computers Blue Hurricane
Plus Corporation Argon T17
Acer Veriton 7500G
Plus Corporation Dezign I23
Xenon Systems Nitro 855 5PCs: $2001-$4000
PC Direct Grunt Master
Infocom Infomod
Infocom Gaming Beast
Acer Aspire G600
Metalbox Systems BeF
Plus Corporation Stealth G14
Plus Corporation Athlon MP 1900+
PC-XITE Xtreme Pro Series
PC Direct Elite MBSPCs: Sub-$2000
Infocom M-100
PC Direct Home Entertainment
Trinity International Computers TI Home Pack
Infocom Multimedia PC
Altech Computers Viper XP 2200+
Trinity International Computers TI Business Pack
Altech Computers Viper XP 1900+
Altech Computers Sputnik Pro
Notebooks: OVER $6000
Dell Precision M50Notebooks: $3001-$6000
Toshiba Satellite 5200
Dell Inspiron 8500
Hi-Grade UltiNote M6600
Hi-Grade UltiNote 6600DH
Dell Inspiron 5100
Notebooks: Sub-$3000
Hi-Grade Notino R5400
Acer TravelMate 225X
Twinhead Efio 2617
Toshiba Satellite 1410
Hi-Grade Notino 4400DVD writers and hard drives
DVD writers
LaCie DVD-RW Internal Drive
LG DVD GMA-4020B
Panasonic LFD521E
Pioneer A05
Sony DRU500A
AOpen DVD+RW/+R
Diamond Data DVD+RW-A1Hard drives
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 200GB ATA/133
Seagate Barracuda ATA V 120GB
Western Digital Caviar WD1200 Special Edition
Western Digital Caviar WD2000 Special Edition
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 80GB SATA/150
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 200GB SATA/150
Seagate Barracuda SATA V 120GB
DEPARTMENTS
- EDITORIAL
- NEWS: 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 May issue:
- Internet fixes: Great ways to combat Net nasties like spam, aggravating ads, viruses and online fraudsters.
- PDA round-up: What makes a good assistant of the digital kind? Our guide gives all the details.
- PCs under $1000: Budget buys for PC shoppers.
- LCD monitors: Reviews of the latest models and advice for buying the right LCD monitor for you.
- Web and you: Break out the digital camera! We assess online services for digital shutterbugs.
