Stories about: Protac

The Excel gPC, distributed by Protac, isn't an ordinary PC. From the outside it looks like a typical mini-tower-based PC, but its odd-looking 16in widescreen LCD monitor is the first clue that you're getting something different.

Polyview's new 19in widescreen display showed excellent contrast and brightness levels during DisplayMate testing, making it a suitable monitor for watching DVDs as well as viewing two documents side-by-side. The monitor has a native resolution of 1440 by 900 pixels and can be connected using either its analog or digital input ports.

The Excel G900 has a 3.2GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor coupled with no less than 1GB of DDR memory--albeit of the older 266MHz PC2100 variety. These are fine specifications, and given the low cost of the notebook, the fact that it includes a multiformat DVD burner, 40GB hard disk and 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 graphics controller is quite impressive.

In the April 2005 issue of PC World, available now: DV movie magic -- Part one of our Digital Video Special; Centrino notebooks compared -- We put 10 of the latest Sonoma-powered portables to the test; Save big bucks on expensive overseas phone calls by using Voice Over IP! Smart talkers guide-- shows you how to do more with your multi-talented mobile phone. In the Test Centre -- Hard drives: internal and external drives compared. PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Sweet Spot and the regular sections of News, First Looks and Quick Takes, Here's How, and Backbytes.

PLUS, on the cover CD: Two free full programs -- Internet Business Promoter 4 and Starry Night Enthusiast; Exclusive video tutorial -- Back To Basics shows how to install an optical drive; Massive 430MB game demo -- Star Wars: Republic Commando; Top shareware -- protect yourself online; plus, free phone calls over the internet; plus PC Essentials, Web Essentials, Patches and Updates, HelpScreen, Browsers, Here's How and Features software.

In the March 2005 issue of PC World, available now: Do more with your digital photos; Edit photos for free; Helpscreen heroes; CES-sational show! In the Test Centre -- We test Small form factor (SFF) PCs: what to look for in barebones (mini) PCs. PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Sweet Spot and the regular sections of News, First Looks and Quick Takes, Here's How, and Backbytes.

PLUS, on the cover CD: Two free full programs -- WireFusion 3.2 and WF-3D 2.0; Free full version -- Advanced Uninstaller SE; Exclusive video Tutorial -- Back To Basics looks at installing a second hard drive; Top shareware -- graphics card toolkit; Four great game demos -- The Punisher, Chaos League, Puzzle Pirates and Scrabble; plus PC Essentials, Web Essentials, Patches and Updates, HelpScreen, Browsers, Here's How and Features software.

In the April 2004 issue of PC World, available now: Top time-saving tips -- PC secrets and shortcuts for working faster, not harder; The Linux experiment -- One man’s experience of going Microsoft-free for a month; Join the blogosphere -- How to start your own weblog; 20 things you didn’t know your PC could do; Web and You -- DIY Net defence: Setting up a firewall; LinuxWorld -- Wireless networking. In the Test Centre -- 17in LCD monitors. PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Tech.Files and Sweet Spot.
PLUS on the cover CDs:
20th Anniversary Special! 20 free games and 20 free programs; FREE version of SpamPal 1.5.3; Mars special -- recent images from the red planet; plus, Browsers, Essentials, Game demos, Patches and updates, Features, and Linux software.

In the November 2003 issue of PC World, available now: PC buyers’ superguide -- How to buy the best tech gear; 60-minute upgrades -- Boost your PC power quickly and cheaply; Pump up your PDA -- Software for work, play and travel; Office 2003 -- Should you upgrade or give it a miss? Web and You -- Beat the broadband blues; LinuxWorld -- Mono: .NET for Linux; In the Test Centre -- Graphics cards, plus the new 64-bit AMD Athlon CPU. PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Tech.Files and Sweet Spot.
PLUS on the CD:
Three free full versions WorldBuilder 2.3 worth $1500, PC Inspector File Recovery 3, Windows & Internet Washer Lite 2.3; Free audio package: Audacity; PDA software; Top shareware: anti-spyware; plus Web Essentials, Browsers, Game demos, Patches, Linux software.
AND for PC World online readers: check out this month's Web-only graphics cards Best Buys reviews.

PLUS: PC World and Adobe have four Creative Suite Premium Edition packages – each worth $2499! –to give away to four lucky readers. Click here for more details.

In the October 2003 issue of PC World, available now: Media centre PCs -- The latest home-theatre PCs, plus build your own entertainment machine; Pain-free Windows tweaks; Music encoding guide -- Compressing digital audio; Beginner’s guide to automating tasks and customising your PC;Web and You -- E-mail evolves: fight in-box overload; LinuxWorld -- Graphics with the GIMP; In the Test Centre -- Colour laser printers; PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Tech.Files and Sweet Spot.
PLUS on the CD:
Three free full versions, over $100 of free utilities -- Argentum Backup 1.5, 4Diskclean Lite 3, Globex 1.51; Top shareware: Memory utilities; plus Browsers, Essentials, Game demos, Features, HelpScreen, Patches and updates.
AND ON THE BONUS LINUX CD: Full free version of Linux Knoppix 3.2.

In the September 2003 issue of PC World, available now: The need for speed -- Broadband special report; Best free stuff -- 85+ essential tools, sites and services;Tailor-made PCs; Face to face -- Video-conferencing workshop;Web and You -- Maximum Google; LinuxWorld -- Directory services for Linux; In the Test Centre -- Webcams; PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Tech.Files and Sweet Spot.
PLUS on the CD:
Free full version -- Desktop Scout 2.21 desktop surveillance package; Broadband toolkit; Four free graphics programs; plus Browsers, Essentials, Web essentials, Game demos, HelpScreen, Patches and updates; Linux software.
SUBSCRIBER ONLY CD: Games demos, Puzzle & board games, Reader requests & suggestions

In the July 2003 issue of PC World, available now: Stealth mode -- Step-by-step guide to keep your PC secure; Cheap tweaks -- 35+ ways to boost your PC; Natural born spam killers -- The best inbox defenders; Web and You -- Users’ guide to online user reviews; Opera 7 for Linux; In the Test Centre -- Multifunction devices. PLUS, Best Buys reviews of PCs and Notebooks, Tech.Files and Sweet Spot.
PLUS on the CD:
Free full version -- SureThing CD Labeler 3.1 LE; Free full versions -- Rest Break, Smart Keys, and Caps Lock; Top shareware: Registry tools; plus Browsers, Essentials, Web essentials, Game demos, Patches and updates; Linux software.