Computer Shopper 2010-01a

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NEWS

Fake anti-vi Ns software hacks PCs for ta$h • Ballmer hints that Blu-ray is coming 10 the Xbox • Windows 7 OEM prices revealed • Half of all finns to adopt Windows 7 in fim year · Nokia sues Apple ~r ,Phone patent infringement . AMD launches new Athlon II processors · Oran~ sells 20Mbit/s broadband as standard ' 3D maps are the future, says Ordnance SUI'Vl!Y • Spammers use Microsoft's Bing to disguise b
WindDws 71aptDps

SB

With Windows 7 finally here, now's a briHiant time to buy a new laptop.We'w. gOI nine models to choose from, with prices starting at just fSOO.With an incf"t'dible array of sizes and weights, there's the perfKt model for evef)'one

MP3 players

7B

Take music, videos and photos on the move with you wherever you go wi th one of these 15 fantastic players. Prices start at just £35, so no matter what your budget, high-quality portable music and video is affordable

Inkjet printers

1S

What's New The latest shiniest kit on test, induding pes, laptops and practically anything you can plug into them

PCs & Laptops

lG

Sony's ultimate all-in-~ PC and Acer's Android-powered netbook on test

Handhelds

2G

Sony shrinks its excellent Reader to pocket proportions

Printers & Scanners

2B

Another excellent office ,nkjet from HP

Audia

38

30

Need a bigger monilor?We test the latest models

32

Fujifilm's latest EXR model is our favouri te compact camera to date

Videa

3G

48

In-depth reviews of Adobe's latest photo- and videoedi ting packages

Games Western Digital updates its excellent WOTV media player

44

All the la test SOOO-series graphics cards from ATI

Saftware

Photography

42

Our favourite security camera now has memOf}' card storage

Campanents

Displays

40

We review HP's new Windows Homt' S~er

Netwarks

SmartphDnes

9B

Takingyour life on the movt' has never been easier with modem smartphones. With high-quality touchscreens, email and web support, these 12 phonts could even replace your Laptop

Listen to your music while you're swimming with the waterproof Aquabeat

Starage

90

If you want high-quality prints for docum ents or photos, an inkjet printer is a grea t choice. This mon th we've reviewed six multifunction devices and three standalone printers. With print costs from 1.6p, they're as cheap to n.m as they are to buy

5G

Football, infantry warfare and celestial battles all feature in this month's round-up

lOB

Na hiding place Modern tKhnology makes it possible for your eXKt location to be tracked 24 hours a day. Is it an abuse of power or a way of introducing useful new services? Stewart Mitchell investigates

TI2

Stap spam farever Fed up 01your iobex being full of messages trying to sell you products you don·t want? Simon Edwards is hert' to he lp, as he shows you how to clean your email program of unwanted junk

Rise af the GPU Supercomputers have always been reserved for the rich, bu t that's all about to change. Mike Bedford explains how the graphics card cOIJld make ultra-powerful pes affordablt' for all

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COMPUTER SHOPPER • JANUARY 2(1)


120

How To •••

Helpfile

140

Share a printer with Windows Vista Arrange meetings in Windows Calendar Organise and tag photos with Picasa 3.5 Print multiple pictures on one sheet of paper Share music with Spotify Sync files with SyneToy Test your hard disk

120 121 122 124 125 126 121

WinSack nat working

140

Can't highlight text in Word 2001 Can I remove copy protection? Haw do I maximise my programs?

Haw It Works

12B

Remote access to NAS drive Running old games in Vista

140 141 141 142 142 143 143

Office Help

144

Simon Handby explains how new techniques speed up audio and video downloads

Where are bookmarks? Importing bookmarks into IE B

Our resident expert answers your software queries

Web Expert

130

Nik Rawlinson explains how to make yoor website work in mobile browsers

Competition

147

Win a stunning MSI ultra-portable laptop, eReader aM more!

Multimedia Expert

132 Mailbox

Ben Pitt shows how Photoshop Elements' blend modes can give yoor photos some pizzazz

Linux Expert

134

The open-source OS is not immune to attacks by hackers. Jon Thompson shows you how to secure yoor linu x PC

Security Expert

148

Your monthly missives 01 wit and wisdom

Under Development

159

David Robinson longs for the days when he actually met people

13&

Making online backups is the ideal way to keep your data safe. David ludlow takes you through the options

Rants & Raves

160

Mel's out to blag stuff; David doesn't want to 'think different'

Zygote

162

Zygote wonders if missiles are starti ng to mutiny

Advanced Projects

138

David ludlow completes his series on configuring your router with a look at advanced settings such as remote access

I

Classifieds

Sag a bargain in the smaller ads

Your Cover Discs 152

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JA NUARY 2010 • COMPUTER SHOPPER


155


CONTENTS

Welcome! This month, I'd like to start by congratulating

if you're looking for a new computer. With prices starting at just £500, there's certainly a bargain to ~ had. If you 'd rather cany something smaller around, but still have ac-cess to the intemet and your email, why not buy a smartphone (see page 98). We've reviewed the iPhone, but yo u can get a much better deal by buying one of our 'iPhone killers '. If music and video on the go are more your th ing, we can help with our MP3 player test (see page 78). We 've reviewed 15 of the latest models, with prices starting at just £35! There's loads more to read in thi s issue of Shopper. Our feature on geolocation shows how the increasing complexity of phones and laptops alloW!> companies to offer you services based on your exact location. Is this a benefit

Janet and Colin Westwater on their recent marriage. Colin's been a long-time reader and subscrib.er to the magazine, so when Janet got in touch before the big day to ask if we could create a special wedding cover of Shopper for them, we were only too happy to oblige. (olin, we hope it was a nice surprise and we wish you both all the best. Back to this month 's issue, and we've got tons of great products for you to buy. Our Windows 7 laptop Labs (see page 68) is ideal

PC SYSTEMS & LAPTOPS

18 72

Acer Aspire One D250 Acer Aspire Timeline 5810TG Acer Ferrari One ASu s Eee Box fB 10 12

23

18 70

Asus KSO IJ

Dell Studio l S HP ProSook 45 105 Lenovo GSSO Median Akoya E32 11 Mes,", Edge 17 HD CS

23

71 70 70 71 20 71 20 19 72 16 71

Mesh Mat rix 11 925 HD MSI CX100

PC Specialist Vortex is GTS Samsung N5 10 Samsung Q320-jS03U K Sony VPC- L11SlEIS Toshiba Satellite USOO-1 86 HANOHELOS/SMARTPHONES

Apple iPhone 3G 532GB Black HTC Hero HTC Touch 2 LG GC900 Viewty Smart lG GT505 Mio Navman Moov Spirit 500 Traffic Navman 530 30 Nokia E5S Nokia N97 Palm Pre RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 Samsung GT-17S00 Galaxy Samsung 58000 jet Sony Reader Sony Reader Pocket Edition T-Mobile Pulse Viewsonic VTV35

94 28 92 92 93 93 28 29

DISPLAYS

BenQ G2220 HD Epson EH-TW420 Mitsubishi HC5500 Panasonic PT-AE3000E Panasonic Viera TX-P42G lOB Philips Brilliance 22SP1ES Phili ps Brilliance 230C 1H SB Samsung SP-P410M

30

31 31 31 30 30 30 31

lOS 10< 103 103 lOS 27 26

100 104 104 100 lOS 103 26 26

100 27

Brother OCP-7030 29 Canon CanoScan li DE 700f 29 Canon Pixma iP l 00 with battery 28

94 93 94 92

Canon EOS 10000 & 18-S5mm IS (ens Canon I~us 200 IS Fujifilm F i nePi ~ F200EXR Fujifilm F inePi ~ F70EXR Nikon Coolpix P90 Panasonic Lumix OMC-F Z28 Panasonic Lumix OMC- L585 Panasonic l umix OMC-TZ6 Ricoh GR Digital III

David LudlDw Editor

Cowon 02+ DAB Creative Zen X-Fi 2 16GB Edifier Ell 00Plus Hercules OJ Console RMX iRiver8 308GB iRiver E200 8GB Logitech X-230 Logitech Z-5S00 Digital Philips GoG ear Muse 16GB Philips SHE 2SSO btra Bass Philips Streamium NP2900 Pure Avanti Flow 5amsung VP-P3 8GB Shure SE102 Sony wa lkrnan NWZ-E443 Sony Wa lkrnan NWZ-S544 Speedo LZR Aquabea t 2GB Viewsonic VP0500

82 8S 39 39 8S

81 38 39 86 39 39 38 82 38 SO

82 38

81

IMjWl

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Canon Pixma iP4700 Canon Pixma MP6 40 Epson Stylus Office B40W Epson Stylus SX2 1S

HP Officeje t 6000 HP Officeje t 7000 HP Photosmart Plus B209 Kodak ES P 5250 Lexmark Interac t S605 Lexmark Platinum Pro905 5amsung CLP-315 5amsungML-1915

to us all, or a scary breach of privacy? Find out on page 108. Finally, you may think graphics cards are only good for playing games, but the truth is they are revolutionising -computing. Their powerful processors are ~gi nning to be used for other computing tasks, where they're much faster than CPUs. Find o ut how the days of the supercomputer could be numbered, as we look at how standard graphics cards produce faster results for less cash on page 116.

33 34 33 33 34 32 33 32 32

HP Media5mart EX490 40 Iomega eGo Portable 500GB 40 5amsuflg SE-S084 41 Samsung Story Station 1TB 41 Seagate Barracuda 1200.1 1 l .5TB 41 Sony ORX-S70U-W 40 Western Digital My Book World Edition 1TB 40 Western Digital Scorpio Blue 640GB 41

37 36 36 36 37 37 37

3 Mobile Broadband Netgear WN OR3700 Linksys WAG 160N-UK Linksys WRT320 N Linksys WVC54GCA V-Cam Black 50

VIDEO

Flip Ultra HO Humax PV R-9300T Med ion life 547000 Philips BDP7300 Sony HO R-CX l l E Westem Digital WO TV Live Xtrea mer AUDIO Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra Apple iPod Classic 160GB Apple iPod Nano 16GB Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB Apple iPod Touch64GB Archos 28GB Archos 3 Vision 8GB

NI':TWORKS

.!it

1:liJ·111~1iii AMD Phenom II

39 86

as

80 86

80 81

X2 550 Black Edition Antec Solo Asus P7P550 Deluxe AM D Athlon II X4 620 Gigabyte GA-M 720-US3 Sapphire Radeon HO 5750 Sapphire Radeon HO 5770

JA NUARY 2010 . COMPUTERSHOPPER


42 42

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42 43

... .. 45

45 44

Sapphire Ra de on HO 5850 l GB45 SOFTWARE

Accountz Personal Acronis True Image Home 20 10 Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 Adobe Premiere Elements 8 Mapyx Quo v2 McAfee Virus Scan Plus 2009 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium MindGenius 3 Serif PagePlus X4 Stein be rg Cubase Essential 5 GAMES Aion: The Tower 01 Eternity Batman: Arkham Asylum FIFA 10 Operation Flashpoi nt: Dragon Rising Overlord II Plants vs. Zombies Tales of Monkey Island The Sims 3

50 49 48 52 49 50 49 52 50 50

57 56 56 57 56 56 56 56

BYTE SIZE

Altec lansing Expressionist Classic Exspect Drop 'n' charge Kit Xbox 360 F reetal~ Everyman S11 5 QOOS leather and nylon case lor Sam sung VP-P3 Tech Air 450 1 17in Messenger Bag Tenbu Nio Bluetooth security dongle TVdean Co mbo Pac k Ultim ate Ears MetroFi 220vi

24 23 23

20 18 18 20 24

Fake anti-virus software hacks pes for cash

O

nline criminals are infecting PCs with fake anti-viros software and conning their victims into h.mding over their credit card details. According to estimates from security firm Symantec, the criminals behind this scam are netting O\fl!r £850,000 pt'r year. The company claims that the vast majority of victims (93 pt'r cent) actually download the rogue security programs intentionally, believing they will help keep their computers safe from viroses and other internet threats. PCs can also fall foul of the threat by visiting malicious or hacked websites that install the software automatically. Computer Shopper's own virus-testing lab has frequently encountered fake anti-virus programs, which install themselves automatically when you visit a hacked website. These programs are 'embedded' into websites ranging from 'honeypots' (such as pornographic sites designed to ensnare victims) to legitimate but hacked sites including those belonging to a bank, a Ch inese tea-importing business and a well-known author. "What happt'ns with these infections is that a fake anti-virus program pops up and tells you that you've got a virus. The fake software tries to force you to register in order to remove the inf«tions from your PC, which requires you to enter your credit card

details,~

explained Shopper's features editor, Simon Edwards. "It will continually harass you until you do." Symantec daims it has identified over 2S0 types of the rogue software. These are spread across the internet by a network of criminals who earn commissions from the big players. Con Mallon, product mari;eting director for Symantec, told Shopper: "We found a number of affiliate networks that we were able to monitor to see how they were opt'rating. We know how much the affiliates are paid per installation. Some pt'ople earn $23,000 (around £14,000) a week, which comes to O\fl!r $ 1 m pt'r year.~ In the UK, affiliates c.m e,nn ,nound 30 to 40 pence per installation. This may not sound much, but Mallon points out that PCs belonging to thousands of people are being infected. This is a lucrative business for the criminal con artists. · People go looking for security software and end up on fake sites," he said. "Pop-ups fool them into thinking there 's a problem and they panic-buy the software. Fake anti-virus software can look incredibly convincing. Computer Shopper has infected a system in our dedicated virus-testing lab and created some video footage, which you can watch at http://tinyur/. comlfakeiIVSw. We've. also included some scr~nshots below so you'll know what to look out for. N

--_--._-..--..._ .... _-. -_.. ----

A If you ~ttempt to remove ~ ny of the viru ses from your system using the fake software. It will ask yoo to register and enter yoor credit card detail.

A The fake ~nti-viru. software will claim that multiple viruses are Installed 0<1 yoor machine to create an element of fear, uncertainty and doobt

Ballmer hints that Btu-ray is coming to the Xbox

For d~lty n~ws, plene visit compute,shoppe, co uk

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Microsoft chief executive Stevt' Ballmer has hinted tha t Blu-ray will be coming to the Xbox 360 in an interview with tech blog Gizmodo, during which he le t slip that the HD format would be ava ilable on Xbox. · We lll don't ~now if we need to put Blu -ray in t here." he sa id. · You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories." This would follow t he pattem t he comp.1ny set when it launched its external USB HD DVD drive. Ballmer's comments would seem to hint that Microsoft won't sell the Xbox 360 with a built- in Bill -ray drive like the Play$tat ion 3. There's no word yet as to whe n an external drive will be launched or how much it will cost. Then there

S'u-rauD/sc

are the additi onal qu estions t hat ne ed to be answered, such as how you'll get full HD aud io out of the console. According to reports, the Xbo~ 360 Elite has an HD MI 1.2 output, which doesn 't support DolbyTrue HD or DTS- HD Master Au dio.A huge number of Xbox 360 owners have consoles withou t HDMI out puts, mea ning they don't even have t he facili ty to output HD audio. For HD Blu-ray audio, any external drive will either need to provide a dedicated sound output or the console will have to be upgraded . It remai ns to be see n if anyone will buy the externa l Blu-ray drive, since most people t hat want Blu-ray will already have a dedicated player or a P!aySt ation 3. COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

NEWS

Windows 7 OEM prices revealed The Windows 7 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) prices have been revealed in online shops, and

they're a chunk cheaper than the full boxed versioos. Oyyy.co.uk is selling Windows 7 Home Premium OEM for £78, a saving of £72 on the boxed edition's price of f 150. Windows 7 Professional OEM will cost around f 110 (a Silving 01 £110 on the boxed wr5ion's price of £220); U!timate OEM will cost around f 140 (a saving of £90 on the boxed version's price of £230). The

prices are identical for the 3Z-bit and M -bil versions, While these deals seem good, there are some

restrictions and problems. First, retailers are heavily discounting the boxed versions afWindows 7. Amazon is currently selling Home Premium for just E9O, Professional for f 148 and Ultimate for £160.

These are better deals while you can get them, as there aren't the same licence restrictions on the boxed

Half of all firms to adopt Windows 7 in first year According to a survey of 1,200 companies, nearly half of th em plan to deploy Windows 7 in its first year of availability. A further 11 per cent of the surveyed companies said they'd adopt the new OS as soon as Microsoft releases the first service pack. The survey was conducted by Bostonbased Information Technology Intelligence Corp, a technology analyst firm run by industry veteran laura DiDio. DiDio said that there was no influence or funding from Microsoft and she hadn't yet informed the software gia nt of the results. "[Microsoft] needed a winner, and it looh like it has it, barring any unforeseen mishaps, such as some egregious bug," said DiDio. Most companies have avoided upgrading to Vista and stuck with the now eight-year-old Windows Xf'. DiDio believes that the positive attitude towards Windows 7 comes in part from the good experiences IT departments have had while testing the beta and release candidate builds of the new OS. In fact, almost 80 per cent of those who have tested Windows 7 said it was either 'e~cellent " or "very good'. "Overall, the mood based on the survey comments is generally positive. However, some corporate customers did voice healthy scepticism on issues ranging from application compatibility to upgrade pricing for the commercial and business editions of Windows 7: summarised DiDio. However, 40 per cent of those surveyed said they have no specific plans forWindows 7. Most cited satisfaction with their current Windows Xf' or Vista infrastructures; the lad of a compelling business reason to make the shift; and the importance of compatibility with the applications they use. Clearly, ma ny companies are not convinced that Windows XP Mode is the solution at the moment.

versions as there are on the OEM editions. The OEM products are designed to be used by system builders and don't come with any Microsoft support. You're also not supposed to be able to purchase them if you're not also buying parts for a PC at the same time, Moreover, they can be installed only on a single computer and have to be installed with a clean install (you can't upgrade an existing versions of Windows). OEM versions of Windows are a great choice if you're building a new PC and want to save money, but if you can find the full versions cheaply, you'll have more flexibility in the future. As usual, the UK's OEM prices are significantly higher than the US prices. Currently, Windows 7 Home Premium OEM is selling for S110 (around £69), Professional OEM costs roughly 5140 (around £88) and Ultimate OEM is selling for 5190 (around £119).

... OEMeditions of Windows will be more attractive when the dlscounte-d retail ve~ions disappear

Nokia sues Apple over iPhone patent infringement Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is suing Apple in the US for infringing on its patents for mobile phone technology allegedly included in the US company's phenomenally successful iPhone. According to a statement released by Nokia. Apple is infringing on 10 patents "fundamental to making devices l'Ihich are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCOMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.NO\(ia claims to have invested more than 4000 {around £37bn} in research and development over the past 20 years. "The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate them for: said llkka Rahnasto, vice-president of legal and intellectual property at Nokia, The Finnish giant was involved in a similar court feud with Qualcomm a couple of years ago,l'Ihen both companies sued and counter-sued, with Qualcomm threatening to have No\(ia phones removed from sale in the US. It seems that the value of a mobile phone manufacturer is not just in its market share but also its intellectual property portfolio. Mobile firms can make money by licensing this patented technology to other companies. While Nokia is still responsible for the majority of smartphone sales. with SO per cent 01 the market, this has fallen from 72 per cent three years ago. Apple now has 14 per cent of the total smartphone ma rket. In a recent note to investors, analyst Gene Munster at investment bank Piper jaffray said: 'We believe [Nokia] has been in talks With Apple concerning a patent royalty payment for over a year. It appears that the companies have not come to a resolution and Nokia is attempting to hasten the process. Nokia is likely looking to

JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTER SHOPPER


obtain a patent royalty of one or two per cent (56 to 512) on every Whone sold." While it seems this is simply a bargaining move by Nokia to hasten the payment of royalties. the Finnish company must be smarting at the impact the iPhone has had on its market share. The iPhone's ease of use and touchscreen interface has raised the bar in the industry and made Nokia's Symbian operating system on smart phones such as the N97 look outdated. Further pressure has been piled on by Google, which has introduced the Android operating system. like Symbisn,Android is an open-source platform but, unlike Symbian, it's a popular platform for developers.

... Nokia w~n t s Apple to !MY royalties on every iPhone sold to date

NEWS

AMD launches new Athlon II processors AMO has launched several new Alnico II processors that use even less power than previous models. In addition to the standardpower processors, the lull Athlon II family now includes high-performance, low-power models with two, three and foof cores.

AMO aims to underwt Intel's low-end Core 2 Duo desktop processors, claiming that the new 2.8GHz Athlon II X2 240e performs up to 70 per cent better in media and entertainment benchmarks than a 2.8GHz (Ofe 2 Duo E7400. With power consumption of just 45W compared with the (7400'5 65W, it should be suitable for

use in all-in-one

pes withO\.lt overheating.

Anot her newcomer is the triple -core Athlon II

X3 435. AMD claims this is up to 7S per cent faster than a Core 2 Duo E8500 in certain

benchmarks and it has the highest clock speed in the new Athlon II range at 2.9GHl, UK prices for most of the new CPUs haven't been confirmed yet,Typically, the 'e' modets cost more because of their low thermal design power (TOP), so we e~pect the Athlon II X2 240e to cost more than the Athlon II X2 250, for example. We've found both the Athlon II X3 435 and 425 in stock at Scan.co.uk, which list5 them at £64 and £57 respectively. It's difficult to gauge how these will compare with existing processors, but they'll probably follow a similar pattern to the Phenom II X3 720, The X3 720 performs well in multi-core optimised applications but is less impressive in applications that don't use more than two cores - we'll bring you reviews of the new chips as soon as we can,

--.~

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CWlytme calls and line rental 1rcm t10· . _

• •• ... Orange hopes to draw customers away from BT with cheaper line rental

Orange sells 20Mbit/ s broadband as standard Orange has announced that it will make download speeds of ·up to 20Mbitls· standard across all it5 home broadband packages with immediate effect. This will apply to all customers in Orange's home broadband netwolt areas. The company is also introducing four new price plans, starting from as little as £6,50 per month. All new customers will be able to download as much multimedia content as they want. with an unlimited usage allowance across all price plans. This is, of course, subject to a fair usage policy. As part of the refresh, Orange's Home Ma~ package, which comes With a wireless router, will include evening and weekend calls to UK landlines, Home Max is free for the first three months, after which it costs £6.50 per month for Orange mobile pay monthly customers and £9.50 per month for everyone else. Customers will need to pay an additional £10.50 per month for line rental - a saving compared with BT's standard f 11.25 line rental charge.

Home Ultra, one of the new plans, includes the Orange Livebox wireless router, which can connect up to six computers at a time,The package also enables subscribers to make calls to 30 countries at any time, including calls to UK landlines, Home Ultra costs from £10.50 per month for Orange mobile pay monthly customers, and £13.50 for everyone else. Finally, the no-frills options are called Home Starter and Home Select. Home Starter comes With wireless home broadband, and Orange'slandline service provides inclusive evening and weekend calls to UK landlines.lt costs f7 per month for Orange pay monthly mobile customers and £10 for everyone else. Home Select is aimed at customers who want broadband only, and costs from £9 per month for Orange pay monthly mobile customers and £ 12 for everyone else,This package also includes a wireless router, For more details, visit Orange's website at http://shop.orange. co.uk/broadband.

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3D maps are the future, says Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey has been conducting trials in the use of accurate lasers to create a detailed 30 map of Bournemouth.lt claims the lasers could change the way the national mapping agenc::y works and transform the way we think of maps. Experts say the technology could revolutionise personal navigation, tourism and planning. as well as aiding architects and the emergern;y and security services. Glen Hart, head of research at Ordnance Survey, said "Threedimensional maps in themselves areo't new, but what we've achieved in Boumemouth is a level of accuracy and detail that's never been done before." During the three-year trial, Ordnance Survey captured every square metre of Boumemouth with a combination of land-based and aerial survey using high-accuracy lasers. 'We started by collecting the terrain, then vegetation before

adding individual buildings, the road network and aerial imagery," explained Hart , "Given the level of detail that we've achieved, I think Bournemouth can confidently lay claim to being the best mapped place on the planet,' he added. Hart went on to say that maps like this could be useful for the emergenc::y services, for example, which would be able to visualise the scene of an incident before arriving. although this is already possible to some e>('[ent With Google's Street View, Ordnance Survey has also seen in terest from businesses that want to view buildings in 3D and calculate heat lost from individual floors and walls to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions, Detailed mapping in 30 should be here within the next five years. You can see a video of the 3D map of Bournemouth at http://tinyur/. comlyg56lpl.

... Ordnance SUrvey used accurate lasers to capture Boornemouth In 3D COMPUTER SHOPPER · JANUARY 2010

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NEWS

Spammers use Microsoft's Bing to disguise bad links

IN BRIEF DEU SHOWS ADAMO XPS TEASER PHOTOS After unvei ling the forthcoming Adamo XPS laptop on 09/09/09, Dell has released two more teaser photos of the ultra ·slim laptop, which is leu than 10mm thick. No ot her details of t he XPS model are known, but it will be the ultimate model in Dell's laptop lineup.

Internet security firm Webfoot has discovered tha t spammers are using a combination of Bing's RSS feed

link redirection addresses and link shrinking to bypass sparn filters when sending links over email. 5p<1mmer$ afe always looking for new ways to

make their links seem legitimate. Webfoot has discovered a qUirk in the way Microsoft's Bing search engine formats links when it displays an RSS feed. Spammers have already used this to make links in their ema ils look at lir.st glance as if they originate

with Bing. This can fool spam filters even more easily than it fools careless users. 'When you view an RSS feed in Bing (such as their news feed, for example) aU the dickable linh in the feed use Bing's internal redirect ion mechanism, so before 'Iou end up on the neW5 story 'Iou want to read, 'lour broW5er fim connects to www.bing.com/news/rssdick. asp~?redir", followed by the full URL of the site 'Iou intend to visit,' e~plained threat expert Andrew Brandt. "The thing is, anyone can plug anything into the end of that URl, and it'll red irect to that site. For in sta nce,

... Bing's RSS redirects a.e a security concern

DDR2 MEMORY PRICE RISESTO NEW HIGH

'Iou could come back to the front page of this blog. Of course, there's nothing in place to prevent a criminal from redirecting users to something worse, like a drive-by download or phishing page." As always, our advice is to avoid clicking on links in random emails. Always hOlIer 'lour mouse over any link 'Iou receive, read the full URl ca refully and beware of partially obfuscate d or shortened URLs - or URls with a bing.com rssclick rl'dire ct in them.

Since August, the price of memory has been ste, dily increasing and hu now ruched a level where manufact urers are adding surcharges to previousty reviewed PCs. Mesh, for example has added f20 to the price of both its Matrix II 620 HO (see L,bs, Shopper 262) , nd th e Matrix 11925 HD (see page 20).

TOMTOM COMBINES SATNAV AND RADIO

Product Update: Mesh Matrix II IT Mesh's Mat rix II IT PC won a Best Buy award in Labs, Shoppe' 261, but the company has since made some changes to its specification that readers should note. While the Ma t rix IIITbundle is still on sale, the processor in our review system (a Phenom X4 9950) has been discontinued. Mesh has replaced this with the brand new Athlon II X4 620,We have re -tested the PC with the new processor, and can confirm that it's now slightly faster. The previous Overall score of 85 has risen to 88 with the Athlon II, and each of the sub-ca tegories has seen a similar increase.

If 'Iou try to order the PC from Mesh's website, you'll see that the monitor has also changed to a 22in full HD model. However, you can amend this by clicking the Customise button and choosing the 20in monitor that we reviewed. You may also want to remove the surge protector and anti-virus software from the basket. This will take the price down from f545 to f499, the original price. According to Mesh, the change was necessary because it was having trouble sourcing the liyama E2008HD$ monitor that it included with t he Pc.

The rest of the spe cifications have remained the same, and the change in processor doesn't affect the Best Buy award. It's still a great-value computer. On a related note, Mesh has changed the graphics card in its Best Buy-winning IceS 750 CS PC (see Labs, Shopper 262) from a Radeon 4890 to a 5770, In our view this is an acceptable substitute, as its performance is virtually the same, and you gain triple-monitor support, EyeFinity, DirectX 11 and PAP support (the latt er supports HD audio output via HDMI).

Acer working with Google to deliver Chrome OS According to Jim Wong. Acer's preside flt of IT products global operations, Acer is working with Google on Chrome OS and plans to announce the fruits of the collaboration next year. At a press conference in london, Acer's CEO and president, Gianfra flco land, described Chrome as a ·viable altemative to Windows operating systems for web applications on different mobile devices". Chrome OS is rumoured to be a stripped-down Linu~ distribution that uses Google's Chrome browser as the interface for web services. After the launch of Acer's dual-boot Windows 7 and Android netbook and an Android smartphone, Acer looks to be hedging its bets between an open -source,

Click: dell.co.u k

Goog\e -based strategy and its traditional relationYJip with Microsoft for PCs and mobiles. Lanci discussed offering customers a homogeneous environment across all devices, and Acer's plans to ship its Android phones with Acer Sync 1.0 hints that it may develop its own user interface on top of Android . By adopting Chrome OS,Acer would have greater freedom to bring this user interface to the desktop, too. An open-source approach would also make sense if this customisation e>(!ended to other devices such as TVs, which have more hardware restrictions.lanci predicts greater convergence between PCs and phones, and a more flexible OS strategy would suit devices that fall between netbooks and smart phones.

TomTom hu announced , new satnav that Includes I radio and IPod contro ls.The TomTom GO 1-90 is a double-height unit that replaces the car's e~isting r,dio. Th. satnav p,rt is remov, ble, which means you can take it wit h you and even use it In other cars..

SOHC CARD GIVES YOUR CAMERA WIFI The Eye-FI combines a normal SOHC me mory card with a tiny wireless networking adaptor that supportsWEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption stand,.ds. Once configured, it allows you to automatica lly uptoad every photo or video you save on the card to your PC or even your favourite video or photo sharing websites, such IS Fllckr, Facebook, Picasa andYouTube.

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Asus reveals first Core i7 laptops Asus has launched its first Core i7laptops, the G60J and M60j. Until now, Intel's powerful Core i7 processors have been limited to desktop pes, but Asu s's new laptops are th e first we've seen

with the mobile versions of Intel's flagship chips. The G60J is equipped with a (Oft i7 72OQM.

like its desktop counterparts, it's a quad-core processor with Hyper-Threading, which ma~es Windows treat it as having eight cores. It should

therefore speed through programs designed to take advantage of multiple cores, stich as video-editing suites. The laptop is atso equipped with 4GB of RAM and two 500GB hard disks, 001 these can't be

configured as a RAID array. The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M graphics chip has 1GB of

memory. There's also a Blu-ray drive for watching movies, but it can't bum Blu-ray discs as well.

Although there's a 16in screen, its 1 ,366~768 resolution is small compared those of other 16in laptops we've seen, some of which are as high as l ,92Oxl,08O pi~e15.ln our brief tests, the large keyboard was comfortable to use, and the backlit keys were good for working in dim conditions. The numeric keypad is small compared with a standard desktop keyboard's, though. The touchpad felt accurate, but the metallic buttons were a little stiff. The G60J is a powerful desktop-replacement laptop, but it's quite e~pensive at f 1,700. A cheaper alternative is the M60J.lts specification is similar to th e G60j's bu t it has a different graphics chip - a 1GBGeForce GT240M. The keybOilrd is just as large as the G60j's, but the keys have a grainy texture, aren't backlit and felt springier. There's a numeric keypad but,

.. The Core i7 processor is available in a laptop

like the G60j's, it's smaller than a keypad on a desktop keybOilrd.The touchpad is large and felt accurate, but the bu ttons have a slippery texture and felt wobbly. It's conSiderably cheaper at f 1,300.The M60J will be available shortly, wh ile the G60J will be available in November.

Logitech announces Squeezebox Touch The Squeezebox Touch is the spiritual successor to the original Squeezebox Classic in that it has no built-in speakers and is designed to be connected to a high-quality amplifier. The 4.3in colour touchscreen is smaller than we'd like, but it's likely to be the cheapest option to make, as most satnavs have a touchscreen this size. The Touch's menu is quite different to those of previous Squeeze box mode15, with icons that make it easier to find what you're looking for. Importantly, the local and internet music sources have been combined, which mea ns an end to the rather confusing separat ion of SqueezeCenter and SqueezeNetwork. Of course, you still have access to any intemet radio station and podcast you like, as well as all the music on your home network. In our brief test of the demo unit, we were impressed with the touchscreen's responsiveness. It did everything we asked of it and seemed as accurate as an iPhone's. We couldn't test its

ambie nt light sensor, though. We were also pleased to see the addition of a USB port and SO card rea der, which allows you to play music or view photos from a local drive rather than having to keep the SqueezeCenter server running on a computer somewhere on the network. The audio specifications are also imp ressive. Enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the internals have been upgraded and now support sampling rates of up to 24-bit/ 96KHz. Outputs remain the same, with both coaxial al1d optical S/POIF, plus stereo phono and a 3.Smm headphone mini-jack. There's no Draft-N WiFi, but there's support forWPS, which means one-touch wireless setup with compatible routers. It still has an Ethernet port, too. While many internet reta ilers are current ly listing the Touch for £249, it won·t be available to buy until much nearer Christmas. We hope this price drops, as we can't

see many people being prepared to spend this much for a touchscreen player when there are so many cheaper alternat ives available, not least remote control apps for older, cheaper Squeezeboxes that nm on smartphones, such as iPeng for iPhone and iPod Touch.

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THIS MONTH Sony's awesome new all-in-one PC opens this month's innovation-packed What's New. We've also looked at the first Android-powered netbook (see page 18),

as Google's smartphone operating system makes the jump to pes. A range of intriguing new gadgets starts with Sony's Reader Pocket Edition on page 26, while on page 33 we've got

Fujifilm's FinePix F70EXR, which takes brilliant pictures in poor lighting. FinaLLy, Western Digital's excellent WD TV media player has been updated (see page 37). If you're looking to upgrade your PC, we've reviewed three of All's new SOaO-series graphics cards: the HD 5850,

5770 and 5750. We've also tested the world's cheapest quad-core processor, the Athlon II X4 620, all on pages 44 and 45. For creative types, there are reviews of Adobe's Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 8 (pages 48 and 52). Finally, if you need to store lots of files you should check out HP's MediaSmart EX490 home server on page 40.

Seth Barton Reviews Editor seth@computerstlOpperco uk

SONY VPC-L

*****

£1,389 inc VAT From www.cheapelectricals,co,uk

Sony's VPC-l ll Sl EIS is a long way from the raft of cut-price nettops we've 5een in recent months, costing a whopping £ 1,389. Behind its huge 24in touchscreen display is an impressive specification, though, with all the extras you'd expect at this price. In fact it's more t han just a PC; it's also an adequate replacement for yoorTV, The 24in screen means it's big enough for use as yoor main TV if you have a small living room, or as a second set in a bigger home, A dual OVB-TTV tuner is fitted, allowing yoo to use Windows 7's excellent Media (enter to watch and record programmes simultaneously, as well as browse photos and music. There's also a built-in Blu-ray dri\le, so you can play HO movies using the prO\lided WinOVO software, The amazing display has a FuU-HO resolution of 1,92Oxl ,060. II's an optical touchscreen system, using IR 5ensors around the displays, so there are no extra layers between you and the image. With \librant colours, consistent backlighting and plenty of deta il, it's as impressi\le as any lCOTV we'\le seen, It can even be used as one, too, thanl>s to its HOMI and AV inputs. These let you plug in an HO camcorder or play games on a console, TV controls, such as volume and source, are on the right-hand side, and also on the supplied Media Center remote, There's e\len picture-inpidure, so you can keep an eye on another \lideo source while working on your Pc. Its PC specifications aren't quite so exciting, The 3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 processor and 4GB of RAM scored a respectable 86 overaU in our benchmarks. It's not best-suited for serious \lideo editing. but anything else will be fine, The touchscreen supports multi-tooch gestures, which is grealfor browsing and

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maniplilating images in software that sllpports it. The remaining on standby al all limes. This mearlt it lIsed Nvidia GeForce G2 10M chipset didn't impress in Ollr ll W even when it was effectively switched off, gaming tests, thollgh 'lOll can play mod em titles at low Th e VPC- L11S1 EfS's dosest competitors are Apple's resollitions and detaille~ls, 24in iMac and DeU's XPS One 24, both of which are The whole lInit is pleasing on the Similarly priced at £ 1,499,The iMac SUMMARY eye and feels swrdily constrllcted, has flO Blu-ray drive,TV tuner or VERDICT TneVPC·L 11SlE/S'5 design Is tOllchscreen, making it seem poor We partiwlarly appreciated the lack so flawle", it'slik~ Sony has built a PC of a separate power slipply, with a value. The XPS has a more powerful into a TV, rath~r than vic~ Vf'r ... simple kettle lead plugging straight quad-core processor, but has only a AU-lN ·ONE PC I "t~leor. 2 Duo E8400, single TV tuner, so 'lOll can't wa tch into the InlCk. The Iront is plain WinOOws 7 Home "'emium 54·bit, 4GB except lor three small indicato!" arid record, arid riO touchscreerl. RAM, SOOGB hard disk. Nvidia Gdor<:~ lights, inclllding one for the bu ilt-in G210M, DVD_I_RW _I-DL BD· ROM, It may be e~perlsive, bul the 141n "'~S<"'en lCDt""chs<~, 802, 11n wireless_On the left are VPC-l llS lEiS has everything 'lOll 430.SS3. 71mm (184mmo.pth inc memory card readers for SDHC and could want from an aU-in-one Pc. ,tand),,,,,,, ·yur RTS worr.my The monitor is superb, it loob great, Memory Stick formats, along with POWER CONSUMPTION llW st¥ldby, arid it's an excellent TV arid Blu-ray two USB ports, FireWire, headphone, 9()W idl., U1W act;"" PAATCOD£ Vpe·Ll1S1EIS player. We're still not convirlced that microphone arid lirle out mirlijacks, tOllchscreen interfaces are the On the back are three USB ports, 10/100 Ethemet arid an optical Iliture, but if you're happy to spend this much money on a PC then you S/PDIF Olltput, The built- in speakers a re capable, but a bit lac~ing in bass. ce rtainly want one irlduded.lt wins Our early review unit wOlildn't our Ultimate award. hibemate flilly, with the display Seth Barton

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PREVIEW ASUS Eee Box EB1501 Asus's Eee 80x EB1012 (see page 18) can do most things a full-sized PC can do, However, it lacks a built-in optical drive. If you want to watch DVDs or bllm discs, the new Eee Box EB1501 comes complete with a slot-loading DVD writer. Like the EB1012 it's equipped with Nvidia's HD -cap.1ble Ion graphics chip, a dllal-core Atom 330 processor, 2GB of RAM arid a 250GB hard disk , ~spite being capable of playing HD video, there's no Blu-ray drive. Although compact, it's chunkier than previous Eee 80~ models. Despite this, it can still be mounted on the back of a monitor using the il"lduded VESA mounting ~it.lt will be available shortly for around £339 inc VAT, bllt we're hoping that retail prices will be lower, as this is £59 more than the EB1012 currently sells for - a considerable price hike for an optical drive.

Barry de la RDSa Laptops and harldhelds expert



PC SYSTEMS IHAPTOPS

BYTE SIZE

ACER

TENBU

Aspire One D250

Nio

***

TECHNOLOGIES

***

£40 inc VAT From www.b lue ni o.

, om

The Nio is a keyfob+

sized Bluetooth device that can be attached to anything with a lanyard hole. You pair it wit h your mobile, and it sound s an

alarm jf moved too far away. There are three levels of risk. In our tests, even the highest security setting let us walk down two flights of stairs be fore t he ala rm sounded.You

can also t rigger t he Nio's alarm viii Bluetooth to help you locate it, and set it to alert you immediately if it's moved. The Nio is easy to set up, but t he secu rity settings aren't sensitive enough; if a thief had

our briefcase and got down two flights of stairs, it would be too late. But if you travel regularly and are worried about casual theft, it may provide

some peace of mind. Barry de la Rosa OETAILS www.bllm....com

TECH AIR

450117in Messeng Bag

****

£280 inc VAT Fro m www_amazo n_co.uk

Acer's newest Aspire One netbook is the first computer we've seen that runs Android. Google's mobile operating system. It also comes with Wi ndows. and you can choose to boot into either OS. Apart from its dual operating systems. the D250 is a pretty standard netbook. The Intel Atom N270 processor, 160GB hard disk and 1GB of RAM performed just below what we'd expect for such a specification. This is attributable to it running Windows 7 rather than Windows XP.lt·s the Starter Edition that's installed. which lac~ Media supports a maximum resolution of 1.024x600. This Center and the 3D desktop. makes working in Windows feel cramped. but is huge Android boots up much quicker than Windows 7. compared to an Android smartphone. The display is butthe stripped-down version installed is barely useful. bright and has accurate colours. Acer hasn't used the full width of the case for the Any changes to yourGoogle account settings have to be dooe in Windows rather than Android. Google Mail keyboard. and even with small keys. the layout has synchronisation with your Google account isn't been compromised - the Enter key is half-height and included as standard. with only calendars and cootacts the Backslash key has moved. The raised shape of the synchronising automatically. You don't even have direct keys makes them ea"f to type on. though. and they provide crisp feedback. The small access to the Android Market, So you can't install any new touchpad has a single. see-saw SUMMARY button with little travel. applications. leaving you with just VERDICT ~ indu.ion of Android i, Many of the features that make the basic set of apps (such as the ultimately disappointing. and othelWfse browser. email and media player). Android exciting - the Market. the 0250 Isjust another netbook furthermore, Android is hassle-free Google synchronisation NmOOlC 1.6GH! Int. IAtorn N270. 1GB designed to be controlled by a and touchscreen control - are RAM. l6OGBdi'k.1I1I. IGM .... 950 graphic.. 10.lin wideS<1ff<1 LCO. Windows 7 Starter. missing from the 0250. Windows touchscreen. and using the tiny "".-year RTB warranty. 2S9>2()4"3-4mm. touchpad is laborious. Having a lull 7 is a far more useful operating 1.4kg QWERTY keyboard is certainly a big system. However. with a small POWER CONSUMPTION OW ,t .... db)'. 13W plus. though. especially when using keyboard and touch pad. we l (le.16W""t ~ PAltT COOl LU.S6800.0S9 the quick-boot ing Android to check wouldn't rush out to buy the D250 your email and fire off quick replies. yet. Plenty of other Windows 7 PERfORMIINCE (_ _ ... A battery IiiI.' of just under netboo~ are becoming ava ilable. seven hours in our light-usage test and we think Samsung's N140 (full is respectable. though the best review next month) will give the 11& netboo~ manage over nine. As D250 some stiff competition . .~ with most netboo~. its screen Barry de la Rosa

-I

£34 inc VAT

From www.laptops dlrect.co. uk Walking around with Tech Air's huge 4501 bag might make you look like a postman. but it's large enough to hold a 17in laptop. The in ternal padded laptop compartment measures 420x300x4Smm. It has an easy·to-access MP3 player holder inside a zip pocket on the side. This is attached to a strap, ensu ring you don't drop it. and there'S a route for a headphone cable. There's also a mobile phone holder, a front zip pocket, a Velcro pocket for documents and a padded organiser.lt·s great value if you can live with the colour. but it's a shame there's not much room in the bag for additional bulky items. such as a change of clothes. Jim Martin

EDITOR'S CHOICE ASUS

Eee Box EB1012

J

*****

£280 inc VAT Fro m ~~."" "."o."k

Asus' new Eel' Bo~ looks almost identical to previous models. but it has been thoroughly overhauled inside. It has a dua l-core Atom processor and Nvidia's Ion chipset. whic h can play HD video and pl"ovides plenty of ports. Six USB ports are provided for add ing peripherals and stora~ devices. and it includes 802.11n lor fast wireless networking. As well as a VGA ou tput. there's an HDMI port for connecting •• t he fB1012 to an HDTV. The dual-core Atom 330 and 2GB of RAM really make a difference in everyday use. with much snappier Windows performance; it scored 50 per cent higher in our benchmarks than most nettops. Windows Xi' still ships on many nettops. bu t the EB10l2 uses the far more sophist icated Windows 7. About the size of a hardback nove l. the EB1012 comes with a VESA moont and so can be mounted on

--

•

NmOP l.6GHz Im.l . . tom 330. W,J>dow, 7 Home Premium. ZGB RAM. 2SOGBnard disk. NY;dia GoIOf<_ 94OOM. 222Y178x27mm. twQ-y. ar cQUect and return W
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the back of a mon itor, creating a compact all-in-one Pc. Small. quiet and ye t powerful enough for HO movies and Windows 7. it's the combination of smart hardware design and a dual-core processor that edges it ahead of the competition. COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010



SAM SUNG N510

***

£38D inc VAT From www.laptopsdirect.co.uk

Samsung's N510 looks like a slightly larger seen, The finish is a strange mixture of glossy and version of the company's N120 (see tabs, matt, It makes colours appear a little more Shopper 260), which is our pick of the current s.aturated, but doesn't entirely diffuse crop of netbooks.lt has the s.ame basic design, reflections on the screen. We found vertical With a glossy lid and a sturdy casing with viewing angles a bit limited as well. chrome detailing. The screen is larger, though This is Samsung's first use of Nvidia's Ion - 11.6in to the N120's 1O.1in - with an increase chipset, which means the NS10 can smoothly in resolution from 1,024x600 to 1,366x768. This play back lOBOp HD video, something most netbooks can't marlilge. is a 70 per cent increase However, it will have to in deSKtop space, which SUMMARY downscale such content to removes Ihe cramped VERDICT It, 72Op·upabl~ .,:r~ and feeling common when show it on its 72Op-capable Ion chi p",t ar ~ _lcome,but it. baUff)' working on many netbooks. screen. Alternatively, you can life Is poorwmpared to tho N120 It's a high resolution connect a Full-HD display via NETBOOK 1.&6GHI Int~1 Atom NlBO, considering the physical lG8 RAM, l6OG8 disk, Nvidi~G.f ...ce the HDMI port to get the best 9400M &r~pI>ks, 11.6in w;O''' .... n lCO. dimensions of the screen, so possible picture. Wlndow, XP H"",," Edit""', ..... _ye ... RTB while you'll see much finer Yoo'll need to use w;"'~ nty , 3O>c289x200mm, 1.4I;g detail in photos and movies, headphones or external 1'OWlRCONSUMPTION lW suJ>dlry", in Windows you may need spea kers, as the internal 14W idl. , nw act~ PAll COO[ Np·N510· KA02UK to increase the size of text spea kers on the NS10 are DETAILS www.somsung.com/uk to make it comfortable to pathetically underpowered. PERFORMANCE (00< _ ' " read.The LED-backlit display Despite its video-playback is bright and colours are prowess, Ion isn't powerful accurate, although not quite enough to play 3D games, as vivid as some other scoring a paltry S.l fps in our LED-backlit screens we've Call of Duty 4 benchmark.

The NS10's battery life is disappointing. being almost halilhat of the N120, but we can't be sure whether Ihe blame lies With Ihe larger screen or the Ion chipset. For a full-sized laptop it would be considered more than respectable, but Samsung has set the bar for netbooks very high. We generally like Samsung's keyboards. Here, the keys are large enough, bUI the key action is light, and we felt there wasn't as much feedback as there is on Samsung's other netbooks. With a dis.appointing battery life and a slightly mushy keyboard, the NS10 doesn't stand up well to the competition from its own stablemates, especially for those who want to work on the go. The larger display and HD video playback will appeal to some, but most will be happier wi th the cheaper N120, Barry de la Rosa

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PC SYSTEMS IHAPTOPS

BYTE SIZE

PC SPECIALIST

QDOS

Vortex

Leather case for Samsung

****

P3

****

£20 in c VAT From www.hughes direct.co.uk

If you're temp ted by Saffisung's touchs(reen P3 portable audio player (see Labs,

page 78). you may wan t a case for it. This leather and polyester case f~ls well made and is rigid and well padded, 50 it should prot ect your P3 from oaasional knocks and scrapes.

Holes on t he bott om of the

case provide easy access to the headphone socket and the USB port. You'll have to open the flap covering t he hold button and the volume controls to

access these bu tt ons, though. The inside of the flap appears to have a poc~ et for a credit card but it's too small so isn't of much use. Nevertheless, at £20 this Ca')e is good value.

Alan Lu D£TAIlS www.qdos$oond.com

TVCLEAN

TVclean Combo Pack

*****

~'f8t·Ja

£20 inc VAT • fj' " From www.tvclean.co.uk

TVclean's Combo Pack is designed to remove dust from your scrl't'n, not move it around. It uses two rollers in contact with each other: a rubber roller picks up dust from you r screen and transfers it to a roll of adhesive paper. When one sheet is fully coated in dust, you simply tear it off. You also get a MicroFiber cloth to remove greasy ma rks. Replacement adhesive rolls cost £12 for a pack of t hree and a pack of three Microfiber cloths costs £9.99. The system worked really we ll, removing all the dust from the filthiest of monitors. At this price, it's a bargain and the perfect way to dean your displays of dirt. David ludlow

is GTS

£849 inc VAT From PC Specialist 0844 499 4000

PC Specialist'sVortex is GTSlooks identical to many of the company's previous PCs, using the same rather bland case. What illacks in style, though, it makes up for in other areas. It's SlIrprisingly quiet, even though it comes with one of Intel's powerful Core is 750 proceS5ors, and has a large 24in monitor. We've already seen a few Core is 7S0-equipped not lound in Windows 7 Home Premium, such as file PCs, but we're still impressed by how quickly the encryption and remote desktop hosting, but they are too specialised to be 01 interest to most people. processor tears through our application benchmarks. There are only two P(I slots, one of which is Up to 16GB of RAM can be fined. but the 4GB included here should be more than enough for most blocked off by the graphics card. However, there are tasks lor some time 10 come. more than enough USB ports for adding extemal The 24in Acer widescreen display has a big nat M> devices, with 15 in total. plus FireWi re and eSATA ports. resolution 01 l ,92Ox l,080 pixels. This gives you a direct No speakers are induded, but in addition to the analogue 7.1 surround-sound speaker outputs, there's pixel-to-pixel match when watching full-HD video, plus a huge desktop for working on. It's bright, with also optical and a coaxial 5/PDIF for connecting to a accurate-looking colours, but viewing angles aren't very surround-sound amplifier, wide so colour accuracy suffers unless you're sitting PC Specialist's Vortex is GTS is a good choice for directly in Ironl of the screen. demanding work, Iha nks to a large screen, Windows 7 Ultimate and a Gamers may be a lit!!e SUMMARY disappointed by the Nvidia GeForce fast quad-core processor. It's quiet VEROICT A big monitor and Window. 7 and has plenty of uselul ports, too. GTS 250 graphics card. Although Ultimate make Ihi. a real wO211'49Omm, ~· y.ar RTB w..,."nty sacrifice anti-aliasing to get Crysis ships withATl's new HD 5770, see POWER CONSUMPTION 3W starodby, lOW kll•. 19(N1 a.ctl". running smoothly at the monitor's page 44), It has a slightly smaller PART COOl v,.mx is GTS higher nat ive resolution. We're used 22in screen, but Ihe same 1080p resolution. The Vortex is just to seeing moce powerlul graphics outdone by the better-value IceS, cards in PCs at this price. butlor those who wit! make use 01 One surprising bonus is that Windows 7 Ultimate comes Windows Ultimate's extra features, it's actually the better choice, pre-installed on the spacious 750GB hard disk. This has features Alan Lu

EDITOR'S CHOICE

MESH

Matrix II 925 HD

*****

£670 inc VAT

From www.meshcomputers.com

Mesh's Ma tri~ II 925 HO isn't the fastest PC £670 can buy, but it's a well-rOl.Jnded system. The 2.8GHz PhI' nom II X4 925 can't compete with Intel Core is processors, oot few people need that much power. Mesh has used the money saved to install several useful components. One is the huge lTB hard disk, which should cater for all your storage needs. Next is the great 22in liyama E2208HD5 monitor. It's one of our favourite monitors, with accurate colours. Its lull HD resolution is a perfect match lor the Mat rix 11'5 Blu-ray drive for HD movies. There's also an An Radeon HD 4850 graphics card. This is powerful enough to play the latest

games at reasonable quality levels. Meanwhile, the Ma trix's microATX is nice and compact. UnleS5 you really need the e~tra speed of a COfe is prOCeSSOf, the Matrix 11925 HD is a grea t buy for £670. Please note that due to recent memory price rises, this PC now costs £20 more than when originally reviewed. This doesn't affect its Best Buy award. COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


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BYTE SIZE

ACER

Ferra ri One

FREETALK

****

Everyman

£399 inc VAT From www. microa nvika.com

****

Acer's Ferrari One is a thin netbook with stylish cut-off edges and a bright red lid with the fam ous prancing horse logo emblazoned on it. Opening it up reveals a ca rbon-fibre wrist rest, and the racing car theme even extends to the rubber feet underneath, which are moulded in the shape of wheels. A!; an homage to Ferrari it certainly works; it's th e most eye-catching netbook we've seen. Under the hood, the du al-cO(e 1.2GHz AMD Athlon resolution than most netbooks, with 1,366x768 pi ~els, X2l3 10 processor powers the Ferrari One to an overall score 0126.That's about 50 per cent laster than an giving you a far bigger desktop.The speakers. backed up average single-core Atom-powered netbook, though by Dolby Home Theater technology. were clear and it's he lped along by the 2GB of RAM. There's also a loud. There's no HDMI port, though, so you can't large 250GB hard disk, compared to the 160GB disk OUlput HD video to a larger screen, but the headphone found in most netbooks, and it comes with Wi ndows 7 socket doubles as an S/PDIF audio ootput. Home Premium rather than Windows XP. Acer has used the full width of the case for the The ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics chipset enables keyboard, so there are few compromises on key size or layout. However. the flat keys are hard to distinguish the Ferrari One to play back 1080p HDvideo, but it's not suitable fO( games as it managed only a measly by touch and the action is too light, with hardly any 2.6fps in our Call of Duty 4 test. feedback. In an effort at sty ling, t he This is the first computer we've touch pad is tapered toward the SUMMARY seen with ATl's eXtemal Graphics edge of the case; this means it lacks VERDICT It bright 'u~n and M tt~r Plat/O(m {XGPj port, which lets you a straight vertical edge on which to ~rlorm.nc~ than mo.t n~tOOok., but attach a standalone graphics place a scroll area, and the buttons the Ferrari 'tyllng won't ,ult everyone are too small, although they are adaptor. Disappointingly, no NETBOOK 1.2CH! AMDAlhlon X2l)10, extemal adaptors were ava ilable for easy to locate wi th your thum bs. lca RA M,2SOGe dilk,~T1 RoM"" HO 3100 g "' ~ks , 11.6io w;des<: ~ n LCD, Windows 7 This may be the first time we'Vf!. testing. A plug-in graphics card is a Horn~ ~ ."" &4_bit,,,,,~.y ..r RTl! neat idea. but withoot near universal seen ATl's XGP technology, but it's w.n.... ty,Z4.ZBS.Z04mm,1.Skg support from manufacIIJrers we the Ferra ri styling that's the real star POWER CONSUMPTION lW standby. here. If you like the look, the great can't see it catching on. 19W .... )OW OCC"'. PART CODE LXJ RC02.00S We were impressed by the display and impressive Windows DETAIlS www.o< .... co.uk I 1.6in LED-backli t screen, which perfO(mance add substarxe to style. It's m O(e capable than Samsung's was bright and coloorful. It has a glossy finish, which means that N510 (see page 19), and doesn't colours are more sallJrated but cost much more. but the lack of an os, bright overhead lights can cause HDMI output is a shame. nasty reflections. It has a higher Barry de la Rosa ""

.

--

£20 inc VAT From htt p://shop. skype.eom

Although the Everyman USB headset is designed to wO(k with Skype, you can use it in any application. It's possible to unpl ug the headphones from the USB connector and plug them into any device with a 3.Smm minijack ootput. This isn't convenient as the bulky USB plug is left to flap freely around. The microphone isn't detachable, so most people will prefer a separate set 01 headphones, kee ping their USB set for computer use. If you want t o take the Everyman on your journeys, the set folds flat. Sound quality was great for Skype, gaming and music. The flexible mic was sensitive, too. At 124g t his is a fairly Ught , good quality USB headset. Jim Martin DfTAIlS www.r.. •• talk.me

EXSPECT

Drop'N' Charge Kit Xbox 360

****

£laine VAT From www.play.com

EDITOR'S CHOICE

*****

£680 inc VAT From Dell 0 844 444 5818

LAPTOP Int. 1

like most 01 Dell's recent laptops. the Studio I S is available in a range of colours at no extra cost, The laptop is attractive and feels well built and sturdy. It has a large Keyboard with plenty of feedback fO( quick and accurate typing. A backlight makes the keys easy to see in all lighting conditions. Thanks to its 4GB of RAM and 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, the Studio 15 was extremely quick in our applications benchmarks, scoring 70 overall. It's also one of the few laptops here powerful enough to play modern 3D games. However, to get smooth frame rates you'll need to lower detaTl settings. Playing games or watching films is a pleasure on the 1,366x768 display. It's very bright, with an even backlight. good contrast and fantastic colours.

"'~ DETALS www.d
At 2.7kg, the Studio 15 is light enough to carry around with you on the occasional joumey, and the battery lile 01 almost four hou rs is fa irly imp ressive. With dece nt ba ttery life, good performance in applications and games and a reasonable price, Dell's Studio I S is a great aU-round laptop.

JANUA RY 2010 . COMPUTER SHOPPER


Exspect"s Drop'N'Charge wireless charging kit comes wi th a charging mat (powered by USB Irom your console or via the supplied power adapto() and a replacement battery fO( your Xbox 360 controller. Wii and Wii Fit versions are also available. vou simply place your charger on one of the mat's two charge areas. It works well, taKing four hoors to charge and giving eight hours of gameplay. However, Microsoft's Quick Charge Kit costs the same but charges in two hours and gives 2S hours of gameplay, The DfOp'N'Charge draws 2.3W charging and 1.lW idle. Drop'N'Charge is good value and convenient, but the Quick Charge Kit gives you more hours of gameplay. David Ludlow

PC SYSTEMS IHAPTOPS I

BYTE SIZE

"1/1'

~~~ ~ ~~~ a ~ ~ UI' U "

ULTIMATE EARS

CHOOSING A.. .

MetroFi 220

Laptop Computer

t,~:!-: ~~i·a

From www.p lay.com

i\~'

Ultimate Ears was

FolloW the steps to find your ideal specs

set up byAlexVan

1'1IOCESSOR: 2GH. """t'Um Dual.co.. T.2OO

Halen (the band's

MEMORY: 2GB CDR

drummer) for

HAIID DISK: lSOGe

professional

OPTlu..L DRIVE: OVD ...... rite<

musicians. The noise-isolat ing plugs in its new MetroFi range are aimed at those with more

GR/lPHlCS:. lntegfate
(w.-, .y
SCRnN, Is.on 1,Z80><800wide$c.ree<1 lCO EXTRAS: W~eleu Mtw<>' UII-d!Nder

modest budgets. The 220'5 ear buds aren't

soFTW",RE: WIndows v.sta H _ Pr<"" lum

detachable, but they're well made and sound great. Bass isn't quill' up to the level of

Retomn"'On-de
Jays s-JAYS (see What's New, Shopper 262), but it's still strong. Vocals were dear and treble wasn't t oo harsh. Three sizes of plugs are

WtJGHT: "JI
to insert the 220'5 buds than Shure's SEtOl (see page 38). If you own an jPod, iPhone

D

The minimum specification shown above is for a laptop that should cost below £500. However, it isn't very powerful or, at 3kg, particularly portable.

1:1 Most modem laptops, but not netbooks, U come with dual-core processors. These

or BlackBerry, the 220vi set comes with an in-line mic for

phone calls and a button that lets you pause music. They're a

n

jim Martin DETAILS _

_ul t lm at ~ ~ ruom

ALTEe LANSING

Expressionist Classic

***

£44 inc VAT From www.micro direct.co.uk

Altec Lansing's E~pressionist Classic stereo speakers have a striking and minimallst design. They're compact, too, at only 127~127~159mm.

They're surprisingly loud, with plenty of bass, but they sound muddy. which made it difficult to discern subtle backing vocals and instruments in some tracks. They also sound a little harsh at high volumes, so they're not ideal if you need to fill a room with music. The E~preS5ionist Classic speakers are attractive and compact, but unless you're particularly taken with their looks, you'll ~t far better sound from Logitech's Z.1 X-230 speakers (see page 38). Alan Lu

If you're on a budget, a low-cost netbook is a

a powerful processor or an optical drive, and the hard disk and screen may be much smaller. However, you should still have enough power to browse the web, read emails and use office applications. Expect to pay up to £300. IC'I lf you're not swayed by ultra-portable chic, you can get more for your cash. Entertainment laptops pile on the features but still keep the price under £1,000. You should expect a 17in widescreen display, hybrid TV tuner and remote control.

U

~ You can add features to a laptop without

provide plenty of processing power for most tasks. Only those who need to undertake serious tasks, such as editing HD video, on a daily basis should consider a quad-core processor in a la ptop.

great choice if you're looking for a cheap noise-isolating set.

n

.:.I good alternative for portability. You won't get

11.:.1 increasing the weight or reducing battery life.

included to help you get the

best fit, and we found it easier

around £1,000 will ~t you an ultra-portable laptop that weighs less than 2kg, but is still as powerful as its larger counterparts. Some ultra-portables use slower ultra-low voltage (ULV) processors to increase battery life further.

Most laptops come with 15.4in 1,280xBoo

E:.I widescreen displays, which are great for

watching DVDs or TV. If you want a laptop for home use, it's worth considering one with a 17in display. This will also have a higher resolution of at least 1,440~900, giving you a bigger desktop. This makes it far easier to use complex appllcations such as photo- or video-editing software.

A 320GB or 500GB hard disk will give you far more storage space, while 4GB of RAM will help Windows speed through tougher tasks.

r:t Dedicated graphics let you play modem 3D II:.iI games and are increasingly common on all but the cheapest or lightest laptops. Look for an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 or Nvidia Ge Force 9600M GS (hipset as a minimum for getting smooth frame rates on the latest titles. Many laptops use integrated graphics, which are fine for most other purposes, but use up system memory. ~ Once you're happy with your specification,

....:J start to shortlist some models. Pay attention to the quality of the keyboard and touchpad, as these will be in constant use. Balance the weight, battery life and display size against the features you'll really need.

. . . A modem, 10/100 Ethernet

i i i port and wireless 802.11 b/g networking (WiFi) should be fitted as standard. Bluetooth is handy for connecting to a mobi le phone, but it's usually fitted only to more e~pensive business laptops. Memory card readers are pretty much standard, but check that your camera's or MP3 player's format is supported. n

lf portability is your main

1:1 priority, look for a laptop with a 12.1in display. Spending

,

,.

COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JA NUARY 2010


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:I: FAQ Q

How u n I buy o ne

of Amazon 's Kindle eBook rea de rs?

A

Amazon has announced that UK customers can

finally get their hands on the Kindle, although they'll have to buy it from the US store. It costs $259 (around £158) and

SONY

Reader Pocket Ed ition

***

£160 inc VAT From www.waterstones.com Sony's new Pocket Edition eBook reader has a Sin screen, which is smaller than the 6in display on the original (see below). This makes it more compact. although it's a little thicker. It feels as well built as the originallxit doesn't come with the protective leather wallet. The front of the case uses the same brushed aluminium as the original. but the rear and edges are now made of plastic As a result, the Pocket Edition is 40g lighter than its predecessor. The Pocket Edition allows you to change the orientation of the screen to landscape, which helps Unl ike the original Reader, the Pocket Edition has compensate for the smaller Sin screen. It has fewer no memory ca rd slot, and although Sony quotes an controls than the original Reader, and in landscape internal memory of 51 2MB, the formatted size for mode these fall more conveniently under your left storage is "ctuaUy around 443MB. This is still big enough to hold around 300 books, but you won't fit a thumb. You can only reorientate the screen in one direction, though, so you can't place the controls whole library of reading possibilities in there. under your right thumb. The eBook library software is stored on a separate, We liked the fact that the original Reader had pageread-only partition on the Pocket Edition. The eBook turning lxittons on both sides. The Pocket Edition's store built into the library softw"re is actually just a central controls simply aren't as convenient to use, collection of links to Waterstones, WH Smith and and without a wallet, the device feels awkward in the Borders. We much prefer Mobipocket"s integrated library and store software. Unlike the original Reader, hand. The lack of a wallet and the ability to orient the screen in landscape mode also Mobipodet"s PRC file format SUMMARY make the Pocket Edition look and isn't supported, and the device VERDICT With little imp'owm~nl owr isn't recognised. feel less like a real book, which may the original model and lots of missing put off some users. At least the With the price of the old featu,es,lhe Poci:el Edition Isn'l Sony's four-way navigation control works Sony Reader now falling to that bf:n Reilde' of the Pocket Edition, we simply the same way in both landscape nOOK READO. 512M B <~"",~y. S" and portrait modes. cannot see any reason to buy 600><800 ~I"'trop/lon'tk di'f'lay, ,uwort' Although the pages tum the Pocket Edition at the moment. oPU8. PC*", DOC . TXT. ~F and 88. e ~- book reasonably quickly, we found that The original model is more lil.s, USB int.""' •. 107xlo>
... _1

- -- -... --

includes free 3G access for downloading books and newspapers, in<:luding The Times, Telegraph and Daily

Mail, directly to the device. All content is currently charged in US dollars. Amazon claims that more than 250,000 books are available to UK customers,

and that the list is growing all the time. The company plans to introduce a UK Kindle store in the near future, i1lthough it has yet to announce a date. · You

can expect to see many more books from UK publishers

available in the coming weeks and months,~ said }eff Belos, founder of Amalon.(Om. Watch

out for our review of the Kindle in next month's issue.

Barrv de la Rosa laptops am! handhelds expert

ImtJORlSid!lH.OICE NAVMAN

SONY

530 3D

Reader

****

£65 inc VAT

~P'''! 3m "

From www.handtec.co.uk

The S30 3D satnav has a simple interface and p<"ovides trustworthy route information. It comes with maps that cover the UK and Ireland, but you get only one year of free speed camera alerts. Despite it s low p<"iee, this salnav cuts no important corners, making the S30 3D a good choice fOf the occasional traveller who doesn't want to shell oul for features they'll never use. STANDALONE SAmAv 3v.,in. 320><240 di'f'lay. Int.grat.d S iR fua~1I with ''''IMIFI. II "".1"" . Navman SmMST 2008 wftw .... UK and ~Iand map' PART CODE 530 0 DETAILS www._n.com FULl REVlEW Mar 2009

*****

.-

114fillf."i

£160 inc VAT • £iI "From www.play.com

Sony's beautifully des igned Reader has be{!n our benchmark for eBook read ers since we started reviewing them in Shopper 2S0.ln tha t time, the price has fallen from over £200 t o £160, and EBOOK READER 192MB int.,,,,,1 ""'mory. SO/M.mory now thaI Sony has Stkk Pro !lots. bin lau nched new Readers, "Io
before stocks out. still looks greatrunand is 11 better value than ever.

_i._

t:~~!~~~~~ ... ...!:' ._

COMPIJTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


HANDHELDS CHOOSING A ...

MIONAVMAN

Satnav

Moov Spirit 500 Traffic

***

FoJJowthe steps to find yourideaJ specs ~COV~ UK~~~

£200 inc VAT From www.play.com

The Mio brand has

~en

SCIlfEN SlU: 3' ,jro

POSTCOO£ SiJPIIORT; rive charKtBs TftAffICDATA, ,., .....

absent from the UK for a

couple of years, but the company has bought

R«omm.lIdtd minimum In ,roy

valid, and suggested nearby street5 that Spirit SOO Trallic represents the top of the SOO included those numbers, rather than offering to range, with full maps of 23 European COUntries, navigate to 'anywhere' in our chosen road, Bluetooth (for weather, Google local search and One of Mio's goals was to tidy up the driving hands-free calling via a Bluetooth phone) and view, but while the white background looks dea n, Traffic MeS5age Channel (TMC) trallic informat ion. the default zoom level (which can't be changed) is It's just 14mm thick, with a larger than average surprisingly low, and shows too much of the 4.7io widescreen display. The TMC receiver is built surrounding area lor our liking, It zooms in in, so there's no external electronics, and there's a automatically at junctions and shows lane microSD slot for adding to its 2GB of storage. guidance for motorway exits, Many will appreciate the fact that it announces road names aloud, The Spirit part of t he name refers to the new although audio was distorted even at low volumes. interface,l'Ihich can be controlled wit h finger swipes. This was rather hit and miss in our tests, Tapping the screen while driving allows you to and frustrating compared with an iPhone's flawless add an intermediate destination (useful lor a brief touchscreen interface, We prefefTed to use the detour to refuel) or avoid a roadblock ,You can also afTOW controls to navigate menus. mute the sound, but you can only adjust the The main menu has all the buttons you're volume in the main menu - a disappointing likely to need, including Find, My Places, Explore oversight. The 500Traffic is packed with features, (which shows local points of interest), Traffic, Map, though. Route options includes an economy setting that minimises the number of junctions. Capture (which records your CUfTent position) and Travel Book {a list of rather terse city guides}. NavPix lets you navigate to destinations simply by Scroll down and you'll find the option to navigate tapping on images (some of which are preinstalled, home, find a petrolstatioo, 5uc.h as Big Ben), am! the plan a multi-destination trip MioMore desktop softwa re let5 SUMMARY and find nearby emergency you add extra content, such as VERDICT A feature-packed satnav, but services, restaural"llS and car extra POls and NavPix locations. the touchscr~n can be un ...",onsive. parks, cash point5 and other However, the unresponsive It', .lso quite expensive.nd the ... . ... places of interest. interface and other niggles bf:tter-value alternatives The Spirit 500 offers more mean we stiR preferTomTom's STANDALONE SATNAV Uin, 480. 272 ways of finding a destination Go 530T.lt may have a slightly di,play, iot.g
VIEWSONIC

VTV35

****

f."Il . r ' ~1l 0 I , I

£66 inc VAT From www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop

~lId

an EPG providing only now-and-next information, Viewsonic's VTV35 is the most basic portable TV player we've seen, It has no SO ca rd slot or USB The screen flickered a bit in menus, but TV was port, so you can't play MP3s or view video or fine , Our main disappointment was that the TV image files on its 3'hin screen, This goes a long picture didn't take up the entire screen, with way towards explaining l'Ihy it cost5 so little, narrow black bars above and below. This is because The VTV35 loo~s remarkably similar to the Icy the screen is a 4:3 ratio, while the Freeview signal Box IB-MP 10 l (see \.W)at's New, Shopper 256). is 16:9.You can force it to display at 4:3. but you'll either squeeze the image or lose the edges. However, the extendable antenna is much longer than the flimsy one on the If you want to listen to IB-MP10l, and reception was SUMMARY music, view photos or watch much better. However, it's let videos as wen as TV, VERDICT A simplt portabl~ TV pla~ the lack of mtdia tilt playback is ofhtt down by the lack of an external Hauppauge's myTV Player is by Its low price better, but it CO'>lS f40 more. antenna port, Build quatity is basic, with plain black plastic The VTV35 is an adequate TV PORT"WTV P1.AYER. 3Y.tin 3ZOXZ40 all round, although it feels solid. ... soIu~"" LCD. 12b75.14mm. 149g. and radio, but as with all one ·~ar RTB W¥Tant)' The program guide and portable TVs,you'li often need PARTCOOE V512801 menu system are easy to to search for good re ception. DETAILS W'WW.vI.w'onlc.co,uk follow and clearly laid out, with Barry de la Rosa



D

A satnavwith the minimum specifications listed above will I:ost you around fSO.lt's a standalone device, so you get everything you need in one compact handheld unit. Its screen isn't particularly big or dear to see, and it will be quite slow at <:aleul.ting routes. It h.s UK and Ireland maps only, so you can't use it in other parts of the world. If you've got an e.isting POA or smartphone, you can buy the software, maps and, if needed, GPS receiver in a kit. This will convert your handheld into a satnav with similar specifications to those listed above. The cost will be similar, too,

EI

To travel further afield than the ~ UK or Ireland, you'll need new m.ps. These are usually available from the manufacturer at an extra cost. When you buy the maps, make sure you have a memory card big enough to store them, or ellOugh memory on your PDA or smartphone. Alternatively, you can save a bit of money by buying a satnav with a wider choice of maps in the first place.

I:'J 1::1

Want quicker route cakulation and a beller display? Buy a more e~pensive standalone satnav with a quicker processor; a 4in screen or higher with a resolution of 480x272 will give you plenty of space for detailed maps-If you're using a PDA or smartphone and it seems slow, consider upgrading to a newer model with a quicker processor and a screen with a higher resolution .

. . . If you travel a lot, real-time IiJI traffic information is essentiaL The most common way to obtain updates is by connecting to your mobile phone and downloading the latest information. This d.ta is charged atllOrmal network rates, though. Some high-end standalone satnavs have a TMC chip, whic h receives tr.ffic inform.tion over the FM radio network for free. Several high-end standalone units have integrated microphones and can be used as a hands-free phone over a Bluetooth connection. To take advantage, you'll need a compatible mobile phone with Bluetooth.

HP Officejet 7000

*****

£185 inc VAT From www.oyyy.co.uk A3 printers haVl! lots of uses in work environments, from promotional brochures to A4 documents with room for annotations in the margins. It's less likely that they'U be caUed upon to produce traditional glossy photo prints, though, except perhaps for surreptitious private use. We also tried the printer with HP's expensive This is the rationale behind HP's Officejet 7000, 180gsm Superior Inkjet Paper, which is designed to match photo paper but has a finish that's better suited one of the least expensive A3 in~jets we've seen. Based to business graphics such as brochures.This produced on a similar four-ink print engine to the A4 Officejet vivid colours and sharp te~t. White text on a coloured 6000 (see Labs. page 90). photo printing isn't its forte. background was particularly impressive, With none of However, costing much less than A3laser printers particularly colour ones - it's an attractive prospect for the bleeding exhibited on plain paper. Laser printers small offices with limited IT budgets. Print costs at50 can produce a similar effect on plain paper, but inkjets compare well at just 4.7p per mixed-colour A4 page. have more subtle shading. which gives smoother results You can connect it directly to your PC via USB, or in graduated fills and full -colour graphics. Performance was e~cellent, churning out mono text use Ethemet to share it on a network The sole inP'Jt pages at 9.6ppm for A4 and 5.7ppm for A3. Draft print tray holds just 150 sheets and leaves them exposed to dust, and the plastic case doesn't look like it's designed speeds were even better, at 17.6ppm for A4 and to cope with careless use in a busy 9.6ppm for A3. Quality in Fast Draft office. Still, the 7,000 pages-permode was barely distinguishable SUMMARY from Normal mode, and was month duty cyde is reassuring, VERDICT Wilh low ",nn;"g costs. a fast although this is a one-time certainly up to the demands of draft sp"~d and d"!,~nd.bl~ print everyday use. For text prints at least, maximum rather than suggested qualily, Ihi. i •• g.... 1
0lJ"'"'''::'::---1

FAQ I've seen the ColorLok logo o n several bra nds of printe r paper. What is it?

Q

Colorlok is a quality standard that means the paper bedring its logo meds

A

specific criteria for ink bleed,

drying time and a constant ~ight throughout the ream. It originated as an additive in HP Everyday Papers to improve permanence, but there's no

requirement for ColorLok paper to use this. Colorlok has been endorsed by HP, Epson and Kodak, as well as a number of paper

manufacturers. Colorlokcertified papers are more e~pen5jve than basic copier paper. A n:oam of 80gsm HP-branded ColorLok paper costs £S compared with £2.50

forTesco Value paper. We've

found that ColorLok paper does improve print quality, but it's worth spending extra only if you're printing important documents, such

as a final dissertation.

Kat Drphanides Pri nters am!

EDITOR'S CHOICE

SAMSUNG

CANON

CLP-315

Pixma iP100 with battery

****

£135 inc VAT

****

~.,.,.",,..

1M's

£231 inc VAT

From www.techdepot.co.uk

From www.morecomputers.co.uk

The CLP-315 is the world's smallest colour laser printer, barely larger than most in~jets, and it's also one of the cheapest. Its mono print speed of 14.7ppm is sufficient for a personal printer, although 3.7ppm for colour prints HOME/SMAll OFFICE COlOUR requires some patience. \.A.S.ER bOOdpi, 16ppm mono. wn <0100'. usa in\offac• • Print quality was 24).<388.<31)rnm. on •. y.. , excellent, with sharp RTB warranl)' POWER CONSUMPTION 6W black text and bright, 'I""dby, 8W i
Although it's Hpnsive, Canon's Pixma iPl00 has better print quality and speeds than any portable printer we've seen. Although it's designed primarily to print photos in sizes up to A4, its document FIVI-COlOUR INKJET PRNTIR quality is also excellent, g,&eoxZ,4OOdpi ma.imum with four dye-based r. ,olution. USB, Pi<:18ridg. USB. IrOA Inf,arod Inl ~ rlac • •• cartridges for photo 6Z>.eJZZ.18Smm, .",.·yoar printing, plus a pigment on,il. walT""l)' black for text. PQWERCONSUMPTIQN 1W

--

--

:::E ___

nandtry, 1W idl~, 11W oct~ "'RTCCOE 14468028BII

-

:

COMPIJTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

PRINTERS & SCANNERS

' ICHOOSING A.. . Laser Printer ",,",. ,1

SAM SUNG ML-1915

****

FoJJowthe steps to find YOUr ideaJ specs

£83 inc VAT From www.techdepot.co.uk

R£SOLlmoN: 600~ M£MORY: 8MB

If fast print speeds arn! low ronning costs are more important than colour, a mono laser printer is worth considering. Samsung's Ml-1915 also includes simple operation in its list of strengths. Installation was unusually quick, and the print resolution enhancement. Switching from Normal driver settings are refreshingly sparse, though given to Best quality produced even smoother lines on there are no networking facilities, duplex printing curved parts 01 text , but it also made greys a little options or mult iple paper trays, this isn't surprising. 100 dark . Choosing Best quality and SWitching the A 250-sheet paper cassette slots into the base and Darkness setting to light gave the best-quality graphics and barely made any impact on print keeps the paper dust·free,The integrated power adaptor avoids the clutier of an external adaptor, speeds. Selecting these options from the System and the boxy design is smart and compact. Tray utility made them the defaults for all print jobs. The only features are Ihe manual shel'l feed The ML-1 915 pulls away from its compelitOI5 sIal and a print screen button. The former is useful when it comes to running costs. II costs 2.0Sp per page, compared to 2.4p from Canon's similar for printing On envelopes, card and coloured paper, The latter takes a screenshot of the desktop and LBP310Q and 2.3p from Brother's HL-203S. With produces a paper copy,This neat trick is ideal for everything else being pretty much equal. it's easy printing out an address or a map from a website, to conclude that the Ml- 191 5 is the model to buy. A printer thiS slraightforw,mj must be judged However, these printers must also compete purely on its print quality, speed and costs. We wit h colour laser5, such as $amsung's own ClP-315 measured 16.7ppm in our speed tests, which isn't (see Editor's Choice, below), and business in~jets such as HP's Qfficejet 6000 (see Labs, page 90), far off the 18ppm quoted speed and ba rely distinguishable from its Canon The 6000 prints pages slower, SUMMARY and Brother competitOr5 (see but because it doesn't need to VERDICTThe b~~fit. of mono t.. ... r Wha t's New, Shopper 25 1 and warm up before printing. a printers ....e slim. thanks to affordable 256 respedively).lts maximum single page will usually be colourt..,... and buCli .... photocopier paper and little are adamant that they'll never PAATCQO( Ml-191SISEe need colour prints, the Ml-1915 evidence of banding or DtTALS WMY.... om""g.comluk ---1 is an excellent choice. However, dithering in greyscales. The printer has an effective we doubt that many people fall resolution of 1,200x600dpi into this category. thanks to dri~r·based Ben Pitt

BROTHER

CANON

DCP-7030

CanoScan LiDE 700f

***** Mi

£120 inc VAT _ _ From www.techdepot.co.uk

*****


I

Brother's compact mOnO laser MFP has only a USB connection and lacks the ADF and fax capabilities found on many pricier devices. However, it's inexpensive, cheap to ron and ideal for everyday printing MONO LASl"R MflI 6OOx6OOdpi and copyi ng tasks. print l'MOIur>on, 22ppm mono It printed mono maxi""'m~. 6QOx2,4OOdpi on, USB in t~ rI",,~ , text at 20,3ppm and ZS7x428x3%mm. one year greyscale documents ""s~ ~ _rranly at 19.2ppm.You'U POWER CONSUMPnoN SW ha~ to replace the .tandby,6W kA •. 877W ott .... drum every 12,000 PARTCQDE DCP7030Ul DtTAIlS wwwbrolilf'.co.uk pages, but total FULL REVIEW Jun 2009 ,,--_~ ownership costs are tow, with toner costing just l.Sp " ~per page.

--=

4,;" II"" I.I ~.r:-I..l-l.,L.L~r 1i •• Ii ".r•••

-............ --".-,""',-

This lightweight USB flatbed ~ ~~""'''''''''''''~ scanner has a maximum ~~ optical resolution of ~~ 9,600x9,600dpi for negati~ scans and 4,800x4,BOOdpi for photo and document scans. It comes with a transparency adaptor that can scan One frame at a time. Fast scan speeds let you scan an A4 page at 300dpi in CIS FLAreW SCANNER 12 seconds and a 9,600x9.6OOdpi "PI;.;.I ,,,,otut>on, 411-bit cot<>IX ootput, 600dpi photo in usa int.rI""o, 44xZ92x409rnm, 16 seconds, but a ono·y.... , RTB wor


SI>£EO: 16fipm INTUlfAC{S: usa PAG[S PER MONTH: 5,000 PAPUtnA,YS: 1S0''''NI A( OPTIONS:

R«om"",~ minim min g,.y

D

Prices for A41aser printers with specifications such as those above start at around £55. These models are fine for user5 who print less than one ream (500 pages) of paper a month. look for good print quality, flexible drivers and running costs of below 2p per page. Ideally, it should store paper clean and flat in a horizontal tray and allow manual feeding of headed paper and envelopes with no creasing.

E'I U

You'll have to spend more for a printer with the build quality and speed to cope with a heavy workload. Heavy users or small workgroups need up to 25 pages per minute (ppm), and whole departments need more. Bulk printing demands costs of lp per page or less.

n

Four-pass colour lasers are

Ir:I available for around £130.

They are cheaper, but much slower to print colour than a single'pass model. Fortunately even some of the most economical print~ are now single pass. . . . Support for a printer language Ii.I such as Printer Control language (pel) 6 or PostScript 3 means you can use the printer with any computer and even some PDAs.

n

Not all lasers print graphics well, but a 1,200dpi resolution helps. Colour lasers can often print high-quality graphics, but should have at least 32MB of memory.

K:I

t;I A network ada~tor allows you

.:.I to connect a printer to an

Ethernet network, so all the networi; users can print to it directly. Smaller groups can use a PC to host and share any printer using Windows' File and Print Sharing Wizard.

1:"1 Duplex printing is an increasingly U affordable option and lets you print on both sides of a sheet of paper automatically. A scann<:!rlfax unit turns your printer into a multifunction peripheral. large groups should get multiple paper trays to deal with headed paper and other stationery.

en

~ ...J D..

en c

FAQ Q

I need a m onitor w it h II

Display Port input. Whit are my o ptions?

A Currently, your options

are very limited. There are only a handful of monitors to choose from , as few manufacturers are producing

DisplayPort monitors at the moment. Sam sung. Dell and HP

have models with DisplayPort interfaces, but theY'n! very ex~n5ive.

PHILIPS

Brilliance 225P1 ES

***

£215 inc VAT From www.ebuyer.com Not long ago, PC componenl5 were all about features, performance or, in the case of displays. image quality. Now, manufacturers are more likely to boast of their products' eco friendliness, and Philips is no exception. The new Brilliance 225P1ES has PowerSensor technology, which uses two infrared sen.sors to detect whether you're sitting in front of it or not. The idea is that the screen dims when you're away from your Image quality is excellent, though. Colours are rich desk, consuming around 70 per cent less power. You can set the distance at which the sensor is activated, and the picture is sharp no matter ....mich interface you or deactivate it entirely if you want. use. Contrast is also impressive, and there's no lag or We found it effective at its default setting, quickly juddering when playing videos or games, Viewing dimming the display, even if we 5ilt back at our des~ to angles aren't wonderful. but you need to move a long take a phone calL This reduces power consumption way off centre before the colours begin to change. from 25W to 15W - a saving of around 40 per cent, The menus are easier to use than those on many displays we've seen recently. It helps that Philips has Stay away lor a few minutes longer and the screen mounted the buttons on the front 01 the bezel rather dims even further, reduc ing power consumption to than under it,The menus are slick and are sensibly just lOW for a 60 per cent saving_ Even the standard arranged, with enough adjustment options to kee p 2SW is respectable for a 22in monitor, especially given the very usable brightness at this setting. tweakers happy, including colour temperature and Another bonus is the luUy Gamma settings and an sRGB mode. However, ....mile the 225P 1ES does adjustable stand. which allows you SUMMARY to raise the screen by up to 130mm a good job of saving power. it'll take a VERDICT Great Image quality and and pivot it to portrait mode_ The while to recoup the extra £100 or so adjuSlabiUty.and the sensor works screen has both VGA and DYI input5, it costs over othe r ZZin monitors w~U, but.t thi, prk~ it'U ~ a before you start saving money. Plus, as well as built·in stereo speakef$. The while befor~ you make any savings headphone socket and USB port are it's not hard to get into the habit of 22inWIDESCREEN LCD 1.68(1)1,050 also potentially useful inclusions. switching off a standard monitor to natM ,...ohlt"". 1,()OO:1 (25.000:1 One disappointment is the reduce power consumption to almost dynamic) contra" ,ati<>, ZSOcd/m' bright"".. , VGA and OVI ;"puu, lero, The G2220HD (see Editor' re.solution: 1,680:< 1,050 seems low 1h...... Y".' onslt< warranty now that most 2Zin monitOf$ have Choice, below) cosl5less than £130, POWER CONSUMPTION OW .tandt.)', has a full-HD resolution and is the 1,920x l ,080 pixels. The other problem "W~ is the price: £2 15 is steep for a PAATCoo( Z25P1ESiOO better choice il you can live without manito( With this resolution, even the 22SP1ES's portrait mode. monitor"""" considering the stand and sensors. jim Martin

HP's 22in L2275W

costs BOO including VAT, for

example. while

~ll's

24in

U2410 costs a whopping £440 including VAT. Dell also sells 27in and 30in i1ltematives, but they cost around £600 and £950 respectively. One option is to buy an adaptor cable for around £10-15. This converts a DisplayPort output to DVI, and means you can use virtually any monitor that's currently

on sale (apart from VGA-only models). However, this won't work if you're trying to run three monitors on one of AMD's new SBOO-series graphics cards. These require an active converter that provides the correct timing signals for DisplayPort, and there's no definitive list of those that are fully compatible.

:,..Jil "!,lymI!l lMI ·l rtl!l!inIiIiiiiiI _.~ Ed;'"

EDITOR'S CHOICE PHILIPS

PANASONIC

Brilliance

Viera TX-

230C1HSB

P42G10B C!iiJ I>li:i?d!£il ~.fii~"~""~.' £729 inc VAT iii

***** ~8il'%l

£164 inc VAT • fl! 1,. From www.digita l-fusion. co.uk

It may have a tilt-only stand, but Philips' 230C1HSB is a fantastic monitor. Image quality is top-notch and it has HDMI, DVI andVGA inputs. If you're after a slightly larger full-HD monitor than SenQ's G2220HD (see right ), this is an excellent choice. 1.920. 1,080 M!M r"'oIu~on. VGA. DVI, HOMI, Inpuu. 3,Smm lin~ in audio ;"put. on.-pon: use ...b PAATCODE 23OC1HS8/0S 23;nWlDfSCREEN LCD

mm

*****

From www.dixons.co.uk Panasonic's 600Hz 42in plasma TV has amazing contrast and t he built-in Freesat tuner takes advantage of its futl HD resolution to deliver stunning HD content from the BBC and lTV. With an Etherne t port, it's ready to receive BBC's iPlayer through Freesat too. 42in PlASMA TV

l ,92O<1 , 08On.t;v~

BENQ

G2220HD

*****

it ~:~

£123 inc VAT Zlih ? From www.morecomputers.

,om TheG2220HD has an HDCPcompliant DV! port and a clear menu system, and the design is simple, but attractive. Its subtle Dynamic contrast mode is a plea5ilnt surprise and its basic image quality is great. This is one of the cheapest fuU-HD monitors we've seen, and you won't get better image quality fOf the price.

.-..soIutlon. 4O.()oo:1 (2,000.000:1 dynamic)

contra.t ",rio, 3. HOMi, 2. SCART, IxVG/I, 1 componont. Ix S·lIidwand Ixcomposlt. Inpm s. f ....... t. f, ..IIi_, on. )11:"' RTIl w.....,ty powo. CONSUMPTJON OW stord>y, 240W on PAATCODE TX·P42G1OB

2W.inWlO£SCREEN Lct> 1,9Zonl ,08O

"'5<>1"'' ' .

Mt". 1,000:1 conv.o,t rotio, 300cd/ml bright"".s. VGA. DVllnpyts. m..... yu" <>Il'~ ~ wa .... nty

[)£TAIlS www.phiUps.co.uk

DETAILS www-l>3<'Monk.co,uk

PART CODE 9H.to71B.Q!!E DETAILS www,~.co, uk

FUU kEVlEW Nov 2009

FUU REVIEW Nov 2009

FUU REVIEW Nov 2009

COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


DISPLAYS . .. " " .. .. , .. .... .. " .' .\Ol~ .. . ' .: .. " . " .

CHOOSING AN .•.

SAM SUNG

LCD Monitor

SP-P410M

*****

Follow the steps to find your ideal specs

£44 9 inc VAT From www.pixmania.co.uk

!MAGf: SIZE: 11in

NATIVE RESOWllON: 1.280'1.02~

Samsung'slatest ultra-portable projector is the prettiest we've 5een for a while, with a glossy black case flanked on each side by metal grilles. It uses LEOs rather th an a traditional lamp, and these focus was consistent across the enti re image. At its never need replacing. They don't take a long time native SOOx600 resolution, the Windows Desktop to warm up or cool down either, The SP-P410M is crisp. The SP-P4 10M handles inputs of up to l ,2SOxl ,024, but the downscaling reduces d arity. doesn't get very hot in use, and as a consequence is fairly quiet in norm al operation. Prese ntat ions and films looke d slightly As with other mini-projectors we've seen washed-out under typical olfi ce lighting, bu t with the lights off, the image had vibrant coloors and recently, the SP-P410M has touch-sensitive controls that aren't back-lit. They're slightly sharp edges. There are plenty of image quality raised, but feeling for them in the dark is settings, includi ng useful presets for different counterproductive as you'll trigger eac h button as source material. The SP-P410M even has digital you touch it. An easier option is to use the remote noise reduction, which helps to reduce the effects control, which has large, well-placed keys. of downsca ling the image to the native resolution. The rear of the device has VGA and composite Despite its small size, the SP-P4 10M is quite video inputs, as well as stereo phono audio inputs heavy. and you'll have to carry the chunky power an d a USB port, which lets you plug in a memory supply with it. Samsung provides a shoulder bag, stick and access music, videos and pictures directly. which can hold the projectO!", power sup ply, VGA The SP-P410M supports MPEG 1, MPEG2 and XviD cable and remole.lt's strange that the SP-P410M video formats, and MP3 and WMA audio formats. doesn 't have auto- keystone correction, but at least Sound quality from the built-in there's a tripod moont.lt does provide mirror and invert 1W speakers is surprisingly good, SUMMARY although not quite lood enough functi ons, though, so you can VERDICT A good lEO projector to fi ll a roo m. Sadly, there's no use it as a rear projecto!" or with g~a t brig~tn~ss and au dio output, so if you play moo nt it on a ceiling. coloUf'l .lt·, only flaw i, th ~ lad content from a USB stick, you'll The SP-P41OM is the first of 3ud ~ wtput have to use the internal speakers. tOJly usable LEO projector we've ULTllA-PORTABLE PROJECTOR Image quality was great, 800x6OO ""t"", ""<>Iuti",,, 1.()()(), 1 seen, thanks to its brightness, c""lr~'t ",100, 170 ANSl h.>m~"', thanks mainly to the 17Q-lumen image quality and quiet 148. 66. 146mm. 9SQg. """.'ft., brightness, which is the highest operat ion. Howeve r, the lack of RTB wa",,"ty we've seen from an LED projecto!". an audio ootput is a fOJstra ting I'OW£R CONSUMPTION 3W l tioJ>
MITSUBISHI

EPSON

PANASONIC

HC5500

EH-TW420

From www.micomon li ne.co.uk

PT-AE3000E £1,839 inc VAT .~6'l'ij , h' ",-

From www.djxons.co.uk

Better quality and cheaper than its predecessor, the HC5SOO is an excellent 1080p p!"ojector, with stunning sharpness and qua lity. Its vertical lens shift is motorised, along with focus and zoom, making it ideal for ceiling mounting. The lamp costs just 5p per hour in economy mode.

Epson's nop LCD projector is meant for home cinema use, but we found it equally ad ept at office presentations. Casino Royale looked great, and overall image quality is excellent. Fans are quiet and running costs are just 5p per hour. The three-year onsite warranty includes th e lamp, making this projector I _ 4 a real bargain.

HOME CINEMA LCD PROJECTOR 1,920. 1,080 ".n"'" ",5OlUlOon , 14,()()()'1 ,,,,,troll rolio. 1.200ANSllumens, HDMI. cQrTlpor>l"1"l(lO<~ ~ inputl I'OWlRCONSUMPTION 7W stoodlry, 204W "" PAATCQI)( HC5500 DrTA/1S wwwmllwbksh.,I...:Mc .c<>." FUll REVIEW Feb 2009

CROSSOVER PROJECTOR 1.280. 800 nat",. ,. ,<>IUlOon, 2,000:1 cQ/l1fa,t ,ati<>, 2,OOQAN51Iumens. 1.be , oom, HOM I, VCA. S·vIdw. c<>lTlp<>S~~ Inpo" PQWERCONSUMPTION 4W " ... dlry, 231W"" PARTCQOE V11H28544OlU DrTAILS www.• """".co.uk FULL REVIEW F.b 2009

-

*****

From www.r9b direct.co.uk

fil:m I.!I!IiI

The images from this projector are a beauty to behold. It's pe rfect fO!" watching Blu-ray movies. Lens shift and a powered 2x l oom allow for flexible placement. It isn't the cheapest projector, but stunning image quality makes up for this, and earns it an Ultimate award. LCD HOME CINEMA PkOjECTOR 1.920.<1.080 n." ~ '-sol,,'Oon. 60.000:1 (dynamic) cQ/l1f~st ,alio, 1.6OOAN51

lumens. Ihr«·year ,oU<:d· ~J>d · ret""' ...arranty POWlR CONSUMPTION OW staJ>


INPlITS: VCA

1Iocommende
D

A basic 17in LCD monitor with the specifications listed above will cost around £80. It will be fine for typical WindoW!; wori;, but is likely to have poor viewing angles. Colour accuracy may not be very good, so it isn't ideal for colour-sensitive wori;.

E'I U

A VGA input enables you to use the monitor with any PC, but may not giv~ you quite as good quality as a DVI or HOMI input. Both are digital connections and require a compatible graphics card, but avoid the need for digital-to-analogue or analogue-to-digital conv~rsions, which can reduce image quality. A digital connection automatically gets the best picture; you won't have to adjust clock or phase settings as you 00 with an analogue connection. Many DVI and all HDMI connections support HOCP, which lets you watch protected video content such as Blu-ray movies on your monitor.

IC":I

Unless you're on the tightest of budgets, you should buy a widescreen monitor. A 19in monitor should cost less than £100 and has a native resolution of l,440x900 or 1,680xl0SO. These are 16:10 aSjrect ratios, but the latest models have 16:9 resolutions, which match widescreen TVs, and are a better choice if you'll be watching a lot of video. Even models as small as 22in can hav~ resolutions of l,92Oxl,OBO, and this provides lots of room for working with multiple windows at the same time. Models larger than 24in tend to be eXjrensive, so you may be better off using a pair of smaller monitors side by side.

1::1

II!I

If you want better picture quality, look for a monitor with a high contrast ratio. The higher the ratio, the whiter the whites and the blacker the blacks. You'll al!iO be able to see more fine detail in images with high contrast levels. Viewing angles are important, as wider angles mean you don't have to sit directly in front of the monitor to get the best picture. Wider angles also mean that more people can watch the screen at the same time. Fast response times cut down on ghosting. but don't be blinded by the numbers. A res.ponse time of 25ms or quicker is fine for all applications.

iii

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::I: 11. FAQ do th e f/2.S-style Q What num bers mean in digital camera spec ifications?

A

TheSl! so-called f-nu mbers are measurements of the

RICOH

GR Digital III

***

£460 inc VAT From www.s im p lyelect ron ics.net

A year ago, the compact digital camera market was stuck in a rut, with most manufacturers offering unnecessarily high resolutions that did little to improve actual photos. Things are markedly different now, and reserved for SLRs. Face detection is notably absent, manufacturers are finding more imaginative - and and the basic video mode is hidden among the scene vastly more effective - ways to boost image quality. presets, but these issues probably won't bother keen Ricch's GR Digital III certainly scores points for photographers. The lack of an HOMI output is more originality. Its lens has a fixed 28mm focal length, disappointing on a camera at this price, as is the lack which means there's no zoom function at all. However, of image stabilisation, which cancels the advantage of its fl1 .9 aperture helps it capture over twice as much the bright lens when shooting static subjects. light as a typical fl2 .8 lens (see oor FAQ, left). Omitting Ayear ago we would have recommended the a zoom helps to produce a brighter lens, but it also GR Digital III without reservation, but today it has makes it easier to capture shilrper images with less to compete with Panasonic's LX3 (see What'$ New, distortion. Sure enough, its pictures were remarkably Shopper 255). Both cameras have bright lenses, are crisp right into the comers of the frame. The sensor is extremely responsive and excel for image quality. The less unusual at 10 megapixels and with a V1.1in LX3 has a slight edge for sharpness and its automatic diameter, but these specifications strike a sensible exposures are more reliable. but the GR's colours look balance between detail and sensitivity. more natural. It's hard to choose between them at Other features demonstrate that this is a high sensitivities, but the GR edged ahead at times. serious photographic tool. The cosmet ic design is Their features are quite different, though. The LX3 uncompromisingly stark, and even Ricch's logo is captures HD video and has a 2.sx zoom and optical missing from the front of the camera. It has a image stabilisation. The Ricch's higher-resolution comfortable rubber handgrip, screen and lower weight aren't though. The rest of the body is enough to justify the fact that it SUMMARY made from magnesi um alloy, so costs around £150 more. VERDICT A true enthuslist's amera it's very tough and light. The GR Digital III is also that prioritises image quality arxl At the back, there's a 3in screen likely to suffer in comparison Hgonomics 2,736), 28mm fi. ed-loom lens, way to help SLR owners overlook SLR- si~ed sensor in a compact SOI-K slot (88M8 intomal). U·ion 0< 2. AAA the lack of a viewfinder. There are body - look out for oor imminent batt.,~s.6Oxl09x33mm. 188g."".·,.."' lots of controls for quick access to reviews of these models. Even Ra_rranty so, it's impossible to remain key settings, including dual dials for PARTCOOE H~CR·RGRIII O£TALS www.ricQ!,.
....

. ",,"

lens's a~rture. Put simply, the aperture is the sire of the hole

.-

through which light passes to

hit the sensor. A wider dperture lets in more light, which is good

EDITOR'S CHOICE

when there's not much around. Comparing f-numbers can b.e

PANASONIC

PANASONIC

Lumix DMC-FZ28

Lumix DMC-TZ6

confusing. Lowervalues mean a wider aperture, so an filA aperture is bright, while fl22 is dilrk. The relatioll5hip between

the f-number and the amount

of light isn't linear, though. The aperture relates to the diameter of the lens's iris, so doubling the aperture roughly quadruples the amount of light it lets in. Lenses with wide apertures

help considerably with low- light shots. As a quick reference, the following apertures each let in twice as much light as the previous one: f/16, fill , fla, f/S .6, f/4, fI2 .a, f/2, f/1.4.

Ben Pitt Musicand photography expert

*****

£270 inc VAT

~?:n:ii _ <[1 __

t,!!~!

www.currys.co.uk

The fZ28 is our favourite ultra-zoom camera, wi th a big l8x optical zoom. It can't compete with budget DSLRs for image quality, but it's ahead of the direct competition. Image qu ality is excellent up to ISO 400, and there's support for RAW format. More exciting is support for HD video, which is packed with detail. It's great value, and you'd need to spend a lot more to see better results.

i;rlM:l!

www.buyacamera.co.uk

.

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UlTltA·ZOOM DlGITA.l.

CAMERA 10 ""'&"!'iul, (3.648x2.136 pi. els). 18. opticol ,oom (27-486mm) . SDHC (50M8 i"l00>oI), 7.1.V 710mAh U·"" battery. 7Sx 118x89rnrn. 417g

PARTCOOE DMC-FZ28E8·k DfTAiLS .........w.p.n.SO<1ic.<:o.u k fUll. REVIEW

.

.,.

Jan 2009 '"'"-

-....

--

If you want a big zoom in a fairly compact camera, the TZ6 is ideal. - -....:;C~~ Fitting a 12x zoom lens into such a small camera is a remarkable achievement, but more impressive still is how sharp the photos are. Automatic exposures were nearly always perfectly judged, and standarddefinition vidt'{ls were ULTRA·ZOOM DlGITA.l. excellent, with smooth, CAMERA 10 "",g~pi~I' sharp images and a (3.648x2.136 pi. els). 12. optical ,oom (lS-3OOmm). dear soundtraCK. SDHC slot (40MB intomol). TheTZ6 has a ,echargeable U-ion banery. fantastic lens, responsive ""'-Y'''' RTB w."""ty performance and a smart PARTCOOE DMC·TZ6EB·$ DfTALS www.panu""ic.'o.Uk design and produces fUll REVIEW Aug 2009 reliably excellent photos. It's a grea t camera at a ...-.. ... ~ "i very reasonable price.

-

.... - --. . .



JANUARY 2010

PHOTOGRAPHY

£199 inc VAT From www.bristolcameras.co.uk For years we've pined for a compact camera technology).AS if that wasn't enough, the F70EXR has yet another trick up that has a big wom and takes great pictures in low light. We'd just about given up waiting. its sleeve for low-light photography. A concluding that both a big zoom and a large scene mode called Pro Low-Light ta~es sensor (required for low-light sensitivity) four photos in qUick succession, aligns simply won't fit in a pocket-sized body. them as necessary and superimposes them to reduce noise further. As long as there However, Fujifilm has proved us wrong. The F70EXR is Fujifilm's first compact wasn't much motion in the scene, low-light shots had a clarity and smoothness that wasn't far big-zoom camera, following in the footsteps of Panasonic's TZ range. This is a crowded market behind that of SLR cameras. For a £200 compact camera. that's nothing short of extraordinary, (see Labs, Shopper 258), but the F70EXR starts well by being the smaaest and lightest yet. At The innovations don't stop there_ Another £200, it's also one of Ihe cheapest. new scene mode, Pro Foc us, simulates an 5LR The compact design is particularly camera's shallow depth of field, blurring Ihe remarkable, as the F70EXR has a larger sensor background to draw attention to the main subject. In practice, the border between than any of its competitors. The 'hin diagonal isn't much bigger than the 'luin and '1",in foreground and background was often a little sensors used elsewhere. but it's an important imprecise, but it's a fun tool to play with. factor for low-light performance. Sure enough, The F70EXR also includes the dynamic photos ta~en with the F70EXR at ISO 1600 range extension introduced on the F200EXR, the sensitivity required under typical household Overexposed highlights such as washed-out skies are a common problem, but the F70EXR recovers artificial light - looked significantly sharper them, capturing colour and and deaner than the best from its competitors. detai15 that would otherwise SUMMARY low-light image quality be 1051. This featu re uses VERDICT It's rar! t .... t a camera gets a further boost from variable sensitivity in ~~. t .... rut~ I>00I;, and ..... n Fujililm's ingenious EXR different parts of the sensor, ,arerwherllt's SO well rounded sensor design, Switching which is much more effective and Jlfordable from 10 to 5 mega pixels not than rival systems that COMPACT DIGITAL CAMlRA 9.8 mogapixels [3.616. 2,712).10>< opllcal ",om only reduces the amount of simply process the image (27·27Omm), SDHC .Iot (~ 7MB ime"",'), noise in photos but actually after <:apture. The downside is U-ion battery. S9x99J<27mm. 180g.one·yo.r increases the definition of that it only works at its best RTBw",ran!'f details, It's a feature we first in the 5-megapixe[ EXR PART CODE Pl0NC01700A D£TALS www,!ujililm.
Program mode and switching to EXR for times when it's clearly needed. Otherwise, this is a capable, dependable camera. Automatic e~posures were generally excellent, althoogh unnecessarily high ISO speeds led to some loss of clarity in flash-lit shots. Again, manual tweaking easily overcomes this. The menu system could be tidier but it's great to see manual exposure. Performance was above average, with particularly fast autofocus, and few people will lament the thr~ -shot limit in continuous mode.At the long end of the zoom ra nge, details weren't quill' as sharp as those from the F200EXR or Panasonic's TZ7, but they were more than adequate for A4 prints. OI.Ir only serious grumble is the lack of an HD video mode. With its sleek, compact body and lOx zoom, the F70-EXR is perfect for holidays and days out, coping equally well with wide-angle vistas and telephoto portraits. Unlike other big-zoom compacts, it also takes attractive photos indoors without the flash. The fact that it costs under £200 is the icing on the cake. The F200EXR remains an excellent a\temative; its 5x zoom is hardly lacking and its larger sensor produces marginally better photos. However, the F70EXR's l Ox zoom is much more versatile. With the added benefit of Pro Low-light Mode. it's our favourite compact camera at any price. Ben Pitt

FUJIFILM

CANON

PANASONIC

FinePix F200EXR

EOS lOOOD& 18-55mm IS lens

Lumix DMC-LS85

*****

£190 inc VAT www.digitalrev.com

r, j iii

The F200EXR's sensor is bigger than most at Yuin. It can switch from 12 to six mega pixels to reduce picture noise in low-light conditions, and image quality is e~ceptional in either r::::::::o: mode. Performance COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA 12 mogapixot. (4,000><3.000

can be a Uttle slow, ~.ols) , 5. optkal,oom (28-14Omm).SOHC and.O but the menu <101< (48MB intomol), 3.6V system is easy to l.(l(l(lmAh U-ion i>
!~:!~

!'Fiiqii

www.buyacamera.co.uk www.buyacamera.co.uk The EOS l000D produces better image quality than Sony's A230, and has live view, so you can compose shots using the screen on the back. It produced the best images of all the cameras in our budget D5lR labs (Shopper 251). DICIT.... LSUtCAMEAA 10.1 mOVpi.ol.[3.888x2,592 Automat ic pixe l,), 3. optical loom, SOHC exposures were (none). 7,4V, 1.080mAh superbly jud~d, LI·IQII battory details were sharp PART COl)( 2766B013AA DETAILS www,c.... on.co,uk and the re was FUUIlEV1EW ~ 2009 little noise, all of which justifies the -,,*-,.,.. extra cost.

--

. COMPUTER SHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

The DMC-l585 is the cheapest camera in Panasonic's range. The optical image stabilisation and 112.8 aperture make it far better than most budget cameras 'Nhen used in low-light conditions. Its fully automatic mode delivered well.jud~d e~posures. Details were sharp, colours COMPACTDlGlTALCAMERA natural and noise 8 megapi',uk bu t delivers on FUll. REVIEW ~ 2009 ergonomics, performance and -,,* ...... , ...... image quality.

_.

--

PHOTOGRAPHY '"

NIKON

CHOOSING A...

Coolpix P90

Digital SLR Camera

***

£260 inc VAT From www.simplyelect ronics.net

Nikon has pulled out all the stops with the P90, It has a 12-megapixel sensor and a 3in screen, but The hinged screen can point 300 down or 90 0 top billing goes to the 24x zoom lens. Being able to up. We appreciate being able to shoot at elbow take a 26mm wide-angle shot and then magnify a distant speck so it fills the frame is quite a height. as iI's much more comfortable than with outstretched arms. There's also an electronic breathtaking experience. Lenses this powerful often come with compromises, though. viewfinder, but its colours afe much less accurate Our test shots revealed beaut iful colour than the screen's.The photographic options are reproduction, expertly chosen automatic settings comprehensive and there's a dial for adjusting and reasonably low noise up to ISO 800. However, settings. 001 it's a pity that white balance, ISO speed and drive mode ilfJ! buried in the menus. artificial light sometimes produced heavy colour A high-speed shooting mode is well suited to casts. The far reaches of the zoom range led to heavy lens distortions. There's an option to correct nature and sports photography. It captures 4S these digitally, but it crippled performance. 3-megapixel shots in thll'e seconds (15fps) and Pictures weren't as sharp as can even buffer and save 10 those from Panasonic's fI2S shots from before the shutter SUMMARY botton was pressed. When (see Editor's Choice, page 32), VEROICT The mMsive zoom rangt and particularly in low light. articulot..! >$9rnm, 46Og. distant subjects in bright With a huge zoom and 1W<>-y.... RTB warranty conditions. It also resulted high-speed mode, the P90 PART COOl' VMAnOB1 O£TAIlS _ . nikon.co.Uk in chromatic aberrations has plenty going for it, but PERFQRMA/IICE( _ _ IOI and purple fringing, though, Panasonic's fI28 is just £10 more and is a better aU-round camera. giving halos of discolouration around high-contrast lines. Ben Pitt

-

_ .....

FoJJowthe steps to fin d your ideaJ specs RESOlUTION: 10 meg;opixoh

SUHuEO I.£NS: 18-55nvn, f/3.5.f/5.6 MONITOftNG: 2Y,in, 215,000.",,0/ LCD WHto

COHTlNuous SHoo"nNG: 25/p. 5Ul>1'IJ[[) MEMORY: N"""

Re<~ minlroom in fI~

D

A digital SLR camera with the specifications shown above will cost around 000 and suit photography enthusiasts on a budget. Despite being an entry-level digital SLR, image quality will be in a different league to that of all but the best fixed-lens cameras, particularly when it comes to smooth, sharp detail with minimal image noise.

Et Spend more and you11 get a

IIt:I camera with a higher resolution: 10 megapixels is common for entry-level models. This gives finer detail, although the improvement over eight megapixels isn't as great as the figures might suggest.

n

The kit lenses supplied with budget digital SLRs can take excellent pictures, but their 100m ranges and macro-focus capabilities are limited. If you're interested in telephoto photography, consider buying a second lens, perhaps with a 70-200mm focal length. Alternatively, buy a body-only camera and an 18-2oomm or similar lens. Aperture values tell you how much light the lens can capture at either end of its zoom range; the lower the f-number, the brighter the lens.

K:.I

CANON

Ixus 200 IS

****


The Ixus 200 IS is Canon's first touchscreen camera, and it's a joy to behold. The metal lozenge In 51i1l-image tests, the autofocus and auto exposure proved outstandingly re!iable, capturing shell - available in purple, bronze, blue or silver attractive shots time after time. However, the and contoured buttons bring to mind a luxury car. 12-megapixel sensor captured no more detail than It's just as slick to use as it is to look at. Some touchscrE1!n interfaces are unresponsive, but this the two l O-megapi~el cameras we reviewed this 3in widescreen posed no such problems. It also month, In fact. details were often a little softer, particularly in low light where noise reduction facilitates a one-touch spot focus mode, which automat ically tracks moving subjects. Buttons wilt disguised noise but also discarded lots of detail. It's always be better for some tasks, though, so we're a more aggressive approach than that of previous delighted that there's a dutch of them to the right Canon compact cameras, but the results are of the screen. They're quite small and fiddly but arguably more appealing if you're printing smaU the wheel that encirdes the pictures or scaling shots down five-way pad is particularly to post on the web. SUMMARY useful for dialling in settings. Fujifilm's F200EXR (see VERDICT Ima~ quality isn't t ~ !>est, The touchscreen isn't the Editor's Choice, page 33) has but t~ touch.cr~n, wid e-angle Itn., only notable feature .The Sx the same resolution and zoom HO vide<. mode and HOMI output ju.tify the high pric. range but takes significantly zoom starts at an unusually wide-angle 24mm, a real boon better pictures in cha!\enging COMPACTDlGfTALCAMERA 12 m~g.pi •• 1s (4,OOOd,000), Syoptic.1 for vistas and group photos. conditions. However, the Ixus zoom (2~- lZOm"'1 SOHC slot (n""" So too is the 720p HD video 200 IS's images are far from ,uppli~), Li· ion battery, S3x1C1O:<23mm, mode, which gave fantastic disappointing, and its HD video 13(lg. one·ye ... RTB w.""nty results in bright light and and HDMI socket are distinct PART COOl' 3986BOO6AA OfTAaS _ .canon.o::o.uk advantages. If you don't mind reasonable quality in gloomier conditions. Videos and photos paying a premium for these PERFQRMA/IICE(_ ....... looked superb on an HDTV features, it's an excellent choice. - "'Fa I via the HDMI socket. Ben Pitt

--

-

.... .

II!I A 2'hin, 21S,OOO-pixel screen is

Ii.I standard among digital SLRs, but you'll be using the optical viewfinder to compose shots. Its through-thelens (TIL) view shows exactly what the camera's sensor will capture and makes manual focusing easy. A second, passive LCD screen is useful fo r displaying camera settings.

1':1 Most entry-level SLRs I:l outperform even the fastest compact cameras. However,look out for a fast continuous mode, autofocus and shutter lag if quick-fire photogrilphy is a priority.

P.!I

Digital SLRs don't usually come

1.:1 with any storage, so budget

ilround £10 for iI fast (at least 6Ox) 2GB CompactFlash or SD card to ensure that it doesn't create a performance bottleneck .



12.1" HP NOTEBOOK

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FAQ Is there like ly to be a HD standard soon

Q new

that supersedes 1080p video?

A

As most pes are already straining to deal with the

workload that 1080p AVCHD video puts on them , there isn't

much enthusiasm from amateur camcorder users to move to an e~ n more demand ing fonnat . If you're looking for video with a higher resolution than l,920xl ,080 (l080p), your local

multiplex is probably the place to find it. Many cinemas now

use digital proje<:tion. The most common format is known as 2K, and both the video files and the

MEDION

Life S47000

***

£100 inc VAT From www.medionshop.co.uk German PC manufacturer Medion is the latest company to challenge Flip. maker of the excellent Ult ra HD (below). in the mini HD camcorder market. At just f 100 the life S47000 Digital HD Sports Camcorder, to give it its full name. is very competitively priced. and its 'Sports' mon iker is well deserved too. The rounded plastic casing has a rubbe ry ou ter rim.l'Ihich makes th e Life S47000 feel very sturdy. There's a hook in the top right-hand corner. so you can attach a lanya rd, ahhough none is supplied. The exposures were occasionally off. with bleached out surfaces in strong sunlight. Colour balance was also camera is splash-proof. too, with rubber plugs and seals to keep water away from the ports, SDHC memory an issue. with bricks on buildings near our offices ca rd slot and batte ry compartment. appeari ng far too orange. It wasn't much better in low The S47000 uses a Li-ion rechargeable battery. light, with lots 01 noise and the odd stuttering frame. l'Ihich helps keep the total weight down to a tiny 85g. The mini HDMI port lets you connect the S47000 directly to an HD TV - and we applaud Medion here However. it's cha rged using a separate mains cha rger and can't be replaced by a pair of AA batteries in an for pro\l iding a suitable lead in the bo~. The re's a USB eme rgency. This makes it less flexible and convenient port. but the camcorder has no built-in editing tha n th e Ultra HD, which charges its AA-replod HOMI 00t!>UI<. stored video on an 8GB card. \lery reasonably priced. However. 65.105<23nvn . as&- ".,. ·)'ur RTB W¥Jlnty Despite the H.264-encoded unless you regularly find yourself PAATCOI)( 50032522 OETo\ILS www.me
-

....

.

projectors have a resolution of 2,048)(1 ,080 - hardly a big step up. More impressive is the newer 4K standard with its huge 4,096)(2,160 resolution, around four times that of 1080p.

We can't see 4K becoming a camcorder or home cinema

standard any time soon. You C,In

buy a 4K camcorder. the Red One. but expect to spend in the region of $20.000. Panasonic showed a 4K plasma at CES last year. but it's not on general sale. Sony's 4K projector is available now but will set you back a shocking $11 S.OOO. In a way this is good news for consumers. as 1080p provides great quality now at ever more reasonable prices. and your investment isn't likely to be superseded overnight.

ImtJORlSid!lH.OICE

PHILIPS

HUMAX

BDP7300

PVR-9300T

*****

*****

£227 inc VAT

, .~;!

From www.m ultizoneav.com

The BDP7300 Blu-ray player can decode HD audio (such as Dolby TrueHD) and output it through its 5.1 multichannel output, which IS ideal if '100 have an older AV receiver wit h a matching input . Its DVD upscaling looked excellent, Blu-ray movies loaded quickly and it has a well·designed remote control. Its US8 port allows you to \l iew media files, and the minimal me nu system is easy to navigate. It costs around £70 more than the chea~st players. but its all-round excellent design makes it our current favourite.

£170 inc VAT

ESffii

• fii I,M From www.play.com

Humax's PVR-9300T is easy to use. The remote control has well labelled buttons, and the easy-te- navigate interface includes a dearly presented EPG. lts two digital tu ne rs are capable 01 showing a third programme while you record two others. T~ 320GB hard disk prO\lides up to 200 hou rs of recording space. Series link recording means that you don't have to remember to record every episode. lt·s a grea t way of enhancingyol.lf enjoyment of FreeviewTV.

BLU·AAV PlAYER Profile Z.O. HOMI. <",ml><>"H'nt. composlle.

Seth Bartan Reviews Edito r

coo. ;.! ~rod oplic.! S/POlf.•Wto .nd 5.1 multich.nneloulput>, USB
POWER CONSUMPnoN 16W on, 1W st
H1-RD DISK RECORDER 3lOGB h... d disk. 2. digilal t ...,~,... HOMI. l . seART. compo,it<:. $Wto pnooo arod optiClIl S/POIF outputs.

<>I>'-y .... , RTBwarronly POWERCONSUMPTlON lW ".rodby.Z6W 001 PAAT CODE P\Il'I:-9300T/GS DET1.LS www.hum..digitol.co.uk FUll. REVIEW NOli 2008

COMPIJTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


VIDEO WESTERN DIGITAL

W DTV Live

*****

£92 inc VAT From www.micomonline.co.uk

We reviewed Western Digital's first media player, the WDTV, almost a year ago (~at'5

servers on your network, or from shared folders on PCs or network storage devices. The list of supported New, Shopper 263).11 stood the test of t ime well, appearing regularly as one of our Editor's files is comprehensive, and includes Choices. Now we've got our hands on this every container, codec and subtitle format you're ever likely to need. The only updated model. although you'd be hard pressed to leU the difference at first glance. disappointment is that fast forward and rewind The WO TV live retains the original's are limited to 16x speeds. It supports playback diminutive size and minimalist design - both resume, so you can continue watching your of which are good things. like its predecessor, movie Irom where yoo left it. it's completely silent in operation too, a major Yoo can also view videos from YooTube.The plus for a living room -based device. The most interface for this looks great, with easy access to significant change is on the rear, with the videos in various categories, such as top rated, recently posted and recommended. You can also addition 01 Ethernet port. The original WD TV only played files from USB storage devices, log in to watch videos from your own account. but this updated version can stream content The WO TV live plays HO videos too, and selects from other devices on your network or from a the highest quality version automaticatly. The selection of popular websites, only downside is that entering search terms with This hugely expanded functionality has the remote and onscreen keyboard is p.ainstaking. necessitated a new menu You can access photos from system. Thankfully, it's as the same range of sources as SUMMARY videos, with a Flickr option clearly presented and easy on VERDICT Adding streaming to this replacing YouTube lor web the eye as the original's, and alrudy excellent med ia player content. Yoo can browse photos is controlled with the same makes it ~tt B m an .""'.11 you neat little remote control. The oon't nftd wireless, buy this by folder or date, arld the 10 layout is reminiscent of the onscreen thumbrlails make this MULTIMEDIA STRlAMING PLAVlR XrossMediaBar on Sony's easy.There are lots of slideshow HDMI, compon..,l. compo"'", mini-jack .tB"o, optkal S/POIF, PlayStation 3 console. You options, and it even picked up Etheme( 10/100. Zx USB. select from Video, Photo or the EXIF rotation data from 4O><12Sxl00mm, .,.,.·ye.. RTB Audio options, and are then cameras that support this, wa".anl)', support. WMA,.u( , egg. offered a range of sources automatically displaying portrait Wa .. and MP3 audio. WMV·HD, MPl:G 1. MPEG2 (VOB). MPEG~. X.iD, for each type. photos in the correct aspect. O",X and H.264 .""'0, BMP, Tlr and The WO TV live can play There's no support for JPEG im.ges video files from local storage protected audio formats, but POWER CONSUMPTION 9W on, devices through its two USB otherwise codec support is 4W standby PART CODE WDBAAPOOOONBK· EE$N ports, You can access files excellent, and it recognises PlS, O£TAILS www.W
,In

browse by artist, genre, date, folder or album, and you get 10 aloom art thumbnails onscreen at once. Internet radio support comes courtesy 01 1WM'.live365,com,This provides over 6,000 stations, but you'll have pay a £3.75 monthly subscription if yoo want an ad-free service. The HOMI output, with 1080p and 24fps support, will remain most users' first choice. However, this new model also adds a component output, which is handy if you're short 01 HOMI inputs on your TV.There's also an optical SfPDIF, and support for both Dolby Digital and DTS. The WO TV live costs f20 more than the original version, which we feel is money well spent. It's rather like the similarly priced Xtreamer, see below, although the WOTV live has no wireless networking and no internal bay for local hard dis~ storage. However, its interface loo~ slicker, it has more thumbnails to assist browsing and it's easier to get to grips with, plus its support for online content is better, If you're looking for a media streamer and you don't require wireless networ~ing. the WD TV live is the one to buy. In use it feels more li~e a consumer devi ce, such as a Blu-ray player, than a complex piece of technical equipment.This is an impre55ive feat for a unit with so many functions, and it deserves our Best BUy award. Seth Barton

SONY

XTREAMER

HDR-CXll E

Xtreamer

*****

£599 inc VAT

" .~ 1!

.

This HO camcorder produces sha rp details, natural skin tones and impressive low-ligh t footage. Its opt ical image stabilisati on minimises camera shakes, even at high zoom factors. Soond quality is the bt-st we've he ard. The touchscreen t CO provides spot-focus and spot-metering HD CAMCORDER Memory controls, while a Slick Pm Duo storage, 12x small dia l next to the ""tico! zoom, S,660,OOO-pix~1 lens makes manua l 'I'-'in CMOS, max "!S<>Iut>on 1080i,2.7in LCD "~n,USB focusing simple. interface, AV. compollOnt and It's no t the mini HDMI (lUI. on e ·~ . ar RTB most compact HO w.""nl)' camcorder, but it's PARTcOOE HORCX11£.cEH DETAILS www.wny.co.uk reasonably priced and has consistently FUll. REVIEW Jul 2009 commendable video performance.

--

***** £148 inc VAT

£99 inc VAT

From www.dabs.com

*****

F~m

The UltraHO is the lirst Flip an HOM I ou tput, so you can watch yoor HO movies back on your HO TV. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack that charges via the flip-oot USB connect Of. You can also fit two standard AA batteries if you prefer. The 8GB of flash memory will store around two hours 01 video. This has a resol ution HD CAMCORDER 8GB lIosh of l,28Ox720 pixels. memory """'g'. It looks de tailed, and 2.2...... gap~1 '1.~ncMOS exposures were well .en
The Xtreamer is amazing value. You get a media streaming device with 802.11n wireless networking and space for a 2V.in hard d is~.lt has two USB POfts for external storage, an d all t he vid eo and audio outfllJts you'll need. It played Blu-ray quali ty video perfectly and supports all common video and audio codec.lts interface isn't the slidest we've seen, but it works well and reacts quickly.

......, ...

'

JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTER SHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

DEVICE HOMI, composite, phono and optical S/POIF outputs. 2x USB.

MULTIMEDIA STREAMING st~o

802.11n .nd 10/100 EII, . ..... I. 2V.1n SATA drl\le bay.

"""-I"'''

162x27xlI0mm, RTl! w.".
DETAIlS www.tr..xtre.m....com FUll. REVIlW o.c 2009

c

SPEEDO

LZR Aquabeat 2GB

***

£7D inc VAT From www.advancedmp3players.co.uk

FAQ Q

What are t he advantages of satellite radio?

A Radio signals are usually

broadcast from a ground-based transmitter tower - one of the best-known examples is the transmitting

station at Crystal Palace in South london. But satellite

radio, as its name suggests, uses a series of satellites in orbit over the planet to broadcast

radio signals. Satellites have more range

Speedo is better known for swim wear than MP3 players. That said. its new lZR Aquabeat is certainly playing to the company's tradit ional strengths, as it's time. Using Windows Explorer, it took over seven-anddesigned to be used while you're swimming. The Aquabeat has a rubberised casing that feels a-half minutes to transfer 500MB of songs - over twice sturdy and is also waterproof. The back has clips, as long as many other players. through which you can thread your swimming goggle The accompanying waterproof ea rphones are stra ps; this means the Aquabeat will sit snugly against essential for listening to music unde rw ater. The earplug sleeves depend on a good seal to keep water out of the back of your head. In the unlikely event that it does come unattached it will float, thereby making it your ears. Two sizes are included, but not everyone will easy to retrieve. get a comfortable fit that also keeps out water. The There's no display for browsing songs, but this isn't earphones hook behind your ears, so they should stay a huge problem du e to the small number of tracks you securely in place whatever your preferred stroke. Out ca n fit in its 2GB of memory. There's a volume rocke r 01 water they sound tinny, and not nearly as good as and buttons for skipping back and forth between a high-quality set of normal earphones. Underwa ter, tracks. The play button has a ribbed te ~ture, unlike though, they sound surprisingly clear with no distortion and a respectable amount of bass. the others, making it easy distinguish by touch. However, songs can't be set to play randomly, simply Annoyingly, there's no hold switch, so it's easy to cycling through a cont inuous loop until you press play songs acc identally and run down th e battery. This the stop button. isn't likely to happen whe n swimming. but it happened The headphone socket also to us more than once when the SUMMARY doubles as a USB port, so you'll Aquabeat was being transpolted have to use the included USB VERDICTThe Aquabeat wlllappea( around in a bag. StilL in our tests, grNrty to swi mmBs, but its genB;>! adaptor cable to connect it to your it managed nearly 15 hours of u~ fuln~ .. i. ( ~s -...d by 3 number of playb ack, wh ich should be enough PC (although you ca n also use an d esign comprom l~ s ada ptor cable for a second- or for even the keenest swi mmers. FLASH MEMORY PlAYER 2GB copa<:ity. If you want to listen to music third-generation iPod Shuffle). 5upportS WMA ..,d MP3 .lId., fil~ s. USB while you swim, the Aquabea t does Songs can be copied to the inlorioc., ·Ox22>"6Omm, 34g. .",.-yoar Aquabeat using Windows E~plorer, the job. However, it makes serious RTB W3rT..,ty but if you want songs to play in a sacrifices compared with other PAltT Coot: 0902 ·0001583 specific order, you'll have to use players, such as the lack of a hold ~~ WWW.5pO..oo.co.uk PEJlfORMANCE 1_ _ '"I the included transfer program. switch and display, so it's a fish out Unfortunately, it's incredibly slow of water away from the pool. .... .....,.".-m! I and you can add only one song at a Alan Lu .~

than ground-based transmitter

.-

towers, so they can (o~r a far wider geogrdphkal area. A

specialised receiver is required to tune in to satellite radio broadcasts, but these aren 't huge dishes; most models dr!! pocket-sized or are designed to be mounted in a car. Satellite

radio is especially popular in the US, where large parts of the country have poor tern:ostrial radio service. American satellite radio providers Sirius and XM

require a subscription and provide a huge number and range of stations. Ondas Media and WorldScape have announced plans to bring satellite radio services to the UK and Europe. However, we suspect that satellite radio is unlikely to take off over here, as digital tern:ostrial radio services such as DAB should be sufficient to eventually cover the whole country.

Alan Lu Aullioanll stora ge e~ p e rt

EDITOR'S CHOICE PURE

SHURE

LOGITECH

Avanti Flow

SE102

X-230

*****

£220 inc VAT From www.caraudiogiant.co.uk

£50 inc VAT • I,N' I.M From www.superfi.co.uk

***** E&'tiI

***** ~!?i!l\liI

This streaming audi o receiver works as an alarm dock, ;Pod dock and DAB, FM and internet radio. There's a lot of internet aud io content available, which you can browse using the remote or the online web interfMe. It's the best all-in-one aud io device we've seen.

The SE 102 headphones are among the most effective noise-isolation earphones we've heard. The 41 cm cable is a little short, but an extension lead is included. When listening to music while traveUTng on the london Underground, we were able to hear fine details t hat are barely au dible using many other noise-cancelling sets. We were surprised by th e d ear sound, although the bass wasn't as thumping as we would have liked.

Logitech's X-230 speakers produce a sOlJnd that's dearer, richer and more balanced than that of any other set und er £50. The volume and bass controls are on th e right satellite and subwoofer respectively, and all t he cables except power prot rude ITom the right satellite. If you want a set for music or gam es, there are no better speaker5 for this price.

STREAMING AUDIO RECEIVER 8O.I:.llb/g€lhem
fUll REVIEW juI 2009

EARPlUGS 3.Smm " .reo jock plug. 41cmc.bI • . 14g

PARTCOOf SEl02-K·E DtTAIt.S www.""'",.co.uk FUU REVIEW F.b 2009

£28 inc VAT • I, 'J! I.M From www.plxmanla.co.uk

5nREO SPEAKERS 2.1
fUU REVIfW Jun 2008



AUDIO

ALTEC LANSING

Express ionist Ult ra

**

£1 80 inc VAT

From w ww.play.co m

Allee lansing's Expressionist Ultra 2.1 speakers have a distinctive look, tha l"lks to their transparent trapezoid fronts. The subwooler looks even more striking. being

almost as large as a mini lower Pc. The wired remote uses a jog dial to control the volume, so it requires only a slight twist to make adjustm ents. Pressing one button lets the dial control the 1;.155, while another switches t o adjusting the

treble. A small series of lights visually indicate the volume, bass and treble levels. The remote includes a handy headphone socket and a 3.Smm input, in

EDIFIER

Ell00Plus

**

£40 jnc VAT

From www.johnlewis.com

The subwoofer from Edifier's El 110Plus 2.1 speaker set in unlike any we've seen before. Its glossy black curved top is reminiscent 01 the vicious extraterrestrialslrom th e Alien movies, which is no bad thing. There's only one 3.5mm input,located on the back of the subwoofer. but this is sufficient for a set of PC speakers. We were less impressed with the location of the controls. The volume control. which also doubles as a power switch, is located on the top of the subwoofer, while the bass dial is located on the back. These are inconvenient to reach if you want to tuck the subwoofer away somewhere unobtl1Jsive. We'd have

addition to the one on the back of the subwoofer, lor connecting another audio source. Although the audio quality of the Expressionist Ultra isn't bad, we expected fa r better from a 2.1 set at this price. The mid-range sounds Rat and compressed, so vocals and instrume nts in many songs sound mufRed. High-frequency notes sounds harsh, too. Adjusting the treble can compensate for this, but it makes music even more muffled. The bass sounds deep and full, but if you boost it further th e treble sounds eve n harsher. Altec Lansing's Expressionist Ultra speakers have numerous issues. Considering the price, this is simply unacceptable - we'd expect a neany flawless level of audio quality and these speakers just don't have it. We recommend Creative's similarly priced Gigaworks T3 2. 1 speakers (see lMlat's New, Shopper 25 1), which sound clear, rich and detailed. Alan Lu

preferred the controls located on one of the satellites or on a wired remote, although the design does allow the satellites to remain very small. The satellites' diaphragms are exposed and could easily be damaged, especiaHy in a household with curious children. The sound quality 01 the El 100Plus is mediocre at best. The midrange sounds muddy and flat, so vocals and instruments in pop songs lack detail. The high end ca n sound harsh, especially in electronic music, and this is increasingly noticeable the more you ra ise the volume. Increasing the bass makes music boom when it should be more focused. Sound quality suffers even more unless you·re sitting in the sweet spot, which is narrow. We like the unusual look of Edifier's El l00l'lus, but the sound quality leaves much to be desired. We'd rather have Logitech's X-230 2. 1 speakers (see below). They don't look nearly as distinctive, but their sound quality is far superior in every respect. Alan Lu

VERDICT Alte<: Lansing"s Exp~uionist Ultra s~a k~ ha"" too many quality iUUM for. ~t at thiS price STll!.EO SPEAKERS 2.1 configura!"",. 200W ~r RMS,l.Smm stereo Input POWERCONSUMPTK>N 3W .tao1dby. 16W PART COOl BSll

ott"'"

SUMMARY VERDICT Edifi«'s Ell00P\us speak...-s look g~. t .but t heir sound q~ lity is poor

STEREO SPEAKERS 2.1 configuration. 21W power RMS. l .5mm storeo InputS. one·l"'o, RTB _mint>,> POWER CONSUMPTION 2W ,tondby. 8W octlve PART CODE 8934Cl4OZ O£TAI.S WIW/.~ i fi or· intomat""'aI. ,~

LOGITECH

PHILIPS

PHILIPS

HERCULES

Z-5500 Digital

Streamium NP2900

SHE2550 Extra Bass

DJ Console

*****

*****

~~!c~! tt*~i From www.a ma zon.co. uk This surround-sound speaker kit has built-in decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. You can connect a OVO player via the optical and coa~ial S/POIF inputs, or connect your PC's sound card to its three mini-jack inputs fOf surround sound. Quality is great, with an emphasis on the upper mid-range and treble. This set is great val ue. SURROUND·SOUND SPEAKEltS 50SW ~'. 3> 3.S
co", ,,1 SlPDIF. optical SJ'PDIF input< POWER CONSUMPTION 9W
RMX

£5.49 inc VAT ~'f\:! i From www.a mazon.co. uk

*****

From www.expansys.co.uk TheNP2900 , . streaming audio receiver is small, but its built-in speaKers sound rich and powerful. It supports a wide range of audio formats, and the included TwonkyMedia Manager software is easy to use.A range of intemet radio stations are available, and you can add more. It's a little expensive, but it's excellent.

These earphones may be cheap, but they're superior to sets that come with most MP3 players. They're comfortable, and their open speakers create a full, natural sound that's well suit ed to rock, pop and dance music. The ea rphones produce solid bass tones, but not at the expense of clarity and precision.

The OJ Console RMX is Hercules' flagship OJ product. The console has a microphone input and a monitoring headphone outp ut. Rear ports connect to turntables Of powered sources. Its knobs, sliders and dials can be controlled with the bundled AtomixVirtua lOJ 5 for Windows and Mac as x. This and a laptop full of MP3s are all you need to mix a full set.

£ 220 inc VAT

STlIEAMtNGAUDIO ItECEIVER Ix mlnl.Jock r-.odpllone output . Ix c,,">laI ,/PDIF output, one-ye .... RTB warrant>,>, ",ppon,WMA,AAC, Ogg, W~ and MP3 ""die PAltT COOl NP2900105 POWER CONSUMPTION 4W .tondby. 6W 011 FUU REVIEW jun 09

Sa

1f~ .... "C)' ~spon~ 12-22.000HI, impodanco 16 ohm< PART CODE SHE2S50100



£255 inc VAT From www.pixmania.co.uk

w

C!I

<:C

c:::

C I-

en

UPDATE SONY

DRX-S70U-W

**

£48 inc VAT From www.lambda-tek.com/ componentshop Sony's DRX-S70U-W portable DVD writer is an updated version of the DRX-S70U-R (see What's New, Shopper 253). It has the same sturdy black brus hed metal design, but is faster than its predecessor at writ ing discs. It wrote single-layer DVDs at around 5X and two-layer DVDs at just over 3.5X. Unfortunately, it retains its predecessor's greatest flaw. Although it can be powered over USB using a two-plug cable, this has to be bought separately for an additional f4. Otherwise, it ne~ds to be plugged into a wall socket using the included power adaptor, wh ic h is inco nvenient. The DRX-S70U-W com pares poorly to Samsung's Super Writemaster SE-SOB4 (oppOSite), wh ic h is f 11 cheaper, comes with the two-plug cable and is slightly quicker at burning discs. It's far better value.

Alan Lu

PC systems and storag e e~pert

HP

older backups will always be purged to make room for newer ones.

Med iaSmart

f iles stored on the EX490 can be acce ssed from .my internet-

EX490

connected computer, as well as the computers on your local

****

£462 inc VAT From www.cclonline.com

networi:.. For this to work, Windows

Home Server will attempt to configure your router automatically if it supports UPnP port forwarding; otherwise, you'll have to do this

AWindows Home Server (WHS) is an altemative to a network-attached yourself. Photos stored on the EX490 can storage (NAS) device for sharing files among all 'lour networked computers. be automatically uploaded to a photo-sharing It's basicaUy a modified PC running a customised service such as Flickr or PicaS<'. pr .. t . USB printer with your networked PCs. suited for deman ding users whose dlsk",lW(I. on.·y~ a. RTB ",arr..,ty. It can also back up chosen files needs aren't met by a high-end NAS 247xl-CO"<254mm POWERCONSUMPTlQN 2W $I..,dby. from each of your com puters such as Synology's Disk Station 47W""t"'. on a schedule. Individual backup (see What's New, Shopper 261). For PARTCODE fL704M schedules can't be set, though, so more basic storage needs, a simpler O£TAllS www.hp.
EDITOR'S CHOICE WESTERN DIGITAL

IOMEGA

My Book World Edition lTB

eGo Portable 500GB

*****

£76 inc VAT From www.mlsco.co.uk

*****

£122 inc VAT ~ I, From www.ebuyer.co m

This lTB NAS device looks sleek in it5 glossy white case. It's easy to " configure and is one of the fastest single-disk NAS devices we've seen. It's quiet, too, so it's unobtrusive and can NETWORK STORAGE DEVICE lTB hard disk. 10/100/ be used in a qu iet room. 1.()()()Mb~/' n.1'o\'<>rk The MyBook World <",",,« lion, hr USB pon. UPnP isn't perfect - it has no medi•• iTun." USB disk ~O>d FTP print server and its $..wr$.lhlff·y. a, RTB W
--....

-

Some portable USB hard disks can feel cheap and fljmsy, but Iomega's eGo certainly doesn't. Although we wouldn't want t o drop any hard disk, t he eGo's metallic shell feels as though it could handle a few kn ocks. It's one of the PORTABl.( EXTERNAL HARD fastest portable USB DISI( SOOGB :89><20mm, on. ·y•• , copying large or small ~T8 warr.nty PART CODE 34619 files, and EMC's useful DflAIlS www . iom.g.~u..",.. Retrospect Express HD backup softwa re is ~ REVIEW o.c 2009 included. Best of all, .... ,••d b ,. " the eGo costs just 1Sp per gigabyte.

. . .. ........N_



STORAGE ,

' h ~ ~ ~ ~~ •• ~ ~ ~ ~ U ~. ~ ~~ d ~ . ~

WESTERN DIGITAL

SAMSUNG

CHOOSING AN .•.

Scorpio Blue 640GB

SE-S084

*****

*****

Internal Hard Disk

Western Digital's latest 2.5in internal

Samsung's latest portable OVO writer has a tray-loading instead of a slot-loading mechanism. Thi s doesn'tlook as sleek, but it will work With m ini &m-diameter discs. A two-plug USB cable is included, so it can be used without an exte mal power adaptor, which is convenient for mobile use.A useful extra is the included copy of Nero Recode. This utility lets you fit a two-layer OVO movie on a single-layer disc and re-encode your movie into a MPEG4 file. The SE-5084 couldn't reach its claimed write speeds, but was still quick at buming single - aM two -layer DVDs. 4.7GB discs were written at SX, while 8.5GB discs were written at just under 4X. Samsung's SuperWritemaster SE -5084 is the best portable DVD writer we've seen, and the ideal companion for a netbook, It's inexpensive, quick and doesn't need an exte rnal power adaptor, so it wins our Best Buy awa rd.

£92 inc VAT

f37 inc VAT

••

Follow the steps to find your ideal specs SATA hard disk h(ls a ~ge capacity of 640GB. Although 750GB and

1TB models are available, these 3re too thick to fit in many laptops, unli ke the 640GB Scorpio Blue. The Scorpio wrot e large files at 58.8MB/s and read th em at 79.3MB/s, making it on e 01 the

fastest laptop hard dish we've seen. It was also quid reading small Ijles at 73.8MB/s but a little sluggish writing them, managing only 38.7MB/s. The Scorpio didn't improve the battery life of our test lapt op. but at least it didn't reduce it either.

At 1Sp per gigabyte, the Scorpio is a good pick if you need lots 01 s\OI"age for your laptop. If you

don't need that much storage. the 500GB version of the Scorpio Blue (see Liibs. Shopper 255) is a good alternative, It costs just £60, Of around 12p per gigabyte, and performed similarly; it was even 10MB/s faster when writing small files. Alan Lu

Alan Lu SUMMARY

SUMMARY VEROICT TOe 640GB Scorpio Blue Is ide;>! if you want Ion of storage in your laptop, but 500GB drivel are bette!" value

SATA HARD DISK 640GB h.rd disk. 598GB f<>nnaU..J ""pacity INTFS). SATAl300 interface, 5,4OO
""'on Odie

PART COOE WD64OOe!:VT DETAILS www.wdc.com

VERDICT Samsung's SE-S084 is a fast and goo(haw e portable DVD WTiter t hat come. w ith u•• ful""ftw.", EXTUNAl DVD WRITER 8X DVD· R, 8X DVD +R. 6X DVD·RW. 8X DVD+RW.6X DVD-R DL,6X DVO+R 01, SX OVD-RAM,

24X CO·R, 24XCO_RW.8X DVO, 24X CO, USBlnten~

PART COOE SE·W84B11'tS8N D£TAIlS www.sa ..........·odd.com

CAf'AOTY, 500GB SPlNOl( SHED: 7,lOOrpm

INTEJIFACE: PATA 0/ SATA

Rtcon-o~ minionum Ir> ~y

D

An internal hard disk with the above specifications should cost around £40. It's fast enough for genera l use and provides enough storage space for an average user. Make sure you get the interlace type that matches your Pc. Parallel ATA (PATA) connector.> use wide ribbon cables and are generally fo und in old computers. The new Serial ATA (SATA) interface uses a th inner cable and is slightly quicker.

I!:I PATA hard disks require a U standard four-pin Molex power cable. Some SATA disks can also use a Molex power connector, but most require a SATA power connector. If your powe r supply doesn't have any SATA power leads then you can buy a converter for around £4 includingVATfrom

www.map/in.co.uk.

n

Buy a hard disk with the

Ir:I capacity you'll need, but aim to leave a litde breathing room, as you'll always need more storage. A lTB disk st rikes the best balance between capacity and low cost per gigabyte, but in general you should buy the largest disk you can afford . . . . If you want more disk space or

i i i you want to protect your data,

SEAGATE

SAMSUNG

Barracuda 7200.11 15TB ijifif'i

Story Station lTB •

***** f84 inc VAT

5,

Despite the huge l.5TB capacity of this 3'hin internal SATA hard disk, it costs just 6p per gigabyte. We were impressed by its performance in most of our file-trans fer tests; it lagged behind only when SATA HARD DISK 1.51B hard disk, 1,J97GB formatted writing sm all co~ity INTFS}, SATA/300 files. Cheaper Int.nace, 7.200rpm
~~:I~:!::e:::::;;S

FUll REVI£W Nov 2009

*****

f70 inc VAT From www.play.com Samsu ng's first desktop external disk has a brushed metal and grey plastic finish.As well as looking sleek, it runs quietly. We were imp ressed with its perform ance in o ur file-transfer benchmarks; DESKTOP EXTERNAL HARD DISK nl! C"f"'City, 7,200rpm it's one of the spindl. $pW1. USB i nt.rfac~. fastest desktop 40' 12a.193mm.thr. e. ~", USB disks we've RTBw..,. .... ty seen, despite its POWlRCONSUMPTION 2W Idle. 7Wactl~ low cost per PART CODE HX·OU010EB gigabyte of 7p. DfTAILS www... mwng.co.u~ Backup software FUll REVIEW M<1)' 2009 is included, so it's ideal if you need lots of storage.

:::;::1



think about buying hard disks to create a RAID array. These use multiple hard disks to create a single, large, logical disk with better performance or protection for you r data . RAID arrays need to be built with hard disks of the same size. Technically, these can be from different manufacturers, but t ry to get identica l disks if you can.

n

A ha~ disk's spind~e speed is

1:.1 very Important as It governs

how quickly the disk can transfer data.A spind le speed of 7,200rpm is common in desktop drives and fast enough for most purposes. If you do a lot of video editing or you nm demanding applications, a 10,OOOrpm hard disk can be faster, but it will be a lot more expensive. Desktop hard disks w ith 5,400rpm spindle speeds are n't common and are quite slow, but they ge ne rate less heat and noise so could be a good choice if you're building a small, quiet PC.

~ c::: o ~

I-

w

Z FAQ Q

Whilt isWiFi

Multimedia

(WMM) traffic shaping?

A WMM is a Quality of

Servitl! (QoS) system

that prioritises certain types of data over a loul wireless ~twork. WMM divides network traffic into four

categories - video, voicE', best effort and background - based on labels in the individual packets. It then handles each category differently.

NETGEAR

WNDR3700

***

£124 inc VAT From www.lambdatek.co.uk/ componentshop

Netgear's WNDR3700 is an expensive mode. Disabling channel-bonding limits wireless router with some enticing features, the rooter to a theoretical maximum including dual-band wireless networking. a throughput of 130Mbit/s, but this makes litde difference in our USB ponthat lets you use the router as a network storage device and a wireless guest real-world tests. Channel-bonding can network, so visitors can access the internet improve performance if you experience poor signal quality, but it tends to reduce but not the rest of your network. II's easy to configure using the setup the maximum range of your signal. This router performed belter without it. CD or the wizard built into the router's web Performance in our speed tests was variable. In interface. It doesn't prompt you to configure yoor wireless security settings, so don't forget to do the 2.4GHz band, we saw a maximum speed of just this straight away. The interface loob a little cluttered 2SMbit/s at a distance of 10m - poor compared wit h every rooter in oor last group test (see Labs, Shopper but is easy to use, with detailed notes on every feature. 260) - but it managed an impressive 26Mbit/s at 20m, Useful advanced options include remote management, so yoo can access its seuings from one of the fastest speeds we've seen at that distance. outside yoor local network, QoS web traffic shaping Our 2.4GHz tests with Netgear's own WNDA3 100 (see FAQ), a 5GHz Video Network mode to optimise wireless adaptor were disappointing. All were slower local media streaming and the ability to bloc~ specific than the results from oor Centrino 2 laptop, even when port ranges or websites according to a schedule. we switched channels. Its SGHz throoghput with Atraffic meter lets you limit the Netgear's own adaptor was great total amount of data downloaded, at short to medium distances, with SUMMARY which is useful if you're on speeds of 81Mbit/sat 1m and VERDICT An ~xc~ll~t r"'g~ of 67Mbit/s at 10m. Sadly, the best metered broadband. futur~s, blJ t this router p"rform~ inconsisttntly in o~r wirtltss transftr As well as accessing USB storage result at 20m was just 17Mbit/s, tests, with poor SGHz speeds as a Windows (5MB) share on your which is slower than using our network, you can share it over HTIP laptop on the 2.4GHz band. WlRruSS ROUTER 802.11n c:k
Voice and video packets have the highest priority, so when

you're streilming a movie from your PC to a receiver attached to your TV, the video is gi~n

priority over other network traffic. This means it should play without network lag or data loss, which would resu lt in a

stuttering picture. Less

bandwidth-critical traffic, such as web-browsing or file transfers, have a lower priority while a video is playing. This technology only prioritises traffit: - it doesn't boost bandwidth or guarantee a strong enough wireless signal for video streaming. Almost all modem routers support WM M and have it enabled by default, so you may be berrefiting from the tet:hnology already.

Kat Drphanides Pri nters am!

EDITOR'S CHOICE

02 Premium

L1NKSYS

WVC54GCA

*****

[g] 0

£15 per month (£10 for 0 , mobile customers)

From www.broadband.o2.t:o.uk

O,'s broadband services aren't available everywhere, but if you're lucky you'll be able to receive its 20Mbit/s-rated connection for £15 per month. Our survey showed average download speeds of 11.1 Mbitls and high satisfaction sco res. You don't get a static IP address, but extras indude 200 free SMS messages that you can send from O;s website. Packages are subject to a fair use policy rather than a stated HOME BROADBAND SERVICE download limit. 20Mbit/ •. wi ... less routo•. "",ail, IIff instaUotion. 1Z·month If it's available where ~ootra.ct D£TAlLS www. you live, it's well b
2

...

_.....

***** ~,.,.."~

£93 inc VAT ' iAn , From www.purel ygadgets.co.uk

This is one of the cheapest wire less IP cameras we'V{! reviewed. It's a shame it only comes in black, but it's easy to install and configure and the qua lity is above aV{!rage. There's also a built·in microphone, 50 you can hear what's happen ing. Motion detection allows yoo to have video clips or still images emailI'd to you, and this can be set on a schedule. WIRHBS tp CAMERA 64{h480 "'sol"tloo. 3Ofp<. 101100Mb~/, Yoo can also enable [mom' I, 8Oz.11b/g wn\ess, streaming to a mobile motion ""toctioo. MP€G4, phone, which limits the MjPEG.90x120x37mm resolution to 160x120 at POWER, CONSUMPTION 3W 00 1Sips. The WVC54GCA is P... RT COOl WVCS4GC ...·UK DETAILS wwwllnks>,os.c"", a great IP ca mera at a fUll REVIEW Sep 2008 great price. COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

NETWORKS

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......" . . .... ','1.,11

~,

Wireless Router

£170 inc VAT From www.scan.co.uk

Y-Cam's original Black IP camera won our Best Buy sturdy stand can be award in Labs, Shopper 249, thanks to its ea~ wall-mounted or configuration, outstanding image quality and placed on a convenient excellent infrared night vision. One of the few surface. It's not immediately Stlitable for limitations was that, with no onboard storage, it relied entirely on a network connection to save the outdoor use, but a weatherproof data it recorded. This has been addre5')ed in the shell (the V-cam Shell) is available for around ESO. Y-Cam Black SD, which has a MicroSDHC slot. The camera can record video (as MPEG4 or It's incredibly easy to set up. Just plug it into MJPEG-formatted MOV files) or ]pEG snapshots to your router and install the Y-Cam setup utility. a memory card. networked PC or FTPserver. It can Once the camera is connected to your network, also email snapshots or stream content over the you can use the setup utility to tell it to use a web, and has Real-time Transport Protocol {RTP} specific IP address, which is vital if you wish to support - the most common videoconferend ng standard. Support for popular free Dynamic DNS connect to it remotely over the internet. A button in the utility opens the web interface in Internet services means you'll always be able to access the camera remotely, even if you have a dynamic IP hplorer. A control panel lets you zoom in digitally, adjust the microphone level, record the feed to address. Recording can be continuous, triggered by your PC and save snapshots. You can use other a motion sensor or according to a schedule. browsers to view the video feed, but these controls Video quality was impreS5ive, with some of the aren't available. Web-based viewing is limited to a least grainy footage we've seen from a reasonably small window, but over your local network you priced IP camera, although video takes on a can use the Multi-Live utility to see full-screen slightly yellow cast under energy-saving bulbs. video. As its name implies, you can view feeds Black and white infrared footage is sharp and full from up to 16 cameras simultaneously. of detail. A gently glowing red ring of 30 LEOs Configuring t he camera is makes the camera starld out at night. It's not subtle, but it might easy whatever your browser. SUMMARY deter would-be intruders. A web-based wizard helps V£ROICT " simple inlmaocl' aod IQts of recording features maling an 802.11b/g wirele5') network, infrared, great video quality and ~ Q(llhe cats Of securing your home which gives you a lot more a wide range of alarm, scheduling WIlWSS .. CAMEItA IOlnCOMS ""'SOl', choice about where to ar.d recording features, the Black 64())(48() ",soIution, lOip<, 10/100 position the camera. The SO camera is great value. It costs Ethe rnet. 802.llb/g wirelu~ . night vision. MicroSDHC slot is a great around £20 more than its motion detection. 8S. SS.3Cknm. """.~ .. touch, as your camera can predecessor, but the memory RTa WilfT;>nty POWER CONSUMPTION 4W on card backup makes it we!! worth continue to record security PART cOO( YCB003 data even if your network the extra. It's a Best Buy. DET.... LS www.~ - cam.com connection goes down. Its Kat Orphanides

LlNKSYS

LlNKSYS

WRT320N

WAG160N-UK

::.::: I;E:tii1il From www.kikatek.com

*****

At £58, this is the cheapest dual-band Draft-N router we've ever seen. Even though it can transmit on only one band at a time, it's still incredibly fast in both Z.4GHz and DUAL-8f"t. UI'nP. QoS its own adaptor. PART COO( WRH20N TheWRT320N PQWEIiCONSUMPTION SW on DETAILS wwwJink$y$b),
Linksys's WAG 160N-UK ADSL router is easy to configure, with a standar102xI6Omm, one·)'"" ItTB WAGl60N-UK isn't warqnty overburdened with PART Coo( WAGI6ON-UKs POWER CONSUMPTION 7W on features, but it's easy O£TAl.S wwwJinks~.b~ds
~;a~i'i

£57 inc VAT From www.kikatek.com

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Follow the steps to find your idea' specs STANOAAD; 802 lIn /300Mbi!/.j ETHERN£t PORTS: " 101100 Mbit/. UoA08ANDCONN£CTION.: [~WAN poort

Recommmded minimum In groy

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A basic wireless router with the specifications above will cost around BO. Even budget routers offer 8OZ.11n technology now, although they don't have as many featun:os as their more expensive counterparts. It doesn't have a built-in modem, so you'll have to use it with a broadband modem that has an Etherll
Et

If you have ADSL, you should get

E:;;:I a wireless router with a built-in ADSL modem. It will cost more than a standard cable router, but it lets you connect your router directly to your broadband connection without a separate modem. ADSLZ+ modems support broadband conll
n

Most 80Z.11 n win:oless routers use the Z.4GHz frequency. This has good range but can be prone to interference if it's near a lot of other Z.4GHz devices, such as other routers and baby monitors. If you have trouble getting a consistent wireless signal or you want faster transfer speeds for win:oless video streaming, it's worth buying a dual-band router, which can use both the Z.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Alternatively, a hi-gain antenna can boost signals and improve ranges and throughputs to the whole house.You can also add a hi-gain antenna to a PC's networlt adaptor. If wired networlt speeds are a priority, look for a router with Gigabit Ethernet.

1::1

. . . Many routers have built-in USB Ii.I ports that allow you to connect a USB drive and use the router as a basic network storage device. If you want to share a USB printer on your networlt, look for a wirelen router with a built-in USB print server. Alternatively, you can add a dedicated wireless print server later. Finally, if you're interested in making voice calls over the interll
en

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FAQ Q

SAPPHIRE

Radeon HD 5770

*****

£1 26 inc VAT From www.overclockers.co.uk Following hot on the heels of the excellent HD 5850 (see opposite) comes ATl's 5700-series of graphics cards, which comprises the HO 5770 and HD 5750 (see below). Both cards have the same impressive feature list as the 5800-serie5, so you get DirectX 11 and Eyefinity triple monitor support. support appears to be the ~ey feature, but it's ha rd to However, there are significant architectural differences between the 5700-series cards and th eir larger siblings. Yy whether the card is powerful enough to deliver th e The HO 5770 has 800 stream processing units. This extra graphical effects that will be included in such games over the ne~t couple of years. The card is cooler, may be a lot less than the 1,440 found in the HO 5850, quieter and around 35mm smaller than the HD 4890, but it's the yme number as on the powerful HO 4890. The clock and memory speeds are actually higher than and it's less power-hungry, requiring only a single 6-pin those of the HO 5850, but there are other issues. Like power connector rather than the HD 4890'5 two. It's many previous mid-range cards, the HO 5770 has a also capable of outputting digital HD audio (see FAQ 128-bit memory interface, rather left for more details). SUMMARY than the 256-bit interface used in If any of these tertiary benefits VERDICT A future · pack...:! graphics more expensive models, l"kIich can appeal to you, the HD 5770 is a card, but it isn't.s fast as the older HD be a performance bottleneck. better buy than the HD 4890. 4890, w\11d1 costs on ly a little more Its performance in our However, if you just want benchmar~s was capable but not straightforward graphical muscle PC! EXf'ItESS GAAPt·nes CJ.ItO An Rode,," HD S770chipUt.8SOM'h con: ,~d. 1GB outstanding. A score of 33.6fps in for running todays' games, the GOOR5 memory n.mnlng 3t 1.2GHI. PCI our demanding Crysis test proves older card is a better option, at E,p"''' .16 2.1 intmace least l"kIile stocks last. We looked that even the toughest games are PART COO£ 21161·00·2OR playable at high detail settings, but at both the HIS and Sapphire the score is 6fps shy of the HD versions of the HD 5770 for this test, and they were essentially 4890's, which is currently available for only around £10 more. identical, so buy l"kIichever card The newer card has other you can find for less. Seth Barton advantages, however. Its DirectX 11

C,m I o ut put HD ;ludio

thro ugh my graphics

card's HDMI port?

A

HD audio fannats, such as DolbyTrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, an:'

copy protected by Protected

Audio Path (PAP). This means you can't output them digitally in all their glory without hardware that supports PAP. In the past, this meant buying Oil sound card. A cheaper, if messier, option was to COJM'!rt the digital signal to

analogue on your PC and use Oil multi-channel output to connect your AV amplifier.

Thankfully. ATI's SOOO-series cards support PAP over their HOM I outputs. They're the first cards to output the full audio bitstream of HD
the audio). Connect the card to

compatible surround-sound amplifier. such as the Onkyo TX-SR577 (see Labs, Shopper 259), and you can get HD audio and video through a single convenient cable. Oil


SAPPHIRE

Radeon HD 5750

****

£111 inc VAT From www.overclockers.co.uk

The HO 5750 is the least expensive of the three new ATI cards we review this month, and currently the cheapest DirectX ll -compatible card on the market. It also includes all the fancy features of t he more powerful models, such as HD audio over HOMI and triple-monitor support for games. Not surprisingly, there's little archi tectural cards provide two OVI ports plus DisplayPort and HOMI outputs. We've reviewed the Sapphire version difference between the HO 5750 and th e HO 5770 (above). The HO 5750 card has 720 stream processors here, which has a custom cooler on it, but it's not significantly different to the reference card we received - just 80 fewer than the HO 5770 - and slightly slower memory - 1. 15GHz rather than from ATl.All the HD 5750$ we've l .2GHz. The key difference is the SUMMARY seen have fans that blow warm air slower core cloc~ speed of 700MHz into your case rather than through VERDICT There's little to choose rather than 850MHz. the exhaust port on the rear, which be~e n the HD 5750and HD 5770 at CUrTl'nt prices, but _ morg; nally Despite these differences, the isn't ideal for keeping the rest of prefer the faster card HD 5750'5 benchmark scores were your components cool. remarkably similar to those of its If you're after a specific PC! EXPRESS GRAPHICS CJ.RD An Rode,," HD S7SOchlpset. 700MHI con: '~d, 1GB more expensive sibling.A Crysis 5000-series feature, such as HD GDORS memory n.mning 31 1.1SGHI, PCI score of 29.2fps means you may audio over HOMI, the HO 5750 is a Expr<" ,16 2.1 " lmac. have to siKrifice some detail to get good buy, although you might want PART COO£ ll1&o1-OO-2OR demanding games running at higher to hold off for the almost inevitable 5500- and 5300-series cards. resolutions, but it's only 4fps slower PERFORMANCE(_ _ >


JANUARY 2010

COMPONENTS

SAPPHIRE

Rad eon HD 5850 1GB

*****

£200 inc VAT From www.cclon line.com

Our benchmarks showed some differences between the cards, but only in the most you'd be right to expect something special. For demanding games, With 88.4fps in our CaU of Duty 4 benchmarl<:, keen garners on more moderate budgets. the Radeon HO 5850 is a more reasonable buy at the 5850 produced a slightly £200. I\'5 still a lot of money for a graphics higher frame rate than th e 5870 achieved last month, thanks to a new set of more refi ned card, but thanHully it's worth every penny. It may not be quite as drivers. In our demanding powerful as its larger sibling, Crysis test, the HD 5850 SUMMARY but it's still mind-blowingly dropped 81ps compared to VERDICT If you'~ looking for a quick. The core clock speed the HD 5870, However, it stilt pow6lul ~ graphic.o; card, th is is th~ is down to 72SMH z from managed a smooth 42.4fps on~.lt·' brNthtakingly fa't ,y~t ,till BSOMHz and the 1GB of at 1,92Oxl,200, proving that EI OO che"9tr than t he HD S870 GDDR5 memory runs it's capable of pleasing results Pd EXPRESS GIlAPHICS C"RD ATI R~ 200MHz slower. It has 1,440 on high-detail monitors. HD 5850
-

... ..... . - .._.....-

_

new effects, There's also Eyefinity, which lets you connect up to three displays to the ca rd at fuU-HD resolutions lor multi-monitor gaming, It has all the outputs you're likely to need, with twin dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort, It's 25mm shorter than the HD 5870, but still takes up two expansion slots in your P(.The HD 5850 needs two PO-Express six-pin power connectors, and ATI recommends at least a SOOW power supply. There's support for multiple cards via Crossfire, although we doubt may people wiU need the extra graphical muscle. We've never seen a ca rd this powerful at this price before, and it shoold have a lengthy lifespan thanks to its DirectX 11 support. If you're an avid gamer, we can't recommend it highly enough, but everyone else should consider the more affordable HD 5770 and 5750 ca rds (opposite), Seth Barton

AMD

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Athlon II X4 620

ANTEC

*****

Solo

£73 inc VAT

From www.lambda-tek.com/compone ntshop AMD has released so many processors recently struggled in our multitasking that even we've been struggling to keep up, It benchmark, Compared with the equivalently has even muddied the dividing line between its cloc ked Phenom II X4 810 (see Labs. Shopper brands, launching the first dual-core Phenom 261), the X4 620 was a huge 17 points slower. chips, and now th e first quad-core Athlon. This is because a small cache makes it hard for Making a quad -core processor that sells for the processor to deal efficiently with multiple intensive tasks, On the plus side, it matched the just £73 is impressive. The next cheapest AMD quad-core we could find, a Phenom X4 9950 X4 810 in our video encoding test, despite Black Edition, cost around f 100, Intel's costing around £50 less. cheapest quad-core processor. the Core 2 Quad It was also slower tha n most in games, INhere Q8200, costs around the same. With a clock the small cache caused problems we only usually speed of 2.6GHz, the X4 620 is no slouch, but see on Intel's cheapest Pent ium and Celeron corners have inevitably been cut. dual-core chips. It dropped around 7fps in Call of It has no more memory cache than its Duty 4, so it's not ideal for games, dual -core Athlon II II your budget is tight counterparts. There's the and you want a quad-core SUMMARY usual 128KB of L1 cache, processor specifically for VERDICT "n ama.ingly cheap video encoding, the X4 620 is but only 2MB of L2 cache. q
'::,:;1

JANUARY 2010 .

- _:,1_-- --

COMPUTER SHOPPER


*****

£67 inc: VAT

.

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•

.

fl' 1._

From www.morecomputers.c:om

The Solo is among the sturdiest cases we've seen. Its thick side panels do an e~cellen t job of insulating noise, and it comes wT\h rubber grommets on which t o mount yo ur hard disks to reduce vibrations. YQlJr dish are easily accessed via the fron t panel. The front vent has a removable dust filter, making it easy to keep clean. It may lack fancy features, but the Solo is a good design with great build qua lity. MIDI TOWER 4. 314i" dri~ boys, •• 514in drM bays, 4)2. 206.47Ornrn, 9.21;g, th,....~ar RTB warranty PART CODE 076134S.oo500-7 DETAJ.S WNW,onl..: ,<"", fULL kEVIEW ... pr 2009

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COMPONENTS

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ASUS

CHOOSING AN .. .

P7P55D Deluxe

AMD

****

£160 inc VAT

Motherboard

From www.lambdatek.com/componentshop

Follow the steps to find your idea' specs Anyone who wants to build a Core i7 PC can buy a 0/1/S/10 cont roller.Asus has ad de d a pa ir 01 compatible motllerboard for around £80. If you're looking fO( the best possible motherboard, though. additional controllers tha t add an IDE port for this Astls P7PSSD Delu~e is a contender. older drives and Ihree more non-RAID SATA ports - one of which you can connect to the supplied like all motherboa rds for Intel's la test chips, the P7PSSD Deluxe uses Inte t's PSS Express e$ATA bac~plate. The rea r of the board has every chipsel. A5 the Northbridge's fun ctions are built port you could reasonably expect: eight USB ports, into the new processors, this leaves just a single FireWire, two Gigabit Ethernet po rts and two PS/2 Southbridge controller chip for dealing With POI"ts. Foc audio it has coaxial and optical S/PDIFs slower peripheral devices. and the usual set of six analogue mini-jacks. The new processors' memory controllers Asus has included a number of extra featu res, support only DDR3. This motherboard has four such as its latest power m anageme nt 1001, whkh slots for dua l-channel memocy. Inte l lists th e saved around l OW whe n t he PC was idling. Its maximum memocy speed as 1,333MHz, bu t Asus TurboV EVe 1001 provides plenty of overclocking has rated this motherboard at up to 1,600MHz, so options from Within Windows, and there's even a you can confidently overdock your processor's wired remote that lets you switch between preset core doc k speed without having to reduce the dock speeds as required, It's a comprehensive set memory multiplier to compensate. of overdocking tools, and ideal for those who find There are two PO Express slots Inte t's own Tu rbo Boost for graphics cards. You can either lacking in technology SUMMARY use one graphics card at ~1 6 speed. ambition (see our Core VERDICT It's packed full of f e atu~s, or two at ~8 each. Even at ~8, no i7-86O review in lVhat's oot at tnis price it's probably suitilble current card will ma x out the New, 5hopper 262). only for • .oou. entnu>iasts who lI matdl lt wflll a fast Core 17 chip avai lable ba ndwidth. It supports We should also me ntion both Nvidia's $LI and All's CrossFire the P1PSSD's f,mtastk blue ItflEL MOTHER80ARD lG .... l156, 101.1 colour scheme, as t his is standards. so serious gamers are P55 expn:ss chipset. 4< ODR3 free to choose between them. 800/1066/1333/1600 .tOiS. l x pel Expn:" one of the best (ooking x16 .tolS. l< PCI Expr. .. yl .ton,lx pel The P55's Southbridge controls motherboards we've seen .tots, Ix IDe port, 9x S....T.... II pori' the other expansion slots - a single in years. It's very expensive, PAAT COO( 9O·MIB8MO·GOUYOOZ PO-Express x4, two PO-Express xl ad mitted ly, bu t for those DETAILS www,,"sus.com slots and two PCI slots. It's a good who are planning on PERFORMANCE •_ _ >OJ selection and provides plenty of overclocking t heir PC, this upgrade potential. motherboard provides P55 supports up to si x SATA II every possible option, devices and has a built-in RAID Seth Barton

.;

EDITOR'S CHOICE AMD

Phenom II X2 550

~~~~!~~&~j

From www.tekheads.co.uk

@

This is th e first Phenom-branded processor with only two processing cores. The X2 550 is an AM3 chip, but it wilt work in many AM2+ boards too. It's very fast , with a 3.1GHz d ock speed, and sped throu gh our benchmarts with ease. Its scO(e of 91 overall makes it quicker than Intel's more AMD P1IOCESSOR Two corM expe nsive Core 2 ruoologat 3.1GHI,A M3, Duo E7400.TheX2 lOOMH. F5B IlGHI 550 Black Edition is a HW'rT"'ns~). 2< SI2 K8 Ll coche ar>d 6MB l3 cache, &JW bargain at this price, TOP, t .... . ·y• • r RTa w.IT;ooty and is our PART CODE HOZSSOWGIBQX recomme nded chip DETAILS www-"rnd.com for anyone who fUU REVIlW Nov 2009 doesn't do a lot of processor-intensive j ..-. video encoding.

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£45 inc From ';";'.;Ig,.~;;;k-

This AM2+ motherboard is compatible with all current AMD processors. It's th e perfect choice for anyone who wants to build a capable PC on a budget. There's a PO-E )(16 slot fO( a graphics card and plenty of room for other expansion cards. The four memory slots support up t o 16GB of DDR2. The back .>.MD MOTHERBOARD AM1 • • panel provides Nvkll. NFon:r nOO/NWlia eight U5B ports, Nf<>«:. nOD chipset, 4. DDRl 66718(0/11)6611200 .tots, b PCI and there are six E'P"ss x16
-- -- -

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MOTHI:RIOARD CHIPSET: AMD 690G ONIOAliD GR.fd>H1CS: Ye, GRAPHIcs CAliD SlOT: ern. PCI.E .16 Recornm.oWd """Onom '" ,rey

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A basic motherboard with the above specifications costs around £55.lt will support Socket AMl Athlon and 5empron processors and, usually with the latest BIOS update, the new Phenoms too. As it has onboard graphics, you can use it for standard Windows applications without having to buy a dedicated graphics card.

Et If you want to play games at U anything other than the lowest resolutions and lowest detail settings, a PCl-E xl6 slot will let you install a dedicated graphics card. If you want to use dual graphics card, you'll need to choose a motherboard that has two PCI-E x16 slots and is compatible with ATl's CrossFire technology. The AMD S70X, 580X and any 7-series chipset supports CrossFire. Some even support CrossFireX, which allows you to install four graphics cards.

n

If you want to build a Media

Ir:I Center PC, look for a

motherboard with onboard graphics capable of H.164 playba<:k, such as the 780G chipset, and one with an HDMI output. You may also want to opt for a microATX motherboard, as this will let you build your PC in a smaller case. . . Choose a motherboard that Ii.I accepts the processor you want to use. The latest AMD socket is AM1+, which fully supports the new power-saving features of Phenom processors. These processors will still work in older Socket AMl motherboards, but may not perform as well because they don't have HyperTransport 3.

1':1 If you're installing lots of 1:1 expansion cards, look for a motherboard with plenty of PO and PCI-E xl slots. If you're going to install a lot of storage in your PC, a motherboard with plenty of SAT A ports is essential. Ideally, it should be one that supports RAID, as this gives you a simple way of improving performance or protecting your data. Finally, ensure that any extras you want are included, such as FireWire, eSA TA and 5/PDIF outputs.



Litepad N890 & N890 Premium Super-lightweight Netbook Mia brings you Social Networking on the move. Weighing in at a Super-lite 900 grams· and with a profile of less than 26mm - the litepad N890 slips effortlessly Into any backpack or handbag.

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c en FREE SOFTWARE XTRANORMAL

STATE

****

From www. xt ra normal.co m

This innovative free so ftwa re lets you (reate animated 3D movies

without need ing any knowledge of 3D graphics. It uses a script system similar to that used in real movie productions. You build you r movie by add ing

boxes to a list. Boxes can contain dialogue you type in, animations, movements and changes in camera posit ion. Making a basic movie is easy.

First, pick a location and actors from the small number provided. Place your actors in their starting posit ions, and t hen create a script using a series of icon5. A comput er-generat ed voice

speaks your actors' lines, so don't expect Gielgud-level performances. The ran~ of

actions is wide enough for most need s, a lthough you won't be

making any action flicks. Your actors can make gestures and facial expressions, and look at other actors or the camera. It's easy to get the hang of and fun. You can export your finished movies as MPEG4 files to show to others.

Seth Bartan Reviews Editor

ADOBE

Photoshop Elem ents 8

***** ~..,

£57 inc VAT

From www. amazon.co.uk

Photoshop Elements is an outstanding product, offering a sublime mixture of powerful editing tools, photo-management functions and home-oriented projects. However, recent updates have brought scant improvements, leaving the software to coast its way to success rather than extend its lead over its rivals. Version 8 isn't much different, although it has a few useful additions. The Recompose feature, for example, lets you change the shape of photos without cropping the edges or distorting pre-defined key areas. Instead, it squeezes or stretches background areas of the photo. It's extremely useful for fitting images to websites, photo frames or Windows desktops. However. it's disappointing that the borders of the image file aren't adjusted automatically ... P hot oM~ge Exp osure combines photos taken at different this must ~ done manuaUy to fit the new exposures, but some efforts are more successful than others picture shape. This feature is executed better in Xara Xtreme 5 (see What's New, Shopper 260). PhotoMerge is a group of functions that combine multiple photos. These include panorama stitching and a tool that combines the best smiles from a series of group portraits. The late5t addition is PhotoMerge Exposure, which combines photos taken at different exposures to produce a single photo in which everything is well exposed. This high dynamic range (HOR) photography is ideal in situations where a scene contains a range of bright and dark areas that are impossible to resolve in a single exposure. It's nothing new, though, as HDR has been part of Corel's Paint Shop Pro for nearly two years (see What's New, Shopper 242). Alternatively, you could buy a dedicated program such as HDRsoft Photomatix Pro 3.1 ... The automati c People Recog nition function pick s out two faces (see What's New, Shopper 252). ar.d a shrubbery for us t o name PhotoMerge Exposure worked best when the subject was static, the camera was tripod-mounted now recognises faces to simplily the task of adding and the range of exposures wasn't too wide. Moving name tags to photos. It offers a few faces lor naming subjects or handheld camerawork proved too much for and, after a while, makes educated guesses about faces the automatic mode. In the manual mode, we had to it has already seen. Rather than asking 'Who is this?', align the photos ourselves and select which parts of questions such as 'Is this Ben?' begin to appear. More often than not, it was correct, but it also mistook a lot which photos to stitch together. Manual alignment was simple but area selection proved clumsy, and 01 armpits. earlobes and inanimate objects for faces, there were often vis ible seams in the combined photos. and rejecting these ~came quite tedious. Meam'lhile, Our favourite new feature is also one of the it missed many faces, and the system for adding them manually was hopelessly cumbersome. Coogle's free simplest. An Arrange button next to the Help menu makes it easy to tile multiple images and set the same Picasa software has recently added automatic face viewpoint and zoom level on them all instantly - very tagging, and does a far ~tter job of it. useful for finding the best shot in a series 01 exposures. Photoshop Elements S's new features are far from You can also switch instantly between fitting them essential. and many are poorly executed. Nothing here all onscreen and showing them at 100 per cent would convince us to pay £52 to upgrade. On the magnification. Frustratingly, clicking an image's title other hand, Photoshop Elements 5 was a great image bar no longer provides a short cut to the Resize and editor, and subsequent versions are no worse for Duplicate functions. ha'ling various ancillary, if mostly mediocre. extras. Organizer is Elements' oondled If Ado~ decided to include layer SUMMARY media manager, and it has just as masks for advanced non-destructive VERDICT A. with previous upda te., editing - a feature included in Corel many new features as the main the neW features are patchy, but application. A new lull-screen mode Paint Shop Pro - advanced users this lakes nothing otWay from the includes one-click colour fixes lor would have an incentive to upgrade. superb exi.ting tools As it is, Photoshop Elements is still photos. plus animated slideshows. PHOTO·EWING SOFTWARE Roqui'", There's also streamlined keyword a great product. and Adobe has at WiI'\dQws XPNl,ral7, 2GHI pro<."o<. least saved existing users from the tagging for photos, so you can add 1GB RAM. 2GB disk
COMPUTER SHOPPER • JANUARY 2010


SOFTWARE

ACRONIS

True Image Home 20 10

*****

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£40 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk

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We've always held Acronis's TnJe Image Home shutting it down, Backup suite in high regard. The previous incarnation files can be saved to optical received five stars (see What's New. Shopper media. sent to an ftpsite. uploaded to Acronis's online 2S3) thanks in large part to its excellent & All the tools a re easily accessed from the main Inlerface window interface. Unfortunately. True Image Home backup storage (prices below) 2010 seems to be a small step backwards in or saved locally on a hard this respect. The general layout is the same. drive. True Image Home 2010 can also create a protection. It essentially performs an incremental with themed tabs for Backup. Recover. Tasks backup every five minutes and allows yoo to roll secure hard disk partition for your backup files. and Log. Acronis's Try & ~cide feature and This means they're always to hand. but you risk back your computer to an earlier state. These Tools and Utilities. However. the home tab, five-minute backups are kept for 24 hours before the possibility of losing them to disk failure . which used to provide a handy status overview they're consolidated into individual day backups, Backup images created by True Image Home of your hard disks. now simply provides access 2010 can be converted to Windows Backup files which in tum are kept for a month before they're to common tasks and a list of running rout ines. and vice versa, allowing yoo to use the image as consolidated further into weekly backups. These Once the software has made an initial a bootable drive in the Windows 7 boot menu or can't use the Acronis Secure Zone partition like image of your hard disk. subsequent backups mount the image natively in Windows without standard backups; you need to use an NTFS can either be full. incremental or differential. running TnJe Image Home. This provides greater partition. Unfoltunately. True Image Home lacks Incremental backups save only flexibility from your backup any tools to create such a partition. Once it's up changes made since the last images. You can even mount and funning. however, it works without any SUMMARY the backup. while differential backup images as drives further user input, ar.d the availability 01 a VERDICT A great bacl<1J9 and disk backups save the changes in a Virtual Machine. restorable historical record is useful not only in imaging a,>ptk.tion with .y.t~m rol(bac ~ capabKllles since the last full backup. The With Try & ~cide the event of system failure or data loss. but also fonner allows for smaller files activated, any changes you for keeping track of the gradual changes you OISK IMAGING AND a.o.CkUP and shoner backup times. but make to your PC can be make to files throughout your working week. SOFTWARE Requi ... Window. XP/ Viml7(ll · and &I-bit), lGHI the latter means you can bin reversed, This allows you Acronis True Image 2010 provides a wealth proc.ssor, S 12MB RAM (1GB forVjd thor•• ft.r tho li"l 25GS cost €~ .95 ""rmonth. with every option. but you'll need separate hard disk monthly. or triggered by system or data pennanently. om. SGB costing (O.79p'" mMth systems events such as The Non-Stop Backup partitioning software to get the most from it. DETAilS www.a<:ronis.com logging on to the PC or function provides continuous David McKinnon

EDITOR'S CHOICE MICROSOFT

MAPYX

Wi ndows 7 Home Prem ium

Quov2

***** t 't'iilli

*****

Windows 7 is the operating system that

Printed Ordnance Survey maps can get wet or lost. A better idea is to buy digital as mapping data through Mapyx Quo's softwa re and then print your own personalised maps. You can plan your excursion in detail by setting way points 0( drawing a track freehand. A 3D map option makes contours easier to see and you can chec~ your route using satellite photos in Google Maps. Mapyx is the best way to plan a weekend excursion in the UK.

99 p per 1.60 0 km' map ti le (minimum orsix) From www.mapyx.com

£65 inc VAT - -.-£130 inc VAT (full ve rsio n) From www.amazon.co.uk

Vista should have b~n, and undoubtedly Microsoft's best effort to date. The sHe!: new desktop not only looks great, but increases your productivity, and there's now great

support for touchscreen disp lays. The quick launch bar has b1!en replaced by the much simpler task bar, which enables you to 'pin' yoor most-used applications to it for easy access. It runs just as fast as Vist a, so upgrading shouldn't be a problem fOf

MAPPING SOFTWAIlE R.quir« Window. XPNi
most people. If you've been persevering with Windows XP, now's the time to upgrade. The Windows Desktop Search is a massive improvem ent over what XP offers, enab ling

you to find files and document'; quickly by typing in to the Start menu. What's more. Media Center now comes as standard. so you can browse your media files and use its excellentlV guide. Home networking has been simplified. too. If you've recen tly bought a Windows Vista PC and just use it to browse the web and woli:.

MM. 300/'018 disk '!IK" OUAa.s www.mapY"'
on office documents. you probably won't get much out of Windows 7. However. if you're a serious PC user. this is an essent ial upgrade. Of'I'RATING SYSTEM Rep). 16GB disk 'f'"'C0 (32 ·bit). roes di5l< ~ (64-bil) , DVDdr~

PARTCOOE 4fC..oooo1 DETAILS www.mkro.ofl.~om FUll R£VlEW No. 2009

..



SOFTWARE

STEINBERG

Cubase Essential 5

***** £110 inc VAT

From www.dv247.com

There's no shortage of music-production configure the software to your sound card for the best results. There's also music-production software that speciali5es in electronic musical genres. but few put the emphasis on recording jargon to contend with. and advanced live instruments. Steinberg's Cubas~ is our techniques such as mix automation won't come easily to casual users. The PDF manual is well favounte of the latter type. but at £440, it's too expensive for most amateurs, This is where written. though. and after a few initial hurdles. Cubase Essential steps in. It includes the core the software is fairly easy to get up and running. features of Cubase. jettisons various advanced Many people considering Cubase Essential S will bt- more interested in what it lacks compared tools and costs a quarter the price. This is excellent news for anyone who with Cuba5e S. limitations of 64 audio tracks, 16 instrument plug-ins and eight global effects will wants a mature. dependable recording environment rather than lots of sonic gadgets, affect only the most ambitious producers, Features such as flexible snap-to-grid options. Meanwhile. support for up to eight insert effects crossfading between audio objects and support (such as bass boost) per trad is just as generous for tempo are among the highlights. Mix as in the flagship version, and a far cry from the automation is also included and works like two per track of previous cut-down versions. keyframe editing for video. allowing you to Other omissions. such as integration with vary mixer settings gradually over time, external hardware. multiple mixer views and Meanwhile, a 32-bit audio signal path. the surround sound support will make little ability to record from difference to non-professional users, However, it's a shame multiple simultaneous SUMMARY sources and sophisticated that stacked recording is also VERDICTM.tu .... oI~g.nt rKoo:Iing absent. This mode records signal routing (where you can softwar~ for producing music with pre-mix subgroups of audio multiple takes to a single track, liv~ in't rum~nts. and gr~at valu~ streams) distinguish it from making it easier to combine MUSIC-PROOUCTlON SOFTWARe most home-oriented them into a single best take Requi,..s WiJ>dow, XPNista or M", OS X recording software, 10.$,S. 2GH, prOC""'" (dual-c"", later. We're also disappointed ,""ommended). 1GB RAM. 4GBd"k The downside is that a - but not really surpri5ed - that 'P"'e, "'SIO wund cord r«ammeoded the powerful VariAudio vocal program of this depth isn't DETAJLS www... !~ int..
Essential S ir>elude5 the core tools of Stelnberg's professional music production software at a fraction of the price '" Cubase

The most significant differences lie in the bundled plug-ins. Cubase's highest-quality reverb, compressor and EQ effects are missing. as are other more specialised effects, oot those that are included cover all the bases and their quality is far from disappointing. The instrument plug-ins follow a similar vein: there are only two compared with Cubase S's eight. but together these virtual-analogue and general-purpose synthesizers provide a broad palette of sounds. Cubase is worth the high price for those who can afford it. but Cubase Essential isn't lacking in the areas that really matter. Yet another version. Cubase Studio. sits in the middle at £270. but its feature list is much closer to Cubase Essential's than Cubase's, Compared with rival cut-price applications such as Cakewalk Sonar Home Studio. Cubase Essential S is easily the most polished and capable music-production software currently available for hard-up musicians. Ben Pitt

EDITOR'S CHOICE McAFEE

SERIF

ACCOUNTZ

VirusScan Plus 2009

PagePlus X4

Personal

*****

*****

£80 inc VAT From www.serif.com

*****

The outnght winner of our last anti·virus Labs. VirusScan Plus missed just one 01 our malware samples. Its grey interface isn't particularly user-friendly, but the text descriptions of options are easy to grasp. It has a flexib le built-in firewali and a range of additional tools. including a defragmenter and SiteAdvisor. which uses MCAfee's collection of web data to warn you about potentially harmful sites. Virus$can Plus is competitively priced and its performance has improved greatly since our last anti-virus test.

Desktop publishing is a complex task. but Page Plus X4 makes it remarkably accessible. and at a fraction of the cost 01 market leaders such as Adobt- InDesign. You can layout almost any type of drn;ument and out put your work to PDF. a pnnte r or a file ready for a commercial press. Themed sets provide matching brrn;hure. business card. flyer. newsletter and poster designs. and the software includes photo editing tools for tidying up yoor own images. making Page Plus X4 is one of t he most feature-piKked creative packages you can buy.

Accoun tz Personal is straightforward and easy to use. Entering transactions is simple - type in the date and the amount. tell the program which nominal iKcounts should be debited and credited. and it does the rest. updating you r Chart of Accounts as it goes. The program doesn't do online banking. but it can import common bank statement file formats to check against yo ur accounts with great accuracy,There's only a basic set of tools. but its t his simplicity that maKes Accountz Personal such a great choice for most users.

S(CURITY sum: Requires WIndows 2Q()()fXPNi51.1 Vosla-04. 256MB RAM, 75MB di'" 'P"'" DET.u.s hllp~I ... _"""f.,.,.com FUll REVIEW Feb 2009

D,", SOFTWARE REQUIRES Windows XP/VistaI7, 512MB RAM, 440MB If.. hard disk 'pac~ PROOUCTCODt: 4FC-OOOO 1 Dt:TAJLS www....,rif.
",CCOUNTS SOfTWARE Requl~$ WIndow< XP/ViSlafl,

£35 inc VAT per year for three pes From www.play.com

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512MB RilM. 1GH, proce,sor FUll REVIEW Oct 2009

-! --;.:1:_

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£39 inc VAT Fro m www.accountz.com

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COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010 www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

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SOFTWARE

ADOBE

Premiere Elements 8

***

£57 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk

It's five years since Adobe launched Premiere lurch awkwardly in the gaps between Elements, We took an instant liking to its speech, Setting the volume manually to powerful features, which were taken straight a consistent level is far more effective. from Premiere Pro and wrapped in a simplified Perhaps the most significant time interface for home users. Subsequent versions saver is Smart Trim, which automatically have geared it increasingly towards casual discards the weaker sections of a dip. rather than ambitious users. We suspect that You can adjust how aggressive it is with • AVCHD preview errors are a surprisingly serious problem Adobe is determined to win over people who a pair sliders for Quality level and for such well-e.tablished software see video editing as complex and laborious. As Interest Level. It handily rejected short With previous versions, version B's new features sections of wobbly camerawork, bot other edits copies, speeding up preview performance. focus on tempting these wary video camera were less e~plicable . You can review and adjust However, they took a long time to generate, and had to be rebUilt from scratch when adding or owners to take their first steps with editing_ what is kept and discarded, but you can't tweak edits manually later as you can with Smart Fix adjusting effects. Better systems, such as the one The Organizer application included with the new Photoshop Elements (see page 48) also and SmartMix. in Corel VideoStudio, offer customisable appears here, and helps users manage their The most ambitious new feature is motion resolutions and apply effects in realtime. video and photo libraries. It's a sensible tracking. Here you lay dip art over video clips. Despite this limitation, background rendering and it follows people as they move about the is useful when editing demanding fonnats such indusion. bot Organizer's video handling is patchy, AVC HD clips lack thumbnails, and frame_ You can also use it to apply effects to as AVCHD, However, AVCHD previews were a moving area of the frame, although the full-screen video playbiKk is accompanied by severely compromised by decoding errors that music, as if it were a slideshow. sharp-edged rectangular border means the led to blocky distortions. Exports were fine, as Organizer has its uses, though. It analyses results are far from subtle. The tracking accuracy were previews once ba6ground rendering had videos, splitting them into individual scenes. is loose at best. Still, it's entertaining - we processed the dip, but this was far too slow. Adobe confirmed that this was a known issue, sorts them into high, medium and low quality easily added a lightning effect to the head and identifies problems such as shaky of our animated killer robot, but we're stunned that it would release the camerawork.. In this latest version, a Smart Fix Bac~ground rendering is the most important software in such an unworkable state, especially feature resolves shakes and new feature. Video editing is when version 7 had no such problems. SUMMARY exposure problems seriously demanding for a PC, Premiere Elements offers a lot for just £57, VERDICT T~r~ ' $lots 10 like M~, automatically when analysed especially when editing HD but it's becoming increasingly hard to distinguish but many oft .... new future •• ", dips are imported into footage with effects, That's from its competitors_Adobe's efforts to convert designed to appnl to people who ambivalent potential users with instant Premiere Elements. why many packages generate .r~·t jnlBtst...:! in vid.., editing Smart Mix is another new lower-resolution copies of gratification are half-baked and dutter the VIDEO· EDITING SOfTWARE R"""i,., interface for experienced users. The AVCHD feature that automates an footage for editing. and revert Windows 7MmIXP, ZGHI process<><, existing OfIe. It's designed to to the origirlals when exporting preview problem means it's no longer the best 512MB RAM (2GB RAM 10/ HO, the finished movie. After we stop musical soundtracks option for ambitious users, who will be better d... l-co:n pro
MindGenius has a wealth of feat ures for organising projects. Tasks can be assigned resources, dates, costs and quantities and placed in user-defined categories such as location, for e~ample . 'Iou can then search and filter your £170 inc VAT map by category and use the results as the basis From www.mindgenius.com for new maps - so you could instant ly create a map featuring all the tasks for a specific loca tion. MindGenius 3 lets you create mind maps to This makes it easy to Keep track of a project, help you organise your thoughts. Ideas are held while the Microsoft E~cel e~port function lets in Nodes, which are connected using Branches. you create progress reports. Individual tasks can Creating a map for any project is quick and be exported to Outlook, and tasks that have easy. You can choose from a set of pre-defined personnel allocated to them are added to that templates or create your own look by applying person's task lis\. Entire projects can be exported different styles and adding images. to Microsoft Project, but unlike MindManager B, it's not possible to show live Navigating around large hcel data, drawn automatically maps is a bit dumsy, but the SUMMARY map explorer helps and can from spreadsheets, in Nodes. VERDICT II. powerlu l mind mapping quickly isolate a section of The office export functions application that offers a good trade off Mtw<"M price and fUlUr~ your map. Nodes can contain make it easy to share extensive hidden notes, 50 information from your maps MINOMAPffiG SOnwARE R. qu;r.. you needn't have large with colleagues. YOl! can also Window. XPNi,I./7 (32- ond 64-bit) , chunks of text visible. 4OOMH, proce",.., 256MB R.IoM (lG8 e~port maps as images, PDF w~hVj,t.o ",W., 7). 100/'018 hard Annoyingly, there was a text documents or basic HTMl diskSpKe lag when typing text directly web pages. This is sufficient, DETAILS W'WW.rnlnd ~ nl lJ$.com into the notes editor. but falls short 01 the map

MINDGENIUS

•

•

MindGenius 3

****

, y -,,"TTT TTTT T T T"!\'

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.........

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... Create maps to organise everything. from shopping li.ts to plans for" major project sharing options in MindManager B, which include an excellent online collaboration workspace and interactive PDF output. Although it's not as polished as MindManager 8 and lacks its advanced sharing options, MindGenius 3 is a useful business and personal organisation tool. It's also about half the price of MindManager B, and if you work or study at a school, college or university, the identical £65 education edition is a bargain. David McKinnon



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FAQ Which console should I

Q buy this Christmas?

A

It's a perennial question,

but it's well worth

covering. The Xbox 360 is still the best choice for serious garners. It's

jnexpensj~

at £200

for the console with a 120GB hard disk and II top-selling

game (all prices from www. play.com).lt has the biggest

range of games, marginally better exclusive titles than the PlayStation 3 and a far bigger

online community of garners

EA

FIFA 10

*****

£25 inc VAT

From www.play.com

After many years of playing catch-up, EA's FIFA series finally overtook Konami's Pro Evotution Soccer last year to daim the crown for best football game, FIF A has always had excellent presentation, gliny visuals and all the official licences, but Pro Evolution Soccer simply played a better game of footbalL EA, however, injected a real fluidity to the action in FIFA 09, and has built .. It's business as ltSual, with FIFA 10 dominating virtual footbalilike A ..enal's 2004 unbeaten 'Invincible,' on it with this latest release. FlfA 10 isn't a drastic update to FIFA 09, but it features some key improvements. Tighter defences, for keepers to charge out during one-on-ones makes more intelligent goalkeeping and the dosing up of easy the lob shot ea~ to abuse. Practice it, and those hat goal scoring loopholes are the most welcome, and tricks will quickly come your way. There's atso a strong make for some fiercely competitive matches. feeling tha t EA has opted not to rock the bO c.ml. 6.9G8 disk 5pitC. recommended buy, but it's hardly blocked some scoring sweet spots, Pl!.ODUCTCODt 8002C18COO crucial if you already own FIFA 09. that doesn't mean a new one hasn't 0fTA.l.S hnp:lllila.usports.com sprung up. In this case, the tendency Simon Brew

(although you'll have to pay £40 per year for the privilege of joining them).

The redesigned PlayStation 3 is better-looking and a little quieter than the 360. It has II

built-in Slu-ray d~ for playing HD movies, so it's good value, even at £270 (including II

250GB hard disk and a top-selling game). With its snazzy menu system, BBe

iPlayer support and great DVD upscaling, it's a better all-round entertainment device. Finally we come to Nintendo'sWii. Given its older, non-HD graphics technology, it's no bargain at £180 (with a top-selling game). It provides more active titles, hOWj'!ver, such as Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit, and more childfriendly fare such as Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart.

Top 5 games

*****

1. Batman: Arkham Asylum

£25incVAT Asylum provides a luscious backdrop for this e~ceUellt action game, 5T.iiii which switches between i(uld, bwtal brawling and stealthy, silent takedowns. ~.:.t Ar~ham

SUPPLIER www.a"",on.CO.Uk OETA.lLS wwwbal""narl:harnasylurn.com FUU REVIEW D« 2009

2, Tales of Monkey Island

*****

$35 (around E22)

~

This game revives the classic adventure series. Split in to five episodes, it's ~ everything fans could hope for, with clever puzzles and plenty of comedy. SUPPLIER www.t
*****

3. The SimS 3

E30 inc VAT With all entire town to roam, your Sims have more freedom than ever. They're also more individual, with a range of traits that guide their actions and desires.

SUP1'lJER www""",,'on.co.uk 0fTA.l.S www.the,irns3.com fUll REVIEW Sop ZOO9

*****

4. Overlord II

E24 inc VAT Command your minion'> to raise havoc in t his action strategy game. Well-paced gameplay, clever puzzles and bad-taste comedy make being evil a lot of fun.

SUP1'lJER www.gom .... k.co... OfTAILS www.coo.mast.rs.co,uk FUll REVIEW Sop ZOO9


*****

5. Plants

VS. Zombies E7 inc VAT Defend your home from a comedic horde of shambling undead using 49 super-powered plants. This gore-free puzzle game provides hours of frantic fun.

SUPPLIER http://storo.st ..mpow
COMPIJTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

GAMES NCSOFT

A ion: The Tower of Eternit y

****

£25 inc VAT plus £9 per month Fro m www.play.co m

Aion is an online role -playing game that's set in a fantasy world split in two - literally - by

points, At higher levels, such grinding is more than most casual players will conflict. The two playable 1,"lionsliv!' on the endure - but the rewards are wo rt h it inner surface of this shattered globe, (ooking for those who put the elllxt in. up at the floating islands of rock - the Abyss Once you reach level 25, you can in the centre, A third race, the Balaur, also ascend to the Abyss, a player versus ... Alon's combat Is complex, and you'll need friends to take on want5 control of the Abys~ Aion uses the s.ame player (PVP) area, to fight the opposing the most reward ing Quests faction. There are three levels in the graphics engine first-person shooter Crysis.lt looks stunning and it's to the developers' credit Abyss, and multiple objectives to capture and year, so there's been plenty of lood for thought. that everything runs so smoothly, given the hold. However, if one side wins too many, the The fact that it's not a new game is a bonus, as unpredictable nature of online gaming. Balaur - the computer-controlled third race many early bugs have been ironed out. and As usual, yoo must first create a character will send in their forces to retake them, there's already plenty of content However, the and pick a side. Aion's key draw is the ability t o Aion focuses heavily on PVP play. While there grinding nature 01 advancement is also a key fly in certain areas, and the two races, Elyos facet 01 KO(ean games. are protected areas for players up to level 10, in The game's combat mechanics are more and Asmodian, are distinguished by having all other areas, enemy players can travel through white or black wings respectively. The advanced than those of many similar games. portals to the opposing faction's lands. If being character creation process is amazingly randomly killed by enemies while adventuring There are movement modifiers in combat - for versatile, with endless combinatio!15 of hair, example, if you are strafing from side to side, isn't your cup of tea, Aion won't appeal. skin and body type. There are four major As in other popular MMO's, such as Warcraft, your Evasion increases and your Attack falls classes, which fit the classic lanta.sy archetypes players can from small groups and enter special slightly. Flying is also a huge factor. some classes 01 wizards, warriors, rogues and healers. No areas to fight AI enemies unhindered - often have limited skills in the air, while others excel at class is better than all the rest, and teamwO(\( referred to as player versus environment (PvE) aerial combat. The character classes and skills are is essential for success. play. An idea unique to Aion is superbly balanced to encourage teamwO(\(. SUMMARY To enhance your PvPvE, where two teams from Aion's landscapes are stunning. and the VERDICT B~.uliful g... phia; and character'S abilities, you first combat animations and eflects are spectacular, opposing sides are pitted against Eastern mythology makt for a perform quests given by AI computer-controlled loes: they comic-book style explosions of colour. The un>que world, but the grinding characters. Although these influence 01 Korean mythology in the design can either cooperate, or try to play wi ll pul off casual play .... give some nice rewards and of the world and its monster inhabitants is sabotage each other's efforts. ONLINE RPG R~ ~. ,Wif\dows experience points, the game Having long-since tired of refreshingly new to Western eyes. However, XP!ViSI./7, 2GHz 00.1-<;0<' pro<~ $$Or. demands that at some stage WO(ld of Warcra/t, many casual players looking for an hour 0( two's 2GB RAM, c"Fo,n 6800/RodeOrb<11Orw;th 256MB 01 RAM , 15GB the next level - slang fO( the diSk spoee an eye on Aion as their next punishing: this is a game for those with plenty of PRODUCT CODE BOOOWGU9M6 repetitive killing of monsters fantasy home. The game has spare time and the need lor a challenge. DETAILS hnp:l/uk , .OOonlin~ . c"", simply to gain experience been going in Korea for over a Barry de la Rosa

CODEMASTERS

Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising

***

£18 inc VAT From www.amazo n.co.uk

Computerised war tends not to be particularly Most of the 11 missions follow a simple realistic. Real soldiers don't miraculously pattern: reach an enemy emplacement without recover from near-Iatal wounds by lurking getting killed, destroy it and evacuate. A couple behind the nearest wall, as in Call 01 Duty. The of rescue missions break up the formula, along O(iginal Operation Flashpoint (OFP) was with secondary objectives, most of which also renowned for its realism, tactics and AI. Dragon involve large explosions. Gameplay and scenery Rising has been developed by a different team can be repetitive, limited respawn checkpoints but retains the original's tactical emphasiS. mean that you'll cover the same ground a lot, The island of Sbra is a although changing enemy SUMMARY huge, drably realistic world tactics add variety. of forests and grasslands VERDICT Dragon Rising' tactical At times the game is both ~lemen t s make fo< lense realistic and fun . There's punctuated by the odd gamtj)lay. bu t missions and bUilding. You'u often have to something hugely thrilling about ,unery are r~titive trek across miles of hostile sneaking past enemy soldiers so TACTICA.I. FIRST·PEIlSON SHOOTER territory on foot. For faster close that you can hear them Requires 3z.t><1 WIndows XPNil1ai7. travel, you can commandeer moving in the undergrowth. If 2.4GH'du.l.c~ p<<>

... Dragon Rising prides itsell on real ism, so its landscape Is brown, green and gun-coloured Your 5quad isn't too bright, but they're good at spotting enemies. You can issue orders, which is essential il you want to keep them alive. Sadly, the controls take after the console version of the game. so tactical options are built around a sequence of four-way radial menus. This can rob you of precious seconds as you navigate mult iple menus to order an artillery strike or retreat. For fans of the tactical FPS genre, Dragon Rising has aU the right ingredients, even if they could have been better implemented. However, it's not as good as Arma II {What's New, Shopper 260} Irom the team behind the O(iginal OFP. Kat Orphanides

HowWeTest Find out how well products perform with the help of Computer Shopper's comprehensive tests

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lest Windows pes to the ir very limit.The suite consists of three separate tests: Image-Editing, Video-Encoding and Multitasking, We ran these tests on our reference PC, whi ch is fitted with an AMD Phenom II X4 920 processor and 4GB of DDR2 memory. We nomnalised all its results to scores of 100.This makes it easy to draw comparisions between test systems and our reference PC , The resulting overall score is printed at the bottom of every PC and laptop review. As we use the same tests in our standalone and Labs

reviews, you can compare the performance of computers across both, and even compare desktops,laptops and netbooks directly. If you're keen to see how your computer compa res with those that we've tested, you can download the benchm ark suite from www. wstompc.w.uklbenchmarhlhow-to -entef.html.

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INTRODUCTION It used to be that buying iI

budget laptop meant that you were studt with a bulky and slow computer with poor battery life. Fortunately, times have changed, and you can now spend around £500 and have a massive choice in te rms of size, battery life and performance. With the nine models reviewed here, we'll hetp you find your perfect Windows 7 computer without having to break the bank.

Will Stapley IT co rrespondent

Choosing a... Budget Laptop A lthough there's a huge choice of laptops available for around £500, the budget nature of these computers means that you can't have everything. 3S manufacturers inevitably have to make

compromises to keep prices down. It's vital. then, to work out which features afe most important to you and

locus on getting these aspects right. We'll ta lk you Ihrough Ihe choices you'll need 10 make.

OPEN WINDOWS With Windows 7 now available, it makes sense to ensure that your new computer has it installed. How you do this depends on the mod el you choose. The big-brand laptops here aU come with Windows Vista instaUed. but you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 7. All you have to do is follow the instf1.lctions on the manufacturer's website to register your upgrade and you'll be sent a Windows 7 upgrade disc. There's usually a smaU charge for this, but it should cost less than £20 10 make the upgrade. II is well worth doing as this new operating system is far better than Windows Visla. The disc you get will upgrade your copy of Vista to an equivalent edition of Windows 7. So, Vista Home Premium becomes Windows 7 Home Premium, Vista Business becomes Windows 7 Professional and Vista

Ultimate becomes Windows 7 Ultima te. One benefit Windows 7 has over Vista is Ihal higher editions retain the fealures of lower editions wh ile adding new oplions. So, every version of Windows 7 has Media Center installed. With Windows Vista, Home Premium came with Media Center but the pricier Business didn'\.

SIZE MATTERS One of the most important decisions you need 10 make concerns the size and weight of your laptop. Most budget laptops have 1504 or 15.6in screens and weigh around 2.4I::g. This makes them suitable for occasional trips and great fO( use around the home. If you want to travel wilh your laptop regularly, it makes sense to look for a smaller model, such as one with a 13.3in screen. This should help red uce the weight to around 2kg or less, making these laptops suitable for mO(e regular travel. If travelling simply isn't an issue and you just want a laptop Ihat you pad away neatly instead of having a desklop PC taking up a 101of room, look for a model with a 17in screen. These will be easier on the eye than smaller o;c;reens and you can find rnodeb that have a higher resolution so you can fit more onscreen. Models such as this will typicaUy weigh around 3kg. Our table COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS

This month ASUS K5D1J Pa ge 70

MEDION Akoya E32ll Page 70

LENOVO G55D Page 70

MSI CX7DO MESH Edgel7 HO CS Pa ge 71

HP Pro Book 4510s Page 71

SAM SUNG 032D-JSD3UK Pa geTt!

ACER Aspire Timeline 5B1DTG Pa geTt!

TOSHIBA Satellite U5DD-1BS Pa geTt!

on pages 76-77 lists the screen size, resolution and weight of every laptop we've tested,

BATTERY LIFE The general rule with laptops is that the larger they are, the worse the battery life, so if you intend to do a lot of travelling. make sure you get a model with a decent battery life. For 17in desktop-replacement laptops we'd e~pect battery life of around two hours, which is enough for occasional use around the home. For 13.3in or 15.6in laptops we'd e~pect at least four hours of battery life, which gives you the fle~ibility to use your laptop comfortably around your home - if you're browsing the internet on the sofa or out in the garden, for e~ample - and for a decent amount of time when you're out and about, look for even longer battery life if you intend to spend very little time at home or near a power socket.

YOU GOT THE POWER The power of your computer directly affects every aspect of your laptop, from what you can do with it to its weight and battery life, Intel's new range of processors, the Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV), are marl:ed by an 5U in the processor name (see our table), They use a lot less power than standard mobile processors, helping to e~tend battery life, The lower power requirement in turn means that they can be put

into smaller, lighter cases. The downside is that performance is not so good, In some cases, manufacturers have used a single-core CUlV processor, These are very slow in comparison to .standard dual-core laptops, as you can see in our graphs on page 75. These single-core processors are good enough for standard desktop tasks, but editing video or large photos will be a bit of a struggle, They're also very bad at multitasking. as you can see from our performance graphs. If performaflce is what you're after, look for a standard Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processor.

GAMEON The ability to play games is something that most budget laptops lack. It's the one area where manufacturers typically decide to save money, That's not always the case, though, and our graphs show you how each laptop performs when playing Call of Duty 4, Our reviews e~plain if turning down detail settings or lowering the resolution of the game win improve performance and let you play games.

TYPE CASTING With a laptop you're locked in to the keyboard and display that come with it, and you can't upgrade e~cept with external peripherals. It's therefore important to make sure you get quality peripherals built in, A keyboard should have



decent-sized keys and provide plenty of feedwck so that you can type quickly and accurately, A touchpad should offer similar features, and give you precise control over the onscreen cursor. likewise, the screen should be high quality, producing a bright, vibrant image. Our individual reviews will give you all the information you'll need to know,

EXTRAS Just as you would with a Pc. you need to make sure your laptop has all the other features you'd expect to find, We'd expect at least a 320GB hard disk on a fSOO laptop, This will give you plenty of room for aU your documents and media files, Our table lists the size of each hard disk and how much disk space is available. The amount of memory that you have affects how many applications you can have open at once, We'd e~pect to see at least 3GB of RAM, although 4GB is better, Again, our table lists how much memory each laptop has_ look through the table to make sure your chosen laptop has all the other features you need, We'U teU you how many USB ports each has, and the type of video outputs available, so that you can use any e~isting peripherals you may have, Look out for the networking entry: if you have a modem 802.11n wireless router, look for a laptop with an 802.11n adaptor as this will give you the best performance,

13

WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS

ASUS K501J

MEDION

LENOVO

Akoya E3211

G550

*****

***

****

becomes easy. Thanks to the width provided by the 1S.6in widescreen display, there's room inside for a numerical keypad, which could come in handy if you do a lot of number work. The touch pad has the same glossy coating as the rest of t he chaS5is. Thankfully, small divots in the pad's surface improve friction and make fine control of the cursor easy. We were impressed by the bright screen, which has excellent viewing angles, Movies loo~ed great, with vibrant colours jumping out. With a resolution of 1,366x768 there's plenty of space fO( when you need to do some work. One slight disappointment is that there's no HDMI output. although the VGA output means that you can still connect this computer to an external display il yoo need to. Performance is one area you won't have to worry about, thanks to the 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T6500 processor and 4GB 01 RAM. With an overall score 0163 in our 2D tests, this laptop is quic~. Things weren't so good in our CaU 01 Duty 4 test, and the integrated Intel GMA X4500HD graphics managed only 4.5Ips. Other than this, there's little to complain aboot with the K501j. The 320GB hard disk means there's plenty 01 space lor aU your files. At three hoors and 42 minutes, battery lile is also pretty good lor a budget laptop, and means you can take this computer on short trips or use it comfortably around your house. With its relatively high-specification processor, good overall benchmark scores and reasonable hilttery lile, the K50lj is a great all-round laptop. It's excellent value and comes with a two-year warranty, so fully deselVes our Best Buy award.

If you're on a tight budget and want an ultra-portable you can carry everywhere with you, Median's A~oya E32 11 loo~s an attractive proposit ion. For just £500, you get a 13.3in widescreen laptop that weighs just 1.8kg. Unfoltunately, the budget nature of this laptop shines through. For stalters, opening the lid reveals an uninspiring si\ver-and-black design that ma~es the A~oya look cheap. Inside, things aren't that much better. The 1.3GHzlntel Pentium SU2 700 processor is one of the slowest models you can buy, and meant that this laptop was very slow in our benchmarks. scO(ing 21 overall, despite its 4GB of RAM. At this speed, the A~oya's fine lor basic ollice tash, but edi ting large image files or videos will be mO(e 01 a struggle. Games are also out of the question. The onboard Intel GMA4500M graphics chip managed only 4.4lps in our Call of Duty 4 test. The keyboard's not very good, either. The keys are a decent size, but they're very spongy and make typing at speed inaccurate. We found the tiny cursor keys hard to use, while the touchpad's sunken buttons are difficult to hit accurately. Viewing angles aren't brilliant on the 13.3in 1,366x768 screen, but it's fine fO( one person. The screen is bright and colours look fine. Thankfully, there's a DVD drive built in - which many budget ultra -portables don't have - so you can watch movies on the go. One thing we expect from an ultra-poltable is fantastic battery life. At nearty four-and-ahalf hours, the Akoya can be used for a fair time away Irom a power socket, but we've seen budget ultra-portables, such as Acer's Aspire Timeline 581OGT, last longer. It's not all bad news, though. The 320GB hard disk is generous for the price, and gives you plenty of space for all of your documents. The Akoya 321 1 is a compact laptop with good hiltlery lile, but the single-core processor holds back performance and the keyboard is uncomloltable. Sam sung's Q320 costs a little more, but has far better performance and similar battery life. It's a much better choice.

We reviewed a version of Lenovo's G550 last month (Labs, Shopper 262), but that was the entry-level model and was quite slow. This month, we've got a higher-end model. The main difference, aside from the price increase, is that the base specification is a lot higher, making this a more powerful computer. The 2, 1GHz Core 2 Duo T6500 and 4GB of RAM are a powerful combination, and the GSSO did extremely well in all our benchmarb, achieving an overall score of 62. Rather than Intel dedicated graphics, there's an Nvidia GeForce G 105Mgraphics chip. This managed only 9.4fps in our Call of Duty 4 test, which isn't much of an improvement over integrated graphics. However, it should provide enough power for older strategy games. The 320GB hard disk provides plenty of storage space, and is a welcome improvement from the previous model's 250GB disk. All this power comes at a price, thoogh. While the previous G550 managed just over four hours in our battery test, this model lasted just three hours and 20 minutes. This is fine for use around the home. but a bit short for travel and poor compared to other budget laptops. While the improvements are welcome, there are still some problems. For starters, the keyboard isn't the same quality as those found on more expensive Lenovo laptops, and we found the keys a little spongy. There's a thin numerical keypad squeezed in, but it's so small that it's difficult to use comfortably. We'd have preferred the space to be used for a better keyboard. The touchpad could do with a textured surface to make using it more comlortable arld accurate. As with the previous model we reviewed, the built-in webcam can be used with the VeriFace biometric software. This is supposed to unlock your computer when your face is recognised, but can be fooled by a photograph. The GSSO is a decent laptop with a high specification for the price, but the screen's poor viewing angles detract from it and mean that this model misses out on an award. Asus's K50lj is a better choice.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT AgrNt mix of dKMt p~r formanc~, ,turdy build quality and good "",bility mak~, thi' laptop an excellwt choke CENERAl·PURPOSE lAPTOP Int~1 Un 2 Duo T6500,

light and ea,y to carry around, but with a ,ingll!-core I'f("'~"or it', also low-powered.and there are better altematiVfl

£500 inc VAT

From ww w.laptopsdirect.co.uk

AsuS'S KSOIJ is a chunky laptop, but its bulk gives it a feeling of sturdiness that makes us confident t hat it will handle standard daily use

and being carried around occasionally. It looks

attractive, tha nks to the glossy coating on the chassis. Thankfully. the coating hasn't been applied to the keyboard and the standard mati finish makes the keys easier to see and type on, The keys (Ire a little spongy, but once you get used to them, touch-typing at speed

VERDICT T~Al:oya

£121 1 i,

DVD./-RW ./·Dl, IS.6ln wid.sc'ffn LCD, 2.6I;g

GENERAL·PURPOSE lAPTOf' In!~II'e<1\ium SU2700, 4GB RAM. 320GB dl~. Int..! GMA 4500M graphics. OVO+/·RW _/.01., lBin ww...:,een LC~. 1.8kg

PART COOl KSDIJ·SX043C

PART COOl'

DtTALS WWW.3W'.
O£TAlS wwwmedion.co.uk

4GB RAM. 320GB di~. Int..! GMA X4SOOHD g
•

£500 inc VAT From Medion 0871 376 1020

30009830

£519 inc VAT From Lenovo 0844 800 0 550

VERDlCT Witn a fast proce"", and good atl·roond 5jl«ilkation, tn~ CSSO i, a w~U·bu i lt laptop and j, reasonably priced. but the screw is disappointin& GENERAL·PURPOSE LAPTOP Int..! Core 2 Duo T65OO, 4GB RAM. 320GB dksk. NvkJla GcFon:e G 105M (PIIIl1c ••

DVO_/· RW +/-01. OVD'~AM ,

IS.6invM.ocreen LCD,2.6kg

PART COOl 2958K3C O£TALS www~novo.


WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS

,

"'

· ........... <~I

-

COMPUT ~ ER SHOPPER

MSI

MESH

HP

CX700

Edge17 HD CS

ProBook 45105

*****

***

***

even space lor a lull-size number pad. This laptop has a lot of power. The 2GHz Pentium Dual Core T4200 processor and 4GB of RAM are a decent combination, powering the CX700 to a reasonable score of 49 in our 20 benchmarks. The multitasking test was a little disappointing. due, we believe, to the SiS chipset not supporting dual-channel memory. While most budget laptops are poor for gaming. th e CX700 is actually pretty good thanks to the ATI Mobility Radeon 4330. This managed l4.4lps in our Call 01 Duty 4 test. Tum down the detail settings and resolution a little and playable frame rates are possible. Situated at the rear of the laptop are both VGA and HDMI outputs. The underside is home to a subwooler, which adds e~tra bass to the audio, but not as much as we were hoping lor. M51 includes a massive 500GBhard disk, which is more than plenty for even the largest media collections. As you'd e~pect for such a large laptop, it's quite heavy at 2.ng. Combined with a battery lile 01 just over two hours, you won't want to carry this laptop around very often, although it's fin e for occasional use around your home. The CX700 has a lot going lor it. particularly if you'd like some gaming capability on your laptop. With a decent range of components and a large hard disk, it's our Budget Buy.

Mesh's Edge17 HD CS is a large desktopreplacement laptop, Its 17in display is a chunk larger than the lSAin screens that come with most laptops. Sadly, it has a resolution of l,440x900, whereas similarly priced 17in laptops from other manufacturers manage a much higher resolution of 1,600K900. This could be forgiven somewhat if the quality of the screen was incredible, but that isn't the case. We found that it was dark and suffered from poor viewing angles. The size of the screen means there's plenty of room for a decent keyboard. The large keys have plenty of feedback, and we found typing at speed was both easy arld comfortable. There's room for a num eric keypad, too, but its layout is a littie odd, with the + and Enter keys not in their usual positions on the side. Inside the case there's a 2. lG Hz Core 2 Duo T6500 processor and 4GB of RAM. These helped the Edge17 to decent scores in our 20 benchmarks, but it lagged behind similar1y specified models. We think the culprit is likely to be the SiS chipset, which suppons only single- rather than dual-channel memory. The Nvidia Ge FOfCe G 105M graphics chip is a step up from integrated Intel graphics, although its score of 8.4fps in our Call of Duty 4 test shows that high-end gaming is beyond it Older and less-demanding titles, such as strategy games, should run well. The 2SOGB ha rd disk seems a little stingy at this price, although Mesh has fitted a faster 7,200rpm drive rather than a 5.400rpm drive. Wh ile this may slightly improve performance, we'd favour storage space over disk speed. It didn't take much for the laptop'slans to whirr up to an aud ible level, indicating that it's generating a fair amount of heat. The fact that it doesn't run panicularly cool could also be pan of the reason behind the poor banery sco re; the Edge 17 lasted just one hour and 41 minutes. However, weighing 3kg. it's unlikely you'll be taking it on too many journeys. The Edge17 HD CS is far from poor, but MSI's CX700 has a larger hard disk, faster graphics and a higher-resolution screen.

Than ks to its glossy, piano-black lid and square edges, the ProSook 45 10s looks both smart and businesslike. HP has also opted to prei nstall Vista Business, which means you can upgrade to Windows 7 Professional, the middle version of Microsoft's new OS. The 15.6in display has a native resolution of 1,366~768 and is one of only two screens on test without a glossy coating. This mea ns it doesn't look as vivid as the other displays, bu t it also doesn't suffer as much from reflections. With the keyboard stretching right to the edges of the chassis, HP has made best use 01 the space available and, despite the indusion of a numerical keypad, all the keys are of a decent size. Much like on Apple laptops, each key pokes out of an individual hole in the chassis. The only dOV!lOside is that there's noticeable fle~ing to the keyboard. The touchpad is responsive and sits just to the left of centre, placing it directly under the space bar. HP has fitted the ProBook 45105 with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5870 processor. It's slightly disappointing that there's only 2GB of RAM, especially when other laptops at this price have at least 3GB, if not 4GB, of memory. Despite this drawback, however, th e ProBod 45105 still managed to return a solid set of scores in our 20 benchmarks, with an overall score of 56. The use of Intel's GMAX4500HD integrated graphics means the Pro Book 4S105 isn't one for games, though, managing just 5.1 1ps in our Call of Duty 4 benchmark The ProSoak 45 10 is one 01 just two laptops here to lad 802.11n wireless support. HP has also been stingy with the storage, supplying just a 250GB hard disk. Considering the reasonably powerful processor and large display, the ProBook's ballery lile is very impressive. At just under lour-and -a-hall-hours, it's a good choice for anyone looking to use it on long journeys. There's nothing panicularly wrong with HP's Pro Book 4S 105, aside from its price. For this much money we'd expect more memory and a larger ha rd disk Asus's cheaper K50lJ has better specifications and is a better choice.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Ad ~c~ n ! d ~ sk!op- ~p lac~m~1llap !,,!,

has a big screen and a reasonably low price. but general boJild q~a lil)l and performan« didn't m~ ~1 with oor expectations otSKTOP-«EPlACEMENT LAPTOP Int.!",,", 1 Duo T6500. 4GB R#.M, 2SOGBdi,k, Nvidi. Gefor<:.G 105M

VERDICT An int"'~sting ~ .ign and r~asonabl. p..-fomlan<:e, but co"'id~'ing the low 'pKification it's simply too e~pe"'rvt auSINESS LAPTOP "'tel eo.-. 2 Duo T5870, 2GB R#.M , 250GB disk, Intol GMA X4500HD graphks. DVO+/·RW

graphks, DVD+/·RW +/·OLDVO·RAM. LCD, 3.OI;g PoIAT Coot Ed~ 17 HD C5

PART CODE VQ493EA

£533 inc VAT From www.lambda-tek.comj compone ntshop If you' re looking for a laptop to replace your exist ing desktop computer, MS l's eX700 is a good bel. Its 17.3in screen is significantly larger

tha n the 1SAin displays on most budget laptops. It also has a higher resolutioo, with l,6OOx900 pixels. This gives a lair bit more room on the desktop. which makes working on documents considerably easier. The screen is very bright. but its viewing

angles aren't perfect and the display had a speckled effect when looked at from an angle. Foc single-person use, though, it's fine . The size of the screen means there's room

for a decent keyboard. The keys are aU large and comfortable to type on. They're a little

soft, but you'll soon get used to them. There's

that". capabl~ of playing gam~ •. With a large hard disk and powerful components, it's a grtat choice DfSKTOf'·REPlACEMENT LAPTOP Int el Pentium Duol COl'< T4200. 4GB RA M.SOOGB disk, ATI M<>blll\'t R.de"" HD 4]30 grap/1ks, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DVO-RAM, 17.Jin wideSCIff<1 LCD, 2.71<8 PARTCODE CX7O(!·021UK DETAILS WW'W.msuom

JANUARY 2010 .

£S49 inc VAT From Mesh 0844 736 044 0

VERDlCT !1

17lnwki<;sc'oon

DET.oJlS WW'W.mosh<:
COMPUTER SHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

£570 inc VAT From HP 0844 875 0975

+/-DL DVD-R#.M, 15.6in widescreen LCD, 2.S!
WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS

SAMSUNG

ACER

TOSHIBA

Q320 -JS03UK

Aspire Timeline 581 0TG

Satel lite U50 0 -186

*****

£570 inc VAT From ww w.lapto psdirect.co.uk

At 2.2kg. Sam sung's attractive Q320 is 200g heavier than our limit for ultra -portable

***

£580 inc VAT Fro m www.cclo nline.com

***

£599 inc VAT From www.;Ohnlewis.co m

that it still can't cope with the latest games. Less demanding strategy games and older titles at low re5Olutions should be fine. though. The bright 13.4in display has a resolution of 1,366x768. Viewing angles aren't very good. though, and moving off-centre makes the screen look washed out. We also found that text wasn't quite as sharp as on other laptops. Despite the small size of the case, Sam sung has managed to squeeze in a slot-load ing DVD drive for watching movies. A minor annoyance is that there's no eject button and you have to press Fn-Insert to remove a disc. The speakers are useful for watching a film on the move. although they distort at full volume, They keyboard's great. Samsung has used all the available space, and all the keys are a good size. They're responsive and comfortable to type on. too, making the Q320 a decent computer for work as well as pleasure_ There's a lot else to like. too. The generous SOOGB hard disk provides plenty of storage space. VGA and HOMI outputs mean that this laptop is easy to connect to almost any external display. from a projector to an HO TV, Samsung's Q320, by virtue of its weight. isn't quite an ultra -portable, but it!; small size means that it's still a decent travelling companion. Its screen isn't quite as good as we'd hoped. however. so this laptop just misses out on an award.

Acer's Aspire Timeline S8 10TG is a strange mix. It uses low-voltage components. which are typically used in lightweight ultra -portables. but its lS,6in screen and 2.4kg weight put it more in line with standard budget laptops. The single-core 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo SU3S00 processor doesn't make much sense in a laptop of this size. Although there's 4GB of RAM. performance was poor. with the 58 10TG scoring just 24 overall in our 2D benchmarks, This means it's fine for general computing. but editing video will be a struggle. Both Intel integrated graphics arld ATI Mobility RadeOrl 4330 graphics chips are installed, and the 5810TG can switch between the two depending on the task at hand, With the All graphics, it managed 8.3fps in Call of Duty 4, which is around 6fps slower than we'd expect from this chipset. The slow. single-core processor is almost certainly the culprit. The benefit of having Intel integrated graphics and a low-power processor is that the battery lasts for an impressive six hours and 31 minutes_With the ATI graphics enabled, this falls by about arl hour. However, since it's quite large and heavy. it's not something you'd want to cany around alt day. The 15,6in widescreen display is bright and produced rich. vibrant colours. With decent viewing arlgles. you can use it comfortably in any position. As with most current laptops it has a re5Olution of 1 ,366~768, which gives plenty of desktop space. If you want to watch movies. there's a built-in OVD drive, The keyboard is responsive arld comfortable to type Orl. The 320GB hard disk is about what we'd expect at this price and gives plenty of space for alt your documents. Long battery life is the Timeline S8 10TG's biggest selling point. but we'd prefer faster component!; irl a laptop of thiS size. Asus's KSOIJ is a better choice if you warlt a powerful laptop. while Samsung's Q320 is lighter to carry around, If you want something really light, Medion'sAkoya E321 1 is a good choice.

At 2.1kg. Toshiba's Satellite USQO- 186 is just over the 2kg weight limit for what we consider arl ultra-portable laptop. That said, its 13.3irl screen keeps the size of the laptop down, 50 you could still happily carry it around. It's a shame, then, that its battery life is so poor. Less than two·and-a-half hours is far short of what we'd expect for a laptop of this size and weight. The 13.3in screen is extremely bright and has decent viewing angles. It's a 16:10 screen with a re5OIution of 1.280x800, rather than the 16:9 screen with a resolution of 1.366x768 found on most modern laptops. This doesn't make much difference, though: you get slightly fewer pixels horizontally, but more vertically. Two speakers just below the display manage to output loud, if not particularly bass-rich. audio. With shiny and somewhat slippery keys packed dose together, the keyboa rd isn't the most comfortable to type on. The keys also have very little travel to them. However, it's the touchpad that really lets the USOO- l86 down. Not only is it too small. but it's al50 oversensitive. With the cursor occasionally leaping from one end of the screen to the other with just the fairlte5t of touches_ A series of brightly lit touch -sensitive buttons are located just above the keyboard arld provide quick access to media -related functions, Toshiba has al50 lit up the Satellite logo arld placed a light strip across the top of the touchpild. If these illuminations annoy you, they can be switched off. Toshiba has installed an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, It managed to perform rea50nably well in our 2D benchmarks, with arl overall score of 62. The USQO-186's 3D performance was very poor. with Intel's GMA 4500M HO integrated graphics able to muster only 4.4fps in Call of Duty 4. The 250GB hard disk is a little disappointing at this price; we'd expect at least a 320GB model. We like the solidly built chassis, but the USOO-186's touchpad let!; it down, and for such a small laptop we'd expect better battery life. Sam sung's Q320 is a better choice if you want a small and portable budget laptop,

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDlCT TM Q320's n(~l~nt d~'il:n, I:",at keybo..-d and small , i... make it a dK~nt travelling companion CENERAl·PURPOSE lAPTOP Int~l P<:ntium INaI eo.... T4200, 4GB RAM, 500GB dl,k. N\oldI3c..forc~ C 105M graphic •. OVO.I·RW .1·Dl. llAin w.,.sc~ lCO. 2,Zkg PART COOl NP-Q320-JS03UK otTAI.S """"'".sam,ung.co,uk

VEROICT Its long batt~ry lift is impressive, but poor J>Nfonnance and a La~ (a~ Itt this laptop down. W~ 'd h;!ve preferred J mort pow6ful proces.sor GENERAL·PURPOSE LAPTOP Intel C"", 2 Solo SU3SOO, 4GB RAM , 320GB diP:.. IlTI Mobility Rodwn HD 4330 graphlcs, OVO+/.RW +I·DL OVD_RAM, IS.6Inwld/:-SCtftn LCO, 2,4I;g PAltT COOE l)(,POUOX.I34

VERDICT It', wfll built, but t ~ USOO·186·s ~r biltt~ry life and overnnsitive toud'l'ad Itt it down GENERAl·PURPOSE lAPTOP Intot """ 2 Duo T66O(I, 3GB RAM, 250GB disk. Int~ CMA 4500M graphics. OVO.I·RW .I·ot. OVD·RAM. fBin lCO,Z.lkg PART COOl PSU82E-(l16Q08EN DETALS """""'.to
laptops, but it's stiUtight enough to carry

regularly. With a battery life of four hours and 21 minutes, it can survive for long enough

away from a power sodet to be useful While it may be heavier than a standard uhra-portable, the weight has been put to good use, with 5amsung fitting high-quality component5. The 2GHz Pentium Dual (ore T4200 processor and 4GB 01 RAM are a potent

combination, helping the Q320 to an overall score of 51 in our 20 benchmarks. The Nvidia GeForce 105M graphiC5 are a step up from

integrated Intel graphics, although the score of 9.2fps in our CaU of Duly 4 benchmarh shows

DETAI.S """""'.¥....-.co.uI<



JANUARY 2010

Wondering what to give . this Christmas? ~.

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A wonderful selection of gift ideas from leading technology brands including;

SONY

canon

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j~~

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WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS

BENCHMARKS • 20 Performance

3D Perfonnance

Multitasking

Overall

Call o f Duty 4 (fps)

Asus

.hus

MSI

Lenovo

Toshiba

Lenovo

Toshiba

Lenovo

Samsung

HP

HP

Mesh

Samsung

M"h ii~"""""", .., AC!r ~

HP .:!I

----~-

Samsung

Muh

MSI

MSI

Acer ~

Acer

Medion E ) ~

m

Medinn ~

~

~

~

14.0

3B

.hUS ~

4 2

Medion Toshiba

m

•

Image-editing

11

I'

•

With its range of stllnning effects and massive expl05ions. plus some of the m05t realistic character animation, Call of Duty 4 pushes a PC to its ~mits. SmlNGS 1,Z8Ox800 resolution, 4x AA, normal setti ngs WEB www.callofduty.com

Video-encoding

I

Battery life Run time Light-usage test (hOUrs) Aeer

Gh 31m

Samsung

4h 21m ------~

• This is our main be nchm arl<; suite for PCS an d

laptops, which we share with our sister publication Custom PC It's designed to test Windows pes to their very limit. The suite consist5 of t hre e separate te st5: im age-editing. video-encoding and multitasking. Our reference PC is fitted with an AMD Phenom II X4 920 processOf and 4GB of DOR2

memory. We normalised all its results to 100, which makes it easy to draw comparisons between lest systems ,m d our reference Pc.

As we use the same te sts in our standalone and Labs reviews, you can compare th e performance of computers across both. If you're keen to see how your PC compares with th ose we've te sted, you c
HP

4h20m

MediDn

4h20m

Asus bROVO

2h 28m

TDShiba _

MSI _ Mesh

2h09m

IiIIii lh 41m 10

Ii

110

:..

...

111

III

III

Our banery test involves light browser use with the screen at its medium brightness setting.

Labs verdict W indows 7 laptops Budget laptops have certainly improved in recent months, and there's now a decent choice of powerful desktop replacements and light ultra-portables. Ultimately, there were some that stood out from the others. It's hard to beat Asus 's K501J. Th is general-purpose laptop has a fast processor, decent screen and healthy battery life. It's a brilliant choice if you need a portable computer at home or for occasional journeys. It wins a Best Buy. If you 're looking for a laptop to use in place of a desktop computer, MSI's CX700

high resolution of 1,600x900 makes working on it a pleasure. Throw in the fact that it can play games and has a large hard disk and it's an even better choice. Its processor's not as fast as in some other laptops, however. It wins a Budget Buy. Finally, if you want a laptop that's good for regular travelling, Samsung's Q3Z0 is a decent choice. Its 13.3in sc reen makes it easy to carry around, and at 2.2kg it's only slightly heavier than what we'd call an ultra-portable. Its screen wasn't quite as good as we'd expect, though, so it just

l~;~':;d:':'~I.:"~':I':~~'~'~7.~3:;"~d~;~'p:':,y~w~;':h~;:"~____-=m:;':':'~':o:",~o:"~,"~,w::':ro~. ______________~::::::::=JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTER SHOPPER


________~::::::~~~____~

8

WINDDWS7

Mode l K50 lJ Rating p=~

***** Intel Core 2 Duo T6500

Sp"" 2.1GHz

**** Intel CO«' 2 Duo T6500

***** Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 2CHz

2 (0)

4GB 2 (0)

4GB

4GB

4GB

4 1x379x256

33x332x222

41x38Ox244

4Ox414x264

2.6IIg

l.8kg

2.6kg

2.7kg

Max memo<)'

Power consumption standby

Int el Pentium SU2700

4GB

2(0)

Sound

***

2.1GHz

Memory slots (free)

Pointing device

CX700

1.3GHz

4GB

Weight

G550

4GB 2 (0) 4GB

Memory installed

Dimensions (HxWKO)

Akoya E3211

VIA HDAu dio

Realtek HOAudio

Conexant HD SmartAudkl 221

Realtek HDAudio

Touchpad

Touchp
Tou chp
Touchpild

1W

2W

1W

1W

Power consumption idle

21W

14W

19W

33W

PQwer consumption active

30W

22W

3SW

4TW

DISPLAY 1S.6in widescreen LCD

13.3in widescreen LCD

1S.6in widescreen LCD

17.3in widesc~n LCD

Graphics ildilptOf

Intel GMA X4500HD

Intel GMA 4500M

NvidiilGeForceG 105M

ATI Mobility Rildeon HD 4330

Graphics outputs

VGA

VGA

VGA,HDMI

VGA,HDM I

Screen size

Graphics memory

128MB shared

128MB shared

512MBdedkated

51 2M B dedic~ted

Native resolution

1,366x768

1,366x768

1,366x768

1.""""'"

Hard disk {available}

320GB (286GB)

310GB (189GB)

310GB {186GB}

500GB (458GB)

Optical drive model

Slimtype D58A3S

TSST SN-S083B

Optiarc AD-7580S

lGGTlON

DVD t /-RW t/-DL

DVDt/-RW t/-DL

DVD+I-RW t/- DL DVD-RAM

DVD+I-RW +I-D LDVD-RAM

USB1 ports

,

3

3

3

FireWire

0

STORAGE

Optical drive type

PORTS AND EXPANSION

0

0

0

Infrared port

No

No

No

No

Bluetooth

No

No

y~

y~

1x 10/10011,000,

Ix 10/100/1,OCXJ, 801.11b/g/n

Networking

]x

10/100/1,000,

]x

10/100/1,OCXJ, 801.11b/g/n

802.11a/b/g/n

PC Card

~ts

M od ~

Legacy ports Memorycard reader OOerports

802.11a/b/g/n

N~

I x ExpressCard/34

1x ExpressCard/34

I x Expres5Card/34

No

No

No

No

N~

N~

No~

Nooe

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stid Pro/Duo

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stid Pro/Duo, xD

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo,)([)

N~

N~

No~

Optical S/P DIF output

No

No

No

No

MISCELLANEOUS Carrying case Operating system Operating system restore option Software ioduded

Other standard accessories Optional extras (incVAT)

WindowsVosta Home Premium Windows Vista Home Premium WinoowsVista Home Premium Windows Vista Home Premium Restore partit;on, restore disc

Restore disc Cyberlink Power1Go 6

Microsoft Works 9, Nero Buming Rom 8 Essentials, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Nero Recode 3 Sf Integrated l.3- megapixel webcam

Integrated 1.3-megapixel

~""m

Restore partition

Restore partition

Lenovo ReadyComm 4

Microsoft Works 85, Ulead Bum Now 45 SE

Integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam

Integrated l.3-megapixel ~""m

None

N~

No~

Nooe

Two years collect and return

One year collect and return

One year collect and return

Two years collect and return

BUYING INFORMATION Parts and labour warranty Price indudingVAT

.500

£SOO

fS19

f SH

Price exdudingVAT

£435

£435

£451

£463

www.asus.com

www.medion.co.u k

www.lenovo.co.uk

www.msi.com

www.laptopsdire<::t.co.uk

Medion 08713761020

Lenovo 0844 800 05SO

www.lambda-tek.com/ compooentshop

KSO!j-SX043C

30009830

29S8K3G

CX 700"()21U I(

Details Supplier Part number



WINDOWS 7 LAPTOPS MESH

HP

SAMSUNG

ACER

TOSHIBA

Edgel7 HD CS

ProBook 45105

Q320-JS03UK

Aspire Timeline 5810TG

Satellite USOD-laG

***

***

Intel Core 2 Duo T6500

InlelCore 2 Duo T5870

*** ***** Inte/Pentium Dual COl'(' T4200 Intel COf(' 2 Solo SU3SOO

2.1GHz

2GHz

2GHz

l.4GHz

22GHz

4GB 2 (0) 4GB

2GB

4GB

4GB

2 (1)

2 (0)

2(0)

3GB 2 (0)

BGB

4GB

4GB

4GB

43x397x281

4Ox371x249

37x325x231

31x376x256

41x317x2Z8

3k,

2.Skg

22kg

2.4kg

2.1k&

RealtekHOAudio

SoundMax HO Audio

Realtek HDAudio

Realtek HO Audio

Realtek HD Audio

Touchpad

Touchpad

Touchpad

Touchpad

Touchpad

1W

1W

1W

1W

1W

38W 52W

1M 33W

23W <6W

1M 22W

"'" 3M

***

Intel Core <' Duo T6600

17in wides~n LCD




133in LCD

Nvidia GeForre G 105M

InteIGMAX4500HD

Nvidia Geforce G 105M

AT I Mobility RaOeOrl HD 4330

Intel GMA 4500M HD

VG'

VGA,HDMI

VGA,HOMI

VGA,HOMI

VGA

512MB dedicated

128M B Ylared

256MB dedicated

512MBd~icat~

128MB o;har~

250GB (223GB)

25OG8 (232GB)

500GB (465GB)

320GB (288GB)

250GB (231GB)

lGGTlON

lG GTrol

TSSTTS-T633A

Matshita UJ862AS

lGGU10N

OVOt/-RW t/-D LDVD-RAM

OVD+I-RW t/-Ol DVD-RAM

DVD+I-RW +I-OL

DVDt/-RW +I-D LOVD-RAM

DVDt/-RW +I-OLOVO-RAM

3

4

3

,

3

0

0

0

0

0

No

No

No

No

No

y"

y"

y"

No

No

h 10/100/1,000, 802.11a/b/g/n

1x 10/100/1,000,

1~

802.11a/b/g/n

1x 10/100,802.11a/b/g

1x 10/100/1,IXXl,802.11b/g

10/100,802.11b/g/n

lx ExpresSCard/S4

1x ExpresSCard/34

1x ExpressCard/34

Noo.

1x ExpressCard/54

y"

No

No

No

No

No~

Noo.

Noo.

Noo.

No~

SOHC,MMC

SOHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo, xO

SDHC, MMC

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stid Pro/Duo, xO

SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick ProlOuo. xD

No

No

No

No

No

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows VISta Home Premium Windows 7 Home Premium

Restore partition

Restore partition

Restore partitioo

Restore partitioo

Microsoft Works 8.5, CyberLink Po....erDVO 5

Intervideo WinDVO 8, Roxio Creator Business 10

Cybert.ink OVO Suite

Cyberlink PowerOvo, Microsoft MicrosoftWorks 9,Toshiba OVD player WO<1o'

Integrated 2-megapixel webcam

Integrated 1.3-megapiXt'1

Integrat~

webcam

~"'m

~"'m

~"'m

No~

Noo.

No~

Noo.

No~

One yearRTB

Integrat~

2-megapixel

Integrat~

1.3-megapiXt'1

Restore partitioo

1-megapixel

One Yeilr collect and retum

Of1e year collect and retum

One year collect and retum

Of1e year coHect and retum

£549

£570

£S70

£580

£S99

£477

£496

£495

£504

£S21

WHW.meshcomputers.com

WW'IN,hp.co.uk

WHW.samsung.co,u~

WHW.acer.co.uk

WHW.toshiba.co.uk

Mesh 0844 736 0440

HP 0844 875 0975

WHW.laptopsdirect,co.uk

WHW.cdooline.com

WW'IN.johnlewis.com

Edge17 HOCS

VQ493EA

NP-Q32o-JS03UK

LX.PDUOX.134

PSU82E-016008EN



en a:: w

~ ....I c..

INTRODUCTION Many mobile phones can now play MP3s and video, but there are still plenty of reasons to choose iii dedicated portable video or music pliilyer. There's nothing worse thim needing to make an urgent phone call

only to discover that your phone's battery hOJs been drained by power-hungry music and video playback. Controls that are designed for dialling phone numbers are often ill-suited to browsing albums and playlists, and some phones have proprietary

earphone jacks 50 you can't replace the earphones that came with it.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the only MP3 phlyers ilvailable are Apple's iPods, but there are it wide variety of players on sale from a range of manufacturers. This month we've tested 1S of the latest models. No matter how large or small your budget, our comprehensive Labs will help

you find the perfect portable entertainment companion.

Alan Lu PC systems and aud io expert

Choosing an MP3 Player P3 players come in a seemingly endless variety of shapes and sizes, with an equally bewildering array of features. No matter how large or small your budget, there are some fundamental factors to consider before you part with your hard-earned cash.

M

CARRY THAT WEIGHT If you have a large music collection and want to carry it around With you, you'll ne1'!d a player with lots of storage. If you're happy to carry a smaller selection of tracks. you can save money by buying a smaller-capacity player. A 2GB player can store around 500 songs, but most of the players here have at least 8GB of storage. There are two types of portable music player on the marl
THERE'S A PLACE At full CO quality, music takes up around 10MB of storage space per minute, which is impractical when you're trying to store a large collection on a portable player. Compressing tracks into a format su(h as MP3 is the refore essential. Each of the players here (an play MP3 files. Other popular compressed file formats include AAC, WMA and OGG, but not all players support them. Our table on page 88 lists the file formats supported by each player. Music downloaded from online stores comes either as copy-prote(ted WMA files that can't be converted to other formats, or as MP3 or AAC files sold without copy protection. We recommend buying unprotected MP3 files, so that you can transfer your music to any device. Few stores stilt seU ORM-protected music due to a lliId.lash from disgruntled customers. Some 510res allow you to download an unlimited amount of music for a monthly fee, but these songs become unplayable if your subscription lapses. Apple's iTunes Store used to sell protected AAC music that would play only on iPods, but has since abarnloned (opy protect ion. Music now bought from iTunes will play on any device that supports AAC. Some online stores, such as HMV.com, Play.com and COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

MP3PLAYERS

This month

..

ARCH OS 28GB Page 80

APPLE iPod Shuffle 2GB Page 80

SONY Walkman NWZ-E443 80

ARCHOS 3 Vision 8GB 81

IRIVER E2008GB Page 81

VIEWSONIC VPDSOO Page 81

SAMSUNG YP-P38GB

-

82

SONY Walkman NWZ-SS44 Page 82

eMusic, sell their music as non-copy-protected MP3 files, which you can play on any player. Audible sells copy-protected audio books in its own proprietary fOffi1at. Our table on page 88 lists those players that are Audible-compatible. GETTING BETTER Most of the pla~rs here sounded good at comfortable volume levels and default equaliser settings, but some 'Mre better than others. A few suffered from audio problems such as distortion when we boosted the bass. We mention this in the individual reviews. For the best audio quality, you may have to replace the headphones that come with the plilyer, as the bundl~ sets tend to lack clarity ilnd bass. Each player's headphones have a separate rating in the table on page 88.

I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU Most portable music players can also play videos. Apart from ViewSonic's VPDSOO, which can play a variety 01 video fOffi1ats, all the video-capable players here can only play videos of a certain file fOffi1at and resolution, the full details of which are listed on the manufacturers' websites. If your existing videos don't match these requirements, you'll have to re-encode them using the software included with each device. If you frequently watch video on the go, e5pf'ciaUy long TV programmes or movies. then you'll

benefit from a player with a large screen, although these tend to be more e~pensive. A DAY IN THE LIFE Hilving several days' worth of entertainment in your pocket is of little use if the battery runs out after only a few hours. EV1!n if you use your player only for short periods of time,long battery life is essential. There's nothing more annoying than settling down to watch a video only to find that your player is out of power. AU the playt'rs hefl' have integrated, nonreplaceable batteries that can be recharged using a mini USB cable. Some, such as Apple's iPods. Samsung's YP-P3 and Sony's WaUunan plilyers. use USB cables with non-standard connectors, so you'\\ have to remember to bring them on long trips. Battery life varied dramatically in our tests. We e>:pect a player to last at teast 15 hours when playing music. Four of the players here fell short of this, wh ile one exceeded a sta&&ering 40 hours. We also e~pect at least four hours when playing video; a\\ but two of the players here managed to beat this target.

LET ITBE Many portable players have extra features, such as FM rad ios, integrated microphones, calendars and stopwatches. Although they're of secondary importance, they can be useful

JAMJARY 2010 • COMPUTER SHOPPER


COWON 02+ DAB Page 82

CREATIVE Zen X-Fi 216GB 85

APPLE iPod Nano 16GB Page 85

IRIVER B308GB Page 85

PHILIPS GoGearMuse Page 86

APPLE iPod Classic 160GB Page 86

APPLE iPod Touch 64GB

•

1/

MP3PLAYERS

~

ARCH OS 28GB

APPLE

**

**

iPod Shuffle 2GB

£36 inc VAT From www.pixmania.co.uk

£45 inc VAT From http://store.apple.com/uk

*****


through long lists is difficult as the scre{!(l takes a second or two to update. Even more annoying. the combined power/lock switch is poorly designed, ma~ing it far too easy to turn the Archos l 011 accidentally instead olloding the controts. Music soonded muddy and harsh. with little bass from the included earphones. Audio quality improved greatly using a high-quality third-p
Apple's latest iPod Shuffle is impreSSively comp
Sony's Walkman 4GB NWZ-E443 portable musi c player looks striking thanks to its slender. shiny red metal and black plastic design. Using the included earphones. music soonded bright and harsh. although the bass wasn't as loud as we'd like. Vocals were clear and there was no distortion when we boosted the bass using the equaliser. Music 50unded lar clea rer and more detailed using a better set 01 earphones. Audio playback lasted for more than 26-and-a-half hours. more than even the longest Right. Browsing through long lists of music is simple since the left and right buttons can be used to skip quickly and easily through the list alphabetically. When playing music. pressing the Option button gives quick access to playback settings such as the equaliser. Oddly. long track. artist Of album names are cut off instead of scrolling to show the lull title. II you tire 01 your own music. you can use the buih-in FM radio. which sounded clear and static-free when used in oof central london offices. We were less impressed with the E443's video playback. We could only get it to play videos encoded using a very specific H.264 profile with a re50lution of 320~240 pixels and a jerky frame rate of 1Sfps. Annoyingly. Sony's included video-conversion software sometimes failed to work lor no apparent reason. Although the screen is very bright. its small 2in size and graininess means it's not ideal for watching long videos anyway. If you do want to watch video. yoo can e~pect its battery to last four hours and 39 minutes. which isn't too bad. but other players here can last more than twice as long. There'S no orientation sensor. so il you want to watch video with the screen horizontal rather than vertical yoo'U have to set this preference manually. Sony's Walkman NWZ-E443 is a good-value MP3 player tha nks to its decent audio quality. respectably long battery life and low price. Its video support is poor. but it's a great choice for audio.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT ... rchos 2 may be "eI'J cheap. but the poor screen. aMoying controls and mulfled sound make it impossible to ",commend

VERDlCT The IPod ...... ftIe Is Impressively sma ll arid light. but the liddly control. and restricted choice of ..... dphones me.n. it', poorvalu-e compar..! to other c0n19act MP3 players

VERDlCT T.... Walkman NWZ-E4<43's vldeo support i. poor. oo t its good audio qua lity. long battery IiI•• good look< and low price make it. great buy

The Archos 2 is the cheapest 8GB portable audio and video player that we've seen. Its looks don't betray its price, as it's slender, has a 1.8in (olour screen and weighs just 54g. It looh similar to an iPod thanks to its glo$sy

white fascia and reflective metal back. There's even a MicroSDHC slot for expanding

its capacity. Unfortunately, the fiddly controls take some getting used to. The rewind and fast forw
fLASH MEMORY PlAYER 8GB ,apacity. l.8in U8xl&O ",solution LCD. MkroSOHC slot. WMA, WM A·DRM . MP3 oudio liles, MPEG4 AVI video lil.s, jPEG ima&" 1iI.s, USB inmlac• •4Ox8x8-4mm. S4g AARTCOOE 501265 DETAaS www.archo •.com

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JANUARY 2010

MP3PLAYERS

.J~ .; i

.:

'

,.

i~-::- I

i

••

i

I

ARCHOS

IRIVER

3 Vision 8GB

E2008GB

VPD500

*****

***

**

fag inc VAT From www.advancedmp3players.co.uk Arches's 3 Vision is one of an increasing number of portable audio and video players to have a touchscreen. Playback controls and menu

'~~

£89 inc VAT From www.advancedmp3players.co.uk

VIEWSONIC

£l D3 inc VAT From www.morecomputers.com

little bass using the included earphones. Audio quality improved greatly using a replacement set of earphones, but music still wasn't as rich and warm as we'd like. Backing voca15 in pop tracks sounded a little mumI'd, too. The 3 Vision lasted just under 11 hours when playing music, which is disappointing. especially for a player at this price. The lack of physical volume contro15 means that you'll have to fish the Vision out of your pocket and unlock the cootrols to use the onscreen volume slider when out and about, which is a little inconvenient. There's an integrated FM radio, but we had some trouble getting static-free re ception in our central London offices, The 3in display has a relatively high resolution of 400x240 pixels. The Vision can play OivX files, while the included conversioo software can batch-coovert multiple vi deo files to the right format. However, despite the screen's relatively large size, watching video is difficult due to the dark and grainy image quality. The battery lasted for just three hours and 38 minutes when playing video, which is the shortest time we've seen. The Archos 3 Vision is flawed in numerous ways, from its slightly cumbersome interface to its less-than-perfect audio quality and battery life, These flaws would be easier to accept at a lower price, but at £89 the Vision is just too expensive to recommend. Sony's Walkman NWZ-E443 and iRiver's E200 8GB are both beller choices.

Almost all modem MP3 players feel sturdy, but we were particularly impressed by how robust iRiver's E200 felt. The hefty, rigid metal case looks classy and feels well engineered. This means it's a little heavier than the compet ition at 92g. but it's still comp.1ct and light enough to carry around all day. We weren't disappointed by the E2oo's audio quality when paired with a good aftermarket pair of earphones. Music sounded clear, rich and detailed. Bass wasn' t quite as thumping as we'd like, especially compared with other iRiver players, but it still sounded pleaSing. The included earphones aren't worth bothering with, as they make music sound flat and muffled with very weak bass, Battery life was disappoint ing. The player lasted just over 17 hours for audio, which is a little short comp.1red with similarly priced players. There's an FM radio built in, but we had difficulty getting static-free reception in our central london offices. The E200's touch-sensitive buttons feel odd, especially if they're set to vibrate when pressed. Although these controls feel fiddly and less precise than a physical set of buttons, the haptic feedback is genuinely useful rather than just a gimmick - with vibration turned off we were more prone to chOOSing the wrong songs or overshooting our intended target in a long list. The interface's white text on da rk backgrounds looks clear and sharp, even in overly bright or dim lighting conditions. Videos looked great on the bright 2.8in display. The screen has plenty of cootrast and videos were always displayed in the correct aspect ratio. H.264 video files aren't supported, but WMV and DivX videos played Without any problems. The battery lasted five hours and lO minutes when playing video, which should see you through a couple of films. We were impressed with iRiver's E200 8GB, It feels well made and sounds great, while videos looked stunning on its l.Bin screen. &attery life is a little shorter than 00 other players, but you"!1 still get a decent amount of playback time between charges. It's a Best Buy.

ViewSonic's VPOSOO has a huge Sin screen with a high resolution of BOOx4BO pixels. This also means it's fairly large and heavy at just under 2ClOg. so it's meant to be carried in your bag rather than your pocket. It's ideal for watching video and supports a wide variety of formats, playing all our MPEG2, OivX and H.264 test videos without problems. It can resume playback from where you left off and you can adjust the screen brightness and aspect ratio wi thout having to stop the video. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the screen's quality. It's not very bright and contrast is poor, so distinguishing details in dimly lit films and programmes can be difficult. Viewing angles are tight , which isn't ideal if you want to wat(h a video with a friend. The battery lasted just over six hours when playing video, which is a very respectable time. Although the VPDSOO is designed mainly for watching video, it can play music too, You'll need a better-quality pair of headphones to make the most of your tunes, as the included earphones sound muddy and harsh. The VPOSOO can also receive FM radio broadcasts, although we had trouble getting a clear signal in our centralloodon offices, Unlike any other player we've seen, it can also transmit an FM radio signal without the need for an external transmitter, so you can listen to your music on your car speakers even if your car radio dOl!so't have any audio inputs. The VPD500's interface bears an uncanny resemblarxe to the XMB interface of Sony's Play5tatioo. Its menus are logically organised and easy to navigate, despite the rather fiddly top-mounted buttoos, which are awkward and uncomfortable to press, especially when scrolling through long lists. Annoyingly it doesn't support music play!ists, although these can be approximated using folders in Windows hplorer. At just over £100, View Sonic's VPDSOO is cheap for a 16GB portable video player with su(h a large screen and broad video support. However, screen quality is poor, so iRiver's E200 8GB is a better choice for most people.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Tho Ar.:hos Vlsloo 3's flddly control system. sho" battery life and poor ween let it down

VERDICT Although Its t:.attery life Is a little sIlo"er than that of simHarty priced pla~. tl>! E200 is a cla.S}' portable audio and video playe,

VERDICT The VPD500 Is an affordable portable video player with wid e forma t sU9POrt. but i, let down by its /iddly controt. and pOll!" image ""ality

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commands are activated by simply tapping the screen, but a very precise aim is requ ired,

especially when adjusting the volume slider. Avirtual scroll wheel in the bottom comer of the screen is used for navigating menus and track list5. Although it's reasonably responsive, d~sn'l feel as accurate 35 a physical wheel when .sc::rolling through a long list to find a

it

particular item.

Music sounded muddy and flat, with very

""ppo
€I !



MP3PLAYERS

.SAMSUNG

SONY

COWON

YP-P38GB

Wa lkman NWZ-SS44

D2+ DA B

****


like an increasing number of pOItable media players. Samsung's P3 has a touchscreen. It doesn't feel nearly as sensitive as Apple's iPod

***

£110 inc VAT From www.sony.co.uk

**

£129 inc VAT From www.advancedmp3players.co.uk

The earphones induded with most MP3 players usually sound very poor. so we were pleaXintly surprised by the set included with the P3, They sound dear and detailed. with a respectable amount of bass. You'll still need a good third -party pair for the very best audio quality. es~cially if you like bass-heavy music. If earphone cords annoy yoo. Bluetooth is built in so you can use wireless headphones without an external adaptor. but this will reduce the P3's long battery He of 29 hours and 19 minutes when playing music. The P3's battery also did well when playing video, lasting eight hours and 14 minutes. We had no trouble playing H264 and DivX videos. but the P3 refused to play XviD files . Brightness can be adjusted without stopp4ng the video currently playing. However. it can resume playing from where you left 011 only as long as you don't start playing another file. The screen is bright, but poor contrast ma~es it hard to see details in dimly lit movies and TV programmes. We were a little disappointed by the quality of the P3's screen. while its lack of wireless networking and third-party applications means it's not as versatile as Apple's iPod Tooch, It has a long battery life and good audio quality. thoogh. making it a good·value music player. If such long b.1ttery life isn't an issue. iRiver's E200 8GB is a better choice.

Sony'S Walkman NWZ-5S44 looks and feels dassy thanks to its shiny red metal design. It has a slightly bigger screen than the NWZ-E443 and built-in speakers. which are activated using a dedicated switch. As expected. they sound weedy and distort easily. Vocals sound dea r on the induded earphones. but audio quality is otherwise disappointing. Instruments are bright and harsh. with not enough bass. but there was no distortion when we boosted the b.1ss using the equaliser. Audio quality improved dramatically with a third-party set of earphones. although the bass 5till wasn't as thumping as we'd li~e. The battery lasted an impressive 30 hours and 38 minutes when playing music. Browsing for tracks is easy thanks to the logical menus and the ability to navigate quickly through long lists of tracks alphabetically. The option button gives easy access to the equaliser and playhac~ modes. including shuffle and repeat. If yoo tire of your own music there's a built-in FM receiver. which sounded reasonably clear when used in our central london offices. This Walkman.like all the others we've seen recently. is very picky aboot the video files it wi ll play. The only videos we could get it to play consistently were H.264 files encoded in a very specific way at a resolution of 32Ox240 pixets at a jerky 1 SIps. Videos looked very bright. but also quite grainy, on the 2.4in screen. II you want to watch films on the 5544. you can expect its battery to last for just over four-and-a-half hours. II the NWZ-5S44 appears similar to the chea~r NWZ· E443. that'S because it is. Setting aside the awlul integrated speakers and a slightly larger screen. the only meaningful advantage the 5544 has over the E443 is that it has 8GB of storage instead of 4GB.IRiver"s E200 8GB is a better choice if you want decent movie playback. 1/ you want more music storage. however. Apple's 16GB iPod Nano is better value. with double the storage capacity for only £25 more than the 5544 costs.

AS its name suggests. Cowon's D2+ DAB has a built-in digital radio. one of the few portable audio players we've seen to have such a feature . Unfortunately. it crashed frequently when trying to tune into a station. even after we upgraded the firmware to the latest version. Despite its compact size. the player also has a 2'hin touchscreen. and there are also physical volume controls on the top, The touchscreen requires a firm aM precise touch. The interface is also b.1dly designed, with small icons and scroll bars that are difficult to press accurately. as well as a confusing menu structure. The toochscreen isn't suited to watching video either, It's not especially bright and looks a bit grainy. Colours are washed out, too, DivX and XviD vi deos played back fine as long as they matched the 320x240 resolution 01 the screen. Other videos can be re -encoded using the included software. which has a confusing interface but also a batch-conversion mode. The below-average screen quality is all the more disappointing since the b.lttery lasted an astonishing nine-and -a-hall hours when playing video. one of the longest times we've seen. It also fa red well when playing music. lasting a lengthy 31 hoors and 38 minutes. Music was dear. rich and detailed over a quality pair of earphones. The included set have a surprising amount of bass. but you'll still want to replace them for the best audio quality as background vocals and instruments can soond muffled. while the high end is too bright. Despite its high price. the 02+ only has 4GB of storage. which compares badly With similarly priced 8GB or 16GB players. An SD card slot means yoo can add more storage space later. but it's still surprising to be charged so much and get so little. Cowon's 02+ DAB impressed us with its soond quality and battery life. Unfortunately. it's infuriating to use due to its poorly designed touchscreen and interface, and its DAB radio is too buggy to use. These faults would be easier to forgive at a lower price. but lor a 4GB player f 129 is just too expensive. Philips' GoGear Muse 16GB is a much better choice.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Samsullg's P31s all Ine ~ pef\sIve touchscreen player with great battery life. oo t it's not ideal for watching vid~

VERDICT Sony's 8GBWa lkma.n NWZ-S544Is a good MP3 player. b~ t it's not a big irnprovef\1ef\\ ~th~ ' .... ap ... NWZ·E443

VERDlCT Cowon', 02+ O... B has some attract~ fe a \u r~s. but its dire touchscreen. fiddly interlace and high pric. ma ke ft on~ to avoid

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Touch's screen, though, arld scrolling through long lists can be quite frustrating. It has haptic feedback, so it can be set to

vibrate when touched, which compensates for its lack of sensitivity. It doesn't recognise multi touch gestures, but it does support more bask gestures such as swiping your finger to skip trach. A small gesture area beneath the

screen allows you to quickly access commonly used buttons and menus. SlIch as music playback controls. There are phySical volume controls on the top of the P3, but they can't be used to adjust the volume without you haying to unlod the screen first.

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MP3PLAYERS

•

• .... . _--

•

CREATIVE

APPLE

IRIVER

Zen X-Fi 2 16GB

iPod Nano 16GB

B308GB

£1 30 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk

***

£135 inc VAT Fro m http://sto re.apple.com/u k

****

***

Creative's Zen X-Fi 2 bears mOl"e than a passing resemblance to the iPod Tooch with its metal back and large touchscreen, but is designed to

The included noise-isolation earphones are surprisingly good. The noise isolatioo isn't as effective as from some third-party sets, but it worb well in most noisy environments. Vocals soun d d ear and there's a fair amount of bass, but the high end can be harsh and jazz and blues tracks are muffled. These faults mostly disappeared when we used a high-quality set of earphones, but bass stilt wasn't as deep as we would ha ve liked. An onscreen button gives quick access to options such as the equaliser. Surprisingly, this model lacks built-in wireless networking. so it can't be used to listen to music stored on a UPnP media server like its predecessor. The first model had an SO card slot for storing more music and copying photos off the card, but this model accepts only the smaller and less commonly used MicroSD cards. We had trouble getting static-free reception on the built-in fM radio, but when we did, the audio quality was clear. One area in which the Zen X-fi has improved over its predecessor is battery life. It lasted nearly 28-and-a-half hours when playing music - which is more than twice that of the previous model - and nearly six hours when playing videos, which is also a slight improveme nt over the first model. Video is very bright with plenty of contrast on the 3in screen. The Zen can't play H.264 files, but it had no problem playing OivX and XviO videos. The re's a lot to like about the Zen X-Fi 2, from its good audio quality to its long b.lttery life, but its infuriating touchscreen heavily counts aga inst it. Philips· GoGear Muse 16GB is a better choice.

Apple's latest iPod Nano weighs just 34g and is no thicker than a pair of f 1 coins, but Apple has squeezed in an fM radio and a video camera alongside its media playback fe atures. The video camera records in H.264 format at a resolution of 64Ox480 pixels. Video recorded in bright daylight looked reasonably detailed, but it tumed grainy in low light. In our tests, the Nano's b.lttery lasted one-and-a-hatf hours recording video. The only way to hold it without obscuring either the lens or the screen is by its sharp edges, which is uncomfortable. Surprisingly, the camera can't take still photos. The integrated fM radio is a first for any iPod. Finding and bookmarking stations is si mple. A 1S-minute buffer let5 you pa use and rewind broadcasts, which is useful when listening to live sports, for example. It can't record entire broadcasts, though. On stations that support ROS metadata it can even identify songs being played and save these details so yoo can buy the m la ter from the iTunes Store. Beyond these new features, the Nano looks and feels almost identical to the previous model. The interface is as slick and easy to navigate as ever, although there's still no way to adjust the equaliser quic kly. Its battery lasted just over 32 hQurs playing music, which is a couple of hours less than the previous model. The included earphones are too quiet, lack bass and sound muddy. Even with quality headphones, music didn't soond as rich and warm as we'd expect and th e bass wasn't quite as thumping as we·d like. The 2.2in screen is too small for watching films regularly. It's very bright, though, with good contrast. Oi~ppointingly, its battery lasted just over four hours when playing video, an hour-and-a-half less than the previous Nano. Oespite all its extra features, the 16GB Nano costs no more than most other 16GB MP3 players. The FM radio is a welcome addition. but the video camera feels gimmicky. We were also di~ppoin ted tha t the battery life and audio quality don't match the standard set by the previous-generation Nano. It"s a good MP3 player, but Philips' Muse is even better.

iRiver's plain black 8GB B30 looks unassuming. but it's packed full of features. The most noticeable is the built-in OAB and FM radio, du e to the player's telescopic antenna. In spite of this, reception was prone to interference, especially when held horizontally, which is necessary since the otherwise logical interface is oriented horizontally. When reception was interference-free though, audio sounded crystal dear whether on DAB or FM. Music sounded rather flat both wi th the included earphones and a better-quality set. It's worth investing in third-pany earphones, though. as the included set don't do bassheavy tracks justice. The battery lasted over 30 hours when play ing aud io, which is im pressive. The tooch-sensitive buttons can take some ge tting used to, but they work well especially when to set to vibrate when touched. This haptic feedback helps by making it more obvious when you've pressed a button. The up and down buttons are used to s~ip to the previoos and nexttracl<.s, instead of the left and right buttons as we'd expect. lt"s a change that feels odd if you've ever used any other MP3 player. We wish there were a physical set of volume buttons,
SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Creative's Zefl X·FI2 Is a good MP3 pl~r wi th excellw t banery life thaI's let down by a very poor tOlKh"<:r~n

VERDICT Apple's latest IPod Nano Is Imp ressively slim. but audio quality and banery life could ~ b~ttH, while """'~ of the u:t"" f~1 gimmidy

VERDICT The B30 Is pack..:! fuU of features, i"'luding a DAB radio. 001 it's expensive for the amount of stor.ge ",.ce

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fLASH MEMORY PlAYER 8GB C"f"'City, 2.Sin 1l0>
be held hori zont (lUy instead of vertically. Unfortun ately, the touchscreen is extreme ly aggravating to use. It's quill' sensitive but also

very inaccurate, making it far too easy 10 choose the wrong song or menu option. The only way to compensate for this is to apply very firm, constant pressure instead of" light lauch, which makes it" pilin to use.



£1 39 inc VAT Fro m www.advancedmp3p layers.co.uk

~

________________-, 8

MP3PLAYERS

; . ! ..

~"

.

Ii'

.~ ~ < ~?I·

' .- .

...

--..::. PHILIPS

APPLE

APPLE

GoGear Muse 16GB

iPod Classic 160GB

iPod Touch 64GB

*****

*****

£150 jnc VAT

~ ~'" ~ .

':-:

From http://shop.p hilips.co.uk

PhilipS' GoGear Muse looks and feels classier than older models thanks to its brushed metal back. The right -handed design is unchanged,

£189 inc VAT From http:(/store.apple.com/uk

*****

\I!·· ~

£297 inc VAT l'! From www.amazon.co.uk

circuitry works only with the included earphones. Thankfully. these sound detailed and dear with enough bass, although some instruments, particularly brass and strings, don't sound as rich as we'd like, so you may still want a third-party set. If you tire of yoor own music, you can use the built-in FM radio. Reception in our central london offices was free from static and soonded clear and crisp. Saving a station as a preset 0( recO(ding a broadcast is quick and easy thanks to the options button and the logically organised menus, We were also impressed with the quality of the 3in screen, Videos looked bright and sharp, with plenty of detail and contrast. The Muse can play H.264 as well as DivX and XviD files, but it insists on stretching videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio to fill the screen. Sadly there's no option to override this, but videos with a 16:9 or an anamorphic aspect ratio look fine. Battery life is impressive. The Muse lasted just under 3S-and-a-half hours when playing music with noise cancellation deactivated. When playing videos, it lasted just over foor hour5. These are good times com pared wrth portable player5 from other manufacturers, but previous GoGear players have lasted over 48 hours when playing music and over six hours when playing video, so owners of existing models may be reluctant to upgrade, Nevertheless, Philips' 16GB GoGear Muse is an excellent portable audio player in almost every respect. It's a little expensive, but it's worth every penny.

Other manufacturers appear to have given up on hard disk-based MP3 players, but not Apple. The latest iPod Classic has a huge 160GB capacity, yet it's no thicker than three £ 1 coins tha nks to il5 single-platter l.8in hard disk. You might think the iPod Classic woold have a shorter battery life than flash·based players, but it has one of the best battery lives aroond we've seen. It lasted an astonishing 43 hour5 and 14 minutes playing music and nearly nine hoors when playing video. Like other iPods, the Classic can play only MPEG4 and H.264 video files. Both looked bright and sharp on the 2'hin screen. There are plenty of free and low-cost video-encoding applicat ions with pre-programmed Settings tai lored fO( the Classic You' ll want to use them, too, as iTunes can be laboriously slow at re-encoding incompatible videos. This model is almost identical to the previous 120GB Classic, Disappointingly, it doesn't have an FM radio like the latest Na no. Previous hard disk-based iPods have suffered from distortion, especially at the high end when boosting bass using the equaliser. Sadly, this Classic suffers from the same problem, albeit to a lesser extent than previous models. The problem is most dearly apparent on heavily compressed MC files. FO( the best possible audio quality you'll need to invest in a quality set of earphOl1es. The included set soond muddy and weak and will need to be replaced with a better-sounding set as soon as possible. Like all other current iPods, with the e~ception of the screen-less Shuffle, the Classic can recommend tracks in your music library that would go well with the track you're listening to. This feature, called Genius, depends on iTunes on your computer analysing your music library first, but is useful The 160GB iPod Classic has excellent battery life and is the only choice if yoo want to carry a huge music library around with you. It's disappointing that Apple hasn't completely fi~ed the audio distortion issues, but if you can live with less than perfect audio quality then the iPod Classic is a good player,

Apple's iPod Touch was one of the first portable audio and video players to have a touchscreen, and it remains one of the best, None of th e other touchscreen players we've seen comes dose to the accuracy, sensitivity or responsiveness of its slick yet simple multitouch interface, Another pan of its appeal is its built-in wireless networking paired with an excellent web browser and email program, as well as the ability to run a huge library of third-party applications. Even if you're not interested in web brOWSing on your MP3 player, the third-party apps give the Tooch appealing features such as streaming music services from Last.fm and Spotify, plus games. This Tooch has a faster processO( tha n the previous modeL If you just listen to music and watch videos you're unlikely to notice it, but it speeds up tasks such as launching applications and rendering web pages, Battery life when playing music is an impressive 33 hoors and 27 minutes, althoogh the previous model lasted over 40 hours. We were greatly impressed with the dear. rich and deta iled sound quality, but you'll need to buy a quality pair of headphones to hea r it, The induded earphones are too quiet, mud dy and weak to be worth bothering with. Videos looked bright and sharp with good contrast on the 3'hin screen, You're limited to MPEG4 and H.264 videos, but if your videos have them you can navigate by DVD-style chapters, view subtitles and choose between different audio tracks, Oddly, video playlists are listed in the music playback program. The battery lasted nearly eight hours when playing video, which is impressive and nearly two hours longer than the previous Touch. We continue to be impressed with the iPod Touch, and it's certainly more versatile than the iPod Classic. However, the Classic has over twice the storage of this 64GBmodel for £ 100 less (a 32GB version of the iPod Touch is also available for £224). Nevertheless, if you can afford the high price, the iPod Tooch is the easiest·to-use and best MP3 player to buy.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Il lsn'l cheap, bul Phillps'GoGearMuse Is an excellent MP3 playerwilh great image quality and good vid~ support

VERDICT II has plenty of stotaoge arid e ~cellent battery Ufe. oo t niggling audio quality issues p'.... ~nt it getting an u"'lu .tifi~ ",commendation

VERDlCT TM IPod Twch Isn't cMap, but II'S a well·&s igned portable media player in almost .....ry "''!'PCt

fLASH MEMORY PlAYER 16GB cap..,il'f, lin 4OO.l40 ",solution LCD, suppom WM A.. WMA·DRM, A.A.C, OGG, Wav. MP3 audio file" WMV. MPEG4 AVI, MI'I'G4 MP4 vido-o r.t~" BMP, JPEG ima&!' file.. USB interf..,., 11()x8xSSmm, 89g PART COOl SA.1MUS16K/02 DETAILS www_ pI1~ip$.co_ uI:

l.8i" HARD [)lSI( PlAYER 160GB capadl'f,l'hin 3l1))cl40 (. mluk

fLASH MEMORY PlAYER 64GB capacity, lY>in 480.JlO LCD, suppom M e , I'rote:9x111mm , 106g MRTCOOE Me011811A DETAaS www.apple,c<>m/uk

which will put off left-handed users. It's one of the lew players we've seen with built -in noise cancellation. This blocks out

background noise in places soch as a train carnage or aeroplane so you can listen to music without raising the volume to dangerous levels, II works surprisingly welt and is almost as effective as third-pilrty noise-cancellation and isolation earphones we've tried, bUllhe

f~ soIution



MP3PLAYERS

BENCHMARKS

How we test MP3 players

Battery life Run time

We test the audio qUillity of tiKI! player and its earphones by listening to the same

Audio playback

set of high -quality MP3, AAC and WMA files

iPod Classic

on each one. Tllis test is repeated using a

Philips

35h 25m

iPod Touch iPod Nanu Cowan

pair of Jays S-jays headphones (which cost around £50) , We also judge how easy each player is to use by performing ,ommon tasks such as browsing songs, building playlists and using any bundled software. To test each player's battery life, we ,harge it fully, set a moderate listening volume and leave it to continuously play our test batch of music tracks. We repeat this for video playback. We use a 3,5mm audio splitter cable to plug the earphones into one jack and connect the other to a laptop's line input. We use Audacity to re,ords the MP3 player's output. After the battery is exhausted, the recorded sound file shows how long it lasted. Bear in mind that this recorded time is a best-case figure , Real-wor1d use often involves turning the player on and off or skipping and scanning tracks, which consumes power more quickly.

]]h 27m 3211 lim 3111 lam

Sony 8544

30h 38m

iRiver B30 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"; 3011.... 11m -

Samsung

29h 19m

Creative

2Bh 26m

Sony E443

2Gh 35m

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""ehus 2•

Video play b ack Cowan

911 29m

iPod Classic

8h49rn

Samsung iPod Touch iftive r B30

8h 14m

7 h 57m &11 42m

-------------

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Gh 10m

------------5h 51m !ih 20m

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Sony Em

4h 39m

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4h2m

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Archos 3

3h 38m

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•

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... We use Audacity to record an MP3 player's output to measure how long the battery lasts

Labs verdict MP3 p layers Many of our labs tests see several products vying for our recommendation, and this round-up was no different. Even if you already have an MP3 player, the mode ls here may tempt you to upgrade. If you want to carry around a huge library of music and videos, Apple's 160GB iPod Classic is the best choice, It has great battery life, and is surprisingly slim for a player with so mu,h storage. It just misses out on an award because of its audio quality, however. We were impressed by Apple's new iPod Touch. It's an e~cellent music player, with long battery life, good audio quality and a

slick and responsive touchscreen. It's also more versatile than the other players here thanks to its built-in wireless networi;ing and ability to run extra applications. It's very e~pensive, but a brillian t choice if you've got the money. It wins an Ult imate award. If you're on a tight budget, Sony's 4GB Walkman NWZ- E443 is e~cellent value at £60. It looks sleek, has long battery life and good audio quality, too. Although it has only 4GB of storage capacity and isn't ideally suited to watching video, it's good enough to outshine some of the more expensive players here. It wins our Budget Buy award,

SONY

If you want more capacity and the ability to play video files, iRiver's e~cellent E200 8GB is a great ,hoice. Audio battery life could be a little better, but you'll still get er'lOugh playback time to last all but the longest flights. It's a Best Buy, Philips ' GoGear Muse 16GB is easily one of the most impressive portable players here. It sounds great, has a high-quality screen, a long battery life and even built-in noise cancellation. It isn't as slender as Apple's 16GB iPod Nano, which costs £15 less, but the Muse is r'IOnetheless e~cellent value and wins our Best Buy award.

APPLE iPodTouch 64GB

Walkman NWZ-E443

*****

*****

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Cheap to buy, cheap to run and with outstanding print quality, these versatile inkjet printers are ideal for the home or small office

0::

D..

INTRODUCTION Today's Inkjet printers and multifunction peripherals (MFPs) are more versatile

than ever before, ranging from business-oriented laser printer reptiilcements to home photo-printing studios. With low prices and running costs, inkjeu are the perfect type of printer for home and small-office printing if you don't want to go to unnecessary expense. We've reviewed three single-function inkjds and six MFPs, induding the latest models from the big names. Whether you want to print the odd photo or start your own publishing empire, we'll help you find the perfect partner.

Kat Drphanides Pri mers and networks expert

••

Choosing an ... Inkjet Printer ven though laser printers are now cheap enough to buy for home use, Inkjet printers and multifunction printers {MFPs} still dominate home printing and are starting to make serious inroads into the office. The reasons are obvious: they're smaller, quieter, generally cheaper to buy and are less intimidating when it comes to replacing empty ink cartridges. An increasing number of modern inkjelS have print speeds that rival their laser counterparts, particularly when it comes to mono text, cmd few lasers can match the subtle shading and vibrant colours that even a cheap inkjet can produce. As always, the key factors in buying any printer or MFP are print speed, print quality, cost pe r page and how well the printer handles the documents 'Iou want to print. To check the capabilities of each printer on test, tum to the reviews, plus the table on pages 96-97.

E

DOT TO DOT Inkjets create prints by placing thousands of tiny dots on every inch of the page. Printers with higher resolutions, measured in daIS per inch {dpi}, can place more daIS on the page. This generally leads to higher-quality images, although other fact ors such as droplet size also playa part. High resolutions are an

indicator of good print quality, but they don't guarantee it. We've described each model's print quality in deta il in each review. Most consumer inkjelS use dye -based inks. These semi-translucent water-soluble colours were traditionally cheaper and more vivid than pigmented inks, but also more prone to fading. Some printers use pigmented inks, which contain particles of solid colour suspended in a liquid. These prints dry faster, particularly on plain paper, and are more resistant to fading. but tend to be poor at producing the vivid colours required for photo printing. Many inkjets have both pigmented and dye-based inks. Most commonly, a printer will use pigment-based black ink for sharp text printing on plain paper and between three and six dye -based inks for colour and photo printing. Note that a higher number of inks doesn't necessarily mean belter photo quality.

USE YOUR HEAD Until recently, most printers used either a built-in print head or disposable cartridges with an integrated print head. In most models, you'll find separate ink tanks and a replaceable print head (whiCh is really designed to last the lifetime of the printer), which you have to COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

INKJET PRINTERS

This month Inkjet MFPs

EPSON Stylus SX215 Page 92

HP Photosmart Plus 8209 Page 92

KOOAK ESP 5250 Page 92

CANON Pi xma MP640 Page 93

LEXMARK Interact S605 Page 93

LEXMARK Pl atinum ProS05 Page 93

Inkjet printers

HP Olfieejet 6000 Page 94

CANON Pi xma iP4700 Page 94

EPSON "j'"I,s Office 840W

attach when you first unpack the printer from its box. This means that you pily lower prices for ink-only cartridges, but can still replace the print head rather than throwing away the printer if lots of nozzles get blocked. This is our preferred apprO
IPM v PPM In our table, you'll notice that some manufacturers' quoted print speeds are listed in ppm (pages per minute), while others are slower and listed in ipm (images per minute). The old standard for quoting print speeds is ppm. Designed to mah products look as fast as possible. it uses low-quality draft settings and ignores the time taken to print the first few pages. The documents used to produce these speeds are not standardised, and the figures aren't representative of a printer's true speed, 50 they're best ignored. The new ipm standard also measures how many pages are printed every minute, but uses a specific set of documents, which includes pilges of graphics, tables and formal letters. These are printed at normal quality, in accordance with the criteria of the ISO/IE( 24734 standard, which guarantE{!S that every printer that quotes an ipm figure will have been tested in the same way. Essentially, ipm figures are fa r more representative of a printer's real speed than ppm.

JACK OF All TRADES MfPs have come to dominate the inkjet market. They have several advant
JANUARY 2010 . COMPVTER SHOPPER


likely to need in your home office, from a fax machine to an automatic duplexer for double-sided printing. Most of the MFPs we've looked at this month are best suited to the home or home office. If you plan on doing a lot of printing. you should opt for a device with a high duty cycle. The quoted figure represents
13

INKJETMFPs

EPSON

Stylus SX215

***

£53 inc VAT

From www.micomonline.co.uk

Epson's Stylus SX215 is one of the cheapest MfPs around, but it has a lY,;n colour LCD screen along with a scanner, copier and the ability 10 print from memory cards. Photo

quality is good lor a printer at this price, although dark areas were a little washed out. Skin tones and landscapes looked natural and smooth. l'rint5 emerged very slowly, though; it t<>Of; almost an hour 10 print six 6x4in photos

and half an hour for two 1Ox8;n prints.

Mono documents printed lasler. Oraftquality prints emerged at 13.4ppm but were so pale as to be useless for most purposes. Standard-quality text came out at a sluggish 45ppm. Characters were dark and legible but slightly fuzzy around the edges. Colour prints

looked professional. with solid tones and fine detail, althwgh small font sizes were a tooch jagged, Coloor printing is agonisingly slow, at less than one page per minute, even using TeKt quality rather than TeKt and Graphics mode. The excellent scanner driver has accurate auto-cropping. software dust removal and a wide range of colour and image enhancement options, There's also a Full Auto mode, which dispenses with all of that in favour of one-dick scanning. $can quality is abo outstanding. with accurate coloors, even shading and pin-sharp detail. Mooo copy quality was also good, but colour copies looked a little murky. This is an inexpensive MFP with a wide range of features, but its print speeds and quality aren't good enoogh to justify the saving for most people. The final straw is that it's expensive to run, With a mixed-colour cost of 10.lp per page, Unlike many current inkjets, it has a fixed print head, which could require extensive cleaning if it becomes clogged. This makes the SX2 1S a dubious prospect for infrequent users, as regular printing is the best way to prevent blockages, It may have a useful screen and standalone printing capabilities but they don't outweigh the SX2 1S's shortcomings. Although almost twice the price, HP's Photosmart Plus is a better ooy, as it has more features, faster print speeds and lower print costs, SUMMARY VERDlCT Thls budget MfP lias pl .... ty of features for f low price, butthe~ are offset by flllstratingly slow pmts and high costs FOUR·COlOUR INKJET MFP 5,760.1 ,44()dpi prinl ""oIullon, 3Zpp'" tnonQ/15pp'" col(>IX ",.. I",,,,,, y, lW "fe, llW oct ..... PART Coo( Cl1CA47311

DtTALS www.• p"",.co.uk

HP Photosmart Plus 8209

****

KODAK

ESP 5250

***

£125 inc VAT

From www.play.com

£99 inc VAT From www,hp,co,uk HP's Photosmart Plus has a 2Ain touchscreen, PictBridge and a selection of memory card slots for direct printing. The screen means it's easy to print photos from a memory card, Content from HP's new online App Studio can be downloaded, ranging from Disney-themed children's activity sheets to apps for printing photos from your Snapfish photo gallery. There are both USB and WiFi interfaces, oot you'll need a USB connection to transfer your wireless settings, We'd have preferred to enter network settings using the touchscreen, The Photosmart Plus has a replaceable print head that should last the liletime of the printer. This holds three dye-based colour cartridges and a large pigmented black ink tank for text printing, Photo quality was acceptable, with bright colours. However, composite black tones looked greyish, while harsh dithering made subtle shading lool<; jagged . Our 6x4in photos were quick to print at just over a minute each and cost around 31p, Draft tel« is good enoogh for everyday use, and prints at a stunning l 7ppm. At 8.6ppm, standard-quality teKt is beautifully solid arld colour prints are clear, sharp and accurately coloured, Annoyingly, the default paper size is Letter rather than A4 and it can't be changed permanently, but you can create your own profiles. The TWAIN scanner in terface looks more polished than previous versions, but still has problems. It carries out a 21-second 200dpi scan whenever it's opened, doses after each scan and the resolution settings are hard to find. If your scanning requirements are simple, you're better 011 using the basic WIA driver, Scanned documents and photos looked great, with sharp teKt and bright, vivid coloors. Despite a few irritating failings in both its printer and scanner drivers, the Photosmart Plus is great value with 10
Unlike most wireless MFPs, Kodak's ESP 52S0 doesn't have to be connected to a PC to be configured. Instead, you can use the menus on its 2in screen. Once connected to the network, it's easy to add it to new or existing Koda~ driver installations on your PCs, The front of the ESP 52S0 folds out into a l 00-sheet paper input tray, which doubles as an output tray. Printed pages emerge from just above the input feed. This isn't very practical for large print runs, but is no problem if you print only a few pages at a time. The scanner interface is basic oot functional, with picture and document modes_ In picture mode, the scanne r c
SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT " hlgII·quality MFP thaI can print usable documents at 17ppm.lt's marred only by ~d drivers and imperfect pholo prints

VERDICT Despite eKCeUent Mtwolting feat ....... s and reasonable print costs, mediocre prinl quality make s this an .""rage MFP

FOUR-COLOUR INKJET MFP 4,800.1 ,2O()dpI prlnl , . solUlion, 15ipm "'''''''/llil"'' colou, "",.I"'lIIn dge USB,

FOUR-COLOUR INKJET MFP 9,600. Z,4OOdpl prlnl ,esolUlion, 30ppm ",ono/29ppon col(>IX ",axitnlJ'" sp«d, l ,2OOdpi SU<1 ... solution, USB, 802,11(>/& wl ... le« intM",. , POWER CONSUMPTION 6W standby, 7W idl. ,nw

802.11 bIg .... '.Ius Inl~tf"'e < POWER CONSUMPTION 3W "andby, SW activ.: PARTCOOE CDOl5B DtTALS www.hp.CO."k

id~, l8W

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'ART CODE 3950565

D£T.oJtS www.kodak.co_....



JANUARY 2010

INKJETMFPs

, CANON

LEXMARK

LEXMARK

Pi xma MP640

Interact S605

Plat inum Pro905

***** £129 inc VAT

***

***

From w ww.oyyy.co.uk

From www.oyyy.co.uk

£368 inc VAT From w w w.oyyy.co.uk

Canon's feature-packed Pixma MP640 has both wired and wireless networking. memory card

mid-tOfies. The MP640 takes 50 seconds for a 6~4in print. Photos cost around 39p if you use Canon's most expensive paper, though. Scan and photocopy quality was equally impressive, with accurate colour reproductiOfi and plenty of detail Canon's superb ScanGear software has a Thu mbnails View mode that recognises multiple documents. rotates them to remove wonk)' edges and presents each one as a separate object for scanning. Advanced settings let you tweak colour and sharpneS5 before the image is captured. Occasionally, the MP640 took a hallminute pause for maintenance. Otherwise, it performed respectably in our tests, even though it's not the fastest around. Print costs are lower than average for an inkjet at 6.8p per colour page and 2.3p for a page of mono text. With reasonable print costs and outstanding quality on everything from photos to business documents, this reliable all-rounder is up to almost any task. It's neither the fastest nor the cheapest MFP, but it provides a great balance between quality, speed and price.

The Interact S605 is a great e~ample of the improvements Lexmark has made to its MFPs. Ink cartridges with integrated print heads have been replaced by separate print heads and ink tanks. More visibly, it's bursting with features, including an automatic duple~er, wireless networking and a huge 4.3in touchscreen. This guides you through the setup process, although you'll still need a PC to set up your wireless connectiOfi unless your router supports push-button WiFi Protected Setup {WPS}. The Interact includes web functionality and support for downloadable apps from Lexmark's SmartSoIutions Center website. This also means it req uires a bi t more main tena nce. Once we'd finished installing the drivers, we were directed to the website and prompted to download and install a firmware update. The S605 has better print quality than previous Lexmari<: printers, with sharp, black text and vivid colour prints, although colour and mono copies were rather slow at over 30 seconds per page. Scans looked a little cold and some pale shades were hard to distinguish, but fine detail was precisely reproduced. Colour print speeds were also sluggish at 2.9ppm, but we have no complaints about a normal-quality text speed 019.1ppm. Photo quality is also vastly improved, with goodlooking prints and ink that doesn't come off on your fingers. Photos printed quickly, too, at just over half a minute per 6x4in snap. Lexmark's PerfectFinish photo paper pushes the price of a 6~4in print up to 47p, which is expensive. Print costs in general are the Interact S605's biggest problem. A page of mixed black and colour costs 9.Bp. This is unacceptably high and unless the cost 01 Lexmark's new ink decreases signifICantly, we can't recommend this otherwise well-rounded MFP.

Le~mark's Platinum Pro90S is wince-inducingly expensive, but has lots of features including a 4.3in touchscreen, a fax and a memory card reader. Two paper triilYs at the bottom of the printer can handle up to 300 sheets 01 A4 between them. The top tray can also handle 6~4in photo paper and envelopes. It also has USB, 10/100 Ethernet and B02.11b/gln WiFi. If you wa nt to connect to a wireless network, you'll need either a router that supports push-button WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) or a temporary USB connection to your PC. We'd have preferred to configure these using the touchscreen, which can instead be used to download free apps. Most merely add settings that we'd expect the Pro90S to have already, such as scanning to a file and two-sided eco-copy modes. The scanner interface is basic, but it's easy to use iilnd rema ins open between scans. Scan quality is good, although scans 01 photos loo~ed a little cold. Copy quality is excellent and we were impressed that a mono copy too~ just 22 seconds. Our 6x4in photos printed in well under a minute iilnd looked greiilt, with rich. vivid colours. However, Lexmark's expensive new photo paper means they cost up to 47p each. Both colour and mono documents looked greiilt at standard quality and even driillt text was sharp. Standard-quality text printed at a qui ck 7.3ppm. Unfortunately, colour documents printed at just 1.Sppm, which is one of the slowest speeds we've seen. This is a deal-breiilker in an e~pensive MFP that would otherwise be ideal for a small or home office. Canon's Pixma MP640 lacks a fax but can hold plenty 01 paper and is a far better choice for serious printing. not least because it costs well over £200 less than the Pro90S.

SUMMARY VERDICT This featlYe·pack...:! mu ltifunction device delivers on all fronts. and is an excellent choice for f.."ilies with multiple PCs

SUMMARY VEROICT Thls rema,bbly ~atlle prlnter ..... s grea t print qI.Iality ar.d a big 4.3in touchscreen. but irs let down by high print com

SUMMARY VERDICT Slow coloo r ptfnt s;:>e...:!s toget ...... with an e>
FOUR·COLOUR INKJET MFP 4.sooxl .2OOdpl print

fOUR·COLOUR BUSINESS INKJET MFP 4.sooxl.2OOdpl print ",.".(utOon, 10ipm mono/6ipm (<>100' ma>:imum ~ . 1.2()(»(4,800dpi so.n re.".(u!ion, USB, 10/100 Ethemet. 802.llb/g/n. PktBrld~ USB IntM a.cos POWER CONSUMPTION SW standby, IIW Odle, 26W a.ctive PAATCODE 90T90l6

£184 inc VAT

slols, a CD-printing tray. two 150-sheet paper trays and an automatic duplexer. The 3in colour screen ma~es it easy to use features

such as copying. direct printing and disc label copying. It has a pigment-based black ink lor text print5. along with a set of four dye -based jn~s

for colour documents and photo printing. Standa rd-quality text prints loo~ed great

and print speeds of 7ppm are reasonable. Draft text appeared at almost lOppm and was dark, sharp arid easy to read. Colour prints on plain paper looked good, despite slightly pale tones, Prine; on photo paper had no such problems, though, with rich colours and smooth

fIVE·COLOUR INKJET MFP 9.600x2.4OCIdpl print res<>lulion. 9ipm mooo/ilipm c<>lour maximum

re.<>IuI""'. lllppm mono/llppm <<>I"", maxim..." ~ ,1, 2()(»(2.4OCIdpi "an res<>lution. usa, 802 . lIb/gIn wlreI~Ss. PktBridge USB Int~rfa< "S POWER CONSUMPTION 4W mndby, IIW idle, 18W <>Clive PAAT CODE 6050002 OflAllS wwwlexmarl:.co.,*

~.4 ,lIO(Mj.6OOdpi "an re,<>Iution. USB . 10/100 Ether""t. 801.11b/g ... i",I"S • ..,d IrO .... Infr.... d Interfa.c"S POWER CONSUMPTION OW <1andby, IW Od ie, HW a.ctive P.... RT CODE l7411BOO11A ....

0£T....1lS www.canon.co.Uk

Click: dell.co.uk

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Call: 0844 444 3242 8am-9pm Wee kdays. 9am-6pm S

INKJET PRINTERS

HP Officejet 6000

*****

-j! £62 inc VAT ~! From www.oyyy.co.uk

CANON

EPSON

Pixma iP4700 W .;!,~ £79 inc VAT 2 ~iIi

Stylus Office B40W

*****

"~ .

From www.oyyy.co.uk

photocopier paper, there was no smudging or blurred edges. Tiny 8pt text was pin-sharp and block5 of colour and shading were flawless. The Officejet 6000 isn't really intended to be used for printing photos. It only uses its three dye-based colour cartridges when printing photos, combining all three for blacks. This is noticeable, as dan:. areas in our test pictures had a faded, blueish tint. However, photos were detailed, with vivid colours and realistic flesh tones, making the 6000 good er"lough for prir"ltir"lg the odd snap. The cost of a 6x4in print on Hp·s Premium Plus paper is 2ap. For text prir"lts, the 6000 has a la rge black ink tank. It comes with low-cap
Canon's Pi~ma iP4700 is the latest addition to a range that has won many Shopper awards in the past. This single-function printer uses four dye -based inks for photo ,md colour printing and pigmented black ink for sharp text printing on plain paper. A separate print head should last the lifetime of the printer, but can be replaced if necessary. The installer lets you choose any additional software yoo want along with the driver, which is easy to use. A Quick Setup tab puts the most important options in one place and you can choose from presets including Standard {plain A4 paper}, photo {borderless glossy 6~4in} and paper saving {duplex). You can customise and save your own profiles, too. Print quality is exceUe nt, with solid, sharp black te)([ at standard quality. Our mono te)([ document printed at 7.8ppm. Draft te )([ prints emerged at a reasonably fast 9.8ppm and were dea r and sharp enoogh for day-to-day use, although lettering was a li ttle thin. Our mi )(ed-colour business documents looked great, with solid blocks of colour, sharp detail and smooth shading. The iP4700 makes no compromises when it comes to photo quality, either. Although it has only four colours, prints lad stunning. The dye-based black ink produces rich, intense dark tones, while skin coloors and natural shades are reproduced with great accuracy. There's even a CD printing tray and a util ity that ma kes it easy to print your own artwork on CDs and DVDs. With print costs of 2.3p per mono page and 6Bp per page of mixed colour and black printing. the iP4700 doesn't cost too much to run. If yoo use Canon's Photo Paper Pro II, a 6)(4in photo is a little e)(pensive 39p, but we saw e)(ce!lent results on (anon·s cheaper photo papers, too. The iP4700 doesn't add much to a winning formula. It doesn't cost too much to buy or run and it put in a respectable showing in our speed tests. If you don't need a multifunction inkjet but you do want something that can print outstanding photos as well as sharp documents, it's an ideal choice.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT ,. budget prl""low running com and outstanding dowment quaUty ma ke this an e ~ceptional printer for a home offict

VERDICT An ucellenl photo p
evef)'lhing right. from quality and ptrlonnanct 10 ",nning costs and convenitnce

FOUR·COlOUR BUSINESS INKJET . ,S00>c1.200dpi ""xlmu", ",SQlull"". 711"" ",,,,,,,/7ip'" colo..., spud, USB, 10/100 Em~""'1 in l~rl",,~

FOUR·COLOUR INKJET 9,6OO>c2.4OOdpi m.~imum (.
POWER CONSUMPTION 3W modb)'. 3W >
POW~RCONSUMPT1ON OW

",,11\0. PAAT cOO( C8051 ,. DtTAI.S WWHhp.co.uk

lSW""II\o. PAATCOO( 3742BOO8AA D£T"lS WWH"anon.co.uk

The Officejet 6000 won a Business Buy award two months ago (What's New, Shopper 261) tha nks to it5low price and Qutst,mding print quality. It's a basic single-function printer with a 10/100 Ethernet port. Its 250-sheet paper

tray and SO-sheet output tray rival the

capacities of many compact laser printers. and HP claims it can print 7,000 pages per month. It can chum out mono documents at 82ppm, with laser-sharp text . Draft-quality

prints lo~ed almost as good arid appeared at 10.7ppm. As always, image-rich colour

documents were much slower, although a raIl' of 3.3ppm isn't bad. Colour document quality was out5tarldi ng. with no hint 01 graininess or marks from the print head . Even on thin 80g.sm

****

£93 inc VAT From www.oyyy.co.uk

Epson's no-fri\!s Stylus Office B40W is a sleek, simple and compact business inkjet. You can install high-yield ink cartridges that will print 99S black and 81S colour pages. The blac~ T1OO 1 cartridge costs around £17, meaning a mono print costs just 1.7p. That's cheaper than many mono laser printers that cost under £ 100. The B40W has great networking capa bilities, too, with WiFi and Ethernet in addition to the usual USB port. The printer has only a few buttons: one to load paper. another to cancel print jobs, a third to change the ink and another to enable or disable the wireless radio. Unlike many recent single-function inkjets, the Stylus Office B40W has a fi)(ed print head built into the printer. This is inconvenient il nozzles get clogged, as it wi\! require time and ink to clean. However, this is unlikely if yoo use your printer regularly. This is a business printer, so Epson doesn't e)(pect it to be used much for printing 6x4in holiday snaps. This doesn't e)(cuse the B40W's poor loading of6)(4in paper, as it claims to be able to print borderless images up to A4. It took quite a bit of trial and error to position our 6x4in sheets so they coold be loaded without either slipping oot of position or being trapped by the adjustable paper support. Once we'd resolved this, photo quality was good. Even drab brown and grey shades were richly reproduced, but solid areas of dark coloor had a slight re ddish tint and some lOx8in prints were funy around the edges. Photos printed slowly, at around three minutes per 6~4in print. but a typical photo costs just 20p including paper. A4 plain paper prints were blisteringly fast. At 13.6ppm for standa rd-quality mono te)([, the B40W rivals some personal laser printers. The sharp lettering is similarly impressive. Draft prints are even faster at 16. 1ppm, but suffer from jagged, pixelated text. Smooth, solid colour documents printed at standard quality emerged at a respectable 4ppm. The B40W is capable and inexpe nsive to run, but it ca r"l·t quite rival HP's Oflicejet 6000, which cost even less to buy and run. SUMMARY

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VERDICT ,. simple, _ll· built .... two,;: Inkjel that perlorms well and is int~ptnsM 10 run. It loses out only to tM be ner·v.l ~ HP OHicejel 6000 FOUR..(QI.OUR BUSINESS INKJET 5.760xl.4.4Odpl ma)(jmum (. ,oIUli"", J8ppm mono/38ppm coloo( maximum 'p«
POWER CONSUMPnoN 3W
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D£T.oJlS WWH.epso<1.co.uk



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en INTRODUCTION Mobile phones have evolved. Not only hiilve they virtually replaced land line phones, but smartphones have become

umbilical cords to the intemet, personal secretaries and even status symbols. The iPhone is the Apple of many people's eye, but it's not necessarily the best smartphone for everyone, imd it's very e)(pensive. This month, we've pitted it ilgainst the best the competition has to offer, from entertainment phones to advanced webOS,Android and Windows Mobile 6.5 phones that want the iPhone's crown. The com petition is hotting up, with Microsoft, Google and Palm releasing new versions of th ei r mobile software. Ne w devices with larger screens and faster processors aim to make the most of the software to deliver th e perfect balance of power, portability and practicality.

Barrv de la Rosa Laptops am! handhelds expert

Choosing a... Smartphane S martphones have changed considerably in the year since we last carried out a group test. For many people, though, the choice seems obvious: buy an iPhone, However, as you'll see, there are many reasons why altemative models might be a better buy.

OPERATING SYSTEMS Much of the iPhone's appeal comes from its slick touch-operated interlace, which makes navigating menus and dealing with multiple applications utterly intuitive. More established mobile operating systems, such as Nrn:;ia's Symbian, Windows Mobile and the BlackBerry as, have layers of nested menus, which means it takes longer to reach options and tools. What's more, the posibilities for customisation can be overwhelming. A relative newcomer is Coogle's open-source Android mobile as. This em ulates the iPhone's simplicity but doesn't place such strict requirements on software developers who want to \Vfite and publish software for it. for example, you have to set up an account on iTunes (and give Apple your credit card details) before you can downlO
Markel. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods - Apple'S approach is arguably safer, while Coogle's can be more convenient, if riskier. Another new kid on the block is Palm's webOS, which, like Android, mimics the iPhone's simplicity. WebOS is designed to be controlled with a touchscreen, and lets you use multiple applications on a single screen, as you would on a Pc. WebOS also tries to merge your email. contacts and calendars so that you can see everything in a single window. Palm provides an application repository where you can go to download new apps for your Pre, but as it has only just launched, it doesn't yet have the wide choice that Coogle and Apple offer. More traditional mobile phone handsets have also become smarter. java-ba5ed phones have reached the stage where they offer just as much functionality as their 'smart' cousins, wi th downloadable apps that connect to web selVices, allow full synchronisation with desktop pes and handle multimedia better.

OUT OF OFFICE When the iPhone launched, one of its major drawbacks was a lack of support for viewing and editing Office documents. Now "there's an app for that: as Apple COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


SMART PHONES

This month T-MOBILE Pulse Page100

RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520 Page100

NOKIA E55 Page 1011

SAMSUNG S8000 Jet Page 103

HTC Touch 2 Page 103

LG GC900 Viewty Smart Page11l3

HTe Hero Page 104

PALM Pre Page1114

NOKIA N97 Page 104

SAMSUNG GT-17500 Galaxy Page10S

LG GT505 Page10S

APPLE iPhone 3G S 32GB Black Pagel05

would say, and Android has also caught up thanks to its own army of developers. Palm, Symbian and BlackBerry users will find that their handsets already include software for viewing Office documents, and you can upgrade if you need the ability to edit them as welL Windows Mobile comes with Pocket Office software. Only Samsung's Galary requires you to download your own software. Now that cheap netbooks are available to handle proper office work, however, smartphone office compatibility has shifted towards synchronising calendars, contacts and email rather than documents. Most mobile operating systems now support Microsoft's ActiveSync, so it's easy to synchronise your work email with your smartphone from an Exchange server. You can even use Act weSync to synchronise your Google email, contacts and calendars. The really smart handsets now have software that pulls data from multiple sources, such as Exchange, Googie. Facebook and other online services, and merges it so that you don't have to update multiple sources. Palm's webOS is built around this concept, and HTC's Sense add-on for Android is heading that way too. Sense also creates a single screen for each of your contacts, and merges any calls, texts, chats, email and calendar information for that person so you can track all your communications with them from one place.

MAP MARKERS All the phones this month, bar the BlackBerry, include a GPS receiver, which can pinpoint your position aCClJrately if you have a clear view of the sky. Nokia phones come with the company's own maps application, which can handle bdsic navigation functions. Android phones and iPhones come with Google maps, but this can also be downloaded for Windows Mobile, Symbian and Java phones, for proper tum-bytum navigation, you'll want to download a dedicated satnav application from a comp.my such as TomTom, Route66 or CoPilot. With the combination of GPS and your phone's camera, you can geo-tagyour photos to pinpoint exactly where they were taken (see our feature on page 108 for more on geo-tagging). GPS is also useful for many new location-awa re web services, such as Google's Latitude, Yahoo!'s Fire Eagle and Brightkite. These let you sign in at different locations so your friends can see where you are, You can even download apps that wi\! locate your phone if it's stolen and send you a text message containing its coordinates.

STAY IN TOUCH Despite the iPhone's fantastic touchscreen, many people still prefer real buttons. The Palm, BlackBerry and Nokia phones reviewed here all have a keyboard in one form or other. They're in the minority, however, and with faster


processors and better technology, virtual keyboards are becoming more and more usable. The HTC Touch 2 supports touch control but still needs the bundled stylus for easier option selection in Windows Mobile. Android phones also benefit from finer control than can be achieved by touch alone, and aU the Android phones here include some sort of cursor control. The Hero and Pulse both have trackballs, while the Galaxy has a four-way directional controL

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT La rge screens are better for watching movies, so if this is a priority, buy one with a resolution of 32Ox480 or more, This is the iPhone's resolution and the highest resolution that Android version 15 supports. It's also worth looking for a model with an OLEO display as they're incredibly bright and colourful and have excellent viewing angles. Most phones have gigabytes of storage space available through their microSDHC memory card slots, so they're also ideal for storing music and video files. Most also use a standard 3.Smm headphone jack, but watch out for those that buck the trend. such as T-Mobile's Pulse. Its 25mm jack means you'll have to use the adaptor cable included in the box if you want to use your own headphones. Some phones come with adaptor cables that include microphones and remote controls, which can be handy.

13

SMARTPHONES

T-MOBILE

RIM

NOKIA

Pulse

BlackBerry Curve 8520

E55

*****

Free o n £23-per-month,

l8-month contract £176 inc VAT Pre-pay From www.t-mobile.co.uk

****

Free on £24-per-month, la-month contract Fro m www,orange,co,uk £1871nc VAT From www.handtec.co.uk

It's bright and dear, however, and line for browsing the web or watching movies. Image quality from the camera is average. There's no flash, but it's acceptable for taking quick snaps to share on the web. The rounded case has a glossy carbon fibre-effe<:t finish that picks up greasy fingerprints. The ports and buttons around the edge are unobtruswe aM include a memory card slot, dedicated power aM camera buttons and USB and headphone ports. The latter is a 2.5mm jack, but T-Mobile includes a shon adaptor cable, Battery life isn't great, but it's better than that of other Android phones, T-Mobile's installation of Android is fairly simple, with nooe of the sophisticated merging and imponing functions of HTC's Hero. However, it's not a standard setup either; T-Mobile has extended the home screen to allow more customisable areas, with widgets and larger 'widcards', which can show dynamiC content. A customisable favourite contacts screen is also available from an icon bar on the home screen, Office viewing and syrn;hronisat ion apps from Datavil are installed, and these can be upgraded to allow document editing too. The Pulse is a bit of a hodge-podge of free and trial software, but at least T-Mobile has gone to some effort to make it more interesting than the standard Android OS. It may not have the polish of more expenswe models, but for the price - and on a pay-asyou-go tariff - it's a bargain, and wins our Budget Buy award.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 has a wide scree n with a full QWERTYkeybo.lrd beneath and a clever trackpad button that senses your thumb's movement. The keypad has the usual BlackBerry layout, with oottons that have enough travel and make a dear dick when pressed. They're a bit small for some thumbs, but thumbnails work just as well. Like 5ymbian, the BlackBerry OS is staning to look dated. The optioos menu is a huge list of text, and the main menu icons are rather obscure, While this is fine for long-term users, new users might be confused. Unlike Symbian, RIM's BlackBerry App World is lull of useful, up-to-date apps although, annoyingly, not all of them are available on all BlackBerry models. With 001'1 a 2-megapiKel camera and no flash, we weren't surprised to see t he 8520 fare badly in our image-quality test. However, it did better than phones with more megapixels, and its colours and cootrast were good. It suffered badly from noise and compression artefacts. The 2'hin screen is bright, colourful and fine for watching short video dips. The 8520 only supports EDGE, so you won't get the extra speed of H5DPA, although web browsing and downloading apps was fast enough, There's also no GPS receiver, so you can't use the 8520 with Google Maps to navigate. The rubberised finish round the edge of the case helps with grip, and we were pleasantly surprised to find music playback controls above the screen, so you can control your music with the phone in your pocket. It also has a lSmm headphooe jack, but you'U need a memory card if you want to store a lot of music. BlackBerrys are renowned for their messaging and office work capabilities, and the 8520 is no exceptioo. The operating system may be clunky, but orn;e it's coofigured, the 8S20 works efficiently. It's also ooe of the least expensive phones here, but the lack of GP5 and limited EDGE speeds mean it misses out on an award.

Nokia's E55 is the thinnest and lightest phooe here, but its large screen and semi-QWERTY keyboard also make it one of the tallest. It still manages to house two cameras, including a 3.2-megapixel main camera with an LED flash, and has a 15mm headphone jack. The case feels tough, with a brushed-metal button bar below the screen and a metallic backplate with a funky machined pattern that improves grip. Many win be wary of the odd keypad, which features a QWERTY layout but has two characters per key. In practice, it's easy to use: you either press once for the first character and twice for the second, which will suit those who are used to numeric keypads, or you can tum on word prediction, which guesses the word depending on which keys you press, We found this accura te and easy to use, as the keys feel more naturally placed for those who are used to a keyboard. If you've used a Nokia Symbian phone before and are familia r with its labyrinthine menu system, you'Ufeel at home. However, if you've had a taste of the iPhone or Android interfaces, with their customisable home screens, intuitive menu systems and wide selections of apps, we don't see why you'd subject yourself to Symbian. Nokia's attempt at an application repository is based 00 its own Ovi portal, which is full of ringtones and wallpapers. This is no match for Apple's App Store or the Android Markel. Its social networking offerings and Music Store pale against Facebook and iTunes too. We can't see anyooe opting for the ES5 on the basis of Nokia's patchWork portal. The camera showed great colour accuracy and contrast in our low-light tests, with detail in dark areas. However, there was also noise in dark areas, and JPEG compression artefacts were obvious. The battery life of 13 hours 21 minutes was disappointing. Nokia's generally great hardware is let down by the software here, II you're used to Symbian, you'Ufind the E55 a great phone for messaging and office work, but it's too complicated for consumers who want a no-hassle device for organising their social life. RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 is beller value.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

T-Mobile's Android-based Pulse is one of only

two phones here that you can buy 011 a pay-asyou-go tariff. It costs £176, and you can pay £ 1 per day or £5 per mont h lor unlimited internet access (which is subject to a fair-use policy). If you top up by f 10 each month,

you'll also gel free text messages. The phone it5elf is fairly bulky and, considering the size of the screen, the

resolution is quite low. The Palm Pre's .sc;reen

has the same 32Ox480 resolution but is only 3.1in compared with the Pulse's 3Ylin display.

VERDICT AdK ~nl

and um'''~, and a mor~ cu'lomi,abl~ v~~on of Android, but th~ highlights ar~

Kr~n

tht pay-as·you-go lariff and rusona.blt priCt

VERDICT Th~ 8520 hM an accur~t~ uackpad bulla", good awlicalion ,upport.nd i, grul musk, bullachGPS and high-spffi:I3G

for

VERDICT Nokia', d~n t hardwar~ i,l~t down by ii, choke of o~aling ,y.lflTl, whkh i, outdaled and lads dtveloptr support

SMARTPHONE 2'1>., 3ZO,,24O,.so/ulion LCD, 2-"",gapi.el u'~r. , 256MB ""'d&', 81uetooth,

SMAIlTl'HONE 1.4., 240.<320 , . so/ution LCD,

32''''''gilf'l,,1 c~m ..a, 126MB Slora&" BI.,.toolh, wifi, USB ConfleCIMty,.tV. "".",' taUctime, 12V. day,'

Wifi, USB c""".a;"'ity, 4V. hou,, ' tdlktime, 11 days'

Wifi, USB confleCtMty, 6 hau,,' talkti""" 29
.ta<1dby, 116. 63. 14mm, 135g PART COO( U8.220 D£TAa.S www.l·mobile.co."

".n
standby, 116. 49. lOmm, 98g PAltT cOO( 002N60S DETAa.S www.nol:i •. c...uk

SMAIlTPHONE 3V.1n 320. 480·",so/ullon LCD,

..

***

£239 inc VAT From www.handtec.co,uk

PAIlTCoo( B(!.8S20BlJ( _U ~ OETAILS http://uk.bladberry.com

3.2·""'gilf'l,e( camera, 2S6MB Slora&" Bl.,.toolh,




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SMART PHONES

SAMSUNG

HTC

LG

S8000 Jet

Touch 2

GC900

*****

***

Viewty Smart

Free on E25-per-month,

la-month contract From www.vodafone.co.uk £293 inc VAT From www.handtec.co.uk

Samsung's Jet has a lovely OLEO screen with

Free on f30-per-month , la -month contract From www.carphonewarehouse.com f270 inc VAT From www.play.com

***

Free on f24-per-month, la-month contract From www.orange.co.uk E300 inc VAT SIM-free From www.play.com

and is fast and easy to use. The Jet supports ActiveSync, so you can synchronise contacts, tasks and calendar over Microsoft Exchange. It doesn't work wi th Coogle accoun1:5, though. It comes with useful social n etwor~ing ilppS. including one 10( sharing photos on Facebook. Widgets can be dragged to the home screen. but while they made it look messy. there are three screens to spread them across. A shortcut menu along the bottom gives access to common apps and the menu. which has three screens full 01 settings and apps. The large button below the screen switches between the widget screens and the menu. Text entry is via an onscreen numeric keypild 0( a surprisingly responsive QWERTY keyboard that you access by tuming the phone to landscape mode. Annoyingly. the phone only supports landscape mode lor text entry and viewing multimedia - the web browser wor~s in portrait mode. so il you're filling in a web lorm and you want to use the QWERTY keyboard. you have to switch the phone back and forth between portrait and landscape mode. The camera is average. with poor colour accuracy in low light. but has great detail in dar~ areas and very li ttle noise. The jet isn't quite as smart as an Android. Windows Mobile 0( Apple phone. but with ActiveSync and a widget catalogue. it"s the smartest Java phone we've seen so far. If you don't need sophisticated applications lor viewing or editing office documents. but you want to O(ganise your social lile and entertain yourself on the move. the jet is an excellent choice and wins our Best Buy award.

The Touch 2 n.ms Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC's own TouchFlo interlace over the top. Running a finger along the icons at the bottom 01 the display scrolls through various screens. Useful infO(mation. such as a dock. the current weather and your next appointment. are displayed on the Home screen. The Contacts screen lets you add favourit e contacts from your address book. although you'lI have to add a photo 10( each manually. Screens for ted messages. email. photos and music can be browsed with a Rick of your finger. and you can fill the last screen with favourite apps. Integration with desktop Office app lications is Windows Mobile 6.5's forte. and the new Windows Phone service is clever. Your phone data is backed up to your Windows Live! Account. and can be browsed online. The only problem is that synchronising with OutlOO(( 0( an Exchange server is a separate process. and all that data transfer will eat into your monthly allowance unless you do it manually over WiFi. The phone itself is one of the smallest here. although it's not the lightest. It feels well built and is easy to grip. The screen has a low resolution of 24Ox320 and pixellation is noticeable. Colours aren't wonderful. either. The touchscreen is hit and miss. It's smooth on the home screens. but with applications running it tends to judder. ilnd trying to hit checkboxes is frustrating. eve n if you use the stylus. The display's orientation doesn't change when you tilt it. although pictures and movies are automatically displayed in landscape mode. Battery life is reasonably good. but with GPS. synchronisat ion and WiFi usage. you'll be lucky if it lasts more tha n a day on a single charge. Unfortuna tely. we were unable to test the new Marl:etplace. but we're sure Microsoft will have a wealth of th ird-party apps available. Windows Mobile 6.5. although superficially more finger-friendly than previous versions. still relies on a stylus for fiddly menus and checkboxes. The Touch 2 is a decent enough device. but HTC also makes more user-friendly Android phones. which we prefer.

LG's Viewty Smart follows on from the popular Viewty. with an 8-megapixel camera and a high-resolution 800x480 touchscreen. It uses the same underlying interface as LG's GT505. but with four main screens that you can personalise with apps. widgets. contacts and photos. A button on the left side shrinks these screens to a cube for faster switching. as scrolling through them by swiping your finger across the screen is hit and miss. There aren't many installed apps. so you'll probably want to find some more. There are websites that specialise in Java apps. and most social networking sites have their own mobile version. We successfully downloaded and installed a Facebook app from IIMIW.gerjar. com. and the process was relatively painless. We loved the Viewty Smart's highresolution screen. which was bright and vibrant. Its touch sensitivity wasn't perfect. but was better than that of other phones we've tested. Scrolling through Goog\e Maps was quick and smooth. for example. Support for OivX movies and the inclusion of Dolby Mobile make it ideal for watching movies. The only downside is the proprietary headphone/charging socket. but LG provides a 3.5mm adaptor with remote control. Oespite its 8-megapixel sensor. the camera is a disappointment. Colours were unnatural. and there was more noise in our low-light test than on cameras with 2-megapixel sensors. Fine detail was lost in dark areas. and jPEG compression artefacts were evident. On the plus side. its battery life in our light-use tests was the best in the group at well over 40 hours. You can add email accounts from webmail services 0( Exchange. but you can't synchronise your contacts and calendar automatically with online services. which makes the Viewty Smart seem less smart than the com petition. It's still a good-looking phone with great multimedia capabilities. and a much bettervalue java phone than the GTSOS. but Samsung's jet is a better buy.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDlCT .... n ~xc~ l .., t "", ltim ~ dia phon~ with gorgoou, (olou~ on i15 larg~ ""r~n. and pt~nty o f "Pps to h~p you organis~ your social life

VERDICT Sma ll and Ught with a good i ntmM~ and pl..,ty of "!Ips. but th~ tDlJc:h controlle" it down. and the W"0W1 and camera aren't the best here

VERDICT D.. pit~ t ~ di.appointing camera. t~ Viewty ha. good bask app •• plffity of ,torilge.IOflg battery life and a great scr~n for watchi ng movies

SMARTPHONE 3.11n 800.<480 r.so/ut"", LCD. S·m.gap",. 1,..--a.lGB "",all". 8lu
SMARTPHONE 2.81n 24().<320 ... so/utlon LCD. 32·...... g~pi.~1 ,am..a. lS6M~ "",all". BI .... tooth. Wifi. USB conlll'ct;"'ity. 6.2 """". tall
SMARTl'HONE 31n 600.<480 ... so/ut"", LCD. 8 ·megilfllxet ' ....... ra. 1.5GB storage. BI .... tooth. Win. usa connectivity. • .7 hours· talkti ....... 13'1\ daY'· stoodb)-. 1()9xS6.llmm. 10"&

amazingly bright colours and a high, SOOx480 resolution. Only LC's Viewty matches it for size, but the Jet's screen blows the Viewty's

away for quality. The 800MHz Qualcomm processor makes the Jet feel zippy, and the touchscreen benefits from the extra power, although it's not always completely responsive. S


P.... RTCODE

LGGC900BlJ( _U ~

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_________-, 8

SMARTPHONES

HTC Hero

PALM

*****

***

***

The S-megapixel camera shoots video and stills. Low-light shots are poor comp
Palm's Pre is a stylish lozenge of a phone with a minimalist look. It has a single button under the screen, but there's little else to interrupt its smooth, rounded edges. Open it up, though, and there's a full QWERTY keypad with raised keys that make typing easy. There's 8GB of intemal memory, but no memory card slot. Palm's webOS supports multi-tasking. so after opening an application, you can press the home button to shrink it to a 'card'. You can flick through open applications thiS way, or simply flick one upwards and off the screen to dose it. To go back, you swipe right -to-left under the screen. The system is incredibly easy to learn and makes keeping track of multiple apps a breeze, WebOS imports your contacts from Facebook, Exchange, Google and Linkedln and lets you seem them all in one interface. The same system applies to email, messaging and calendars. You can search the entire contents of the phone simply by typing. and if no results are found, it suggests sites to search. The 3.2-megapixel camera takes acceptable photos, and the flash helps in low light. Sadly there's no video mode. Colours were great, but noise was visible in dark areas and the resolutiOl1 isn't high enough to reduce the effects of JPEG compression. Palm's App Catalog isn't as comprehensive as Apple's App Store or the Android Market, but there seems to be enough interest in the new phone to encourage developers to create more content. The menu for each app is located in the top-left comer of the screen, and is incredibly easy to miss. While the main screen and menu feel smooth. the device can be slow to react once a few apps are open, and its battery lile is poor. The slide mechanism feels clunky and fragile and, when extended, the edges of the keypad are quite sharp. Finally. the USB port cover is hard to remove. The Pre and webOS are a great effort at creating a more intuitive smartphone, but as with many first -generation products, there's still a way to go. We hope to see more Palm models in the future that improve on the Pre, but there are better phones at this price.

Nokia's N97 is a beast of a phone, with every feature imaginable in its 1SOg. 18mm-thick case. As well as the usual WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS, it has a backlit QWERTY keyboa rd that slides out from under the screen, a S-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens and twin-LED flash, and 32GB of internal memory. Touchscreens are becoming ubiquitous, but some people prefer a real keyboard. Sadly, the N97's is disappointing. Its keys are flat and have very little travel, so feedback is limited to a beep as you press each key. The layout isn't ideal, either - the Space bar is on the right and is only 50 per cent wider than the other keys, while the sole Shift key is 011 the left. The number keys along the top row are accessible only via a key com bination, so making calls is easier with the OI1screen number pad. The camera produces better results than most phone cameras, and the twin-LED flash helps in low light. However, the results aren't as good as those from even a budget digital camera. The battery lasted for over 35 hours in our light-use tests, but bear in mind that WiFi, GPS and 3G are all switched off for this. Using them will reduce this time significantly. Nokia's Symbian operating system looks dated and has a complex menu system, We get the impression that developers are keener to write apps for the iPhone and Android phones, as Nokia's Ovi Store is full of ringtones, videos and games, Office and Exchange support is good, though, and apps for facebook, YouTube and other popular web services are bundled. You can customise the home screen with widgets for Facebook, email and contacts, although this felt cramped and messy. The screen changes to landscape mode when the keyboard is opene d, or when you're watching a video. Touchscreen control is accurate, and felt reasonably quick most of the time. A single button under the screen switches between the home screen and the menu, and a slider on the side of the phone locks and unlocks the screen. The N97 may be powerful and packed with fea tures, but it's dated and clunky compared with the iPhone and Android phones. Although some will be tempted by the keyboard, the N97 is expensive and we can't recommend it.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

VERDICT Th~ n..w H ~ ro is fast. with a good lCl"",n aM Ulm~ra,and Andfoid', unrMtrictrv~ softwar~ is complemented by HTe's Sense "pps and in terfact

VERDICT Th~ Pr~

i. intB~.ting oot ItawN: it has som~ amazing f~.tull" bul is 1~1 down by a !low proxtssor. poor I»tlery life and software quirks

vtRDlCT ~ k~yboard

SMAltTl'HONE 3.21n 320x480 .-.s<>lot"" LCD.

SMARTPHONE 3.11n 320, 400 ruoi"'iQn LCD. 32 · ~g.pi~1 c.m .... , 8GB 'tor.~, Illu .t oo t~ . Wifi, use c"" ... ctivity, 5 hours ' talkt""', 12'" day" standby,

£49 on E29-per-month,

la-month contract From www.orange.co.uk £353 inc VAT From www.lambdatek.co.uk/ componentshop/

HTC's Hero is a la rge touchscreen phone that runs Coogle's Android operating system. HTC has added its own interlace, which it caUs

Sense. T-Mobile also sells the Hero as the TOLlch GZ. Here we review an updated version from the Hero fea\I.Jred in Shopper 26 1.

S-~gapi .. l ca~r•. 21111MB "or'!l", 8tu.toom , use, WiFi CMnKtrvity, 7.8 hours' talkt"". 31.3 day<' standby. 112xstixl4mm. 13Sg

.

Pre £97 on a £29-per-month, l8-month contract From www.o2.co.uk

£416 inc VAT From www.handtec.co.uk

i. disappointing, .nd t~ Symbian OS f",l, outd.t..! compall'd with lhose

of more intuitive Android and Apple phones SMAltTl'HONE 31n 360><640 ... wI"'l"" LCD. S."",gapi..1 ca~,., 3GB stor"&,,, B/.,.tooth, Wifi. use c"" ... ctivity.

6

"o."' · t.Ucti ~,

16.7 day" standby, 117,55,18mm,

PART CODE 99HHMOOS·OO

101><60, 17"''''. 13Sg PAltTCOOE lP~PREXN

PAltTCOOE RM-SOS

DETAll5 www.htc.c
DETAILS www.palm.c
DETAJl5 www.nol:i •. co.uk

'

'''''



SMART PHONES

SAMSUNG

LG

APPLE

GT-17500 Ga laxy

GT505

**

**

iPhone 3G S 32GB Black

£147 on £29-per-month, l8-month

contract From www.o2.co.uk £431 inc VAT From www.handtec.co.uk

Samsung's Ga!axy is a smart-looking Android

Free on f20-per-month , l8 -mont h contract From www.orange.co.uk £460 inc VAT 5lM-free From www.handtec.co.uk

*****

10274 on f29-per-month, l8-month co ntract £538 inc VAT SIM-free From www.02.co.uk

viewing or editing Office documents, and while you get some free apps lor viewing liles, you'll have to pay extra for an app that can edit them. We feel that Samsung has mi55ed a trick here comp:ared with the interface and apps that HTC provides with the Hero, for example. Dt-spite having a marginally larger screen than the company's Jet, the Galaxy's has a lower resolution. so images aren't as sharp, It's better than most other smart phone screens, though, The camera appears to be the Silme as the Jet's and photos suffered from the same washedout colours and poor contrast in low light. The phone feels well built, and the buttons are large, except for the odd Home button. This has no icon, so its function isn't obvious at first glance. The central navigation rocker is a nice touch, as Android benefits from having finer control of the cursor than a touchscreen alone offers. The screen feels smooth. but while the Galaxy has the Silme processor as the HTC Hero, Android doesn't feel as well optimised. You have to hold a button on the side of the phone to unlock the screen, which is annoying. While Sam sung's OLEO screen is better than those on other phones. it's not as good as the Jet's, and its basic version of Android is disappointing for the price. It t icks all the right boxes lor hardware and features, but the Galaxy doesn't feel as if much effort has been put into it. HTe's Hero is much better value.

LG's GTSOS is exclusive to Orange on a contract. It isn't technically a smartphone, but you can download Java apps in the form of widgets. These reside in a ba r at the bottom of the screen and can be dropped on to the home screen. You can auto·arrange the widgets by shaking the phone, and swiping a finger along the top of the screen takes you to your favourite contacts. There are icons at the bottom of the screen for the dialler, contacts. messaging and the main menu. The interface isn't intuitive, but it gives you fast acce55 to common tasks once you're used to it. We're not fans of widgets, as they don't give you as much control as a full app. They don't synchronise with services such as Exchange or Google either. so you'll have to enter your address book and calendar by hand. You can retrieve email from webmail (POP and IMAP services) but not Microsoft Exchange. As wel( as Call and End call buttons, there's a button under the screen that works as a quick launcher and task manager. Along the side are volume controls, a camera button and a lock button, The screen is bright and dear but soon gets greasy, and its touch sensitivity is dunl:'(. The camera is the GTSOS's best feature, as it takes vibrant images with not too much noise. There's a micro-US B port for data tra nsfer. which doubles as a headphone socket - a 3.Smm adaptor with in-line remote is include d. The phone has just 60MB of internal memory. and Orange doesn't bundle a memory card. Although you can download more apps for the phone, they're limited to trial offers, slimming apps and trashy 'mobile boch'. There's no Facebook, MySpace or Twitter except through the browser, and no way to load more apps from the internet. The GTSOS is well built with a good camera and screen, but is (et down by awful application support. The lack of memory is unforgivable at this price, too. It has potential, but the GTSOS is hardly a smartphone as Orange ships it, and it's inconceivable that it should cost more than the better-equipped Viewty Smart.

Apple's new iPhone has a laster processor and graphics chip, and more RAM than previous models. Storage capacity has risen to 32GB from the iPhone 3G's maximum of 16GB. These changes have reduced app and data (oading times dramatically without reducing battery life. Wi th the latest firmware, it lasted over 40 hours in our battery test, but it's worth noting that this was without power-hungry components such as WiFi or GPS enabled. As well as a higher megapixel count, the camera now has autofocus, and you can tap on the scree n to choose where to focus. Exposure was good but photos suffered from noise in low light due to the lack of a flash. After you record video, a timeline appears above it, allowing you to trim the start and end, Another new capability is voice control. which you activate by holding down the Home button. It only supports playing albums and calling contacts, but it worked reasonably well in our tests. Our favourite feature is the new oleophobic (oi( resistant) screen treatment, which is also found on HTe's Hero, It won't stop greasy fingerprints appearing on the screen. but it makes them easier to wipe off, and the screen is practically frictionless. There are drawbacks, though, The most obvious is the price: the iPhone 3G S 32GB costs £274 with an 18-month contract or £S38 on O;s Pay & Go. The 16GB model is slightly (ess e~pensive, at £ 185 and £440 respectively. We also dislike the way Apple ties you to its iTunes service, and insists on rubber-stamping applications - a major contrast with Android's open source philosophy. The 3G S is certainly the best iPhone yet. There's little reason for iPhone 3G owners to upgrade, but anyone else is likely to be sorely tempted, It's a superb piece of engineering. with grea t apps and a wonderful design, but it's very expensive and ties you into Apple's highly regulated software. If money is no object, though, it's still the most desirable phone on the market. It wins our Ultimate award.

SUMMARY

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you only use Goog!!' services, such as Gmail and Goeg\e Calendar, this will sullieI', but there's no attempt to merge data between

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With so many features in smartphones these days, there isn't a one-size-fits -all choice. T-Mobile's Pulse is good value, thanks to its Android operat ing system, a decent screen and good came ra. It costs only £ 180 on pay-as-you-go, plus £S per month for internet access. It wins a 8udget Buy award. Samsung's Jet is ideal for planning your social life. Its fast processor and lovely OLEO touchscreen make it a pleasure to use, It wins our Best Buy award. The iPhone has held top spot for a while now, and is still a remarkably good phone.

but it's very expensive. For this reason it wins an Ultimate award. HTC's Hero matches the iPhone for s~d, ease-of-use and application support. It costs just £49 on a £29 per month contract and wins a Best Buy award. ED T-MOBILE Pu lse

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GEDLDCATIDN

NO HIDING PLACE

Yliur mollllS plffine and BE tim revSaI your Sxatl lol:litllin to all manner oRltlms and 6rganl5atHtinsvStewart MlltfiSlllllliks at tfi8 !:t 6RI!s and tllS tlTr6ats liRg66lct:l1tmn

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hey know where you are. Not a trailer for a bad horror flick, 001 an increasingly likely truism for the digital <181.'. Your mobile phone ,md

security cards - are used to pinpoint us to Within a few metres. It's a dream for people marketing local restaurants or taxi services, but a nightmare for anyone who fears the long arm of Big Brother.

computer can reveal your whereabouts, and various organisations and authorities are very interested in finding it 001.

Geolocation is potentia\(y extremely useful. It's the technology that means that when you go to google.com from any computer in Bri tain,

you're automatica\(y taken to google.cQ,uk and have the option to search UK-based websites only. Hop across the Channel and the search results will focus on pages in French and aboot trance. With improved geolocat ion facilities built

is into Coogle's Chrome ,md MoziUa's Firefox

o browsers, the services that can help you find

Syour place in the wond are invaluable for

mapping and social-networking applications. The more connected we become, the more accurately our position can be tria ngulated. ~ Mobile phone cell information, GPS signals and :I WiFi hotspots - even RFID tags built into 1:

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Whether it's a smartphone's GPS or a wireless laptop, geolocation systems have come on in leaps and bounds recently, sometimes pinning people down to within a few metres. ' In the UK we have about 75 per cent of the country mapped, and London is one of the best cities in the world for accuracy: says Ted Morgan, managing director of location provider Skyhook. ' In London, for example, it's accurate to about 20-30 metres." Skyhook is one of a number 01 companies providing oosiness-to-oosiness geolocation services for commercial websites and mobile applications. It's easy for any website to see the IP addresses 01 its visitors, but companies such as

Skyhook are able to convert this IP address into a geographic location, For mob ile devices such as netbooks and mobile phones, Skyhook employs a combination of techniques to pinpoint people's position, such as by looking at which WiFi networks are in range and comparing it to the company's database.

.to. Skyhook's website (www.skyhookwlreiess.com)

explains how it uses WiFi, mobile phone and GPS networks to pinpoint customers' positions



GEDLDCATIDN

Dell's Mi ni 10 netbook includes built·i n GPS hardware and comes with Skyhook software pre-installed to let users track thei r own position

'4

the street. Go to the BBC iPlayer while abroad, request to download last night's editior"l of Top Gear and - even il you're a licer"lce payer - yoo will be politely declined, The service is available only to UK residents, "It really winds me up, because I travel a lot with work." says

: .._iiiiiiiii-....~:: :

Many websites that use geolocation do so to bring its users more relevant information. Say you were looking for a local laptop repair shop, A website will ask you to share yoor location so that only businesses within a few miles show up in results, possibly with mapped directions. The potential uses for this informatioo are huge, "The iPhone App Store has added 3,000 location-based apps in just over a year," says Morgan. "Yoo ca n get fitness apps that show how far yoo have run, a service that calls up a taxi based on your location, and with social networking you can see where you friends are if they have it switched on, they show up on a map. We've put together services so you can see the local weather, events near you, Flickr images taken nearby, jobs in the area and property for sale ... there will be potential for advertising.' Continental Air\ines' website changes like a chameleon, depending 00 where you are. It uses geolocatioo to decide which version of the site you will see; there are 60 different versioos in eight languages. Oestinatioos arK! prices are at( dependent on where you are. Friends on fire is typical of the way in which social networks dream of using geolocation details. Published by the fire Eagle team at Yahoo!, the service marries geolocation information with Facebook information, mear"lir"lg people can see their friends appear Or"l a map if they have signed up too. Friends on fire uses Fire Eagle's conservative privacy policy, which is commendable. You can set the software to show your exact locatior"l or to show your COUr"ltry, regior"l or town, and choose which of your frier"lds

can see you, However, once given permission to publish your location, it will continue to do SO until you remember to switch the service off. Services such as this, which are also expected to appear on Twitter soon, can be more than a gimmick. Imagine how many times a friend has been in the pub next door and you never knew. This is social networking crossing the boundaries between the intemet and the real world, which is the space in which it becomes most useful. However, while many 01 these tracking services are for the benefit 01 coosumers, it's the marketing men that could be the real beneficiaries. The first wave of geolocatioo arrived with much ballyhoo when mobile phone location became an affordable add-on to handsets around seven years ago. The marketing men became feverishly excited, overcome with the possibilities of selling restaurants, music or cinema tickets as consumers came within range of retailers. Critics claim this just opens up a new wave of corporate intrusion. "I don't see these as being of any advantage to the general customer," says Ian Angel, a professor of information systems at the London School of Economics. "This is just ar"lother way for businesses and other commercia! operators to get at us. We've had it with cold ca\ling and sp
The companies that are employing geolocation for new software services are only half the story. These are the friendly faces of geolocation, but they have some bully-boy cousins that use the same information to exert cootrol. Accurate location is a double-edged sword. On the ooe hand, users will want the most precise locatioo possible if they are trying to cyber-hai! a taxi or if they're using Google's Location in conjunction with maps as an impromptu satnav. On the other hand, if they're being located through their company-supplied mobile phone, they might hope for a fuzzier geo-placement that won't define whether they are in a client's office or the pub next door. The bad news is that much of the activity currently utilising the ability to pinpoint consumers is detrimental to the average man on



Gillian Proctor. a fashior"l buyer from Yorkshire, "I'd really like to watch the news and fa5t£nde~ while I'm away ill'm missing home, and I should be able to because I have already p.1id lor the service, but just because I'm overseas it won't let me." Movie download sites use the same sort of restrictions to enforce regiooal distribution models. Online gambling sites also use these restrictions to block access to comply with laws in jurisdictions where or"llir"le gambling is banr"led. In theory, at least, only websites that you had signed up to share your geolocatioo data With would actually be able to use your locatioo for these purposes, but often consumers grant permissiOr"l unwittingly when they accept the terms ar"ld cOr"lditior"ls. "In most cases you have given permission to be located: says Kerry Lar"lgstaff of geolocatioo service specialists Quova. "Banks do it all the t ime. They ~r"lOW what browser you normally use, what time of day you normally sign on, where you're based and the sort of computer you use. If you sign on and aU these things are dilferer"lt, then it will raise a flag: The police and other security services are also aware of geolocation's potential for locat ing suspects. They've used mobile phooe cell inlormation to trace crimir"lals for several years, and IP address ir"lformation is widely used for tracing web-based criminals, While few people would suggest the police shouldn't have access to this information for crime prevention, there are real concems that a lack of ur"lderstandir"lg of the technology leads to horrendous mistakes. Last year's report from Sir Paul Kennedy MP, the Interception of Communications Commissioner, revealed details of how police had conducted a heavy-har"lded raid Or"l a suspected paedophile based on his IP address. only to arrest a completely inr"locent mar"l. The authorities had mistakenly identified him because they hadn't accounted for international time differences when tracing the IP address, which are usually issued Or"l a temporary basis and passed on to other users later. Kennedy said that "the whole process 01 obtaining data relating to IP add resses has b~n re-examined" and that "better checb and balances have been put in place".

The biggest threat to the proliferat ion of geolocatioo services is the concern users have over prwacy. People worry that a phone or laptop with location-based services switched on could make them visible wherever they are. Given how ohen those in authority mess up with our data, this is a sobering thought. There are rules governing how location data is used. They state that comp.1nies must get

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find out how much your IP address can reveal about YOIJr location and type of Internet connection users' permission before passing on their locations to third parties, and send them remin ders that they are ~ing tracked.

·Privacy is a big deal because we have to convince the public that their location won't be used against them: says Skyhook's Ted Morgan. ' Otherwi5e they will simply stop using it. We are involved in the W3C st,mdards that will govern the way people can use the information. Our

privacy policy states that the users have control and we don't know who they are. "If they are using the standards, then whenever a website asks for your location it has to prompt you for permission so you know they are doing that - it's a big p
Quova Similarly points out that it doesn't hold any information that can identify who the targets of it5IP-based location are, but this doesn't guarantee anonymity, "We don't have any identifying data, we just have a database that gives the location of an IP address," says Langstaff. "Some of the third-party sites, our customers, might have

user-generated data, which does identify the people, but they will normally be people who have agreed to be located as a condition of using that service." Google has a strict policy, too, but stresses that once users have given the company permi55ion to share their data with another website, it is out of Google's hands. "To protect user privacy, the Gears Geolocation API server does not record user location. However, third-party sites may do so. and we recommend that users only allow websites they trust to access their location: the company says. The problem is that, for most users, it will be very difficult to keep track of which sites they have given permission to trace their location. With an ever-widening pool of sites with access to that information, the potential for data leakage grows exponentially. "Most of these people are reliable arK! responsible, and so are the phone companies who already have access to location trace

information," says Philippe Golle, a security and privacy expert at the Palo Alto Research Center. "But more and more people are signing up to location-based services, often with smaller comp.lnies. That means more people have acce55 to the traces, and the more people that have access, the more chance there is of somebody leaking. losing or stealing that information: One suggestion for reducing the impact is to scale back the accuracy so only the town or neighbourhood rather than the exact address is available, but even introducing this fuzzy layer of geo noise won't mean that people aren't able to identify you and your addre55 from the data, even if you conceal your name. "Anonymised geolocation da ta can easily be traced back to the person if anyone got hold of the records." says Golle. "It's easy to identify the place they spend the most time, which is uStlally home, and then the second most time. which is the office. Even if that data is anonymised, there are many people who are unique in where they spend their time, so it's very easy for anyone to wort oot who yoo are." But is there really any reason to be concerned? Can the world's corporations, the authorit ies or even gangs of cybercriminai5 really do anything harmful by knowing your movements throughout the day? "There are lots of people who'd like to see what yoo are up to and where you go,' says Golle. "Imagine if your health insu rance could see how often you went to a fast- food restaurant - they might up your premium based on your diet. Or a ca r insurance company coold see how fast you drive on the motorway and up the price. That's to say nothing of how many divorces there might be." Although internet tracking is the biggest growth area in geo-placement, mobile phone tracking is the oldest of the common geolocation standards, and still remains fairly accurate. The

Smoke and mirrors L aYlnq low wl l h p roxy servers t's not just criminals who want to hide their location; there are numerous reasons to want the website you're visiting to think you're located elsewhere. For example, companies use geolocation to tailor the content you see, but they make no concession for the fact that people regularly travel. You might be away on holiday or business in the US, but that does not mean you want to be redirected to US websites. Prory servers can be useful tools for hiding your reallocation, and even more useful for pretending to be located somewhere else. Using a UK-based proxy from France, for example, can give access to the BBe's iPlayer, when normally it would be blocked. Beware, however, that proxy servers inhabit the margins of the internet's wild side. Although some are credible, and even offer a professional service, others are considerably flakier. Meanwhile, some websites detect the use of proxies and anonymisers, and may either blod services or provide non-localised content in response. "We currently have nearly 700,000 proxy servers on our Anonymiser proxy file list and we can make them available to any of the

I

customers using our geolocation service," says Kerry Langstaff of geolocation firm Quova. "What those organisations choose to do with those details is up to them - some people block anything coming from a listed proxy address, others don't - it depends on how important knowing where the surfer is based is to the organisation." A web search for · proxy server list" harvesl5 dozens of websites listing sites acting as go-betweens, but you may need to try more than one. These services (especially the free ones) apj){!ar and disappear as often as a Peckham malicet stall trader. Beware also that using a private proxy without the permission of the owner could be a breach of the Computer Misuse Act, but many services are freely available or offer a free trial period. If using a proxy server of unknown integrity, ne ver enter any sensitive information as it could be intercepted at the proxy. Once you've chosen a proxy, you need to tell your browser where to direct il5 traffic. In Intemet Explorer, click the Tools menu followed by Internet Options, Connections then click the LAN settings button. Check the Use proxy server .. button and enter the address given by the proxy server.

Choosing a proxy server based in the country you where you wish to appear resident will fool all but the most geosensitive websites. Using a free trial version of a publicly listed proxy server, we were able to access the BBe's iPlayer and download programmes, but there are other services that offer real anonymity for more serious objectives. The Tor Project uses a series of proxy relays to hide the identity of human righl5 wolicers, journalists and whistle blo~rs who would rather not let the state authorities know what they are sending and from where.

... A UK-based pro~ y Server can fool the BBC's iPiayer into letting you download programmes when you' re overseas



JANUARY 2010

GEDLDCATIDN Ever decreasing circles Ttle technology berHrld geolocat lon

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1999, and the first patents were granted in 2004. But the methods used, acc:uracy and the ability to patch the raw data into usable

software have come a long way. Mobile phone trKking and the GPS services in mobile phones were the first ways of pinpointing a user's location, but web

browsers are making increased use of this information as it grows more accu rate. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome have

both recently introduced location-aware browsing thilt lets websites ask the browser where yo u are, provided you give permission. "If you consent, Firefox gathers information

about nearby wireless access points and your

phone companies have known where you are for several years. They need the information to pass your call from one cell to another as you move through their range. They reta in that information for regulatory purposes - so the police can demand your details if your phone has bee n logged near a murder scene, for example, However, the potential for abuse 01 mobile phone tracking technology is huge, Companies such as traceamobile,com offer services to both parents and employers that allow them to track the whereabouts of any phOfle that's signed up to the service, These services show the 10catiOfl of a registered phone on a map in a web browser, following its movement in real time. This has major privacy implicatiOfls if abused. Privacy advocates have criticised just how easy it is for an employer or parent to give a snooping phone to workers or children without informing them. Traceamobile says it sends out occasional text messages to the phone to remind or alert them that they are being tracked, but privacy camp
... A student walks beneath lin the Unive rsity 01 Washing ton

RFID t&g reader lit

computer's IP address," the company says. "Then Firefox sends this information to the default geolocation service provider, Google Location Services, to get an estimate of your location. That location estimate is then shared with the requesting we bsite.» More accurate systems are being developed. IP address location was fine for identifying which country a computer use. is based infor investigating potential credit card fraud, for example - but useless for finding the nearest pizza restaurant. That is all changing. "Over the last 10 to 15 years, people have been working on locatio n-based services, but it didn't always work as well as people hoped,~ says Skyhook's Ted Morgan. "With GPS it's not too accurate in buildings and downtown areas.

While the technology currently fuelling the geolocatiOfl debate requires consumers to use gadgets and kit that we have to enable, the next wave could have more sinister, Orwellian undertones. Employers and authorities are considering a much more personal approach, practically barcoding people to see where they are, how and when they move and who they come into cOfltact with. It may sound like a control freak's dream, but the technology is already ready and able - it's merely the social and ethical concerns that stand in its way. A project dubbed "the intemet of everything" is under way at the University of Washington's computer science depdrtment, where students have signed up to a project that tracks both people and objects throughout a huge campus building. mapping them 011 a web browser that everyOfle can see. The project's organisers issued RFIO tags to volunteer students and lecturers, and also attached them to items such as keys and laptops. These people and objects were then tracked though a network of 200 RFIO readers spread throughout the building. "We have been looking at simple apps to find friends or lost objects and that went fairly well, although usage dropped off when people got more familiar with the software and it was no longer a novelty: says Even Wellbourne, a lecturer involved with the project. "But now we have improved the software so people can look at where they've been - and ask "How olten have I used the stairs instead of the lilt?" - and compare their activities to their friends. "The key to getting people to use the technology is setting rules aboutl'lho can see you and when. It might be that my boss can only see me when I'm in my office, or it might be that only people working on the same project can see me during lunchtime, but people need cOfltro! to feet comfortable with the system." According to the researchers, the amount of concem over privacy depended very much upon who was able to access the data, "On a scale of one to five, when it was friends they were not concerned about privacy: says Wellbourne. "When asked about how concerned they'd be about an employer seeing that data, the rating shot up to 3.7. When asked how



The hardware is expensive, so it wasn't too good for consumer applications. 'We use WiFi network identification, mapping the signals of 110 million access points, and when your smartphone or laptop picks up the signals we triangulate them. The network is built around private and business networks and also combines with GP5 and cell strength information to draw a picture using the best data available.~ Even the services that rely on IP addresses are getting more accurate. "Generally we can get it to within 25-50 mile radius," says Langstaff. "We use lists from ISPs, but we also have a team of researchers that study network geography, the type of connection, its speed and other factors.~

.. The University of Washington's tracking system c~ n monitor objects liS well ~s people

concerned they'd be about the government, that shot up to five out of five ," The concept of being monitored around the workplace or wider environments using RflO tags might seem far-fetched, but there are already 17 million people in Britain carrying just such a device. Londoners use Oyster cards to access buses, trains and tubes in the capitaL The information of their movement is logged to enable the transport authorities to apply the right charges to the cards. Transport for London says this information is confidential. but the details are stored on the company's database each time a passenger passes through a turnstile, and are available for the police to access, The natural extension of this is the inclusiOfl of similar technology in the government's proposed ID cards, and strategically placed readers to capture the location and date-stamp data 01 anyone carrying a card. "It has always been part of the card's design to facilitate 'conlactless' operation using EPC! RFIO chips," said a spokespersOfl for privacy campaign group N021D, "The cards will not contain the audit trail that will be on the register, so the cards could not (eak information about where citilens had been, but the various RFIO card encryptions currently available have been hacked. Any new system could, given t ime, money and skills, also be cracked." Essentially. that is the danger with all the geolocation services. In their own right, they are innovative and often useful, but there will be serious concerns about how the information is used and secured as it becomes more widespread. GJ

STOP SPAM FOREVER

SAY NO TO SPAM Spam has become the bane of many a PC user's life. Luckily, there are ways to block these unsolicited emails, as Simon Edwards explains n'jone who uses email knows that

A

spam is a serioos problem. The

powerful Outlool< email. contacts manager and calendar program includes a spam filter.

amount of junk email many of us

receive is overwhelming. The best way to deal with it is to ilVoid altrilcting it in the first place. On the opposite page, we'll

show you how to avoid exposing your email account to spammers, but you're probably al ready receiving some spam. There are three main ways to handle these unwanted messages: you ciln use your email program's built-in anti-spilm filter, install

anti-spam software

Of

use an anti-spam service.

BUILT-IN SPAM FILTERS II your email program contains an anti -Spilm filter, you can use this to move any spam you

download 10 a special email folder. If it worts as it should, all your legitimate messages will remain in the inbox, while the adverts, viruses and other rubbish will be stored in a folder called spam, junk or similar. ~ Windows Mail. the free email program 1li that comes with Vista, has built-in junk email i protection. XP comes with a free email program E called Outlool< hpress, but it lacks an anti-spam ~ filter. You could insta\! Thunderbird. a free email program from l'VWW.mozilla,com that works with ~ both XP and Vista, as it has its own junk filter. In :I contrast to Outlook hpress, Microsoft's more

§

ANTI-SPAM SOFTWARE Generally speaking. dedica ted anti-spam programs are more accurate than the filters built into email programs. Some have a vast number of options that let 'Iou tune them and improve how well they work, while others become more accurate as you tell them which emails are acceptable and which are not. Many security suites include anti-spam protection, but standalone programs are also available. The optioru; include Cloudmark Oesktop (l'VWW.cloudmarlccom) and SpamPal (WNW.spampal.org). SpamPal is a free utility t hat scans email as you download it. When it sees something suspicious, it changes the potential spam message's subject. For example, a spam message with the subject line "Enlarge pills 4 u" would appear in your inbox as "***$PAM' " Enla rge pills 4 u", The program has a lot of optioos and, with some tweaking. can do a good job of identifying spam messages. However, it's not as easy to set up as many other programs, You'll also have to set up so-called rules in you r email program to move tagged spam messages automatically from your inbox to a spam folder. It works with all

popular email programs, though, and is a good choice if you doo't want to spend any money. Cloudmark Oesktop. which is available for Outlook Express, Outlook and Thunderbird, costs $40 (around £26) per year. It appears as a toolbar in your email program arK! displays a series of options. You can choose to mark messages as spam or phishing attacks {where spammers send emails purporting to be from your ba nk in an attempt to make you reveal your

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STOP SPAM FOREVER ~Ic:

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The minus touch AVOiding fa lse POS it ives and negatIVes Weak anti-spam software allows unwanted messages into your inbox. A spam email that passes through your defences is described as a false negative. When your inbox is stuffed with spam, even thou gh you have anti-spam protection, you're suffering from false negatives. The worst kind of protection suffers from both false positives and negatives. In other words,

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... Set up a tree Google Mall account for activities that may expose you to spam account details} and unblock useful email that has been classified as spam by mistake, The beauty of this program is its simplicity. There are virtually no settings for you to play with, and installing and setting it up is very easy. Every time you flag an email asspam.this information is fed bad to the service, which helps to protect other people,

database, you're confirming that your email address is valid and that a human is reading email sent to it. We don't mean to offend but. by trying to unsubscribe, you're also showing that you are a bit nai've, which makes you particularly attractive to an internet fraudster. Finally, spammers ra rely use their own computers. Online crimina15 often use hijac~ed computers to send spam, which means that replying to spam will often just send a message to an innocent victim of a computer virus. This won't do you any harm, but il won't help either, You might be wondering how a spammer got your address in the first place. Email addresses appear all over the intemet on websites and chat forums, in databases maintained by online stores and services, and in friends' address books, Spammers can scan websites and forums for email addresses, hack databases and use viruses to read private ad dress books. There's not much you can do to prevent your details being stolen from commercial or government databases or from a friend's PC, but you can control how your email address appears on websites and forums. Consider using disposable email addresses for certain activities. For example, if you sign up to use a chat forum, create a new GoogleMail email address for free at hltp:/imaii.googie.com and use that to create your forum account. If tOHents of spam start to appear in this account, simply change your email address to something e15e - or choose a site that protects its users more effectively. When you sign up with some websites to use their services. you'll probably be asked if the company can send you special offers. Look closely and you may also see a request to provide your details to other companies, If you want to cut spam, you should untick any boxes that give this permission. Use a unique, disposable email address as well, and you can see if the company has betrayed you - if spam pours in, you'll ~now that your email address has been sold or stolen.

ANTI-SPAM SERVICE All anti-spam utilities and email program filters check downloaded messages to see whether or not they're spam. Anti-spam services block the spam before you download it, so you're less likely to end up with viruses on your PC and, if you work on the move, you'll spend less time and money downloading unwanted email. Normally, only businesses can sign up for these serviceS; however, you can get an effective anti-spam service for free by filtering your mail through GoogleMail (see page 115).

AVOIDING SPAM If there's a golden rule when dealing with unwanted email. it's that you must never reply to a spam email. There are a number of reasons why you might be tempted to reply, but no good will ever come of it. Here's why. Spam adverts may not be all they seem. Sometimes a genuine business will send adverts out by email. but if you didn't ask for them, the business is behaving unethically and perhaps even illegally. Would you trust such a company to handle your credit card? Do you believe that the software, pharmaceuticals or designer watches on offer are genuine and not fakes? If your only contact with a company is through spam, there are plenty of reasons to distrust ft. Another reason not to reply is that spammers collect email addresses. They do this so that subsequent campaigns reach even more people. When you reply to an email whether to order something or to unsubscribe from the spammer's

EMAil PROGRAM

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... CJoudmark Desktop is an easy way to stop spam

If you use Windows Mail (Windows Live Mail in Windows 7), Thunderbird or Outlook, you already have some anti-spam protection to hand. Even if you already use an anti-spam service, you should still allow your email program to help out. Windows Mail comes with Vista but, even though it's free and easy to use, we recommend installing MoziUa Thunderbird, This email program is also free, but it's much more powerful and comes with edra security options. You can download it



your real email messages end up in the bin and your spam ends up in your inbox. When you first start using an anti-spam application, you should keep an eye on your spam folder. It's quite likely that some genuirn! email will end up being marked as a false positive. Similarly, don't trust every message in your inbox, as some spam is likely to get through.

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USING WINDOWS MAil Even though we recommend Thunderbird, you may prefer to use Windows Mail. This email program comes with built-in spam handling and in some respects is easier to use than many of the alternatives. It has the advantage of simple Safe Senders and Blocked Senders lists to ensure that you always get email from people you ~now and never receive messages from people you don't want to hear from. The anti-spam engine can be tuned to be more or less aggressive, which means you can tinker with the settings until you're happy with its accuracy. You can even block email from specific countries, which is handy if you get lots of spam from China but never expect to get any legitimate messages from there. Clic~ the Tools menu option and choose Junk E-mail Options from the list. It's set to No Automatic Filtering by default. Start by choosing the Low option, which offers to move the most obvious spam to the Junk E-mail folder,

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STOP SPAM FOREVER There's also an optioo beneath this that will delete the suspect email. This isn't a good idea, unless yo u're sure yoo only ever want to receive email from Pl!ople you list in the next step.

Junk. The message will be returned to your inbox. Consider adding the sender's email address to your Safe Senders list.

This means email from friends and family won't

be classified as spam. 11 you receive email from people who aren't in yoor contacts list, you can

add their addresses by clicking the Add button_

CHOOSE AN ANTI-SPAM SERVICE

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Click the Safe Senders tab and make sure U the option
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Open your email inbox and select all the spam messages you can find. Drag them to the Junk E-mail folder on the left. From now on, the system will check any new email you download, and move any messages it classifies as sp
lt isn't wise to trust the anti-spam filter's accuracy entirely, look at the messages in your Junk E-mail folder from time to time and, if you find any useful mail that has been moved there, right -click the message, choose the Junk (-mail option and then click on Mark as Not

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One of the easiest ways to rid yourself of spam is to let your ISP do the anti-spam scanning for you. On the plus side, the people at your ISP are likely to know what they're doing and will be constantly alert to new spamming techniques. The downside is that you might lose a real email message and never know about it . ISPs often use a filtering system such as SpamAssassin or Brightmail to determine whether or not a message is spam, but you won't see this happening in the background. This is because the comp
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HDWlD ... Use Thunderbird D

Fi rst, ensure that your address book contains the email addresses of people from whom you always want to receive email. Clid on the Tools menu and choose Address Sook. Select Personal Add ress Book from the short list in the left-hand bar and check the names and addresses that appear. Click the New Card button to add more addresses, and dele te any that you don't care about by highlighting them with the mouse and pressing the Delete key, Close the window when you've finished ,

junk icon, which looks like flames. It will probably be located just to the right of the Sender heading. Each message has a dot next to it that's aligned with this junk icon. look through your emailsand.whenyoufindaspammessage.click once on its junk dot. This will change 10 look like the flaming icon.

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Right-dick your account's OiIme on U the left-hand bar and choose Properties. The Account Settings window will appear. Click on the Junk Settings option and ensure that the option labelled Do not mark mail as junk if the sender is in: Personal Address Book is ticked. Tick the 'Move new junk messages to' option and choose the Junk folder on: option. Select your account's name from the drop-down list. Click OK.

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(lick the Tools menu and choose Options from the list. (lick the Privacy button and then choose the Junk tab. Tick the box labelled 'When I mark messages as junk' and select the 'Move them to the account's Junk folder' option. Then click OK.

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Click it again to turn it off, Make sure all spam messages are labelled with the jun~ icon, then clic~ on the Tools menu and choose Run Junk Mail Controls on Folder. The spam should be sent to the Junk folder, Check this folder every now and then, and rescue any rea! email that has bee n moved there by unticking ils Jun~ icon.

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JANUARY 2010

STOP SPAM FOREVER #i~

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Control

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If you have your own doma in name, such as example.co.uk, you can usually download your email from a service provided by your domain name registration company. Getting your own domain is a lot less hassle than you might think. Visit a si te such as INWW. landl.co.uk or http://easily. co.uk,pay around fS per year and you could have a unique email address that will never change. Inexpensive domain services usually provide free email forwarding. and some will apply basic anti-spam filtering to tag suspected spam messages. You can even use 'lour own domain with a fuUy featured free service such as Google MaiL The Google Apps service comes in two editions, the Standard option being free. The Premium service costs £2S per year for each email account and comes with 2SGB of storage plus a lot of extra options. If, however, you need only a few gigabytes to store your emails (and that's more than enough for most people), the free service is sufficient and offers fantastic value, You'U get Google's effective anti-spam protection, as well as web-based and offline email, and it will aU wort with a neat domain name, aUowing you to have email addresses such as simon@example,com, [email protected] and sarah@example,com. GJ

... DetKted sp.1m

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... CleanMyMalibox lets yOlJ SpeCIfy who yOlJ want to receive email from. and deletes everything else

Regular travellers should consider using a web-based anti-spam service, The email provider moves suspected spam to a folder and you download only the messilges you want. The downside is that you have to work online, but there are ways to get round this problem. One way to benefit from a web-based service's anti-spam filter while still being able to work without an internet connection is to download 'lour email using an email program. Not aU web-based services allow this, but many good ones do, For example, Yahoo! Mail includes an anti-spam filtering system called SpamGuard, which moves potential spam into a bul~ mail folder and deletes it. It's possible to set up Yahoo!'s POP3 system so 'Iou can download your mail using a regular l!mail client and read it offline. The spam stays in its spam folder, and you can check through it for wrongly classified email when you next connect to the internet. GoogleMail also works this way. If you use a web-based email service and want to download messages to an email program on your PC, check to see if it supports either POP3 or IMAP. These two services support popular email programs such as Windows Mail, Outlook Express and Thunderbird, GoogleMail deserves a special mention, because not only is it free but its anti-spam filter is also particularly effective. The service is essentially a web-based one where 'Iou log in and read and write emails using a web browser. As with Yahoo! Mail. the advantage is that you download only the messages you want, and the spam remains unread in the spam folder. You can even use Google Mail's spam filter to filter mail in different email accounts from different providers - you don't even need to use your GoogleMail email address.

ANTI-SPAM SERVICES

-

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DO IT ON THE WEB

Webmail services such as Hotmail and Google Mail provide free anti-spam protect ion. If you've signed up to one of these services, 'Iou may be able to use their anti-spam tools to cut the amount of spam in 'lour inbox, The services provide different levels of control Basic controls include the ability to set the spam filter's strength using settings such as low, medium and high. Whitelim let 'Iou specify email addresses from which mail should always be accepted, You can add addresses to a blacklist to block them. Different services handle Spam in different ways, Some move suspect messages to a spam folder, others delete them immediately

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and some use a spam fol de r but de lete its contents after a set period.

WHICH FREE EMAil SERVICE?

WebSite

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... When you use an ISP to filter spam, you may be able to change the filter's settings

'lour email application. While this means you'll always receive real messages, it also mea ns you have to download the spam, which isn't ideal. Another option is to use a service such as CleanMyMailbox (INWW.cleanmymailbo..-.com), which receives email only from addresses that 'Iou specify. For example, you can list the addresses of 'lour friends and family, and the service wiH automatically delete mail from anyone else (although you can log in and recover deleted messages). CleanMyMailbox is free for the first week, after which it costs $ 10 (around £6) per month. Alterna tively, the Spam Arrest service (INWW. spamarrt.'st.com) intercepts incoming email and replies to it automatically. If it"s the first time a sender has sent 'Iou an email they'll receive a message informing them that they need to log in to a website and enter an attached code number. When they do, their email is sent to you. Any future emails they send will go through without a problem. This will certainly help to prevent spam, but it's rather inconvenient for the sender, You can add your contacts to a list of acceptable senders to reduce this problem. Spam Arrest is free for the first month and costs $S.9S (around f3.90) a month or $SO (around f32) per year,

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... Anti-spam doesn't get much simpler than Google Mail's service. You can repon spam and mark messages as genuine JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTERSHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

THE RISE OF THE Mike Bedford looks at the graphics processing unit's history and its new role in bringing supercomputing power to our desktops

I

f we were to suggest thilt 'lour PC contains a powerful and sophisticated

processor you wouldn't take issue with us. But we're not talking about Ihe likes

of the COfe 2 Duo, Phenom II X4 0( Core i7.

Instead, we're referring to another component thaI rarely gets into the limelight. The Graphics

Processing Unit {CPU} on the graphics card works alongside the ma in processor to put images on the screen. Unless you're a hardcore gamer or have other serioos graphics applications, you might not be 100 concerned whether the graphics card is an ATI Radeon HD 4770 or an Nvidia GeFocce GTX

275, and you'd be less interested in what type of

CPU it uses. Even so, times are ch,mging. and increasingly the CPU is being used for jobs other than texture mapping and rendering for 3D games. Processing features that were designed to accelerate high-performance graphics are also pretty nifty at carrying out other tasks that require heavy number crunching. and computer scientists are starting to capitalise 00 this to help today's machines run more smoothly. From intricate applications for recovering lost passwords for encrypted documents to state-ol-the-art supercomputers ta rgeted at mind-boggling simulations in material chemistry. the CPU is proving itself as the supt'rcomputer of the future. COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


THE RISE OF THE GPU

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE In the early days of personal computing there was no such thing as a GPU. The main processor was responsible for placing images on the screen. The process was simple, In graphics mode (in the days bto:fore Windows,PCs also had an entirely separate te~t- only mode), an area of system memory was deSignated as graphics memory. Unlike ordinary RAM, graphics memory took the form of so-called dual-port memory, which meant that it could bto: accessed both by the processor and the hardware that was responsible for putting images on the screen. Each part of that memory was associa ted with a particular pi~el on the screen. for e~ample, to draw a line from the top left to the bottom right of the screen, the processor would work out which points were on that line and then. for each of those points, write a value to the corresponding location in the graphics memory. The graphics hardware would then light up each of those pi~els to form the line. The first P( graphics card that was capable of generating graphics rather than just te~t was referred to as Color Graphics Adapter (CGA). To ~y it was primitive would bto: an understa tement. The highest screen resolution in graphics mode was 640x200 pixels, but this was only available in monochrome. In its colour graphics mode, which permitted just four colours, the resolution was a mere 320x200, Needless to ~y, the processing power needed to handle this sort 01 display was vastly less than what's needed today to cope with 2,560x1,600 pixels in 16.7 million colours, especially when we remember that 30 graphics as we understand the term now was just a distant dream in the days of the (GA, The 19BOs and 19905 saw the rise of the graphical user interface (GUI) where text entry was replaced by a computer des~top controlled via a mouse, As this style of computing gained in popularity, graphics were no longer considered an added extra and resolutions increased, Various technologies came along to reduce the increasing workload on the processor, When hardware graphics acceleration appeared, for the first time the processor could issue simple instructions such as 'draw a blue line from {O, O} to (1023, 767)' rather than having to work out the position of each and every pixel along that line. The first graphics cards used off-the-shelf components. but this paved the way for the custom-designed 20 graphics processor, which led to the 3D graphics processor that we have today. These are microprocessors in the sense that they can be programmed to execute instructions in sequence, but their hardware is tailored specifically to the requirements of handling 3D graphics,

ANATOMY OF A GPU Although primarily intended for the very specific application of generating 30 graphics. a GPU is ultimately just a processor that carries out tasks that involve logic and maths. In this way, it's similar to a mainstream microprocessor. To understand what makes a GPU tick, we must look at the ways in which it differs from its better-known cousin, the general-purpose microprocessor, For brevity, we'll refer to this as the (PU {central processing unit}. The most obvious difference lies in the number of cores, The x86 CPUs that power our

Power up The GPU supercomputer

P(s currently have one, two, three, four or six cores, while Core i7 uses Hyper-Threading to actua lly double its cores. However, top industry engineers don't believe ordinary (PUs will go much beyond this in the short term, That's because, for general-purpose computing. the law of diminishing returns comes into play. This is due to the fact that it becomes more difficult to farm out work to all the cores in an effective way as their number increases , To give an analogy, a production line at a piua restaurant might work weU with four people each handling a specific task: rolling out the dough, adding tomato, sprinkling cheese and adding other toppings. Adding a filth member might actua!ly slow the process down rather than speed it up, due to t he extra management involved in delegating the various taslcs and avoiding bottleneclcs.

PARALLEL PROCESSING Other jobs are parallel in nature. For example, in a pea-shelling fadory, adding extra workers gives a productivity boost because the management involved in scaling up the workforce is minimal. 30 graphics processing falls into this category, and that's why it's possible to employ multiple cores effectively. GPUs, therefore, have tens or even hundreds of cores, with the top spot currently going to the AMo GPU that's used on some of the All Radeon -branded graphics cards, weighing in at 800 cores. However, since top-of-the-range GPUs have a similar number of transistors to top-ol-the-range (PUs, it 's dear that the cores in a GPU must be radically different from those in a CPU. The major differences lie in the type of code the two types of processor are designed to execute. (PUs are primarily aimed at office-type applications where If-Then-Else logic statements are common. In these circumstances, the code



often doesn't execute in strict sequence, Instead, it branches out along one 01 many possible permutations. Programmers refer to this as branching code. General-purpose software also tends to include loops whereby it executes the same code over and over again, and reuses smaU amounts of data. Both these factors result in transistor-hungry circuitry to improve the performance of general-purpose software, as Nick Stam, Nvidia's technical marketing director, explains, ·CPUs include complex branch-prediction hardware to process branching code effectively. They also have large onboard caches that can store the code loops and small datasets, allowing high performance compared to having to access 5uch code or data from system RAM:

MULTIPLE-CORE GPUs While bra0Ches also occur in GPU code, they are less frequent so they don't need a large amount of branch-predict ion hardware. This means that a GPU ca n use more of its tran5istors implementing the hardware to actually perform the processing, So rather than having a few complex cores, a GPU has simpler cores, but many more of them. According to Nick Stam, "This delivers high performance for media-rich data types, including 3D graphics data, because this type of media stream typically uses independent data elements, such as screen pi~els, that can be processed in parallel with every clock tick of the GPU·, Graphics cards also have high-capacity RAM a!locations that permit access to la rge amounts of data to feed the many processing coces. This is an alternative approach to the smaller-capacity, higher-performance memory caches that are traditionally built into CPUs. Another interesting difference C00Cerns the use of multithreading. a feature that Intel first introduced under the name 01 Hyper-Threading @

THE RISE OF THE GPU Technology in some of the Pentium 45, and has reintroduced in the recent Core i7 processors. A thread is an independent stream of instructions, and multithreading permits more than one thread to be run on a single core. Generally. a COfe can't process more than OfIe thread at the same time because it has only a single set of e~ewtion units. However, a core that's equipped for multithreading duplicates the

circuitry that stores the current state of the core, so it can be switched between threads. The benefit comes mostly when the core is stalled, perhaps because it has incorrectly predicted a branch or because it needs data that iso't in its cache, and has to wait for data or code to be retrieved from the memory. Under these

circumstances, a switch to another thread could permit processor clock cycles to be used that would otherwise be wasted. Intel processors have supported a ma)(imum of two threads per core and, despite requiring many clock cycles to switch between threads, have boasted a 15-30 per cent performance boost. Nvidia GPUs, on the other hand, support vastly more threads than that. Between its 240 cores. for example, the Tes/a no GPU can support 32,720 threads and can typically switch between them on every clod cycle.

THE PERSONAL SUPERCOMPUTER In the realm of CPUs, the move to multiple cores has progressed only to a moderate extent because there's a limit to how many cores can be used effectively in general-purpose applications. The GPU has moved much further down that path because graphics processing is a lot easier to split into many parallel threads. Each thread can work on a different part of the screen and is largely independent of the others. Graphics processing isn't unique in the degree to which a task can be split into many threads that are worked on in parallel. Many of the power-hungry applications that require the vast computing resources of a supercomputer also fall into this category. Consequently, GPUs are now starting to enter the upper echelons of superpowered computing. An exciting development that was announced by the University of Antwerp in Belgium in May 2008 shows how this approach can provide a vast amount of computing muscle for a very modest outlay. The university's Vision lab research group is involved in the development of new computing methods for tomography. Tomography is a medical technique that combines a large number 01 X-ray

photographs, acquired over a range of angles, to create three-dimensional images of a patient's internal organs. Advanced processing methods can require several weeks of dedicated processing time on an ordinary Pc. PreviOUsly at the university, processing was carried out using a cluster of sometimes hundreds of PCs, but this approach is e~pensive, takes a lot of space. consumes a lot of power and requires considerable maintenance. The inherently parallel nature of these computat ions lends itself to using PC clusters, and for the same reason, it's an ideal task for GPUs, as the scientists at Antwerp proved.

THE FASTRA PLATFORM Referred to as a desktop superPC, the fASTRA platform contains four GeForce 9800 GX2 graphics cards, each housing a pair of Nvidia G92 GPUs. Each GPU has 128 cores, so that's a total of 1,024 cores being brought to bear on the task. Reconstructing a lull 3D volume consisting of a billion elements, a job that took several days on a cluster of four quad-core PCS can now be polished off within an hour using FASTRA. Costing just 4,000 euros (around 0,6(0) to build, this is truly a lot of processing bang for your buck. It's common for technologies developed in academia to enter the mainstream. This is certainly true of personal supercomputing. In a departure from its roots in high-performance graphics, Nvidia is fuelling this revolution with its Tesla GPU computing cards. In a move away from traditional thinking. the Tesla C1060 GPU Computing Processor is essentially a graphics card without any video-output circuitry. Instead, it has been optimised for high-performaoce computing. Based on the same n o Series GPU that powers many graphics cards, it has a 240-core processor with a 1.3GHl clock speed, 4GB of memory and achieves a speed of 933 gigaflops (that's billions of floating point operations per second). To put this into conted, Intel's fastest processor, the 3.2GHz Core i7, has four cores and manages 51.2 gigaflops. AMD has followe d a similar strategy with its GPU -b
... flfvidi,,'s Tesl" C1060 runs at a steady 933 gigaflops lor tackling seriously power-hungry applications

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These desktop beasts employ GPUs working in tandem with CPUs. The multicore CPU performs those tasks that are inherently sequential in nature. It also distributes work to one or more many-cored GPUs. Today, research and development departments are major users of this technology with imaging and simulation applications in areas as diverse as astrophysics, medical imaging. molecular dynamics and financial risk analysis. Much of the software is custom written, although, as we'll see later, this is already starting to change with the prospect of GPU acceleration for the masses. UK-based PC system builder Workstation Specialists (www.WOtkstationspecialist.com) claims its WSX2 18 Tesla is the UK's only system to have lour Nvidia C1060 cards. In addition to these GPU-based computing cards, it has two quad-core Core i7 processors clocked at up to 3.2GHz, a system memory capacity of 64GB OOR) and up to 2TB of primary disk storage. In this top-of-the-line configuration, the system shows the massive potential of GPU accelerated computing by docking up 3.73 teraflops from its 960 GPU cores. Perhaps the price might be something of an eye-opener at just over f 12,000 for a fully configured system, but in terms of the cost per flop this is very cheap. Nvidia estimates that to get the same level of performance using ordinary processors would require no fewer than 48 quad-core chips. Since the cheapest quad-core CPUs cost about £220. to match the performance of a system with four Tesla C1060s GPU cards using conventional CPUs would cost in the region of f 100,000 for the processors alone. That doesn't include the cost of building 24 dual -processor highperformance workstations to house them.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE With prices in the region of £ 10,000, GPUaccelerated computing may sound like it's the sole domain of those with deep pockets and seriously power-hungry applicat ions who can justily the e)(pense. In reality, you might be able to join the GPU computing revolution now for no expenditure on hardware at all. Rather than relying on dedicated GPU computing cards such as the Tesla C1060, some software publishers have included support for the GPU already present on the graphics card inside your computer. One of the first companies to take advantage of the GPU in this way is Ekomsoft, which offers a range of password-recovery solutions that allow you to open encrypted files even if you've lost the password. As a processor-intensive task,

... Using an 800-core GPU, th-e FlreStream 9270 Is AMO's top-ol-the-range hardware accelerator



THE RISE OF THE GPU but one that can easily take advantage of paraUel processing. this is a dassic example of an application that can employ the paraUel processing architecture of the CPU to great effect. The company claims that where a typical PC with a Core 2 Duo could try out 350 cryptographic passwords per second in attempting to open an Office 2007 document, with a CeForce Cn< 295 graphics card at the ready, this would increase to 8,400 per second, When you bear in mind that opening a document encrypted using even relatively weak 40-bit encryption can take several days on an ordinary PC, it's clear just how significant an improvement this really is.

GOING MAINSTREAM Impressive as this speed-up may sound, password recovery isn't exactly an everyday requirement. But CPU acceleration is .starting to become mainstream as yet more software publishers recognise the benefits on offer. Adobe, for e~ample, has provided CPU acceleration for both ATI and Nvidia graphics cards in Photoshop C54, the latest version of this popular imageediting software. The CPU creates a user interface that can be manipulated much more responsively than would be the case if the CPU had to do all the work. Induded on the list of benefits are real-time image rotation, zooming and panning. plus the instantaneous and smooth viewing of changes. Adobe Photoshop C54 also taps the CPU for 20 and 3D compositing and high-quality antialiasing. which makes jagged edges of text and objects a thing of the past. CPU computing is also enabling 'processorheavy' video-editing and transeoding applications from the likes of CyberLink, Nero, ArcSoft, Elemental and MotionDSP, as well as more common distributed processing applications such as Folding@Homeand SETI@Home.

... The WSX218 Testa uses foor 240'core GPUs to bring supercomput er performance levels to the desktop

Advanced support for the CPU has even made an appearance in Windows 7. Of course, CPU support in the operating system isn't a prerequisite for application support - both E!comsoft's password-recovery solutions am! Adobe Photoshop CS4 will work with Windows XP or Vista - but it does mean that some tasks wiU automaticaUy benefit. For example, Windows 7 has built in transcoding so you can drag and drop a video file from 'lour desktop to your portable player and it will immediately begin converting that file using the CPU. Microsoft has also greatly expanded the role of DirectX in Windows 7 with four new APls, aU of which can take advantsge of a CPU. This wiU

provide performance gains in 20 graphics, gaming and multimedia, irrespective of whether or not the application supports CPU acceleration. Meanwhile, the fact that so much CPU acceleration is built into Windom means that the technology is becoming standard. As software developers start to assume that a system will have a powerful CPU inside it, we can expect CPU support to snowbaU. Mac users can also now enjoy the same advantages since Apple added CPU ac;celerat ion to Snow leopard, the latest version of Mac OS X. Thought the supercomputer was only for the big boys? The days of supercomputing for all might come around sooner than you think. EI

GPU meets CPU Converging processing units



HDWlD ... Share a printer with Windows Vista A computer connected to a PC can be shared with other computers on your network. Julian Prokaza shows you how

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laptop makes an id eal second computer for a household or smaU office that a\ready has" desktop Pc. WiFi means it can get online from

anywhere within range of the wireless router. What it can't do so easily is access the peripherals that 3re connected to a desktop PC - which, for most people, means they can'! print.

A printer with Ethernet or WiFi built in will solve this

problem, but this is an unnecessary expef'lSe in most situations. It's far simpler to share a printer over a network using Windows Vista's File and Printer sharing. The PC that the printer is connected to must be on for other computers to access the printer, but this is a minor inconvenience for most people. If your pes have different Workgroup names, dick 'Change settings', Change and type in new names to make them match. You'll need to restart for the change to take effect.

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First, ched that the host Vista PC (the one t he printer is connected to with a cable) has File and Printer Sharing enabled. Click the Start menu followed by Control Panel. Under the Network and Internet heading. dick View Network Status and Tasks. On the left, dick Manage Network connections. Right-dick the icon for your network adaptor {usually called Local Area Connection} and click Properties. When the Properties dialog bo~ appears, make sure that the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is enabled. Click OK.

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Return to the Network and Sharing Center, which should still be open. Since you 're setting up printer sharing on a home network, Windows Vista's network type should be set to Private. II not, dick the Customise option lor the network and work through the Wizard. You will also need to enable Printer Sharing using the appropriate option in the list of Sharing and Discovery options. Consider enabling the Passwordprotected sharing option to control netwOl"k access to your printer. Click Apply to linish.

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Click Start, Control Panel. Printer, which is located under Hardware am! Sound. When t he window opens, right-dick the printer you want to share and select Sharing. When the dialog bo~ appears, dick the Sharing tab and enable the Share this Printer option. Make a note of the printer's Share name {and change it to something easily identifiable, if necessary}. Click OK.

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.... Over on the other Windows Vista computer, click Start, Control Panel. Printers. When the Printers Window opens, dick the Add a Printer button on the toolbar, followed by Add a Network printer. Vista will then display a list of network printers eligible for sharing. (lick the one you wanllo use and insla!l the printer in the usual way {you may need a passwOl"d, depending on Step 2}. Repeat this last step for any other Pes you want share the printer with. CD

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JANUARY 2010

WINDOWS CALENDAR

HDWlD ... Arrange meetings in WindDws Calendar Arranging a meeting is easier if you can send someone an invite that's added to their calendar automatically. Adam Banks shows you how with Windows Calendar indows Calendar comes with Vista ilnd it easy to organise your life both

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at home and at work II supports the independent iCatendar standard lor sharing appointments, so it just takes a few click to send detai15 of an event such as a meeting to everyone you want 10 invite.

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Stan Windows Calendar - the central pane shows your calendar in the format you chose in the View menu above: by day, week or month, To move through the year to the date of your meeting, use the left and right arrows at the top 01 the mini-c(llendar in the Date pane at the top left. Cld a date here 10 move the main

calendar view to this date, Te create an appointment, right-dick a

time cell in the main calendar (or a day ceU if you're viewing by month) aM choose New Appointment. An appointment box appears in the cell, with the name highlighted fO( you to type over. Enter a title for your meeting and press Return. In the Oetails pane on the right, edit the settings for your meeting. including when it starts and finishes. If you can't see the Oetails pane, open it via View, Oetails Pane.

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When inviting others to a meeting. it helps to include all the relevant details. If there are invitees from outside your building. enter the full address with poslCode so they can program their satnavs. Vou could also paste in a

web address for the venue 0( for a map of its location on a site such as www.multimap.wm. Any information you enter in the Notes field at the bottom will also be passed on to attendees as part of the appointment file . By default, recipients are asked to confirm their attendance. It's important to remember not to enter any private notes here that others shouldn·t read, such as "Must stop Oave telling bad jokes and hogging the platfO(m this year". Windows Calendar lets you maintain separate calendars for home, work and so on. If you have more t han one, use th e Calendar drop-down menu to select which this event belongs to. The URL box below is for a web address at which this calendar will be available to other users; if you want to leam more about this particular function, click the Share menu, Publish ... and then click the link labelled Where can I publish this calendar?'

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In the box next to the Attendees ootton, you can type the email addresses of the intended participants in your meeting. However, since you'll probably be dealing with the same people again, it makes more sense to manage the ir coni act infO(mation using Windows Contacts. Click the Attendees button to open a window that lists all your existing contacts. You can either select a name from the list on the left or click Find to search your contacts and select a name from the results that pop up.

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invitees for your meeting. click the 'To- >' button. The name is added to the Attendees list. You can also add new people by clicking New Contact and entering their details. When all your participants are in the Attendees list, click OK.

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Attendees you've ad ded appear beside the Invite button below. If you need to remove anyone, click their name here and press Oelete. Once the list is complete, click Invite. You're taken into your default email program, such as Windows Mail or Outlook, wh ere a new message is generated with aU these contacts as recipients. If you want to copy the email to anyone who isn't invited. but should be aware of the meeting. add their addresses in the CC box. The details of your meeting are automatically attached as an .ics file. This is an iCalendar document readable by many different programs, including Microsoft Office and Apple's iCal. You may want to type a brief summary of the event details into the body of the message.

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When an invitee receives the email and double-clicks the attachment, the appointment is displayed and added to their calendar in their default calendar software. Any Notes you entered in Windows Calendar appear here as Notes too. Recipients a!so have the option of making changes to the meeting and communicating them to the other attendees. III

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HDWlD ... Organise and tag phDtDs with Picasa 3.5 Adding tags to your photos makes it easy to find them later. Ben Pitt explains how to sort, categorise and manage your pictures with Google's free organiser ne of the best things about digital cameras is that, with virtually no running

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costs, you can take hundreds of photos and pick the best later. This can give a massive boost to Ihe quality of yoor soaps, but it also

requires a certain amount of discipline. If left unchecked, your photo collection can turn into a huge mound 01 mostly rubbish snaps.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of software to help you keep on top of your digital photo library. Many of these are free, including our favourite, Google Picasa, This program has just

been updated to version 3.5, which adds lots of new ways to organise ,md lag your photos.

Download and install the latesl version from http://picasaweb.google.com.

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When installing Picasa for the first time rather than upgrading. you'll need to point the software towards your photos' location on your hard disk. If you're well organised, they should aU be sitting neady in subfolders in the My Pictures folder, or some other deSignated location. However, most of us aren't quite so tidy. There may be a few folders of photos on the desktop, or your photos might even be strewn haphazardly across the entire hard disk. You might want to take this opportunity to gather a[1your photos in one place on your hard

disk using Windows Explorer. Altematively, tell Picasa to search the contents of your hard disk for digital photos when prompted. If your photos are found in a location other than the My Documents folder, specify its location by clicking the Too15 menu, then Folder Manager. Browse to the folder in question and select Scan Always. This win import all e)(isting photos, and also keep an eye on that folder for any new photos that appear there in future.

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Picasa presents photos in folders sorted by creation date. It uses the date information embedded in the photos by the camera, SO it won't matter when you copied them to the hard disk or imported them to Picasa. However, this system becomes unstuck if the camera was set to the wrong date. If you find that a particular folder is out of sync with the others - perhaps because the pictures were taken with another camera - right-click the folder name, select 'Edit folder Description' and enter the date manually. If some folders are unhelpfully big with many months' worth of snaps in a single location, you'd be best to split them into smaller virtual folders. This might sound complicated, but it's really easy. Right-clid the picture where you want to create the split, select 'Split Folder Here', type in a name and finally, click OK.

A5 you browse your photos, add a star to

~ any ones you particularly like using the

button at the bottom of the screen. There's another Star button at the top. under the Filters heading. Clicking this shows only the photos that have been awarded a star. This is an excellent way to jump straight to your favourite shots. You might also want to delete any photos that you definitely don·t want - just hit the Delete key followed by Return.

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Anew and incredibly useful feature in Picasa 3.5 is automatic face recognition, which makes light work of tagging people you know in your photos. Most of the process is carried out automatically. To start it, simply click the word Scanning on the left, under the People heading. It can take many hours for the software to scan your photo library, but after a while, faces should start to appear, ready for you to identify. Click 'Add a Name· and type in the person's name. If you use Gmail and you've signed in at the top-right of the screen, names will automatically link to email addresses in your contacts. Otherwise, you'll be invited to enter additional information each time you introduce a new name. If you're not interested in any particular faces that appe
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Picasa will then try to match other faces with the ones you've already tagged. If it's confident - essentially, if a photo comes from the same set - it will tag them automatically.

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For other pictures, you'll need to confirm

whether Picasa has correctly identified them. As your list of tagged laces appears under the People tab, those with potential extra matches will show an orange question mark next to their names, Click on one of these and scroll down if necessary to find t he potential matches. which

will have a tick and cross underneath them. Use these buttons to confirm 0( refute that they've been correctly identified, or click the Confirm All button if they're all (crrect.1I someooe h(ls been incorrectly recognised, but

you know who it is, simply right-dick the thumbnail select 'Add to People Allxim' al'l d pick the correct l'Iame from the list. Altematively, drag the thumbnail on to the correct person under the People tab on the left.

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Once you've tagged quite a few photos, you'll be able to cld on people's names in the left column to see all th e photos they appear in, Use the buttons towa rds the top-right of the central panel to toggle between seeing close-ups of faces and the full photo that they appear in. Meanwhile, in the People panel on the right, you'll see a list of other people who also appear in the selected collection of photos. To see all the photos with two or more particular people, select one from the left and one or more from the right. To clear these filters, click the Back to View All button in the green strip towards the top of the screen.

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Each of the People on the left is represented by a thumbnail, lxit it's not always the most flattering picture. To change it

to a better one, click on the person in question to browse all the photos of him or her. Right-click the photo you like and select Set as Album Thumbnail. Another useful trick is to sort People by date so that you can see them getting steadily older and wiser as you browse through the photos! It's really simple to set up. Simply right-click their name under the People heading on the left and select Sort Album By, Date.

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PicaS
~ When you wa l'ltto tag photos with words

~ that aren't people's names or geographic locations, click the Tags button. These tags might include a hobby or ilctivity, groups of people or the time of yea r. Select a folder of images or iI selection of individual photos, type in a tag at the top of the Tag panel and hit OK. At the bottom, you'll see recently used words appear in the Quick Tilgs buttons. You can easily refine these by clicking on one of the free quick tilgs. To search by tag. type into the box ilt th e top-right of the screen. Searches wit! also include People, folders and file names, while multiple words will find photos that match all the words.

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Sometimes you'll want to group photos together that come from different folders; this is what Albums are for. Select one or more photos, right click and select Add to Album, New Album. Type in a name and any other information you see fit and click OK. You can

add further pictures to this album using the same right-click option, but once an album is created, it's easier to drag them to the album, which appears at the top of the list on the left, Click the album name to view its contents. Photos will appear in the order that you added them, but you can reorder them by dragging the thumbnails around the screen. Alternatively, it's just as easy to right-click the album name and select Sort Album By, Date. ~ With your photos now firmly under

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control, it's time to share the best ones with friends and family. Picasa syncs effortlessly with Picasa Web Albums, which provides 1GB of online storage space to host your photos. In Picasa, click the Tools menu, Options, Web Albums. Make sure the Name Tags tickbox is checked and click OK. In the top-right corner of the screen, click 'Sign In to Web Albums'. Sign in using your Gmail username and password, or if you don't have one, click 'Sign up for Web Albums' and follow the instructions . Once you're logged into the site via your web browser, click the Settings link at the top-right followed by the Privacy and Permissions tab. Tick the box marked Use name tags to name people in my photos. This feature is off by default to protect the privacy of friends and family members, so consider hiding name tags in public allxims using the tick bo~ provided. You'll need to restart the Picasa software before photos upload with name tag; correctly embedded. Once you've done so, select some individual photos, a folder or an album and click the Upload button at the bottom-centre of the screen. A new Wl!b album will ~ created automatically, or you can choose to add photos to an existing album using the drop-down list. Choose from Public, Unlisted or Sign-in to decide how private your photos wiH be. Unlisted means people will need to know the link to see the photos, while Sign-in means they'll need to have a Picasa account and be specifically invited. Now visitors will be able to view your web albums, jump to photos showing specific people, see where they were taken and add comments, lavishing you with praise for your fine photography skills. Ii]

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-JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTERSHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

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PRINTING PICTURES

HDWlD ... Print multiple pictures on one sheet of paper You don't need complex photo-editing software to print more than one image on a single sheet of paper, Elaine Edwards explains how easy it is to get great results

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rinting your own digital photos is a simple

and convenient alternative to getting

them processed professionally. However, it's also possible to spend hours lining up small, individual AS sheets when printing individual

photos_If you only have A4 sheets, you could a!50 waste a lot of paper if you want smaller prints. Printing mort' t han one image on to an

A4 sheet could save you lime and money.

uppermost corner and initially each will be ticked. These indicate which photos will be printed. If there are some pictures you don't want to print. click in the box to deselect them. If the folder contains many more pictures than you want to print, it may be quicker to click on the Clear AU button near the bottom right, and go throogh the pictures one-by-one, dicking the boxes 01 those you want to print.

We've e~plained how to use Windows XP

here, but Windows Vista has a similar feature - and it's even easier to use. Select all the files you want, right -dic~ one of them and choose using the same techniques as listed below.

Once yoo're happy with yoor selection, dick on the Next button at the bottom of the window and you'll be as~ed to specify a printer. Select the appropriate one from the drop -down menu. Click the Next button again.

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Print. You can set up layout5 and duplicates

Ensure aU the pictures you want to print are in one folder, It doesn't matter if there are other pictures in there that '100 don't want to print, because you don't have to print everything in the folder. However, it's important that the pictures you want are a\( together. Once all the pictures are together in one folder, highlight the folder by left-clicking it once and the n Click on 'Print pictures', which appears in the Picture Tasks list on the left of the screen.

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The Photo Printing Wizard window wi\( now appear. Click the Next Button to continue. Large thumbnailS of all the pictures in the highlighted folder will appear. Each individual picture has a selection tickbox at its right

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the appropriate layout for your pictures. In the left-hand portion of the window there are representations of pages, each showing different layouts. Use the scroll bar to scroll through the options available to you. We want to have four pictures on one page. but there are varioos options to allow '100 to place two, nine or even 3S pictures on a single page. II you're planning to display the pictures after printing without wtting them out, it's worth grouping them according to their orientations before you start printing - otherwise some might be upside down. Yoo could put all the portrait images together in a separate lolder or select only portrait or landscape images together.

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Once yoo've chosen the layoot option you wa nt, click on it. The Wizard will automatically create a preview 01 the printed page in the right-hand box. There is also an option within this window to print your images more than once, so each picture coold appea r up to 1S times. This is useful il you want to send the same selection 01 pictures to a number 01 people. To print the images more than once, either type in the number of duplicates of each image you want within the Dialog Box next to 'Number of times to use each picture' or choose the number by clicking the up and down arrow buttons to the right 01 it (see below). This is a very useful function, but remember that you will have to wt the images into individual photos if you choose to print 10 copies of each one. This is because the Wizard will print 10 copies of the first picture followed by 10 copies 01 the second image and so on. You'll see this in the Print Preview window.

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At this stage, you may find that you want to remove a picture from your selection or add a new one. Click on the Sack button twice to open the Picture Selection window. Select or deselect the images as before, Then click the Next button until '100 reach the last stage. When you're completely happy with your selection arld layout, dick on the Next button lor a final time and the images will be sent to your printer. GJ

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SPOTIFY

HOW TO ••• Share music with Spotify If you want the ultimate music collection , Spotify is the perfect tool. Ben Pitt explains how to stream tracks over the internet and create your own playlists potity is a revolutionary service that has made a huge impact on the way people listen to music. Rather than buying songs up front, users subscribe for a flO monthly fee, which gives them unlimited acct'S5 to millions of trilch with exceUent sound quality. It's not the

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only subscriptioo-based music service, but it's

easily the best, and it makes it simple to discover new music and recommend it to friends. Spotify also has a free service that's funded by banner and audio advert5. However, its phenomenal success has meant that Spotily is

currently not accepting any more new subscribers to its free service except by invitation - Premium subscribers can invite two friends to the join the free 5ervice each month,

Doing away with adverts isn't the only incentive to pay £ 10 a month for $potily Premium, This service also runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch and phooes running Google Android, streaming music over WiFi and 3G connections. It also allows U5ers to cache up to 3,333 tracks for playb.ack where there's no network coverage. Visit www.sporify.com.dick Get Started, Buy Premium and enter your details. Choose a U5emame carefully as this will appear when sharing music with others. Download and run the installer,launch the application, enter your usemame and password and, finally, tick 'Remember me' You might also have to unblock the application in yoor firewall - if a request appears, click Unblock, Yoo'll then be greeted with a Welcome screen, but ignore that and click Close to get straight down to business.

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Spotily's homepage makes various recommendations, but the first thing you'!! probably want to do is to search for your favoorite music. Type the name of an artist, album or track into the Search ba r at the top and hit Return. To playa track, double-click its name. Alternatively, click on an album title to view the tradlisting and listen to in its entirety, or did on an artist name to see all their available music. To revisit your search results, use the Back buttoo at the top-left of the screen. You'll
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Most artist listings include a biography, a Top hits sectioo with the five most popular tracks plus a list of similar artists, These are great for finding new music that you might like,
~ Rather than just listening to the first few

1::,1 seconds of each track, drag tracks to the Play queue on the left of the screen. Tracks will now play in the order in which you add them to this list. Click on the Play queue to view the list and to change its order, Entire albums can be added to the Play queue too - simply drag the album title acroS5 and its tracklist will pop up.

~ If you end up with a collection of tracks

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you want to revisit, click on the words 'New playlist' on the left, type in a name for the playlist
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It's easy to share music recommendations with other $potily users. Right -click any track, album, artist or playlist and select Copy Spotily URL, and paste this link into an email or blog. Alternatively, drag a track, album, artist or play list name directly into your email software. Yet
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SYNCTOY

HDWlD ... Sync files with SyncTDY Synchronising the contents of two folders is a clever way to make easy backups, particularly if their contents don't change very often. Ben Pitt explains how veryone knows how important it is \0 back up. However, it's amazing how unhelpful even the best backup applications can be

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at helping to configure a comprehensive backup plan. They take care of the files on your hard disk, but what "bout the contents of your flash drive, mobile phone, salnav and MP3 player? SyneToy is a free utility from Microsoft that

makes it easy to keep fjles in different locations synchroni5ed. Synchronisation iso't the same as backup - it won't keep previoos versions of files so it won't protect yoo from corrupted data, virus infection or accidental deletion. However, if

you synchronise Ihe contents 01 your portable devices with a folder on your PC, you can add

this folder to your normal PC backup routine. SyncToy has lots of other useful roles. II you have more than one PC on a home network, SyncToy can synchronise copies of your documents on each computer, updating the most recently changed or created files, regardless of which PC they were edited on, Visit http://tinyurl.comlsynctoy2and download SyncToySetupPackage.exe. Those running 64-bit versions of Windows should download the x64 installer. Double-click the file and follow the instructions to install it, then run it from the Start menu.

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Connect the device that you want to synchronise with your PC In SyncToy, click Create New Folder Pair, Under the left Folder heading. click Browse and locate the device you wan t to synchronise. This can be

either an entire disk or a specific folder. For the Right Folder, select a location on your PC's hard disk If you're backing up a portable device, create a new folder and give it a descriptive name such as Mobile phone sync. If you regularly back up your My Documents folder or some other location, create this new folder there so it will be included in your normal backup rOl.lline. Click Next when you're done.

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SyncToy 2.0 has three modes for copying files. 'Synchronise' copies any new or updated files in both directions from one folder to the other. Any file renames or deletes will be duplicated too. This option is ideal when replicat ing documents on multiple PCs on a network. 'Echo' makes the same cha nges, but it's a one-way process. Any cha nges to the left folder are replicated in the right one, but not vice versa. This is the best option for backing up a removable device, as changes to the backup won't affect the originals, 'Contribute' acts like 'Synchronise' but it doesn't duplicate deletions. Choose the option that bestlits your needs and click Next. Name the folder pair - giving it a descriptive name will help if you come 10 create various other folder pairs - and dick Finish.

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Click the 'Change opt ions' button. For most people, the defaults will be line, but let's take a look at what's available. SyncToy copies any files it finds, but you might want to exclude hidden or system files if these aren't relevant - perhaps when backing up an MP3

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player or satnav. Alternatively, you might choose to copy only the photos from your phone, ignoring all other files. To do so, enter .jpg where it says 'Files to include'. ~ In our case, we don't want to copy the

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MP3s on our phone, as these are already duplicated in our PC's iTunes folder. This is done either by adding .mp3 to the 'Files to e~dude' section, or by clicking 'Select subfolder' and unticking the folder containing the MP3s.

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Click OK to return to the main screen. At the bottom right there are two buttons: Preview and Run. Clicking Preview performs a practice nm of the synchronisation, Click Run to copy the files, If multiple jobs are configured, dick All folder Pairs on the left and then Run AlL

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SyncToy doesn't have built-in scheduling to make it run automatically at a certain time of day, but it is possible to do so using Windows' own Task Scheduler. To find out how to set this up, cld the Help menu, then SyncToy Help, and search for 'schedule'. However, scheduling isn't appropriate if you're synchronising with a removable device, which will only be connected at unpredictable times of the day. It might be useful to have a shortcut on the desktop to remind you to use it when it's connected, though. To create one, locate SyncToy in the Start menu, right-dick and drag it to th e desktop. When you release t he mouse, choose Create Shortcuts Here. G:I

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GST DRIVE FITNESS TEST

HOW TO ••• Test your hard disk A fault with your hard disk can see all your data wiped out. David Ludlow shows you how to check your drive with the free GST Drive Fitness Test

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e've all become used to having masses of storage space, which most of us

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SlUff full of gigabytes of photos.

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videos, music aod important documents without

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a second thought. As wonderful as this all is, hard disks are mecharlical and therefore quite

sensitive. They can deteriorate rapidly and, even if they don't lock up complelely. they can cause problems with some fjles .

. _--

-

Although yoo should make regular backups of your data, it's al50 worth checking your hard disk if you're suffering from problems 10 make sure that it's working properly. We'll show you how

to lest your hard disk for free using Hitachi CST's Drive Fitness Test application (www.hitachigst. com/hdd/supportldown/oad.htm) , Don't worry - this works on all brands of hard disks. It's run from a bootable CD, and we'll show you how to make Ihalloo. Before you begin, we recommend making a complete backup of your Pc.

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HOW HARD DISKS WORK The problem with hard dish is that they're mechanical. and are therefore prone to faults. Inside the sealed enclosure are a series of platters, which are disks stacked above each other, These platters, like floppy dish, store data magnetically, and are written to and read by heads that sit just above the surface. Hard disks are very sensitive to movements, as sudden jerks can make Ihe heads touch Ihe platter and destroy any data that's stored on the disk, If you get problems when you run Drive Fitness Test, make sure your hard disk is firmly attached inside the case and that your computer is slanding firm on a level surface. We've known of a computer that was kept on an old wobbly desk constantly having severe problems wi th corrupted Windows files.

PROBLEM DETECTION Other problems can affecl a disk, including lots of bad areas on its surface (known as seclors). These might be detected in normal use only when you fill your disk up and your computer starts trying to access these areas. By running a system scan beforehand, you can detect and avoid these bad sectors. These will be marked as 'bad' by the hard disk, which prevents data being written to them at any point in the future, but you should repla ce the hard disk if you find that you have a large number of them. Mechanical problems are also a big worry. A damaged disk can make a horrible, metallic dunking sound. While there's little that can be done to prevent this in the long term, running diagnostic tests that access the whole disk can wam you 01 polential mechanical failure in the future by giving the hard disk a good workout.

Heat, as for Olher components, can cause massive problems inside a hard disk, so make sure that the inside of your PC is kept cool and add more cooling il necess.a ry. The Iree SpeedFan utility (www.almico.com!speEdfan.php)canhelp you monitor your computer's temperatures. Modem hard disks have built-in S,MAR.T. technology. This lets your BIOS and other applications talk to the disk and see if there are any problems. S.M.A.R.T. can also notify you 01 an impending disk failure before it happens. Finally, Ihe interface between the hard disk and your PC can cause problems if it's damaged, In this case, there's nothing you can do but replace the hard disk. It's worth checking that the cables are plugged in firmly firsl, Ihough.

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CREATE BOOT DISC

Drive Fitness Test runs from a CD you can create yoorself. Download the ISO file from www. hitachigst.comlhddl5UppoTt/download.htm and save it to your hard disk. If you have a CD-burning utility, use thaI to write the ISO file to CD. If you don't have a CD-burning application, download the free ISO Recorder from http:// isorfforder.alexfeinman.com. Version 2 is lor Windows XP and Version 3 is lor Windows Visla (Windows 7 has built-in ISO support), so make sure you identify the correct one before downloading it. Once Ihe software is installed, right-click on the ISO file that you downloaded and select Copy image to CD. Put a blank CD inlo your drive and click Ned. This should start the process 01 copying the ISO file to the CD.



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BOOT FROM THE CD

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RUN A QUICK TEST

Put the CD in your optical drive and restart your Pc. Set the 8105 so that your optical drive is the first boot device. Yoo'li be given a further menu with a choice ollwo oplions. Select the second option, press Enter and accepl the licence agreement. The Orive Fitness Test program will then detect your ha rd dish, and will as~ for confirmat ion that this list is the correct one. Select Yes.

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Select the hard disk that you want to test and th en choose Qui(~ Test. On the next screen, dick Start. Drive Fitness Test will now I\ln a series of diagnostic tests on your hard disk to make sure it's working property. If the software detects any errors, you'll be told at the end of the test; otherwise, you'll get a green completion message. Click OK to accept it. With a new disk this test should show that it's working correctly. If you're testing an older hard disk, follow Step 4.

. . . ADVANCED TEST

Iri.I The Quick Test doesn't give the drive a fuU workout. For this you will need to run t he Advanced Test. This will run more thorough tests and will check Ihe surface of the disk for errors. As this involves cheding every part of the disk, it will take a lot longer to I\ln than the Quick Test, but it's worth doing. particularly if you 're chec~ing an old hard dis~ lor errors. It's also essential if you think that your hard disk could be suffering from mechanical problems. GJ

HDWITWDRKS

Video &audio downloads These days we demand vast amounts of data from the internet. SimDn Handby explains how rich content such as videos and music is delivered to your computer or around three decades, computer users have bt>en using the internet, and the bulletin boa rd systems thaI preceded it, to

F

e~change information. While much of this has always been simple text messages and emails

that comprise no more than a few kilobits of da ta, the nature - and amount - 01 infonrnation sent betwe en pes hils changed dramatically. As the capabilities of computers, and the

links between them, have grown. we've become increasingly accustomed to using the internet to source and download larger amounts of information. In the backgrou nd, anti-virus and anti-spam programs rely on the net for news 01

the latest threats, while our operating systems use it to make sure that they're up to date. At the same time, we search for the latest drivers and use intemet transfers to obtain files that are la rger tha n ever before, including images as well as TV broadcasts and other kinds of video. As more users download ever larger amounts of data, the demands on the links that make up the internet have grown way beyond what was originally imagined, In addition, the real-time streaming of audio, video and even the content for online worlds such as Second Life introduce

serious demands for Quality of Service (QoS) an assurance that data will arrive at a sufficient rate for the stream to be maintained without interruption. While upgrades to the internet's infrastrtlcture enable it to cope better, internet service providers (ISPs) and major content producers are interested in S'(5tems that reduce their costs and improve customers' experience. This month, we look at how they work.

CACHE IN HAND Standard internet downloads are normally conducted on a one-tO-Olle basis, most commOllly via the same HTIP protocol by which web content is transferred, In the most basic scenario, a web page might contain an embedded photo that's stored on the same server as the web page's HTML file, When the end-user's browser loads the web page, it requests the photo from the server, which directly transfers it. This setup works well when the file is smal! and not in heavy demand, but for a larger, more popular file - a high-res photo that illustrates a breaking news story, for example - demand for the data can quickly overwhelm the server, or more usually its link to the internet.

BBC iPlayer Lega l Video down loads such as the iPhone, Speaking to CNET UK in While file-sharers have been illegally transferring copyrighted TV programmes for May, Vision and Online Media Group many years, recent moves by the TV controller Anthony Rose explained that the corporation aimed to stream content from companies have seen legitimate downloads enter the mainstream, The BBC's iPlayer is UK locations but t hat "on a big night where everyone is watching The Apprentice, the doubtless the most succes~ul service in the content-delivery networks'local UK servers UK, and its impact on the amount of data get maxed out, and they begin delivering being downloaded by households has been from a server in France", so significant that ISPs have called on the BBC to help fund upgrades to their networks. He added: "I think that just for streaming, iPlayer content is generally available to iPlayer uses about 60GB [or 7.5GB every $Kond[ of bandwidth in an evening peak,» stream, or as DRM-protected downloads. and explained that, once downloads and Initially, the BBC used Kontiki PZP to deliver downloads, but this attracted criticism from iPhone traffic W1'!re factored in, total iPlayer users who weren't happy to contrib ute traffic could peak at 1Z.5GB per second, and total 7 petabytes (7,OOO,OOOGB) per month, uploads to the system, The corporation says that its December 200B move to abandon P2P was partly in recognitio n of a lower than expected proportion of downloads, which it says ma ke up only around a tenth of iPlayer traffic. Downloads are currently served over HTIP by the BBC's own servers whic h are operated by Siemens in two independent facilities, Streaming content presents a bigger challenge for the BBC, which uses various CONs including Akamai and its com pditors, along with specialised services that stream to mobile devices ... iPiayer no longer uses a P2P delivery method

One longstanding solutiOll to this problem is for I$Ps to implement web caches within their infrastructure that store a local copy of remote files as they are downloaded by end-users, Once the first user has downloaded a file, a copy is saved in the cache, which makes it available to the I$P's other customers who want to download it. By caching popular files, I$Ps reduce download times and save themselves money by cutting the amount of data they transfer, Many corporate networks use internet caches for similar reasons, while all browsers store recently downloaded content within a temporary folder. When you visit multiple pages on the same website, your browser stores local copies of common files such as logos and the images for navigation buttons so they are already to hand, Caching has its limitations, though. Each source file must be downloaded at least once before it's stored in the cache, cached content may become outdated, and caches can't always store traffic sent through other protocols stich as HTI PS, which is encrypted. LIGHTENING THE LOAD While most web hosts have high-capacity connections to the internet that can more than handle the typical level of demand for that host's sites, this isn't the case for an end-user, who might still want to make a file available to large numbers of people. With a limited upload speed, and possibly a data cap, they could quickly be swamped by the demand for a popular file if the host made it available via a OIle-to -one protocol such as HTIP or FTP.However,asMP3sand other compressed music files grew in popularity, so did file-sharing software such as Napster, While today's Napster is a legitimate music download service, the numerous users of the original program were able to share music files freely, usually without the copyright holder's penrnission, At a few megabytes each, MP3s were considered large at a time when broadband was expensive, yet comparatively slow and dial-up internet access was still very common, Napster used peer-to -peer (PZP) protocols to distribute files between users, improving download speeds and removing the need for a central server that would have to store copyrighted materiaL Its popularity paved the way for other P2P services such as BitTorrent, which is widely used today, In a P2P distribution network (see diagram, above right), computers rtlnning the client software act as both servers and clients - able to download content that their users request, and subsequently provide it to other users within the network. Unlike a traditional one-to-one download, where the client starts with a single internet address where the file to be downloa ded 'lives', a P2P application must first discover a list of peers that may have the content it requires, COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

VIDEO AND AUDIO DOWNLOADS

Bits and pieces How HTTP and P2P f ile sharing works HTTP

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file that they are increasingly being used by commercial content providers as a way to reduce their own bandwidth requirements. One such example is the peer-assisted content delivery network Kont iki, which is used by video-on-demand services including 40D and Sky Anytime. The Kontiki client combines pieces of a file downloaded from a central server With other pieces exchanged over a P2P relationship with other end-users, speeding up each individual's download and reducing the server bandwidth. Kontiki claims to provide a 'netwocK topology aware' system, where centralised servers gather infocmation on connected clients and use it as the basis for intelligent connections between peers. These are optimised by proximity on the network, so priocity is given to peers within the same local network or on the s.ame ISP, with the aim of maximising the bandwidth between peers and minimising slow and unreliable net traffic.

EXPRESS DELIVERY While both conventional downloads and P2P transfers send data through the internet, another distribution mode! reduces reliance on the net to a minimum. So-called Content Delivery Netwocks {CDNS}, such as that run by the US firm Akilmai, use a privately owned network of Three PCs (leechers) want to download a file (divided into three pieces: A, B and C) from a servers and links to distribute content in parallel fourth PC (seed). With a one-to-one protocol such as HTIP (top left), a distinct copy of the file with internet traffic, reducing the reliance on congested and unpredictable public links. is sent to each PC at a high bandwidth cost to the seed. With P2P, (ll t he seed PC sends piece A to leecher I, (2) which forwards it to leecher 2 while the seed sends piece R to leecher 3. Next, In the most typical implementation, Akamai's (3) the seed sends piece C to leecher 2 and is no longer involved, while leecher 1 downloads network acts as a transparent mirror site for its piece R from leecher 3. (4) Leecher 3 now sends piece R to leecher 2, which sends piece C to customers' content. Visitocs to a client's website receive some data from the client's servers, but leecher 1. (5) In t he final step, PC 1 sends piece C to leecher 3. All three leechers can become new seeds for the fi le, but the init ial seed has only sent one copy, using a third of t he bandwidth requests for certain content - typjcaUy larger HTIP requ ired, The initial seed's bandwidth savings are far greater in real, far larger, peer groups. files or file types requiring optimum QoS - are redirected to Akamai's network, which .stores duplicates 01 that content on various servers As with the original Napster, this can be as network, removing the need for a central server. hosted around the world. The network uses infocmation such as the visitor's location to simple as contacting a centralised server that By using a technique known as Distributed Hash Tables {DHTs}, the responsibility for maintaining determine the most suitable server from which it maintains a list of participating clients and the files hosted by each, but although this approach should provide the requested data, which ideally the tracker data is spread among the nodes on the system in such a way that it is resilient to is efficient, it also means that a server problem traverses a minimal amount of the internet can halt the whole network. Another approach is any of the nodes dis.appearing - as frequently before reaching the visitor. While a (DN's customers must pay for using it to distribute to decentralise the netwock, so that each peer happens when a user loses their internet connection or simply tums their PC off. must find others by searching through a their content, they make s.avings by reducing pre-supplied list of those that are likely to be their bandWidth, and have greater control over working. along with its own locally held lisL REDUCING NETWORK TRAFFIC its quality and availability to the end user. Even when operating as a decentralised netwock, Although caching. P2P and CDNs are all FLOODING THE GROUP BitTorrent's use of DHTs provides a structured effective ways to streamline the delivery of On a decentralised, unstructured network, a content across the internet, various groups are way for a peer to find others who have the content it needs. This removes the need for working to improve current implementations, cOll1pt1ter that has established a suitable peer groop looks for content by 'flooding' the group flooded queries, reducing network traffic, but often combining existing ideas in new ways, with a request that goes to each member. This crucially, it also means that a file can be found One example is Proactive Network-Provider will discover peers with widely di.stributed and downloaded even if it 's hosted on only a Particip.ation for P2P, oc 'P4P', which provides a content such as a recent TV programme, for single active machine in the entire user base. way for ISPs to publish details of their network Ri!Torrent transfers data along the s.ame lines structure to P2P software. Armed with such e~ample. It's less likely to find rarer content thoogh, such as an obscure MP3 file, which may as other P2P protocols. A peer - known as a seed infocmation, P2P clients can prioritise peers that exist in the wider network of P2P users, but not - that hosts a file makes it available as a number are within the same ISP network - tests show of identically sized pieces, typically around within a given group of peers. Another downsi de that this improves download speeds and reduces 2S6KB. Another peer - known as a leecher of flooding is the large amount of signalling the data flowing between an I$P and the net. traffic it creates between P2P netwock nodes. Work is also under way to improve P2P's requests these pieces and, as they begin to arrive, Ri!Torrent, the most widely used P2P itself makes them available to ability to stream content in real time. Ne~tShare, described as an protocol at present, can operate as either a other peers who wish to centralised or decentralised netwock, The download the file. A key tactic open-source P2P videoFURTHER READING protocol ociginally relied on central servers is foc leechers to target the delivery platform, expands on BitTorrl!flt maintaining indexes of available content and rarest pieces of a file first. to the BitTorrent protocol While ~bi(torrem:.org 'trackers', which co-ocdinate communications balance the ava ilability of all it's not yet in widespread The P4P workJ Ilg group of its content, and by doing so, public use, its developers, the between peers who are sharing a specific file. www,OfJenp4p.II<'( While the introduction of multi-tracker maximise the speed at which P2P-Next Project, claim that it P2p-Next it can be downloaded. will allow everyone "to torrents helped to improve resilience in this WWw·plp-lI<'xtorg model. a later innovation was to introduce Peer-to-peer protocols are broadcast a live stream, such Ahmai HOVIdeo NetWOrk as a live webcam or TV channel, distributed trackers, where the information is so effective at reducing the ~akamili.«>m to millions of users". EJ spread throughout nodes on a SitTocrent load on the initial seed of a JANUARY 2010 . COMPUTERSHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

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Make your website w work on mobiles D..

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INTRODUCTION Remember when browsing the internet on your phone was OiIn

expensive curiosity? Mobile browsers w ere instruments of visual torture that mangled pages and kept you wlliting for seconds at iii time as they downloaded primitive card stacks. These days, however, it's become a matter of routine to check the latest cricket scores from II cllfe, emilil from the train and watc.h YouTube as you stand in line at the bank. The easy availability of always-connected mobile devices with all-you-can-eat browsing tariffs hilS changed the way we use the net forever. Catering for mobile viewers is no longer an optional extra for the jobbing web designer - it's a must. Fortuniiltety, it's eelsy to uter to their needs with it little bit of CSS and some snippets of PHP, as we'll show you here.

Nik Rawlinson Web deV!!loper

To ensure your website looks great on a handheld device, you need separate style sheets. Nik Rawlinson explains how to do it f 'IOU aren't designing ')lOur website for mobile browsers, you're weI! behind th e times. Thanks to a new generation of smartphones, iPhones and iPod Touches, a growing proportion of 'lour visitors are likely to be bored commuters, kids on the school bus, or disappointed dates who are passing the time before making their excuses. Do 'IOu wa nt 10 turn th em away? $tat(ounler's stat s have the iPhone and iPod Touch topping the mobile browser polls. Aggregating their ma<1
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The secret is to use one page, two style sheets and a few lines of PHP to detect which browser th e viewer is using. and then pick the most appropriate style sheet for the device through which the visitor is browsing.

IDENTITY PARADE Every browser - mobile or des~top - identifies ilself to th e .server from which it loads pages. Its name is part of the User Agent, which is a string of data containing its name, version and rendering engine. You can test this by creating a new page containing the following code:
Save it with a .php extension. upload it to your server arld browse to it twi ce: once in 'lour regular browser, and once in a rival browser instaUed on your machirle. Each will display a different line of da ta identifying the specific brow.ser build. In Internet Explorer, it will include the term 'MS IE'. In Safari, you should.see the word 'WebKi\', and if you view it on an iPhone or iPod Touch, it wiU irlclude the words 'i Phone' or 'iPod'. We can interrogate this information using PHP and a search command that hunts out a specific portion of text. That command is strpos, which looks for a string of teKt (hence the 'str' part of the command) and returns the position at which it appears (the 'pos' pa rt of th e command). The result is a number pirlpointing how ma ny characters into the data the string starts or, if it doesn't appear, returns a fail. This failure is key to the job in hand.

CODE BREAKERS As we want to create a page that

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automatically picks a regular style sheet for full-size browsers and a mob ile one for iPhones and iPod Touches, we can use the command to search through th e User Agerlt lor the terms 'iPhOrle' arld 'iPod' and, if eithe r appears, show just the mobile stylesheet. Create a new file (we've called ours news.php) and enter the code in the screenshot on the left (or download it from lWMI.shopperexpert.(Q.uk) . Pass this file to 'lour server and load it in your browser. The results aren't very inspiring, but they're really just the building blods: all the information is there on the page, and it just needs styling. The most important part is th e PHP code that appears betwee n the opening c:?php and the ?> that precedes the .::title> tag. This .section interrogates the User Agent and selVes up the appropriate style sheet. In this ca.se, we have created Orle style sheet lor iPhOrle and iPod Touch use rs, and another for visitors using a regular browser on a desktop or laptop COMPUTER SHOPPeR •


JANUARY 2010

WEB EXPERT computer. Section-by-section, it worts like this. The . There then follows this section: $brows er - $ _S E RV E R ( ' HTTP_USE ~ AG ENT ' ] ; Si phone - ' I Phone ': Si pod - ' IPod '; Here we define the variables. Every piece of data we want to use has to be stored in a variable. In this case, we've stored the User Agent in the variable Sbrowser, and our two search terms in the strings Siphone and Sipod. We could have defined the search terms wherever they're used in the code, but by assigning them to a variable we know that they can be changed in just one place and that. if they are used elsewhere on the page, each use will reflect the change. Once our variables are defined, we can start to use them. Now consider: I fl s t rp os (Sbrows e r, $1 phone )- f3 1se) We come to strpos. Start with a conditional statement (i0, which tests the validity of the bracketed statement that follows. In this line, we tell the browser to act only if the data stored in the variable Siphone doesn't appear within the User Agent data, which is stored in the variable Sbrowser - in other words, if the result is 'false'. If it is, it moves on to the next line. If not - if it returns a number indicating the position within Sbrowser where the contents of the variable Siphone appear - then it ignores the rest of the code unt il it finds an 'else' statement. Assuming the result is false, we know that the user isn't using ar"l iPhooe, so we need to check that they're not using an iPod Touch:

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This is in effect the same code as above, but this time it checks for the word 'iPod', which you'll remember is stored in the Sipod variable. If it doesn't find it (the result is 'false'), it will execute the line that follows. If not, it will do the same as it did with the iPhone search line and jump forward to the line mariced 'else'.

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STYLING IT UP Finally. we're going to oo t put some resuhs. Using the 'print' command is like punching a hole through the PHP code section to address the fabric of our page directly and add to it wha t appears between the single quote marks. In this instance, we're going to write a line of HTML into the header of the page, as it appears within tag braces. As such, it won't appear on the visitor's screen, but will make up a part of the un derlying code and repla ce all th e PHP code we're working on. The line is quite simple and performs just one function. It loads an external style sheet called 'notiphone.css·, which is the one used to style up any pages that are not displayed on an iPhone or iPod Touch and is thus optimised for regular, large displays: e l se pr i nt '< li nk href- " i phone .css" re l - 'styl es hee t " type- "text! css")' :

Now all we need to do is build the style sheets for each platform; again, you can download these from www.shopperexpert.co .uk.Thefiles iphone.css and notiphone.css are very similar. However, notiphone.css has a lot of posit ional information - pulling the link's sidebar to the right of the main body content and using the 'container'layer to constrict the elements of the page within a 600-pixellayer. The iphone.css file is less fiddly, as it lets the layers fill the full width of the screen to accommodate either hori zontal or vertical viewing. Mobile visitors are more likely to want to browse information more qu ickly, so we've also applied the visibility tag to any lines styled using ·.teaser'. These lines are the short descriptions that explain every headline. By hiding them, we have pulled the headlines closer together on the mobile screen without them crashing into one another. A greater number of links to more information will be displayed within a smaller space, allowing our mobile visitors to skim-read the news and quickly find their way to the full stories should they want to read more.

TAKING THINGS FURTHER This section of code tells the browser which style sheet to use if the result of either 'strpos' test returned anything other than 'false' to indicate that we were using an iPhone or an iPod Touch. It calls in a different style sheet called 'iphone.css·,

COMMAND PERFORMANCE At this point, we've done all our checking and we know that we're not using an iPhone or an iPod Touch. We could add further commands to check for Android, Symbian and mobile versions of Opera, but for the sake of brevity we'll assume we're happy with the results and act on them.

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You can create an unlimited number of style sheets for yoor websJte arld layer as many conditional strpos tests as necessary within the PHP segment to pick the right one. This gives you a great level of control over how your page renders in each particular browser. but it needn't be confIned to detecting mobile browsers. With just a few tweaks, it's an effective means of remaining backwards-compatible with older browsers while also catering for your most up-to-date audience. Furthermore, by using a refresh command within the text you 'print' on to the page, yoo can open different pages to users of older browsers. Online banks routinely use this tactic to restrict their services to the most modern and secure browsers. You'll find II list of common User Agent strings at http://whatsmyuseragent. com/CommonUserAgents.asp. m

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Next month DEOICATED WEB HOSTIN Ci Discover how a dedicated server could benefit yo ur website

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INTRODUCTION From party invitations to corporate logos, ma ny graphic des ign tas ks invo lve st acking im ages o n to p of each othe r. If th e results seem a little fillt , blend modes offer a dramat ic way to add some dynamism, maki ng t he laye rs in teract in a ll sorts o f exciting ways. Blend modes a lso have their uses in phot o -e diting t asks, from adjust ing t he lighting to radica lly a ltering colours. In t his works hop we'll explain how t o use blend modes, and reveal som e t echniques for getti ng th e most o ut o f th em.

Ben Pitt Mus icand photography expert

Photoshop Elements masterclass Adding some pizzazz to your digital photos is easy using blend modes in Photoshop Elements, explains Ben Pitt

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lend modes have been in Photoshop Elements

NUTS AND BOLTS

since version 1, inherited from the full version 01 Photoshop. They're probably the most

Sometimes it's enough just to browse through the blend modes and pick one that (ooks good, but knowing

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Often, all it takes is a quick browse through the list of modes to give a dramat ic boost to an image.

unless you see the effect as you read about it, so we recommend reading this section in front of your Pc.

LAYERING UP

brOild categories. After Normal and Dissolve, the next

Before we begin dissecting the ins and outs of blend modes, let's get up and running so you have something to experiment with. We'll be using Photoshop Elements, but you can follow this tutorial using any image editor that supports blend modes, such as Paint Shop Pro or Serif PhotoPlus. First open a pa ir of photos; pick those that aren't excessively busy, bright or da rk. Type Ctrl-A to select one of the images and Ctrl-C to copy it, then jump to the other image and type Ctrl-V to paste the first one over the second. If the Layers palette iso't visible on the right, open it from the Window menu. Next, select the upper layer and adjust the Opacity slider. This is like a volume control for the layer: 100 per cent makes the top layer completely cover the lower layer, Similarly. 0 per cent makes the upper layer disappear. Intermediate values blend the two layers. Now restore the Opacity to 100 per cent, dick on the word Normal just to the left and select Dissolve. At first, no change is visible, but if you adjust the Opacity, you'll notice that, rather than blending the colours of both images, each pixel shows either the upper or lower layer. The proportion of the two layers is defined by the Opacity value. Dissolve is the least interesting 01 the blend modes, as the results tend to look harsh and digital. Other blend modes combine layers in much more interesting ways, so work your way through the list to get an idea of what's possible. Once you've changed the blend mode with the mouse, you can jump to the next mode with the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard. Unlike Normal and Dissolve, all the other blend modes have the biggest effect when the Opacity is set to 100 per cent. If the effect is too garish, reduce the Opacity to tone it down.

group produces images that are darker than the original images. Darker Color is perhaps the simplest. It compares each pixel from the top layer with the corresponding one underneath, and shows whichever pixel is darker. Darken is very similar, but rather than compare the brightness of each pixel, it breaks them down into red, green and blue channels and applies the effect separately for each channeL As such, it can produce subtler results with less of a visible seam between the two layers, Multiply is the equivalent to having a slide projector with two slides jammed into the holder. If one 01 the layers is solid white, the other layer will be unchanged. If one is black, the resulting image will be black, Other colours will produce a mix of the two layers. with the brightness of each mult iplied together. For example, two pixels of mid -grey (SO per cent brightness) will produce a dark grey (25 per cent brightness, as 0.5 multiplied by 0.5 equals 0.25).

Premiere Elements groups its blend modes into

BURN, DODGE AND OVERLAY

Linear Burn works in a similar way to Multiply, but because colour values are subtracted rather than multiplied, the effect is generally stronger, producing a darker resulting image, Color Bum is similar to linear Burn, but it preserves intense colours in the lower layer. These five blend modes that darken images have equivalents in the next group, all of which lighten images. lighten and lighten Color are the opposites of Darken and Darken Color. They show whichever pixel is the brighter of the two layers, while lighten processes the red, green and blue channels separately. Screen is the inverse of Multiply. It's akin to having two projectors, each with its own slide, projected on to the same screen. The results tend to look pasty and overexposed, but for wispy, ethereal effects and to give a bright background for dark text, it's extremely useful. linear Dodge and Color Dodge are the opposites of linear Burn and Color Burn, and give brighter, punchier results than Screen. Th e next group of blend modes boost the contrast of images: bright areas get brighter and dark areas get darker. In Overlay mode, whenever a pi~el in the lower layer is darker than mid -grey, the upper pixel is combined in Multiply mode. If it's lighter than mid -grey, it's combined in Screen .to. The Colo. Dodge blend mode gi ves the impression that this text is sprayed onto the wall. while Linea. Light was used to superimpose the face mode. Th e result ing image tends to COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


MULTIMEDIA EXPERT keep a well-balanced p.1lette 01 brightness, making it one of the most useful blend modes. Hard Ught is e)(actly the same, e)(cept that it's the brightness of the upper rather than the lower layer that dictates whether each pi)(el is processed in Screen or Multiply mode. Solt Light is a subtler version of Hard light, making it a useful option for subtle blends that still have plenty of contrast.

MORE DRAMATIC EFFECTS Linear light is also very similar to Hard light, but because colours are added and subtracted rather than multiplied and divided, it tends to produce more dramatic colours. Vivid Light follows the 5
TIME TO GET CREATIVE With that dense burst of information out of the way, it's time to see what kinds of tricks these blend modes can get up to. One of the simplest, but most effective, techniques is to apply a blend mode to text over a photo or graphic. If the text is coloured black or white, it'll usually stay that

-.t Our original photo left) was given more shape and atmosphere by adding this graduated liliin the Multiply blend mode to darken the edges, and again in Soft Light mode to gently brighten the centre of the Image (top

colour, but chOOSing other colours brings out interesting textures within the te)(t. For our music flyer image at the foot 01 the opposite page, we've used off-white text in the Color Dodge blend mode, which has picked up the texture of the s<:ruffy wall to give the impression that the text is written on it. The accompanying face is on a layer set to linear Light, giving it plenty of contrast and saturation while retaining the texture of the wall.

TRIAL AND ERROR This example is typical of what comes from trial and error, but there are times when it pays to be more prescriptive. Our original photo of the sun shining through the trees (above) is OK, but there's not much shape to the composition. The edited photo has a vignette effect With darkened corners, which lool:s much more atmospheric. To create it, first we generated a circular gradient fill on the upper layer, fading from white in the centre to black at the edges. To do this, select the Gradient Tool and, at the top -left of the s<:reen, dick to view the colour options and select black to white. Click the circular gradient shape and draw the gradient by dragging the mouse across the image. This will produce a black blob on a white background, so type Ctrl-I to invert it. Setting this layer to Multiply means that the white area won't affect the photo, but the darker areas darken it. In our case, 100 per cent opacity looked too harsh, so we dropped it back to 87 per cent. We then duplicated this layer and set the duplicate to the Soft Light blend mode. This

darkened the edges a little more, but also gently brightened the centre.

BLUE SKY THINKING Washed out skies are common, but they're easy to fix using blend modes. The best way is to use them in conjunction With Adjustment Layers, which we covered in Multimedia Expert. Shopper 254 (see the PDf on this month's cover diSC). To create the blue sky in the left half of the photo (bottom left)' we started by clicking the Adjustment Layer button (a two-tone circle in the Layers palette) and selected Solid Color. We picked a sky blue from the colour palette and set the blend mode of thiS layer to Multiply. The blue tint was faded to nothing towards the horizon by applying a white-to -black gradient fill in the adjustment layer's mask. To do this, select the Gradient Tool, choose black to white under the colour options and linear Gradient as the gradient shape. Click on the adjustment layer, and then drag across the image to define where the layer begins and ends its fade. In our car image, we've left the bonnet at its original red colour. for the blue sections, we created a new layer, set it to Hue and added blue paint using the 8rush Tool. Using Hue rather than Color means that the greyer areas, such as the chrome trim and reflections, remain grey. Setting the purple area to Hue caused it to become unrealistically lurid, but we fixed this by reducing this layer'S opacity so it blended with the blue we had painted underneath. The rool was a little trickier. 80th Hue and Color alter the colour but not the luminosity, which caused the roof to take on a murky bronze colour when yellow was applied. For the vibrant yellow tone, we switched the blend mode to Screen. It's this immediacy that makes blend modes so satisfying to use. If something doesn't work, flip through the other modes to see what else does. We hope we've demonstrated how useful. easily accessible - and fun - they are.13J

Next month IM PROVE HOME MOVIE AUDIO

... We've used a blue adjustment layer set to Multiply blend mode on the left-hand side of the picture to deepen the colour of the sky

... The Hue blend mode allows us to paint new colours on the car panel. while retaining the brightness and saturation of the original Image

JANUARY 2010. COMPUTER SHOPPER


Make sure your video sounds professional with the help of our tips and tricks

I- Securing a Linux PC

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Linux may be more secure than Windows, as hackers write less malicious code to infiltrate it, but it's not immune to attack. Jon Thompson explains how to protect your Linux PC ackers are entirely motivated by money, and they'll use any trick they can to get information

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that they can either sell or use to make cash. While linux has been relatively immune to altack5, as its instal! base was too small, its increasing popularity

means that hackers now have the OS in their Sights. As such, you need to boost the security of your computer. For 5tarters, every computer on the internet needs a firewall to protect it from unwanted intrusions by hackers, for example. Increasingly, Linux also needs anti-virus protection. Security companies are now waking up to the threat to linux operating systems posed by malware, and have begun supplying basic linux versions of most of their products.

THE FIREWALL The purpose of a firewal! is to inspect every data packet attempting to enter or leave the computer, and decide whether or not to aUow it on its way or to block it. f irewal(s are very closely connected to the operating system itself and have to be capable of running at top spt'ed without introducing any significant drain on resources or network pt'rfomnance. Some commercial firewaUs have a vast range of features, However, at their most basic, firewal(s simply need to decide whether to allow or 'drop' packets based on a set of rules. Configuring a firewall is therefore a matter of writing these rules to tell it which types of networt traffic to let through, and which t o block. Linux traditionaUy comes with a firewall caUed iptables that requires system administrators to set it up using extensive configuration files, For the rest of us, however, there's a far friendlier firewall called Firestarter. like most firewalls commonly used on Microsoft Windows, this is an entirely graphical application that makes configuration very simple,

this is set to 'All opt'n source application' before entering the word 'firestarter' in the box to its right and pressing Return. The firestarter application should appear in the pane below the search box. Click the square tick box next to it to select it for installation and finally click the Apply Changes button at the bottom left of the window. Click the Apply button in the next pop-up to confimn that you want to in5taU Firestarter. You may be asked for your password in a subsequent pop-up. If this happens, enter it, click OK and Ubuntu wiU download and instaU the latest version of Firestarter. Ooce complete, click Close. Firestarter should now be installed and ready to protect your computer, To open Firestarter's user interface, click on the Administration option on the System menu. The first time you run it, after entering your password to confirm you want to make changes to the system, you'll see a configuration wizard. Click forward to continue. The next screen on the wizard allows you to assign the firewa Uto a specific network connection. This should defa ult to EthO if you have a single wired connection, which is correct, so leave it as it is. If you're using a wireless network card, ifU either be set as the default option or will be available on the IXlIl-down list. Your internet gateway usually assigns alll'Cs on your network an II' address when they boot up. Unless you've chosen to disable this and assign II' addresses manually. tick the box marked 'II' address is assigned via DHCP' before clicking the Forward button again. There's no need to enable connection sharing on your Ubuntu machine, so you can safely press forward aga in and finally click Save. The ma in Firestarter control panel now pops up. The firewall status pane should show it as being active.

ACTIVE CONNECTIONS INSTALLING FIRESTARTER

INTRODUCTION Linux is wide ly conside red t o be mo re secure than Microsoft Windows. This is partly du e t o

it s open-source nature, which allows anyone t o instant ly spot and report progriilmming errors and vulnera bilities in th e ope rating syst e m and its applicat ions. It's not immune from

attack, t hough. This month we'll show you how to boost security by configuring Linu x's built-in firewa ll a nd installing antivirus software.

Jan ThompsDn IT COlTespondent

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Firestarter is an open-source application. To install it, first click on the System menu, then Administration, and select Add/Remove from the menu. In the left-hand pane of the subsequent window, click on the Internet category. There's a pull-down menu at the top of the window marked Show. Ensure that

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There are two important buttons on the Firestarter control panel. The first is Lock Firewall. When you hit this, Ubuntu's firewall immediately blocks all incoming and outgoing traffic and the status icon changes to a padlock. It's the button you should click if you think something suspicious is happening. Clicking this bulton for a second time unlocks the firewall and it continues

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JANUARY 2010

LINUX EXPERT

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allowing traffic to pass through it as usual subject to its security rules, of (ourse, which we'll

online). When both HTTP and HTTPSruleshave been created, press Apply Policy. Try surfing again and everything should work. smoothly. If you normally send and receive email from Ubuntu and it now doesn't work, add rules to the list for SMTP and POP3. Also, add a rule for Samba il you mount Windows shares. If you need to add a rule for a port that's not named on the list, simply enter its number in the input box. To find out the port number for a particular type of traffic, visit hrtpJ/tinyurl.com/portnumbers.

come to in a moment.

The second important button is Stop FirewalL When yoo press this, the status changes to Disabled. This isn't a re<:ommended setting to use other than briefly when you believe there's a

problem with the firewall blocking legitimate traffic. Another useful part to the control panel is Active Connections. Click the arrow button ne~t to this and the display extends to show the connections you have to the outside world.

Open labs in Firefox, run Skype or an instant

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

messenger applica tion, and aU your external connections will be listed here.

Due to its increased popularity, Linux is beginning to need virus protection. We're going to show you how to download and install the popular Sit Defender Anti-Virus package. This offers manual scanning. but with some ni fty options. The installation process requires you to use the command line, but by following our instructions, it'll still be a simple process. First, you need to obtain a free personalU5e licence from httpJ/tinyur/.com/ydun6v. Clickon Request Free License, enter your name, email address and country, dic k the tick box to confirm you're a private user and hit Send. Vour licence key will be emailed to you. Next, go to httpJ/tinyurl.com/dymSjband dick the i586.deb,run package if you have a 32-bit machi ne. Otherwise, click the amd64.deb. run package. This opens the download ma r"lager. Select 'Save file' and finaHy dick OK. Once downloaded, click on Accessories on the desktop's Applications menu and select Terminal. This opens a terminal window. In it, enter the lollowing command:

PERMISSIVE MODE Firestarter works in two modes, The first is called Permissive and is the dela ult setting, This allows aU trallic to enter and leave the computer except for the ports the user tells it to block, The second mode is called Restrictive, which blocks aU trallic except lor the datallow present on the ports you explicitly allow. For the best security, Firestarter should run in this second mode so that it blocks aU trallic except the stull you explicitly allow. It blocks only outgoing traffic, not incoming traffic, but this is enough to stop hackers as it prevents your computer from replying to any malicious pac~ets. To put Firestarter into Restrictive mode,lirst dick the Policies tab just under the Lock Firewal! button. Now click the Editing pull-down menu and select 'Outbound traffic policy'. This causes two radio buttons to be displayed directly undemeath the menu. Select the second, marked Restrictive by default, whitelist traffic. Press the Apply Policy button at the top of the window and open a web browser, Alter a few seconds of trying to connect, the browser will return an error message because Firestarter is blocking all outgoing trallic. Let's now allow HTTPand HTTPS traffic through the firewall so that web browsing will worl:. In the lower pane of the Policies tab, and with Outbound trallic policy selected, right-dick on the window's bottom pane and select Add Rule. This produces a small pop-up window. Select HTTP from its pull-down menu. Under the option entitled 'When the source is', choose Anyone. Click the Add button to add your new rule to the list and it will automat ically activate. Do the same for HTTPS (the secure version of the HTTPprotocolusedwhenbuyingthings

cd IDesktop Now enter the lollowing (noting the capital Bof 'Bif), but instead of hi tting return, press the t ab

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sudo sh BI t Hit Return and you'll be asked for your password. Enter it and the BitDelender licence agreement appears. Hit the space bar to scroll through it a page at a time. Once at the bottom, you'll be asked to enter the word 'Accept', Do 50 and BitDefender installs itself. The installation process will also ask il you war"lt a GUI inSlaUed. Enter the upper-case letter Vand press Return . Once insta\lation is complete, using BitDelencer is very simple. Open it from the System Tools menu 01 the desktop's Applications menu. Press Set New Key and enter the personal licence key emailI'd to you earlier. Now press the Update button to download the latest virus definitions, To scar"l a directory structure for malware, press the Scanner button, select the directory and finally dick Open.

CONFIGURING BITDEFENDER Hit the Settings button on the BitDefender interface and you'll see various basic, but useful. options. Of these, the General Settings pa ne is the most useful. The option to ke ep the application running in the background ensures that the anti-virus engine remains active after you've dosed its control panel. This makes subsequent scans faster, but increases memory and pro ce5sor usage. Allied to this 5etting is 'Pre-load ant i-virus engines on startup'. This loads various malware detection modules ar"ld keeps them loaded between scans rather than loading them for each one, Vou can either exit or simply hide the BitDefender control panel when not in use with the two buttons at the bottom right 01 the screen. When hidden, the red BitDelender logo appears on the right of the desktop's menu bar. Click this and the interface opens again. If you opt to 'Hide ma in window on startup', when you run BitDelender, its icon will appear on the desktop's menu bar rather than the lull interface opening. This is useful if you use the 'Enable file drop lone' option, With this option activated, you'll see a large BitDelender icon on the desktop. Drag and drop the file or directory you want scanning onto this and it provides a convenient method of canying out scans. Nothing's actua!ly moved; it's merely a way of te!ling SitDefender what to scan. If you enable 'Scan on drop', then when you drag and drop a file or directory on to the Drop Zone icon, it'll instantly be scanned. Otherwise, the Drop Zone accepts files for 5Car"lning and displays a numeric tally as you add more. If you want to. you can right-click on its icon and select 'Start scanning', to scan the lot in one go. t!]

Next month STORE FILES SAFELY

... To scan a file or folder for viruses and malware, simply open It lind let BltDefender do its stuff

Click: dell.co.uk

key. This will fill in the long filename for the downloaded BitDefender package:

We show you how to back up everything from single files to entire disks

Call: 0844 444 3242


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Security isn't just about preventing hackers from attacking your PC over the net, it's about ensuring your data is safe . David Ludlow explains how to back up your personal files M

aking a backup of your data

IS

the only way

to make sure It's safe If you copy aU the files on your computer to an external storage area, It doesn't matter If your PC IS stolen Of breaks down

:::~:"~:~"o b. , ,"cod '",",w PC Using your optical drive to make bac~ups may seem a good idea. After all, the media is cheap (CDs cost less than 15p each and 8.5GB dual-layer DVDs cost PRO Che~p ~ nd MSY around GOp) and capacities are relatively high. However, CON Hard t o update backups you can only write to a CD BEST FOR Ardllvlng files or DVD once, unless you that woo't need chllnglng buy pricier rewritable discs. such liS digital photos This means that making a copy of your documents folder will require a new disc every time you do SO. This soon becomes impractical. These discs can still be useful. though. Onceyou've processed your photos and edited them, it's unlikely you'll ever go back an d change them again. These files can be copied to disc and stored. This is ca\led archiving. and it's different to bac~ing up. If you're serious abou t digital photography, take two copies of each set and keep OfIe at home and store one with a friend or family member who lives at a different address. This way, if the worst happens and your PC is stolen or destroyed by fire, you still have a copy of your pictures.

INTRODUCTION While it's eels)' to think of computer sKurity ils simply being iI way to prevent hackers from attacking you or avoiding viruses, it's a lot

mOl'"e than that. In reality, security is about protecting your data. This means taking regular backups of your important files 50 that if your computer is lost, stolen or destroyed by "",,ide"t, you haven't lost your woB. ln this Security Expert, we'll examine where you should back your data up to and making online backups. Our online backup steps were performed using Webroot Internet Security Essentials (www.webroot. com) , but these are similar to many online backup packages.

David LudlDw Edito r

EXTERNAL HARD DISK An external hard dis~ is one of the best ways to store backups. As it's external, you can quickly plug it into another computer. They are also fantastic value, with 500GB of storage PRO Simple to connect costing around iSS. CON WorI
There are lots of different ways to make backups and plenty of options when it comes to storing them, too. Here, we'll look at the some of the most practical solut ions for 510ring all your files so you can be sure your data is perfectly safe should the worst happen.

NETWORK STORAGE If you have more than one computer, consider using a network-attached storage (NAS) device to store your backups. A combination of an external PRO lots of people hard disk and a network can bac k up at once port, a NAS device can be CON Clln be hard to accessed from any config ure; relatively slow network-connected BEST FOR Homes with multiple computers computer in your home. The whole family can use one to share files and store backups centrally. You can even access some NAS devices over the internet. Prices are reasonable, With 500GB devices currently available for around £80. Aside from being able to share storage around your home, NAS devices can be placed out of the way, such as in the loft. Look for a device that contains multiple hard disks and supports RAID 1 (mirroring) or 5 (parity). These mean that your data is protected against a single disk failing in the NAS, so you always have some protection against mechanical faults .

ONUNE Online storage is rapidly becoming more popular as broadband speeds increase. The systems, such as those included in Webroot's Internet Security Essentials, work by giving 'Iou storage PRO e..ckup s safe space that you can use from local disasters over the internet CON Slow; II b>lckup This means that your can break your backups can't be stolen flllr-u511ge p olicy along with your computer, BEST FOR Important files and can't be burnt down with 'lour house. The companies providing these services ma~e sure that 'lour data is backed up again, 50 it's the most secure method of backup that you can make. As online storage can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, you can easily back up your data on the move. The biggest problem with these services is the speed at which they wor~. All broadband connections have slower upload speeds than download speeds, and the fastest upload speed you can get is around 1Mbit/s (122Kbit/s). This means you could spend days backing up. With most broadband upload speeds even slower, you're loo~ing at a lot longer. Also, be careful that backing up your data doesn't aCCidentally exceed any monthly download limits on your connection. COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


SECURITY EXPERT

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• You ~Iso need to select how often you want to back UP your chosen files and folders

• You c~n view backups by dilte ~ nd flIter the types of files you want to restore at any time

MAKING AN ONUNE BACKUP

CHOOSE WHAT TO BACK UP

On ce you've chosen your backup media you can use your favouri te backup 1001, or the built-in

We'd recommend that you choose which files and folders you wan t to back up manually, making sure that you only select the most important and valuable files to store online. Other files can be backed up using alternative methods to one of the other storage methods we've outlined. Put t icks in the boxes of the folders and files that you wan t to back up. The meter at the bottom of the screen shows you how much disk space you choices will ta~e up. You'll also get a warning if you exceed your online storage limit. Click Next when you're done and you'll be prompted to set your backup schedule. You can select how often the backup fI.lns in terms of weeks, although the default of once a week is sufficient. Then select which days you want the backup to run. For important files, selecting every day is a good option. Click Next and then Next agai n. On the following screen you'll see a summary of your backup settings. Click Finish to apply them. You should run a backup manually now, so that your files will be safe in the event of a problem. Click the Backup Now button. You'll get a pop·up message from the Notificat ion Area telling you that your files are being backed up. You can use the Backup Now button every time you want to

back up files, which is advisable if you've just created or edited an important document.

Windows application. to save copies 01 your files. However. for really important files it's wOI'th backing up online. Here we're using Webroot Backup, which is included as part of Webroot Internet Security Essent ials. The steps here are similar for oth er online backup services.

ACCESS BACKUP SETTING To access your backup settings. dooble-click the Webroot icon in Windows' Notification Area. If you haven't yet created your free
then type a username and password into the web page, Once you've done this it will take up to an hour for your account to be created. Restart your computer and you'll be prompted to type in your online backup usemame and password. You can t ick the box to remember your password. Go bad to the Webroot Internet Security Essentials main window and you can click on the Backup button to configure your backup settings. By defa ult the software will be set to b.1ck up all the user accounts on your computer, which is bound to exceed your 2GB limit. You can click the Increase Online Storage Button link and upgrade your space to between 5GB and 50GB for between £20 and £50 per year.

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EASY ONLINE ACCESS One of the advantages of online backups is that you can access your files from anywhere. for Web root just visit http://myaccounr. webroorbackup.com and log on to the web page using your username and account. Click Manage Shares and you can browse through any files that you have backed up. Click on the Share\ Recover link next to any file 0( folder for more options. On the next page cliding the file or folder will download it to your Pc. Click the Share button and you can send a friend a link to the file for them to down!OiId.lt's a handy way to share files that are too large to email. lD

Next month PROTECT YOUR KIDS ONLINE

c.:• You can vIew your backup's current status. so you c~n see how long it will t ~ke to complete

RESTORE FILES Clicking the Restore Now button under Backup lets get your files back. If you click Next on the first screen you can view aU your backed· up files, but you can also select a date if you know when your file was backed up or if you want to restore to a specific version. You can also filter backedup files by type, making it easier to find one. On the next screen, put a tick next to the folders and files you want to restore and dick Next. You then get the option to restore files to the ir original location or to a new one. Restoring to a new location makes sense if you want to compare muhiple versions of files. Click Next thell Finish to restore your files.

• Download files from your online account or share them with friends via ~ link in ~n emllil

How to protect your children by specifying which websites they can and can't visit

• Stop vi ruses and spyware • Block hackers alld protect privacy • Optimize speed and performance • Automatic file backup • Free online support and local-rate phone assistance

Order online at www.webroot.co.uk/wise

Owebroot" www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

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INTRODUCTION As we SilW from last month 's Advanced Project5, route.manufacturers pack the ir devices full of advanced features to make them perform II range of different jobs. This month we'll show you how to activate them and go one step further. As with Last month, we're showing you how to use features that shoold be included with most routers, but there's no guarantee that yours will have all the options WI! mention. Before

you give up, check your router's manual - router manufacturers ilil put options in different plac!!s, so it may just be that you 're

Adv~nced ~outer

configuration Last month we showed you how to deal with your router's IP address settings, this month David Ludlow explains some of its more advanced settings and shows you how to use them nee you've got your router working the way you want it to, there's nothing more frustrating that having a serious problem that requires you to reset the whole thing and start all over again. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way: it's easy to bdc~ up and restore your rou ter's configuration. First, to make a backup you need to log on to your router's web-based management page. In one of the menus (often the Advanced or Backup Settings menu) you shoold see an option for configuration, Select this, the n dic~ the button to make a bdc~up of your current settings. A file will be downloa ded to your Pc. Go to the folder Ihat Ihis file was downloaded to and copy your router configuration to a sale place. II you make multiple backups as you change settings. it's worth renaming each configuration file to something especiany memorable, such as 'WPA secu rity with FTPportforwarding'. That way, you'll know which file 10 restore at a later date if anything goes wrong. It's just as easy to nash your configuration bad to a different point. On the s.ame menu as the backup setting you'll have the option to choose a configuration file. Select this, navigate to a bdckup file and click the button to reSlore your configuration to the settings kept in your backup file. Any changes made since you created the backup will be lost, so only use this option when it's absolutely necess.ary, Finally, most models will also provide a button that erases all settings and puts the router bdd :. into its Default mode. This is useful if yoo're suffering from multiple problems and can't work oot which setting is causing the problem and need to start all over again,

D

DIAGNOSIS MURDER II can often seem that problems with the internet are caused by your router, but there's a simple way to ched if this is the case using yoor router's built-in diagnostic options (often listed under Advanced), These usually offer three use ful tools. First, there's the DNS lookup test. This lets you type in a web address and find oollhe resulting IP address. For e)(ample, www.goog/e. co.uk has an IP address of 209.85.227.99. If this test

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works you know Ihal your router is connected to the intemet properly and can locate websites. Next is the Ping test. This lets you see if a computer on the internet or your local network is alive and responding. For exam ple, if we were to use our rou ter to ping 209.85.227.99 we'd be t esting that our internet connection was working to www.googie.co.u/t If you get an error with this test it could just mean that the website you're trying to ping is down or set up not to respond to ping requests, Try a different site, first using the DNS tools to get an IP address. If you get a response from a website, it shows that your internet connection is working satisfactorily. fina lly, your diagnostics tools will also let you reboot your router without physically having to tum off the power. This is reaUy useful if yoo've got a problem, such as a computer that can't access the intern et, as rebooting your router can fi)( in termittent faults. You can also pe rform this aClion remotely.

REMOTE ACCESS There are times where it's handy to be able to access your router's manageme nt pilges remotely over the internet. In particular, it's useful if you're the only tech-sawy person in the house and wanl to be able 10 deal with problems from anywhere or when you're trying to get port forwarding to work. Fortunately, all routers let yoo tum on remote management. Look for the relevant option in your router's management pilges. When you find il yoo'li see a range of options. First is the option to turn remote management on, Next, you'll need to select which computers can access the remote maroagement page by specifying their IP address. This needs to be the external IP address of the remole network, rather than your PC's internallP add ress, but you're unlikely to know the extemallP addresses 01 the network you'll be using. Finally, you can specify on which port you want to connect to the management page. This needs to be typed in directly after your router'S extemallP address, such as 83.7S.61.10:8080, or its dynamiC DNS hostname, such as shopper.homeltp.net:8080.

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David LudlDw Edito r '" 11'. ~Iw~y. wi.e 10 b;oock up ~n d re.lore your rouler'. conliguratiOll. SO that yoo can restore settings quickly

'" You, ,oule,'s diagnoslics p3ge leis you 110.1 you, internet connection and reboot the device COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


ADVANCED PROJECTS

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& II'S possible 10 set up remot e access to your compute r through your ro uter settings, but only allo w thi s high leve l of access to you r PC 11 11'S vital

Selecting a different port number other than the usual port 80 for web traffic is good for two reasons: fir5t, a hacker won't stumble across it by simply point ing a web browser at 'lour home network and try to hack in; second, it leaves port 80 free to be used for port forwarding if you

want to set up your own web server. We recommend using remote management sparingly for those times when you have to get access to your router. Make sure that you set a

long and difficult-to-guess password to prevent hackers from gaining entry to your rooter and causing damage by altering settings_

NETWORK HOPPING If you're worried that your network may have been compromised, your router gives you a handy way to tell who's currently connected. Look for the Attached Devices or similar setting in your router's menu. Select this and yoo'li be presented wit h a list of all the devices that are connected to your router. This will include the connected device's current IP address, its MAC (hardware) address and, if available, its device name (for a PC thiS will be the computer's na me as set in Windows). If you spot any computers in there that aren't your own, someone has managed to get on your network. Change your wireless encryption password immediately to block their access, From time to time router manufacturers, just like all other hardware ma nufacturers, will release updates 10( their products. These will either add new features, fix problems in the older

... You can often configure the advanced setti ngs on your router SO that tt>e Wireless network is avai lable only duting cenaln ti mes of the day

firmware or increase reliability. It's likely that yoor router will have an update available for it, particularly as the S02.111'1 sta ndard has now been ratified, meaning thilt Draft-N products need to be upgraded to meet the new standard. You should only ever upgrade your router from a PC that's attached via a cable; doing an upgrade from a wireless PC could break yoor router if the network connection is lost part-way through the upgrade procedure.

UPGRADE YOUR FIRMWARE To find out if yoo need to upgrade the firmware, first go to your rooter's management pages and look for the Status or Informat ion option. This should tell you which version of firmware your router is currentiy running. Next, find out the model of yoor router. This should be printed on the router itself. Make a note of the exact model number, including the revision, as upgrading to the wrong firmware coold cause a range of moderately serious problems. When you've noted down yoor router's model and firmware version, visit the ma nufacturer's website and look for the support section. Find the support p.lges for your specific model and download the latest firmware, making sure that this is a higher number than the one that's currently installed. With the file downloaded, switch lxick to yoor router's management pages. Make sure yoo've backed up your router's configuration, as sometimes firmware updates will reset the router back to the faClDIY default settings.

NUGIAI!

Find the Upgrade option in your rooter's settings and click the button to choose the file to upgra de. Navigate to the file that you've downloaded, then select it. Click the button to upgrade and let the process begin. Your rooter will reboot when the upgrade has completed. Check that all your settings are correct, and upload your saved configuration file if necessary. Tweaking your settings doesn't end t here, and many modem mode15 have a selection of advanced too15, such as the ability to block specific websites. These filtering tools tend to be very simplistic, so avoid using them if yoo can, Our feature next month wiH show you how to add web filtering to your network lor free.

QUALITY OF SERVICE Other routers also have quality of service (QoS) settings, which let you prioritise traffic, such as voice caUs, These can be easy to set up, but some routers require yoo to configure services manuaUy. This is very similar to the way that yoo configure services for port forwarding (see last month's Advanced Projects for more detai15). However, befo re you dwe into this configuration, ask yourself: do I need QoS? If you make a lot of voice calls and stream a lot of video and don't notice any problems, there's no need to tinker with any of the settings; if yoo do get regular problems, QoS could well help. One other sett ing to look out for, which is becoming a lot more popular on modem routers, is an option to schedule the times when the wireless netwO(k is turned on. This doesn't save much power, but it means that it's harder for hackers to get on yoor home network, as yoo can tum it off when you know you're not using it. This setting can be useful if yoo're concerned aboot the security of your network, but we're not overly convinced that the extra protection it offers is worth the hassle of not always having your wireless network available, 1!J

Next month

... Upgradi ng you r router's firmware can improve reli abi lity as well as add more features or f l~ bugs

... With this view (under Maintenance), you can easily see which pes are attached to your router

JANUARY 2010. COMPUTERSHOPPER www.freedowns.net & www.journal-plaza.net

MEDIA CENTER:THE ULTI MATEGUI DE Find out how to tum Media Center into the ultimate entertainment centre, with free online streaming TV stations and more

HELPFILE WinSock not working

Q

I have a PC running Windows XP w ith

netsh winsock reset catalog

Service Pack 3. I've installed Internet

Explorer 8, Adobe At:robat 7 and Micr050ft Office 2003, but no other programs.

After a few weeks, my internet and network connection started to tennioate abruptly for no apparent reason, usually between three and five hours after starting. It does this every day, and I have to reboot the PC to regain the mnnection. I've run the Diagnostk Tool, ,lnd the error

message is: "Error attempting to validate the WinSock base providers: 2. Not all base service provider entries could be found in the WinSock catalog. A Reset is needed."

The only downside of this method is that it resets Win Sock to its default settings, so applications that rely on it, such as Google Desktop, will no longer wor\( and will have to be reinstalled. If the problem returns, it's likely that you have some spyware or a virus on your Pc. If you haven't got a security suite at the moment, we recommend that you download Ad-Aware free (www.lavasoft.wm)aMAvast! Home Edition (www.avast.com).Usetheseproductsto scan your hard disk thoroughly and remOlle any suspicious software. You may also need to use the two commands above to complete the process,

Can you identify the problem, and more importantly, how un I fix it? BL Faulkner

A

Win Sock is used by all networl<: applications

to access Windows' TCP/IP stack (the protocol used to communicate over the internet). In your case, it woold appear that something has corrupted the catalog of applications. The way to reset the infonl1ation is to get a command prompt up from the Start menu. First, you can try to reset the Windows T(P/IP stack to its defaults by typing in; netsh in tip reset Try your networ\( connection again to see if this fi~es your problem, If it doesn't you may need to reset the WinSock catalog, At a command prompt type:

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should scan your system for spyware II Windows to report erron with WinSock

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Can't highlight text in Word 2007 I've just hit a really annoying problem in running Word in Safe mode. To do this. open a Run Word 2007. I pasted some teKt from a bo~ by typing run in Vista's search box, and type 'winword la' without the quotes. Word should now web page into a blank document On<:! morning. and was a little bemused when I found load without any Add-Ins, and you should be able to that I couldn't select any text in it. I wondered if select text and change options withoot any problems. there was something unusual about the text I'd The next job is to find out which Add-In is causing pasted, as if it was writethe problem. Open Word Options, protected, but when I tried other which you'll find lurking at the documents on my hard disk, I bottom of Word's Start menu. found the same problem. Navigate to Add-Ins. select I looked in the Options Word Add-Ins from the Manage section, but I can't select drop-down box and a new window anything there, apart from the will open. Here, you can uncheck all your Add-Ins, and then go top-most Popular category. Apart from this, everything through the process of re-enabling else on my PC, which is ronning them one by one until the Vista, seems to be working fine. problem appears again. How can I fix this? Obviously, if you can live without the offending Add-In, Tony Smart ... _ 0\... _ _ _ _ the problem is solved. Otherwise, It's likely that the (_ ] CD "" -1 you may have to look fora 1;;;"_0:..___';;;__;"__:1 specific solution on forums or problem lies with a plug-in - or an Add-In, contact the Add-In provider's • Word Add·lns can sometimes cause as they're known in Word 2007. support to try to find a way to havoc, such as preventing you selecting te.t and changing options You can easily check this by fix the incompatibility.

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HELPFILE

Can I remove copy protection?

HELPFILE

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David LudlDw David has been writing about technology for 11 years and specialises in solvil"lg networking and PC hardware problems, having previously worked in IT support.

Q

I recently bought some musk tracks from the Nokia store and would like to put them on my ,Pod. Unfortunately, all the tracks are in WMA format and DRM protected. Is there any way to n!move the protection so that L

can uS!! these files anywhere? Daniel Burling

A

Your experts

The technical answer is that Ihere are applications that will remove the protection

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from DRM-protected WMA tracks; however,

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it's illegal to do so. Unfortunately. although the

other music stores have started to sell DRM-free tracks, Nokia is dragging its heels and has yet to do the same, although there are rumours that it will drop ORM in 2010. Even if that happens, you'll be st uck with your DRM -protected music tracks. The best advice we can offer is to buy the tracks again from a ORM -free Slore,

such as Amazon.co.uk or iTunes. We prefer Amazon, as

& It's best to buy music downloads trom stores such as Amazon, as the files are not DRM protected

its MP3 file downloads will play on anything. whereas Apple insists on using its own AAC format.

How do I maximise my programs? I'm running Windows Vista Home application, it should be ma~imised. Repeat these steps Premium. I like my applications for every application that you wal"lt to appear and Windows Explorer to maximised. If you want Windows stilrt with their windows maximised. ~~~~;;;=;;:;~~i Explorer to start maximised, select its .. - _ _ shortcut icon from the Start menu and I've tried setting Explorer to remember each folder'S view, but I r--'_ _ "'";:;:" follow the steps above. If your applications WOl"I't start still can't make all Windows appear IJ - maximised. Can you help? ma ximised, there's a trick you can try Peter Johnson that achieves a similar effect manually. Simply start an application and then The solution to your problem resize its window until it fills the entire has two parts, one for screen (place the cursor on any side of • applications and one for the wil"ldow ul"ltil it becomes a --~. double-headed arrow icol"I. then click folders. First, each application has to be ~-manually told to open maximised. You and drag to make the window bigger). can do this by right -clicking a program's When you're happy with the size and icon and selecting Properties. Click On position, close the application. Next the Shortcut tab and change the Run time you start the application, it will be drop -down menu to Maximised, then .. You need to tell applications the same size and in the same posi tion . click OK. The next time you run the to start maxlmlsed This worb with all applications.

J im Martin Having reviewed PCs for over 11 years arld with a keen interest in digital video and photography, Jim cal"l solve your hardware and productivity problems. Simon Edwards With more than 16 years of PC experience, focused on protectil"lg computer users from hackers and other threats, Simon's the best man to help solve security woes.

Q

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DFFICE HELP

144

Kay Ewbank Database developer al"ld

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Reader's tip uSB keybmrd SL..ppuct 1'1 BIOS I was interested to read about Bill Selecting the Integrated Peripherals menu and Wood's problem of an inactive keyboard enabling USB keyboard support fixed the problem. Daug Morrison, [email protected] while installing Windows XP (Helpfile, Shopper 261) al"ld believe that there may be another solution. As Bill states, the FB key doesn't work because "the keyboard is disabled at this pointN. Your solution is that the keyboard may have an 'F' lock, which has to be enabled/disabled to allow the 'F' keys to wor'k. However, having encountered a similar issue recently, ' think the problem lies in the BIOS configuration. I recommend that Bill enters the BIOS al"ld el"lsures that the keyboard is active during the installation process. For me, the problem occurred on myoid PC, which had & Checking that your USB keyboard is enabled in the BIOS could solve the problem of 31"11t"1actlve keyboard during Wll"ldows Instlllllltlol"l an MSI92SX Neo motherboard.

ISZI


CONTACTS Please contact t he relevant department at the email address listed above. You can also write to us at: Help Computer Shopper 30 Cleveland Street London W lT 4JD

Please try to give full details of your problem. We need an email address or daytime and evening telephone numbers in case we l"Ieed more information. Although the policy of ComputerShopper is not to publish readers' email addresses, we include them in Help so that other readers with experience of similar problems can share their solution (please also cc al"ly comments to the relevant Help department above). If you would prefer not to have your email address published, please say so. @

HELPFILE

Where are bookmarks and autocomplete file?

Q

I've just upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista. Following the advice in

your feature last month, I installed

it on a new hard disk. I still have the old disk

in the PC and have already transferred my documents to the new disk. Howeve r, I want to move my Google Chrome bookmilrks across, but I can't find where they're stored.

I've also taken the opportunity to upgrade from Office 2003 to 2007, and while everything works fine, I'm wondering jf there's a way to get Outlook 2007 to

complete recently used email addresses automatically, rather than me having to type them in. Does Outlook store this information in a file somewhere? Chris Martin

A

The official way to transfer your

Chrome bookmarks is to use the Bookmark Manager to e ~port them. In Chrome, press Ctd-Shift-Band choose Export bookmarks .. . from the Tools menu. This will save the bookmarks as an HTMl document (in a similar lashiooto Internet Explorer 8, below), which you can then import using the Import bookmarks .. . command on your new installation. If you haven't deleted the Windows folder on your old hard disk, you could boot your PC from it and do this.

A quicker way is to navigate to the bool<;marks file on your old hard disk and copy it to the corresponding folder on your new disk. You·ll need to type in the path, as the AppData folder is hidden in the Users folder in both Vista and ,Windows 7. The path to the folder, assuming E is the drive le tter of your old .;; hard disk, is: E:\Users\\ '...... --AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Deiault. In this folde r you should see two fi les: Bookmarks and Bookmarks. • bak. Copy these to the same lolder on your new hard disk, load Chrome and your bookmarks should be there. If the Bookmarks bar isn't visible. hit Ctri-B. You're also in luck regarding Outlook's autocomplete feature. The file ... Chrome stores its bookmar1 \AppData\ Roaming\Microsoft\ folder and search options. Click the View tab and Outlook. Anyone running Windows XP can fin d untick the 'Hide extensions for known file types' box. Simply copy the file into the corresponding the fi le in :\Documents and Settings\ \Applicatioo Data\ folder on your new hard disk. II you're using Microsoft\Outlook different account names for Outlool<; and your To make it easier to find the file, you might Vista installatioo, you may need to rename the want to turn on filename extensions, as they're file to match the existing .nk2 file you'll find in you r Outlook 2007 folder. You'll need to dose hidde n by default in Windows 7, just as they were in Vista. To do this, click the Organize Outlook to overwrite the file.

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In your article on installing Windows 7 (Shopper 261) I noticed that in one step there was a 100MB System Reserved p
I understand that the European version of Windows 7 won't include Intemet Explorer. I have backed up IEB and, independently, my Favorites. Could you please tell me how, when the time comes, I can install a browser, as presumably I can't access the internet until I have one. I may not choose IE8, of wurse. Also, how do I im port Favorites into IE8 as I can't find an import facility. [email protected]

Brian Gravestcx:k

The System Reserved partition is creat ed automatically by the Windows 7 installer. It's used by Bitlocker, the encryption tool in Wind ows 7 Ultimate. II you won't use Ultima te or Bitlocker, you don't technically need it, but it's best to leave it alooe, as it's ooly small and won't cause any damage.

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... WIJldows 7 makes a Syslem Reserved partition automatiCillly du ri ng installation

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There's been a lot of confusioo surrounding Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8, but t he final verdict is that the browser will ship with the OS. When you first load it, you'll be given the chance to change the default search provider, but you'll have to install alternative browsers yourself. We're not quite sure what you mean by backing up IEB, but it certainly makes sense to save your Favourites. We'll explain both the export and import process here, just in case you've used a different method . To e~port your Favorites folder from Internet Explorer, click favorites, click the down-arrow next to Add to favorites and then click Import and Export. Click Export to a file, and then Next. Tick the Favorites tickbox and click Next. Select the Favorites folder you want to export. If you want to export all Favorites, select the top-level Favorites folder. Otherwise, select the individual folder you want to export, then click Next. You can now specify a name

A

for the Bookmark.htm file if you want to change it from the default setting. Once you've done this, click Export and then finish. You'll need to copy the file you've just saved to a portable device if you intend to move ft to another computer, or share the folder it's stored in if you want to transfer it over your network To import your Favourites to Internet Explorer 8, click Favori tes, click the down -arrow next to Add to favorites and then click Import and Export Gust as you did to export in the first place). Click Import from a file, then click Ne~t. Tick the Favorites tidbox and click Next. Intemet Explorer creates a Bookmark.htm file in your Documents fol de r buy defa ult. However, you can import favourites saved under another name. To do this, click Browse, select a lile and click Next. Select the folder in which you want to put the imported bookmar\(s, and click Import.

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... 11's easy 10 export you r b ookmarks from Internet Explorer and import them in Windows 7



JANUARY 2010

HELPFILE

Remote access to NAS drive

Q

I bought a Synology DiskStation 05209+ on the strength of your review earlier th is year, and it's

been great. However, I want to be able to access its manage ment interface n! motely so that I can control file downloads from work and use its other features, such as the IP

camera surveillance. I've heard that it's possible to do this securely using SSH, but I've no idea how to se t th is up. Can you help ? JDSmith

A

We certainly can. First, (og into your D5209+ and enable SSH, which you'l! find in the Terminal

options under the Network Services heading. Next, if your broad~ nd package uses dynamic (constantly changing) IP addresses, sign up for

an account at www.dyndns.com.ThiswillaUow you to choose a free domain name that always

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points to your currentl P address. When the IP address changes, your 05209+ can inform DynDNS. You'll find the DDNS settings in the Dis\(Station's management interlace under Network SelVices. Simply enter your DynDNS a((ount name and password. To route SSH traffic to your DiskStation, set up a port forwa rding rule in your router's interface to send incoming traffic on port 22 to your DiskStation's IP address (you'll need to give your DiskS tation a stat ic IP address or make sure your router always assigns it the same address). Forward port 5000 to your DiskStation too, as this is the port its interface uses. For more help on port forwarding. see W'NW.ponforward.com. The next task is to download Putty, a free SSH client, from www.putty.org. Install it and launch the program. Enter your DynDNS domain name under Host Name, and make sure SSH is selected. Now click the + symbol next to SSH in the left pane and select Tunnels. Check the Dynamic radio button. Type a port number into the Source port box (it doesn't matter what you choose - you could opt lor 3000) and th en click Add. Click back on Session at the top 01 the left pane, type in a name for the connection under Saved Sessions and click Save. Now fire up Internet Explorer and choose Internet Options from the Tools menu, Click the Connections ta b and then LAN settings. Place a tick in the 'Use a proxy selVer' tickbox and click Advanced. Type local host in the Socks box and enter 3000 (or whichever port number you chose) into the Port box, Click OKto dismiss all three windows.

Running old games in Vista I'm running Windows Vista, but I have some very old games, such as Warhammer. Shadow Of The Horned Rat and Grim Fandango, that only run on Windows 95 or 98. 1also have a Windows 9S CD that I bought on eSay. Is there a way of running both operating systems on my laptop so that I can play these old titles? If not, can I do anything to Vista to make it run games designed for Windows 95 or 98? Paul Nolan

Q

There are a few things you can try to ge t your old games working. The easiest is to use the program Compatibility settings in Windows Vista. These let you tell Vista to act like an older operating system for certain applications. You may need to set Compatibility for your games' installation files, too, To do th is, right-click th e program you want to run and select Properties. Click on the Compatibility Tab and select 'Run this program in compatibility mode for:' . You can then choose which version of Windows you'd li ke to emulate, including Windows 95 and 98, Try both settings to get your game working. If you have no luck, you may need to change the Compatibility Settings. These include forcing

A

the computer to drop to a 64Ox480 screen resolution and disabling Vista's advanced visual effects (visual themes, Desktop composition and s'


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Get name of Excel worksheet

Q

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How can I get the name 01 the worksheet as shown on the tab at the bottom 01 the pa~ to appear in a cell in Excel? Me/Andrews You can use the Cell function to get the name 01 the file so long as YOOJ 've 5<1ved the workbook at least once. II you use:

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This would show that the workbook was saved in the data folder under the name expe nses.xls, and th e currenllab was called ThisMonth.

Cancel Outlook alarms

Q

I'm being driven mad by Outlook 2007.11 I edit an eVi!nt in the past that had an alarm set, the alarm is t riggered and the Reminders window appears. I want to be able to edit past events so I can assign them to particular categories, but having to cancel an alarm that (Kcurn!d in the past is very lrostrating. My current workaround is to move them into the futun! just so I can set their categories. Any better ideas? Jon Ball

A

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Have you got a spreads heet t hat doesn't add up? A Word document thilt needs a text-folTrlatting macro or it databiilse thill'S wa iting for a report to be written ? Don't

fret: we're he re to he lp. Just send your query t o t he ema il address below and our resident office applications expert will find your solution. Please provide as much information as you ca n, including the version of t he app li cation you're using. OJ sample of any datil and dellliis of any steps you've alreildy take n to so lve th e issue.

Kay Ewbank Database developer and productivity expert Ewbank offers help office applications.

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Access totals

Q

I have a Totals Query in Access 2003 that I want to use as the basis of a calculated field on a n!port.ln the query I find the sum 01 two fields - Amount and Quantity. I want to find the value 01 Amount/Quantity, but when I try with the expression: [ SumofAmount ) /[SumofOuant l ty ) I get the error message "Error 3203 - Subqueries cannot be used in the expression ". How can I get my expression to work?

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Error 3203 usually means that you've used a Select statement that includes an aggregate function that evaluates another aggregate function . Instead you should create a Select query instead of a Totals query, using SQL atong the lines of:

A

SELECT Supp l i er . SUM(Amountll SUM(Quantit y ) FROM Yo urTab l e GRO UP BY Sup pl i er

- ~--~

• Dismiss reminders In Outlook to avoid belng repeatedly nagged over events from the past

Word formatting lost When I save my Word documents as .doc files in Office 2000 I lind that the original formatting is lost when I reopen the files. There's also a lot of gobbledygook, with information about root entries, object pools and default paragraph lonts. How can I stop this happening? Andy McKibbin

Q

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na me" . AI»+ I ,32 )

Richard Wheeler

The answer is to dismiss the reminder when you're editing the event. That way, yOOJ aren't reminded of the alarm every time you open the event. If you forget and the reminder appears, simply dismiss it on the reminder dialog .

INTRODUCTION

-HI O( CE Ll("fi 1 ena me" . AI) . FI NO("]" • CELl( nfl l e

For some reason your File Open type has been set to be 'RecoverText from any File' Simply change it to 'All Word Documents'.

This assumes your table is calledYOOJrTable and you have a Supplier field t ha t you're finding the unit price for. On a design note, it prob.llbly makes mO(e sense to store the Unit Price and the Quantity fO( items you buy or sell, and calculate the amount per sale rather than having to wor'.; backwards at the end.

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OFFICE HELP

Make Outlook calendar default view I use Outlook 2007, and I want to see my Calendar when I first open Outlook. At the moment, it opens on my Inbo., and I have a tendency to start answering emails rather than checking my calendar. Is there a way to change this?

Q

John Pounder

A

You can set Oudoc!< to open any of its folders first, including Inbox,

Calendar, Contact. Notes or Tasks.

From t he Tools menu, choose Opt ions, Othe r. Next. dick on Adva nced O pt ions, and at the top of the dialogyou'U see a setting for Startup

in this folder. Click Browse, navigate to the folder where you want Outlook to open when you start it, then click OK.

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Excel cell formatting

Q

When I enter product codes in the format 'number dash number ', such as 12-6, Excel changes it into a date, such as 12-June, If I try Undo, Excel deletes the entire entry. How can I get Excel to leave my entries alone? J Piper Excel is t rying to be helpful. If you're entering a one-off value, Ihe way round your problem is to put an initial quotation mark , so enter your value as '1 1-6. You won't see the quote,just the value 12-6, However, as you are entering product codes, you're probably putt ing them all in th e same column, so before you s1art data entry, tell Excel that the entire column should be treated as te ~t , Select the range that should be left as teKt, then right-click, choose format Cells, and select Text. Excel should now behave itself.

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.. Set the value for Startup In this folder to alter what you s ee first wken Outlook starts

I have a document in Microsoft Word where the text is in various sizes of the same font (Headings, Capitals and t ower Case). My document prints out on multiple A4 pages, but I need it to fit to a single page. How can I do this?

Q

Bil/Walton

The easiest option is to shrink the document in the printer dialog. If you're using Word 1007, choose Print from the Office button, th en choose Prinl Preview, On the Previ ew di splay, choose the option 'Shrink one page'. II you're using a previous version olWord, you need to choose File, Print Preview. II you hover your mouse over the icons, you'll find 'Shrink to Fit'.

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Combine Powerpoint presentations

Q

I am trying to combine two PowerPoint 1000 presentations that have different backgrounds. Each has its own design template. My problem is that if 1 insert the slides from one into the other, the background changes, and I want them to stay the same. Please help! Elizabeth B

If you we re us ing a more modern version of PowerPoint, this would be fa irly easy, as the ability to use multiple design templa tes was added in PowerPoint XP. As you're still using Powe rPoint 2000, you'll have to choose one 01 a number of worka rounds. One possibility is to embed the slides from the second presentation rather than insert the m. To do this, you have your 'destination' presentation in the Slide Edit view, with a blank slide. The 'source' presentation should be in Slide Sorter view, Choose a slide from the source presentation and copy it using Ctrl-C. Go to the blank slide in Ihe destination, and paste the sli de using ClrI-V. You ca n th en resize the embedded slide so it's the right size. You'll need to repeat this for each of the slides you want to get from your sou rce presentation, The second option is to link the presentations by having a third one. First, you need to create a start and end slide that use the Blank layout, so it doesn 't get reforma tted

A

JANUARY 2010 .

change 'On Click' to 'After Previous'. Select th e to your two existing presentations when you third entry, click on th e Start drop-down and copy it between presentations. change the value from 'On Click' to 'With Create a third presentation and add you r Previous'.Your first two presentations will now be bla nk side twice to it From the Insert menu, select Object , Create from File. Browse until you set up correctly. Move to the second slide and repeat all th e actions for inserting the find your first presentation. Click on Link, then Display as Icon. You should see the PowerPoint presentat ion, the text box and custom animations, but choose you r second presentation. document icon on you r slide.You need to drag this icon off the visible slide area; if you can only To view the complete show, you simply see the visible slide area, ~oom out by choosing display your linking presentation. When you 200m from the Vi ew menu, Add a text box (also load it, PowerPoint will ask: "This pre sentation conla ins links to othe r files - Do you want to 011 the edge of the ma in slide) and enter some upda te them?" Select the 'Update Links' option. text to remind yoursell th at this displays another You 'll also need to click three times when moving presentation. Right-click on the te~t bo~ and choose Custom Animation. Clid on the Add from the first presentation to the second. I!] Effect button. and set the Entrance elleclto Box. Click on the Start drop down and change the value from 'On Click' to 'With Previous'. You now need to set the custom •• animation lor the presentation you added earlier. Right-click the icon and '1 ~ _' select Custom Animat ion. Click on the Click to add t itle Add Effect button and set the Entrance effect to Appear. Click on the Add Effect button aga in and change the Object ( Idto.,d lub(lt actions to Show, so that Power Point will show the presentation. You should now have three Custom Animation entries, Select the second • You can use cu.tom animation. to link presentations iI you're using PowerPolnt 2000 entry, click the Start drop-down and

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MAILBOX This month you tell us why building a PC is better than buying one, while one reader has a great tip for preventing companies taking unauthorised payments from your credit card Card sharp How to stop automatic payments

121

Read ing about Zygote's McAfee

campaign (Shopper 261) warmed my heart's cockles immensely. I .Ilso hate having things forced on to me.

However, no resting on laurels: there's more work to be done. There are at least two other similar finms to address, namely Symantec and PC

indefinitely by anyone apart from a formally recognised and regulated financial organisation, and even they aren't perfect. Meanwhile, here's a useful tip. I use a separate debit/top -up card for web purchases. Mine is from PayPal. but many different ones are available. The card is only valid for a year, and isn't a cred it card - you top it up, keeping as much or as little in it as suits you. Every year you get a new number, and you can't ever lose more than the amount you carry in the card, even if your PIN number and card are stolen. I keep a minimal amount in the account unless I know I'm going to need more. This way, the card will expire before the subscription does, so you can buy your McAfee licence without the security risk. The card is also very useful when you go on holiday, for similar reasons. I spent many years working for an overseas (ethicali) banking group, specialising in credit risk management, and I'm astounded at some of the exploits that are allowed to happen these days, even after the worst global financial meltdown in history. I can only say, non iIlegitim;carborundum - don't let the b ...... sgrind you down. jan B

Tools. Both use the same system of insisting that they automatkally renew your subscription by retaining your credit card details indefinitely. I have no idea whether they would send you a prior warning, but even if they do, that isn't really good enough. You might be away on holiday at the time and not able to respond, and you may well have decided to change to anoth er product. I have no idea what I might want in a year's time! And PC Tools insists that you agree to send them fresh details if you change your credit card, or if it expires before the subscription renewal date! This seems to be a trend that is getting worse; I've come auoss other institutions going the same route. The really important issue is that these organisations insist on taking responsibility for retaining your credit card details indefinitely, and you have no idea as to how reliably and securely they maintain this vital information. If your card We'll pass yOOJr request to Zygote and see what he details are compromised and money is stolen from comes up with. That's a great tip, though, and we're your account, will the card company refund you? sure it's one that plenty of other readers will use. It's Also, how will you know which organisation was interesting. too, that you responsible for the leak? And even if you do know, how mention PayPa! since many likely are you to win a case online companies (including Zonealarm) now accept PayPal against a major software as a payment method. company, even if you could This is great news, as it's afford the legal costs? free to set up a PayPal account I would be interested if to buy products, and it means Zygote or anyone else could establish how the card those companies you buy _ ICCI _:=O: . ....from never get to see yOOJr companies view this kind of development. Whatever the card or bank details. It also answer,l can't recommend to .. Pa ying by PayPai stops companies ge tting means they can't take a anyone that they allow credit l\oId of your credit card details to ta ke repeat payment without payments automatica lly card details to be kept your authorisation.

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SEVEN UP

121

I'm not a regular reader of Shopper but I bought the November issue because of your guide to Windows 7, whkh I needed to get up to speed on. I thought the magazine was a very good read indeed. However, what I found disappo inting was that within the Top 10 reasons for considering upgrading to Windows 7, there was no discussion at all on the impact such an upgrade might have on the ability to continue using any existing applications. To be more

specific,l currently use Windows XP Home Edition and Office 2000 Professional (in partkular Access). I think I'm right in saying that if I had upgraded to Vista I would also have had to spend a small fortune (for very little gain) on the more current version of Office Professional. My point is this; even if there are 10 good reasons for upgrading an ope rating system, if that upgrade also means shelling out several hundred pounds on new applications packages, then there is at least one COMPUTER SHOPPeR • JANUARY 2010


LEITERS

very good reason for NOT upgrading. Some discussion of this, in the int~est of balallCe, would have been useful. Specifically, by upgrading to Windows 7 Professional- with its XP Mode - would I be able to continue using Office 2000? Some retailers tell me ~s, while others say no. D~s the XP Mode Ojrerate like Windows XP, or d~s it just look like XP?

Christopher Wright We didn't include much info rmation on Windows 7's XP Mode, as it will affect only a minority of users. Almost all applications that run under XP will work fine in Windows 7, Office 2000 included. This means you won't need to buy a version of Windows 7 that comes with XP Mode. XP Mode isn't just for looks: it's a real virtualised operating system that is designed to allow businesses to upgra de to Windows 7 even ilthey need to run programs that won't work properly with Vista or Windows 7. However, because it's a virtual operating system, you'll need a computer with a processOf that supports virtualisation. As long as you have an AMD Athlon processOf that uses the AM2 sodet or later, you'll have the necessary support. With Intel processors, it's a little trickier. It's best to check your particular model on Intel's website to see il it supports virtualisation,

TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT

121

1bought an Acer laptop two years

ago with one ~ar's warranty, Unfortunately, after the warranty had expired, the laptop started to develop stress fractures on the top 01 the case next to the hinges. I rangAcer and agreed to pay an 'assessment fee' 01 £S2 so that the engineers could take a look at it. They received the laptop on 7th August. Five days later I received an email asking for a further £67 to cover the repairs, payable within seven days or the laptop would be returned without repair, Anxious to get the laptop back so my wife could get her Facebook fix, I paid over the phone the same day. At the bottom 01 the bill, it said that I should allow 10 working days for the repair subject to terms and conditions. Paying it no heed, I just sat back and waited for the laptop to return, but to no avaiL By 7th September, with my wife's queries ringing in my ear, I decided to ring to lind out where the laptop was.Acer customer service politely pointed out that they didn't have the parts in stock yet and didn't know when they would amve. When I referred to the statement about 10 worldng days, customer service were kind enough to point out that it was subject to terms and conditions. Indeed they were kind enough to SverI' no terms and conditions attached to the bill, but hOjred lor my wife's sanity that it would be returned soon. On 1st October (at 9am as I thought I'd beat the queue) I rang again and was again told that the parts weren't in stock, and there

was no indication as to w hen they would be. I just had to be patient but it was unlikely that it would be for another two months. However, this time before ringing off, I asked il they could send me a copy of the terms and conditions. No problem, they said, we'll see what we can do. Shortly after, I received a strange email from Acer: "Hi. We have nothing in writing that stipulates that it is something that we offer. If we go by Trading Standards they deem three months as a reasonable timeframe for a repair. But we say 10 working days dependent on the availability of spare parts." While wondering what "it" referred tO,1 received another email stating that my laptop had been fixed .md was on its way back to me. I dm now waiting patiently for it to drrive. The mardi of the story is: if you get a bill that quotes terms and conditions which aren't there to read, ask for them as it can make previously unobtdinable spare parts magically appear out of thin air. Gavin Sinnott It's uncommon for a repair to take as long as yours did, but you're right that it's always worth reading the terms and conditions. Of course, this will only enlighten you as to the facts, and doesn't help much il you don't like what they say. An alternative is to take your out-olwarranty computer to a third·party company, but as we saw when we did an undercover investigation of such firms (see Shopper 247), none was particularly impressive. When buying a laptop or a desktop computer, it's crucial that you also take its warranty into account. It's one of the important factors in our overall star ratings in our reviews, and we reward companies that provide two or more years' worth of cover. It's a shame that more laptops don't come with longer warranties, and it doesn't even matter how much you spend, as certain companies have a standard one-year warranty across the bo
.... Getting your laptop repaired out of warranty is not only cosily, but can 1I1~ lellve you wltoout a computer for months on end

BUILDING A GOOD REPUTATION

121

1 bought d PC from Gingert; for my

son last November as a Christmas present. It duly arrived in time for me to install Windows and set it up for him. He was chuffed at Christmas and all was well. However, the PC refused to boot dt the first attempt in January, dnd slowly got more reluctant over the weeks. I tried to contact Ginger6 by several means, but had no reply. Eventually the PC wouldn't boot at all, and the BIOS couldn't find the hard disk , I knew if I opened the CdSI' the warranty would be void, but I put in a sp.are disk and set it bdCk up. I carried on trying to contact Ginger6, but there was still no response. Eventually I logged on to Seagate's >vebsite and within five minutes I had an order for a warranty return. I posted the drive to the US but only had to pay to send it via Royal Mail to UPS in Derby. Three days later I had a brandnew SooGB disk. I have now gone back to building my own PCs and spent £SOO sourcing the components separdtely online, all of which were delivered on time. I will never buy a pre-built PC again; the standard of customer service Irom component manufacturers is on a different planet to the box-shifters. Mark Sud/ow

E>

WRITE IN AND WIN! If you want to make the most out of your home movies and photographs, then Adobe's Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements B are the best and easiest way to do so. If you fancy getting your hands on thoese products, there's no need to put yoor hand in yoor pocket; all yoo have to do is write a great letter. Get it printed as our Star Letter, and a copy of both applications will be winging its way to you in the post. Photos hop Elements 8 is the best home photo-editing application. Its powerful featu res are taken from the full Photoshop application, so you can get thoe sam e resu lts, but Elements is a lot eas ier to use. Prem iere Elements B d~s a similar job for movie making, pulUng its features from the high-end Premiere software, but making it easier to use so you'll be able to produce Hollywood- style movies from the comfort of your home.

PLUS! Every published letter-writer w ho provides their address also recei ves a Computer Shopper mug

..



LETTERS

This is the first time we've heard of a problem with Ginger6's communication, but you're certainly not the only person to decide t hat it's

belter to build your own PC instead of buying a pre-built system. Naturatly, there are p!"os and cons to each approach, but having built pes oorselves, we know how 5
You might not benefit fro m the convenience of a pre-configu red operating system or a single point of contact for warranty repa irs, and you might even end up spendi ng a little more, but as long as you 're happy to deal wit h any defe ctive hardware yourself, it's often an excellent way to get a new Pc.

a computer that yoo've j)\JI together yourself. You atso gel the benefit of choosing exactly

which components you want, and gellhe best prices for each one. As long as you can wield a screwdriver, it's incredi bly easy to build a PC, and all t hese reasons are why our book, Build a Better PC (see www.magbooks. c;om).hasbeen

selling so well over the past couple of years.

DESTROYING DISCS (PART III)

121

Following the discussion in the previous couple of issues about how best to destroy your unwanted CDs and DVDs, I use a simple hammer blow to smash discs very easily. Of course, you must first cover them with a cloth to prevent flying shards and splinters. It's also a foolproof method of disposing of unwanted hard disks. Syd Mercer

I'm sure you're right to say that using a shredder with an optical disc slot is the best way to destroy optical discs. Unfortunately, I don't havt' one, but I do have a blowlamp. t stand it on my hob with the extractor fan going, and waft each disc through a gentle flame until it warps and the write layer bubbles. I'm confident that this is an effective, if smelly, way of making them unreadable. Ciary Seymour

... Alloough most people prefer to btJy a complete pre-built pc, building one yourself isn't difficult

and there are lou of advantages

For anyone wonde ring how this topic started, it was our review of liteOn's iHAS 324 DVD writer (see What's New, Shopper 260). As well as burning data, it can also erase discs, but takes ages - around ha lf an hour for a single-layer

... A surefire way to destroy data on a hard disk Is to put it through a shredder DVD. We're sure there are plenty of other faster ways to destroy DVDs and we're keen to hear about other inventive ways of doing it. Talk ing of dest roying hard di sks, we're not convinced that a ham mer blow will obliterate hard disk platters, unless you first remove the cover. Wh ile you can't exactly buy one for home use, industrial hard disk shredders are rathe r amusing to watch in action. You can see our favourite clip at hUp://tinyurl.com/disk5hredder.

CANT BUY AWARD-WINNER For months now you've been recommending the MSI Digivox Duo TV tuner (Editor's Choice, Shopper 261, page 38), but I've never yet found any online retailer who has any in sto(k, even the ones you quote in the magazine. For instance, www.<:ustomptwarehouse.w.uk in issue 261 doesn't even list it. If you do a Google search for it, you get some reviews, so I guess it does actually exist somewhere, but it doesn't seem to be available to buy.

121

COMPUTER SHOPPER SHOPPER OFFICE Editor David ludlow david@computershoppe',co.uk ~puty

Editor Jim Martin

i [email protected]

Reviews Editor Seth Barton ~eth@Computershoppff. CO. uk

Features Editor Simon Edwards 5imon@Computooi>apper,co.uk

OnUne Editor Tim Sm~lley tim@Compu termoppff.co.uk

PRODUCTION Production Editor Janey Go-ulding Art Editor ( olin Mackl~wOfth Art Editor Anand P~rmar GroupArt Editor Bill Bagnall ~puty

SHO PPER LABS Senior Staff Writer Alan lu alan@computerl hoppe,.co.uk

Senior StalfWriter Kat Orphanides

ADVERTISING Fax 020 7907 6600 Email [email protected] Group Advertising Director Richard Bennett 020 7907 6640 ~puty Advertising Manager ArnJrea Mason 020 7907 6662 Senior Sales hecutive Adam WiUboum 020 7907 6621 New Media Account Manager Gary Rayneau 020 79lJ 7 6812 Ust Rental Anthony White 020 7907 6471 ADVERTISING PRO DUCTION Fax 020 7907 6066 Production Director Robin Ryan 02079076052 Production Controller Natasha Ross 020 7907 6OS5 COV ER CD/ DVD CONTACTS Graham Smith 020 79076335 Cecil Ashitey 020 7907 6333

Stall Writer Barry de la Rosa

SUBSC RIPTIO NS Tel 08448440031 Fax 0844 8S6 0650

barry@compu tersh0ppff.co.uk

Emailcom~eheipHne.co.uk

k~t@computer$hoppe,.co.uk

CO NTRIBUTO RS contlibutO(s@>compu!ers/Joppe,.co,uk

Adam Banks, Gareth 8.earn, Mike Bedford, Simon Br~, Mel Croocher, Elaine Edwards. Kay Ewbank, Steve H a i ~s, Simon Handby, Da~ id Md in oon, Stewart Mitchell ~n Pitt, J u~an ProkaUl, Nik Rilwiin>an, Da~ id Robin>an, Will Stapley, Jon Thompson, lain White PHOTOGRAPHY Danny Bird, Timo Hebd itch, Andrew Ridge , Hugh ThrelfaU

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MANAGEMENT Tel 020 79076000 Publishing Director John Garewal Group Advertising Director Julian Lloyd-Evans Circulation Director Martin 6e1>an Finance Director Bfen Reynolds Group Finance Director l ~n leggett Chief Executi~e James Tye Chainnan Feli. Dennis

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JANUARY 2010

LEITERS

Ii> We try hard 10 ensure l!\a! the

price, but instead we have a rigorous checking

of components in the specifications when they

products We rec:ommerKI ate available to buy. but slock does occasionally run out

system where prices and suppliers are

supply their hardware?

Perhaps you should check whether the items you recommend can actually be found in the real world.IUke you r magazine, and have bought several things based on your reviews, but I've come up against a brick wall on this one. Peter How We're sorry to hear that you've had trouble buying a Oigivox Ouo, but we're assured by MSI that it's still a current product. Currently we can't find it in stock, either, and have removed it from the Editor's Choice section. The reason we haven't replaced it with another tuner is that we liked MSl's software more than other companies', although Terratec's recording application is also good. If 'Iou have a version of Windows that comes with Media Center, however, you should simply buy whichever dual-tuner USB dongle is the cheapest, as they all work with Microsoft's excellent interface. We didn't want to assume that all readers have access to Media Center, hence our choice of the DigivoK Duo. We pride ourselves at Computer Shopper on providing an extra service Ihal many magazines and websites don't checking for the lowest prices from reputable online retailers. We could simply print the manufacturer's recommend ed

Graham Lloyd-jones

triple-checked just before we go to press. Th e

reasOfi we do this is because it makes little sense to compare products based

Memory can be a confusing component to

identify. as the various types do indeed look very similar, Most PCs today have 00R2 RAM, but have no control over what this in itself isn't enough information to match happens over the four weeks the memory currently installed. after the magazine goes on sale, There are various easy ways to determine the and it's not uncommon 101" the supplier we type of memory you need. The easiest is to list to run out of stock, even though we try to download CPu-z from www.cpuid.com.This will ensure that we pd a suppli er with plenty of tell you a wealth of information about what's products ready to ship. inside your pc, including the part number of 'lour motherboard and processor. It goes into great I CAN'T FIND MY MEMORY detail with memory, especially if you click on the SPO tab. Here, you'll find the speed of each You would think that replacing a RAM module wou ld be easy. I've installed module {under Max Bandwidth) along done it before with no difficulty, with the manufact urer, part number, serial numb er and even the week it was manufactured. but that was when I knew what type I needed. The drop-down menu lets you select each RAM With my current PC, I'm unsure of the type of slot so you can see which are module I need because it isn't specified on the empty and ready to accept eKiSling module itself. more memory_ When I looked for a Using this information, ~you should be able to buy replacement module online, additional modules from a I found a vast array from supplier such as Crucial whi ch to choose. Many of (www.Cfuciai.comluk).This them looked the same, but had different na mes such as "• "• site includes a System • DDR, DDR;! and SDRAM, Scanner tool, which you can • •• I've not had much help use to check that you're from Mesh's technical buying the correct RAM . It also shows a diagram support, either. Do you think it would be a good of your memory slots, ... CPU-Z is .. free utility tkat will tell you idea to force manufacturers more about your memOfY modules than showing what size module is installed in each. til to supply a plain English li~ you'll ever need to know on artificial prices. However, we obviously

121

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-=



1'1

COVER DISC GUIDE

Full Products Agnitum Outpost Antivirus Pro 6.7 With Outpost Antivirus Pro 6.7 you can browse the internet in safety, as this software

will protect your comptl!er from malware, With this new version of the program the core security layer has been improved to withstand the latest internal sabotage attach.

Perfocmance ciln be a big issue with security software, bot not with Outpost Antivirus. It has been written from the ground up to be incredibly efficient.

The result is that you can stay safe from malicious software without suffering any performance reduction. Keyloggef5 are one of the biggest threats today, as they let hackers record usernames and passwocds that yotl enter on your computer. With Outpost Antivirus Pro yotl can rest easy, as the dedicated keylogger

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While an anti-virus application provides much needed protection against malware, a firewall helps prevent other more direct attacks against your comptlter. Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro 6.7 is one of the more advanced pe~onal firewalls available and gives you peace of mind whenever you surf the intemet. Whether you're a security novice or expert, yotl can easily configure Outpost Firewall Pro to meet your needs. Than ks to automated and context-sensitive help, it can learn how to handle alerts and make decisiOl15 for you. Firewall Pro is incredibly efficient, so you get highquality protection without any performance hit.

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IMSI TurboCAD Deluxe 12.5

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JANUARY 2010

COVER DISC GUIDE

The Panorama Factory V4.5 Legacy Edition

Ashampoo Slideshow St udio 2010

If you'd like to put a stunning p.1noramic photo on your wall or create clever virtual tours for a website, The Panorama FactcryV4.5 legacy Edition is the application lor you. It stitches together images taken with a normal camera. Images can be taken from tripod-mounted cameras, a handheld camera, a rotational camera or scanned images and documents,

With its easy point-and-click interface, Slideshow Studio 2010 allows you to create great auto-playing slideshows with music and animated transitions quickly and easily.You can export your finished masterpiece as a Windows Media Video (WMV) file and upload it to YouTube, making it viewable on just about every computer. 1/ you want to get creative, you can insert your own text and graphics, overlay photos on other images, add subtitles and even brand your slideshows with a comer logo. As you'd expect. you ca n choose which transitions are used between photos, and match the length of the slideshow to your bacbng track. 1/ you want a slideshow wi th the minimum of hassle, just choose a theme and let Studio 2010 do th e work for you. Alternatively, the tirneline lets you control every element, including text fading in and out. The editor even lets you resize and rotate images.

There's a step -by-step wiza rd to gui de you through the creation process.

Multiple-row panoramas (such as for creating a full sphere image) can also be created. For Ihe most stunning effects, there's even support lor HOR images,The software can create web pages to display panoramas and const ruct vi rtu(lilours using both jPEG and QTYR formats.

Using its library of over 800 cameras, The Panorama FactOlYV4.S corrects common problems including barrel distortion and vignetting at the edges of pictures. Precise control of the blending overlap region is provided in the software. enabling the inclusion or e)(clusion of moving objects.

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UNDER DEVELOPMENT

UNDER DEVELDPMENT BIDDd, sweat and custard Modern work methods have improved David Robinson's life no end, but he longs for the days when he met his custards in person and helped them air their dirty laundry nee upon a lime, writing

D

this column was a dodd Ie: a

quick blast on the keyboard once a month to recount the events of the past few weeks and the daft things Cllstards had said and done, The most difficult part was deciding what to leave out Trn-se days it can

be reaUy hard. So what's changed? I guess it's the environment we're working in - not the rooms and bUildings, but the way we work. The dozy customers are certainly no less dozy than they used to be. Back in 1986, when I started writing UnderDevelopment, the

deal was that if anything went wrong with a Cllstard's system, we'd first try t alking to them on the phone to divine what the problem

was (as opposed to what they said it was) by asking questions and getting them to try stuff, A common problem, for example, would be that the 5(:reen was blank, which the user interpreted as a broken mcoitor. Usually all that had happened was that the office cleaner had accidentally tumed down the brightness or contrast while dusting. and the images were too dark to see. So that was the first thing you'd get them to check,

• ~

i£ ,

~ ~ ~

_

-'

BIN THERE, DONE THAT It divination didn't solve the problem, the only optico would be a car joomey. With customers all over the country, I made a lot of car journeys and, at one point, had a large Vauxhall estate car (no laughing) that had done over 200.000 miles. Once you were at the client site, you'd interact With human beings who, due to their limited viSion of how computers worked, provided loads of incidents that were worth writing about. A classic example was the time I went to the south coast to do some system updates for a company that was developing a system for tracking and identifying stolen boats. Our contribution was a database system that recorded who owned which boat and provided a remote querying facility, The server was a Unix box capable of handling 32 simultaneous users - all trom a single 486 processor.

One morning. Richard the development director needed a lift into the office (a modem two -storey glass and steel affair with a mezzanine floor), so I volunteered to pick him up from his flash 'condo' He came out clutching two black plastic bags, one of which he chucked into a large wheely bin. ' Rubbish collection day: he explained. The other went co the back seat of the Vauxhall. I asked what was in the bag and he said it was his laundry. After a couple of miles with the car heater on, it was beginning to pcog a bit (actually a lot) and I said so. He tlIrned a purple colour and had me urgently tum round and go back to the flat, because he'd binned the wrong bilg. Fortunately, we got there just as the rubbish truck arrived, so his shirts were saved from the landfill site. This was the man in charge of a comple~ technical development.

REMOTE CUSTARDS Thanks to the near-universal availability of high-bandwidth internet services, almost all technical support is now done by remote access. We simply set up a VPN connection to the client server and a Remote Desktop Protocol {RDP} session to sort out the software or operating system. That's enough, unless the problem requires a screwdriver with engineer attached, which is rare these days as hardware is generally so reliable.

As a consequence, I spend far fewer miserable hoors traipsing about the congested motorway system consuming scarce resources and reserves of good humour. That, in the main, is wonderful, but with much less face -to-face interaction with the custards, I get to know about fa r fewer 'black plastic bag' type events. I need some AI software to run on clients' pes that acts as a bozo detector,logging all the mistakes and sorting them into a hierarchy of stupidity, The passage of time, however, does mean that I can finally complete the saga of the tracking company. The system we installed did stllfl such as receiving enquiries from the coastguard and the police and then telling the enquirer whether or not the boat had been reported stolen. In those days, when the internet was in its infancy, communication was done by modem, and there was a bank of eight modems waiting to answer dial-up calls on a multiplexed phone line. Broadband ADSl simply didn't exist. As the system was text only, its respcose speed was really fast, even if you had a lowly 2,400-baud modem. The detection part of the system, as it was de5(:ribed to us by the managing director (atso called Richard). involved a chip embedded in the boat's hull. A port supervisor or official would have a gun-like detector that would send a signal to the chip in the boat, and this



would respcod with the boat's unique ID. By compilring this wit h the registration details on the database, they could see who the owner was. The technology could be compared to today's RFID systems, except that it supposedly worked for ranges up to hall a mile. Once we'd installed the registration database, MD Richard commissioned us to put together some computer-driven demcostrations, which they planned to exhibit at all the big boat shows. No expense was spared, and there were visits to conferences, expensive glossy brochures and BMWs all round, Everyone was lull of enthusiasm, except Madge the accounts lady who had a face like bag of spanners and bingo wings that wouldn't be out of place on a jumbo jet, Her opinion of the management team was quite derisory and she referred to the Managing and Development Directors respectively as Big and little, coupled with the diminutive form of their first name. I kept on the right side of Madge, which was a good move as she ensured that we got pilid promptly. SHOW WHAT? I went to the first exhibitico to set up the equipment for the rolling presentaticos, which were to be displayed co big 5(:reens at each end of the stand. Meanwhile. little set oot copioos supplies of the glossy brochures. "Wouldn't it be a good idea to have a chip at one end of the stand and a gun unit at the other and actually demonstrate the identification process?' I asked. "Ahhhhh: said Little. "We haven't started co that bit of the business yet." Yoo'll be surprised to leam that we never got as far as issuing a ma intenance and support contract for the system. Shame really, because our bit worked exactly as designed. GJ

David Robinson Software and systems de~eloper

1'1

RANTS & RAVES

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RANTS & RAVES Why spend any of your hard-earned cash when there's so much free stuff out there on the net? argues hard core blagger Mel Croucher. Just log on to start raking it in

MEL CROUCHER

RAVES MONEY FOR NOTHING What value do you put on your personal dignity? 00 you ignore" coin in the street because it's

not worth picking up? I'm happy to admit that I rol\ in the gutler and get dog waste under my fingernails to grab a penny or a pound. No coin is too small for me to trouser. [like free money,

and I'm going to let yoo into a secret. I can pick up money for nothing ilny time I like, ilnd I don't

even have to bend over. That's because I've got a free cash machine O!"I my desk. You've got one 100. It is called a computer. Interested? Of cour5e you are, let me explain how you too can tum your PC into a freebie machine. I used to go online and print off discount

vouchers for anything and everything. but it was

••

becoming expensive, First of alii had pay for the p

Computer Shopper 2010-01a

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