PC & Tech Authority Magazine Issue: July, 2008
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Issue: 128 | July, 2008

About PC & Tech Authority Magazine:

Australia's premier computer magazine, PC Authority gives you the facts, opinions and insight to make informed PC and tech purchasing decisions. Every issue is packed with the latest products, reviewed by an expert team of technical writers and guarantees more Aussie exclusives and first looks than any other Australian PC magazine.

Trusted for its reliable & objective product reviews, the foundation of the magazine is the comprehensive and thorough evaluations of every product tested by the tech team in our Labs. Its readers are both PC enthsusiasts at home and small-medium business decision makers at work.

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This month our headline features speak for themselves.

Firstly, our popular CPU megatest is back. In it we explain the differences between every processor on the market and give you a super-useful price versus performance comparison to let you instantly see which processors are worth bothering with and which ones you should avoid.

We also tell you how to build a PC. This should cater for people of all skill levels. If you’ve never built a PC, we’ve an exclusive video on the cover disc in which David Fearon shows you how. If you feel David is teaching you to suck eggs, fear not: in the feature we go into great depth and advise you on building, not just a budget PC, but a high-end games machine as well as a super-silent quiet PC too.

And we’ve much more than this. We’ve a review of the new Eee PC, the new Grand Theft Auto game and investigate the Bill Gates legacy as he prepares to step down from Microsoft. We also expect the iPhone to launch in Australia this month and provide you with some great software and accessory ideas.

But, importantly, we’re starting another mini-crusade. Have a look at this month’s Focus. If you’ve spent a fortune on a piece of hardware only to have it fail as soon as it’s out of warranty and have had the manufacturer or shopkeeper give you short shrift, help is at hand. Whether you’ve had good or bad experiences or are still in heated negotiations, we want to know now!

What's in the mag?

• Build a PC for $400
• CPU Megatest
• Apple iPhone & iTouch
• Bill Gates Microsoft legacy
• Eee PC

What's on the Disc?

What's on the disc?

• PC Tools Internet Security
• Kaspersky Mobile Security 7
• Europa Universalis: ROME
• Worldshift Demo
• Norman Parental Controls

Articles in this issue

Adobe Premiere Elements 4

A new interface, smart albums, guided editing and photo merging keep Photoshop Elements ahead of the pack

Asus Eee PC 900

More storage and a bigger screen address the main issues that arose with the original, but the price has risen too.

Asus MK241H

Vivid colours and some interesting extras make this the perfect entertainment-focused LCD

ATi Radeon HD 3850

It had little competition at this price, and it knocks Nvidia 8600 cards out of the race, but Nvidia’s 9600 GT trumps it.

AVG Internet Security 8

A quantum leap in usability over the previous version, although malware protection could still be better

Carbonite 3.5

A few new features add to an already superb utility, and the price remains as low as ever

HTC Cruise

A stylish update to a phenomenal phone, but battery life and the bundled GPS software weigh it down

HTC Shift

HTC’s long-awaited Shift is finally here, but despite valiant efforts it fails to revitalise the UMPC template

Intel Core 2 Duo

A diverse family including some stellar CPUs and numerous also-rans

Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS

Superseded by both Nvidia’s new 9600 card and ATi’s excellent HD 3800 series

Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX

Fast but disappointing card that delivers only small benefits over its predecessors for a significant price premium.

Panasonic HDC-SD9

Key improvements over the SD5 make this a still more enticing pocket HD camcorder prospect

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD700

An above-average all-rounder that adds 720p recording to an already attractive mix

Sony VAIO VGN-TZ36GN/W

This impressive ultraportable fills a narrow but significant niche between the MacBook Air and Lenovo X300

STM Small rogue

A laptop backpack that's touch, water resistant, and good enough for hiking or walking around town.

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