Native playback of DivX and XviD files is one of the most potentially useful additions to Windows 7. Here's what you need to know.

Your wireless network is more powerful than you imagine. Use this guide to fully understand and utilise it.

This unit plays more than just your rental movies and existing DVD discs, it's also capable of VBR MP3, WMA, JPEG, PhotoCD, HDCD Xvid, AVI, MPEG layers 1, 2, and 4 play, the latter of which is more commonly referred to as DivX, named after the compression codec.

It turns out that Microsoft [I]is[/I] bringing out Windows XP Media Center Edition in Australia, but until such time as it materialises -- and Microsoft Australia is being very sketchy on the dates -- those of us looking to integrate our PC media files with our televisions and hi-fi systems have to turn to bridging solutions.

Benchmarking PCs is a tricky business. You need to ensure that you stress the systems, but also that the results you get will be relevant in the real world. Previously we have relied heavily on BAPCo's SYSmark2002 for simulating home and office use, with programs such as Excel, Word, Outlook, and web content through Adobe Premiere and Macromedia Dreamweaver. However, due to SYSmark's history of instability as well as the sheer length of time it takes to complete a run, we have put it on the backburner in favour of PCMark04 for this Labs.

Thinking about jumping headfirst into the HD digital revolution? Does Foxtel, TiVo and PVR mean anything to you or is it all a bit too much? We list the five best tips for buying a set top box.

Lack of online content and copy-protected music are problems, but no HDMI is a major headache

The widest format support, plus flawless wireless streaming, put this among the best network players we’ve seen so far

Users can download clips and burn them to CD or DVD.

Windows 7 might just be the best operating system ever designed with touchscreens in mind. Have Microsoft finally delivered the Windows 7 killer app?

As Microsoft gears up for its big OS release, people might be surprised to learn about another Windows 7 other secret: better wireless connectivity.

The single biggest reason for existing laptop owners to upgrade to Windows 7 is something unique to this release: it actually requires less horsepower than Vista. That's good news for netbook owners!

A slow booting PC is one of the long running annoyances for Windows users. So have things improved in Windows 7?

It’s more tweaky and involved than most players, but it’s also got far more features

Gamers and enthusiasts rejoice.

A PC in the lounge room too complex and cluttered? You need a media adaptor.

Unlike many of our performance-based Labs, business workstations are a whole different world of PCs, focusing not on the maximum number of frames per second, or how many overall points they can churn out in any given benchmarking utility.

In the September issue of PC Authority, we gave you the inside scoop on how the Windows 7 Release Candidate stood up to our tests. Here's a recap of our gaming benchmark results

BitLocker first reared its head in Windows Vista, but the scope of the encryption software has been extended in Windows 7. Since Vista's launch, lost or stolen USB drives have become an enormous security liability.

One way Windows 7 will make working lives a damn sight easier is the speed at which it hunts down documents and other files.