After the disappointment - perceived or otherwise - of Windows Vista, many are pinning their hopes on a revival with Windows 7. And from our first impressions of the pre-beta code, that's exactly what they can expect.

A dreadful performer in almost every regard.

With Windows 7 arriving soon, is now the time to upgrade to 64-bit? Here's the first part of our guide to everything you need to know

A very likeable all-in-one – albeit limited in its usefulness beyond basic functions. Read our review of Shuttle's new all-in-one X50

If you're a gamer or enthusiast, the trusty conventional PC is still your friend, not the shiny new all-in-one PCs hitting the market

Fifteen security packages go head to head in our labs test, including Kaspersky, Norton, ZoneAlarm, McAfee, F-Secure and AVG. Find out which will keep you safe and which could let you down.

A broad and likeable package, but needs better malware detection.

A credible contender, but F-Secure Internet Security 2009 is neither the lightest nor the most effective security suite for your PC

Impressive Blu-ray performance from the cheapest card on test.

How important is RAM size to the way we use 64-bit Windows? And are there other ways to get around the problem? We offer a couple of tips to get you through your 64-bit RAM blues.

A well-featured package with some unusual tricks that falls just short of a first-rate performance.

Cheap and functional, but rivals perform better.

As you can see from the performance table, Core i7 is still a safe bet in terms of sheer speed, though the case for AMD is not as simple as that.

Comprehensive, competent and configurable protection at a good price. This is the best security suite out there

Our former champion loses its crown but remains a strong contender.

A fierce protector when it comes to web threats, but merely middling elsewhere

A simple package whose two detection engines ensure great malware detection, but it fails to inspire in other areas.

A powerful and capable suite with some excellent features, although it isn’t the easiest to use, nor the cheapest around.

A solid, usable package with online backup to boot.

An improvement on last year’s package, but sadly still flawed.