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.

Stack your system full of software without paying a penny, with our guide to essential downloads

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

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

A slightly bare but affordable media-centre board

Fast colour output, great network tools and reasonable print quality

Nvidia’s remix of the popular netbook platform lends Intel’s stripped-down Atom some added Graphical clout. We test the technology to see how it performs

A mighty dual-GPU board that makes light work of even today’s toughest DirectX 10 games.

A mighty dual-GPU board that makes light work of even today’s toughest DirectX 10 games

Our full guide to saving cash-saving secrets is here, from how to get discounts on PCs, to SIM only phone contracts, the best DSLR cameras deals, and discount licensing from Adobe, Microsoft and others.

Still not sure whether it's worth upgrading to Vista? We put XP and Vista through the ultimate face-off.