PC & Tech Authority Magazine Issue: November, 2009
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Issue: 144 | November, 2009

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.

The November, 2009 issue of PC & Tech Authority is available in the following formats:
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99 Free Apps for PC, Linux 7 Mac.
Every PC, Linux or Mac user worth his or her salt has their own personal collection of ultra-handy free programs, or apps. What’s impressive is the range and breadth of quality free apps available. In this feature, PC Authority goes in search of the unmissable gems that we think are so useful, you don’t know how you did without them.



Portable hard drives
With our ever-expanding collections of MP3s, photos and videos, we’re devouring disk space at a rapidly increasing rate – and that’s before you consider backups. Odds are that, sooner or later, you’re going to want more storage. With this in mind, we put 9 high-capacity portable drives through their paces to find the fastest, the most affordable – and the most stylish.
 

The PC in 2010 and beyond
Prophecy is a hazardous art when it comes to computers. We do, however, have a pretty good idea of what PCs, laptops and servers look like over the next three years. In this feature we’ll reveal all you need to know about the future of processors, memory, graphics and more.


Windows 7
In a special Windows 7 feature, David Fearon explains how to keep data secure on laptops and beyond using BitLocker, and gives a run-through of Windows Media Player’s internet streaming feature.



On the Disc: Batman - Arkham Asylum demo
Arkham Asylum inmates are running riot, and only Batman can stop the madness
 


On the Disc: Cities XL
Revised, improved and better than ever - take revenge and lead the Aussies to victory.

 


 

Head to your nearest newsstand now and get your copy!


 

Articles in this issue

AMD deals Intel a major blow with their A-listed Phenom II X4 965 Black ...

While Intel is rolling out new designs, AMD's focus is on getting the most out of its existing Phenom II process. The AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition is just what the doctor ordered.

Artisteer 2.1 is the ultimate web design tool for CSS coding themes

Revolutionary approach to modern web design that removes the pain from CSS-based theme designing.

Buffalo MiniStation Lite gets decent performance

An attractive drive from Buffalo, and it’s a decent performer too

Canon's Pixma MP620 is among the best all-in-one printers money can buy

Superb print quality at consistently high speeds, and it’s packed with useful features too.

CyberLink captures movie magic with PowerDirect 8, rivals top editing suites

Packed with features and closer to Adobe Premiere Elements, CyberLink PowerDirector 8 is close, but still not close enough.

Dell Latitude E2100, why Dell's latest netbook beats the Mini 10

Well priced, with a robust chassis and touchscreen option that make it a good choice for classroom use, and any one else wanting a netbook that's a little bit different

Dell's Vostro 1220 business notebook is excellent value for under $1000

The Vostro may look like a netbook to the inexperienced eye, but its more powerful processor gives it more flexibility and speed

Freecom's ToughDrive lacks the necessary tough performance

Ideal for spies, but for the rest of us it’s probably overkill

HP SimpleSave is among the easiest backup drives on the market to use

Backup is a lot like flossing: no matter how frequently you do it, some expert is going to say you should be doing it better or more often. That's why HP's SimpleSave is among the easiest back-up drives to use.

HP's Mini 5101 is another stylish netbook let down by poor battery life

Sleek and professional, the Hp Mini 5101 is another attractively pitched netbook that can't shake its very poor battery life. When will manufactuers learn that battery life is all-important to netbook success?

HP's Officejet Pro 8500 printer is a good office inkjet all-in-one alternative

The HP Officejet Pro 8500 is one of the best office inkjet alternatives for under $350. Being feature packed, small businesses may be tempted to try this over the latest expensive laser printer.

HP's Pavilion s5180a proves that cheap and cheerful isn't everything

The HP Pavilion s5180a punches above its weight and provides a welcoming entry point for a starter or low-end upgrade system.

HP's ProBook 4310s, an affordable business notebook with HDMI and Gigabit ...

Not quite the consumer/business crossover it aims to be, but there’s a lot to like in this clever mix of old-style business laptop and feature-packed modern machine

Intel Core i5 and Core i7: 3 new model CPUs tested, reviewed and compared

Intel’s three new CPUs promise Core i7 power in an economical and efficient package. We put them through their paces to see whether small really is beautiful

Iomega's eGo Ruby Red PS puts in a bold performance with superior external ...

A bold drive whose attraction proves more than skin deep with great performance and a generous software suite.

Kogan's Agora netbook lacks real innovation - but at least there's Linux

As one of Australia's few locally designed netbooks, the Kogan Agora lives up to some lofty netbook ideals, but it’s sadly ho-hum in too many aspects to be seen as a real netbook contender.

LaCie's Little disk is big on designer looks, average on performance

A reasonable deal, if not the design miracle it thinks it is

Maxtor's BlackArmor is fit for a spy, but performance is compromised

A very usable secure drive, though there are compromises

Olympus's PEN E-P1 might be the retro camera king, but it's riddled with ...

The Olympus PEN E-P1 may look like a throwback to retro photography, but it’s expensive and flawed. However, it's beautiful image quality renders almost impossible to dislike.

Seagate's FreeAgent Go has the looks, but lacks performance

Vastly more tasteful than its predecessor, but still an also-ran

Seagate's FreeAgent Theater is let down by clunky interface and lack of file ...

While it might seem like a good idea, the Seagate FreeAgent Theater is more novelty than useful. And the price point is not as competitive as others in this range.

Sony VAIO Mini W Series: how good is the big brand's netbook?

So, the last big name has fallen. HP gave out in April 2008, and both Dell and Toshiba's resistance crumbled by the autumn. But it's taken Sony until the middle of 2009 to produce what it confesses to be a netbook, the VAIO Mini W Series.

Sony's VGN-P13Gh/Q is an overpriced, under performing netbook with poor ...

It may be lovely, but Sony’s under-powered P-series costs too much and features features poor battery life.

The Big List - 97 Free Apps You Can't Do Without

Like a digital Swiss Army Knife, these are the utilities and tools that are so useful, you won't know how you did without them

Verbatim's Portable Hard Drive can't compete on price, speed or design skills

Not this month’s cheapest, fastest or prettiest drive

WD's Passport Essential gets design just right, but price and performance ...

While the design is first rate, the performance is underwhelming

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