The new April issue of PC & Tech Authority goes on sale today (digital edition for iPad tomorrow and Android later today), jam-packed with reviews, features, expert buying advice and more.
Here's why you should get this month's April magazine at your newsagency:
Your Windows laptop is now a brick
Thinking it's time you got a new laptop this year? Then this issue is an absolute must-read. We've taken the new breed of laptops for 2012 - Ultrabooks - and put them through our torture tests to see which is best. We also have photos showing inside the guts of the hardware, analysis from John Gillooly, benchmark results, specs, prices….it's a big special.
PC, Mac, PC, Mac, PC, Mac
Flame wars aside, it's more common these days to own both hardware. This month we show you tips for the discerning Mac/PC owner - how to migrate a PC to a Mac, running Windows on a Mac, adding Macs to your network, transferring your iPhone or iPad to a new Mac.
That burning sensation
…is the Speed Test redlining as we clocked 40,000kbps with the first 4G phone we've tested. You've read the hype, you've seen the advertisements, now get the real test data on how Telstra 4G performs on HTC's Velocity phone. It's good, but there's a few things to keep in mind.
Roll your sleeves up
One for those willing to get out the tools. We look at converting an old PC into a spanking new media PC.
Systems: cool fans, cool temps
This month the new member of the team Matt Wilson tells what he knows about 3-pin fans, molex plugs, big fans, small fans, noise levels, a recommended RPM range, mounting fans - it's a lot of useful info you can apply to many PC builds.
In the Labs
Just like every month, you get a shopping guide full of expert advice on printers, monitors, graphics cards, tablets, phones, SSDs, keyboards, speakers and software. Our reviews look past the hype and give you the warts and all.
Flash, microSD, SSD
We're putting more and more data ion these little things - including our most important files. But are they all created equal?
Tutorials - Using a VPN, learn HTML5
By the time you've finished reading, you'll have a headstart on setting up a secure Internet link to the office, and the basics of creating a simple web page in the latest language of HTML.
Demo: Jagged Alliance: Back in Action
We have a soft spot for Bond - somehow this tactical assault title involving an island, evil dictator, and private military evokes the right atmosphere.
Plus:
A free full version of Ashampoo Burning Studio 2012 on the DVD, great reads on topics like LTE, telcos, Office 365, and all about a special coating that repels water to keep your phone or tablet dry.
Grab the magazine at your newsagency.
We have a soft spot for Bond - somehow this tactical assault title involving an island, evil dictator, and private military evokes the right atmosphere. Get the Jagged Alliance: Back in Action demo with this month's magazine DVD
Mini USB drives like these are handy because they're less prone to getting knocked around. This one is a bit different.
Despite being the cheapest Ultrabook on the market, Acer's Aspire S3 is a solid, unshowy performer with serious low-budget appeal.
Despite plenty of room for improvement, Asus' adorable Zenbook UX21 is an 11.6in Ultrabook with an obvious allure.
Asus' latest addition to the Ultrabook is sleek, attractive and lightning-quick. Find out why it was Labs Winner in our Ultrabook group test.
See how the Buffalo MiniStation fares against other USB 3.0 portable hard drives on the market.
Classy, understated and brimming with potential, Dell has conjured up an industry-leading Ultrabook with its XPS 13.
Music, movies, live TV and more -- a media PC can be the heart of your entertainment system. We show you how to set one up.
An innovative take on the all-in-one, but a mini photo studio on top of a printer is extremely niche.
Understated elegance married with decent performance, but the dim display sees it dropping down the Ultrabook ranks.
We put Corsair's top-of-the-range mechanical keyboard through its paces.
Intel's latest SSD range offers faster read/write speeds and a longer warranty. We put the 520 240GB model through its paces.
If you just want a reasonably affordable set of speakers, sometimes simple is best. Like these Microlab FC360 speakers.
The Samsung SSD 830 Series boasts blistering read and write speeds, but it's not the best-value SSD on the market.
Thermaltake's latest laptop AC power adapter works best as an additional device for emergencies.
A precursor to real Ultrabooks, Samsung's Series 9 is gorgeous and highly usable, but its price puts it out of contention.
Easy to use and with lots of useful features, but expensive.
We explain why a steady air flow is just as important to your PC as it is to your lungs.
Don't dismiss the 7in form factor just yet -- we review two pocket tablets side by side.
Toshiba's Ultrabook slims down to a class leading 1.09kg, yet still managers to cram in plenty of business-friendly features.
An efficient monitor with superb colour accuracy, but the backlight is disappointingly uneven.
