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PC Authority Issue: March, 2008

Australia's premier computer magazine, PC Authority gives you the facts, opinions and insight to make informed PC and tech purchasing decisions.

Issue: 124  |  March, 2008

What's in this issue

What's in the mag?

* Google Earth
* Intel vs AMD
* Internet Security
* Macbook vs Sony VAIO
* Smartphone megatest

What's on the DVD?
* Kaspersky Internet Security 7
* Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10
* Universal Combat
* AV Music Morpher 2.0
* Indie games pack

Hello! We’ve got a packed issue for you this month. First up is Google Earth. Even aficionados will learn something from our massive 11-page, in-depth feature.

Last month we noticed that AMD’s new processors and graphics cards were somewhat underwhelming. Tech hero David Fearon has moved heaven and earth to get all the most cutting edge parts possible to see which company is making the processors worth buying.

It’s also the perfect time to look at internet security suites: the only applications that everyone really needs to buy. Now that all of the major players have released their 2008 product versions we’ve tested 12 of the best to show you where to spend your money.

Not so long ago PC Authority was regarded as anti-Mac. But over the past year Apple has consistently wowed us, and the new MacBook Air continues this tradition. While we haven’t yet scored a review sample to put through our punitive benchmarks, Tim Danton did get his hands on one at the launch.

In recent issues various contributors have questioned the logic of having a cover disc on the magazine. Please tell us at inbox@pcauthority.com.au

Articles in this issue

AMD vs Intel - here's the hammer blow
We've put AMD and Intel’s new processors to the test, and there's one clear winner.

Apple TV
Beautifully designed with a clear interface, but format support is limited

Asus Nova P20
A teaser of a great workhorse PC, we just hope Asus can get the price down on release.

AVG Internet Security 7.5
Is it worth paying for the full version of AVG Internet Security?

Celestron Skyscout
Few products that come through our Labs leave us amazed but Celestron’s Skyscout managed it.

Draft-n wireless routers
Speed up your home network with these wireless routers, including faster speeds, better gaming and VoIP handling and automatic security.

Eset Smart Security
Clean, clear and light on its feet, but with few extras.

HTC S710
Pocketable, but expensive and lacks high-speed internet access.

HTC TyTN II
A superbly packaged do-everything mobile workhorse that will appeal to business users and gadget freaks alike.

HTC TyTN II
Innovative, solidly engineered and packed with features – an almost perfect smartphone

i-mate Ultimate 6150

Kaspersky Internet Security 7
A winner on the strength of its excellent protection, coming first or equal-first in our malware and firewall test.

Microsoft Xbox 360
A Media Center Extender, upscaling DVD player and great games console

Network Video Players
Play your video, photo and music files on your TV from a networked PC. We put five network players to the test

Nokia E61i
A bit large for our liking but the price makes it tempting.

Nokia E90 Communicator
Fantastically engineered, but a bit too bulky for comfort.

Palm Treo 500v
Poor value and lacks a few high-end features.

Palm Treo 680
A snappy performer, but let down by a fiddly keyboard.

Philips Streamium SLM5500
A reasonable option if your budget is tight, but you get what you pay for

RIM BlackBerry 8820
A little large and lacking in superfast data connectivity, but unrivalled as an email tool.

RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8120
Not the most useable email tool, but very sleek.

Samsung i600
Slim and well connected, but ease-of-use issues limit its appeal.

Smartphones Roundup
We test 11 keyboard-based smartphones to find the best tools for staying connected on the move

Sony Ericsson P1i
A compact keyboard can’t make up for the confusing interface.

Sony PlayStation 3
Video support isn’t the best, but the PS3 remains a superb piece of kit

TI Extreme Power 8500
Great performance, fantastic value and near silent operation makes this our new A-List mid-range PC winner.

TomTom One (v3)
Still the easiest GPS to use, the new third generation TomTom trounces the competition.

Toshiba Portégé G900
Packed with features, but too bulky and expensive to compete.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
A mixed performance undermines an otherwise good-value product.

Windows Live OneCare
A big improvement from Microsoft, but there’s still some way to go. OneCare can now call itself a serious security contender.

ZyXEL DMA 1000
It lacks Wi-Fi, but is otherwise an excellent budget video-streaming choice

What's on the disc

PC Authority Issue: 124
FULL VERSIONS
AV Music Morpher 2.0
Create amazing music effects with this one-stop audio editor software

Kaspersky Internet Security 7
Top notch protection for your PC – six month subscription free!

O&O Disk Image 2 SE
Backup or restore an entire drive or drive partition, free

Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10
Try Linux with the latest version of user-friendly Ubuntu

Universal Combat
Blast the universe in this single-player shoot’em up

FREEWARE
Abiword 2.5.2
Ambient Design Artrage 2.5 Starter Edition
Audacity 1.2.6
DeepBurner Free 1.8.0.224
GIMP helpfiles 2.4
GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment 2.10.13 (required for installation of the GIMP)
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
Open Office 2.3.1
PDFCreator 0.9.5
The GIMP 2.4.2

EDITORIAL
3D Graphics Part 1
Creating a burned CD-R from an ISO image using Deepburner
Download - Vista sidebar gadgets
HTML basics
Indie Games Pack:
Mr. Robot, Argmageddon Empires, Kudos: Rock Legend, Aquaria, Threadspace
Real World Benchmarks

WINDOWS
Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
Adobe Reader 8
AVG 7.5.503
Editpad Pro 6.3.2
Explorer XP 1.07a
Foxit Reader 2.2
Google Desktop Search
Google Earth 4.2
LP Recorder 8.7
Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
RocketReader 8.2
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.5.1
True Launch Bar 4.2
Tweakui
Winrar 3.71
Winzip 11.1
Zonealarm firewall

GAMES
Sam and Max: Moai Better Blues demo
Universal Combat
Warhammer 40,000 Soulstorm demo

LINUX
Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10

INTERNET
AOL Instant Messenger 6.5.4.16
Crazy Browser 3Beta 2
CWShredder 2.19
Diino 4.1
FileZilla 3.0.3
Google Toolbar
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.11
Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.9
MSN Messenger 7(98/ME)
Portable Firefox 2.0.0.9
Remote Administrator 3.1
SpamBayes 1.0.4
Trillian Basic 3.1.9
Windows Live Messenger

PATCHES (XP and Vista)
ATI Catalyst 7.11 Control Center Package (XP)
DirectX 10
NVIDIA Forceware drivers (for FX, 6000, 7000 and 8000 series GPUs) 169.21; 169.25
NVIDIA Forceware drivers (for laptop; 7800 and 7900 GO Series) 84.63
Realtek AC'97 Codec 4.03
Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs 1.82
VIA HyperionPro drivers 5.13A

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Quick Contacts

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Australia
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(FREE CALL from anywhere in Australia)
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New Zealand
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For editorial queries, please contact:
William Maher
Brand Editor, PC Authority
wmaher@pcauthority.com.au

Zara Baxter
Deputy Editor, PC Authority
zbaxter@pcauthority.com.au
For advertising queries, please contact:
Joanne Nichols
Group Advertising Manager, Print and Events
ph: +61 (02) 8399 7603
jnichols@haymarketmedia.com.au

Sam Askin
Product Manager, Consumer IT Digital
ph: +61 (02) 8399 7619
saskin@haymarketmedia.com.au
 
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November, 2009
Issue: 144
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Issue: 143
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September, 2009
Issue: 142
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Issue: 141
August, 2009

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