In the September issue of PC Authority, on sale now at your local newsstand:
Windows 7 Release Candidate - FULL VERSION on our cover disc
With millions of beta downloads, and an avalanche of positive feedback, Windows 7 has so far surpassed all expectations. Now you can try it for yourself. Free with this month's September issue of PC Authority magazine is a full working version of Windows 7 Release Candidate. Users will need to register and obtain a product key within 30 days of installation in order to experience the full functionality of the product. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010.
Windows 7: Is it finally time to ditch Vista?
In this feature, we've blown apart the Windows 7 Release Candidate - which contains all the features that will appear in the final version of the operating system, which will arrive this autumn. We've examined how the new OS will affect our lives in a number of key scenarios: home, work, mobile, and for PC enthusiasts and gamers.
Upgrade to Serious Photography
Time to step up from point-and-shoot cameras to something with more creative freedom? From budget DSLRs to Micro Four Thirds cameras, power zooms and high-quality compacts, we compare the technologies. Includes: digital camera buyer's checklist, should you buy a DSLR? The megapixel myth explained: why basing your decision on megapixels when shopping for a digital camera is not such a good idea.
Tested: 10 Ultimate Laptops to replace your old PC
The once-cavernous gulf between laptops and desktop PCs has never been narrower. Laptops now offer the sort of power that was a mere pipe dream a couple of years ago, and they're beginning to rival desktops in their versatility as well. Still sceptical? Then take a look at the 10 laptops that have invaded the Labs this month. More than half include TV tuners, many boast Blu-ray drives and Full-HD screens to match, while the ultraportables include 3G modems for broadband internet on the move.
All-in-one PCs
The fuse was lit by the first Apple iMac way back in 1998, which pioneered the idea of reducing a modern desktop computer to a single, simple unit. Back then, though, the average PC user expected to make regular upgrades to their system, making a closed all-in-one system a tough sell. Now, they are finally coming of age. Compact desktops promise a full-spec PC in an attractive package, and threaten to take on the iMac; we ask whether they deliver.