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Australia's premier computer magazine, PC Authority gives you the facts, opinions and insight to make informed PC and tech purchasing decisions.
PC Authority Issue: September, 2008

Issue: 130  |  September, 2008

What's in this issue

This month I’ve moved into the big leather chair, and the key to the labs is now under the safe care of our long-term writer and now Labs Editor Dave Stevenson.

Our feature this month exposes online banking – chances are your bank offers an internet service, but is it the best? We’ve tested the digital offerings of ten of Australia’s biggest institutions, and our feature on online security tells you what to look for and even how to move your account if your bank isn’t up to scratch.

One of the curious things about huge group tests, such as this issue’s enormous LCD and hard disk tests, is that product differences are a law unto themselves.

It’s next to impossible to tell LCD’s apart by reading their specifications. When you come to test them, however, models that look identical on paper can have substantial differences, as our tests in this issue demonstrate.

With hard disks, the difference between product specifications reflects the performance much more directly. If you’ve been scouting for a performance hard disk upgrade or you’re after cheap storage for your videos, photos and music, September PC Authority has all the information you’ll need.

We look at the new Centrino 2 platform for notebooks from plus pit the Nvidia GeForce GTX200 series up against the AMD/ATi Radeon 4000 series in our latest graphics card showdown. Check the mag to find out more.

In case you’ve been under a rock for the last three months: the Apple iPhone 3G is finally here in Australia. Will it change your world? Is it better than sliced bread? We deliver our verdict.

Articles in this issue

ANZ
An impressive service, if only it was a touch more reliable.

ATI Radeon HD 4000 vs Nvidia GeForce GTX 200
Both graphics card giants have unleashed powerful new additions to their ranks recently, and their battle for supremacy is hotter than ever. We put the new arrivals through their paces

Bank of Queensland
A well thought out site with plenty of features, including SMS alerts.

Bank West
A no frills site that does the job but doesn’t stand out in any way.

Commonwealth Bank
Not terribly pretty, but good security and features shine through.

First Look: LG Secret KF750, touchscreens get classier
Well the Secret is finally out and it's one of best looking phones we've seen. There's no GPS or WiFi, but otherwise this third offering in the Black Label series is all class.

Gateway
Straight forward site that handles all the basics and includes some innovative security.

HP 2133 Mini Note
You've seen our first impressions, now here's our full review. Good-looking, usable and keenly priced but, for now at least, poor performance and battery life give the Eee the edge

HSBC
Great if you have foreign accounts to manage, but only average otherwise.

ING
A fairly straightforward site focused on savings, but it functions well.

Linksys WRT310N Ultra RangePlus: our new top pick wireless router
With its futuristic design, the WRT310N could live just as happily in your front room as it could next to your PC – at just 34mm high it’s easy to hide. If you already have an ADSL modem, this is the pefect wireless router companion.

NAB
A clean and fast interface, plenty of features and strong security make it a winner.

Nikon D700, drool-worthy full frame DSLR
Forget budget DSLR, this is for serious photography. Extravagant in almost every way, the D700 is superbly responsive and produces stunning images

Online Banks Exposed
Discover if your bank is leaving serious security holes or lacks cutting-edge features in our in-depth analysis of online banking.

Palit Geforce 9600
A reworking of an old card from Palit, but it’s not quite enough to beat the 9600 GT

Race Driver: GRID, perfect fodder for your Radeon HD 4000
Had enough of hearing about Crysis? Codemaster's latest effort does to road racing what Codemasters’ Colin McRae: DiRT did to off-road racing.

St George
Plenty of features and strong security complemented by a clean interface.

Westpac
A well rounded package that falls short on security.

What's on the disc

PC Authority Issue: 130
• Iolo System Mechanic
• Mozilla Firefox 3
• Sim City Societies Demo
• Serif Web Plus 8
• Damn Small Linux

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Back Issues

August, 2008
Issue: 129
August, 2008

July, 2008
Issue: 128
July, 2008

June, 2008
Issue: 127
June, 2008

May, 2008
Issue: 126
May, 2008

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