Australian PC World articles from August 2004

Australian PC World archives from August 2004

Burn in hell! The DVD revolution is well and truly upon us, as most of us own a plentiful collection of DVDs and a set-top box. Now the costs for DVD drives have plummeted: for as little $180 you can purchase a drive that two years ago cost $600. But with burners so affordable, will you keep to the letter of the law?(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... Call me cynical, but I think a lot of what is driving the DVD burner explosion is home users making copies of commercial DVD movie releases. In the same way that the price drops for CD burners followed the wave of peer-to-peer file sharing of...

New Intel chipsets.(Analysis News)
August 1, 2004... TWO new chipsets for consumer PCs are the centrepiece of one of Intel's most significant product launches of the year. The company is planning to introduce six new desktop processors alongside the 915 and 925 chipsets, formerly known as...

Nation's first spyware laws to go before Parliament.
August 1, 2004... A bill outlawing spyware is likely to go before Parliament as soon as September. The Australian Democrats are drafting the proposed bill, under which harvesting without consent corporate or personal information via a Web site or with software...

eBay store set to open.
August 1, 2004... The first shop to help Australians buy and sell goods on eBay is set to open on New South Wales's Central Coast in early July. QuikDrop in Green Point Shopping Village will be the retail chain's first store outside the US, and will use a...

Lawsuits for 321 Studios.(Analysis News)
August 1, 2004... 321 Studios, which sells software for copying DVDs, games and other content, may go out of business because of yet another lawsuit challenging the legality of one of its products. The company is considering filing for bankruptcy protection, a...

Microsoft looks to youth.(Analysis News)
August 1, 2004... Microsoft invited 15 university students from around the world to its Redmond, Washington headquarters to pick their brains on what the Office productivity suite should look like 10 years from now. For one week the students, all between the...

Kaspersky discovers first mobile phone worm.
August 1, 2004... Kaspersky Labs has discovered the first-ever computer virus capable of spreading over mobile phone networks. Cabir is a network worm that infects phones running the Symbian mobile phone operating system. No infections have been reported. ...

Updated test version of Windows XP SP2 released.
August 1, 2004... Microsoft has released an updated test version of Windows XP Service Pack 2 and claims it is on track to deliver the security-focused update in the third quarter. Release Candidate 2 (RC2) version of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP is...

Intel, Proxim build WiMax.(Analysis News)
August 1, 2004... Intel and Proxim have signed to build next-generation WiMax wireless broadband products together. Proxim will manufacture both base stations and subscriber access points, and collaborate with Intel on products using the still-unfinished mobile...

WiMax set for regional roll-out.(Analysis News)
August 1, 2004... A new broadband service based on WiMax will soon be offered by regional and community telecom operators, providing fixed and mobile high-speed services. The Broadstorm technology is being supplied nationally by Phone Vision, a Melbourne-based...

Next-gen mobo: 925X platform.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... Intel's new D925XCV motherboard is based on the Intel 925X chipset and ushers in a new era of interconnectivity for the PC platform while featuring integrated high-definition (24-bit/192KHz) 7.1-channel audio and four Serial ATA ports. The 925X...

Revolutionary broadband: Unwired.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... Unwired Australia is aiming to make its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband service available to around 70 per cent of Australian households. At press time, coverage was limited to a single Balmain-based transmitter, but a full Sydney metro...

Net access on the move: Mobile Connect Card.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... Vodafone's Mobile Connect (VMC) Card is a GPRS-only Type II PC Card for your notebook which allows you to access the Internet while on the road. The new version of this card is $100 less than when PC World reviewed the service upon launch last...

Slim player, recorder, radio: SSF-M3.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... The latest mass-storage MP3 player allowing you to carry your music collection with you comes in the form of the well-built 20GB SSF-M3. Touted as the world's slimmest hard drive-based MP3 player, the 136g device is lighter than an iPod. It...

Want bass with that? Tremor S-150R.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... With PCs sneaking out of the spare room and into the lounge, it's no longer enough that their speakers sound good; they need to look good, too. And TDK's latest Tremor speakers fit the latter requirement very nicely indeed. Using NXT's...

Protect yourself online: Security Suite 5.0.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... A firewall is a system that sits between a computer and the Internet, and provides security by ensuring that only certain types of traffic can pass. It can be a separate piece of hardware connected between your modem and PC, or it can be a...

Entry-level Linux: Linspire OS 4.5.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... Version 4.5 of the Linux-based Linspire operating system (previously known as LindowsOS) tries hard to be as friendly and simple to use as possible--a feat it accomplishes with gusto. After booting from the Linspire CD, two choices of...

Video for novices: VideoStudio 8.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... Ulead VideoStudio 8's new features include a revamped audio toolkit with individual track levels, plug-in support, some new video transitions and a slightly re-jigged front end, but most of the changes are designed for the novice user. The...

Cost-effective accounting: JustInvoices.(First Looks)
August 1, 2004... MYOB's new JustInvoices is just right for people who run their own business and don't feel the need for a full-blown accounting package with a full-blown price. As its name suggests, this capable and simple $79.95 program is an invoicing...

Quality prints, competitive pricing.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Two new inkjet printers from Epson and Lexmark were put through their paces in the Test Centre this month, both released just a little too late to make last month's Photo Printer round-up (July 2004, page 119). They are both touted as...

Lexmark Z818.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... The Z818 is excellent value for money and is targeted at the small and medium business market. If you're after a printer that offers fast print speeds and fine printing up to 4800dpi, the Z818 is hard to pass up. It delivers speeds of up to...

Epson PictureMate.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... This compact and end extremely portable unit looks more like a space-age toaster than a printer. It has a small footprint and a fold-away handle for easy transport, and uses PictBridge technology for direct connection to a digital camera....

Versatile all-in-one bargain.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Success in the PC and notebook markets has seen Dell branch out into the printer market in hopes of building the same level of brand awareness. This latest offering is priced very competitively in comparison to other multifunction devices...

New Intel processors.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Intel's new range of Pentium 4 CPUs coincides with the release of its new platform (LGA-775 socket) and numbering system for its 520, 530, 540 and 560 processors. We tested the P4 560 and another new CPU using the new socket, the 3.4 GHz P4...

Handled 3D maps.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Global positioning systems are really coming down in price at the moment, making them an excellent investment for anyone who needs help finding their way in unfamiliar places. A product of a recent collaboration between PalmOne and...

Multimedia on the move.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Move over iPod, Personal Media Players (PMPs)--video, photo and music handhelds--are the next big thing. Microsoft is partly responsible, having designed software for PMPs slated for release later this year from hardware partners including...

Scrapbook your memories.(Quick Takes)
August 1, 2004... Spending quiet time alone or with loved ones scrapbooking family photos for keepsake is on the rise in Australia, a trend addressed by Nova's Art Explosion Scrapbook Factory Deluxe 2.0 package. The software puts 2500 customisable templates...

Zone labs responds to "update headaches".(Readers' Forum)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Editor's note: Last month we presented Tony Whittaker's update problems to Zone labs, and this month we publish their response. We're very concerned about the incompatibility issue with Trend Micro and are working to resolve it. The actual...

Backing up Linux.(Readers' Forum)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I was very interested in your reviews of backup software and utility suites ("Trouble-free PC", July 2004 issue, page 59). One criterion you omitted was the ability to back up non-Windows file systems and/or partitions. Since my home PC is...

Missive of the month.
August 1, 2004... Congratulations Don Meharry! You are this month's winner of a copy of Trend Micro Internet Security 2004 software, distributed by Manaccom and valued at $99.95. We are pleased to receive your letters, but please keep them to less than 300...

Dilbert[R].
August 1, 2004... I SEE SOME NEW FACES. LET'S GO AROUND THE TABLE AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES. I AM ASOK, THE INTERN. I REPORT TO YOU. BUT I ALSO REPORT TO ALICE ON A DOTTED LINE. AND I REPORT TO CAROL ON A FUZZY, THIN LINE. I HAVE A BLINKING,...

Stress-free surfing: browse the Web without worrying about prying eyes and ne'er-do-wells. PC World shows you how to minimise or disable pop-ups, as well as how to avoid dangerous viruses and irritating Trojans.(Web & You)
August 1, 2004... The two biggest threats to stress-free surfing are malware and malicious intruders who can gain access to your data or even gain control of your PC. To help you combat these threats, we'll highlight tools that prevent viruses, worms and...

Bigger threats, better defence: we test 16 security tools that aim to foil worms, viruses, spies, and hackers.(Security Shoot-out)
August 1, 2004... Today's malicious code does not target just your computer--it targets you. Criminals who traffic in stolen credit card numbers and identity information increasingly use viruses and worms to snare victims. Viruses are only one of many...

Who knew you could do that? 22 unexpected ways to get more from the tools you use every day.
August 1, 2004... I take pleasure in discovering new and unexpected ways to use my favourite hardware and software. Exhibit A: I recently spent a week holed up in my home office poking around my PC. Let me tell you, I found some things I never expected. ...

Hassle-free e-mail: help for in-box overload is here: we test eight new e-mail options and find ones that squash spam, streamline searches, and more.
August 1, 2004... Let's face it: e-mail is enormously valuable, but it can be an enormous hassle, too. You need a tool that can read, write and wrangle hundreds of messages a day, that can find and help organise messages, and that can juggle e-mail from multiple...

Fast-lane DVD burning: with quicker drives and more-potent software, the time is right to take the rewritable DVD plunge. This month PC World tests 10 drives--including three new dual-layer DVD burners--and eight suites for massive data backups, plus high-quality video and audio. Turn to page 113 for our Best Buys reviews of 10 DVD burners.
August 1, 2004... Software is an important part of a drive package. All 10 drives bundled DVD/CD burning, DVD authoring and DVD playback software, but the HP dvd420i, the Diamond Digital DVDXRW848 and the Pioneer DVR-A07XLA models also had dedicated video...

A hot topic.(DVD Burners)
August 1, 2004... DVD burners have reached a price point ($180) where they are no longer luxury items and, as such, no new PC should be without one. They enable you to back up more than 4GB of data onto one disc, and to create your own DVD movies from archived...

Putting the squeeze on data.(Tech.Files)
August 1, 2004... Information, which is also referred to as data, is what computers work with in the form of electrical signals. For simplicity, we can assume that information, as far as computers are concerned, consists of 'bits', which can be either '0' or...

New AMD, Intel CPUs to affect sweet spot prices.(Sweet Spot)
August 1, 2004... The release of three new AMD Athlon 64 processors is expected to trigger massive price drops across the vendor's current range of Athlon XP chips. In June, AMD released the Athlon 64 3800+ and 3500+ chips to slot into its 64-bit product family....

Build-it-up basics.(Sweet Spot)
August 1, 2004... When building a new computer or updating an old one, it is always important to know which individual PC components provide the best performance for the least money. These components sit in what is called the sweet spot. The rule that we use to...

Over $3500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... PC Quest 3D Guru [1] New a first-time submission from PCQuest enters the Best Buys at the number one position, purely on the basis of its performance, warranty options and quality of assembly. All of the components reside in a black...

$1500-$3500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... Infocom Gaming Beast 3.2 [1] Sitting pretty at the top of this month's charts, the Gaming Beast 3.2 is a Pentium 4-based system that is built to cater to the heavy gamer and multimedia user. Its Albatron PX865PE Pro II motherboard holds...

Sub-$1500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... i-Tech AMD Athlon XP Award series [1] A full PC package from under $1500 is a reality: fast, reliable systems can be used for business or at home, and the Athlon XP Award series from i-Tech is a good example. Connections for SATA and...

PCs: over $3500, $1500-$3500, sub-$1500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... VALUE MAKE/MODEL RATING SPEED RATING REAL WORLD TESTS OVER $3500 (1) PCQuest 3D Guru 212 (a) 335 (e) 3m5s (i) 2m55s (b) 20385 ...

Over $4000.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... IBM ThinkPad T41p Pc world BEST BUYS * [1] T series models (starting at $2699) strive for a balance of performance and portability. The top-of-the-line $4799 T41p (2373 GEM) achieves this with a weight of just 2.5kg without power...

$2500-$4000.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... Dell Inspiron 9100 pc world BEST BUYS * [1] Billed as the ultimate desktop replacement, the 4.2kg 9100 is certainly geared to infrequent point-to-point use--say, from the office to the home at the end of each week. Our $3999 test...

Sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... Optima Centoris G595 pc world BEST BUYS * [1] NEW A multi-format (-/+) DVD writer, wireless networking, 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Smart Media) and a great worst-case scenario battery life of 98 minutes--all for a shade...

Notebooks: over $4000, $2500-$4000, sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... BEST BUYS: NOTEBOOKS: OVER $4000, $2500-$4000, SUB-$2500 VALUE BENCHMARK REAL WORLD MAKE/MODEL RATING SCORES TESTS OVER $4000 (1) IBM ThinkPad 72...

DVD burners.(Best Buys)
August 1, 2004... DVD BURNERS BEST BUYS pc world BEST BUYS * BUDGET: The BTC DRW11081B for its good all-around performance, the inclusion of a memory card reader and competitive price. pc world BEST BUYS * OVERALL: The Pioneer DVR-A07XLA for...

Drive partitioning.(In Depth)
August 1, 2004... With a little understanding, partitioning can make your computer life much easier, and it can also help disaster-proof your data. Backups +become far simpler, as do file searches, system defrags and searches. The only drawback is that taking a...

Firmware fixes.(Upgrader)
August 1, 2004... When you buy a DVD burner, the natural assumption is that it'll work faultlessly and provide you with unlimited joy and versatility. Sadly, the reality is often different. As DVD burners get faster, you may begin to experience difficulties with...

Windows dressing.(Windows XP)
August 1, 2004... The Windows graphical user interface (GUI) isn't quite as customisable as the open source desktops are. Microsoft makes Windows dressing less than straightforward by using a plethora of binary files, Registry entries and INI configuration files...

Power tools.(Mac OS)
August 1, 2004... Uptime heads--people who wear the length of time that their OS X box has been continuously up and running as a badge of honour--have mixed feelings about Apple's regular software updates. Sure, some of them, like the recent security update, are...

Crossing over to Linux.(Linux)
August 1, 2004... Changing your operating system from Windows to Linux can be a traumatic process. Not only is Linux a completely new system to learn, but many mainstream applications won't run on it. A solution to this is Codeweavers' Crossover Office, a tool...

PHP 5: new object model.(PHP)
August 1, 2004... Thanks to input from people all over the Internet, PHP has been developed at a very fast pace. While this has contributed to PHP's ease of use, it has also led to the language being less than complete--especially when it comes to object...

Digital radio revolution.(Audio)
August 1, 2004... Digital radio is currently undergoing separate trials in Sydney and Melbourne, and digital radio receivers that allow you to tune in freely are now available to the public. Two individual outfits have established reference sites for technical...

The clearer picture: Part I.(Graphics)
August 1, 2004... There's nothing quite like the feeling you get when you find that a special picture has been ruined by blurring. It's a surprisingly common problem, often aggravated by the huge range of features in digital cameras. Luckily, it's possible...

VideoStudio walkthrough.(Digital Video)
August 1, 2004... In a rush of generosity, we've included a full working copy of Ulead's VideoStudio 6 SE Basic on this month's cover disc. Here's a walkthrough to get you started. Once you've got your footage, every video production has three key stages:...

Back from the grave.(CD & DVD)
August 1, 2004... Some CDs die gracefully, while others give up the ghost soon after being burned. How do you know which CDs are dying and, more importantly, what steps can be taken to recover data that appears to be lost? You could lie in bed worrying about it,...

Shutdown slowdown.(All Windows)
August 1, 2004... Q My PC takes about five minutes to shut down. What's causing the problem, and how can I fix it? --Linnett Williamson A First, here's some general advice: bugs in hardware drivers cause most shutdown difficulties. Before you do...

Stubborn files.(All Windows)
August 1, 2004... Q How do I delete a file when Windows insists that it's "being used by another person or program"?--Rob Oldenburg A This is easy to do in Windows 98: select Start-Shut Down-Restart in MS-DOS mode, and then use the del filename command to...

Boot on the other foot.(Windows XP)
August 1, 2004... Q 'I'm running a dual-boot system with Windows XP and Windows 98. I no longer want to use 98. What steps do I take to remove the dual boot?--George Nowotny Q To kill the 'Please select the operating system...' menu that comes up every time...

Lost search.(Windows XP)
August 1, 2004... Q I'm running Windows XP Professional. When I click on the Search icon in the Start menu, the mouse pointer changes to an hourglass for a few seconds and then goes back to normal. Nothing else happens--not even an error message.--Peter Evans...

Sharing your outlook.(Microsoft Office)
August 1, 2004... TIP There's a trick that you can use to share Microsoft Outlook data across a network. It won't work between Outlook 2003 and older versions of the program, nor will it let you keep your data separate from other users, but it's free. Open...

Internal errors with SR1.(Microsoft Office)
August 1, 2004... Q I am trying to install the Microsoft Office 2000 SR1 updates on my new PC. I downloaded the update file successfully, but it failed while configuring disc one and gave the message 'Internal error 2349'. --Keith Bridle A According to...

Removal worries.(Miscellanous)
August 1, 2004... Q When I uninstall software using Add/ Remove Programs, I usually receive a message saying that not all parts of the software could be deleted and they should be removed manually. Where will I find these parts? --Peter Berry A...

Error objects.(Internet)
August 1, 2004... Q When using Internet Explorer 6.0, I often see the message: 'Problems with this web page prevent it from being displayed properly or functioning properly'. It gives a line and character number, a URL and an 'Error object required' message....

CD/DVD ID.(Hardware)
August 1, 2004... Q I'm unhappy with the operation of the CD and DVD drives in my PC. All attempts to get the manufacturer to tell me the name and model of the drive have failed. What should I try next in order to obtain working drivers?--Bob Cochrane A If...

Purchase concerns.(Hardware)
August 1, 2004... Q Is it safe to buy a second-hand PC? Would it be possible, for instance, to check before buying it whether it had been used to view pornographic material?--F DeHavilland A Even if the seller had reformatted the hard disk and reinstalled...

Ricoh installation error.(Hardware)
August 1, 2004... Q When I attempt to run the software for my Ricoh DVD+RW drive, I get the message 'Error installing ikernel.exe (0x1200)' and it refuses to load. Can you help? --David Nelson A There's a flaw in the InstallShield setup program that is...

Creative use of the System Tray.(Hardware)
August 1, 2004... Q I am trying to get rid of a System Tray icon called LiveNews Update. I can't find it listed in Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.--Gerry Hall A LiveNews Update is a feature of Creative Labs' LivePlayer or LiveWare. To disable it, open...

Does IT Matter?(On The Shelf)
August 1, 2004... Does IT Matter? BY NICHOLAS CARR Publisher: Harvard Business School Press Price: $US26.95 URL: www.harvardbusinessonline.com ISBN: 1591394449 Times have changed for IT. Is there really anyone who has looked at the consolidation in the...

Always Use Protection: a Teen's Safe Guide To Computing.(Books Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... Always Use Protection: A Teen's Safe Guide To Computing BY DANIEL APPLEMAN Publisher: Woodslane Price: $34.95 Phone: (02) 9970 5111 URL: www.alwaysuseprotection.com ISBN: 159059326X The Internet is a great resource tool that contains...

Exploiting the Internet.(Books Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... Exploiting the Internet BY TIM O'BRIEN Publisher: Tri-Obi Productions Price: $34.95 Phone: (03) 9614 3002 URL: www.webstrategy.com.au ISBN: 0646431404 Exploiting the Internet is aimed at the entrepreneur or small business owner who...

Blue's News.(Back Bytes Web)
August 1, 2004... Great for gaming aficionados, Blue's News is devoted mainly to gaming news, reviews and previews. A lot of the reviews/previews are hosted elsewhere and written by other Web sites or publications, and Blue's News is a one-stop solution that...

HubbleSite.(Back Bytes Web)
August 1, 2004... Launched on 24 April 1990, the Hubble telescope has provided NASA with a wealth of information about the universe. Such a large volume of information is available about the Hubble that various categories on the site include an image gallery,...

Free Codecs.(Back Bytes Web)
August 1, 2004... Files downloaded from the Internet, whether audio or video, may not play correctly in their respective media players. With some video files you may hear audio but see no video, and the media player may have trouble downloading or identifying...

AusGamers.(Back Bytes Web)
August 1, 2004... Looking for that latest game demo or trying to track down when the next nearby LAN party is? Go no farther than AusGamers. Targeted at the Australian games community, this site has various sections on Australian gaming news, LAN events and even...

Online funnies.(Editor's Choice)
August 1, 2004... Moving away from the traditional comic book form or strip in a newspaper, budding comic artists have chosen the Internet as an avenue to showcase their work and have developed a cult following worldwide. We expose three of our favourite online...

G5-inspired PC case.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... Prospective PC builders who lust after Apple's painfully attractive PowerMac G5 will love the PC-V1000 PC chassis. As you'd expect, it offers Lian-Li's usual high quality finish and it certainly looks the part. Just don't expect assembly to be...

Walkie-talkie phone.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... By the end of the year, Australia should have yet another mobile phone service, one rising in popularity with business and industry users overseas and called push-to-talk (PTT). A PTT phone allows you to connect to other phones with the push of...

Mobile phone/PDA hybrid.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... Motorola's MPx is slated to reach Australian shores in November this year and, although pricing is yet to be set, it's likely to attract quite a bit of interest. This mobile phone/ Pocket PC PDA hybrid has a unique design, incorporating a phone...

USB-powered massage ball.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... This little rounded device has knobbly bits that vibrate to soothe away your aches and pains while you're at the desk. It made my hand go numb after about 20 seconds so I switched to my back, which made me feel a bit nauseated. At a last...

Massive external storage.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
August 1, 2004... Western Digital's Media Center is an external hard drive and memory card reader all rolled into one. It can connect to your PC via USB 2.0 or FireWire, and its small confines house a large 250GB, 7200rpm drive along with an 8-in-1 card reader....