Australian PC World articles from May 2003

Australian PC World archives from May 2003

Security SOS. (Editorial).
May 1, 2003... Net nasties continue to get delivered to your desktop via security holes in the software you use daily. From your operating system and Internet browser to your instant messaging program and e-mail client, there are flaws to be found. What...

Sneak peek at new Windows. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... A second build of the successor to Microsoft's Windows XP has appeared on the Internet but Windows watchers who tested the software don't see major advances to get excited about yet. When it hits the stores at the end of 2004 or in 2005,...

Multimedia emphasis. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Also apparent in Longhorn is Microsoft's multimedia push. The latest leaked alpha version has an incomplete My TV application, deeply integrated media player and support for creating photo albums, akin to Apple Computer's iPhoto, testers...

MSN Messenger 5.0 adds camera, action.
May 1, 2003... Microsoft has added webcam functionality to its MSN Messenger 5.0 client, allowing users to stream and view live video via instant messages. The webcam features are being made possible under an agreement Microsoft signed with Logitech,...

McDonald's asks: want Wi-Fi with that?
May 1, 2003... McDonald's customers may soon be asked whether they would like a free hour of `McWireless' access to go along with their Extra Value Meal, thanks to a deal the fast food chain made with Intel. To coincide with the semiconductor's launch of...

PayPal e-mail scams. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Users of PayPal, eBay's online payments service, have once again been targeted by scam artists trying to gain access to their personal information. Kevin Pursglove, a spokesman for eBay, confirmed that during March, PayPal subscribers were...

MS joins DVD+RW Alliance. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... In a move that could influence the rewritable DVD format battle, Microsoft is joining the DVD+RW Alliance, the group that promotes and develops the DVD+RW format. The software maker will become the ninth member of the Alliance's...

IDC: HP and Acer take early lead with Tablet PC.
May 1, 2003... Through the end of December, Hewlett-Packard (HP) was virtually tied with Acer in worldwide shipments of Tablet PCs, according to research released by IDC. HP and Acer shipped about 17,000 units of their Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 and...

Casio develops small, thin fingerprint scanner.
May 1, 2003... Casio Computer and Alps Electric have developed a small fingerprint scanner built into a short, thin cylinder for use in mobile telephones and other portable devices. The cylinder, 6mm in diameter and 15mm long, contains a sensor, light...

New AMD mobile CPUs. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Hoping to divert a little Centrino hype, AMD has announced 12 new notebook processors, including five low-voltage chips designed for thin-and-light notebooks and higher wattage chips for larger notebooks. AMD now offers three categories of...

ID theft warning. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Monster.com's local arm is downplaying the threat of identity theft here despite the online job site's warning to millions of new and existing customers in the US about phoney job listings that are being used to steal personal information from...

IBM supercomputer heads north.
May 1, 2003... The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC) has purchased an IBM supercomputer consisting of systems with a total of 800 Power4 processors. ARSC will use the computing power to study the currents and depths of the Gulf of Alaska in a...

SiS chipset gives AMD clues.
May 1, 2003... A new chipset from Silicon Integrated Systems announced at the CeBIT trade show supports a 400MHz front side has for AMD's Athlon XP processors, which appears to clear up questions about whether AMD would include that feature in the forthcoming...

Mini memory advances. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Through a series of developments announced recently, manufacturers have delivered smaller, faster and higher capacity memory cards. The latest advance in card size was announced at the CeBIT trade show when the SD Card Association unveiled...

Creative Labs to make Media2Go device.
May 1, 2003... Creative Labs will make a personal media player that runs Microsoft's forthcoming Media2Go software, Microsoft said. Media2Go is the code name for Windows CE 4.2-based software for devices that can play video and music and display still...

IETF creates anti-spam research group.
May 1, 2003... The Internet Engineering Task Force has created a new Anti-Spam Research Group that aims to combat unsolicited commercial e-mail by setting standards for spare detection and potential legislation. The anti-spare group will work within the...

AOL7 enters race. (Broadband).
May 1, 2003... Hoping to lure customers with the promise of rich broadband content, AOL7 has launched a new broadband service complete with its own portal site of exclusive interactive features, music clips and multimedia content. Available now, the new...

Setup saving incentives. (Broadband).
May 1, 2003... AOL7's broadband services will be available on a three-, 12-, 18- or 24-month contract. Prices for the service start at $64.95 for a Freedom 256Kbps/64Kbps plan with 700MB of downloads per month. Monthly fees are the same across all plans,...

Optus Wi-Fi targets business community. (Broadband Briefs).
May 1, 2003... Wi-Fi has gained another advocate, this time in Australia's second largest telco. Optus says it is targeting business customers with commercial wireless broadband access (Wi-Fi) services and plans to roll out 500 access hotspots within the...

Telstra disconnects BigPond broadband spammers. (Broadband Briefs).
May 1, 2003... Telstra has disconnected two of its broadband Internet users for spamming and has more in its sights as it complies with a threat over its subscribers' use of the distributed bulletin board system, Usenet. The disconnections follow...

GeForce FX: worth it? 5800 ultra and 5600. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... Last year, ATI's Radeon 9700 Pro stole the gaming crown, outperforming NVIDIA's NV25-based GeForce cards, the Ti 4200, 4400 and 4600. NVIDIA took stock and spent time perfecting the 0.13-micron process, enabling its designers to use 125 million...

Budget 3-in-1 image centre: PSC 1210. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... HP's recently released PSC 1210 is a compact printer, scanner and copier in one, which connects to a PC via USB. It's a square-looking unit with dimensions of 43cm in width, 37cm in depth (including loaded paper tray) and 17cm in height. It's...

Fully-featured 4-in-1: ImageCLASS MPC600F. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... It looks bulky, but this behemoth from Canon is a Bubble Jet printer, scanner, copier and fax machine in one, and is best suited to the office environment that needs photo quality output and input capabilities, as well as a good old fax...

Size doesn't matter: XPC SN41G2. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... If you require a powerful, well equipped computer system, but don't have the space for a mid-tower computer case or a big budget, then this do-it-yourself kit from Shuttle will allow you to employ a strong configuration in the tiniest of PC...

Low cost PDA: Axim X5. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... Personal Digital Assistants are great mobile must-haves but the high price can be off-putting to people wanting to join the mobile revolution. Dell is a newcomer to the market, but it's clearly thought out its strategy--combining power and...

Affordable 2.1 speakers: PlanarMedia 9. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... Monsoon, the maker of these speakers, is no newcomer to the market--it provides audio systems for cars as well as PCs and consoles. The PM9 is a three-piece speaker system featuring two flat panel designed satellites and a subwoofer. The...

7.1 external sound card: Sonica Theater. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... Sonica Theater from M-Audio combines the mobility of the original Sonica with the rich feature set of Creative's first external sound card, the Extigy. It comes with better audio fidelity, 7.1 channel support and a host of connections...

The evolution of office: office 2003 beta 2. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... The final public beta of Microsoft's Office 2003 sits the suite firmly in the enterprise league as a complete front end system. Long gone are the days of stand-alone apps; the suite, now termed a 'system' by Microsoft, widely makes use of...

A less costly choice: staroffice 6.1 beta 1. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... The simple fact that Office 2003 will run on Windows 2000 and XP only may be just the impetus for some users to look elsewhere for their next productivity suite. SunMicrosystems' StarOffice, which operates on Sun Solaris, Linux and Windows 98...

Protect your children online: McAfee parental controls 1.0. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... Previously released as part of its Internet Security Suite, McAfee's Parental Controls is now available as a stand-alone product in updated form. It offers protection for kids when they're surfing, using chatrooms or sending instant messages....

Connect remotely to a PC: laplink everywhere. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... LapLink Everywhere lets you access e mail and files from up to three PCs via any browser-enabled device, be it Mac or PC, PDA or smart phone. The software itself is free, but the service isn't--there's a monthly fee of $US9.95, or slightly less...

CD and DVD creation: easy CD & DVD creator 6.0. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... The latest version of Roxio's popular authoring package includes a new interface for Drag-to-Disc, a utility that sits on your desktop and allows you to drag files directly onto it. This lets you treat blank CDs and DVDs as if they were giant...

Easy database tracking: alpha five version 5. (First Looks).
May 1, 2003... This relational database application is designed for tracking inventory, customers and suppliers. Alpha Five is suitable for all users, from novice to expert developer. Ease of use is a key feature of Alpha Five. The basic tasks of...

Take great photos in bad weather. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Most digital cameras are best used on dry sunny days or indoors, protected from the elements. Olympus s new water-resistant models allow you to keep shooting even when the weather turns foul. Both the $799, 3-megapixel MJU 300 Digital and the...

Biometric security Pocket PC. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Talk about having a personal touch: the flagship iPAQ Pocket PC H5450 is the first mainstream personal digital assistant to offer biometric security via a built-in fingerprint reader. The reader is a small, thin, unobtrusive strip beneath...

Phone with camera and flash. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... The S55's detachable camera is the first to include a flash, although it's a bit of gimmick--the interface is fiddly to use and you're bound to forget to pack the camera attachment when you leave the house in the morning. Captured images are...

Create your own web auction site. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... The mechanics of setting up an auction Web site have been simplified by means of Terapin's AuctionEasy, which provides a content management system that employs Microsoft's ASP (active server technology) to drive a dynamic Web site. As...

Remove unwanted spyware and adware. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Long a favourite tool of computer users looking to rid their systems of annoying adware and spyware, Lavasoft's Ad-aware has returned in a new, free standard edition that offers an improved interface and more customisation options. Two new pay...

Business card management software. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Corex's CardScan has always been invaluable software, able to turn piles of business cards into useful data easily accessed via a searchable or-screen card file (or any of several popular contact managers). With CardScan Version 6.0.4 ($99...

OKI C5300 colour laser printer. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... OKI's $3575 colour laser printer is perfect for the SME market and would suit businesses who need high-quality, large-volume colour printouts. It features 10/100 network connectivity with an internal Web server, yet can be connected to a...

New quality sound cards. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... The competition for both external and internal mainstream, feature-rich sound cards is heating up. On page 26 we look at M-Audio's Sonica Theatre external USB sound card that competes with Creatives' Extigy device, and in the January 2003...

Terratec Aureon 7.1 space. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Terratec's new flagship consumer card, the Aureon 7.1 Space, not only adds high-quality audio entertainment for PCs, but supports impressive eight-channel sound. With this card hooked up inside your PC you can set up one centre satellite, two...

Terratec Aureon 5.1 fun. (QuickTake).
May 1, 2003... This entry-level card may lack the high-end specifications of the flagship Aureon but it's superb value for money and will suit anyone working on a budget. The 5.1 Fun card offers 16-bit/48KHz playback and recording, so it can't compete...

Cakewalk Project5. (Quick Takes).
May 1, 2003... Cakewalk's new software music studio, Project5, should be available by the time you read this. Aiming to complement rather than outright replace the company's existing flagship audio/MIDI sequencing software, Sonar 2.2, Project5 is similar to...

Mandrake Linux 9.1 download edition. (Linuxworld).
May 1, 2003... Recent versions of Mandrake Linux have not changed much from the user's perspective, as stability and software updates have been the focus of releases over the last year. Mandrake Linux 9.1 is the first significant update to the popular Linux...

In-car multimedia PC. (Readers' Forum).
May 1, 2003... I have been reading the article on your custom case containing fluorescent tubes, etc. (In Depth Custom PC Modification, February 2003 page 116), and I thought you may be interested in a little project I started out doing about 18 months ago....

Print perfect. (Readers' Forum).
May 1, 2003... I am writing to provide some timely information relating to home printing, as discussed in the Image Makers feature (April 2003, page 44). If you have a picture that will be handled, such as fridge magnets or wallet pictures, you can...

Price correction: Toshiba Satellite 5200. (Readers' Forum).
May 1, 2003... Toshiba and Australian PC World would like to make a correction to information that appeared in Best Buys Notebooks in April 2003 (starting page 95). Toshiba provided an incorrect price to PC World, and the correct price for the Toshiba...

Missive of the month. (Readers' Forum).
May 1, 2003... Congratulations to lan Gregory! You are this month's winner of a year's subscription to PC World worth $59.40. We are pleased to receive your letters, but please keep them to less than 300 words, We reserve the right to edit letters for...

Dilbert.
May 1, 2003... HALT! YOU MOVED YOUR COMPUTER WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE CENTRAL CUBICLE COMMITTEE. I WAS SIMPLY ADJUSTING THE ANGLE. FOOL! IT WILL COST $200 FOR A TEAM OF TECHNICIANS TO MOVE IT BACK! IT'S BETTER THIS WAY SO MY PLANT WON'T...

The web's picture perfect places: create an online photo album, edit your pics into the images of your dreams or just frame a better shot with these sites designed for digital photographers of all calibre. (Web & You).
May 1, 2003... IMAGINE THIS: you've got back those priceless pics of your big trip overseas, and want to share them with mates still over there. Do you scan the photos and send them a bunch of attachments, hoping they won't bounce from their free e-mail...

Bag a bargain: sub-$1000 PCS: you don't always have to spend big to get a great new PC. You'll be surprised what your computing dollar buys these days--these budget buys include monitor, software and peripherals. PC World tests some options under $1000.
May 1, 2003... There comes a time when every PC buyer must contemplate upgrading components of their system or buying something altogether new. Some people tend to shy away from the upgrade path due to a lack of experience or listed high prices. For these...

Apus Star 1800An. (PCS Under $1000).
May 1, 2003... The Apus Star 1800An features a AMD Athlon 1800+ processor that sits atop an ASUS A7N266-VM motherboard. This motherboard is based on the nForce 220 chipset and is a smaller micro-ATX form factor. 256MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM occupy one of the two...

PC Direct budget system. (PCS Under $1000).
May 1, 2003... PC Direct's budget system differed slightly from other systems we looked at. The most noticeable difference was the size of the case chassis; it was a little shorter, but had increased in length to accommodate the position of the power supply...

Plus Corporation Aspect T37. (PCS Under $1000).
May 1, 2003... A reliable performer in the budget category, Plus Corporation's entry into the sub-S1000 category, the Aspect T37, had keyboard, standard ball mouse and speakers colour-matched to give the system a `package-like' feel. This system supports...

TI Dream pack. (PCS Under $1000).
May 1, 2003... Trinity International's offering in the sub-S1000 category, the TI Dream pack, has an AMD Athlon XP 1800+ processor, 256MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM and the ASUS ATN266-VM motherboard (as in the Apus). Based on the nForce 220D chipset, this micro-ATX...

Budget buys tested.
May 1, 2003... BUDGET BUYS TESTED Benchmark APUS STAR 1800AN PC DIRECT BUDGET SYSTEM SYSMark 2001 175 180 3DMark 2001 SE 1532 1373...

Build your own PC part 1: the best way to get the PC you really want--and to learn about its workings into the bargain--is to build one yourself. It might sound daunting but, armed with this component primer and PC World's guidance, you'll be able to create a budget system or a high-end PC that will make you the envy of all.
May 1, 2003... LET'S BEGIN! Today's PCs have never been cheaper or easier to buy, so why on earth would you want to build your own? Because buying a new PC is not always about trying to squeeze everything--including the kitchen sink--into strict price...

Internet fixes: sneakier Spam, wilier worms, more aggravating ads ... no wonder it feels like your PC is under assault. Fight back with these simple steps for keeping the latest pests at bay.
May 1, 2003... The latest viruses spread through everything from your instant messaging client to your file sharing program. Annoying new ads hijack your browser without you even clicking them. Spam greeting cards send themselves to everyone in your address...

Pocket a new PDA: handhelds used to be little more than electronic diaries, but the new breed of personal digital assistant is more like a mini computer than a high-tech calendar. PC World looks at what the latest models have to offer.
May 1, 2003... Once upon a time, a company called Palm revolutionised handheld computing with the launch of its PalmPilot devices. These small, portable, easy-to-use personal organisers won popularity thanks to the ease with which they could synchronise data...

Dream screens: fancy a new LCD monitor to replace your clunky old CRT? Read on for all the details about these covetable screens--and advice about when to stick with the faithful old CRT. Then turn to page 129 for our Best Buys review of the latest LCDs.
May 1, 2003... Despite predictions of shortages and threats that they would become more expensive, LCD monitors generally have much lower price tags than a year ago. Entry-level 15in models have fallen most quickly, but prices for larger screens are now...

Testing times: real life, real world tests. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... When PCs and notebooks are submitted for review in the PC World Test Centre, we really put them through their paces. How else would we know whether to recommend them for a Best Buy? In addition to installing and running industry recognised...

SiS 665 motherboards. (Tech. Files).
May 1, 2003... The SiS 655 chipset is the latest solution for the Pentium 4 platform to provide AGP 8X capabilities and dual channel DDR SDRAM support. Unlike Intel's E7205 chipset, the 655 allows dual channel memory to be utilised up to 333MHz, making full...

Thermaltake Xaser III aluminum case. (Tech. Files).
May 1, 2003... Some PC users may look upon the humble PC case simply as a housing for their machine's components, something to keep them tidy and out of sight. Other users, be they performance enthusiasts or case modders, see the case as a reflection of their...

It's all in the timing. (Sweet Spot).
May 1, 2003... In the fortnight before I wrote this month's Sweet Spot, I built a PC for a mate. We were working to a budget but still wanted functionality and reasonable longevity, so I built him a system based on the components of the Sweet Spot which met...

Over $3500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Plus Corporation Astra H31 [1] The Astra H31 from Plus Corporation has dark, chic styling, and luminous lights within the case. This system would definitely appeal to the garner, audio enthusiast or digital video buff, and the included...

$1500-$3500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Infocom Infomod [1] Infocom's latest offering looks great and has powerful performance. Targeted at PC gaming and performance enthusiasts, this system is based on a 2.53GHz Pentium 4 CPU which sits atop an ASUS P4PE motherboard. Joined by...

Sub--$1500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Altech Computers Viper XP 2200+ [1] As a system targeted at office users, the Viper XP provides good business and graphics performance as well as the ability to create CDs and listen to music via a 2.1 speaker system. Its price point falls...

PCs: $1500-$3500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... VALUE BENCHMARK REAL WORLD MAKE/MODEL RATING SCORE TESTS Over $3500 (1) Plus Corporation 132 292 3m2s Astra H31 14840...

Over $4000. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Hi-Grade UltiNote M6600 [1] UPGRADED Hi-Grade's UltiNote M6600's writing drive can write DVD-RW and DVD-R discs at 1x and rewrite at 1x, and write and rewrite CDs at 16x and 10x, respectively, in addition to reading DVDs at 8x and CDs at...

$2500-$4000. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Dell Inspiron 5100 [1] The Inspiron 5100's new strengthened grey magnesium alloy casing has areas of blue in its design (like the Inspiron 8500) and can be personalised with kits that change the colour scheme on the unit's display lid. ...

Sub-$2500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Hi-Grade Notino 4400 [1] UPGRADED This note book has been bolstered with the addition of an 8x8x8x24 DVD-ROM/CD-R/RW drive. The 4400 continues to utilise an Intel Pentium 4-M processor running at 1.8GHz, coupled with 256MB of DDR SDRAM and...

Notebooks: over $4000, $2500-$4000, sub-$2500. (Best Buys).
May 1, 2003... Notebooks: over $4000, $2500-$4000, sub-$2500 VALUE BENCHMARK MAKE/MODEL RATING SCORES REAL WORLD TESTS OVER $400 (1) Hi-Grade UltiNote 81 214 45s M6600...

Best buys.
May 1, 2003... Once thought to be out of reach of typical consumers due to their hefty price tags, LCD monitors are slowly coming down in price, to a level where many PC vendors are even bundling them with their systems in preference to bulky CRT monitors....

AOC LM520. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: With a $599 price tag and a three-year warranty, this monitor is designed to give good, no frills picture quality. It is a good-looking monitor with good colour representation and adequate side viewing angles. Although this monitor...

Hercules ProphetView 720. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: The slimline, yet sturdy, blue metal bezel of this monitor is handsomely offset by the silver-hued, boomerang-shaped stand that supports it. The monitor can be tilted, but the physical nature of the boomerang stand denies the...

Hitachi CML 152XW 2. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: With a wide viewing angle and brilliant colour, the Hitachi is the ideal companion to any PC. The bezel edge around the LCD panel is only 23mm thick and the overall design of the unit is very nice, as it has a rounded base and even...

LG Flatron L1510S. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: The bezel around this screen is thin and grey in colour, contrasting to the dark grey of the base structure. The sturdy base does not swivel, but tilting from -5[degrees] to 25[degrees] is possible. CONNECTIVITY: The base can...

Mitsubishi Diamond View DV159. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: This versatile and stylish screen has a silver and black bezel/ footstand combination that allows the elegant and solidly built DV159 to tilt and swivel. The base of the monitor houses two IW stereo speakers separated by the six...

Philips 150B3. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: The thin beige bezel that outlines the panel contains menu keys on its bottom edge. It is one of the few monitors in the 15in range offering both tilt and swivel facilities. The base structure gives it extra flexibility as a...

Polyview CMV 1515. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: It's hard to believe that this monitor costs only $499, considering the good performances it gave throughout our testing. It's also not bad looking, and the grey and silver colour scheme of the 40mm thick bezel also houses stereo...

Samsung SyncMaster 152T. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: Elegantly designed and with a relatively thin bezel edge, this monitor features a Z-type base that allows slight height adjustment to be made in addition to a vertical tilt. CONNECTIVITY: Standard VGA and DVI inputs are at the...

Sony SDM-X52. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: Very solid build quality incorporating analog VGA and DVI-D inputs, as well as built-in speakers, are just some of the stand-out features of this fine looking monitor. The speakers are located on the bottom edges of the bezel,...

Syscan MH-15. (15IN LCD Monitors).
May 1, 2003... DESCRIPTION: A plain looking monitor with a flat base that feels a little flimsy when you knock the monitor with your hand. Although the screen can't swivel, viewability can be improved via its ability to tilt up and down. CONNECTIVITY:...