Australian PC World articles from May 2004

Australian PC World archives from May 2004

Turf wars.(Editorial)
May 1, 2004... There is nothing like a price war to keep the customers satisfied, and no doubt everyone is happy to see prices drop in the broadband space. But it hasn't been smooth sailing and the ACCC now has Telstra in its sights. For regional areas, the...

Win XP SP2 may break some apps.(Analysis)
May 1, 2004... When Microsoft releases Service Pack 2 for Windows XP later this year, some software developers may find their applications no longer work on updated Windows machines. Microsoft has made something of a trade-off with the update, focussing...

Lindows offers discount to P-to-P buyers.
May 1, 2004... Lindows is offering a 50 per cent discount to customers who download its commercial software using its new peer-to-peer (P-to-P) system, the company said. Lindows OS is now available for $US25 over P-to-P, instead of the normal $US49.95,...

Thousands of Australians order Microsoft's free CD.
May 1, 2004... Thousands of Australian Windows users took up Microsoft's offer of a free update CD in the two weeks following its release on 17 February. The Windows Security Update CD is a disc with all critical updates released through October 2003 for...

SMS to fight crime.(Analysis)
May 1, 2004... They're not guns, but German cops are calling them the next best weapon to hunt down crooks--mobile phones. In what is believed to be the first service of its kind in the world, citizens over 16 years old can now register with the Federal...

Challenges for Customs facial recognition.(Analysis)
May 1, 2004... The facial recognition system the Australian Customs Service has tested on Qantas cabin crew will need significant "real world" adjustments to deal with the vagaries of the travelling public, according to evidence given at a Senate Estimates...

Government department cuts cables.
May 1, 2004... The Australian Federal Government's Department of Employment and Workplace Resources (DEWR) is deploying what it claims to be the largest secure wireless LAN in Australia to 3000 job search kiosks. IBM is rolling out the network, which is...

International launch of Sony's PSP slips to 2005.
May 1, 2004... The launch of Sony's PSP handheld gaming device, described by the company as the "Walkman of the 21st century" and one of its most anticipated products of this year, has slipped and is unlikely to happen outside of Japan until next year, the...

UN says try an upgrade.(Analysis)
May 1, 2004... A study by the United Nations University in Tokyo into the environmental impact of personal computers has found that around 1.8 tonnes of raw material are required to manufacture the average desktop PC and monitor, and that extending a...

Uni keeps tabs on Internet usage.
May 1, 2004... Monash University has installed a $2 million network measurement and billing system to manage students' Internet usage. Call accounting software specialist Phoneware Communications Systems--a subsidiary of Melbourne-based Sirius...

National address database pinpoints properties.
May 1, 2004... The 2006 Australian national census will be among the many beneficiaries of a new government database that helps translate addresses into geocoded locations. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the first to license the Geocoded...

Telstra spurs price dive.(Broadband)
May 1, 2004... The launch of Telstra's $29.95 broadband products has had a domino effect on prices across the industry, with competing ISPs slashing charges and introducing barebones services in a bid to match the cheaper price point. In February,...

Distributed compiling with distcc.(Linuxworld)
May 1, 2004... Open source software gives you the ability to compile your own software, something not possible with other operating systems such as Windows and the off-the-shelf software that runs on it. Compiling software allows you to optimise it for your...

Microsoft monopoly is a myth.(Readers' Forum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I am absolutely flabbergasted at the constant lawsuits and actions against Microsoft, such as the recent European Union record fine and ruling that Microsoft has to provide competitors with parts of proprietary Windows code. ("European...

Hot and cold on Linux.(Readers' Forum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... Linux versus Windows XP ("The Linux Experiment", April issue)? Don't make me laugh! Like your writer, I took a long look at one of the latest versions of Linux (Red Hat Linux 9, in my case). The OS installed nicely, but it took me no less than...

Missive of the month.(Readers' Forum)
May 1, 2004... Congratulations to Ziggy Malter! You are this month's winner of a year's subscription to PC World worth $66. We are pleased to receive your letter, but please keep them to less than 300 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for...

Dilbert[R].
May 1, 2004... CAROL, COME TO MY STRATEGY MEETING. YOU'RE ONLY A SECRETARY, BUT I VALUE YOUR INPUT. I'M AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT!!! CHIMP. BAD SECRETARY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY STRATEGIC IDEAS FOR GLOBAL DOMINATION? THE ENGINEERS...

Well priced 8x DVD writer: DVR-AO7XLA.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... With an elegant new front panel design and a black disc tray, the AO7's looks are certainly improved. So, too, is its speed. Writing to DVDs can be a very time-consuming task, depending on your burner and available media, but the AO7...

Small yet powerful PCs: XC Cube, DigiDice.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... Small form factor (SFF) PCs are becoming popular due to their small dimensions and, dare we say it, good looks and functionality. Manufacturers are making these units with the intention of housing relatively high performance configurations, and...

Pro-quality digital camera: Cybershot DSC F828.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... Continuing a design introduced with the Cybershot F505 several years ago, the DSC F828 is an 8Mp digital still camera that allows you to print high-quality images at up to A3 or poster size. Standout features include a seven-shot burst mode and...

Compact 8Mp camera with exceptional lens quality: PowerShot Pro 1.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... Although providing a similar 8Mp resolution and 7X optical zoom, the PowerShot Pro 1 at 545g is considerably lighter than the recently released 955g Sony DSC F828 (reviewed at left). The design of the PowerShot Pro 1 is reminiscent of the...

Edit PDF documents easily: Solid Converter PDF 2.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... The compact, cross platform and virtually virus-proof nature of Adobe's PDF (Portable Document Format) technology has helped it become the common means of distributing document-based information. There are many third-party PDF creation,...

Entry-level video editing: Studio 9.(First Looks)
May 1, 2004... Pinnacle has improved its consumer-based video-editing program over the past couple of revisions, providing a reasonably solid application for new users. Studio 9 doesn't force the user to follow the strict 'step-by-step' process favoured by...

Multimedia authoring software gets even better: Director MX 2004.(First Look)
May 1, 2004... In a world where multimedia authoring applications have shelf lives little longer than the average loaf of organic bread, the continuing success of Macromedia's Director, which began life as VideoWorks more than a decade ago, is all the more...

Wireless media adapter: great idea but needs some work.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Slated for launch towards the end of May, this device (like other wireless media adapters) allows you to send media such as video, audio and still image files from your networked host PC directly to your TV or hi-fi. However, what's hot about...

HP's new 20in LCD monitor.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Slated to be launched mid-April, Hewlett-Packard's new L2035 20in LCD monitor provides a resolution of 1600x1200, has a solid brightness rating of 250 nits, a contrast ratio of 400:1 and an impressive 16ms response time which is great for video...

Not just a firewall.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... ZoneAlarm Pro 4.0 has a refreshingly simple interface that's easy to configure, even for novices. It takes a question-and-answer-approach, asking whether you want to enable various features. If you're still unsure, additional explanatory text...

Internet security package.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... PC-cillin offers a complete range of tools, taking on viruses, hackers, privacy threats and spam. First and foremost, though, it's a full-blown antivirus program rivalling Norton and McAfee. When you're online, the Network Virus Emergency...

Beginner's security suite.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Panda Software's latest offering gathers together its Platinum antivirus package and adds a firewall, antispam, Web content filtering, and protection against spyware and rogue dialler software. Although its antivirus performance was just as...

Internet anonymiser.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Anonym makes your online identity hard to determine by using an array of public proxy servers around the world to route your HTTP data to your PC--anyone 'watching' will see the IP address of the proxy server, not yours. Its unique selling...

Optical character recognition software.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Converting your paper documents to data files can reduce the chance of losing them and cut back the time it takes to search for them and or create new versions. ScanSoft's OmniPage Pro 14.0 Office does this with an interface similar to its...

Free bookkeeping software from the ATO.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... There are a number of commercial accounting packages available, but if you want to test the waters before leaping into digital bookkeeping, the Australian Taxation Office offers a free financial utility for small businesses called eRecord. It's...

Helpdesk software.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... If you ever have to hang on the phone waiting for tech support, just pray that the guy at the other end is using software like Track-It 6.0 to manage your call. Heavy-duty helpdesk software can carry a six-figure price tag, making Track-It...

Add life to Excel.(Quick Takes)
May 1, 2004... Can any hour be longer than the one spent watching your company's chief financial officer point at a spreadsheet full of grey, unreadable numbers? Infommersion's program Xcelsius can't give your CFO charisma, but it can enliven the...

Documents that do more: in this day and age, printed documents are just not enough. Whether you want to repurpose material for the Web, create PDF files or change something into an e-book, PC World is here to show you how.(Web & You)
May 1, 2004... Desktop publishing is no longer just about producing paper documents. You can redesign the same material for the Internet, e-books and multimedia. This reuse of layout and content is generally described as repurposing. A quick comparison...

40+ fixes for the biggest PC annoyances: Windows gone wacky? Hardware gone haywire? Software gone screwy? Take a deep breath--help is here. We have solutions--for hardware, software, and the Web.
May 1, 2004... So, you're annoyed about your PC's dumb habits? You've come to the right place. Here we have 40+ cures for aggravating PC foibles, from software that won't stop nagging to CD drives that won't stay shut. BROKEN WINDOWS Give s-l-o-w...

Web stars: where should you go for news, research, shopping, and more? We compare Goliaths of the Web to lesser-known upstarts--and discover some surprising result.
May 1, 2004... The Web has been around long enough that even the most adventuresome surfer might end up in a rut, always using the same sites to get work done. So we put up the periscope to scan for the best newscomers and compared them to the Net's...

Supercharge your PC: is your PC more of a sedate sedan than a hotrod? Even a computer bought only a few months ago can quickly seem out of date. In order to keep up with the times you need to get a handle on how to perform your own upgrades. Here, we show you the best ways to boost your PC.
May 1, 2004... Although most of us will never fully understand the inner workings of our PCs, it's pretty easy to build up a bank of knowledge that will serve you well enough to allow you to perform a few choice upgrades. What's more, we've put together a...

The art of the deal: the right tech products at great prices from trustworthy merchants are out there. These tips will help you find them. Online or off.
May 1, 2004... If THERE'S A GOLDEN RULE OF SHOPPING, it's that you can always score a better deal. But finding real bargains on PCs, digital cameras, and other types of tech products takes skill, patience, and persistence. To help you get started, we've...

ADSL connectivity.(Modem Marvels)
May 1, 2004... ADSL modems are a booming market at the moment as more people make the switch from dial-up Internet access. Many of these products are more than just modems, however: they offer all-in-one security, networking and wireless access point boxes....

Buses and bits.(Tech.Files)
May 1, 2004... A computer has a number of separate components that deal with information. Hard drives and CD-ROMs store and retrieve data, processors change it, ports and network connections exchange it with the outside world, sound and video cards interpret...

DVD burners shine brightly.(Sweet Spot)
May 1, 2004... DVD burners have swiped the optical drives sweet spot crown from combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives this month, highlighting the increasing popularity of DVD media in the consumer space. Although DVD burners are still about $200 more than combo drives,...

Over $3500.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... Altech Computers GameForce Commander [1] An excellent configuration, included components and attention to detail make this system a sure-fire winner. Definitely targeted at gamers or performance jockeys, this system packs a mean computing...

$1500-$3500.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... i-Tech AMD Athlon 64 Award series [1] Ideal for gaming, digital video editing or DVD creation, this system is excellent value for money. The case housing all the components, an Antec P160, is made of aluminium and features a lockable side...

Sub-$1500.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... Trinity International P4 Deluxe [1] NEW Trinity International continues to submit powerful configurations under the $1500 price point. Relinquishing certain high-end components in some areas but upping the ante in others seems to be...

PCs: over $3500, $1500-3500, sub-$1000.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... VALUE SPEED MAKE/MODEL RATING RATING REAL WORLD TESTS OVER $3500 (1) Altech Computers 208 338 3m32s 3m29s GameForce Commander 21009 3m30s ...

Over $4000.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... Dell Inspiron 9100 pc world BEST BUYS [1] NEW This flagship of the Inspiron range is one hell of a beast in specifications, performance and size. Billed as the ultimate desktop replacement, the 4.2kg (without power supply) 9100 is...

$2500-$4000.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... QDI Alacritas W730-K8 pc world BEST BUYS [1] NEW With solid, smooth casework incorporating a 15.4in wide-aspect display (capable of just 1280x800), the W730-K8 is a desktop replacement made a little more portable with a weight of 3.6kg...

Sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... ModTech CIVIC Diamond 1600XR pc world BEST BUYS [1] NEW ModTech is a new vendor to the charts but hits the ground running with this generic yet well-constructed notebook that's perfect for people seeking portability without forsaking...

Notebooks: over $4000, $2500-$4000, sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... BEST BUYS NOTEBOOKS: OVER $4000, $2500-$4000, SUB-$2500 BENCHMARK SCORES VALUE SYSMark 3DMark MAKE/MODEL RATING 2001 2001 OVER $4000 ...

ADSL modems.(Best Buys)
May 1, 2004... With the introduction of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) Internet connection plans under $30 per month, broadband Internet access is becoming more affordable for all Australians who reside near an ADSL-enabled exchange. Indeed, the...

Shields up: WinXP SP2 Release Candidate 1.(In Depth)
May 1, 2004... Keeping your Windows XP-equipped machine up to date with the latest patches and bug fixes should be the first step in any preventative maintenance plan. It seems that every few days, new nasties are released that take advantage of...

ADSL and network configuration.(Upgrader)
May 1, 2004... As a greater number of entry-level ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) modems start to provide affordable router functionality, there is no doubt they will become a popular upgrade for users who want to get the most from their ADSL...

Give XP a UNIX flavour with SFU 3.5.(Windows XP)
May 1, 2004... Years ago, I wrote that UNIX was essentially dead and would be forgotten soon. However, thanks to the open source-led renaissance of UNIX and similar operating systems, plus the Internet, I've had to eat those words. UNIX and derivatives are...

Users & Groups--NIS.(Linux)
May 1, 2004... If you use several computers connected on a network, it can become a hassle to keep track of the usernames and passwords you use to access each machine. NIS (Network information Service) lets you to keep a centralised database of usernames and...

Winamp 5 makes a comeback.(Audio)
May 1, 2004... Winamp launched a disappointing version 3 in late 2002, and many Winamp users either stuck with their earlier versions or tried rival jukebox software such as iTunes (www.itunes.com), Jet Audio (www.jetaudio.corn) and Windows Media Player 9....

Using GarageBand: Part II.(Mac OS)
May 1, 2004... If you like the idea of writing own music but have limited musical know-how, Apple's new GarageBand music production software (part of the iLife '04 bundle) may help you to realise your potential. This tutorial builds on the introduction to...

Selection tools: Part III, the Magic Wand.(Graphics)
May 1, 2004... Compared to many other types of software, graphics programs have some of the simplest or most descriptive terms to describe various functions. It is not hard to guess the purpose of the Crop or Text tools. You may not immediately understand the...

Pattern matching with PHP: Part V.(PHP)
May 1, 2004... Last month we looked at the sophisticated features Perl-compatible regular expressions (PCRE) can bring to PHP developers. This month we will finish off with the final significant feature, assertions, and look at the functions provided in the...

CD burning--the speed you need.(CDs & DVDs)
May 1, 2004... It wasn't long ago that CD burners were rare, and now almost every PC has at least a CD or even a DVD burner. This is not surprising since CD burner prices have crashed through $100, a mere fraction of what you would have expected to pay back...

More title effects.(Digital Video)
May 1, 2004... Last month we explored the options available when applying transparency effects to a title using Premiere Pro. This month we will complete our title project by animating the main title and producing a lively subtitle. When creating title...

Standby disabled.(Windows 98)
May 1, 2004... Q My computer runs Windows 98 SE. It can no longer enter standby via the keyboard and this mode has also disappeared from the Shut Down Windows option. --B Carr A Windows disables standby if it detects that problems have occurred when...

Reinstall Windows.(Windows 98)
May 1, 2004... Q I'm using Windows 98. My modem burned out and since then I've been unable to start Windows. I receive the message: "Vmm32.vxd is required to start Windows. If this is not in your path, you may need to reinstall Windows". It then gives me a C...

Remove Win98 from partition.(All Windows)
May 1, 2004... Q My PC has two partitions: Windows 98 SE is on the C partition, and Windows XP is installed on D and is used as the default operating system. I now wish to remove Windows 98 but don't want to reinstall XP. If I simply delete it and use the C...

Tweak UI conflict.(Windows Me)
May 1, 2004... Q When I open the My Pictures folder I receive a message telling me that a script error has occurred at line 282, char 17 of URL File://c:\Windows\Web\lmgView. htt. The last time I cured it by reinstalling Windows Me but I'd rather not have to...

Copy drive contents.(Hardware)
May 1, 2004... Q My hard drive is becoming full and I'd like to replace it with a larger one but I'd prefer to avoid a complete reinstall. Can I just copy everything from my hard drive to the new one? If so, will the new drive come with the software to do...

ATI driver woes.(Hardware)
May 1, 2004... Q I have a problem when installing updated display drivers for my ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder graphics card. Although the drivers install correctly, another six "unknown devices" also appear. Removing them only causes them to be detected again at...

Spam control.(Internet)
May 1, 2004... Q More than 90 per cent of my e-mails are spam, most advertising porn sites or improvements to a part of my anatomy. I have tried various anti-spam programs with limited success. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to write a program that scans for...

Multiple dialups with Outlook Express.(Internet)
May 1, 2004... Q I'm having a problem with Outlook Express 6.0. When I try to send and receive, most of the time it won't dial up. I created a new dialup icon but it made no difference. If I start Internet Explorer it connects every time, but Outlook...

End Outlook slideshow.(Internet)
May 1, 2004... Q When I send or receive an e-mail containing more than one JPG image the words "Outlook Express Slide-Show" appear below the text. When I click on it I receive a message giving details about a script error. How can I stop this from happening?...

Recover files from corrupt drive?(Miscellaneous)
May 1, 2004... Q While installing a program I received a message that Windows couldn't write to the E drive. I was surprised because I wasn't using the drive at the time. When I rebooted, Windows XP said that the drive had to be checked. It then reported that...

McAfee scan vs optical mouse.(Miscellaneous)
May 1, 2004... Q My PC is running Windows 98 SE. It has a Microsoft optical mouse which works fine for around 45 minutes and then becomes erratic and jerky. If I reboot all is well for another three-quarters of an hour. A friend suggested that I remove my...

How to Do Everything With Your Digital Video Camcorder.
May 1, 2004... BY DAVE JOHNSON, TODD STAUFFER AND RICK BROIDA Publisher: Osborne (McGraw Hill) Price: $39.95 Phone: (02) 9900 1800 URL: www.mcgraw-hill.com.au ISBN. 007223069X Digital video editing is one those infuriating technology propositions....

Dr. Mac the OS X Files Panther Edition.
May 1, 2004... BY BOB LEVITUS Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Price: $57.95 Phone: 1800 777 474 URL: www.johnwiley.com.au ISBN: 0764540688 The big thing about Macs was that--supposedly--you could sit a newbie down in front of one and three nanoseconds...

eBay Hacks Industrial Strength Tips & Tools.
May 1, 2004... BY DAVID A. KARP eBay is a whole lot more than an online flea market. Its software creates a platform that you can use to run a business (or, it must be said, use to unload useless stuff that's clogging up your garage), but to really get...

Pen scanner.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... Resembling an ordinary pen and weighing about 85g, the Wizcom SuperPen is a scanning and translation tool. You should be able to store up to 2000 pages of information, and the text-to-speech technology means you can scan a line of text and have...

Pocket projector.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... At just 900g the P6 is the lightest projector Toshiba has ever manufactured, so it should prove easy to carry around. We're just a little dubious about the company's claim that the P6 is 'pocket size', as it's nearly 25cm wide. With a...

Small digital still cameras.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... There's no doubt about it--consumers love small digital still cameras, and that section of the market is where all the action is at present. Casio one of the leaders in this area and has launched two new cameras, including a high-end 6Mp model....

Cooler than cool.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... If you are looking for a cooling device that can blow a gale within the confines of your PC and in turn keep your CPU operating optimally, then the 3D Cooler is definitely for you. It contains a speed-adjustable fan that is capable of spinning...

512MB USB 2.0 storage device.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... Claiming to be the most rugged USB 2.0 flash storage device in the world, the Cruzer Titanium is, as its name suggests, coated in titanium and should withstand just about any drop test. Using the fast USB 2.0 interface, the Cruzer can write...

RAM gets lit.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... Neon lights, cold cathode lights, UV lights and LED displays are all part and parcel of the latest windowed computer systems. You can find lighting displays on graphics cards, motherboards, cooling fans and power supplies, and now memory...

Go with the Flo.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... Gamers around the world will appreciate this latest innovation in gaming controllers. You know the scenario: holed up in a dark, dingy room with no natural light, playing your game for hours on end. The room temperature can start to rise as...

More than a burner.(Gadgets & Gizmos)
May 1, 2004... Keen digital photographers should take note of the DiscSteno, simply because it can be used to quickly transfer data from flash cards directly onto CD. Primarily, it is an external CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive that connects to a PC via a USB 2.0...

Ground Control II. Operation Exodus.(PC Preview)
May 1, 2004... Launched in 2000 by Massive Entertainment and hailed as an innovator in the real-time strategy genre, Ground Control had a number of fresh elements. The impressive 3D graphics, immersive audio and free-flowing gameplay proved to be a huge hit...