Australian PC World articles from October 2004

Australian PC World archives from October 2004

Worth the wait? Is SP2 a must-have package or another upgrade headache? You may be undecided about whether to install XP's big update, but this month we save you the massive download. Plus, you'll have the 272MB service pack at hand--whenever you need it!(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... It's been close to two years since Microsoft released the first service pack for its Windows XP operating system. Since then plenty more vulnerabilities have been found--and exploited--putting Microsoft under pressure to release a new patch...

Mozilla offers bounty for bugs.
October 1, 2004... The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail application, is offering a $US500 bounty to users who identify and report bugs found in its open source software. Foundation staff will determine who earns the cash...

321 Studios closes.
October 1, 2004... 321 Studios, developer of commercial software for copying DVDs and other digital content posted a closing notice on its Web site in August, saying that court injunctions barring US sales of its software left it with no choice but to discontinue...

AOL, Yahoo rolling out sender authentication.(Analysis News)
October 1, 2004... America Online (AOL)and Yahoo plan to begin using technology to verify the source of e-mail messages in coming months, as both companies step up efforts to stop unsolicited commercial or "spam" e-mail. In September, AOL will verify the...

Microsoft XP2 conflicts.(Analysis News)
October 1, 2004... Microsoft has published a list of nearly 50 applications and games that may not work correctly after installing Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP. The list, published in a knowledge base article on Microsoft's Web site, includes...

2004: year of the virus.(Analysis News)
October 1, 2004... It is officially the year of the virus, with a 21 percent increase in new viruses discovered in Australia in the first six months of 2004, compared to the last year. Nearly 4700 completely new viruses were discovered in 2004. The Sasser...

PDA virus found in the wild.
October 1, 2004... Symantec and Kaspersky Labs have detected a backdoor Trojan horse program that can give an attacker complete control over a Pocket PC mobile device. For systems infected with the so-called Brador virus, Symantec recommends deleting...

HP circles wagons around Apache holes.
October 1, 2004... Hewlett-Packard has confirmed that its HP-UX Unix operating system contains several serious security flaws which could allow attackers to disable or take control of a server, among other things. The company is urging users of HP-UX versions...

Broadband criticised.(Analysis News)
October 1, 2004... A Senate committee report on competition in high-speed Internet services has criticised the poor state of Australia's broadband network. The Senate Broadband Inquiry Report said the copper network was at the end of its life and the government...

Web Messenger trial.(Analysis News)
October 1, 2004... Microsoft has launched a test version of a Web-based MSN Messenger client that allows users to connect to the instant messaging (IM) service without installing a client application. A beta version of MSN Web Messenger is aimed at users in...

Symantec releases patching tool.
October 1, 2004... Symantec has released a patch management product that it says will enable small and medium-sized businesses to stay on top of software vulnerabilities. Symantec ON iPatch Version 1.1 is Microsoft Windows-based software that can scan a...

Teen pleads guilty for Blaster-B worm.
October 1, 2004... A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty in an US federal court to spreading the W32.Blaster-B worm over the Internet. Jeffrey Lee Parson said he was responsible for creating and unleashing the worm, which affected thousands of computers worldwide....

Pro-quality pictures: Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... The Olympus Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom is the latest in a raft of new 8Mp (megapixel) digital cameras. Like its 8Mp rivals from Canon, Nikon, Sony and Konica Minolta, it captures enough detail to make great looking inkjet prints up to A3 size--a...

Dual-layer race heats up: DVR-A08XL.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... While not immediately apparent, the Pioneer DVR-A08XL is fitted with several innovative features, the first of which is hinted at by the raised honeycomb pattern on the top of the casing. This is part of Pioneer's QuietDrive system, and helps...

Media magnet: Pocket Video Recorder AV420.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... Hot on the heels of Creative's Microsoft-backed Zen Portable Media Center (reviewed last month, page 18) is the new AV420 Pocket Video Recorder from French company Archos. Like Creative's $999 Zen, the AV420 allows you to store and view...

Quality prints for less: PIXMA IP3000.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... Digital cameras continue to boom but there's still the task of achieving great photo prints at home without breaking the bank. This four-ink, 4800x1200dpi model is second from the top in Canon's new PIXMA inkjet photo printer range. It...

Intermediate video editing: VideoWave 7.0 Professional.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... VideoWave 7.0 Professional includes timeline editing, video overlays, narration and support for Dolby Digital audio and DivX video (the latter allowing you to save at high compression rates to reduce file sizes). From the software's neat...

Complete post-production: Video Collection 2.5 Standard and Professional.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... Video Collection 2.5 is Adobe's latest set of post-production tools for video and audio. The Standard edition includes Premiere Pro 1.5, Audition 1.5, Encore DVD 1.5, and After Effects 6.5 Standard. The Professional collection features After...

Online protection: Norton Internet Security 2005.(First Looks)
October 1, 2004... As broadband uptake increases, so does the number of activities we use the Internet for. Instant messengers (IM), chat rooms, peer-to-peer networking, e-mail and Web browsing all come with varying degrees of annoyances, and risks to security...

Unique replacement.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... Although we weren't able to fully evaluate it in time for the Notebook Best Buys (page 97), we liked HP's latest value multimedia notebook. The zv5203AP has a large 15.4in wide-aspect display with resolution of 1280x800. The ATI Mobility...

Compact and feature packed.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... These days, it seems the major camcorder manufacturers are competing to cram the most features into the smallest package. Sony joins this battle with a model almost small enough to fit into your back pocket. Although feature-packed,...

Casio's first projector.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... Casio enters the data projector market with its XJ-350 DLP data projector--a well-designed product to suit both business and home users. We tested a shipping version with everything from PowerPoint presentations and digital photos to DVD...

New Nero does photos.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... The company behind the well-regarded Nero disc burning software has released Nero PhotoShow Elite, offering photo organisation and some interesting tools for your photos. With a couple of clicks, you can capture images from your camera or...

Film & photo scanner.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... Epson's new Perfection 2580 Photo scanner features an automatic film loader that scans individual frames of 35mm filmstrips at the touch of a button. With most flatbeds, scanning negatives is a cumbersome chore that involves lifting the...

DVD power play.(Quick Takes)
October 1, 2004... If you've recently bought a DVD drive or even a graphics card, you probably received a bundled version of either PowerDVD or WinDVD. Why, then, would you want to go out and buy the same software? Well, the bundled version is almost always a...

Easy monitor calibration.(Quick takes)
October 1, 2004... If you've ever spent hours tweaking your vacation photos on the PC, only to have the kids sport Shrek-tone tans when you print, your monitor settings are probably out of whack. This calibration package puts the colour back in their cheeks...

Memory mission.(Readers' Forum)
October 1, 2004... I am wondering if you may be able to assist me in locating an agent/dealer in Australia that can handle a warranty claim for a faulty Kingston Technology memory module. The Kingston memory is supposed to have lifetime warranty. Two...

Over the top.(Readers' Forum)
October 1, 2004... Well it finally happened--top-end gaming graphics cards have finally jumped over that $1000 barrier. Apart from satisfying the poseurs of the LAN Gaming fraternity, what does owning one of these cards do right now over say a Radeon 9600XT? You...

Editorial correction.(Readers' Forum)
October 1, 2004... Editorial correction: The screen size for the ASUS M6SOON notebook was incorrectly listed as 17in in the Best Buys section of the July, August and September issues. The correct size is 15.4in. Australian PC World apologises for any...

Missive of the month.(Readers' Forum)
October 1, 2004... Congratulations Stephen Bitmead! You are this month's winner of a copy of Trend Micro Internet Security 2004 software, distributed by Manaccom. This great software--valued at $99.95--provides comprehensive and easy-to-use protection from...

Dilbert[R].(Reader's Forum)
October 1, 2004... OUR CEO WILL BE JOINING US IN A MINUTE AS USUAL, HE'LL BE MAKING ANN AWKWARD ATTEMPT TO SEEM LIKE "JUST PLAIN FOLK." EXCUSE ME--IS THIS ORDINARY CHAIR AVAILABLE FOR AN AVERAGE GUY LIKE ME? I'LL ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK....

Viruses aim for IM: virus writers, scammers and spammers are plying their trade via instant messaging. Liane Cassavoy and Andrew Brandt identify the real threats and offer tips on avoiding them.(Web & You)
October 1, 2004... When it comes to viruses and worms, email gets all the attention. But now that instant messaging has infiltrated both home and office, it too has become an attractive and easy target for virus writers and spammers. From 2002 to 2003, worms...

Build your own ideal PC: whether you're upgrading your machine or building one from scratch, we show you how to choose the right parts and put them all together.
October 1, 2004... It's easy to forget just how good we PC and technology fans have it. Sure, the cryptic acronyms, evolving standards, and boneheaded salespeople can be annoying, but if you think they're bad, try shopping for furniture sometime. This sofa's...

PC problems? Fix 'em yourself! Taming tech glitches is easy--once you know what to do, our troubleshooting guide shows how to solve them like a pro.
October 1, 2004... Has this ever happened to you? You spend hours upon hours trying to fix some problem with your PC. You search Web forums, you uninstall programs, you swap out hardware, but you can't figure out what's wrong. Finally you explain the problem to a...

Windows.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... SYMPTOM: Windows won't start or crashes frequently. MINOR PROBLEM: The best-case scenario is that a patch clobbered your system. If you authorise Windows Update to apply patches automatically, key Windows files may change without your...

Digital cameras.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: Marks or blemishes appear on all my photos. MINOR: Look at the lens--most likely you'll find a speck of dirt or a smudge on the glass. Use a clean, lint-free cloth (available at most electronics stores) to brush away any dust...

Internet and e-mail.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: I can't get my e-mail. MINOR: If you got all your mail yesterday and your e-mail program seems to be working properly otherwise, don't do anything. Almost without exception, a mail outage signifies nothing more than a problem with...

Hard drives.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: Disk access takes too long and my PC has slowed down. MINOR: A fragmented disk rarely has a significant impact on performance, but you should rule out the possibility first by running Windows' Disk Defragmenter. If your XP system...

CD and DVD burners.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: Disc burning hangs or quits halfway through. MINOR: An overtaxed system can result in failed disc burns. Use Windows XP's built-in CPU Usage monitor (on the Performance tab of Task Manager, which opens with --) to see whether CPU...

Printers.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: My printer refuses to print. MINOR: You know the usual stuff. Check power and data cables, make sure the printer is turned on and confirm that no paper is jammed inside the unit. Then open the Printers and Faxes window to see...

Notebooks.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: Battery life is way too short. MINOR: Check your Windows power settings. Your notebook may be running full blast even when no activity is under way, robbing you of useful battery life. Review the settings in your laptop's Setup...

Displays and graphics cards.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: The graphics on my display look garbled, grainy or unclear. MINOR: Do graphics and text appear grainy or chunky? Does it look as though application windows no longer fit on screen in the way you're used to? A resolution or device...

Security.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: My computer is acting strangely--I think that it may have a virus. MINOR: If you don't have an antivirus package installed already, it's time to get one. When you think you have a virus, your first step should be to update your...

DVD players.(Fix 'em Yourself!)
October 1, 2004... Symptom: I see glitches in the video during playback. MINOR: Don't worry if your DVD player seems to pause for a second about halfway through playing a movie. If it always happens at the same point in the film, you're most likely dealing...

Silence you PC: are you sick of the constant whirrs, clanks and hums emitted by your computer? There are many things you can do to reduce the noise your PC makes. Laurence Grayson and Emma Northam look at some of the remedies that don't involve a sledgehammer.
October 1, 2004... If, like us, you often marvel at the glorious absence of noise which occurs just after you turn off your PC for the night, you've probably wondered if there's anything you can do to reduce the racket it makes when it is running. So you'll be...

Windows XP's big fix: with Service Pack 2, Windows gets an array of much-needed patches, tweaks, and tools, all rolled into one free download. Here's what's in it for you.
October 1, 2004... It's an unsafe world out there for Windows-based computers. Microsoft wants to address the problem with its new "megapatch", Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Does it succeed? Not entirely. But the big fix does so much to close security holes and...

Widescreen projectors: strictly personal.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... It used to be the case that a projector was something that only a business user or wealthy home theatre fanatic could justify, but times are changing, and prices have dropped to a point where more of us can afford to have one in our homes. ...

The hard drive facts.(Tech.Files)
October 1, 2004... The performance of a computer is determined not only by the rating of its processor, but to a large degree by the speed with which data can be moved to and from the CPU. The most critical bottleneck is the data transfer rate between the...

AMD 64-bit Athlon bid for dominance.(Sweet Spot)
October 1, 2004... AMD is making a play for the lion's share of the 64-bit market, announcing it will phase out its longstanding XP processor product line in favour of the higher performance 64-bit Athlon series. According to Plus Corporation managing director...

Getting the right price.(Sweet Spot)
October 1, 2004... When constructing a PC system--which you may be considering after reading this month's "Build Your Own PC" feature (page 40)--it's worth looking out for hardware pieces that can offer the highest levels of performance without the heftiest of...

Over $3500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... Plus Corporation Altera A38 [pc world Best Buys] [1] The system is identical to the configuration submitted for August except for the inclusion of a different monitor. Plus Corporation has chosen to go with the BenQ FP992 model instead...

$1500-$3500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... Emagen Vitesse 64 [pc world BEST BUY] [1] NEW Another system submitted by Emagen this month, the Vitesse 64, is crowned with the top position in the $1500-$3500 charts. A great system package with reliable performance and a great case...

Sub-$1500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... i-Tech AMD Athlon XP Award series [pc world BEST BUYS] [1] A full PC package for 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. ...

PCs: over $3500, $1500-$3500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... VALUE MAKE/MODEL RATING SPEED RATING REAL WORLD TESTS OVER $3500 (1) Plus Corporation 98 (A) 379 (E) 3m38s Altera A38 (B) 25026...

Over $4000.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... ASUS W1000N [pc world BEST BUYS] [1] The W1 is a multimedia notebook with style to spare. Its well-constructed design includes a fingermark-resistant brushed metal alloy finish on the latchless lid itself and around the keyboard. ...

$2500-$4000.(Best Buys)
October 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 $3799 (down from...

Sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... Optima Centoris G595 [pc world BEST BUYS] [1] A multi-format (-/+) DVD writer, 802.11b/g 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 under...

Notebooks: over $4000, $2500-$4000, sub-$2500.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... VALUE MAKE/MODEL RATING BENCHMARK SCORES REAL WORLD TESTS OVER $4000 (1) ASUS W1000N 74 (A) 235 (C) 1m45s (B) 8523 (D)...

Widescreen projectors.(Best Buys)
October 1, 2004... Let's face it, we've all found ourselves staring longingly at the plasma screens on display down at the local electrical retailer--even if all we went in for was a new toaster. In fact, it's all too easy to get carried away with the idea of a...

Sata drivers.(Windows 98)
October 1, 2004... Q I want to upgrade to a motherboard that supports SATA hard drives, but I can't afford Windows XP as well. Does Windows 98 SE support these drives? --Ross McKeough A Serial ATA (SATA) is so new that no version of Windows has built-in...

Out of control panel.(Windows 98)
October 1, 2004... Q MY laptop runs Windows 98 and won't allow me to open Control Panel. When I try, the computer crashes. Any ideas? --Scott Evans A One of the Control Panel applications is probably causing the crash when it is loaded. Control Panel...

Intermittent lockups.(Windows 98)
October 1, 2004... Q My Windows 98 PC has an occasional startup problem. Sometimes, when I have got past the password stage, the computer freezes. The Taskbar shows no icons, just the time in the right-hand corner. I have to press the restart button then run...

Missed dates.(Windows XP)
October 1, 2004... Q MY last computer ran Windows 98 and came with a calendar that appeared when you switched on the machine, reminding you of any approaching birthdays or anniversaries. My new computer runs Windows XP and I seem to have lost this program. Can...

Lock up your desktop.(Top Tip)
October 1, 2004... Here's an easy way to stop meddlesome colleagues or family members interfering with your computer if you have to leave it unattended. It's a lot quicker than logging out and logging in--and it's just as secure. 1. Right-click the desktop...

Shut down shutdown.(Windows XP)
October 1, 2004... Q The Shut Down option on my Start menu has disappeared. In Task Manager under Shut Down, the only available choice is Switch User. The only way to switch off is using the power button. Help, please. --Paul Brown A If you use Windows...

Autoplay error.(Windows XP)
October 1, 2004... Q AutoPlay does not work on my computer, which runs Windows XP Home. When a CD is inserted in the drive, the pointer flickers but nothing happens. CDs and DVDs play perfectly if you start the player application manually. --Stuart McGrath...

Get smart.(Windows XP)
October 1, 2004... Q I recently upgraded my computer from Windows 98 to XP. Everything seems to work except Lotus Millennium SmartSuite, which constantly causes the computer to crash. What can I do? -- John Martin-Law A Lotus SmartSuite version 9.6 or...

Missing attachments.(Microsoft Outlook)
October 1, 2004... Q MY wife is the secretary of a local charity. When she has prepared the minutes of a meeting, she sends them as a Word document attached to a Microsoft Outlook mail message. But some recipients see only the message text, not the...

Save me.(Microsoft Office)
October 1, 2004... Q I'm using Microsoft Office 2000. I installed the AutoSave add-in to ensure that I don't lose any data when working in Excel. But it always asks if I want to save the worksheet every time. If I deselect 'Prompt before saving', the setting only...

Art of noise.(Hardware)
October 1, 2004... Q The music CDs I burned with my new PC play on the computer but not in my hi-fi or car audio system. Is the fault with the CDs or the PC? --Jack Long A It's more likely to be your CD-Rs rather than your PC that's causing this...

Powered up.(Hardware)
October 1, 2004... Q I built my own PC two years ago and now the hard drive is full up. Fitting a second one isn't a problem, but will the 300W power supply be up to the job? --Brian Gravestock A It isn't unusual to have two hard drives in a PC, Brian....

Video nasty.(Hardware)
October 1, 2004... Q I recently bought a Sony DCR-TRV245 digital camcorder and I'm experiencing poor quality capture. When playing directly to the TV or PC the quality is good, but in capture mode the images are very pixelated. --Graham Plant A...

Getting help.(Helpscreen Online)
October 1, 2004... If the answer you were looking for isn't here this month, don't panic. You can still find help if you go to PC World's online Helpscreen section (www.helpscreen. com.au/index.php). All you need to do is register with the site--which is free and...

Eliminate the tell-tale signs of ageing: how to polish up your old photographs using both hardware and software-based scratch removal systems.(Imaging)
October 1, 2004... Even if you've made the jump to digital photography, sooner or later you'll find yourself staring at your stacks of old printed photos and deciding that it's time for them to join the revolution. After patiently scanning the negatives and...

MiniDV is dead. Long live MiniDV: high-definition camcorders are still largely the preserve of the well-heeled videographer, but for how much longer?(Video)
October 1, 2004... It's getting on for a year since I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of JVC's rather lovely GR-PD1 camcorders and, unfortunately, only two weeks less than that since I had to hand it back again. Although the camera had room for...

Scratching that itch for nix: as well as warmer sound and retro style, vinyl maintains its hands-on appeal. Now your PC allows you to play old-time DJ.(Audio)
October 1, 2004... Audio CDs may be more popular, but vinyl is far from dead. In fact it's enjoying something of a renaissance these days. Geek chic aside, records remain essential to DJs for scratching, where they're used with a combination of manual record deck...

Keeping the kids out of harm's way: it's nice when your children take an interest in your hobbies, but you probably don't want to share everything with them.(Windows)
October 1, 2004... Waving recently become a father, my thoughts are occupied by the usual parental worries such as how to keep my little boy safe once he starts to move around on his own. So off I went and kitted myself out with all the standard gadgets--power...

Connecting to the exchange: Microsoft exchange is a standard groupware platform in many corporate environments, but it needn't be limited to just windows.(Linux)
October 1, 2004... If you're working in a corporate environment, the chances are that you or your colleagues use Microsoft Exchange for tasks such as sharing of calendars, documents and the global address list. Such is the importance of these Exchange-only...

Making an exception: Gavin Sherry continues his exploration of what makes PHP 5 so special. This month it's exceptional.(Internet)
October 1, 2004... In the time between this and my last column, PHP 5 has moved out of beta and into stable release, which means that you can now begin using PHP 5 in production with the confidence that it's supported and well tested. This month, I'll be looking...

A little care goes a long way: looking after your optical storage can be tricky. Scott Mendham takes you through the finer points of CD ownership.(CD & DVD)
October 1, 2004... CDs and DVDs are frequently regarded as safe ways to back up precious files and memories. However, given the short time they have been available, there is some concern that data may not last in the medium-to-long term. This month I'll be...

iPod got its ears on.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
October 1, 2004... Altec Lansing's inMotion, a portable speaker unit for the iPod, is arguably the coolest iPod accessory on the market. If you're travelling, you can set it on a nightstand and fuse the iPod's Alarm Clock feature to turn it into a musical alarm...

The sole of the machine.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
October 1, 2004... No cigarette accessories here then--this one's more for the health conscious tech-head. Sneaker sultan Adidas has created a microchip-equipped running shoe that employs sensors, a magnet and a motor-driven cable to accommodate a runner's stride...

Travel translator.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
October 1, 2004... We all have our own ways of dealing with foreign languages when traveling overseas. Some people attempt to learn a little, some people live by their phrase book and others stick to their mother tongue but just speak it more loudly. A new...

Snazzy 17in tote.(Gadgets & Gizmos Backbytes)
October 1, 2004... The latest trend in 17in portable powerhouses has shifted the market away from portable handheld devices of the past. The thing is: it's actually quite tough to find a decent bag to lug all your gear around in, safely and securely. This groovy...