Australian PC World articles from September 2007

Australian PC World archives from September 2007

Editorial.
September 1, 2007... I'm thrilled to welcome Jarrod Spiga back to the pages of APC Jarrod was the Workshops Editor of APC a few years ago, but is now an infrastructure architect and engineer as well as a technical consultant for a number of small businesses. We've...

Telstra & Optus consider cable speed boost: don't assume fibre's our only future: both Optus and Telstra are working on upgrades to the speed of their HFC cable networks.(technotes: NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE IT WORLD)(hybrid fibre/cable network)(Optus Communications Proprietary Ltd., Telstra Corporation Ltd.)(DOCSIS 3.0 standard)
September 1, 2007... Optus has confirmed it is evaluating DOCSIS 3.0--a cable internet standard that can run at up to 160Mbit/s downstream and 120Mbit/s upstream--as an upgrade for its existing hybrid fibre/cable network. "We're still investigating our...

Microsoft's DIY home server: with Windows Home Server due next month, Microsoft reveals to David Flynn how enthusiasts may have a back door to build their own system.(technotes: NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE IT WORLD)(do it yourself)
September 1, 2007... After two years hidden away in Microsoft's skunkworks, and barely six months in the spotlight since breaking cover at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Windows Home Server is on the way. The final code was signed off and the master disc...

DirectX 11 by 2009: new multimedia API imminent, with new OS to follow?(application programmable interface)(operating system)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... DirectX 10 may not get the chance to reach maturity, according to an anonymous source within a major graphics card company. Microsoft could have plans to release the next iteration in less than two years. "I don't think that MS has made any...

By the numbers: iPhone hysteria: Apple has a new cash-cow in its product paddock, making the farmer a very rich man indeed.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... When it hit the shelves, 500,000 iPhones were sold in the first week, and it's expected 4.5 million will be bought this year. By 2011, this is likely to increase seven-fold to 30 million. It costs Apple $230 to make a 4GB phone and $265 to...

Wireless woes.(apc's Dumbest moments in tech)(software compatibility of Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... It's more than six months after the launch of Vista. so you'd think the software compatibility issues would be sorted, wouldn't you? Not so fast, According to our recent report by Ian Grayson on APCmag.com, some customers of Telstra's Next...

Longhorn reloaded revoked! Microsoft closes fan project that dared to dream of realising original Longhorn.(technotes: news)
September 1, 2007... The Windows Vista we got in 2006 wasn't the Windows Longhorn we were promised in 2003. Key features, like the database-driven WinFS file system never made it out the door. Microsoft's Longhorn reset threw away much of the early OS work,...

Google[TM] offline apps: will Gears give Google desktop domination?(technotes: news)
September 1, 2007... The day our planet is renamed Google Earth draws ever closer. Following May's announcement that Google is currently buying a web business every week, it showed off its latest step towards world domination, Google Gears. Gears adds a crucial new...

The new Toshiba T2100.(THE (A)PC REVOLUTION: September 1987)(computer memory)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... "With its removable, rechargeable NiCad battery pack, 20 megabyte hard disk drive, 720 kilobyte 3.5in diskette drive and one megabyte random access memory, it offers real portability, and real power."

Microsoft hustles.(THE (A)PC REVOLUTION: September 1987)(Window 2.0)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... "Microsoft is going to have to scramble to get Windows 2.0 out by its scheduled ship date and to make it compatible with the current version of Windows 1.04. The Window 2.0 code, currently being beta-tested by many Windows-software...

Taking technology too far.(THE (A) PC REVOLUTION: September 1987)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Reader letter to APC: "The new, cheap PC-compatibles have Produced lots of new users who know nothing of computing and are able to jump direct to the very high. level interpretive languages of, say WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3 or GEM Basic......

Wire-free HD wars: new formats promise wireless hi-def video.(technotes: news)(high definition)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... While Wi-Fi faster and more reliable, it still doesn't deliver the necessary bandwidth for true high-definition video streaming--which is where WirelessHD comes in. WirelessHD has been designed for HD video transmission, and according to...

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak: thirty years on, the engineer of the first personal computer exclusively shares with Chris Bidmead his ideas about that ongoing revolution.(technotes: the creators)(Steven Gary Wozniak)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... By any standards, Steven Gary Wozniak is an extraordinary human being. An all-embracing obsession with computers in his early years (he was designing computers on paper while still at high school) made him a millionaire by the age of 30. But...

Home and away: finally there's a clear distinction between Windows for home and Windows for work--but how are they faring so far?(opinion: vista)(Microsoft Windows Vista)
September 1, 2007... Windows XP was the first version of Windows to make a distinction between home and business users. However, XP Home was rather limited in its capabilities, so many home users ended up running the Professional version. Windows Vista has...

Is Linux desktop ready? Linux's core focus on being a server OS has stunted its development and suitability for the average end user, but the time is coming ...(opinion: Linux)(operating system)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... As much as seven years ago, in APC's Linux Pocketbook series, I said that it would be at least five years before Linux even approached a level ready for mainstream desktop use. I wasn't far off--we have Ubuntu now, which has made huge...

Training wheels: so-called computer trainers are not always as expert as they claim, as some of their students tell us.(opinion: end user)
September 1, 2007... A year 12 student, whose name is withheld, did a basic computing skills class, and was shocked at how little his teacher actually knew. "For example, he always thought that Windows XP was the magical cure for every computer-related problem. One...

Out of range: Vista drivers: everybody wants them but not everybody can get their hands on them, as one APC reader and wireless networker found out to his surprise ...(feedback: watchdog--eye on vendors)(Netgear RangeMax 240 WPNT511)(Netgear RangeMax 240 WPNT834)
September 1, 2007... I purchased a Netgear RangeMax 240 Wireless Router (WPNT834} and two RangeMax 240 Wireless Adapters (WPNT511) in mid-2006. The router and adapters have worked flawlessly since that time, providing high-speed and extended-coverage MIMO...

Now you see it, now you don't.(feedback: watchdog--eye on vendors)(Best Buy Electrical)
September 1, 2007... I am writing from Best Buy Electrical in Balcatta. One of our customers bought an integrated Panasonic 80cm LCD seven months ago and, very soon afterwards, found that the TV would sometimes not turn on unless it was unplugged and plugged back...

Thanks for nothing, mate.(feedback: watchdog--eye on vendors)(warranties)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Jon Harsem, IT services manager with the Sydney Church of England Co-educational Grammar School, Redlands, NSW, sought i-mate warranty support for one of his users, whose Smartflip smartphone had started to play up: "A plug failed during what I...

Vista Epinions special: in this special edition of Epinions, we bring you a fraction of the feedback we're getting from APC users on Vista--whether it's about Vista itself or the lack of driver support from third parties.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Reading APC July 2007, I was struck that the 'No incompatibilities here and 'Creating Vista' articles (pages 20 and 82 respectively) formed the most sublime combination of artful omission and not-well disguised propaganda. Chris Flores (Vista...

Missing wireless driver.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... It's been several months since Vista was released to manufacturers, and nearly seven months since APC first wrote about the lack of Vista support from various ISPs. Sadly, some ISPs are still languishing on support for the OS, leaving users...

Missing 64-bit driver.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I obtained a (Maxon) Next G Turbo Modem from Telstra last February for a Turion 64-equipped laptop with Vista Basic installed as the OS. There is still no suitable 64-bit driver for the device to operate as intended. How long is a fair thing to...

Missing satellite driver.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Just a word so buyers of Vista won't get caught as I did. Don't buy Vista if you use BigPond Satellite. BigPond currently do not offer any support for Vista when it comes to Satellite. (Which is great when you live in outback South Australia!)...

All just hoopla.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... So much for the Windows Vista 'change your life' hoopla. I work in an IT environment, and it seems to me that no-one wants a bar of Vista. This may be because there are so many different Vistas on the shelves; Joe Blow would not have a clue...

The cost of Vista.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Here's a heads-up on the cost of Vista from a Canberra retailer, Canberra Computer Centre. Cost to us of Vista Ultimate is $239 (all four of our distributors sell it to us at this price). Cost to consumer of Vista Ultimate should not exceed...

Outlook incompatibilites.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... I write to draw your attention to the incompatibility of Outlook versions prior to version 2003 with Vista. The issue is that email account passwords are not retained and have to be re-entered every time Outlook starts. This is alright if you...

WOW starts now.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I just went to a shop and bought Windows Vista Home Premium edition for over $400, only to get it home to discover that the 64-bit version isn't even in the box. There is a slip of paper inside instructing me to go online and pay an extra...

Vista slogans.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... "A good majority of problems has been solved from previous builds of Windows in Vista"; "Vista is the most capable operating system that has been released to date"; "Vista will work with 98% of hardware due to 20,000 or so drivers that have...

Not surprised.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Before people complain about drivers, they should realise that Microsoft is not a nice company to deal with. Linux on the other hand is an OS that evolves; once bugs have been fixed, they are fixed for good. There is no going backwards and...

Can Vista actually do text?(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I am in the process of upgrading to a new LCD, and so have been running around many shops looking at various monitors (HP, BenQ, Philips, Acer etc.). I most often write text and scarcely use my PC for games. I have noticed that with PCs that...

Office 2007 needed.(feedback: epinions--have your say)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I recently had to set up my new computer with Vista Home Premium and had no luck at all with connecting my Dell Axim X51V--Vista installed it as an unknown device. I'm no newbie with PDAs, the Axim is number three (so far). I set out to find...

This month in Labs ... having a go.(apc labs: DETAILED PRODUCT REVIEWS AND COMPARISONS)(tips to build own PC)
September 1, 2007... Building your own PC holds a clear place in the hearts of all good computer geeks. But when something goes wrong, there can be trouble. For those just setting off on the voyage of building or upgrading a PC, it's daunting. Very daunting. A...

Invitation only.(labs reviews: first test)
September 1, 2007... Lenovo's Thinkpad Reserve Edition Notebook is the world's most exclusive laptop. Bound in leather, it costs US$5,000 even though It's really just an X61c Thinkpad. But you can't just buy one. Lenovo offers them by invitation only to special...

Next best.(lab reviews: first test)
September 1, 2007... If you don't get that Lenovo invitation, you should consider ASUS's hot pink leather laptop, the $6. With this dual-core 11.11n widescreen machine, you're sure to be taken seriously in business meetings. Price: $2,699 www.asus.com.au ...

Dell Inspiron 1720: a desktop replacement for the masses.(notebook computer)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... If you've ever considered replacing the home PC with a notebook, you'll have come across media centres like this one. They're big, often weigh a tonne, and are loaded with extras that jack up the price. So are these luxury notebooks worth...

LG A1 express dual: is this the ultimate road warrior's weapon?(notebook computer)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... This notebook is tiny. At 1kg the LG A1 is so light you could pop it in your bag and forget it's there. This is a shame, because while the A1 should be the ultimate road warrior's weapon, like many ultraportables it's hamstrung by battery life....

Acer iDea 510: proof that media centre PCs can be good.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... We've written many words on media centre PCs here at APC, and for the most part, we've found them dramatically lacking. For the first time, we're glad to say that we've found a good one! The Acer iDea 510 is a lounge room small form factor...

Phone cam.(labs reviews: notebooks / PCs)
September 1, 2007... Ateksoft's WebCamera Plus application transforms your PDA or smartphone into a web camera. Working through USB ActiveSync, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, 3G or LAN connections it can be used on Skype, MSN Messenger and others. Price: US$19.90 ...

Cool laptop.(labs reviews: notebooks / PCs)
September 1, 2007... If your notebook is a small furnace, Belkin's Laptop Cooling Stand can help. Its wave design creates a channel for natural airflow, while its high-capacity blower fan drives heat away from the system. Price: $49.95 www.belkin.com/anz ...

Hearing aid.(labs reviews: notebooks / PCs)
September 1, 2007... When too much listening to MP3 players finally damages your hearing, there's now a fix: the new Oticon Epoq, a hearing device that allows users to connect via Bluetooth to their mobile phone, portable music player or laptop computer. Not cheap...

Skype pots.(labs reviews: components)
September 1, 2007... Finally, more convenient VoIP calls. Using Linksys' iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit you can now make calls to Skype users over the net without a PC or you can place normal telephone calls over an existing standard telephone line. RRP...

Safe Eyes 5.0.(labs reviews: components)
September 1, 2007... Safe Eyes 5.0, the latest version of the leading internet filtering software, incorporates a social networking feature that is able to monitor and track personal information that a child posts to online sites such as MySpace, Facebook, chat...

Squeeze the musicx.(labs reviews: components)
September 1, 2007... Stream digital music from your computer and internet radio wirelessly to any stereo in the home with the Logitech Squeezebox wireless music player. It can play formats including MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AAC and Ogg across an 802.11g network or...

EVGA 650i Ultra motherboard: 680i performance without the SLI.
September 1, 2007... Nvidia's 680i motherboard chipset has had a good effect on the PC motherboard market. Competing closely with the Intel 975 chipset, the 680i added overclocking functionality and the all-important SLI configuration for video cards that can only...

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe: P35, DDR3, e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e, check!(double-data-rate)(motherboard)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The P5K3 Deluxe is a flagship board from ASUS. It's a P35 chipset-based board, using Intel's ICH9R Southbridge. It supports DDR3 memory up to 1,333MHz. There's two PCI-E x16 slots, one running at 16x, the other 4x, with CrossFire support, two...

Inno3D 8600GTS Xstriker3: cool and classy.(graphics cards)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Standing out from the crowd in the video card market isn't an easy task. The plethora of cut and copied 'reference' graphics cards from vendors who just take the design from Nvidia or ATI, slap a sticker on the stock cooler and box it up is...

CASIO EXILIM EX-S880SR.(labs reviews: components)(digital camera)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The 8.1-megapixel EX-S880 is the latest addition to the Casio EXILIM Card series and comes with a high-quality movie function that makes the most of next-generation H.264 compression technology. Look out for the full review in coming issues....

Football Manager 2008 announced.(labs reviews: components)
September 1, 2007... SEGA Europe announced that Football Manager 2008 for PC and Apple Macintosh will be in stores before Christmas 2007. www.footballmanager.net

Raon Everun.(labs reviews: peripherals)
September 1, 2007... In addition to the OQO UMPC in our reviews pages, distributor Tegatech Australia has even more second-generation UMPCs lined up. One is the amazing AMD-powered Raon Digital Everun, which runs Windows XP Home Edition in a tiny package with a...

All-in-one.(labs reviews: peripherals)
September 1, 2007... Linksys' new Wireless-G ADSL Home Gateway WAG2OOG is an all-in-one solution for Internet connectivity, offering an ADSL2+ Modem, 4-Port Switch, Wireless-G Access Point and internet-sharing router in one box. Price: $150 www.linksys.com.au ...

Trailguide.(labs reviews: peripherals)
September 1, 2007... You can now get the Basecamp, web-based project management application on a Windows Mobile Smartphone or Pocket PC. A mobile client has just been released by Carry the Day. Price: from $5.25/month www.carrytheday.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Wacom Bamboo: is this the death of the mouse?(input device)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Bamboo is Wacom's latest weapon in convincing us to seriously consider its products as mouse replacements. For the first time, it's aimed entirely at an audience that spends its time browsing the internet, emailing and creating...

Dell 1320c: Dell's tiny new 1320c--more than meets the eye.(laser printer)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Compared with the frankly enormous, weighty colour laser printers that typified the market a few years ago, some of the latest 'personal' colour lasers have footprints barely larger than an A4 inkjet. A good example is the 1320c, Dell's...

Brother HL-5270DN: need a networkable printer for your office?(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Brother's HL-5270DN is a networkable 1,200dpi mono laser printer suited to small office or workgroup use thanks to an Ethernet interface as well as the usual parallel and USB ports. The duplexer is a welcome inclusion in these waste-sensitive...

HP OfficeJet Pro K5400dtn: more a workhorse than a personal printer.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Positioned as an economical alternative to low-end colour laser printers for workgroup use, the HP Office Jet Pro K5400dtn includes Ethernet and USB interfaces. Rated at 7,500 pages per month, this is a workhorse rather than a personal printer....

250GB in your hand.(labs reviews: printers)(Western Digital WD Passport)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Western Digital's NEW 250GB capacity WD Passport portable drives fit easily in the palm of your hand or pocket--and come in the fashionably sleek piano-black finish that's all the rage right now. With sync software, it retails for $299....

Porsche mobile.(labs reviews: printers)
September 1, 2007... When there's little to technically distinguish their 250GB external drives, hardware makers turn to fashion. Buy LaCie's Porsche Mobile drive and you also get a remote association with the Porsche brand. Price: $339 (USB 2.0), $359 (FireWire)...

WiRanger.(labs reviews: printers)
September 1, 2007... The world's first wireless USB 2.0 hub, the Icron WiRanger enables wireless connection of USB devices, including printers, scanners, web cams, hard drives and MP3 players. Works over 802.11g and is plug-and-play for Windows and Mac OS. Price:...

Green enclosure.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... The Welland Greenstar 3.5in hard disk drive enclosure will power down your hard disk automatically when data transfer is complete. This results in decreased power usage and also assists in prolonging the life of your hard drive. Distributed by...

iPod cube.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... The new Icubic MP3 player cube has seven docking adaptors to suit a wide range of iPods, but it does more: it can tell you the time and wake you with sound from your iPod or its FM radio. Price: $99.95 (available from mid-August 2007) ...

Photo drive.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... Canon Australia has released its first media storage device for photographers, essentially an 80GB hard drive with a 3.7in TFT screen to which digital photos can be downloaded from a DSLR camera. The Canon M80 means that photographers no longer...

Motorola KRZR K3: slicker than sleek.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The RAZR range from Motorola have become some of the new must-have mobile accessories in the brief time they've been available. With celebrity glitz, diamond- and gold- entrusted models for the very rich, and a slim, sleek finish for the rest...

HTC Touch: Windows Mobile's answer to the iPhone?(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Touch is one of the first HTC-branded smartphones to make it to Australia, and what it lacks in high-end features (like GPS and 3G/HSDPA support), it makes up for in design. The black, stylishly slim physique has a rubberised finish that's...

OQO model 02: a pint-sized portable with the full power of Windows.(Tegatech OQO 02 ultra mobile PC)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Ultra-mobile PCs, what are they good for? The popular consensus to date has been 'absolutely nothing', but now that vendors have had over a year to get the formula right, the latest breed of UMPCs may very well put paid to that perception. ...

High speed dock.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... Belkin's new High Speed Docking Station provides an easy docking service for notebooks with an ExpressCard slot, into which a user can plug devices and peripherals. The ExpressCard slot connection is four times faster than USB. Price: $349.95...

Mobile spam.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... Security company AVG wants to fight the new scourge of SMS spam with an antispam product for mobile phones. The AVG Mobile Security software can be currently downloaded as a beta and protects Symbian UIQ 3.0 platform mobile phones, as well as...

Complete collection.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... The Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium ($4,455) packs together tools for video pros for delivering content for film, broadcast, DVD, web and mobile devices. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection ($3,025) is a package of 12 of Adobe's...

Colour shot.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... Colour laser printers are now available for not much more than the price of inkjets a year ago. Canon has just released its new LASER SHOT LBP 5100, which prints 10 colour prints per minute and also includes auto duplexing. Price: $599...

Biz colour.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... The business version of the Canon LBP 5100 is the LBP 3560, which does 21 prints per minute and connects to the office network. Price: $1,999 www.canon.com.au [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tracking cam.(labs reviews: mobile)
September 1, 2007... The Pro-Q Motion-Tracking Webcam has tracking motors that follow the subject's every move, by enabling the camera to turn 180 degrees horizontally and tilt 60 degrees vertically. Distributed in Australia by Anyware Computing. Price: $89...

Archos 704 Wi-Fi 80GB: does away with complex controls, but still less than perfect.(personal media player)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Archos' rise through the ranks of gadget purveyors has been heartening to see. Gadget historians will surely remember the company's first device, which was little more than a huge hard drive coupled with a tiny screen. Grainy video playback on...

Dell vostro.(labs reviews: video / MFCs)
September 1, 2007... Finally, vendors are removing the rubbishware that comes packed with new PCs. Dell's new Vostro desktops and notebooks come trialware-free. Aimed at small business, Vostro also includes automated support tools designed to help offices with no...

Boost Vista.(labs reviews: video / MFCs)
September 1, 2007... Apacer's Handy Steno AH421 is a USB flash drive created specially for Vista's ReadyBoost function. It comes in a notebook-friendly blade-shaped design that can swivel 180 degrees so it doesn't block other ports. http://ap.apacer.com/ ...

More for games.(labs reviews: video / MFCs)
September 1, 2007... ASUS has released the PG221 LCD 22in wide-screen monitor for garners. It can connect to a personal computer and with the various multimedia inputs including VGA, DVI, composite, S-Video, component (YPbPr, up to 1080i/p) inputs, and USB2.0 ports...

Canon HV20: HD is in the house!(camcorder, high definition)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... The era of high-definition home video has definitely arrived. Consumers can now purchase a HD-quality camera for the price that a standard VHS camera cost a few years ago. With inbuilt image stabilisation paired with a horizontal body...

Samsung CLX-2160: colour laser MFC for under $800.(multi function)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Colour laser printing is often a very expensive exercise. Only in the past three years has the price dropped into the realm where personal users would consider it as an alternative to ink-based printers. Combined with the increase in popularity...

Epson projectors.(labs reviews: applications)
September 1, 2007... Virtually everything released these days highlights its green credentials, even projectors. Epson's new range of LCD multimedia projectors for the home, education and business markets--the EMP-S5, EMPX5, EMP-83 and the EMP-822 --highlight their...

Anti zombie.(labs reviews: applications)
September 1, 2007... If it's bad for your PC, it's good for internet security companies. Symantec has just announced Norton AntiBot, designed to rid consumer PCs of bots (which steal personal identity and turn PCs into zombies). Price: $39.95...

Game switch.(labs reviews: applications)
September 1, 2007... You can now play PS3 on a DVI monitor with Gameswitch, a KVM switch that should be available this month from KVM Australia. It allows switching of a PC and a PS3 to the same monitor, and supports resolutions from 480i to 1080p. www.kvm.com.au...

VMware Workstation 6: the virtualisation market is tough--but this can take it on.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... VMware has provided the ideal virtualisation tool for just a bout everyone, so if you're a developer who needs to test applications on versions of Windows, a PC enthusiast interested in security, or just a regular home user who wants to run old...

Starry Night 6: explore the galaxy without removing your slippers.(astronomy software)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Space seems to have gotten bigger in recent years Literally--because current theory suggests it's eternally expanding--and, figuratively, as more of the world becomes enamoured with the great beyond. Some of the internet's most brilliant blogs,...

W25 fixed wireless terminal.(labs reviews: applications)
September 1, 2007... Have no fixed phone line? You can still get access to 3.6Mbit/s broadband, phone and fax services with Ericsson's new W25 Fixed Wireless Terminal (FWT) which uses the 3G HSDPA network. Stick your SIM card into the terminal, plug your phone into...

FlyTV Express X1.(labs reviews: applications)(GDB International FlyTV Express X1 peripheral connect interface card)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... We reviewed the FlyTV M5 ExpressCard 13/tuner last month--but we've since discovered there's also a PCI Express (PCI-E) version that takes advantage of the bandwidth of the PCI Express (PCI-E) interface. The FlyTV Express can generate up to...

FileMaker.(labs reviews: applications)
September 1, 2007... FileMaker Pro 9, a major new version of the Mac and PC desktop database includes new features to simplify creating, automating, sharing and reporting from databases, including live two-way connections with SQL databases and conditional...