The most recent articles from What PC?

The most recent articles from What PC?http://www.whatpc.co.uk/The most recent articles from What PC? (Generated on Thursday 8 January 2009 at 09:22:22)VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/2009-01-08T09:22:22.865Z

The most recent articles from What PC?http://www.whatpc.co.uk/images/rss/wpc_logo.gifhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/Handspring Treo 270http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132815/handspring-treo-270Scott Colvey., <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 1 October 2002 at 10:26:34A compact palmtop computer and mobile phone combined, the new Treo attempts to offer both portability and functionality.<content page="1"><html><body>Handspring's proclaimed corporate mantra is: "Keep it small, simple, affordable and connected." Does the company's latest offering meet these criteria?Well, the new Treo 270 Communicator is certainly small - at least by the standards of most personal organisers. The unit fits easily in a shirt pocket, and while its weight is not negligible, it is barely appreciable.It can sit comfortably in the palm of your hand, and its jog-dial control is conveniently positioned under-thumb (presuming you are right-handed, that is).Before you can make use of this or any other control, though, the Treo's lid must be flipped open; this immediately brings the machine to life and acts as the 'off' switch when closed. This useful feature is a hallmark of the Treo 270's mobile phone credentials - but more on that later.As a palmtop organiser, Handspring's latest offering must rank as one of the most attractive. The small frame belies the unit's wealth of features, which are set off well by the pretty colour screen.In terms of software, there is nothing new or particularly enticing on offer here. The Treo relies on the popular Palm operating system as its backbone. This includes a simple-to-use address-book tool along with basic memo-taking and scheduling applications. If it is an all-singing, all-dancing multimedia-capable pocket computer you are after, Palm OS is not for you.On the other hand, if you are looking for straightforward contact management, why complicate life by going for anything grander?The Treo 270's Palm OS interface is navigated by an at-times baffling combination of the aforementioned jog-dial, short-cut buttons and a pen-like stylus.In addition to these control regulars, a minuscule keyboard underlines the 4,000-shade display. This is very similar in look and feel to that of the Sharp Zaurus, but here it is a necessity rather than a novel extra. While most other PDAs allow some form of pen-based data entry - be it the simplified strokes of Palm's Graffiti or the cursive writing recognition attempted by Pocket PCs - the only way to get information into the Treo 270 when out and about is via this tiny tapper.Sadly, while Sharp somehow managed to create a well-spaced layout, the Treo's keys seem a bit too close together.As a mobile communications device, the Treo is accomplished. The flip cover doubles as an earpiece, and the unit acts much like any contemporary mobile handset. Telephone numbers can be entered via the keyboard or by pressing the large on-screen numeric icons displayed on the touch-sensitive screen.Alternatively, the jog-dial can be used to flit through a list of speed dials (the Treo stores a maximum of 50). The device boasts a speaker-phone feature, but the usefulness of this is marred by a sloppy design quirk: the hands-free mode can be engaged only after a call has been connected.In other words, by the time you have got speaker-phone operation enabled, the person on the other end of will already have uttered their greeting. It is not a major failing, but quite annoying - it is perhaps better to use the supplied earpiece with its in-line microphone instead.The web-browsing facility works well. The software is Handspring's own Blazer browser, which supposedly turbo-charges internet activities, but surfing seemed slothful at times (though this is an inherent limitation of GSM networks). However, if you stick to sites optimised for mobile browsing, like the BBC's News Online service, it is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Indeed, this aspect alone justifies the colour screen's inclusion.The Treo 270 is a good-looking, fine-performing device - but it is not without its faults. The speaker-phone mode is flawed, and the keyboard-only entry method will further limit its appeal.Price: £549 (inc VAT but without connection)<ul><li>Dual-band (GSM 900/1800) mobile phone</li><li>16MB memory</li><li>33MHz Dragonball processor</li><li>Lithium-ion battery - 3 hours' talktime, 150 hours' standby</li><li>Dimenions (HxDxW, in mm): 108x21x71</li><li>Weight: 153g</li><li>12-bit colour display (4,000 shades)</li><li>Connects to PC/Mac via USB or serial</li><li>Includes Handspring's own web-browser application (Blazer) and text-message (SMS) management software</li></ul>Contact:Handspring: 020 7294 0157 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.handspring.co.uk">www.handspring.co.uk</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132815/handspring-treo-270Scott Colvey., <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 1 October 2002 at 10:26:34A compact palmtop computer and mobile phone combined, the new Treo attempts to offer both portability and functionality.<content page="1"><html><body>Handspring's proclaimed corporate mantra is: "Keep it small, simple, affordable and connected." Does the company's latest offering meet these criteria?Well, the new Treo 270 Communicator is certainly small - at least by the standards of most personal organisers. The unit fits easily in a shirt pocket, and while its weight is not negligible, it is barely appreciable.It can sit comfortably in the palm of your hand, and its jog-dial control is conveniently positioned under-thumb (presuming you are right-handed, that is).Before you can make use of this or any other control, though, the Treo's lid must be flipped open; this immediately brings the machine to life and acts as the 'off' switch when closed. This useful feature is a hallmark of the Treo 270's mobile phone credentials - but more on that later.As a palmtop organiser, Handspring's latest offering must rank as one of the most attractive. The small frame belies the unit's wealth of features, which are set off well by the pretty colour screen.In terms of software, there is nothing new or particularly enticing on offer here. The Treo relies on the popular Palm operating system as its backbone. This includes a simple-to-use address-book tool along with basic memo-taking and scheduling applications. If it is an all-singing, all-dancing multimedia-capable pocket computer you are after, Palm OS is not for you.On the other hand, if you are looking for straightforward contact management, why complicate life by going for anything grander?The Treo 270's Palm OS interface is navigated by an at-times baffling combination of the aforementioned jog-dial, short-cut buttons and a pen-like stylus.In addition to these control regulars, a minuscule keyboard underlines the 4,000-shade display. This is very similar in look and feel to that of the Sharp Zaurus, but here it is a necessity rather than a novel extra. While most other PDAs allow some form of pen-based data entry - be it the simplified strokes of Palm's Graffiti or the cursive writing recognition attempted by Pocket PCs - the only way to get information into the Treo 270 when out and about is via this tiny tapper.Sadly, while Sharp somehow managed to create a well-spaced layout, the Treo's keys seem a bit too close together.As a mobile communications device, the Treo is accomplished. The flip cover doubles as an earpiece, and the unit acts much like any contemporary mobile handset. Telephone numbers can be entered via the keyboard or by pressing the large on-screen numeric icons displayed on the touch-sensitive screen.Alternatively, the jog-dial can be used to flit through a list of speed dials (the Treo stores a maximum of 50). The device boasts a speaker-phone feature, but the usefulness of this is marred by a sloppy design quirk: the hands-free mode can be engaged only after a call has been connected.In other words, by the time you have got speaker-phone operation enabled, the person on the other end of will already have uttered their greeting. It is not a major failing, but quite annoying - it is perhaps better to use the supplied earpiece with its in-line microphone instead.The web-browsing facility works well. The software is Handspring's own Blazer browser, which supposedly turbo-charges internet activities, but surfing seemed slothful at times (though this is an inherent limitation of GSM networks). However, if you stick to sites optimised for mobile browsing, like the BBC's News Online service, it is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Indeed, this aspect alone justifies the colour screen's inclusion.The Treo 270 is a good-looking, fine-performing device - but it is not without its faults. The speaker-phone mode is flawed, and the keyboard-only entry method will further limit its appeal.Price: £549 (inc VAT but without connection)<ul><li>Dual-band (GSM 900/1800) mobile phone</li><li>16MB memory</li><li>33MHz Dragonball processor</li><li>Lithium-ion battery - 3 hours' talktime, 150 hours' standby</li><li>Dimenions (HxDxW, in mm): 108x21x71</li><li>Weight: 153g</li><li>12-bit colour display (4,000 shades)</li><li>Connects to PC/Mac via USB or serial</li><li>Includes Handspring's own web-browser application (Blazer) and text-message (SMS) management software</li></ul>Contact:Handspring: 020 7294 0157 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.handspring.co.uk">www.handspring.co.uk</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKScott Colvey.2002-10-01T10:26:34.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersPhilips 150MThttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132814/philips-150mtBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 6 September 2002 at 14:12:16A useful, smart and stylish device.<content page="1"><html><body>The Philips 150MT 15in flat-panel monitor is part of a new breed of devices aimed at users who flit between their PC and TV. It is designed with ease of use and maximum connectivity in mind and has a wide array of ports at the back.PCs hook up via a standard VGA connector, and there is a separate mini-jack socket provided for audio-in; for TV or DVD there is a standard coaxial TV antenna-in. On top of this, a Scart connection allows DVD players or games consoles to be connected. There is also a composite video port for VCD players and VCRs.The setup procedure is very easy. The Auto button on the front of the monitor handles the usually difficult task of optimising your PC to fit the screen. Windows drivers are provided, but all you need to do is reset your display settings to the recommended 1,024x768 at 75Hz.The picture's sharpness is surprisingly good. While watching a DVD, we noticed a bit of pixelation, but this was only slight, and with the fast refresh rate there was no detectable shake or smearing during action scenes.The enhanced brightness and wide viewing angle produced clean, vibrant colours.The built-in TV tuner is straightforward to use. It has a switch on the front panel to flip between PC and TV. A good extra feature is the Picture-in-Picture button, which allows you to display the TV screen in three different sizes in the top-right corner of your computer desktop. If you fancy keeping an eye on the TV while you work, this is perfect. The input selector, which toggles between the different video outputs, is child's play to use.Specifications <ul><li>Multiple video inputs: PC, DVD, VCD, VCR, TV</li><li>Picture-in-Picture control</li><li>Super-high brightness feature and fast refresh rate</li><li>Auto-adjust for picture quality</li><li>100-page teletext memory</li></ul>Price: £689 (including VAT) Contact: Philips: 020 8689 4444 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.philips.co.uk">www.philips.co.uk</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132814/philips-150mtBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 6 September 2002 at 14:12:16A useful, smart and stylish device.<content page="1"><html><body>The Philips 150MT 15in flat-panel monitor is part of a new breed of devices aimed at users who flit between their PC and TV. It is designed with ease of use and maximum connectivity in mind and has a wide array of ports at the back.PCs hook up via a standard VGA connector, and there is a separate mini-jack socket provided for audio-in; for TV or DVD there is a standard coaxial TV antenna-in. On top of this, a Scart connection allows DVD players or games consoles to be connected. There is also a composite video port for VCD players and VCRs.The setup procedure is very easy. The Auto button on the front of the monitor handles the usually difficult task of optimising your PC to fit the screen. Windows drivers are provided, but all you need to do is reset your display settings to the recommended 1,024x768 at 75Hz.The picture's sharpness is surprisingly good. While watching a DVD, we noticed a bit of pixelation, but this was only slight, and with the fast refresh rate there was no detectable shake or smearing during action scenes.The enhanced brightness and wide viewing angle produced clean, vibrant colours.The built-in TV tuner is straightforward to use. It has a switch on the front panel to flip between PC and TV. A good extra feature is the Picture-in-Picture button, which allows you to display the TV screen in three different sizes in the top-right corner of your computer desktop. If you fancy keeping an eye on the TV while you work, this is perfect. The input selector, which toggles between the different video outputs, is child's play to use.Specifications <ul><li>Multiple video inputs: PC, DVD, VCD, VCR, TV</li><li>Picture-in-Picture control</li><li>Super-high brightness feature and fast refresh rate</li><li>Auto-adjust for picture quality</li><li>100-page teletext memory</li></ul>Price: £689 (including VAT) Contact: Philips: 020 8689 4444 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.philips.co.uk">www.philips.co.uk</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKBen Lewis2002-09-06T14:12:16.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersSony VAIO PCG-NV109Mhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132813/sony-vaio-pcg-nv109mBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 2 September 2002 at 12:28:11Sony's new laptop introduces some much-needed innovation into the notebook sector and offers great multimedia facilities.<content page="1"><html><body>With its internal Net MD drive, which has never before been included in a notebook, the Sony PCG-NV109M has something interesting to offer.The machine sports an interchangeable (or multipurpose) drive bay, which can accommodate either the Net MiniDisc (MD) drive, a subwoofer, a floppy drive or an optional numeric pad. It is built in below the optical drive, giving the overall design an uncomfortably bulky back end.From the front, however, the machine appears quite slim - a clever design trick. This notebook will not win any awards for portability though, as it weighs 3.9kg, and its dimensions are increased by the bulky multipurpose bay.The multipurpose bay is a good idea, as it allows you to use sound facilitites, a keypad, a floppy drive or a MiniDisc drive, as and when you need to.The compact subwoofer sounds excellent and boosts the overall audio quality. It does not cope with loud volumes very well, but the sound is clear, and there are some optional external Vaio speakers available. The ten-key bay gives you all the extra numerical functionality of a full-sized keyboard, but you need to pay extra for this as it is not included in the package.Unfortunately, you cannot use the subwoofer and the MD unit simultaneously - which seems rather short-sighted - but MD tracks can be copied across to the hard drive. With 30GB to play with, and a Memory Stick slot available as well, storage is adequately covered.The machine's most interesting feature is the Net MD drive unit. Sony has incorporated its own MiniDisc media format into a notebook for the first time, and it gives you extra options for recording and playing music.The drive allows you to record digital music from the internet or a CD.It stores audio in ATRAC3 format, which is a lot faster than the normal recording speed for a MiniDisc, and it makes more efficient use of the available space. The new MD format allows you to download 320 minutes of audio onto an 80-minute MiniDisc. It is ideal for recording music from download sites.On the opposite side of the bay are modem, network, FireWire and AV ports. The latter can be used to connect the notebook to a TV. The NV109M also has three USB ports at the back, along with the usual range of legacy ports.Overall, the specifications and features are good. You get a generous 15in display, which is a large size for a notebook and makes watching films or playing games a pleasure. The NV109M is designed for the user who wants to be multimedia-savvy while on the move. The ATI Mobility graphics hardware is powerful and can handle most tasks.This is a notebook for the audiovisual enthusiast. It is supplied with a combination CD-RW/DVD-Rom drive as standard, which gives you the option of recording onto CD as well as MD. With lots of software included for recording, editing and compiling image and sound files, this notebook is a multimedia master.With its 1.6GHz Mobile Pentium 4 processor, the NV109M is no slouch in the performance stakes either. And considering the host of power-sapping features, the battery life, at just under two hours, is acceptable.This is a good all-rounder that offers good connectivity and power, and a comprehensive range of features. If you want lots of audio- and image-editing options in a portable format, it is a tempting option.Price: £2,003.38 (inc VAT)<ul><li>1.6GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor</li><li>256MB DDR Ram</li><li>30GB hard disk</li><li>15in XGA TFT screen</li><li>DVD-Rom/CD-RW combination drive</li><li>56Kbps modem and 10/100 network adaptor</li><li>Ports: 2 x Type II/1 x Type III PC Card, FireWire, 3 x USB, TV-out, MagicGate Memory Stick</li><li>ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics Weight: 3.9kg</li><li>One-year standard warranty Dimensions: (WxDxH, in mm) 336x276.1x53.3Contact: Sony: 0870 511 1999www.vaio.sony-europe.com</li></ul></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132813/sony-vaio-pcg-nv109mBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 2 September 2002 at 12:28:11Sony's new laptop introduces some much-needed innovation into the notebook sector and offers great multimedia facilities.<content page="1"><html><body>With its internal Net MD drive, which has never before been included in a notebook, the Sony PCG-NV109M has something interesting to offer.The machine sports an interchangeable (or multipurpose) drive bay, which can accommodate either the Net MiniDisc (MD) drive, a subwoofer, a floppy drive or an optional numeric pad. It is built in below the optical drive, giving the overall design an uncomfortably bulky back end.From the front, however, the machine appears quite slim - a clever design trick. This notebook will not win any awards for portability though, as it weighs 3.9kg, and its dimensions are increased by the bulky multipurpose bay.The multipurpose bay is a good idea, as it allows you to use sound facilitites, a keypad, a floppy drive or a MiniDisc drive, as and when you need to.The compact subwoofer sounds excellent and boosts the overall audio quality. It does not cope with loud volumes very well, but the sound is clear, and there are some optional external Vaio speakers available. The ten-key bay gives you all the extra numerical functionality of a full-sized keyboard, but you need to pay extra for this as it is not included in the package.Unfortunately, you cannot use the subwoofer and the MD unit simultaneously - which seems rather short-sighted - but MD tracks can be copied across to the hard drive. With 30GB to play with, and a Memory Stick slot available as well, storage is adequately covered.The machine's most interesting feature is the Net MD drive unit. Sony has incorporated its own MiniDisc media format into a notebook for the first time, and it gives you extra options for recording and playing music.The drive allows you to record digital music from the internet or a CD.It stores audio in ATRAC3 format, which is a lot faster than the normal recording speed for a MiniDisc, and it makes more efficient use of the available space. The new MD format allows you to download 320 minutes of audio onto an 80-minute MiniDisc. It is ideal for recording music from download sites.On the opposite side of the bay are modem, network, FireWire and AV ports. The latter can be used to connect the notebook to a TV. The NV109M also has three USB ports at the back, along with the usual range of legacy ports.Overall, the specifications and features are good. You get a generous 15in display, which is a large size for a notebook and makes watching films or playing games a pleasure. The NV109M is designed for the user who wants to be multimedia-savvy while on the move. The ATI Mobility graphics hardware is powerful and can handle most tasks.This is a notebook for the audiovisual enthusiast. It is supplied with a combination CD-RW/DVD-Rom drive as standard, which gives you the option of recording onto CD as well as MD. With lots of software included for recording, editing and compiling image and sound files, this notebook is a multimedia master.With its 1.6GHz Mobile Pentium 4 processor, the NV109M is no slouch in the performance stakes either. And considering the host of power-sapping features, the battery life, at just under two hours, is acceptable.This is a good all-rounder that offers good connectivity and power, and a comprehensive range of features. If you want lots of audio- and image-editing options in a portable format, it is a tempting option.Price: £2,003.38 (inc VAT)<ul><li>1.6GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor</li><li>256MB DDR Ram</li><li>30GB hard disk</li><li>15in XGA TFT screen</li><li>DVD-Rom/CD-RW combination drive</li><li>56Kbps modem and 10/100 network adaptor</li><li>Ports: 2 x Type II/1 x Type III PC Card, FireWire, 3 x USB, TV-out, MagicGate Memory Stick</li><li>ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics Weight: 3.9kg</li><li>One-year standard warranty Dimensions: (WxDxH, in mm) 336x276.1x53.3Contact: Sony: 0870 511 1999www.vaio.sony-europe.com</li></ul></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKBen Lewis2002-09-02T12:28:11.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersTime Pluto Tri-Viewhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132812/pluto-tri-viewBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 29 August 2002 at 14:03:59The first three-screen PC hits the shops.<content page="1"><html><body>Time Computers has seldom found renown as an innovative builder of PCs. Instead it concentrates on producing standard beige-boxes with lots of everyday features. But with this new Pluto Tri-View system, Time has broken its favourite mould.The Tri-View's graphics card can spread its display over three different screens and, just to show off, Time has supplied a trio of 15.1in TFT flat panels. The new Parhelia graphics card from Matrox has two digital video interface slots which are split using converter cables into three monitor outputs.The headline feature is backed up by a powerful Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor, 512MB of DDR memory and an 80GB hard drive. These high-end components combine to help the Tri-View turn in the second highest ever benchmark score in our exacting labs tests. This alone makes the machine worthy of special attention.Not surprisingly, though, it is the split-screen technology that stands out. This machine is designed mainly for games, as computer-aided design professionals and the like generally prefer bigger CRT monitors.The system is easy to set up, as Time has tweaked the Windows drivers and Registry settings to spread the display over three screens.Sadly, this readiness does not always extend to the games or other software titles you might want to view in wide screen. We tested the Tri-View with Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast as it is one of only five games currently supporting this three-display technology.Ballistics, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Quake Arena and Return to Castle Wolfenstein make up the list of supporting titles, and a few more are on the way.However, even though Jedi Outcast works with the Tri-View's three screens, we were forced to enter a cryptic set of codes before the game spread itself across them.First-person shooters, such as those using the Quake 3 graphics engine, lend themselves well to three screens, and the overall effect is highly impressive. Jedi Outcast's cut scenes lost detail when stretched, but the game itself looked good.The machine lacks an overall control feature to make all three screens display the same colours and brightness. The outside screens displayed different shades to the central one, and we could not rectify this to our satisfaction.Interestingly, the two outer screens show a skewed perspective, which looks strange when viewed straight on, but adds to the overall effect when you are looking at the central screen. It will be interesting to see how software developers respond to this surround-visuals ability.Used properly, it could add an extra element to gaming, but it will need to be easier to configure.The Pluto Tri-View is a great-value system. It has a network port and two USB ports, a powerful processor and a generous hard drive, as well as three TFT screens. It also has four free PCI slots. The quality of the TFT screens is not the best but, for well under £2,000, it would be harsh to complain.The system we received for review was equipped only with onboard sound facilities, but Time has said that future versions of the machine may possibly include a separate sound card. If this is important to you, we recommend that you check before ordering.Time deserves a hearty commendation for embracing this fledgling technology without charging the earth. This is a good, powerful machine with plenty of upgrade options.Supported games list can be viewed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.matrox.com/mga/3d_gaming/surrgame.cfm">here</a>.Price: £1,879 (inc VAT)Specifications: Intel Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor 512MB DDR memory 80GB hard disk drive 16-speed DVD-Rom drive 32x 10x 40x CD-RW drive Videologic ZXR-500 5.1 speakers Matrox Parhelia 128MB DDR (triple-output) graphics card Three 15.1in NFREN NF-1500MA TFT monitorsContact: Time Computers 0800 771 107 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132812/pluto-tri-viewBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 29 August 2002 at 14:03:59The first three-screen PC hits the shops.<content page="1"><html><body>Time Computers has seldom found renown as an innovative builder of PCs. Instead it concentrates on producing standard beige-boxes with lots of everyday features. But with this new Pluto Tri-View system, Time has broken its favourite mould.The Tri-View's graphics card can spread its display over three different screens and, just to show off, Time has supplied a trio of 15.1in TFT flat panels. The new Parhelia graphics card from Matrox has two digital video interface slots which are split using converter cables into three monitor outputs.The headline feature is backed up by a powerful Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor, 512MB of DDR memory and an 80GB hard drive. These high-end components combine to help the Tri-View turn in the second highest ever benchmark score in our exacting labs tests. This alone makes the machine worthy of special attention.Not surprisingly, though, it is the split-screen technology that stands out. This machine is designed mainly for games, as computer-aided design professionals and the like generally prefer bigger CRT monitors.The system is easy to set up, as Time has tweaked the Windows drivers and Registry settings to spread the display over three screens.Sadly, this readiness does not always extend to the games or other software titles you might want to view in wide screen. We tested the Tri-View with Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast as it is one of only five games currently supporting this three-display technology.Ballistics, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Quake Arena and Return to Castle Wolfenstein make up the list of supporting titles, and a few more are on the way.However, even though Jedi Outcast works with the Tri-View's three screens, we were forced to enter a cryptic set of codes before the game spread itself across them.First-person shooters, such as those using the Quake 3 graphics engine, lend themselves well to three screens, and the overall effect is highly impressive. Jedi Outcast's cut scenes lost detail when stretched, but the game itself looked good.The machine lacks an overall control feature to make all three screens display the same colours and brightness. The outside screens displayed different shades to the central one, and we could not rectify this to our satisfaction.Interestingly, the two outer screens show a skewed perspective, which looks strange when viewed straight on, but adds to the overall effect when you are looking at the central screen. It will be interesting to see how software developers respond to this surround-visuals ability.Used properly, it could add an extra element to gaming, but it will need to be easier to configure.The Pluto Tri-View is a great-value system. It has a network port and two USB ports, a powerful processor and a generous hard drive, as well as three TFT screens. It also has four free PCI slots. The quality of the TFT screens is not the best but, for well under £2,000, it would be harsh to complain.The system we received for review was equipped only with onboard sound facilities, but Time has said that future versions of the machine may possibly include a separate sound card. If this is important to you, we recommend that you check before ordering.Time deserves a hearty commendation for embracing this fledgling technology without charging the earth. This is a good, powerful machine with plenty of upgrade options.Supported games list can be viewed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.matrox.com/mga/3d_gaming/surrgame.cfm">here</a>.Price: £1,879 (inc VAT)Specifications: Intel Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor 512MB DDR memory 80GB hard disk drive 16-speed DVD-Rom drive 32x 10x 40x CD-RW drive Videologic ZXR-500 5.1 speakers Matrox Parhelia 128MB DDR (triple-output) graphics card Three 15.1in NFREN NF-1500MA TFT monitorsContact: Time Computers 0800 771 107 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKBen Lewis2002-08-29T14:03:59.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersCreative Inspire 5.1 Digital 5700http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132807/creative-inspire-digital-5700Scott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 14 August 2002 at 10:33:58A 5.1 surround-sound system with a monster of a subwoofer.<content page="1"><html><body>If you've invested in a fancy computer, games console or DVD player, but have not yet added surround-sound, you're missing out in a big way.Virtually all modern home entertainment equipment will output enveloping audio to a compatible speaker system, and Creative's Inspire 5.1 Digital 5700 is compatible with almost every device.The subwoofer accounts for the bulk of the huge box. This monster cube has an ominous presence and, for this reason, is probably best hidden from view. The positioning of any bass speaker is largely irrelevant, the human ear being oblivious to the direction of low-frequency sounds. By comparison, the centre speaker and its four satellites seem tiny.All these speakers connect via wires of varying length to the Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS decoder hub.Sadly, though, its out-of-the-box usefulness is limited by short cables: the front satellites include a mere two metres, while Creative expects rear speakers to be strung no further than five metres from the hub.This is fine for a PC workstation or the far reaches of a box bedroom but, for the average-size living room, such lengths are insufficient.To be fair, Creative is pitching the Inspire 5.1 more at the PC market than home entertainment buffs, but the inclusion of such short cables seems an opportunity missed.That one gripe aside, there is little else to criticise. The instructions are straightforward, and the audio output is good.Specifications:<ul><li>5.1 system (four satellite, centre and subwoofer speakers)</li><li>7-watt (RMS) per surround satellite</li><li>30-watt (RMS) SLAM subwoofer</li><li>21-watt (RMS) centre channel</li><li>Optical, coaxial, analogue stereo or digital DIN connections</li><li>Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS decoder.</li></ul>Price: £279.99 (inc. VAT)Contact: Creative <a target="_blank" href="http://www.creative.com">www.creative.com</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132807/creative-inspire-digital-5700Scott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 14 August 2002 at 10:33:58A 5.1 surround-sound system with a monster of a subwoofer.<content page="1"><html><body>If you've invested in a fancy computer, games console or DVD player, but have not yet added surround-sound, you're missing out in a big way.Virtually all modern home entertainment equipment will output enveloping audio to a compatible speaker system, and Creative's Inspire 5.1 Digital 5700 is compatible with almost every device.The subwoofer accounts for the bulk of the huge box. This monster cube has an ominous presence and, for this reason, is probably best hidden from view. The positioning of any bass speaker is largely irrelevant, the human ear being oblivious to the direction of low-frequency sounds. By comparison, the centre speaker and its four satellites seem tiny.All these speakers connect via wires of varying length to the Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS decoder hub.Sadly, though, its out-of-the-box usefulness is limited by short cables: the front satellites include a mere two metres, while Creative expects rear speakers to be strung no further than five metres from the hub.This is fine for a PC workstation or the far reaches of a box bedroom but, for the average-size living room, such lengths are insufficient.To be fair, Creative is pitching the Inspire 5.1 more at the PC market than home entertainment buffs, but the inclusion of such short cables seems an opportunity missed.That one gripe aside, there is little else to criticise. The instructions are straightforward, and the audio output is good.Specifications:<ul><li>5.1 system (four satellite, centre and subwoofer speakers)</li><li>7-watt (RMS) per surround satellite</li><li>30-watt (RMS) SLAM subwoofer</li><li>21-watt (RMS) centre channel</li><li>Optical, coaxial, analogue stereo or digital DIN connections</li><li>Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS decoder.</li></ul>Price: £279.99 (inc. VAT)Contact: Creative <a target="_blank" href="http://www.creative.com">www.creative.com</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKScott Colvey2002-08-14T10:33:58.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersTime Jupiterhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132804/jupiterFrank White, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 12 July 2002 at 11:27:14An inexpensive way to upgrade if you don't need new peripherals and software.<content page="1"><html><body>There are times when you don't want to buy an entire computer. If you're upgrading, but are content with your existing peripherals and software, the computer itself - the so-called base unit - is all you require.That's just what you get here. Time's Jupiter is shorn of superfluous software and any extras apart from a mouse and keyboard, and this has allowed the manufacturer to focus on internal components.A powerful Athlon XP 2000+ processor sits at the helm, supported by 256Mb of DDR memory and an 80Gb hard disk drive.The machine duly turned in some impressive test scores. It achieved 173 in SYSmark, which is good for a package at this price. The system also managed a creditable 3DMark score of 5,480.This is largely down to Time's inclusion of a quality 64Mb GeForce4 MX440 card, which also comes with a TV-out port. The Jupiter didn't fare so well in our NoiseMark test, with sound levels, even when idle, nudging close to those you would expect from a fridge.The case itself is large, has a simple design and fits with the performance-per-pound ethos that is Time's priority.It has plenty of upgrade options, with two PCI slots, a Dimm socket for adding more memory, and empty 3.5in and 5.25in drive bays. This means you should be able to recycle parts from an old PC and use them to bolster what the Jupiter can offer.That's not the end of the story. There are separate DVD-Rom and CD-RW drives, four rear-mounted USB ports and a Creative PCI sound card. The latter isn't the most up-to-date card, but it does a reasonable job.Price: £699 (inc VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor</li><li>256Mb DDR memory</li><li>80Gb hard disk</li><li>16-speed DVD-Rom</li><li>6 x 10 x 40x CD-RW</li><li>64Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics card</li><li>Sound Blaster PCI sound card</li><li>4 USB ports</li><li>TV-out connector.</li></ul>Contact: Time Computers 0870 8303 101 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132804/jupiterFrank White, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 12 July 2002 at 11:27:14An inexpensive way to upgrade if you don't need new peripherals and software.<content page="1"><html><body>There are times when you don't want to buy an entire computer. If you're upgrading, but are content with your existing peripherals and software, the computer itself - the so-called base unit - is all you require.That's just what you get here. Time's Jupiter is shorn of superfluous software and any extras apart from a mouse and keyboard, and this has allowed the manufacturer to focus on internal components.A powerful Athlon XP 2000+ processor sits at the helm, supported by 256Mb of DDR memory and an 80Gb hard disk drive.The machine duly turned in some impressive test scores. It achieved 173 in SYSmark, which is good for a package at this price. The system also managed a creditable 3DMark score of 5,480.This is largely down to Time's inclusion of a quality 64Mb GeForce4 MX440 card, which also comes with a TV-out port. The Jupiter didn't fare so well in our NoiseMark test, with sound levels, even when idle, nudging close to those you would expect from a fridge.The case itself is large, has a simple design and fits with the performance-per-pound ethos that is Time's priority.It has plenty of upgrade options, with two PCI slots, a Dimm socket for adding more memory, and empty 3.5in and 5.25in drive bays. This means you should be able to recycle parts from an old PC and use them to bolster what the Jupiter can offer.That's not the end of the story. There are separate DVD-Rom and CD-RW drives, four rear-mounted USB ports and a Creative PCI sound card. The latter isn't the most up-to-date card, but it does a reasonable job.Price: £699 (inc VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor</li><li>256Mb DDR memory</li><li>80Gb hard disk</li><li>16-speed DVD-Rom</li><li>6 x 10 x 40x CD-RW</li><li>64Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics card</li><li>Sound Blaster PCI sound card</li><li>4 USB ports</li><li>TV-out connector.</li></ul>Contact: Time Computers 0870 8303 101 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKFrank White2002-07-12T11:27:14.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersEvesham Evolution 2.5http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132803/evesham-evolutionScott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 4 July 2002 at 10:38:04A monster PC with a price to match.<content page="1"><html><body>Another month, another leap in processing power. The latest milestone to be passed is the 2.53GHz mark, the clock speed of Intel's latest Pentium 4 processor. It's this high-powered chip that forms the basis of Evesham's new machine, the aptly named Evolution 2.5.Initially, the Evesham refused to work, so our labs engineer was called into action, and a loose-fitting graphics card was soon identified as the cause.That little hurdle cleared, we got down to the tests. Is the Evolution 2.5 the fastest PC we've reviewed? Well, with a SYSmark score of 236, the answer is yes. Is that impressive? Of course, but we wouldn't expect anything less of a £2,000 computer.Alongside the fast-paced processor sits 512Mb of DDR memory and, for long-term storage, the 100Gb hard disk drive is unlikely to run out of room.The machine comes with an LG 19in monitor. Our review model was missing this particular item, but fortunately the Flatron 915FT is a popular choice among PC manufacturers, and we had a couple in the labs. It's a fine display; flat-screened and expansive. We're sure Evesham's stock doesn't differ from the competition.When it's not supposed to be making any noise, the Evolution idled at just under 41dB in our new NoiseMark test. But we have to report that a boisterous CD-RW drive upped this figure to almost 49dB when in action.The Evolution 2.5 is king of the PC castle - for now.Price: £1,996.33 (inc. VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>Intel Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor</li><li>512Mb DDR memory</li><li>100Gb hard disk drive</li><li>16-speed DVD-Rom drive</li><li>40 x 12 x 48x CD-RW drive</li><li>Leadtek GeForce4 4600 graphics card</li><li>19in LG Flatron 915FT monitor.</li></ul>Contact: Evesham 0870 160 9500 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.evesham.com">www.evesham.com</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132803/evesham-evolutionScott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 4 July 2002 at 10:38:04A monster PC with a price to match.<content page="1"><html><body>Another month, another leap in processing power. The latest milestone to be passed is the 2.53GHz mark, the clock speed of Intel's latest Pentium 4 processor. It's this high-powered chip that forms the basis of Evesham's new machine, the aptly named Evolution 2.5.Initially, the Evesham refused to work, so our labs engineer was called into action, and a loose-fitting graphics card was soon identified as the cause.That little hurdle cleared, we got down to the tests. Is the Evolution 2.5 the fastest PC we've reviewed? Well, with a SYSmark score of 236, the answer is yes. Is that impressive? Of course, but we wouldn't expect anything less of a £2,000 computer.Alongside the fast-paced processor sits 512Mb of DDR memory and, for long-term storage, the 100Gb hard disk drive is unlikely to run out of room.The machine comes with an LG 19in monitor. Our review model was missing this particular item, but fortunately the Flatron 915FT is a popular choice among PC manufacturers, and we had a couple in the labs. It's a fine display; flat-screened and expansive. We're sure Evesham's stock doesn't differ from the competition.When it's not supposed to be making any noise, the Evolution idled at just under 41dB in our new NoiseMark test. But we have to report that a boisterous CD-RW drive upped this figure to almost 49dB when in action.The Evolution 2.5 is king of the PC castle - for now.Price: £1,996.33 (inc. VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>Intel Pentium 4 2.53GHz processor</li><li>512Mb DDR memory</li><li>100Gb hard disk drive</li><li>16-speed DVD-Rom drive</li><li>40 x 12 x 48x CD-RW drive</li><li>Leadtek GeForce4 4600 graphics card</li><li>19in LG Flatron 915FT monitor.</li></ul>Contact: Evesham 0870 160 9500 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.evesham.com">www.evesham.com</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKScott Colvey2002-07-04T10:38:04.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersPackard Bell Chrom@ LShttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132801/packard-bell-chrom-lsBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 3 July 2002 at 08:57:55The Chrom@ LS is aimed at all-round multimedia users.<content page="1"><html><body>The Chrom@ LS is aimed at all-round multimedia users and is meant to be an ideal mobile solution for film and music buffs, and gaming and internet fans.With a super-wide screen and silver finish its looks are vaguely reminiscent of the attention-grabbing Apple Powerbook G4. But is it all it's cracked up to be?Although Packard Bell pitches the machine as a 'mobile entertainment centre', it is heavy and bulky. At 4kg, the Chrom@ LS is more a desktop replacement than a mobile system. Besides, with a battery life of just one hour and 25 minutes, portable use is limited.Viewed even as a desktop replacement system, the Chrom@ fails to shine. With the Mobile Pentium 4 chip now on sale and many modern notebooks surpassing the 2GHz speed barrier, Packard Bell's choice of a 1GHz Pentium III seems disappointing. The machine managed middling performance in our benchmark tests.However, the Chrom@'s 15.3in display and 1280 x 768 resolution make DVDs look fantastic, and the Yamaha sound hardware produces an admirably deep tone from the built-in speakers.Games look slightly less impressive as the 16Mb ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chip exhibits jerkiness when there's a lot of action on screen.Connectivity is impressive, with three USB ports, an S-video out and two FireWire ports for transferring video footage, although the 30Gb hard drive would quickly be filled by anything other than light video editing work.The floppy disk drive must be removed to use the serial and parallel ports. But with a modem, network port and a set of digital S/PDIF outs as well this is a notebook you can link up to just about anything.Price: From £1,999 (inc VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>1GHz Pentium III SpeedStep processor</li><li>256Mb Ram</li><li>30Gb hard disk</li><li>15.3in WXGA TFT screen</li><li>DVD-Rom/CD-RW combination drive</li><li>56Kbps modem, 10/100 network adaptor</li><li>Two Type II and one Type III PC Card slot</li><li>Two FireWire and three USB sockets</li><li>S-video out connector</li><li>Dimensions: (W x D x H, in mm) 365 x 250 x 50; weight: 4kg</li></ul>Contact: Packard Bell 01628 512400 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.packardbell.co.uk">www.packardbell.co.uk</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132801/packard-bell-chrom-lsBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 3 July 2002 at 08:57:55The Chrom@ LS is aimed at all-round multimedia users.<content page="1"><html><body>The Chrom@ LS is aimed at all-round multimedia users and is meant to be an ideal mobile solution for film and music buffs, and gaming and internet fans.With a super-wide screen and silver finish its looks are vaguely reminiscent of the attention-grabbing Apple Powerbook G4. But is it all it's cracked up to be?Although Packard Bell pitches the machine as a 'mobile entertainment centre', it is heavy and bulky. At 4kg, the Chrom@ LS is more a desktop replacement than a mobile system. Besides, with a battery life of just one hour and 25 minutes, portable use is limited.Viewed even as a desktop replacement system, the Chrom@ fails to shine. With the Mobile Pentium 4 chip now on sale and many modern notebooks surpassing the 2GHz speed barrier, Packard Bell's choice of a 1GHz Pentium III seems disappointing. The machine managed middling performance in our benchmark tests.However, the Chrom@'s 15.3in display and 1280 x 768 resolution make DVDs look fantastic, and the Yamaha sound hardware produces an admirably deep tone from the built-in speakers.Games look slightly less impressive as the 16Mb ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chip exhibits jerkiness when there's a lot of action on screen.Connectivity is impressive, with three USB ports, an S-video out and two FireWire ports for transferring video footage, although the 30Gb hard drive would quickly be filled by anything other than light video editing work.The floppy disk drive must be removed to use the serial and parallel ports. But with a modem, network port and a set of digital S/PDIF outs as well this is a notebook you can link up to just about anything.Price: From £1,999 (inc VAT)Specifications:<ul><li>1GHz Pentium III SpeedStep processor</li><li>256Mb Ram</li><li>30Gb hard disk</li><li>15.3in WXGA TFT screen</li><li>DVD-Rom/CD-RW combination drive</li><li>56Kbps modem, 10/100 network adaptor</li><li>Two Type II and one Type III PC Card slot</li><li>Two FireWire and three USB sockets</li><li>S-video out connector</li><li>Dimensions: (W x D x H, in mm) 365 x 250 x 50; weight: 4kg</li></ul>Contact: Packard Bell 01628 512400 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.packardbell.co.uk">www.packardbell.co.uk</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKBen Lewis2002-07-03T08:57:55.000ZHardware Reviewsdesktop-computersWhat to buy with a grand in the handhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/features/2133169/grand-handAndy Gordon, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 14 June 2002 at 14:04:20We asked top PC manufacturers to provide us with their ultimate system for under £1,000. Here's the best deals.<content page="1"><html><body>This month we decided to turn our group test on its head. Rather than giving manufacturers the specification and type of machine to send to our Labs, we asked them to assemble what they considered to be the complete package for a computer buyer with a budget of £1,000.Of course, we had our own ideas on what we would want. A printer was near enough a given, thanks to the rise in digital photography and the need to have a hard copy of your work.Similarly, a scanner, which can turn documents and pictures into an editable digital format, is indispensable. Since there are good, inexpensive examples of both of these peripherals, we thought it reasonable to expect them with the PC.Rather than raw power, we wanted bundles that would give users a flying start and not have them spending money straightaway in order to complete basic tasks. Read on to see the different ways PC makers interpreted our request, and discover the best deal available for first-time PC buyers with a grand in their hand.TIME NEPTUNE 1900+ XSWe awarded two PC Best Buys this month, one for the best all-round system and another for the machine offering the most power for your pennies. Time fulfilled the latter requirement with its latest Neptune 1900+ XS, a top-class computer boasting some of the best hardware available.As its name suggests, the system is based on an AMD Athlon XP 1900+, which runs at 1.6GHz. This will provide more than enough power for anything you may want to do, and the Athlon is backed by a healthy 256Mb of memory. A 60Gb hard drive offers ample storage capacity. All this adds up to a good start, and the system scored an excellent 170 in our SYSmark 2002 performance test.The other components worthy of special attention are the graphics and sound cards. The nVidia GeForce4 Ti 4400 graphics chip comes with its own 128Mb of Ram. It achieved a mighty 9,539 in the 3DMark 2001 test.The Creative Audigy sound card is also a top-range product, supporting the latest digital effects and offering surround sound and a FireWire port which is ideal for connecting to a digital camcorder for a spot of video editing. The accompanying Cambridge SoundWorks speakers are ideally suited to get the best out of the Audigy.This group test is not all about power, though, and the Time PC offers some good components for a home office or digital imaging enthusiast. The Lexmark Z23e colour inkjet printer will do a passable job and makes a small footprint on the desktop, but it is not ideal for more demanding photographic work. Similarly, the Visioneer 4400 is a handy basic scanner that is easy to use but is not made for professional use.Inside the case troublesome cables have been cleverly covered with some fetching custard-yellow rubber tubing. However, there is a fan on the processor, another on the graphics card and a third cooling the whole PC, all of which combine to produce the second greatest din in our NoiseMark test.The LG Flatron monitor gives a clear picture and is a joy to use, while the combination of a DVD-Rom drive and CD-RW give maximum optical storage and playback options.A very powerful PC for the price that will provide for most needs, but the scanner and printer are very basic.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: *****Contact: Time 0870 8303 126 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a>MULTIVISION VISION 3000 POWER BUNDLEIf your priority is functionality rather than power, we believe the Multivision PC offers the best balance in this group test. The very best processing components have been forgone in order to supply better peripherals that are just as useful.That is not to say the PC is under powered; it scored a perfectly acceptable 156 in our Labs SYSmark 2002 test. The 1.53GHz Athlon 1800+ XP chip will deal with anything thrown at it, especially with its accompanying 512Mb of Ram.Cleverly, Multivision has used a motherboard with an nVidia nForce graphics chip built in, saving the cost of a separate graphics card but still offering reasonably good graphics performance. To verify the 2,354 3DMark 2001 score, we played Jedi Knight II at 1,024 x 768 resolution and had no performance problems.The system's sound chip is also integrated into the motherboard and is supplemented by digital and S/PDIF ports. All this helps make full use of the 5.1 surround sound ZXR-500 speakers from VideoLogic.The HP DeskJet 920c colour inkjet printer offers the quality expected from an HP printer, although it's not especially fast. Similarly, the HP ScanJet 2200c is well-built and has good specifications. The package is completed by a Thrustmaster gamepad and a Logitech QuickCam Express webcam.All of these devices make use of the six available USB ports. There are also four FireWire ports. The 60Gb hard drive is big enough for hours of digital video as well as other software.Inside the PC the absence of a separate graphics card leaves a great deal of room, and cables have been well secured to give the processor plenty of breathing space.There's an AGP slot for upgrading the graphics in the future and three PCI slots for other upgrades. One less fan makes the Multivision PC third loudest in the NoiseMark test.A DVD-Rom drive will play DVDs at 16-speed and sits above a light-grey CD-RW that manages to burn CDs at an impressive 24-speed. The warranty is also worth noting: it provides three years cover on site, followed by another three during which Multivision will repair the PC when the machine is returned to it.A little thought about a user's priorities has produced a PC that is well balanced and covers many requirements.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: *****Contact: Multivision 0121 550 8000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.multivision.co.uk">www.multivision.co.uk</a>JAL VIRGO 1900WPCIt is good to see both a scanner and a printer included with the JAL system. The Lexmark X72 is a multi-function device that provides average inkjet printing and scanning. It comes with the QuickPix QP2 digital camera, which doubles as a webcam and is the size of a large pen.In terms of power, the JAL PC is no slouch. It has a 1.6GHz Athlon XP 1900+ processor accompanied by 256Mb of Ram. This helps the PC achieve an excellent SYSmark 2002 score of 173. The graphics card has a GeForce4 MX 440 chip from nVidia with 64Mb of Ram. It is not the fastest GeForce4 chip, but a score of 5,621 in 3DMark 2001 proves it will deal with anything.The card's TV-out combines with the DVD-Rom drive to show movies on a bigger screen, while the CD-RW drive can burn discs at 40-speed.Inside the case the cables are a bit untidy but, crucially, they are not near the processor or motherboard, and the free Dimm slot remains unimpeded. The sound card is of the basic Sound Blaster Live! variety.Ample power and some useful extras make this JAL offering a good package for all-round use.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: JAL 01782 848 100 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jal.co.uk">www.jal.co.uk</a>MESH MATRIX XP1900+ BDLThe Mesh is based around the Athlon XP 1900+ processor, which clocks in at 1.6GHz. It also has 256Mb of Ram, two free Dimm slots and a 40Gb hard disk. It scored an impressive 174 in our SYSmark 2002 test.For printing, Mesh has supplied the Lexmark Z23. Do not expect quick-fire photo printing, but for simple text tasks it will be quick and efficient.Analogue images can be converted to digital by using the CanoScan N670U scanner. For sound and vision, Mesh has gone for hardware that does a good job. The Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! sound card links up with the four speakers and a sub-woofer from Cambridge SoundWorks. The graphics card uses the GeForce4 MX 440 chip and scored 5,823 in 3DMark 2001.This group test shows that you can expect a fast DVD-Rom drive and CD-RW at this price. The Mesh's DVD reads at 16-speed, and the CD-RW writes at 40-speed. The side of the case slides off easily and reveals the tidy insides, where IDE cables are wrapped away and Dimm slots are unimpeded.A 17in monitor is about right for the average user and the NEC Multisync 75F provides a good, clear display.A good system that shows just how far £999 can stretch.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: Mesh 020 8208 4744 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.meshcomputers.com">www.meshcomputers.com</a>PC WORLD ADVENT 3989 BTOThere is not much to choose between the Advent PC and the Mesh. PC World managed to slightly outdo Mesh in terms of bundled extras by throwing in a desk to complement the printer and scanner.The Athlon XP 1800+ processor runs at 1.53GHz, and there is 256 Mb of Ram, which helped the system score 162 in our SYSmark 2002 test. Moreover, NoiseMark clocked it as the quietest PC on test.Initially, the PC performed well under par, and PC World sent out an engineer before replacing the machine.The PC comes with some good extras. We particularly like the PC Workstation, a self-assemble desk on wheels with a slide-out keyboard shelf and enough parts to hold the whole PC.This is accompanied by the Epson C70 Plus inkjet printer and Visioneer 4800 scanner. Both of them connect to the PC through a USB port. However, the Advent only had two of these ports, the smallest number in the test.The 17in Samsung monitor is sufficient for everyday use and comes with a flat screen finish for a crystal clear image. The nVidia GeForce4 MX 440 scored an impressive 5,618 in our 3DMark 2001 test.Once the PC's poor performance was sorted out, the Advent held its own and was a good all-round package.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: PC World 0800 056 5732 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pcworld.co.uk">www.pcworld.co.uk</a>WISDOM COMPUTERS EBONY 1700The Ebony from Wisdom is fairly unremarkable. Its 1.46GHz Athlon XP 1700+ processor is fast enough for most users, but it is the slowest in this test.There is nothing wrong with the system's 256Mb of Ram or 40Gb hard drive, both of which helped the Ebony score 155 in our SYSmark 2002 test. You also get two optical drives: a CD rewriter for burning and copying CDs, and a DVD-Rom drive.The graphics and sound are supplied by dependable hardware. The nVidia GeForce4 MX 440 graphics chip has 64Mb of Ram and scored 5,299 in 3DMark 2001, while the Sound Blaster Live! card is well suited to the 5.1 surround sound speaker system.Inside the PC there is a tangle of wires, and it claims the dubious honour of being the prime ear splitter in the NoiseMark test. Nevertheless, the memory slots are unobstructed, as are the three PCI slots. An optical mouse is included, which is a nice touch.As for peripherals, the company supplied an Epson Stylus C20UX, which is a good, compact inkjet printer, as well as a QuickPix QP2 digital camera.The Wisdom doesn't reach the heights its competitors do, despite being a good system.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Wisdom 0870 050 22 99 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wisdom-computers.com">www.wisdom-computers.com</a>HI-GRADE ATLAS MERIDIAN XP1900+ WP07Because it comes with nothing more than a webcam, we can't recommend the Hi-Grade PC highly in this group test. When we asked for good all-round packages, we considered the inclusion of a scanner and a printer a must.In its own way the PC does very well. It uses the Athlon XP 1900+, has 256Mb of Ram and an enormous 60Gb hard drive. There is also a 16-speed DVD-Rom drive and a CD-RW that writes to discs at 24-speed. For under £1,000 we could not ask for any more in terms of PC hardware, and the Atlas managed 168 in our SYSmark 2002 test.The nVidia GeForce4 MX 400 is a very good chip and will deal with today's games. It achieved a score of 4,475 in our 3DMark 2001 test, but we would have expected more. Whatever graphical work you do though, it will be a joy to watch on the 17in LG Flatron 775FT monitor.The monitor will not be ideal for watching movies, so we suggest using the TV-out and surround sound speakers.Four free PCI slots offer potential to upgrade, and eight USB ports provide plenty of external expansion options.A good package in isolation but, when compared with the other PCs, it does not stand up to scrutiny.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Hi-grade 0800 0740 402 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.higrade.com">www.higrade.com</a>EVESHAM.COM AXISEvesham neglected to include any peripherals to take advantage of its PC's enormous potential, so in this group test it comes at the low end of the class. The PC itself is very good, but a lack of extras mean that we have to mark it down.The Athlon XP 1800+ processor comes with 256Mb of Ram and a graphics card featuring the impressive ATI Radeon 8500 chip with 64Mb of its own Ram. The result is an excellent 165 score in SYSmark 2002 and 8,275 for 3DMark 2001.The graphics card was, until recently, the fastest around and this model includes a DVI port for a digital flat panel display and an S-video out, ideal for watching DVD movies on a TV via the 16-speed DVD-Rom drive. To complete the picture the PC comes with a five-piece surround sound speaker set.The 60Gb hard drive has enough room for hours of digital video footage, which can be downloaded through one of the three FireWire ports and edited using the Pinnacle Studio 7 software. The 17in LG Flatron 795FT has one of the clearest displays available, and the Logitech optical mouse is a favourite here at What PC?.A great system but, with no peripherals included, the Evesham PC misses the boat in this group test.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Evesham 0870 160 9500 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.evesham.com">www.evesham.com</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/features/2133169/grand-handAndy Gordon, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 14 June 2002 at 14:04:20We asked top PC manufacturers to provide us with their ultimate system for under £1,000. Here's the best deals.<content page="1"><html><body>This month we decided to turn our group test on its head. Rather than giving manufacturers the specification and type of machine to send to our Labs, we asked them to assemble what they considered to be the complete package for a computer buyer with a budget of £1,000.Of course, we had our own ideas on what we would want. A printer was near enough a given, thanks to the rise in digital photography and the need to have a hard copy of your work.Similarly, a scanner, which can turn documents and pictures into an editable digital format, is indispensable. Since there are good, inexpensive examples of both of these peripherals, we thought it reasonable to expect them with the PC.Rather than raw power, we wanted bundles that would give users a flying start and not have them spending money straightaway in order to complete basic tasks. Read on to see the different ways PC makers interpreted our request, and discover the best deal available for first-time PC buyers with a grand in their hand.TIME NEPTUNE 1900+ XSWe awarded two PC Best Buys this month, one for the best all-round system and another for the machine offering the most power for your pennies. Time fulfilled the latter requirement with its latest Neptune 1900+ XS, a top-class computer boasting some of the best hardware available.As its name suggests, the system is based on an AMD Athlon XP 1900+, which runs at 1.6GHz. This will provide more than enough power for anything you may want to do, and the Athlon is backed by a healthy 256Mb of memory. A 60Gb hard drive offers ample storage capacity. All this adds up to a good start, and the system scored an excellent 170 in our SYSmark 2002 performance test.The other components worthy of special attention are the graphics and sound cards. The nVidia GeForce4 Ti 4400 graphics chip comes with its own 128Mb of Ram. It achieved a mighty 9,539 in the 3DMark 2001 test.The Creative Audigy sound card is also a top-range product, supporting the latest digital effects and offering surround sound and a FireWire port which is ideal for connecting to a digital camcorder for a spot of video editing. The accompanying Cambridge SoundWorks speakers are ideally suited to get the best out of the Audigy.This group test is not all about power, though, and the Time PC offers some good components for a home office or digital imaging enthusiast. The Lexmark Z23e colour inkjet printer will do a passable job and makes a small footprint on the desktop, but it is not ideal for more demanding photographic work. Similarly, the Visioneer 4400 is a handy basic scanner that is easy to use but is not made for professional use.Inside the case troublesome cables have been cleverly covered with some fetching custard-yellow rubber tubing. However, there is a fan on the processor, another on the graphics card and a third cooling the whole PC, all of which combine to produce the second greatest din in our NoiseMark test.The LG Flatron monitor gives a clear picture and is a joy to use, while the combination of a DVD-Rom drive and CD-RW give maximum optical storage and playback options.A very powerful PC for the price that will provide for most needs, but the scanner and printer are very basic.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: *****Contact: Time 0870 8303 126 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.timecomputers.com">www.timecomputers.com</a>MULTIVISION VISION 3000 POWER BUNDLEIf your priority is functionality rather than power, we believe the Multivision PC offers the best balance in this group test. The very best processing components have been forgone in order to supply better peripherals that are just as useful.That is not to say the PC is under powered; it scored a perfectly acceptable 156 in our Labs SYSmark 2002 test. The 1.53GHz Athlon 1800+ XP chip will deal with anything thrown at it, especially with its accompanying 512Mb of Ram.Cleverly, Multivision has used a motherboard with an nVidia nForce graphics chip built in, saving the cost of a separate graphics card but still offering reasonably good graphics performance. To verify the 2,354 3DMark 2001 score, we played Jedi Knight II at 1,024 x 768 resolution and had no performance problems.The system's sound chip is also integrated into the motherboard and is supplemented by digital and S/PDIF ports. All this helps make full use of the 5.1 surround sound ZXR-500 speakers from VideoLogic.The HP DeskJet 920c colour inkjet printer offers the quality expected from an HP printer, although it's not especially fast. Similarly, the HP ScanJet 2200c is well-built and has good specifications. The package is completed by a Thrustmaster gamepad and a Logitech QuickCam Express webcam.All of these devices make use of the six available USB ports. There are also four FireWire ports. The 60Gb hard drive is big enough for hours of digital video as well as other software.Inside the PC the absence of a separate graphics card leaves a great deal of room, and cables have been well secured to give the processor plenty of breathing space.There's an AGP slot for upgrading the graphics in the future and three PCI slots for other upgrades. One less fan makes the Multivision PC third loudest in the NoiseMark test.A DVD-Rom drive will play DVDs at 16-speed and sits above a light-grey CD-RW that manages to burn CDs at an impressive 24-speed. The warranty is also worth noting: it provides three years cover on site, followed by another three during which Multivision will repair the PC when the machine is returned to it.A little thought about a user's priorities has produced a PC that is well balanced and covers many requirements.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: *****Contact: Multivision 0121 550 8000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.multivision.co.uk">www.multivision.co.uk</a>JAL VIRGO 1900WPCIt is good to see both a scanner and a printer included with the JAL system. The Lexmark X72 is a multi-function device that provides average inkjet printing and scanning. It comes with the QuickPix QP2 digital camera, which doubles as a webcam and is the size of a large pen.In terms of power, the JAL PC is no slouch. It has a 1.6GHz Athlon XP 1900+ processor accompanied by 256Mb of Ram. This helps the PC achieve an excellent SYSmark 2002 score of 173. The graphics card has a GeForce4 MX 440 chip from nVidia with 64Mb of Ram. It is not the fastest GeForce4 chip, but a score of 5,621 in 3DMark 2001 proves it will deal with anything.The card's TV-out combines with the DVD-Rom drive to show movies on a bigger screen, while the CD-RW drive can burn discs at 40-speed.Inside the case the cables are a bit untidy but, crucially, they are not near the processor or motherboard, and the free Dimm slot remains unimpeded. The sound card is of the basic Sound Blaster Live! variety.Ample power and some useful extras make this JAL offering a good package for all-round use.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: JAL 01782 848 100 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jal.co.uk">www.jal.co.uk</a>MESH MATRIX XP1900+ BDLThe Mesh is based around the Athlon XP 1900+ processor, which clocks in at 1.6GHz. It also has 256Mb of Ram, two free Dimm slots and a 40Gb hard disk. It scored an impressive 174 in our SYSmark 2002 test.For printing, Mesh has supplied the Lexmark Z23. Do not expect quick-fire photo printing, but for simple text tasks it will be quick and efficient.Analogue images can be converted to digital by using the CanoScan N670U scanner. For sound and vision, Mesh has gone for hardware that does a good job. The Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! sound card links up with the four speakers and a sub-woofer from Cambridge SoundWorks. The graphics card uses the GeForce4 MX 440 chip and scored 5,823 in 3DMark 2001.This group test shows that you can expect a fast DVD-Rom drive and CD-RW at this price. The Mesh's DVD reads at 16-speed, and the CD-RW writes at 40-speed. The side of the case slides off easily and reveals the tidy insides, where IDE cables are wrapped away and Dimm slots are unimpeded.A 17in monitor is about right for the average user and the NEC Multisync 75F provides a good, clear display.A good system that shows just how far £999 can stretch.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: Mesh 020 8208 4744 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.meshcomputers.com">www.meshcomputers.com</a>PC WORLD ADVENT 3989 BTOThere is not much to choose between the Advent PC and the Mesh. PC World managed to slightly outdo Mesh in terms of bundled extras by throwing in a desk to complement the printer and scanner.The Athlon XP 1800+ processor runs at 1.53GHz, and there is 256 Mb of Ram, which helped the system score 162 in our SYSmark 2002 test. Moreover, NoiseMark clocked it as the quietest PC on test.Initially, the PC performed well under par, and PC World sent out an engineer before replacing the machine.The PC comes with some good extras. We particularly like the PC Workstation, a self-assemble desk on wheels with a slide-out keyboard shelf and enough parts to hold the whole PC.This is accompanied by the Epson C70 Plus inkjet printer and Visioneer 4800 scanner. Both of them connect to the PC through a USB port. However, the Advent only had two of these ports, the smallest number in the test.The 17in Samsung monitor is sufficient for everyday use and comes with a flat screen finish for a crystal clear image. The nVidia GeForce4 MX 440 scored an impressive 5,618 in our 3DMark 2001 test.Once the PC's poor performance was sorted out, the Advent held its own and was a good all-round package.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ****Contact: PC World 0800 056 5732 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pcworld.co.uk">www.pcworld.co.uk</a>WISDOM COMPUTERS EBONY 1700The Ebony from Wisdom is fairly unremarkable. Its 1.46GHz Athlon XP 1700+ processor is fast enough for most users, but it is the slowest in this test.There is nothing wrong with the system's 256Mb of Ram or 40Gb hard drive, both of which helped the Ebony score 155 in our SYSmark 2002 test. You also get two optical drives: a CD rewriter for burning and copying CDs, and a DVD-Rom drive.The graphics and sound are supplied by dependable hardware. The nVidia GeForce4 MX 440 graphics chip has 64Mb of Ram and scored 5,299 in 3DMark 2001, while the Sound Blaster Live! card is well suited to the 5.1 surround sound speaker system.Inside the PC there is a tangle of wires, and it claims the dubious honour of being the prime ear splitter in the NoiseMark test. Nevertheless, the memory slots are unobstructed, as are the three PCI slots. An optical mouse is included, which is a nice touch.As for peripherals, the company supplied an Epson Stylus C20UX, which is a good, compact inkjet printer, as well as a QuickPix QP2 digital camera.The Wisdom doesn't reach the heights its competitors do, despite being a good system.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Wisdom 0870 050 22 99 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wisdom-computers.com">www.wisdom-computers.com</a>HI-GRADE ATLAS MERIDIAN XP1900+ WP07Because it comes with nothing more than a webcam, we can't recommend the Hi-Grade PC highly in this group test. When we asked for good all-round packages, we considered the inclusion of a scanner and a printer a must.In its own way the PC does very well. It uses the Athlon XP 1900+, has 256Mb of Ram and an enormous 60Gb hard drive. There is also a 16-speed DVD-Rom drive and a CD-RW that writes to discs at 24-speed. For under £1,000 we could not ask for any more in terms of PC hardware, and the Atlas managed 168 in our SYSmark 2002 test.The nVidia GeForce4 MX 400 is a very good chip and will deal with today's games. It achieved a score of 4,475 in our 3DMark 2001 test, but we would have expected more. Whatever graphical work you do though, it will be a joy to watch on the 17in LG Flatron 775FT monitor.The monitor will not be ideal for watching movies, so we suggest using the TV-out and surround sound speakers.Four free PCI slots offer potential to upgrade, and eight USB ports provide plenty of external expansion options.A good package in isolation but, when compared with the other PCs, it does not stand up to scrutiny.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Hi-grade 0800 0740 402 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.higrade.com">www.higrade.com</a>EVESHAM.COM AXISEvesham neglected to include any peripherals to take advantage of its PC's enormous potential, so in this group test it comes at the low end of the class. The PC itself is very good, but a lack of extras mean that we have to mark it down.The Athlon XP 1800+ processor comes with 256Mb of Ram and a graphics card featuring the impressive ATI Radeon 8500 chip with 64Mb of its own Ram. The result is an excellent 165 score in SYSmark 2002 and 8,275 for 3DMark 2001.The graphics card was, until recently, the fastest around and this model includes a DVI port for a digital flat panel display and an S-video out, ideal for watching DVD movies on a TV via the 16-speed DVD-Rom drive. To complete the picture the PC comes with a five-piece surround sound speaker set.The 60Gb hard drive has enough room for hours of digital video footage, which can be downloaded through one of the three FireWire ports and edited using the Pinnacle Studio 7 software. The 17in LG Flatron 795FT has one of the clearest displays available, and the Logitech optical mouse is a favourite here at What PC?.A great system but, with no peripherals included, the Evesham PC misses the boat in this group test.Price: £999 (inc VAT)Score: ***Contact: Evesham 0870 160 9500 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.evesham.com">www.evesham.com</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKAndy Gordon2002-06-14T14:04:20.000ZFeaturesdesktop-computersBuying a second-hand PChttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/features/2133168/buying-second-hand-pcBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 12 June 2002 at 23:00:00Today's PCs are more powerful than ever, but not everyone can afford them. The second-hand market offers a way of getting performance on a budget.<content page="1"><html><body>vnunet.com's sister publication What PC? regularly reviews the latest, most powerful PCs. They have the hottest graphics cards, the fastest processors and the largest storage space. All well and good if you plan to use the power on offer but, in truth, these systems do not come cheap.If you want to save money and still get a good bargain, there are few options open to you. You can try a new budget machine, but it may leave you lacking in certain areas. The other option, and one we do not often hear a lot about in the computer press, is to buy second-hand.As with any product, buying second-hand has its pros and its cons. You could end up with a bargain, but you could end up buying something of dubious quality and legal status.If all you wish to do is write emails and letters, you do not need to buy an expensive, powerful PC. This point cannot be stressed too strongly.Decide what you want to do with your PC, determine what software and peripherals you need, and then buy your computer.In this feature we look at different sources for getting hold of PCs, various warranty options and the benefits and dangers of buying outside normal retail channels. We will also advise you on what to look for in a second-hand PC to ensure it best suits your needs.All part of the processorThe very latest systems offer generous specifications: 2.4GHz processors, 120Gb hard drives and 512Mb of super-fast DDR Ram are standard. However, this kind of power is rarely used by most people, and the most popular PC programs need only low minimum specifications to operate successfully.You may have heard of the importance of 'future-proofing': buying the best computer available to ensure it will not go out of date quickly. There is a modicum of truth here, in that the higher the specification of the system, the longer it will keep up with the very latest systems.However, any computer you buy now will not spend long at the cutting edge. Newer, more powerful models, with quicker processors and larger memory, will soon outstrip it. This changing of the PC guard usually happens every 12 months, or even sooner.The advantage of this is that the advent of a new processor reduces the costs of previous ones. For example, the launch of the Pentium 4 lowered the prices of Pentium II and III processors.The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart and soul of your computer. There are different types on the market, each designed to handle various workloads. The two main competitors are Intel and AMD. Here is a brief guide to the state of play with different processors:Pentium II: First released in May 1997, this Intel CPU now exists mainly in the budget section of the second-hand market and a large percentage of pre-owned machines will feature this processor. Although three generations old, Pentium II-based machines are still useful for games and other applications, especially if fitted with a fast graphics card. Expect to pay from £250 to £400 (inc VAT).Pentium III: This is at present the most popular processor, and can be found in many desktop PCs. It can handle most tasks, has a long life span and often comes at a reasonable price when bought second-hand. Expect to pay £500 to £700 (inc VAT).Pentium 4: Intel's P4 is designed for performance workstations. It's been built to deal with graphic and internet programs, video and audio streaming, and digital image processing. If all you want to do is run standard office applications, a P4 is overkill. Because it is the latest processor, you are unlikely to find many second-hand systems.Celeron: Intel's baby processor is based on the Pentium II and built for the low-end sector of the market. It is inexpensive, but is suitable only if you wish to surf the internet, use basic programs like word processors and spreadsheets, and run undemanding games. Expect to pay £250 to £500 (inc VAT).Athlon: AMD's Athlon has been built to compete with the Pentium III. Its more powerful sibling, the Athlon XP, now competes very successfully with the Pentium 4. The performance of the Athlon and Athlon XP processors is very impressive. Expect to pay £500 to £750 (inc VAT) for a decent Athlon.Duron: Sitting at the lower end of the home and small office markets, AMD's Duron competes and shares the budget market with Intel's Celeron processor. As with the Celeron, expect to pay £250 to £500 (inc VAT).Depending on your intended usage, you need to decide which processor best suits your needs. If you want to save money and get a basic package for word processing and email, a Pentium II is good value. If you are more interested in running multimedia applications, a second-hand Pentium III or Athlon will fit the bill.Connectivity is also worth considering. If you buy an older machine, check for USB ports, as some will not include them. With so many peripherals now using USB connections these ports are a must, although you can buy expansion cards from companies such as Dabs to add them.FireWire and SCSI are purely optional extras. You only really need FireWire for video editing, and this will require at least a 500MHz Pentium III processor with a 40Gb hard drive.Memory is another very important factor. Be sure to get at least 64Mb of Ram, as many programs and peripherals now require this amount. If you do get an older machine, check whether there are any free memory slots.And find out whether they are Simm, Rimm or Dimm sockets. If you want to upgrade your memory at a later date, it will be harder to find the older Simm memory cards. The most popular memory nowadays is DDR Ram, which fits into a Dimm slot. We'd advise checking <a target="_blank" href="http://www.crucial.com">www.crucial.com</a> for any Ram issues.Also check for free PCI slots on the motherboard, which will allow you to install new graphics, sound or network cards. It is good to have at least one spare PCI slot for future upgrading.If the computer has just one removable drive, you might want a free 5.25in external bay as well, so you can add a CD-RW drive, DVD player or burner.What to look out forWhen buying from a refurbishing outlet or a private seller, you need to be very careful and thorough to get a good deal. Here are a few things to check if you can get your hands on the computer before buying:<ul><li>Get a proper copy of every piece of software sold with the computer. Programs installed on your machine with no original disc will be of no use to you if you have to reformat the hard disk and reinstall the software. Make sure you are given the CD or floppy disks with the programs on them, including the discs for the operating system. These should be fully boxed with all appropriate serial numbers and passwords included.</li><li>Make sure you get all the driver disks included with the computer. You will need drivers for different features such as the sound card, graphics cards and keyboard. You can download drivers from the internet, but it is best to have the original drivers on disc.</li><li>If you can, get hold of the original purchase receipts.</li><li>If you can format the hard disk and re-load the operating system, do it.</li><li>Dial out to test the modem.</li><li>Try the monitor on different resolutions and refresh rate settings; check the brightness and contrast.</li><li>Check TFT screens for dead pixels, which appear as black or coloured dots.</li><li>Reboot the computer a few times to check the boot process.</li><li>Get the original packing if it is available. You may need it later if you want to sell it on.</li><li>Try reading and writing from the floppy drive.</li><li>Play a DVD movie or audio CD if the computer has the appropriate drive. Try burning a disc if there is a CD-RW present.</li></ul>You may not be able to perform all these tests, but do as many as you can. You should also check the exterior of the computer for wear and tear.Give the specs a thorough look to make sure they match with the ones advertised. Go to Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager to check the listed features. It is worth getting any seller to send you a signed list of specifications in case you need it as proof in the future.The golden rule is to ask every possible question you can think of and persist until you get a satisfactory answer. You might seem pushy and rude, but be confident. Pushy people tend to get ripped off less.Where you can get your PCCompaq Auction: The Compaq Auction site offers all the bargain hunting glory of an auction site with the full service and customer care backup of the Compaq name. You can be confident of not receiving any fake products from a major manufacturer such as this. Just be sure to check the prices of these auction items against the normal retail prices to avoid buying a turkey.The computers here are either retail returns, excess or discontinued models. Retail return products comprise returned units, evaluation units and cosmetically blemished units. All products are tested by Compaq and restored to a fully functional condition.Excess products are new unused items resulting from manufacturing over spill. Discontinued products are new unused items that are end-of-life, i.e. no longer 'current' products on general sale.Tel: 0845 270 4000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.compaq.co.uk">www.compaq.co.uk</a>Dell Outlet: The Dell Outlet is a section of the computer giant that sells on refurbished PCs at discounted prices. All of Dell's computers come with a 30-day total satisfaction guarantee, so some computers are returned to Dell from dissatisfied customers.Dell disassembles and rebuilds the returned systems to the original factory specification. The machines are then fully tested and packed into brand-new boxes.The outlet can offer PCs at discounted rates, simply because they are returned. The massive advantage of this over other second-hand PC sources is that Dell is so confident about the testing procedure that it offers a limited warranty on all refurbished systems. Different models have different service agreements, so check on the website for full details.Tel: 0870 905 0150 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.euro.dell.com">www.euro.dell.com</a>Morgan Computers: Morgan is one of the UK's leading dealers in surplus, overstock and closeout (discontinued) computer stocks. It has a gigantic range of second-hand goods at its disposal, and this leads to some very reasonable prices.It has branches in London, Birmingham and Manchester and also a nationwide mail-order department. Morgan also runs one of the largest online auction sites in the UK, where there are some great bargains.For second-hand, ex-demonstration and refurbished equipment, warranty periods vary, but in all cases these are clearly stated. It is worth going to the site and signing up for the Morgan Flyer, a monthly price list, which is mailed to you.Tel: 020 8575 0055 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk">www.morgancomputers.co.uk</a>Warranty and insuranceBeware of the warranty when buying second-hand. Often you will not get one and, even if you do, it will usually last no longer than three months.Make sure to check all the details of the warranty before you buy, as you could lose all your money if something goes wrong outside the warranty period.Get the warranty transferred to you if the computer is still under warranty when you buy it. If you contact the manufacturer, they can confirm the warranty details for the particular model. Ask them to check whether the warranty can be transferred to your name.You can also organise insurance through your own broker or through a company such as Complete Computer Cover on 020 7628 3661 or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.completecomputercover.com">www.completecomputercover.com</a>.You can also contact a firm such as Burnett & Associates, which provides extended warranties and service agreements specifically designed for PCs and laptops. You can contact them on 023 8044 2227 or go to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.burnett.co.uk">www.burnett.co.uk</a>.POPULAR OPTIONSLoot: Loot has hundreds of PCs and peripherals available for sale online and in print. The online search engine is extremely useful, and you can fine-tune your search without having to read through pages of irrelevant products. The main disadvantage of buying privately is that you get no warranty or guarantee, but sometimes the product may still be under warranty.There are some unscrupulous sharks out there, so be careful when making arrangements for buying. Be sure to meet at the seller's house or workplace. If the product is sound, they will have no qualms about giving you their address.When phoning about a PC, never mention the model name unless asked. If the seller asks which PC you mean, you know they are more likely to be a dealer and not a private seller. Dealers will try and use listings such as Loot to avoid paying tax and being officially registered.<a target="_blank" href="http://compute.loot.com">compute.loot.com</a>QXL: QXL is a pan-European auction site where you can pick up some great bargains. The trick with auction sites is to set your limit and then be sure never to break it. If you set the limit beforehand, there is less temptation to get involved in a bidding war. You can simply get the computer to bid for you until you reach your limit.Be sure to check the seller's rating before you start to bid on an item, as this is a good indication of the sort of service you can expect from him or her. QXL operates a buyer protection clause in its auctions.This insurance is free to QXL members if they pay for an item and don't receive it, or pay for an item and receive one materially different to the one advertised. If the seller has a member rating of three and above, you get up to £150, and if they have a rating of 50 or above you are covered for up to £750.You need to have a good membership rating with no minus points or criticisms from other members to qualify.The deals here are good, but it is a very popular site, so bargains are pounced on and often rise dramatically in price before the final virtual hammer.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.qxl.com">www.qxl.com</a>eBay: eBay operates in a very similar way to QXL. Unfortunately, many of the products available for auction are based in the US, so shipping charges are a factor to consider. It is worth using the PayPal payment system if you can, as this protects your credit card number and sends direct payment to the seller. It is also worth noting that eBay, as with the other sites here, is the ideal place to sell any peripheral or PC.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.ebay.com">www.ebay.com</a>ConclusionWe have listed the best-known companies that sell second-hand computers, but there are plenty more. Remember to ask a business how long it has been registered and whether it takes credit cards. Credit card companies will rarely endorse businesses with bad service records.You can certainly save money by shopping second-hand, especially if you buy an older system that will perform a job as well as a new one. What PC? wishes you happy bargain hunting.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/features/2133168/buying-second-hand-pcBen Lewis, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 12 June 2002 at 23:00:00Today's PCs are more powerful than ever, but not everyone can afford them. The second-hand market offers a way of getting performance on a budget.<content page="1"><html><body>vnunet.com's sister publication What PC? regularly reviews the latest, most powerful PCs. They have the hottest graphics cards, the fastest processors and the largest storage space. All well and good if you plan to use the power on offer but, in truth, these systems do not come cheap.If you want to save money and still get a good bargain, there are few options open to you. You can try a new budget machine, but it may leave you lacking in certain areas. The other option, and one we do not often hear a lot about in the computer press, is to buy second-hand.As with any product, buying second-hand has its pros and its cons. You could end up with a bargain, but you could end up buying something of dubious quality and legal status.If all you wish to do is write emails and letters, you do not need to buy an expensive, powerful PC. This point cannot be stressed too strongly.Decide what you want to do with your PC, determine what software and peripherals you need, and then buy your computer.In this feature we look at different sources for getting hold of PCs, various warranty options and the benefits and dangers of buying outside normal retail channels. We will also advise you on what to look for in a second-hand PC to ensure it best suits your needs.All part of the processorThe very latest systems offer generous specifications: 2.4GHz processors, 120Gb hard drives and 512Mb of super-fast DDR Ram are standard. However, this kind of power is rarely used by most people, and the most popular PC programs need only low minimum specifications to operate successfully.You may have heard of the importance of 'future-proofing': buying the best computer available to ensure it will not go out of date quickly. There is a modicum of truth here, in that the higher the specification of the system, the longer it will keep up with the very latest systems.However, any computer you buy now will not spend long at the cutting edge. Newer, more powerful models, with quicker processors and larger memory, will soon outstrip it. This changing of the PC guard usually happens every 12 months, or even sooner.The advantage of this is that the advent of a new processor reduces the costs of previous ones. For example, the launch of the Pentium 4 lowered the prices of Pentium II and III processors.The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart and soul of your computer. There are different types on the market, each designed to handle various workloads. The two main competitors are Intel and AMD. Here is a brief guide to the state of play with different processors:Pentium II: First released in May 1997, this Intel CPU now exists mainly in the budget section of the second-hand market and a large percentage of pre-owned machines will feature this processor. Although three generations old, Pentium II-based machines are still useful for games and other applications, especially if fitted with a fast graphics card. Expect to pay from £250 to £400 (inc VAT).Pentium III: This is at present the most popular processor, and can be found in many desktop PCs. It can handle most tasks, has a long life span and often comes at a reasonable price when bought second-hand. Expect to pay £500 to £700 (inc VAT).Pentium 4: Intel's P4 is designed for performance workstations. It's been built to deal with graphic and internet programs, video and audio streaming, and digital image processing. If all you want to do is run standard office applications, a P4 is overkill. Because it is the latest processor, you are unlikely to find many second-hand systems.Celeron: Intel's baby processor is based on the Pentium II and built for the low-end sector of the market. It is inexpensive, but is suitable only if you wish to surf the internet, use basic programs like word processors and spreadsheets, and run undemanding games. Expect to pay £250 to £500 (inc VAT).Athlon: AMD's Athlon has been built to compete with the Pentium III. Its more powerful sibling, the Athlon XP, now competes very successfully with the Pentium 4. The performance of the Athlon and Athlon XP processors is very impressive. Expect to pay £500 to £750 (inc VAT) for a decent Athlon.Duron: Sitting at the lower end of the home and small office markets, AMD's Duron competes and shares the budget market with Intel's Celeron processor. As with the Celeron, expect to pay £250 to £500 (inc VAT).Depending on your intended usage, you need to decide which processor best suits your needs. If you want to save money and get a basic package for word processing and email, a Pentium II is good value. If you are more interested in running multimedia applications, a second-hand Pentium III or Athlon will fit the bill.Connectivity is also worth considering. If you buy an older machine, check for USB ports, as some will not include them. With so many peripherals now using USB connections these ports are a must, although you can buy expansion cards from companies such as Dabs to add them.FireWire and SCSI are purely optional extras. You only really need FireWire for video editing, and this will require at least a 500MHz Pentium III processor with a 40Gb hard drive.Memory is another very important factor. Be sure to get at least 64Mb of Ram, as many programs and peripherals now require this amount. If you do get an older machine, check whether there are any free memory slots.And find out whether they are Simm, Rimm or Dimm sockets. If you want to upgrade your memory at a later date, it will be harder to find the older Simm memory cards. The most popular memory nowadays is DDR Ram, which fits into a Dimm slot. We'd advise checking <a target="_blank" href="http://www.crucial.com">www.crucial.com</a> for any Ram issues.Also check for free PCI slots on the motherboard, which will allow you to install new graphics, sound or network cards. It is good to have at least one spare PCI slot for future upgrading.If the computer has just one removable drive, you might want a free 5.25in external bay as well, so you can add a CD-RW drive, DVD player or burner.What to look out forWhen buying from a refurbishing outlet or a private seller, you need to be very careful and thorough to get a good deal. Here are a few things to check if you can get your hands on the computer before buying:<ul><li>Get a proper copy of every piece of software sold with the computer. Programs installed on your machine with no original disc will be of no use to you if you have to reformat the hard disk and reinstall the software. Make sure you are given the CD or floppy disks with the programs on them, including the discs for the operating system. These should be fully boxed with all appropriate serial numbers and passwords included.</li><li>Make sure you get all the driver disks included with the computer. You will need drivers for different features such as the sound card, graphics cards and keyboard. You can download drivers from the internet, but it is best to have the original drivers on disc.</li><li>If you can, get hold of the original purchase receipts.</li><li>If you can format the hard disk and re-load the operating system, do it.</li><li>Dial out to test the modem.</li><li>Try the monitor on different resolutions and refresh rate settings; check the brightness and contrast.</li><li>Check TFT screens for dead pixels, which appear as black or coloured dots.</li><li>Reboot the computer a few times to check the boot process.</li><li>Get the original packing if it is available. You may need it later if you want to sell it on.</li><li>Try reading and writing from the floppy drive.</li><li>Play a DVD movie or audio CD if the computer has the appropriate drive. Try burning a disc if there is a CD-RW present.</li></ul>You may not be able to perform all these tests, but do as many as you can. You should also check the exterior of the computer for wear and tear.Give the specs a thorough look to make sure they match with the ones advertised. Go to Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager to check the listed features. It is worth getting any seller to send you a signed list of specifications in case you need it as proof in the future.The golden rule is to ask every possible question you can think of and persist until you get a satisfactory answer. You might seem pushy and rude, but be confident. Pushy people tend to get ripped off less.Where you can get your PCCompaq Auction: The Compaq Auction site offers all the bargain hunting glory of an auction site with the full service and customer care backup of the Compaq name. You can be confident of not receiving any fake products from a major manufacturer such as this. Just be sure to check the prices of these auction items against the normal retail prices to avoid buying a turkey.The computers here are either retail returns, excess or discontinued models. Retail return products comprise returned units, evaluation units and cosmetically blemished units. All products are tested by Compaq and restored to a fully functional condition.Excess products are new unused items resulting from manufacturing over spill. Discontinued products are new unused items that are end-of-life, i.e. no longer 'current' products on general sale.Tel: 0845 270 4000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.compaq.co.uk">www.compaq.co.uk</a>Dell Outlet: The Dell Outlet is a section of the computer giant that sells on refurbished PCs at discounted prices. All of Dell's computers come with a 30-day total satisfaction guarantee, so some computers are returned to Dell from dissatisfied customers.Dell disassembles and rebuilds the returned systems to the original factory specification. The machines are then fully tested and packed into brand-new boxes.The outlet can offer PCs at discounted rates, simply because they are returned. The massive advantage of this over other second-hand PC sources is that Dell is so confident about the testing procedure that it offers a limited warranty on all refurbished systems. Different models have different service agreements, so check on the website for full details.Tel: 0870 905 0150 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.euro.dell.com">www.euro.dell.com</a>Morgan Computers: Morgan is one of the UK's leading dealers in surplus, overstock and closeout (discontinued) computer stocks. It has a gigantic range of second-hand goods at its disposal, and this leads to some very reasonable prices.It has branches in London, Birmingham and Manchester and also a nationwide mail-order department. Morgan also runs one of the largest online auction