 More than a year of product tests from Personal Computer World. Desktop PCs, Antivirus software, CD writers, Databases, Digital Cameras, DTP software, Hard drives, Image editors, Monitors, Motherboards, Notebooks, PDAs, Printers, Visual programming software, webcams, DVD-ROM drives, scanners, and much more. |
| Group tests are presented as Adobe Acrobat files, to preserve the original layouts. Browse or search each feature, copy text from the documents, or print them out for easier reading or reference. |
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| INDEX TO FEATURES |
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Best
of the Best PCs January 2000 |
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Digital
Cameras January 2000 |
| Looking for an award-winning PC? We challenged all of the computer companies that scooped a PCW prize in 1999 to send us a well-rounded system, which Santa would be proud to deliver. | The world of photography is a simple, fuss-free place when seen through the cyber eye of a digital camera. As resolutions rocket and prices plummet we pick the best machines on offer. |
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Image
Editors January 2000 |
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Databases February 2000 |
| Give free rein to the artist in you and check out our selection of image-editing packages. These are especially useful if you want to be able to manipulate pictures for the web. | Traditional databases are facing a new challenge to survive in a web-enabled world. So how are established and new databases coping with life in cyberspace? |
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Easy
PCs February 2000 |
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Printers February 2000 |
| The most powerful PC is useless if you can't find the 'on' button. 'Plug and play' usability is of key importance to the novice, so the PCW team went looking for a PC that's as easy as A-B-C. | Every business has different printing needs, but whether you're looking for speed or quality, low-end or high-end, we've got what you need. So sit back, relax, and follow our in-depth guide... |
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DTP
Software March 2000 |
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Power
PCs March 2000 |
| Do you want to do your own publishing? Give the designer in you a free hand and check out what we've got to say on both the small user and professional packages available. | AMD and Intel are vying for the top spot in the high-end PC arena and home power users are weighing up the options. We put 11 top-of-the-range machines through their paces. |
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Motherboards March 2000 |
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Hard
Drives April 2000 |
| There's no getting away from it - different processors need different motherboards. But don't panic, we've done the hard work for you, by looking closely at the design, features and ease of operation for a massive 30 offerings. | You can never have too much hard-disk space, and a good hard drive can mean the difference between waiting for data or getting on with your life. To help you make that all-important decision, we've put 15 EIDE and SCSI drives through their paces. |
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Notebooks April 2000 |
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Visual
Programming April 2000 |
| If you're one of those people who spend half their life on the go, the chances are you'll have given serious thought to getting a notebook. And whether it's the power of desktop-replacement models or the portability of ultra-slim machines you're looking for, we've got something for you. | You may think there's not much in it - four packages from two vendors - but, as Tim Anderson finds out, it's the subtle differences that make or break a development tool, especially in today's web-oriented world. |
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Monitors May 2000 |
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PDAs May 2000 |
| For something you spend so much of your time looking at, the humble monitor simply doesn't get the attention it deserves. With a rash of affordable larger models hitting the market, there has never been a better opportunity to stake your claim for a decent-sized chunk of desktop real estate. | It's with you all the time - without it you feel lost - palmtops and handhelds have a special place in many users' hearts and arguments abound over the best form factor and OS, but there are other considerations. We've looked at the 12 best devices to help you make the right decision. |
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£1,200
PCs May 2000 |
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Anti-Virus
Packages June 2000 |
| The worst thing about a PC is that as soon as you get it home it 's out of date. To help you out, we've found some good all-round machines costing just £1,200,with a better life expectancy. | With the rise of the Internet it's all the more important to protect your PC from the multitude of viruses out there. We take a look at a dozen products to see how well they cope with some of the world's most evil viruses. |
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Windows
2000 PCs June 2000 |
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CD
Writers June 2000 |
| If you're looking to buy a business machine that will have few problems running Windows 2000, we've tested the pick of the crop. | CD writers aren't the luxury item they once were, and these days PC vendors include one in even an average machine. So if you haven't joined the in-crowd yet secretly yearn to burn, check out our indispensable guide to 18 top drives. |
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Family
PCs July 2000 |
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Inkjet
printers July 2000 |
| As processors get faster and memory and drive capacities rise,it’s important to remember that not everyone necessarily needs this amount of computing power. We look at PCs that offer good all-round value for money, and a good bundle, as well as performance. | After the PC itself, the inkjet has become an essential and increasingly affordable piece of equipment. So, if you need to produce professional-quality photos, or just want to print that important word-processing document, check out this group test. |
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Webcams July 2000 |
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DVD-ROM
drives August 2000 |
| On the web you ’ll find everything from glimpses of Albert Square to copulating couples. If you’ve got a website and an Internet connection, then all you need to join in the fun is a webcam and a simple piece of software to upload them for all the world to see. | DVD-ROMs are standard fare on new PCs these days but deciding which one to buy can be daunting. We’ve tested 12 of the best,including some with CD-RW features, to help you make your choice. |
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Web
PCs August 2000 |
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Accounts
software August 2000 |
| Speed is all very well but there are some applications, such as web design,where there are more important points to consider than how fast your computer is. We challenged 10 suppliers to come up with a package aimed at web developers. | Do you really want to spend your working week fighting spreadsheets or old-fashioned ledgers? If the answer is ‘no’ - and we hope it is - we’ve drawn together six small-business accountancy software packages to help you figure out your finances. |
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17in
monitors September 2000 |
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SME
servers September 2000 |
| A good monitor is a vital ingredient of your PC system, so knowing the good from the bad is important. We invited 13 suppliers of 17in screens to let us test their mettle. | Many small businesses are looking to client/server environments to satisfy their networking needs, so we challenged 10 server manufacturers to come up with products to suit this growing market. |
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Student
PCs September 2000 |
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Graphics
cards October 2000 |
| For those making the most of their university years, or last-minute crammers with exams at stake, your own PC can be a godsend. We asked 16 manufacturers to put together a system within a student budget of £999 and with a student’s needs (academic, not alcoholic) in mind. | Gamers are always looking for the best and fastest graphics cards, so we took a look at 14 of the best around to see how well they performed under rigorous tests in our labs. |
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Internet
image editors October 2000 |
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Stylish
PC systems October 2000 |
| Getting great graphics onto a web page is a totally different ball-game to conventional image editing, but we’ve checked out a selection of software packages that can help you produce great results. | If you’ve coveted the iMac for its looks, read on, because this month we challenged 12 manufacturers to come up with a slimline system you’d be proud to have in your living room. |
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Motherboards November 2000 |
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Easy
networks November 2000 |
| Building your own PC allows you not only to keep the project within budget, but also to choose what components you want, and itÆs vital to get the motherboard right, so weÆve put 21 Intel and AMD boards to the test. | Building a network for a small office need not be complex and to prove it weÆve gathered together seven starter kits to see how easy they are to install and use. |
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PCs
built for entertainment December 2000 |
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Pocket
power - PDAs December 2000 |
| Some of the fastest processors and best graphics cards around are on test this month in these ultimate entertainment PCs, so start reading if you want to have fun with your PC. | If youÆre looking to buy a PDA this is the best place to discover the pros and cons of the 15 palmtops, handhelds and laptop replacements weÆve put to the test. |
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Sequencers December 2000 |
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MP3
players January 2001 |
| Do you want to make dance music but know little about the mechanics of music creation? TodayÆs modern music software can give you the opportunity to become the next Judge Jules. Ian Waugh tests the software that gets you moving. | Music while you work... play... cycle... and in a tiny format too. Personal Computer World puts 19 MP3 players head-to-head an lets them fight it out for the sound crown. |
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Digital
cameras January 2001 |
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Value
for money PCs February 2001 |
| Digital cameras have come a long way in a short space of time. Personal Computer World has put 14 snappers - from budget to fully featured - to the test. | It’s time to check out the January sales, so we’ve put together 13 value-for-money PCs that won’t break the bank at £1,200 each. |
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Online
banking February 2001 |
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Flatbed
scanners February 2001 |
| Are you still going into the local branch your bank (if you’ve still got one!) to deposit cash or pay your bills? Well, you’re behind the times because online banking is the way forward. Paul Gosling explains the ins and outs and reviews 20 online banks. | With the flatbed scanner now a ubiquitous piece of kit we put 11 of the leading models to the test. |
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Digital
camcorders March 2001 |
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Speed
merchant PCs March 2001 |
| Digital video cameras offer a massive leap in picture quality over their analog counterparts and pave the way for professional desktop video editing. We put seven of the latest models to the test. | As processor speeds continue to rise we challenged PC manufacturers to send us some fast systems - but speed isn’t everything; we wanted some well-balanced PCs suitable for power users. So how did they fare? |
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Entry-level
laser printers March 2001 |
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£899
PCs April 2001 |
| If you’re after laser-quality reproduction from your printer but worry about the expense, then look no further as we put 10 entry-level offerings through their paces. | Falling prices prices of processors and memory mean you can get more PC for your money. We challenged a dozen manufacturers to give us their best shot for a bargain price of £899. |
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Linux
distributions April 2001 |
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Flat-panel
monitors April 2001 |
| The increasing popularity of the Unix-flavoured operating system poses a real threat to Microsoft’s crown. Here we look at seven leading Linux distributions with designs on your PC. | Thin is in! If you’re bored of your bulky, aging CRT monitor and want something a bit more slimline and sexy, read on because we’ve given 16 LCD flat panels the PCW screen test. |
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£799
PCs May 2001 |
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Notebook
PCs May 2001 |
| We posed a stiff challenge to a dozen contenders and dropped our system price to £799. Read on to find out whether they came up with the goods and disproved the idea that ‘cheap is nasty’. | Whether you’re looking for a desktop replacement or an ultra-portable, this is the place to be as we’ve put a grand total of 24 notebooks through their paces. |
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PCs
- Home bundles June 2001 |
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Anti-virus
software June 2001 |
| Searching for a well-rounded machine that will be as happy handling your spreadsheets as it will your children’s games? Well look no further - we show you some of the best family PCs for less than £1,000. | Viruses are a fact of life - just when you think you’re safe, another one rears its ugly head, so anti-virus software is a must. We test 10 products to ensure you keep infection at bay. |
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£1,500
PCs July 2001 |
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Soundcards
July 2001 |
| A quality sound card can add atmospheric effects to your 3D games and turn your computer into a powerful home entertainment system. To ensure you get the best, we’ve reviewed seven of the latest sound cards on the market. | When you’re spending £1,500 on a new PC you’d expect to get a top-of-the-range processor, meaty hard drive, an impressive sound system and a whole lot more. We challenged 13 manufacturers to see which could produce the best high-end PC. |
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£899
PCs August 2001 |
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Graphics
cards August 2001 |
| The rate at which PC technology is evolving can prove daunting for anybody looking to buy their first high-spec system. Here we look at nine cutting-edge PCs that cost £899 aimed at the cautious consumer. | Graphics cards can cost more than a CPU these days and most of them work hard for the money, but choosing which one to buy is not easy. We’ve gathered together a massive 27 cards to help you make your decision. |
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£999
PCs September 2001 |
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CD-RW
drives September 2001 |
| We’re in holiday mood and are looking for some fun, so we decided to find out what’s hot and what’s not in this group of £999 PCs. | Backing up large data files has never been so easy to do, with many CD-RWs costing less than £100, but how do you choose the device that’s best for your circumstances? Read on, because we’ve done all the hard work and tested 18 drives, both EIDE and FireWire, to the limit. |
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19in
monitors October 2001 |
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£799
PCs October 2001 |
| Itching to upgrade to a larger monitor that’s as gentle on your eyes as it is on your wallet? Well, before you take the plunge, have a look at 18 of the best 19in CRT monitors on the market. | We challenged 10 manufacturers to produce the best PCs they could for ú799 and found that a lot has changed in the past five months, with all systems including a 1.2GHz CPU or above as well as good-sized hard drives. |
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Inkjet
printers November 2001 |
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£1,200
flat-panel PCs November 2001 |
| A printer is an essential PC peripheral, but the choice is now even more complex.We carried out a series of exhaustive tests on nine inkjet printers, both for the home user and the professional, to make your search simpler. | Flat panels have come down in price over the past few months so we challenged 14 companies to put together a powerful system that included an LCD monitor for ú1,200 or less. |
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£999
PCs December 2001 |
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Motherboards
December 2001 |
| We look at the latest £999 family PCs that are both practical and fun so that there’s something to satisfy everyone’s needs. | At the heart of every good system is a good motherboard, but how do you know the good from the bad and the ugly? We test 30 boards aimed at both Intel and AMD processors to find out which comes out on top. |
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Digital
cameras January 2002 |
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£999
Windows XP PCs January 2002 |
| A digital camera is a superb peripheral and, with prices constantly dropping, you can now buy an affordable high-quality device that is both fully featured and easy to use. To find out what's hot we've tested 14 of the latest models. | Now Windows XP is with us we decided to see what sort of PC you can buy for £999 with the new operating system bundled. |
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Hard
drives February 2002 |
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£799
XP PCs February 2002 |
| Hard drive technology has progressed rapidly over the past year, and there are many considerations to take into account before you buy. To make your choice easier, we've tested 13 hard drives so you don't have to. | It's surprising what you can get for less than £1,000 these days, even when you bundle in the operating system of the moment, Windows XP. |
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Webcams
March 2002 |
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Flat
screen PCs March 2002 |
| Now you can chat face to face, using your internet connection, to anyone,anywhere with a webcam - without it costing you a penny.We put 11 affordable webcams to the test and tell you which is best. | Good things come in small packages, so we decided to check out some posh PCs to find out if a computer really has to be big be powerful. |
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Multimedia
speakers April 2002 |
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£899
video editing PCs April 2002 |
| You may have a high-spec PC but what about sound quality? Good speakers are important, so here's the low-down on 17 multimedia offerings. | If you've got hours of disjointed and shaky holiday video footage then an affordable video-editing PC is exactly what you need to give it a professional look. |
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Motherboards
April 2001 They say you can't choose your parents… but you can upgrade your motherboard. Learn hows, why and when in our step-by-step guide. |
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Customise
your PC March 2001 You wouldn't be happy with the existing décor if you moved house, so why put up with the standard windows look and feel? |
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Security
workshop July 2001 As soon as you link your computer to the Internet you are risking attack from various sources, so security should be the byword of every surfer. |
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Discovering
spreadsheets May 2001 Stephen Wells explores the wonder of cells, macros and formulae. |
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Personalised
web January 2002 Browsing the Internet neednÆt be a case of following the crowd. In this workshop we show how to make your web experiences unique. |
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Upgrade
your PC August 2001 Has your PC lost its edge? It may be time for an overhaul. We show you how to upgrade your CPU, memory, hard disk and DVD drive. |
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Plug-ins September 2001 Plug-ins are an essential part of professional image editing, and this workshop shows you how to get the best out of these utilities. |
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Ecommerce June 2001 Whatever your needs we explain how to go about creating your store and ensuring it's secure. |
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The
XML files December 2001 XML is the buzzword that's on everyone's lips.PCW explains XML and provides two hands-on workshops that put it to real-world use. |
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Expert's
XP December 2001 So Windows XP is finally here. We dig deep and find out how this latest operating system from Microsoft can help you. |
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