At 5… Ulead Photo Impact 12
Pentax has brought the might of its heritage to the 8-megapixel A10, for a camera that’s small but produces stunning image quality.
At 4… IrfanView
Light on features, but that makes it easy to use. This free tool is perfect for quick, if basic, editing and resizing of images.
At 3… Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI
Now Windows Vista certified, this longrunning image editor is packed with great ways to organise and edit your photographs.
At 2… Paint.NET
Starting life as a uni design project mentored by Microsoft, Paint.NET is now the most powerful free image editing utility around.
And at 1… Adobe Photoshop Elements 5
The little sister of Adobe’s flagship Photoshop package, loved by creative types the world over. The Elements label means that it lacks the high-end features of the full version, but there’s still room for some very powerful tools. It’s perfect for touching up photos and creating graphics, and it’s a very affordable price.
The bottom line: An affordable way to get started with the world’s most popular graphics program.
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It’s difficult to select a GPS system with so many on the market, especially when you take into account all the extra features and gadgets they include. Here’s our top five then, so you don’t need to do your homework. Like a good swot, we’ve done it for you.
At 5… Sony Nav-U NV-U70
The big brother of the U50 model, this offers improved mapping across Europe, 1GB of memory and free traffic updates
At 4… Navman N60i
A clear 4.3-inch widecsreen display makes sure you never miss a direction while the park and fuel buttons are a real asset.
At 3… Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox N520 satnav PDA
The best of Pocket PC and GPS worlds with a great sat-nav and the benefits of Wi-Fi.
At 2… Garmin Street Pilot C550
Bluetooth enabled with free traffic alerts and 2.2GB of internal memory. It’s easy to use but has a standard size screen.
And at 1… TomTom Go 910
Look at that! A four-inch widescreen touchscreen sat-nav device complete with full European and North American street maps for real global travel. The Go 910 incorporates Bluetooth for hands free calling and will even dictate text messages to you. With MP3 playback and 20GB internal storage, there are features galore.
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Buying a computer is often an arduous task, and with the release of Windows Vista it’s even more difficult to choose just the right system for you. There’s nothing worse than getting caught up in the upgrading cycle and having to upgrade after a year just because you chose the machine with the inferior graphics card. Therefore, take note, as here’s what we would choose if we were buying a new PC with Windows Vista.
At 10… HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7585
A poor graphics card and the lack of a display screen at this price holds back what is otherwise a good Media Center system with 2GB of memory.
At 9… Evesham Evolution VT
A poor graphics card and the lack of a display screen at this price holds back what is otherwise a good Media Center system with 2GB of memory.
At 8… Dell Dimension E521
Built as an entry level Media Center, the Dimension E521 is a touch pricey. Though they might look good, its peripherals are somewhat basic.
At 7… PCNextday Zoomstorm 5-8401 Edge
At this price, the system should be good and this is no exception. Dual graphics card, dual processor make the Zoomstorm 5-8401 Edge an impressive performer.
At 6… Evesham Visto
At this price, the system should be good and this is no exception. Dual graphics card, dual processor make the Zoomstorm 5-8401 Edge an impressive performer.
At 5… Evesham Advisor Solar RD
A well balanced system that performs well at every task with good peripherals. Its only shortcoming is that it’s outdone by the Mesh which is in the same price range.
At 4… Mesh Elite E6600 Express TV
The ultimate Media Center PC boasts twin Digital TV tuners and a mammoth 1,000GB of hard drive space. Perfect for storing hundreds of films and endless hours of TV.
At 3… Cyber Power Gamer Infinity SLI KO
It comes with a high price tag, but this is a system that oozes top technology, including an Intel Quad Core processor with the latest Nvidia 8800GTX graphics card.
At 2… PC Nextday Zoomstorm 5-6510
Equipped with a faster graphics card than the Mesh but just 1GB of memory, this PC Nextday model may well be be more tempting to gamers.
And at 1… MESH Elite E6600 Vistra
Being the lowest priced PC to reach a Windows Index of 5.0 makes for a great start for this Mesh. Possibly even better is the selection of all-black, quality peripherals such as theCreative surround speakers. With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and powerful NVIDIA GeForce 7900GT graphics card, this system performs at every level.
The bottom line: Excellent performance at all levels, for what we rate as an astonishingly good price.
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Forget laptops, tablet PCs are the future. Jettisoning the concepts of a keyboard and mouse, their operated by simply touching the screen, either with a stylus, digital pen or even a fingertip. Even better, they’re not ridiculously expensive. Here’s our picks.
At 5… Dialogue Flybook V33i
Not really a Tablet PC as it forgoes the operating system in favour of its own software. But the hardware design is similar.
At 4… Samsung Q1
A new form factor devised to make an ultra portable PC with a seven-inch screen, it’s eminently portable but what’s it for?
At 3… Toshiba Portege M400
Edging on the older side the Portege is still an excellent up-to-date tablet, but sports the slightly oder Core Duo processor.
At 2… Toshiba Tecra M7
The latest Tecra tablet makes a mark with its widescreen display and convertable design but scores low on battery performance.
And at 1… HP Compaq tc4400
Representing the current state-of-the-art for Tablet PCs, the Compaq tc4400 with its Core 2 Duo T2500 processor crams the most powerful processing technology into a small 12.1-inch chassis that is as happy working in tablet form as it is as a standard laptop. It’s pricey but then this really is very, very good.
The bottom line: Expensive but worth every penny.
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Windows Vista is the most secure operating system Microsoft has ever released, but this isn’t to say that you should take your security for granted. Even with the new security features, viruses and spyware can still be a threat. To be completely safe, we’d recommend getting some security software. Here’s our selection.
At 5… F-Secure Internet Security 2007
Efficient and fast security software. Not as many bells or whistles of Norton or McAfee but it offers low-cost multiple user licences.
At 4… Panda Internet Security 2007
A fast, system-light suite that may not offer as many features as others, but excels at the core anti-virus and firewall protection.
At 3… Norton Internet Security 2007
Complete antivirus and firewall protection. An enhanced all-new interface makes Norton more efficient and faster to use.
At 2… Microsoft Live OneCare
Integrated protection against virus attacks, spyware, hackers and phishing. From the company that makes your operating system.
And at 1… McAfee Internet Security Suite 2007
With a breadth of protection ranging from the usual firewall and virus scanning tools all the way to automatic back-ups and web site analysis, McAfee has your safety covered from every angle – and with top notch detection rates. Includes spyware protection, online image analysis, network monitor and performance tools.
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5. Netgear DG834N
This ADSL model is based on the draft version of 802.11n. It offers incredibly expanded range and speed – at a price.
4. Belkin 802.11g Gateway
If you have NTL or Telewest cable broadband, you’ll want one of these boxes – they connect directly to your cable modem.
3. BT Home Hub
Free with BT Total Broadband Option 3 or available separately, this wireless 802.11g router comes with a phone handset.
2. Linksys WAG354G
The recently redesigned silver WAG354G is a 802.11g wireless router and has a built-in ADSL modem and four wired Ethernet ports.
1. Netgear DG834G
Well-designed and reasonably-priced, the white, sleek DG834G is now on its third revision and remains top of the pile of 802.11g ADSL modem routers. It’s wall-mountable or can be stood on a shelf. Like many of the other models featured here, the DG834G includes an integrated firewall so your PC will be protected from various net nasties.
The bottom line: The DG834G remains the most appealing 802.11b/g router on the market.
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Laptops have long since moved away from the days where only businessmen had any use for them. With wireless home networking becoming increasingly common, more people are ditching a desktop in favour of sitting on the sofa e-mailing their friends whilst watching Eastenders. Here’s what we recommend using to do join in.
At 5… Sony Vaio VGN-FE31H
A reasonable all-rounder with 1GB of memory and a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, but you’re paying for Sony’s design ethic.
At 4… HP dv6095ea
AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and 2GB of memory, but the 128MB Nvidia GeForce 7200 graphics let the side down a bit.
At 3… Evesham Voyager C545+ Visto
A neat, compact laptop that boasts a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 256MB ATI X1600 graphics card but only 512MB of RAM.
At 2… Fujitsu Siemens AMILO Xi 1546
A large widescreen notebook that’s ideal for videos. With 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 256MB ATI X1800 graphics and 2GB of memory.
And at 1… PC Nextday Zoostorm 4-6610
This laptop has the same 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor as the other two in our top three. The 256MB ATI X1600 graphics aren’t the best here, but will still stand you in good stead, and 1GB of memory completes the package. It runs Windows Vista superbly, with glass fully enabled. The 15.4in widescreen is also ideal for watching videos and presentations. And 120GB of storage means there’s also ample room to store fi les and photos.
The bottom line: Powerful yet modestly priced, the Zoostorm combines ability with tremendous value.
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5. Pentax Optio A10
Pentax has brought the might of its heritage to the 8-megapixel A10, for a camera that’s small but produces stunning image quality.
4. Olympus SP-350
The 8-megapixel SP-350 feels natural and comfortable, and offers a useful range of creative photographic features at the price.
3. Fujifilm FinePix F30
Fujifilm’s 6.3-megapixel Super CCD sensor enables great low-light results. Capable of about 500 shots between battery charges.
2. Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS
The 6-megapixel IXUS 800 IS combines style with robust build quality. The auto-settings get everything right almost every time.
1. Canon PowerShot S3 IS
The 6-megapixel S3 IS is incredibly versatile for a compact camera, with a generous 12x optical zoom, which is equivalent to 36-432mm, giving real power at the telephoto end, complete with image stabilisation. There’s a wealth of exposure modes, as well as Metered Manual. Autofocus is fast and accurate, taking advantage of a quiet motor, and uses FlexiZone, which enables you to place the main focus point within the frame.
The bottom line: This camera is almost as versatile as an SLR and creates beautifully rendered pictures.
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5. ViewSonic VP2130B
This conventional aspect ratio 21.3-inch LCD offers a mighty 1,600×1,200 pixels. The rest of the spec list is equally impressive.
4. iiyama ProLite E1900WS
Surprisingly inexpensive for a 19-inch widescreen, the E1900WS performs well at the price and has a fast 5ms response time.
3. Acer AL2032W
Practically as good as the Sony MFMHT205S, this 20-inch LCD saves you over £200 if you don’t want a built-in TV tuner.
2. ViewSonic VX2025wm
The 1680×1050 resolution doesn’t hold any surprises, but the excellent viewing angle and brightness make for a great picture.
1. Sony MFM-HT205S
The multi-talented MFM-HT205 is a top-notch 20-inch widescreen LCD monitor, with stunning quality in terms of brightness, contrast and colour rendition, thanks to Sony’s now legendary X-Black technology. To this it adds a built-in TV tuner with remote control, plus SCART and various sockets to connect other devices. For gaming and movie-watching, it also has a super-fast panel response time.
The bottom line: The vibrancy and realism of the Sony MFM-HT205 is impossible to beat.
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