New Technology Reviews!.: Choose

In Depth: How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops

<img src="http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9397/pcp302feat1linuxlinuxla.jpg"> The smart mobile user shouldn't overlook Linux. The question is, which distro should you pick? You'll get a different answer depending who you ask. You'll probably be pointed in the direction of Arch for performance, Debian for stability and Ubuntu if you want easy access to the biggest collection of apps. If that's not enough choice to make your head spin, Slackware has its fans too – particularly among people who use older laptops. As you read on, we'll look at a range of different scenarios that should be familiar to mobile users, and explore Linux distros that will help you survive and flourish in these situations. To make everybody's life easier, we'll limit ourselves to pre-packaged live Linux distros. We'll also stick to live CDs as much as possible throughout this tour. This is important if you're working on a corporate laptop and can't install software. With our advice, you'll be able to work in Windows, and when you're done, transform the machine into a bespoke system, laser-targeted for your needs and wants. Linux for gaming Linux is a wonderful platform for gaming, whatever your preferred genre. There's plenty to choose from, including real-time and turn-based strategy titles, puzzle games and first-person shooters. To get started in the world of Linux gaming, we recommend a trip to <a href="http://live.linux-gamers.net/">http://live.linux-gamers.net</A>. Here you'll find a huge collection of games. The concept behind the distribution is boot and play – just pop a USB drive, CD or DVD into your laptop, the distro will boot and you can start gaming. This approach is particularly useful if your laptop has been configured by an overzealous system administrator – the sort who robs you of the right to even adjust the time on your work machine. Usefully, http://live.linux-gamers.net segregates by genre, and offers them as two releases: a 'lite' edition that fits on a CD, and a 'big' edition with tons of games that fits on a DVD. The distro also goes some way to curing a major Linux bugbear: graphics drivers. Games rely on getting the very best from your graphics card, so to help in this endeavour, the bootable live DVD contains your collection of games and also both the Nvidia and ATI proprietary drivers. Moving on, you should also check out <a href="http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/SIGs/Games/GamesLive">Fedora Games Spin</A>, which has over 100 games built-in. If you can't find what you're looking for there, you should also try the <a href="http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/11930">SuperGamer2 distro</A>, which only fits on a 7.8GB dual-layer DVD. Finally, there's the Ubuntu-based <a href="http://ultimateedition.info/ultimate-edition/ultimate-edition-gamers/">Ultimate Edition for Gamers</A>, which includes Wine and the PlayOnLinux app for playing Windows games on Linux. If Windows games are what you're after, you'll also need to download <a href="http://transgaming.com/">Cedega</A> and <a href="http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxgames">CrossOver Games</A>. These tools aren't included in any distribution, but for maximum compatibility it's best to download the latest releases from the developers' original websites anyway. Making movies When it comes to editing movies you've captured while on holiday, there's no time like the present. You'll find it easier to edit footage when things are fresh in your mind. To transform your hotel room into a movie-editing suite, you should grab a copy of <a href="http://ubuntustudio.org/">Ubuntu Studio</A> for audio, video and graphic enthusiasts. It's available as an installable DVD only, not as a live CD. It's also well worth checking out <a href="http://www.64studio.com/">64 Studio</A>. It's a cracking distro aimed squarely at anyone interested in creating multimedia content. Don't be put off by its name – it will work on 64- and 32-bit machines. If you're not keen on committing to a full install of Linux, you can explore moviemaking with live distros. Top of your list should be <a href="http://puredyne.org/">Puredyne</A>. It's got tools for streaming audio and video, along with information on its online wiki about how to use these tools. Alternatively, <a href="http://www.artistx.org/site2/">ArtistX</A> includes a huge range of video and audio editing tools. Office work Linux is ideal for working on the go, when you need a distro that's stable, secure and works well with the apps you need. With this in mind, there isn't much choice beyond Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSUSE. Of these, the first two are fantastic desktop distros. OpenSUSE looks professional, and is well integrated with the OpenOffice.org suite and Evolution email client. It's available in two installable live CD flavours, depending on your choice of desktop environment, as well as a 4.7GB DVD image with lots of software. You also have access to a large collection of proprietary software on the mirrors or via the non-OSS add-on CD.

In Depth: How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops

The smart mobile user shouldn't overlook Linux. The question is, which distro should you pick? You'll get a different answer depend...

Choose the Best Gaming PC for your Needs

Computer game technology is a rapidly-increasing field. In terms of both hardware and software, companies are constantly striving to push the envelope and increase performance. As the intricacy of individual games increases, however, it becomes important to select a computer gaming system that will best fit your particular needs. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of gaming PCs available on the market. How, then, do you select the best gaming system? By answering several questions about your gaming and financial needs, you can determine which direction to turn in terms of a proper gaming system. What Kinds of Games do you Play? The specific types of games that you tend to play will help decide which hardware configurations will best meet your needs. All games are not created equal, and depending on the genre developers will devote more of their energy to different aspects of the title. Strategy and simulation games, for example, tend to be less graphically-intensive than other types of games and thus can be run on a less powerful gaming system. As a point of reference, the specifications for Civilization IV, a lush and detailed strategy game, are as follows: -1.8GHz Intel or AMD processor -512MB RAM -128MB video card Compared to many of the newer gaming computers on the market today, the demands for running Civilization IV are not all that high. As with many strategy and simulation games, a greater weight is placed on AI and game calculations rather than graphics, and raw hardware power becomes less important to run the title effectively. Conversely, first-person shooters (FPS) and action titles tend to rely more heavily on graphics and physics to create the proper ambiance and environment. As such, the system requirements for these types of games are usually significantly higher than other genres. Titles like Half-Life 2 and Quake 4 bombard the player with graphically intensive scenes, and the physics of the game are precisely calculated to create the most realistic scenarios possible. In contrast to the specifications listed above, the recommended system configuration for F.E.A.R., one of the more advanced FPS titles in terms of graphics prowess, are as follows: -3.0 Pentium 4 or equivalent processor -1GB RAM -256MB video card Although F.E.A.R. and Civilization IV released at roughly the same time last year, the recommended system requirements for the former are nearly double those of the latter. This is often the case with FPS titles; because developers largely intend these games to be "showcase" pieces of a particular technology or graphics engine, a more powerful gaming computer is usually required to run them in their full graphical glory. The graphic rendering takes enough resources, but when you figure in the requirements for precise real-time physics calculations, these get bumped up even further. As you can see, the types of computer games that you play invariably affect the hardware that you should purchase. Must you have the Best Graphics? Genre alone is not the sole deciding factor in determining which gaming PC to purchase, however. Many titles, including such showcase pieces as Half-Life 2 and Doom 3, provide the player with the option of scaling back the graphical effects in order to run the game smoothly on a less-powerful system. While FPS and other games often require a behemoth of a system in order to run with all graphical effects turned on, they will generally run adequately on older rigs. If you can live without such taxing effects as particle shading and frame rates in the hundreds, chances are that you can spend less on a gaming computer and still be able to play the latest games. What's more, in many cases game developers and players will discover ways to make a game run more smoothly and stably shortly after it releases. It is generally expected that, in the rush to hit the marketplace, many games are not truly "finished"; that is to say, the code behind them could stand to be optimized slightly more. Therefore, developers and publishers will usually releases patches or updates in order to fix certain technical problems. In the case of F.E.A.R., many players reported shortly after its release that the frame rate would often drop down to unplayable levels mid-game, chugging along even on powerful gaming systems. Once the game was patched, however, this shortcoming was largely rectified. Similarly, avid players or members of a gaming community will often find ways to improve a game's performance on their own through hacks or tweaks. When this happens, their findings are usually released online in short order, and a game that might have taxed your gaming computer beyond its capabilities may suddenly become playable. Again, it's not always necessary to have the absolute best hardware in order to play the latest games. How Much do you Plan on Spending? Naturally, all of this technology comes at a price. As the adage goes, you have to pay in order to play. Everybody aspires to one day own an ultimate gaming computer; the specifications are mind-boggling, and there is no shortage of companies offering monster gaming rigs. However, the cost of owning one of these machines is often prohibitive. Keep in mind that the newest and most powerful video cards tend to hit the market at the $500 price point. Additionally, the most powerful processors can be priced at $1000 or more. When you design a system around these top-level components--a system that can take the latest game releases, chew them up, and spit them out--you can expect the cost of it to soar. It's not unheard of to see dedicated gaming PCs priced at $4000 or more for the tower only. Obviously, the first two questions influence the third quite a bit. If you don't play many graphically-intensive games, or if you are willing to live with slightly degraded in-game graphics, it is simply not necessary to spend that kind of money on a gaming system. There are plenty of computer companies that have in their lineups midrange setups that are perfectly capable of playing the majority of games on the market today--and at a significantly reduced price. Don't despair if you can't afford the latest and most powerful computer technology; while economic means may be the most influential of all deciding factors, it won't necessarily prohibit you from playing the games that you want.

Choose the Best Gaming PC for your Needs

Computer game technology is a rapidly-increasing field. In terms of both hardware and software, companies are constantly striving to push th...

Cheap Web Hosting - Choose The Right Company

You have carried out the hard part and that's creating the web site. The next step is to get it hosted as to allow the public find your site. So why do so many first time web host seekers fall into the trap of a bad web host company? Well there are a number of factors to consider and none bigger than the price. We all want cheap web hosting but unfortunately price is not always what you should go for.You have to be more aware of the web hosting company that you choose. If you have a budget stick to it, if you see hosting for little or nothing and find yourself thinking "how do they make money" stay well away, the chances are your web site will be hosted with very little bandwidth resulting in a very slow accessible and unprofessional web site. You may also find that the customer service is little or none.You need to clearly outline your own requirements to the web hosting company, if you do not do so you are at fault and not in any position to point the finger at others. If you make a list of requirements such as particular files you need etc you can send your requirements to multiple hosting companies and see who comes back with the greater service.If you have more than one web site to host such as affiliate marketers it is not a good idea to put all your sites with the one web host company server to start with, you need to be 100% confident with the service, so start with one web site first as a test. Remember if you do host all your websites with one host company, all it takes is one problem to bring all your sites down and could result in lose of revenue for you. At least if you have some web sites hosted by another company they will still be online.Some web host companies offer testimonials on their own web site from valued customers recommending them. Seeing is not believing, call these customers and get a face value recommendation for yourself.What if I have problems?Lets be honest, problems can occur and they maybe your fault and sometimes the web host company is to blame. Problems with technology can occur any time but it's how the hosting company react to the fault that will determine if you stay with them or not. If you find your web site dropping off line or downloading slowly at a regular basis simply change to another web host company. On going problems not fixed is a very bad sign and it shows arrogance towards their customers. Support is vital from a web host company and it should be 24 hour if it's a large organisation.Virus Problems and HackersIt is up to the web host company to ensure that your files are protected from virus and hackers at all times. There has been plenty of companies who have had their web sites hacked only then to find out that the web host company had not got the latest patches and security software applied. First timers to web hosting should always ask how often updates and what software is used to protect web sites.Tips: In business your web site can be a large source of revenue or sometimes your only source. Always do your own backup of the web site. If the web host company experience problems and for whatever reason has no backups available your whole business could be on hold. Backups are vital so do it as regular as possible or face the consequences. Some companies have testimonials on their web site from customers, do not be afraid to call these guys for an up to date reference.If you where taking on an employee you would check all references, this is similar. Always get the full contact details of the web hosting company, many people simple go online and have an email address only as the contact. If their email goes down and you need to contact them you should have their full details at hand. Always shop around for the different web hosting plans and compare, you will find large differences, after you settle with a budget ask the necessary questions before you sign up.	 	 		 			 				 					 						About the AuthorDeclan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice to consumers on purchasing a variety of Affordable Web Hosting [http://www.no1-in-web-hosting.com] and Cheap web hosting [http://www.no1-in-web-hosting.com/Cheap-web-hosting.html], and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Cheap Web Hosting - Choose The Right Company

You have carried out the hard part and that's creating the web site. The next step is to get it hosted as to allow the public find yo...

Buying Guide: Home cinema projection screens: how to choose

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Home%20Cinema%20Choice/HCC%20187/HCC187.screens.main-200-200.jpg"> At <a href="http://hcc.techradar.com/">Home Cinema Choice magazine</A>, we talk a lot about projectors, and not much about projector screens. But this doesn't mean we don't find screens as interesting, or consider them less important to the home cinema experience. Far from it. One reason we don't review more screens is a practical one; installing and handling such large and cumbersome items can be a nightmare. But the other reason is that the screen market is so diverse, and associated so closely with the specific needs and room conditions of each user, that reviewing individual screens would seem too specific to be worthwhile. The fact is, though, that if you get the screen wrong, then you will be selling your projector short, no matter how expensive it might have been. Which type should I choose? Start off by looking at the different types of mounting options available. There are two main approaches: fixed frame, where the screen is placed in a rigid frame and attached permanently to the wall, or 'roll-away', where it can be rolled up when not in use. Within the latter category there are also various sub-options we'll consider in a moment. For people lucky enough to have dedicated home cinema rooms, the fixed frame approach will often be the simplest, since the screen doesn't need to be hidden when not in use. It's widely considered, too, that permanent screens stay more tautly stretched and thus produce more accurate pictures. Roll-away screens are obviously a great solution for people trying to accommodate a home cinema setup in a room that also gets used for other activities, such as a living room. The most basic of these screens sit on a roller attached to, or hidden in, the ceiling and the user has to manually pull the screen down when needed. <img alt="pull down screen" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Home%20Cinema%20Choice/HCC%20187/HCC187.screens.steve_screen-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Also very popular is the motorised roll-down variety, where motors drive the screen down into position at the touch of a remote control button. Some projectors carry 12V trigger outputs, in fact, so that they can activate motorised screens automatically when the projector is switched on. If even having a slim roll-out screen housed on your ceiling feels too intrusive, a further, portable option is the pull-up projection panel. these come fixed inside carry cases that you stand on the floor, so that the screen pulls out of the top and is held upright by a collapsible support frame. We've found that the more affordable floor-mounted types may not always stand completely upright or even flat. But the fact that you can put them in a cupboard when you're not using them is a practical benefit that will justify the performance compromises for some. rigidity and perfect flatness, so crucial to a good picture, are often one of the main reasons some projector screens cost vastly more than others, especially in the roll-away department. Projection screen aspect ratios Another key decision is which shape and size of screen you should go for. In terms of shape, there are three aspect ratio options: 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9. For home cinema enthusiasts, the old 'square' 4:3 screen approach is almost certainly a nonstarter these days. Which leaves us with 16:9 or 21:9. If you intend to watch a lot of HD, you will probably be best off with a 16:9 screen that matches the ratio of HDTV material. If you're a die-hard movie fan, though, you might consider a 21:9/2.35:1 CinemaScope screen. After all, most big films now are shot in 2.35:1, and so the majority of Blu-rays are produced with that aspect ratio. However, the situation isn't totally cut and dried. Blu-rays don't currently hold 'true' 21:9 masters (instead adding black bars within the picture data), and projectors don't have true 21:9 pixel ratios. So if you want a full 21:9 experience, you need a projector with a CinemaScope lens attachment – something which can add considerable cost to your projector setup. If you really want the ultimate in Cinemascope clarity you could consider a curved screen like <a href="http://www.anders-kern.co.uk/">Stewart's CineCurve</A> (below). These give a more immersive effect, focus light at your viewing position and compensate for the lens distortion you get with anamorphic lenses. <img alt="curved screen" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Home%20Cinema%20Choice/HCC%20187/HCC187.screens.curve_cinema-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> It's curtains for you The existence of multiple aspect ratios explains another popular option: masking, where absorbent material can cover parts of the screen to change the shape of the visible section. On a basic level, this can be done manually using curtains, although it is quite a faff. You can also install a motorised curtaining system external to the screen. But by far the most elegant solutions are high-end fixed screens that have motorised masking, where black borders of absorbent material can be electronically moved out from all four edges of the screen. Such screens usually ship with preset aspect ratios and are selectable using single remote control buttons, but you can usually manually tweak the border locations yourself too. To be really effective, the movable borders on these sorts of projection panels need to absorb light extremely well. And such screens are generally hugely expensive because of both the motors and tracking mechanisms involved. But they're generally an excellent proposition when built well enough, especially if you regularly watch 21:9 material, but don't want a CinemaScope lens or 21:9 screen. Choosing the correct size is more complicated than you might think. Aside from the size of your wall you need to consider at what distance from the screen your audience will sit, which is down to personal preference. When people go to the movies some like to be relatively near the front, others prefer the back, while some will only sit the middle. And so it is at home, where people like to have different screen sizes relative to their preferred viewing position. Screen size also depends to some extent on the quality of your projector and screen. If neither is particularly good, sitting too close will only make you more aware of the shortcomings. Finally, it's a simple fact that how large a screen your projector can drive is dependent on the amount of brightness its lamp can produce. So while 'light cannons' such as Sim2's spectacular C3X Lumis can drive screens many hundreds of inches across, you might find relatively low brightness projectors struggling to keep images looking punchy over 80-100in. We mentioned screen material earlier and it's this aspect of screen selection that's the most bewildering yet, potentially, crucial. The first decision you need to make is quite simple: do you want to mount any speakers behind the screen? If so, you'll need an acoustically transparent, perforated fabric that enables sound to pass through without becoming muffled or blocked. Such fabric can cause problems with reduced brightness and back wall light reflections, as light passes through the acoustic holes. No pain, no gain After this basic decision, though, life gets more complicated. For a start, you have to get grips with the concept of gain. Some screens are high gain, while others are low, with all sorts of ratings in between, and each gain value has its place. Many white home cinema screens tend to be low gain, with values written as 1.0-1.3. these gain figures, rather archaically, describe the ratio of light a screen reflects in relation to the amount of light that gets reflected by an untreated magnesium oxide board. so a 1.3 gain screen will reflect around 30 per cent more light than our lovely magnesium oxide white board. The growing interest in black-level boosting screens that use a grey material rather than white is resulting in gain figures below 1.0 appearing, too. The question of whether you should get a high or low-gain screen, again boils down to matters of taste and, more importantly, room setup. For instance, high-gain screens have reduced viewing angles versus low-gain ones, which could be an issue if viewers will have to sit to the side of the screen. High-gain screens can suffer from hot spots too, where the centre of the image looks brighter than the rest. And finally, high-gain projection panels can damage colour balance, since they don't reflect red, green and blue equally from all viewing angles. But before you discount them, if there's often a degree of ambient light in your movie room, the high-gain variety could be essential. In fact, a few have been developed now with extreme gain properties, specifically to try and emulate (for a fraction of the cost) the performance of, say, a massive (80in plus) plasma screen in a normal living room environment. A particularly outstanding example of this is the screen Innovations <a href="http://www.anthemavs.co.uk/">Black Diamond II</A> we tested in issue 183. Dedicated, blacked out home cinema rooms might be better with more standard-gain screens, though, and possibly even a grey sub-1.0 gain screen. Grey screens were extremely worthwhile a few years ago before projectors started to produce impressive contrasts, but they arguably still have a place even if you've got a good high-contrast projector. <img alt="screen mask" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Home%20Cinema%20Choice/HCC%20187/HCC187.screens.imasque-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If your viewing room is either decorated in light coloured finishes or else houses numerous light furnishings, the way grey screens stop light bouncing around a room could prove very useful. One final consideration is the issue of the quality, finish and weave of the screen you buy. We've heard various cynics suggest that expensive screen materials don't really make a difference. But this is just plain wrong. We've seen first-hand how some screens really can produce sharper, more detailed images with HD than others. Also, some screens can cause a slight moiré effect over areas of fine detail while others don't. Some screens, as previously discussed, are brighter and more reflective than others, and some are better at reproducing a convincing black colour. Some diffuse light right around your room for wide viewing angles, while others focus it right back at you. Some reproduce colours completely neutrally (and thus accurately), others can introduce an underlying tinge of their own or favour certain tones over others, leading to an unbalanced colour palette. We're even starting to see screens appearing now that claim to be better for 3D than others. This might seem spurious at first glance, but actually stereoscopic pictures need utter clarity for high levels of detail and really accurate colour toning to become convincing, so we can understand some screens working better with the technology than others. One of the first screens designed and tested with 3D in mind is <a href="http://www.image-screens.com/">Image screen's Cadre 3D</A>. Finally, the basic quality of the fabric in terms of wear and tear, hanging weight and resilience to rolling, with roll-away projectors, can have a massive impact on long-term viewing. You would be well advised to get help from custom installation experts before finally settling on a screen. And try to partner your projector with a screen of as much quality as you can afford. After all, unlike a TV, a high quality screen should last you a lifetime.

Buying Guide: Home cinema projection screens: how to choose

At Home Cinema Choice magazine , we talk a lot about projectors, and not much about projector screens. But this doesn't mean we don'...

SeeSaw to let you choose your own advert

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20296/PCP296.ot05.seesaw-200-200.jpg"> Video on demand service SeeSaw is bringing in a whole new advertising system that will allow people to choose which advert they want to watch ahead of their programmes from a list. The Ad Selector system allows targeted advertising by user choice, with SeeSaw partnering with tech company Branient. The system has been a success in the US, and the UK incarnation will offer up a choice of three adverts for pre-roll to anyone watching one of the programmes through the SeeSaw service. Win-win? Ben Williams, Head of Advertising for SeeSaw commented: "We're excited to launch the Ad Selector format - a win-win for the advertiser and the user. "The Ad Selector is simple and effective, essentially giving the user the choice to pick the advert they wish to see. "This puts the user in control of the advertising experience and therefore increases their engagement and purchase intent. "Our vision is to create a unique environment for advertisers to reach their audience through innovative methods, and today's announcement is the first step towards this with more initiatives in the pipeline." Choice Of course, advertising in any form is never going to be popular, but it will be interesting to see if people find a modicum of choice makes these 'short messages from our sponsor' a little less annoying. That's if we're not left with a Hobson's choice of Jamie Oliver for Sainsburys, Cilit Bang and the Halifax radio ads.

SeeSaw to let you choose your own advert

Video on demand service SeeSaw is bringing in a whole new advertising system that will allow people to choose which advert they want to watc...

Buying Guide: Best gaming laptops: 8 to choose from

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Alienware%20M17x/Alienware_M17x_Front-200-200.jpg"> Buying the best gaming PC is an expensive pastime, but there are huge differences in the top end of the market. Many of the biggest gaming behemoths will set you back over £2,000, but it's not always necessary to spend that kind of money. Many of the best gaming laptops we've looked at here cost far less, and while they might struggle with the latest games on the highest settings, they're still formidable gaming machines. Of course, packing in the latest hardware not only costs money, but it adds weight. The Alienware M17X weighs in at over 5kg, so don't expect to be carrying it around with you. Weigh up the benefits, and you can walk away with the perfect machine for your gaming needs. 1. Alienware M11x – £599 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.solo.Alienware01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Alienware was bought by Dell in 2006, and has since revamped its laptop range. The <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m15x-core-i7--656324/review">M15x</A> and <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">M17x</A> were the first of the new range to appear and they're now joined by the stunning 11.6-inch M11x – the world's smallest gaming laptop, which offers a unique blend of graphical power and portability. A dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 335M graphics card has been used – featuring 1,024MB of video memory – and proved stunningly powerful in our benchmark tests.?? We were seriously impressed by the Alienware M11x. Not only is it the first of its type, but it succeeds in combining great 3D performance with everyday portability and usability at a competitive price. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m11x-680641/review">??Read our full Alienware M11x review</A> 2. MSI GX740 – £899 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/Laptops%20for%20Dan%201-7-10/MSI/Open%20left%20GX740-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> ??The MSI GX740 is one of the best-priced, best-looking gaming notebooks around. There's plenty of power under the hood for the avid gamer, while the Intel Core i5 processor provides plenty of performance for your average consumer. The real selling point of this machine is its price, and this much power for under £1,000 makes it a very affordable option, especially when the likes of an entry level <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">Alienware M17x</A>, providing very similar performance, will cost you around £500 more.?? The GX740 does provide fantastic graphical punch, and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is exactly the same as you'll find in an entry level Alienware M17x just, as mentioned before, for £500 less. Similarly, there's also 1GB of dedicated memory, ensuring a smooth ride.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/msi-gx740-700302/review">Read our full MSI GX740 review??</A> 3. Alienware M15X – £999 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20132/WLT132.solo.alienware-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This 15.6-inch gaming laptop features a 1,600 x 900-pixel resolution. It's very sharp and provides vivid colours, which makes games look crisp and bright, despite it not being the most vibrant panel we've ever seen.? This isn't a laptop you'll want to travel regularly with, however. It weighs a hefty 4.3kg and offers just 164 minutes of battery power with a nine-cell battery on board, so is much better suited for use as a desktop replacement system. ?The single Nvidia GPU used here is a high-end solution. It's not the most powerful available, but still allows for the latest games to be played without issue while allowing costs to be kept down.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m15x-core-i7--656324/review">Read our full Alienware M15X review??</A> 4. HP Pavilion dv8-1250ea – £1,092 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev3.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Pavilion dv8-1250ea is a stunning example of high-end mobile computing and capable of amazing performance, mostly thanks to the Nvidia GeForce GT 230M GPU. This is a great machine for gaming, with the latest titles running with suitable speed. Frequent video and photo editing – including high-definition (HD) video – is also possible, adding to the HP's usability. This laptop features a Blu-ray-compatible optical drive for watching the latest HD movies. The drive also functions as a standard DVD/CD rewriter, backing up the ample 640GB of storage provided by this machine's twin 320GB hard drives.??? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-pavilion-dv8-1250ea-716879/review">Read our full Pavillion dv8-1250ea review</A> 5. Sony VAIO VPC-F12M0E/B – £1,499 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20140/WLT140.rev4.sony-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The VAIO VPCF12M0E/B is a stunning big screen Blu-ray media centre and provides staggering quad-core performance. Powered by a powerful Intel Core i7-740M processor, it was only after extensive supplementary testing that the full power of this CPU was revealed. Graphics power is exceptional, with the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 330M GPU working like a powerhouse under the hood. The latest games and high-definition (HD) video run smoothly and quickly, so whether you want to use your laptop for work or play, you'll be fully catered for with the VAIO.?? Combining stunning performance, great usability and HD features, the VAIO VPCF12M0E/B is a fantastic machine at this price. Costing £650 less than a MacBook Pro, it stands head and shoulders above all competition at this price.?? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/sony-vaio-vpc-f12m0e-b-706039/review">Read our full Sony VAIO VPC-F12M0E/B review</A> 6. Asus G51Jx – £1,699 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/G51_Front_Open135-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The G51Jx proves is more than a capable gaming rig, and offers enough power and performance not only to play the latest gaming titles at full settings, but also enable you to play in 3D as well. It packs in a quad-core Intel Core i7-720QM and, with 8912MB of DDR3 memory onboard, produces enough performance for you to multitask a variety of very resource-intensive applications with little problem.?? The G51Jx also features a Blu-ray optical drive, for watching HD movies on. Though it can both write and read DVDs, it can only read Blu-rays. It's also a shame that because of the low resolution of the screen, you won't get the Full HD effect on the laptop.?? The Asus G51Jx itself is a good machine, with just a couple of quirks that stop it from being a great one. Either way, the 3D element of the laptop works well, and we think you'll be pleased with the results.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-g51jx-718966/review">Read our full Asus G51Jx review??</A> 7. MSI GX660R – £1699 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/MSI%20GX660R/mstgx660r1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Performance-wise, the GX660R is a monster. Everyday applications are blitzed by the quad-core Intel Core i7-720QM processor, while the AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5870 graphics card offers comprehensive performance for running the latest games at full whack. The GX660R features a 15.6-inch screen with a Full HD 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution. Detail is excellent, while colour vibrancy and brightness are also impressive, ensuring your games and multimedia look great. The GX660R succeeds as a very powerful and usable machine with an impressive specification (think Blu-ray drive and 1TB of storage on top of the processing chips) and, at £1,699, it's not a ridiculous price.?? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/msi-gx660r-717284/review">Read our full GX660R review</A> 8. Alienware M17x – £2,000?? <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Alienware%20M17x/Alienware_M17x_Front-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> While many gaming-rig manufacturers often employ a generic chassis in a bid to offset the cost of high-end components, it's great to see Dell take care to design a laptop that's as beautiful as it is powerful. Two ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics cards sit in a CrossFire configuration – an ATI technology that enables the two cards to work together for a major power increase – and the result is phenomenal. The laptop destroyed all benchmarking tests we chucked its way, and thrashed all games we tried – even the infamous Crysis – with video settings up on full. The M17x combines awesome power with great design, has a host of great features that'll keep you entertained for hours and is a product that you'll enjoy owning for many years. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">???Read our full Alienware M17x review??</A>

Buying Guide: Best gaming laptops: 8 to choose from

Buying the best gaming PC is an expensive pastime, but there are huge differences in the top end of the market. Many of the biggest gaming b...

Buying Guide: Best cheap laptop under £350: 10 to choose from

Sub-£350 laptops are never going to be capable of high end computing. They won't run the 3D latest games, or edit high-definition video. But, for stuff like word processing or web browsing they're absolutely ideal. All the laptops we've featured in this round-up include screens of 15.4-inches or above, so they're great for home use. Best of all, though, is the price: for around the same cost as a netbook, you're getting what is pretty much a full-blown PC. Here our our 10 favourite sub-£350 notebooks. 1. Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo V6535 - £276 <img alt="Fujitsu siemens esprimo v6535" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20133/WLT133.rev1.lenova-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> An ideal machine for families, Fujitsu Siemens' Esprimo V6535 features a matt 15.4-inch screen, which eliminates reflections, and an Intel GMA 4500M graphics chip, which is actually surprisingly capable for 3D application Build quality is impressive, too, and it won't attract too many scratches and marks. We were also impressed with the large comfortable keyboard, which is very suited to long-term use. Overall, this is a great machine for home use, but with 164 minutes of battery life it'll enjoy trips outside, too. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/fujitsu-esprimo-v6535-609838/review">Read our Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo V6535 review </A> 2. Dell Vostro 1015 - £279 <img alt="Dell vostro review" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/images/dellvostro-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Dell's Vostro is built to the same high standards of all the big D's machines, but it also costs less than £300. Bearing in mind Dell's netbooks are about the same price, it's a complete bargain. For the price, the specifications are - understandably - a bit feeble: you get a 160GB hard drive and a mere 1GB of RAM. But it's also got a nice 15.6-inch screen, a dual-layer DVD rewriter and Windows 7 Home Premium. 3. eMachines G420 - £299 <img alt="eMachines g420 review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20141/WLT141.rev1.emachine_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 17.3-inches is a whopping screen size, and one you don't often seen on laptops in this price range. It's all backed up amicably by the its components, such as Nvidia's 9100M graphics chip, which is capable of basic photo editing, and a surprisingly powerful AMD Sempron processor. The sheer size of the beast means it's not the most portable of PCs, but as a clutter-free desktop replacement it's ideal. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/emachines-g420-712035/review">Read our eMachines G420 review</A> 4. Asus X58L - £299 <img alt="Asus x58l review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20127/WLT127.rev1.asus-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Asus' bargailicious laptop doesn't really stand out from the crowd apart from in one area: its vibrant 15.4-inch screen. Its glossy Super- TFT coating means colours pop off the screen, and contrast and black levels are also impressive. Performance isn't great, but added extras like a dual-layer DVD rewriter and a 4-in-1 card reader make it nice and practical. It's hard-wearing, too, and features a smooth keyboard and large touchpad. Certainly not a bad option, especially given the low price. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-x58l-609781/review">Read our Asus X58L review </A> 5. Asus X5DC-SX025V - £299 <img alt="Asus x5dc review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20141/WLT141.rev1.asus_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Not the greatest laptop in the world by any stretch of the imagination, but we found Asus' venture into the world of cheap portable PCs pleasing enough. Although it let us down in the performance stakes, its usability more than made up for it, with a lovely keyboard and comfortable 15.6-inch screen making it ideal for internet browsing and word processing. It's also ruggedly made, and its matt-black plastics mean that it's not a magnet for dirt and fingerprints. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-x5dc-sx025v-712025/review">Read our Asus X5DC-SX025V review </A> 6. Toshiba Satellite Pro L300-2CH - £299 <img alt="Toshiba satellite review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20131/WLT131.rev1.toshiba-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Toshiba's laptop is incredibly well made, thanks to its bulky, but not-too-heavy chassis. It also includes a lovely 15.4-inch screen perfectly suited for entertainment, and an impressive 194-minute battery life. The included internet security and DVD authoring tools make it ideal for first-time laptop buyers, but it's let down slightly in terms of performance and the awkward arrangement of its USB ports. Nevertheless, it's a portable and competent machine, and feature-packed for the price. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/toshiba-satellite-pro-l300-2ch-646940/review">Read our Toshiba Satellite Pro L300-2CH review </A> 7. Lenovo G550 - £330 <img alt="Lenovo g550 review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20133/WLT133.rev1.lenova-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Lenovo - it of ThinkPad fame - knows how to build a decent laptop, and the G550 is no exception. Usability is the big selling point here, with a solid keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad, as well as a 15.6-inch display capable of stunning brightness, colour and contrast. Lenovo hasn't skimped on innards, either, and you'll find a capacious 320GB drive within a machine that happily multitasks, too. The only slight let-down is graphics performance, but at this price-point it's a given. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/lenovo-g550-664946/review">Read our Lenovo G550 review</A> 8. HP Compaq Presario CQ61-402SA - £347 <img alt="HP compaq review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.hp01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Performance is actually rather good in HP Compaq Presario. You won't be editing high-definition videos or playing intense 3D games, but in terms of multitasking it's actually rather capable. HP's also bundled CyberLink MediaShow for editing videos and CyberLink PowerDVD for watching movies. Add to this the HDMI output and you've got a multimedia machine ideal for usage in the home. Admittedly, battery life could be a little better, but it's certainly worth the extra £50 over a other laptops in our round-up. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-compaq-presario-cq61-402sa-680580/review">Read our HP Compaq Presario CQ61-402SA review</A> 9. Toshiba Satellite L450-136 - £350 <img alt="Toshiba satellite l450" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20133/WLT133.rev1.toshiba-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> It's a tight match between Toshiba's Satellite L450-136, and Lenovo's G550, above. The Lenovo just about pips the Toshiba in terms of graphical performance, and both offer similar levels of comfort and usability. However, in terms of connectivity, the Toshiba's the winner, including a speedy 802.11n WiFi connection, and an HDMI output for connecting it to a big-screen TV. Combine this with its excellent battery life and strong performance, and it's an extremely versatile laptop. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/toshiba-satellite-l450-136-664957/review">Read our Toshiba Satellite L450-136 review </A> 10. Advent Modena - £350 <img alt="Advent modena review" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20139/WLT139.solo.Advent01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The ample storage provided by the 320GB hard drive and 2GB of DDR3 memory make Advent's Modena stand out from the crowd. As with most laptops of this price, it's not a hugely powerful machine, but it will handle internet browsing and watching the occasional DVD. It also includes a 15.6-inch TFT screen, which is glossy enough to show colours nicely, but not so glossy that you'll be constantly staring at your own face. At 33mm, it's fairly slim, too, but the low battery life means you can't stray too far from the mains.

Buying Guide: Best cheap laptop under £350: 10 to choose from

Sub-£350 laptops are never going to be capable of high end computing. They won't run the 3D latest games, or edit high-definition video....

How to Choose Virtual PBX Systems

Customize your system specifically for your business. Buy your PBX system only from a service provider that does not require contracts and charges no start-up or cancellation fees. Get the cancel-at-any-time for any reason and pay no penalty guarantee. Do some research and compare features and options from companies that promise in writing to meet the first two criteria.<a any="" be="" built="" business="" can="" fit="" pbx="" practically="" systems="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit2 rel=thinbox><IMG title=" to=""></A> blueprints,phone image by Greg Pickens from <A" href="http://www.fotolia.com/">Fotolia.com</A>  PBX systems can be built to fit practically any business model.Look first for the plans with the most standard features. Review them and look for the most important one of all, the "Virtual Receptionist," which some companies call "Auto Attendant." Remember this is the voice and impression of your company that the public will hear when they call your business.Work your way through the remainder of the standard features list. Take note of how much service you are getting for your monthly payments. Buy the standard system that has "Custom Greetings," "Call Recording" and "Two-way Virtual Fax" as your standard package, in addition to the "Virtual Receptionist."<a always="" an="" business="" is="" phone="" service="" streamlining="" title="#jsArticleStepImageCredit4 rel=thinbox><IMG title=" your=""></A> tÃ©lÃ©phone fixe image by Jean-Michel POUGET from <A" href="http://www.fotolia.com/">Fotolia.com</A>  Streamlining your business phone service is always an advantage.Eliminate or tell the provider to turn off some of the items that you may not need. Do not be too concerned, for instance, with a "Dial by Name Directory" if you are the only employee of the company. Consider turning off another relatively useless feature listed by many companies called "Information Waiting" if you are a one-man operation.Next examine the options which may be useful. Get the costs in writing along with a no-increase guarantee for 12 months. Test the feature and drop it if it is not worth the money.Do consider the one strong business feature most virtual PBX providers offer, the "Conferencing" or "Integrated Conferencing" feature. For those times it is necessary to have multiple people on the line, it is well worth the money. Think carefully about any "special/unique features" before buying, since they are, more often than not, are the most expensive. You may want to consider some form of caller identification, which is a great help in thwarting those endless telemarketing and other sales calls.

How to Choose Virtual PBX Systems

Customize your system specifically for your business. Buy your PBX system only from a service provider that does not require contracts and ...