PC Advisor "PC Advisor Blog"

Caring for your laptop: Top six tips

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:05:00 GMT

You're more likely to damage a laptop than a desktop PC (no one has ever driven off, forgetting the desktop on top of their car) and, once damaged, laptops are harder and more expensive to repair. So here's how to look after your laptop.

How not to shut down your PC

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Imagine my horror the other day, when I saw an otherwise sharp friend shut down his laptop by holding down the power button until the system switched off. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I cried. "Why did you do that?"

When four cores aren't enough: Intel i7-980X

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:56:00 GMT

Intel has announced its latest Extreme Edition processor, the Core i7-980X. The i7-980X (previously code-named Gulftown) brings Intel's turbo boost and hyperthreading technologies to the 32nm process, and is also Intel's first processor with six physical cores.

Election 2010: it was the web wot won it

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT

This year's General Election will be the first in which the web and social media play a big part: but can blogs and tweets materially affect the make up of the next Parliament?

Bing gains again - should Google worry?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:31:00 GMT

Microsoft's Bing search engine may still be a minor player in the lucrative online search business dominated by Google, but it's steadily gaining users. And it appears that Bing's share is coming at the expense of both Google and Yahoo, the latter company having recently teamed up with Microsoft to be more competitive in online search.

Rumours: Windows 7 SP1 on way?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:55:00 GMT

Windows 7 has been officially available for less than five months, and has sold more than 90 million copies. Despite this success, Microsoft needs to continue to evolve the platform, which is why speculation is already mounting regarding a Service Pack 1 (SP1) release.

Microsoft admits IE 6 and 7 vulnerability

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:39:00 GMT

A new security hole in Internet Explorer 6 and 7 can be targeted via code on a poisoned website, Microsoft has warned. A successful attacker could install malware on a victim PC or run any other remote command.

Smartphone focus: Waking up to mobile

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:29:00 GMT

If you didn't get the message when the iPhone was released, and you still didn't realise what was happening when Android arrived, Windows Phone 7 has to be your wake-up call. Mobile is no longer just the future. Its time is now.

Four reasons to beware fake Intel chips

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:05:00 GMT

Reports are circulating that online retailer Newegg sold 300 counterfeit Intel Core i7 processors. The inferior packaging, blatant spelling errors and blank product manual were red flags for observant customers in this case, but the issue highlights the fact that fake CPUs are out there. You might think your computer is 'Intel Inside', but is it?

Art Editor/Designer wanted for PC Advisor

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:24:00 GMT

PC Advisor, the UK's most popular print and online computer magazine, is looking for an Art Editor/Designer to run its busy Art desk in central London.

Will the Apple iPad sell?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:04:00 GMT

Apple's iPad will fly off the shelves when it goes on sale, and will build momentum through the back-to-school and into Christmas selling seasons, analysts have predicted.

Why Google's wrong: desktop PCs are still relevant

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:42:00 GMT

Google ad sales boss John Herlihy has claimed that smartphones will replace desktop computers in just three years' time. He's wrong.

Of thrills and information spills

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:01:00 GMT

Have you heard the one about the Scotland Yard staff who couldn't resist sharing the odd tale on Facebook? Given their line of work, you'd think they'd practise a bit of caution. Stories like these are manna to the press, you know. They're also of interest to another none-too-popular group: hackers.

Five tips to prevent iPad eye strain

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:15:00 GMT

The Apple iPad is coming soon. The rumour that pre-orders would begin last Thursday failed to materialise, and there are still a number of question marks. But, one way or another, the iPad will arrive sooner or later.

Antitrust spat heats up between Google, Microsoft

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:05:00 GMT

A war of words is heating up between Google, Microsoft and a host of smaller sites over alleged anticompetitive behaviour by Google in the online search market.

What's your favourite book review website?

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:28:00 GMT

We're on the look out for book review site recommendations. We don't just want to know about the biggest booksellers; we want to know which websites provide the best reviews and are most likely to persuade you to buy a book.

Google privacy case was always lose-lose

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:15:00 GMT

Even before three current and former Google executives were convicted of violating Italian privacy laws, it became clear that the case was a double-edged sword.

Google privacy convictions: a dangerous precedent

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:32:00 GMT

A few years ago, I received a poison pen letter. Well, these things happen. But now, I'm going to see if I can get my postman jailed for delivering it.

Facebook security holes can't go on

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:51:00 GMT

A frustrated Facebook user, unable to contact the social networking site directly, writes an open letter discussing what he sees as the site's security shortcomings.

Smartphone focus: Twitter - Smartphones and keyboards

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:01:00 GMT

Remember texter's thumb? ('txtrs thumb'?) No longer must all mobile typers risk carpal tunnel syndrome to stay in touch, thanks to the integration of touchscreen qwerty keyboards into smartphones.

Smartphone blogs: Multitasking with one hand

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:47:00 GMT

Our regular dive into what bloggers are saying about smartphones suggests that the perfect handset requires only one hand and can do many things at the same time. Meanwhile, UK newspapers hit back at the BBC.

Windows Phone 7: Microsoft's fresh start

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:08:00 GMT

Now that Microsoft has finally unveiled Windows Mobile 7, rebranded as Windows Phone 7, we can see that Microsoft abandoned the foundation established with the waning Windows Mobile platform, went back to the drawing board, and started from scratch for the latest incarnation of its mobile operating system.

PC Advisor Helproom Angel of the year 2010

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:55:00 GMT

PC Advisor is delighted to announce the winner of its inaugural Helproom Angel of the Year award. Forum member VoG, please step forward and take a bow.

USB 3.0, DirectX 11.0 and more...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:44:00 GMT

Have we got reviews for you this month. With the startling collection of hardware and software products that have rolled through our Test Centre this month, it's difficult to know where to begin.

In praise of Apple's anti-porn crusade

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:54:00 GMT

Apple appears to be embarking on a new anti-smut crusade to rid its iPhone App Store of "overtly sexual content". Some have called Apple's crusade - which has included some relatively tame adult fare - hypocritical, but it makes good business sense.