PC Pro - December 2012

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REVIEWSWConotenrtsldMags.netREVIEWS LABSREVIEWS HIGHLIGHTS FOR A FULL INDEX, SEE PAGE 5Apple iPhone 5 106 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7in 110Apple introduces a 4in display and a lighter, slimmer design. Amazon finally brings its colour ebook reader to the UK.Netgear R6300 120 Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 124The super-fast 802.11ac wireless standard arrives. A revamp of the UI breathes life into Adobe’s popular photo editor. IN THE LABSMotorola Razr i 122 Linux shootout 142Motorola’s latest Android handset proves Intel processors are In the Labs this month, we test drive eight of the most populara force to be reckoned with in smartphones. Linux distros – with help from our readers.104 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagsO.pninioen tREVIEWS Spread the load of product launches, pleads anoverworked JONATHAN BRAYY ou might be surprised to learn The trouble is, sometimes, you can have that autumn is one of my too much of a good thing. In a good year, favourite times of year. At a even though I get through tens of kilos of time when everyone else is those apples (it’s amazing how many it depressed by the end of summer, takes to make only a few bottles), manythe shortening days and falling temperatures, more sit on the ground, neglected, rottingI’m rubbing my hands with glee. That’s partly and unused. The insects, birds and foxesbecause it’s the time of year when the apples have a field day, but the smell in the gardenbegin to fall from the trees in the garden, can be overwhelming.allowing for the enjoyable process of cidermaking to begin. And 2012 is definitely turning out to be one of those years for technology, for not only do I gather the windfalls from the grass and the we have the usual rush of manufacturersundergrowth beneath our three ageing trees, launching new gadgets and technologicalchop them up and squeeze the life out of them gewgaws, but Microsoft has chosen this yearin the press. Then I sit back and let nature run to completely change the computing landscapeits course. with Windows 8. It’s more complicated than that of course, To be frank, it’s all a bit much, and webut you don’t want to hear about fermentation can only imagine what it’s like for the averagerates, airlocks, racking, priming and bottling. consumer. No sooner do they get used to theNo, you’re here because you want to read idea of the Kindle being the go-to ebookabout technology, which, of course, is the reader, then suddenly there are colour devices,second reason I love this time of the year. and three or four major firms duking it out for their cash. They may have just accepted This month, like apples falling from a the fact that Samsung was top of thetree (no tortuous pun intended), a huge smartphone tree when Apple weighs inselection of major new products has emerged.Not only is there the iPhone 5, but we also Just as suddenly as it started, it will gohave the first in a new wave of full-colour deathly quiet and we’ll all go back toKindles – the Amazon Kindle HD 7in (see yearning for the next big product releasep110) – and the new Motorola Razr ismartphone (see p122) with its phenomenal with a bigger, better iPhone. And Lord knows JONATHAN BRAY is PC Pro’s reviews editor.battery life, big 4.3in screen and surprisingly what confusion Windows 8 will wreak. If you suspected he had a weakness for applecompact chassis. products before, now you know the truth. Then, just as suddenly as it started, it will all At the back of the section you’ll find the go deathly quiet; the flow of major launches will Blog: www.pcpro.co.uk/links/jonbfruit of the annual major software upgrade dry up and we’ll all go back to yearning for the Email: [email protected]: Adobe’s Photoshop and Premiere next big product release, instead of dreading it.Elements, with rivals PaintShop Pro X5Ultimate and Pinnacle Studio 16 meeting So, at the risk of spoiling all the fun, I’d likethem head-on in creative battle. to make a heartfelt appeal to manufacturers of all things shiny and new. Would it be at all In the news section, we have the official possible to please hold some of your stuff backlaunch of Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 for early next year, so we have somethingdevices (see p18), while next month should see exciting to write about in January? And beforean even bigger wave of devices tumble through you point out that’s when the Consumerthe PC Pro offices, from Barnes & Noble’s Electronics Show happens – we want realrange of Kindle-rivalling ebook readers and products to play with, to test and delivertablets, to Apple’s revamped nano and touch verdicts on, not prototypes and vapourware.music devices. And don’t forget, we may yetsee Apple launch a smaller 7in tablet too. If this comes about, I may not be quite soIt’s a mad, but exhilarating period. busy in September and October, and there might not be the same buzz around the office. There’s no coincidence to all this, of course. But it might be a little less hectic and confusingThe reason these companies release all their best for consumers. And at least I know I’ll alwaysstuff at the same time is because, in only a few have my apples.weeks, we’ll all be desperately scouring theshops and online stores for Christmas treats.The likes of Amazon, Apple, Adobe, Corel andMicrosoft are all desperate for a slice of thisrather fruity pie.www.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 105

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.net Apple iPhone 5 PC A taller screen and a sumptuous redesign for the iconic smartphone, but Apple’s latest PRO iPhone falls tantalisingly short of a place on our A-List RECOMMENDEDPhotography: Danny Bird ❱❱ PRICE 16GB, £529; 32GB, £599; whole the changes are successful. benefit to this change for iPhone 5 measures the same across as the 64GB, £699; 16GB, from £159 As we’ve come to expect from owners – the current Lightning 4 and 4S, which means the pixel on a £31/mth, 24mth contract Apple, it’s beautifully made, and connector is still based on USB 2 density remains a gloriously high the first thing that strikes you is its – but it renders all your old 326ppi. Whether the quality is ❱❱ SUPPLIER www.apple.com; light weight. It weighs only 112g iPhone accessories instantly better than the Samsung Galaxy S www.three.co.uk – lighter than the 4S by 28g, obsolete. Although adapter plugs III’s is a matter of taste, with despite the extra height necessary are available from Apple, they’re the Galaxy providing a slightly I t’s now been quite some time to accommodate the larger 4in a steep £25 a throw. more saturated look than the since an iPhone last graced the display. It also measures an iPhone 5’s more muted tones – but peak of the PC Pro A-List. astonishing 7.6mm thick. The display for our money, they’re neck and For almost two years Samsung’s neck; it’s only the Galaxy S III’s Galaxy handsets have dominated, This is largely thanks to the Despite this, the iPhone remains extra size that keeps it out front. with the 4S not doing much to loss of the rear glass panel, which technological jewellery of the further Apple’s cause. The iPhone is replaced by an aluminium finest sort, and the quality of the A key point to note here is the 5 attempts to claw back that lost chassis that feels cool and iPhone 5’s 4in Retina screen is aspect ratio of the new display. ground with a bigger, higher- ever-so-slightly rough to the touch. beyond reproach. We measured KEY SPECS resolution screen, an even slimmer its maximum brightness at profile, and further improvements We have one key reservation, 582cd/m2, a whisker in front of 1.2GHz dual-core processor • 1GB RAM • to performance. though, and this concerns the new, the iPhone 4S at 581cd/m2; deep 16/32/64GB storage • 4in 640 x 1,136 TFT • so-called Lightning connector, dark blacks ensure an excellent quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA • tri-band That really is the big news with which reduces the old 21.3mm- contrast of 1,058:1. Although 4G • Bluetooth • dual-band 802.11abgn Wi-Fi • 8mp the iPhone 5, from a hardware wide, 30-pin connector to a taller, the 640 x 1,136 display camera, 720p video call camera • 1,434mAh Li-ion perspective at least, and on the more compact 8-pin design that’s battery • 1yr RTB warranty • 58.6 x 123.8 x 7.6mm 11.6mm wide. There’s no speed (WDH) • 112g 106 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWSAfter years of sticking doggedly 800MHz and 1.2GHz depending The new Lightning connector offers a double-sided connection,to 4:3, Apple has at last gone on load, with 1GB of RAM to meaning there’s no wrong way to plug in your cablewidescreen. The new ratio is back it up.slightly broader than 16:9, which Despite this, battery life iOS 6means you get the full widescreen That may not sound very hasn’t suffered at all, with 60%movie experience with no impressive, particularly with remaining on the gauge after 24 Aside from the new Lightningletterboxing; existing apps Motorola’s Razr i hitting 2GHz hours. This isn’t as impressive as connector, then, the iPhone 5will need to be updated to take this month (see p122), yet it was the Razr i, but it’s on a par with represents a solid progression. Thefull advantage, however, with scorching throughout testing. In the iPhone 5’s key rivals, and a big bigger screen is a major plus, andblack bars appearing at the top SunSpider, it pulled in a result of improvement on the 4S, which had we love the new lightweightand bottom of the screen in apps 932ms, the first phone we’ve 30% remaining after the same test. chassis. We don’t, however, holdnot optimised for the iPhone 5. encountered to limbo under such affection for the software it the 1,000ms barrier; in Yet another performance ships with: iOS 6.Camera and calls Geekbench, a popular iOS boost is provided through the benchmarking tool, it scored phone’s 4G LTE radio, with As is customary, AppleOnly small improvements have 1,674 to the iPhone 4S’s 627. support for 850MHz, 1,800MHz introduced its new OS the daybeen made to the iPhone 5’s rear and 2,100MHz networks in the before the iPhone 5 was madecamera. Apple has replaced the Subjectively, it feels as UK. We’ll see the full benefit from available to the general public,lens cover with a more scratch- smooth as every iPhone we’ve this only once networks begin to trumpeting hundreds of newresistant “sapphire crystal” used, with the front-end, web roll out 4G infrastructure later this features and enhancements. Mostversion, and you can now snap pages and games all running as year, however. of these are small changes, hardlystills while recording video, but the smoothly as expected. App launch worthy of mention – under-the-resolution for stills remains at 8 times, already pretty snappy withmegapixels, as does the digitally the 4S, were even quicker onstabilised 1080p video. The iPhone the iPhone 5, and the camera5 (along with its predecessor the exhibited no shutter lag at all.4S) is still among the best in thebusiness, though, and producescrisp, colourful snaps that areeasily a match for those from theSamsung Galaxy S III. Surprisingly, Apple hasn’tadded a burst mode, insteadplumping for the introductionof a panorama feature. Thisallows you to capture broadlandscapes with a sweep of thearm, and it’s commendablyeasy to use. The results aredisappointing, though: youneed a steady hand or picturesend up with distracting wobblesand kinks. The front camerareceives a bigger upgrade, movingfrom 640 x 480 to 1,280 x 960,with video capture increased to720p at 24fps. The iPhone is often lambastedfor its call quality, but our test callsmade on the iPhone 5 were loudand clear at the other end, even ifthey lacked depth and richness.Performance WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 107Much more impressive is the rawspeed of the iPhone 5, whichintroduces the new Apple A6mobile processor. Once again,Apple hasn’t run with the crowdhere: the processor is a dual-coremodel, rather than quad-core,and it clocks in at between The iPhone 5 sports a tall,640 x 1,136 Retina displaywww.pcpro.co.uk

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.nethood tweaks aimed at making the for the closer, far larger town The new panorama Search for Luton in Apple Mapsexperience smoother. But iOS 6 of Luton just outside London. feature offers a quick and this is the first result you getalso contains a few major changes, Maps’ satellite imagery is less way of capturingand not all of them are welcome. detailed and patchier in its broad cityscapes the hardware is lovely, there’s coverage than Google’s. nothing that really takes yourA mapping calamity and birthdays directly in breath away, and with the This isn’t quite the disaster all the calendar; see Facebook problems over Apple Maps andFirst on the blacklist is the the reports have made it out to be, contacts in the contacts the Lightning connectorreplacement of Google Maps with however. You can “reinstall” app; and post pictures undoubtedly damaging itsApple Maps. On paper, this would Google Maps (albeit slightly from the photo gallery. reputation with existing usersseem to be a positive move. The limited) by adding a link to the and potential adopters alike, wemaps, based on a combination of mobile site on your homescreen, There are enhancements can’t see it clawing back groundTomTom’s data and Yelp’s listings and Google may decide to release to iCloud photo sharing, lost to rivals.and ratings content, and developed a proper, full-blown app soon. which allow the creationin-house by Apple, introduce free of custom photo streams None of this makes theturn-by-turn satnav with live Its satnav abilities aren’t bad that can then be shared iPhone 5 a bad smartphone, oftraffic avoidance and “photo- either. As with Google Maps its with other iPhone or course. It’s a glorious piece ofrealistic” 3D views of major facilities are basic, with no local iPad owners, and even modern technology that, twotowns and cities. map storage, no speed camera or non-Apple devotees via a years ago, would have caused speed limit indications. We’re a shared public web link. Siri our jaws to hit the floor at the The turn-by-turn satnav feature little disappointed to find no gets an upgrade, too, so it mere sight of it. Yet, with aalone, we had thought, would be indication of ETA in the driving works better in the UK – smaller screen and a bigger view. But we tested it on the same you can now ask it about price tag than the Samsung worth the upgrade, route used for our satnav apps the football results. Galaxy S III – and those especially with the Labs test earlier this year, and Finally, there’s the new aforementioned niggles – the traffic avoidance found the 3D view easy to read, Passbook app, which is iPhone fails to return to the top feature. Yet as soon and the voice instructions via Siri essentially a location- and of our A-List. JONATHAN BRAY as iPhone users delivered clearly and in as timely time-aware repository for across the globe a fashion as any satnav we’ve storing e-tickets, offer vouchers OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ started using it, the used. We also liked the way and the like. This could turn out complaints began to Maps shows three alternative to be brilliant, but since only four PERFORMANCE flood in. Most of routes in the planning stage, with companies in Europe currently FEATURES & DESIGN these focused on traffic plotted on top so you can have Passbook-compatible apps, VALUE FOR MONEY mapping errors, with quickly pick the quickest route it’s too early to say how useful this many landmarks and before you start. will eventually turn out to be. even major cities reported to be sited A couple of black marks, Other stand-out new features in entirely the wrong though: when you arrive at your include the ability to make position. Others destination, the screen goes back FaceTime calls over 3G and – complained about into timeout mode and turns itself possibly our favourite feature of the loss of Street off. And once again, it’s let down the lot – iCloud Tabs, which View and patchy by search. Apple Maps failed to synchronises open tabs in Safari business listings. find four of the locations along across all your iDevices. We have to our six-stop route by name, a concur with the performance that would have Verdict majority – a quick placed it bottom of the rankings in search reveals Maps our Labs. The only reliable means In many respects this latest iPhone has Basingstoke in a of tracking down locations seems is the most desirable yet, with its farmer’s field a few to be with postcodes. gorgeous 4in display, a lighter, miles west of where slimmer chassis, decent battery life it should be. A Other upgrades and improved iCloud and social search for Luton networking integration. And let’s whisks you off to We’ve focused solely on Apple not forget that Apple’s App Store Luton near Exeter, Maps so far, but there are plenty still just about holds the edge over with no option given of other improvements. There’s Google’s Play store in the general better social networking quality of its games and software, The iPhone integration for one, with Facebook although the gap is narrowing. weighs only 112g, included at long last. You can now and is an astonishing post status updates directly from Yet, with prices higher than 7.6mm thick the pull-down Notifications menu, any of its rivals, we feel the iPhone for instance; view Facebook events doesn’t quite do enough. Although108 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.net Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7in A tablet custom built for buying books and movies; for mainstream apps and web browsing, however, you may want to look elsewherePhotography: Julian Velasquez; repro, Jan Cihak ❱❱ PRICE 16GB, £133 (£159 inc place of the familiar greyscale of a carousel display of all your so long as you angle the high-gloss VAT); 32GB, £166 (£199 inc VAT) Kindle display, plus a front-facing purchased books. As you use the display to avoid reflections. HD webcam. Underpinning it all is tablet, recently accessed items and ❱❱ SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk; Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich. apps join this carousel, and when All the expected Kindle features available from 25 October you stop on an item, the smaller are present – you can search, Yet the Kindle Fire HD isn’t icons at the bottom update to annotate and bookmark to your T o us Brits, the Kindle just another Android tablet. show relevant links. For books heart’s content – and the X-Ray brand is all but Price-wise, it’s a direct rival to the this is “customers also bought”: feature makes it easy to find synonymous with an E Ink Nexus 7: in fact, it undercuts tap on a title and you’re whisked characters, places or odd phrases screen and month-long battery life. Google’s tablet, offering twice the directly to the Amazon website, if you’re chasing a reference. The Now, a year after its US launch, storage at the same price point. to complete the purchase in the only real downer is the sheer heft the Kindle Fire has come to the Where Google uses the clean built-in Silk browser. of it, which makes it tiring to hold UK to shake all that up – and it’s Android 4.1 front-end, however, one-handed. Physical page-turn accompanied by a brand-new Amazon’s tablet uses a custom If you’re accustomed to the buttons are gone, too: you have cousin, the Kindle Fire HD 7in. shop-front interface, providing a classic Kindle, you may be sceptical to swipe or tap the screen. very different experience. In short, about using a device with an LCD As soon as you pick up the Fire it feels like a device designed panel as an ebook reader, but it Content options aren’t limited HD it’s clear this isn’t just another primarily for consuming content isn’t as bad as you might think. to books. Naturally, Amazon Kindle. For one thing, it weighs a – and for buying more. Text is remarkably clean and audiobooks can be downloaded, lumpen 394g – more than double sharp, with superb contrast – by the mass of the regular 170g As an example, take the comparison, the Nexus 7 always KEY SPECS Kindle. It’s larger, too, with a horizontally scrolling navigation looks slightly grey. In sunlight the chunky, soft-plastic back and a menu on the homescreen: the first Fire HD’s screen jacks itself up 1.2GHz Ti OMAP 4460 dual-core CPU • 1GB RAM wide bezel, housing a full-colour item on offer is “Shop”, and the to a quite spectacular brightness • 16/32GB storage • 7in 1,280 x 800 IPS TFT 1,280 x 800 IPS touchscreen in last is “Offers”. Below that comes (452cd/m2), remaining readable • dual-band 802.11bgn Wi-Fi with dual-antenna content consumption, in the form MIMO • HD video • 4,400mAh battery • Android 4 (customised) • micro-HDMI • 1yr RTB warranty • 137 x 193 x 10mm (WDH) • 394g 110 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWS The Kindle Fire HD feelsreassuringly sturdy thanksto its soft-plastic back andsubstantial bezelwith the Whispersync service to the device: the preinstalled rearrangeable homescreens and expect about an extra two-and-a-now syncing your place across Personal Videos app supports folders of stock Android. half hours on top of that.devices, just as it does for text MP4, 3GP and WebM video.books. The Kindle Newsstand And what of application As an alternative to the classicservice comes preinstalled, This brings us to downloadable performance? On paper, the Kindle, the HD makes some sense.allowing you to subscribe apps, where sadly the Fire HD’s Kindle Fire HD’s 1.2GHz OMAP It can’t match the readability ofto hundreds of newspapers glow starts to fade. Predictably, 4460 processor sounds like a near the original, and battery life isn’tand magazines. You get the the device comes preinstalled rival to the Nexus 7’s 1.3GHz comparable – if those aresame content as on the not with Google Play, but Tegra 3, but the Quadrant priorities, consider the recentlyblack-and-white Kindle, so Amazon’s own Appstore. This Android benchmark exposes a announced fifth-generation E Inkit’s all pretty text-heavy. isn’t necessarily a bad thing: all the big gap between the two, with Kindle. But the Fire HD still big apps are here, along with the the Kindle Fire HD scoring an renders books and newspapers in Amazon is also keen for you tempting Free App of the Day. But uninspiring 2,229 – far behind eminently legible form, and withto use the Kindle Fire HD for you can’t install Google Play on the Nexus 7’s 3,687. Navigating that lovely IPS screen andmovies and music, with the the Fire HD at all – it refuses to around the Kindle Fire HD’s impressive speakers, it’s abuttons and connectors run – so if you’re already using an features can be a distinctly jerky multimedia all-rounder too.positioned to imply a video- Android smartphone or tablet, experience, and the browser isfriendly landscape orientation. cross-device continuity is lost. palpably sluggish. Ultimately, though, it’s difficultThe speakers won’t fill a room, to recommend. Yes, the price isbut they’re louder than you’d Accessing apps is also slightly Amazon’s heavy-handed tempting, and it feels solid. Theexpect from the Fire HD’s size, awkward, since they don’t appear approach to customisation doesn’t micro-HDMI port is a bonus too.and they sound great, with an on the homescreen, except as part help either, seeming to prioritise its But performance is disappointing,impressively airy tone. Syncing of the carousel. You can create a interests above yours. To access and it’s hard to enjoy using amusic from your PC is simply a drawer of favourite apps that the web browser from the main device that keeps pushing youmatter of copying files into the pops up when you tap the star menu, for example, you must towards the things Amazon wantsKindle Fire HD’s Music folder, icon at the bottom right of the scroll past seven categories of you to do, rather than supportingor using Amazon’s Cloud Player homescreen, but these appear with purchasable content. Play your what you want to do yourself.service, which automatically no titles and in a simple linear own music and you’re invited tosyncs with the device. order. It’s a long way from the search Amazon for more songs by If you’re into books and the same artist. Wake the device movies, we recommend you wait Meanwhile, video is catered for up from sleep and the lockscreen and see what Barnes & Noble’sby Lovefilm’s Instant service, from shows adverts for Amazon new Nook HD – a similarlywhich movies and TV episodes partners – a “feature” you’ll media-focused tablet, launchingcan be downloaded or streamed, reportedly have to pay to disable. next month – has to offer beforeand Amazon’s own store as well. buying. And if you primarily wantA micro-HDMI socket allows you When it comes to battery life, to play with apps and browse theto enjoy video on the big screen, the Kindle Fire HD has a similar web, the Nexus 7 remains theand US customers with Amazon battery to the Nexus 7 (4,400mAh most flexible of the low-costPrime accounts can stream selected versus 4,326mAh), so it’s no tablets. DARIEN GRAHAM-SMITHitems directly from the Amazon surprise to see it give similarstore for free. These services performance. With the screen atweren’t live in the UK at the time half-brightness, we were able toof our tests, however, and it watch 6hrs 28mins of full-screenremains to be seen whether we’ll video; if you switch off Wi-Fi,receive the full package. At worst,you can copy your own video files The speakers sound a lot betterthan their size would suggest OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ PERFORMANCE FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEYwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 111

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.netHP Envy 6The cheaper price and Radeon-powered gaming makethis a reasonable budget machine❱❱ PRICE £415 (£499 inc VAT) benchmark score of 0.37 is slower The wristrest and keyboard base are strong, with little unwanted flex❱❱ SUPPLIER www.currys.co.uk than the Intel-powered Ultrabooks – by comparison, Asus’ Zenbook to worry about. The only evidence under your finger and two-Intel has thrown plenty of UX31E scored 0.62. of weakness is in the screen, which fingered presses acting as a money at its Ultrabooks and, bows slightly under pressure. right-click. while they’ve gained plenty of As ever, though, the graphicscolumn inches, these super-thin performance buoys the AMD The keyboard’s layout is The HP’s 15.6in screen islaptops remain high-end machines. APU’s appeal. A Radeon HD sensible, and the typing action is unremarkable. The 1,366 x 768HP’s latest laptop, the Envy 6, 7500G GPU has been crammed crisp and responsive, with the firm resolution doesn’t make the mostaims to bring Ultrabook luxury to into the A6-4455M, and the GPU base compensating for the lack of of the ample panel size, and thethe budget end of the market contains 256 stream processors travel on the keys. HP hasn’t image quality reveals the HP’s– and it does so by opting for one with stock and Turbo clocks of managed to cram in a number budget beginnings. The brightnessof AMD’s Trinity chips. 327MHz and 424MHz. pad, and our only criticism here is level of 189cd/m2 sees it struggle to reserved for the spacebar – it may remain legible outdoors, and while HP calls its AMD-powered We couldn’t make Crysis be wide, but its loud clicking is a the contrast ratio of 277:1 is goodUltrabook competitor a run on the AMD chip, but the constant irritation. by budget standards, the colourSleekbook, and at first glance Radeon core proved its worth palette is washed out.there’s little difference between in Just Cause 2 and DiRT 3 The touchpad is also flawed.this £499 machine and many of when compared to the Intel It’s milled from metal, just like the The display is mediocre, butthe Ultrabooks we’ve seen. The HD Graphics 4000 core found in chassis, but has a textured pattern the HP Envy 6 holds a trump card.brushed-metal finish and red most Ultrabooks. In Just Cause 2 of concentric circles that we didn’t At £499 inc VAT, this laptop isdetailing lends the Envy a sense and DiRT 3’s Low quality tests, like. It’s no deal-breaker, but we’d much cheaper than the Ultrabooksof style that’s up there with many the HP averaged 30fps; the Intel prefer a smoother, less textured it imitates.more expensive Intel-powered core scored 10fps and 17fps in the feel. Otherwise, the touchpad isrivals. Its 15.6in display means same benchmarks. It isn’t enough entirely serviceable. The buttons The AMD processor lagsthat it isn’t as svelte as many of its power to allow for high-end are integrated into its wide surface, behind its Intel rivals for rawUltrabook rivals, but it’s close; at gaming but, crucially, the Radeon with the entire pad giving way processing power, but there’s20mm thick and just over 2kg in core will play plenty of titles, albeit enough performance for everydayweight, this is an impressively at reduced quality settings. tasks and reasonable gaming.honed laptop. Processing power may not be If you want a slim, stylish Behind the scenes, AMD’s the HP’s strong suit, but battery machine that’s more affordableTrinity platform takes centre stage. life is highly impressive for a than Intel’s offerings, this is a fineAMD describes its processors as 15.6in machine. In our light-use compromise. MIKE JENNINGSaccelerated processing units, or test, the HP lasted for 7hrs 27minsAPUs, and HP has used the before it ran out of juice, which KEY SPECSA6-4455M – the lesser of two isn’t far off the stamina we’ve seenlow-power APUs – in the Envy. from many Intel Ultrabooks. 2.1GHz AMD A6-4455M • 6GB RAM • 500GB hardThe dual-core processor runs at disk • AMD Radeon HD 7500G graphics • 15.6in2.1GHz, and uses AMD’s Turbo The HP puts in a solid 1,366 x 768 TFT • HDMI • 2 x USB 3 • 1 x USB 2 •Core technology to dynamically performance elsewhere, too. The single-band 802.11n Wi-Fi • Gigabit Ethernet •overclock to 2.6GHz. That sounds wristrest and keyboard base are 1.3mp webcam • Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bitimpressive, but the HP’s modest both strong, with little in the way • 1yr RTB warranty • 374 x 253 x 20mm (WDH) •BATTERY: HEAVY USE 3hrs 11mins of unwanted flex, and the base is 2.1kg (2.4kg) • Part code: 6-1006sa similar – a little give, but nothingBATTERY: LIGHT USE 7hrs 27minsREAL WORLD BENCHMARKS 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K, 4GB DDR3 = 1OVERALL 0.37RESPONSIVENESS 0.51 BETTER OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪MEDIA 0.39 PERFORMANCE MULTITASKING 0.200 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY112 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWS Normal laptop screen width – 16:9 Toshiba Satellite U840W-107 – 21:9Toshiba SatelliteU840W-107An innovative screen but, with limited benefits andniggles elsewhere, it’s little more than a sideshow❱❱ PRICE £749 (£899 inc VAT) It makes up for the lack of The Toshiba’s 21:9 aspect ratio with 1,792 x 768 resolution allows❱❱ SUPPLIER www.currys.co.uk vertical space, which caused us to movie playback without letterboxing spend more time scrolling thanT he desktop wallpaper on we would on 1,600 x 900 or At least the trackpad is RAM comes as standard, and Toshiba’s latest laptop 1,920 x 1,080 screens. good: smooth and responsive, connectivity is handled by 10/100 claims the firm is “leading with a firm click and a pair of Ethernet and single-band 802.11ninnovation” and, for once, this Critically, though, image comfortable buttons built into Wi-Fi. And of course, being anmight be more than marketing quality is lacking. The its bottom corners. And the Ultrabook, there’s no optical drive,department hyperbole. In a world gamma level of 1.9 is Harman Kardon-branded speakers which puts a dent in this laptop’swhere it’s difficult to distinguish very close to the ideal of flanking the keyboard are among movie-watching credentials.between hordes of identikit 1.8 and, similarly, a the loudest we’ve heard on aUltrabooks, the Toshiba Satellite colour temperature measurement laptop, with enough volume to One thing the low-powerU840W-107 stands apart. of 6,348K isn’t far enough fill a small room. processor does have going for away from the 6,500K ideal to it is Intel’s HD Graphics 4000 Rather than including a screen cause concern. Brightness is fine Processing power comes chipset. It’s the more powerfulwith an aspect ratio of 16:9, as at 344cd/m2, too, but viewing from an Intel Core i5-3317U. of the two integrated GPU coresused by almost every other angles aren’t great, and the This is an Ivy Bridge part, which introduced with Ivy Bridge, and itmodern portable on the market, contrast ratio of 232:1 is low. sounds good, but in fact it’s the helped the Toshiba to a score ofthis machine has a 21:9 panel with This means movie scenes lack weakest mobile Core i5 chip in 34fps in our Low quality Crysisan unconventional resolution of punch and depth. Intel’s current range. Its twin benchmark. That figure dropped1,792 x 768 spread across its cores run at 1.7GHz, and they by only two frames when we ran14.4in diagonal. This is a shame, since the delivered a benchmark score of the benchmark at the screen’s U840W-107 is certainly striking. 0.62. That’s on a par with the native resolution. It’s strikingly different, and it’s The wristrest, lid and base are Asus Zenbook but behind thea design aimed specifically at those all covered with soft, textured 13in MacBook Air, which scored Toshiba’s U840W-107 packskeen on watching movies on their material, and the rest of the 0.68. Battery life stretches to in plenty for £899 inc VAT, withlaptops. Play a movie and those machine is clad in brushed metal. 6hrs 57mins in our light-use test, a wide screen, distinctive chassisdistracting black borders We have a few complaints about which for an Ultrabook isn’t that and beefy speakers. But theredisappear, but that isn’t the only build quality – there’s a little give impressive either. isn’t quite enough quality onadvantage. When we were working in both screen and base, and the show for our liking: the screenon the laptop, we appreciated the Toshiba is a little chunkier than The rest of the Toshiba’s isn’t punchy enough, theoption to have two documents rivals at 20mm thick and 1.7kg in specification fits the Ultrabook keyboard is disappointing,lined up on the screen, side by side. weight – but that’s about it. blueprint. There’s a 32GB SSD and performance is middling.BATTERY: HEAVY USE 2hrs 7mins used for caching, and a 500GB For this sort of money, unless The backlit keyboard makes a mechanical hard disk for the you desperately want theBATTERY: LIGHT USE 6hrs 57mins good first impression, too, but donkey work. Six gigabytes of unique, super-wide screen, soon disappoints. The base is we’d opt for a 13in MacBook3D BENCHMARKS bouncy and the keys don’t have Air instead. MIKE JENNINGS enough travel for comfortableCRYSIS typing. Toshiba has used the width KEY SPECS of the U840W-107 to fit in extra- wide keys rather than a number 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U • 6GB DDR3 RAM • pad; we found this made it tricky 500GB hard disk • Intel HD Graphics 4000 • 14.4in to get to grips with, and it doesn’t 1,792 x 768 TFT • 802.11bgn WLAN • 10/100 help that the right-hand side of the Ethernet • Bluetooth 4 • Windows 7 Home Premium spacebar proved unresponsive. 64-bit • 1yr RTB warranty • 369 x 200 x 20mm (WDH) • 1.7kg (2kg with charger) 34fps 17fps 8fpsSMOOTH PLAY UNPLAYABLE UNPLAYABLE LOW MEDIUM HIGHREAL WORLD BENCHMARKS 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K, 4GB DDR3 = 1OVERALL 0.62RESPONSIVENESS 0.71 BETTER OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪MEDIA 0.68 PERFORMANCEMULTITASKING 0.48 FEATURES & DESIGN0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 VALUE FOR MONEYwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 113

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.net 3Chillblast FusionVacuum MiniA silent and well-specified living room PC withdual TV tuners, but it doesn’t come cheap❱❱ PRICE £832 (£999 inc VAT) PCI Express x16 slot. A passively cooled case makes Xbox-style controller crams in a❱❱ SUPPLIER www.chillblast.com Both memory slots are for whisper-quiet operation full Qwerty keyboard and has occupied and, even though dedicated buttons for launchingMedia centres and several SATA sockets are the ante to Medium quality and Windows Media Center, activating passively cooled PCs empty, there’s little room to 1,600 x 900. Flip 3D window-switching and tend to be the preserve add extra storage. adjusting the volume. It feelsof specialist builders such as Quiet Our main concern with passive cheap, but it’s a handy piece ofPC and Tranquil, so we didn’t Without any cooling fans, the systems is heat, but the Chillblast kit, even if we aren’t keen on theexpect to see one produced by only noise that escapes from the coped well – thanks no doubt to keyboard. For the occasional textChillblast – a company better Fusion Vacuum is the sound of a its low-power processor. We input that a media-centre PCknown for producing high-end disc spinning in the optical drive. loaded up our stress tests and requires, it does the job.overclocked systems. The specification is exceedingly recorded a peak of only 73°C well rounded, too. from the Core i5 CPU. The chassis Overall, this is a cracking little Chillblast has followed a also acts as a heatsink. During system, but compared with othertried-and-tested route when The BlackGold TV tuner has prolonged stress-testing with PCs such as the Mac mini, thedesigning the Fusion Vacuum dual tuners and Freeview HD Prime95, the top of the system hit Chillblast is expensive. ByMini. Streacom’s F8 chassis, which support (see 1 ), and Chillblast a peak of 52°C and the vents dispensing with the optical drivewe’ve seen before in the VeryPC also includes a dual-band 802.11n topped out at 59°C, so if you’re and internal TV tuner, Apple’sBroadleaf BL5220e (web ID: wireless USB dongle, 8GB of RAM planning to use this system in a machine is smaller and prettier,372874), has been pressed into and a Blu-ray reader. The only confined space, make sure there’s and even a fully loaded modelservice. It’s easy to see why; the major omission is a hard disk – some airflow. with 8GB of RAM and a Core i7minimal design and brushed instead, there’s a 240GB SSD. processor costs only £859 inc VAT.aluminium make for a smart, One peripheral, Xebec’scompact PC. One side of the Processing power comes from HTPC (see 3 ), is included, and That said, the Chillblast hassystem is covered with metal fins Intel’s Core i5-3450S (see 2 ), Chillblast hopes that this will its own selling points: there’s ato dissipate heat. which is the company’s weakest make its Fusion Vacuum the ideal modicum of upgradability, low-power Core i5 chip. It isn’t living room PC. This lightweight a Blu-ray drive and that Under the lid – which slides sluggish, though. A benchmark excellent DVB-T2 TV tuner,off after several screws have been score of 0.95 is the best we’ve 1 for starters. Factor in fineremoved – Chillblast has pushed recorded from a passive PC. performance and whisper-quietthe Streacom to its limits. The SSD 2 operation, and it deliversand optical drive are attached to Its graphical abilities are more almost everything you coulda cage at the top of the case, and modest. The integrated Intel HD want from a £1,000 media-while this can be removed with a Graphics 2500 chipset scored centre PC. MIKE JENNINGShandful of screws, it isn’t easy. 43fps in our Low quality, 1,366The heatsinks on the RAM make x 768 benchmark, and this figure KEY SPECSremoval tricky and the TV tuner dropped to 17fps when we uppedcard intrudes too. 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-3450S • 8GB DDR3 RAM • Asus P8H77-I motherboard • 240GB Mushkin Chronos Upgrade room on the Asus SSD • Blu-ray drive • Intel HD Graphics 2500 • 2 xP8H77-I motherboard is limited. USB 3 • 8 x USB 2 • PS/2 • HDMI • DVI-D • D-SUBThe TV card takes up the single • 802.11bgn WLAN • Gigabit Ethernet • BlackGold3D BENCHMARKS BGT3620 TV tuner • Xebec HTPC controller • Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit • 1yr RTBCRYSIS warranty • 240 x 250 x 100mm (WDH) • 2yr C&R warranty 43fps 17fps 6fpsSMOOTH PLAY UNPLAYABLE UNPLAYABLE LOW MEDIUM HIGHREAL WORLD BENCHMARKS 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K, 4GB DDR3 = 1OVERALL 0.95RESPONSIVENESS 0.99 OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪MEDIA 0.97 BETTER PERFORMANCE MULTITASKING 0.5 0.88 1 1.25 1.5 FEATURES & DESIGN0 0.25 0.75 VALUE FOR MONEY114 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWSScan 3XSZ77 FT03 NanuAn excellent build and strong performance make fora system that’s better value for money than its rivals❱❱ PRICE £1,096 (£1,315 inc VAT) card occupies one side, and the PC❱❱ SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk slot-loading Blu-ray reader, hard disk and SSD are arranged PROW e’re all for innovation vertically at the front of the case. in desktop PCs, so RECOMMENDED we’re pleased that Scan A Corsair H60 watercoolinghas used its imagination with the unit, has been squeezed into the It’s the first time we’ve seen an and graphics card hit reasonable3XS Z77 FT03 Nanu. The key bottom of the chassis. Underneath Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti in a peak temperatures of 74°C andcomponent of this machine is this you’ll find the only case fan system. It scored 63fps in our 1,920 76°C. The Overclockers had aSilverStone’s FT03-Mini – a – a 140mm unit that unclips and x 1,080 Very High quality test cooler processor and a hottermini-ITX chassis that’s strong, can be removed for easy cleaning. and 36fps when we increased the graphics card, and was louderstylish and looks good. resolution to 2,560 x 1,600; the when stressed. It’s a remarkable amount of Overclockers pulled ahead here, It’s a miniature version of the hardware to cram into such a thanks to its overclocked GeForce As usual, your money will goimpressive FT03, clad entirely in small space – but upgrade room is GTX 680, which scored 79fps in further if you’re willing to scale upbrushed aluminium panels, with practically non-existent, with only the Very High quality benchmark. to a full-sized tower: the Palicompsmall logos on the front. The ports one 2.5in drive bay vacant. The Alpha Detonator (web ID:sit beneath a plastic lattice at the motherboard’s single PCI Express Elsewhere, there’s a 120GB 377011) is £94 cheaper but itstop, but the side panels have gaps x16 slot and two memory sockets boot SSD (a Corsair processor and graphics cardat the top that allow you to thread are occupied. Force 3), but this didn’t are faster. Compared with thethrough cables. perform particularly well Overclockers, however, this PC Despite the diminutive case, in our benchmarks. In is better value. It’s quicker in Crucially, the 3XS is more there are no major compromises the AS SSD test it wrote applications, quieter, fits into acompact than its nearest rival. with the core specification. The and read sequential files smaller enclosure and is more thanBoth the Overclockers Titan processor is an Intel Core at 102MB/sec and £150 cheaper, with its sluggishProdigy Arctic (web ID: 376285) i5-3570K and, while we’ve seen 198MB/sec respectively; SSD the only black mark. For alland the Scan system are around greater overclocks, a boost from the Mach Xtreme drive in but the keenest of gamers, the400mm tall, but the Scan is 3.4GHz to 4.4GHz is nothing to the Overclockers system impressive Scan is our new189mm wide and 235mm deep be ashamed of. Its application sprinted through the small-form-factor system of– smaller than the 250mm-wide, benchmark score of 1.12 is same tests at 299MB/sec choice. MIKE JENNINGS340mm-deep Overclockers. quicker than the 1.09 scored and 505MB/sec. The rest KEY SPECS by the Overclockers. of the specification That doesn’t leave much room, includes 8GB of RAM, a 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K overclocked to 4.4GHz •but SilverStone’s intelligent design 2TB Seagate Barracuda 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 RAM • Asus P8Z77-I Deluxeand Scan’s fastidious system hard disk and dual-band motherboard • 120GB Corsair Force 3 SSD • 2TBbuilding pay off. The motherboard wireless internet. Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 hard disk • Blu-rayis attached to a side panel – the Despite the powerful reader • Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti graphics •only panel that can’t be removed 6 x USB 3 • 4 x USB 2 • 2 x eSATA • 802.11n– and components are expertly components and cramped dual-band Wi-Fi • Gigabit Ethernet • Windows 7slotted around the Asus P8Z77-I build, the Scan’s low hum Home Premium 64-bit • 3yr RTB warranty •Deluxe motherboard. The graphics became only a quiet 189 x 235 x 397mm (WDH)3D BENCHMARKS rumble during our stress tests, and the processorCRYSIS The Scan’s compact design 134fps 97fps 63fps belies its impressive performanceSMOOTH PLAY SMOOTH PLAY SMOOTH PLAY MEDIUM HIGH VERY HIGHREAL WORLD BENCHMARKS 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K, 4GB DDR3 = 1OVERALL 1.12RESPONSIVENESS 1.05 OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ 1.11MEDIA BETTER PERFORMANCE MULTITASKING 0.5 1.19 FEATURES & DESIGN0 0.25 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 VALUE FOR MONEYwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 115

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.netCanon Pixma MG4250Solid performance – and new high-yield inks 123reduce running costs – but it feels cheap in places❱❱ PRICE £46 (£55 inc VAT) with a few minor alterations. (see 1 )❱❱ SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk The circular scroll wheel has (see 2 ) been replaced by a simpler, yet (see 3 )T he quality of all-in-one more clicky and cheap-feeling printers at around the £50 four-way cursor pad to go with The MG4250 mono and 7.1p for colour. The mark is tremendous these the existing option selectors, and has a more demure look printer itself is cheap at £55 incdays, and for home users who the garish blue glow of the power than last year’s model VAT, so you’d be crazy not toprint mainly documents plus a button has been toned down. The spend a little more on XL cartridgesfew photos, Canon’s Pixmas have screen still tilts up for use when from Amazon and will last only to go with it.long been a safe bet. This is still copying or scanning. 180 pages. That gives you a highthe case with the new Pixma running cost of 7p for mono and Performance is mixed,MG4250, although don’t expect The MG4250 lacks the 14.3p for colour. depending on your main printingany major enhancements. individual colour inks of its more habits. Mono documents fly out expensive Pixma cousins, but By contrast, the XL black at a solid 18.2ppm in normal The most noticeable difference arguably the most important and colour inks each cost only mode, and slightly faster in draftwith the new model is the shift to improvement is that it finally around £4 more, yet they last 600a matte finish throughout, which accepts high-yield ink cartridges. and 400 pages respectively. Thisgives the printer a less flashy, To illustrate the difference this reduces the running costs to atacky look. The controls remain makes, a set of standard inks – one much more reasonable 2.8p foron the left edge of the device, black and one combined colour – will set you back just over £25Blue Tiki USBmicrophone❱❱ PRICE £x2x9x(x£x3x5xixnxc VAT) Blue’s Tiki – a USB microphone❱❱ SUPPLIER wxwxwxx.pxcxwxoxrkld.co.uk the size of a thumb drive with a❱❱ OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪ distinctive snail-like hump – is designed to improve the audioquality of laptops when used with Skype and other voice applications.It offers several different modes of operation, and glowing lights signifywhich is active. Blue is the noise-cancelling Intelligent Speech mode,and purple is the Natural Recording mode, designed to enhancequality in quiet conditions. The Tiki also mutes itself when you’re not Pong Researchspeaking, with the status light glowing amber. We didn’t notice a huge iPad casedifference between a standard laptop microphone and the Tiki’sIntelligent Speech mode in quiet surroundings, but its noise cancelling worked well in louder environments, retaining vocal clarity while suppressing background noise. The Natural Recording Pong Research says its iPad case mode, meanwhile, ❱❱ PRICE ££x3x8x(x£x4x5xxinxc VAT) improves Wi-Fi and 3G reception by removed plenty of ❱❱ SUPPLIER wxwxwxx.pxoxnxgxuk.com disabling a proximity sensor, used to noise from our ❱❱ OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪ reduce power to the iPad’s wireless recording and chipset whenever it’s close to your delivered subtler, more body. We couldn’t test those claims scientifically, but irrespective of any nuanced sound than an wireless benefits, it’s still a top-quality case. The highlight is its origami- integrated microphone. At £35 style cover, which allows your iPad to be propped up in five different inc VAT, the Tiki isn’t an impulse ways. You can roll it up in the same way as an official Apple Smart Cover, buy, but for avid Skype users or or fold it into a triangular stand to prop up the iPad in landscape amateur podcasters, it provides an or portrait. Unlike Apple’s Smart Cover, the Pong Research case also easy, snail-sized means of improving provides a protective shield for the back of the iPad, helping to preventvoice quality. MIKE JENNINGS scratches. The price is reasonable, too. JONATHAN BRAY116 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWSmode. The print quality is photographs shows that the detail PChigh, with thick black text and no isn’t on a par with the averagevisible spidering, and although HP all-in-one. Some scans and PROsolid areas showed a few speckles, copies were a little murky, too,it’s generally fine for document particularly when capturing colour RECOMMENDEDwork. Colour output isn’t quite so on a white background.good, crawling out at only 3.5ppm The height-adjustablein our tests, but aside from a However, with a 2.5in colour stand is supremely sturdyrather pale red, the results are screen, AirPrint support, anperfectly acceptable. The same is auto-duplex mode, and various Eizotrue of photographs – although, auto-off and quiet-mode features ColorEdge CX240understandably, they aren’t quite to play with, the Pixma MG4250as rich and vivid as the output offers plenty for its low price. It Eizo’s ColorEdge CX240 is eye-wateringly expensive,from a more expensive Pixma with doesn’t quite beat our current but immaculate image quality sweetens the dealindividual inks. favourite budget all-in-one, the HP Photosmart 5510 (web ID: Scanning speed is average, with 372337), though. The Canonresults that are good but not is faster and better with monoexcellent. Colours are vivid and prints, but the HP has a muchfairly well captured, although higher-quality (albeit slower)a close look at our scanned scanner, slightly lower running costs and a nicer touchscreen KEY SPECS interface. DAVID BAYON Four-colour A4 inkjet all-in-one • 4,800 x 1,200dpi OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ print • 1,200 x 2,400dpi scan • 2.5in colour display • 100-sheet input tray • duplex • USB • PERFORMANCE 802.11n Wi-Fi • SD/MMC/MS reader • 449 x 304 x FEATURES & DESIGN 152mm (WDH) VALUE FOR MONEYMophie Juice Pack E izo’s ColorEdge CX240 is ❱❱ PRICE £887 (£1,064 inc VAT)Powerstation Duo no ordinary monitor. ❱❱ SUPPLIER www.eizo.co.uk Slotting in between the new❱❱ PRICE £68 (£82 inc VAT) If you’re tired of toting mains entry-level CS series and the The sRGB mode demonstrated a❱❱ SUPPLIER www.more chargers everywhere you go, self-calibrating CG models, Eizo’s contrast ratio of 810:1, a colourcomputers.com Mophie’s Juice Pack Powerstation latest promises professional-class temperature of 6,245K and an❱❱ OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪ Duo could be just the ticket. This colour accuracy to anyone who average gamma of 2.23. Colour rectangular device is a little taller can afford the price of admission. accuracy was exemplary, withthan a box of cigarettes and contains a 6,000mAh battery. There are also an average Delta E of 1.2 and atwo USB outputs for charging a pair of USB devices simultaneously. The ColorEdge CX240 spares maximum deviation of 2.6.Weighing in at 196g, the Mophie feels sturdy, with a metal trim running no expense on its panel; the 16:10,around its edge and two flanks covered in rubberised plastic. A button on 1,920 x 1,200 pixel display is a The Adobe RGB preset,the device’s edge illuminates a set of four LEDs to show the remaining true 10-bit IPS panel backlit meanwhile, provided a contrastbattery capacity. The huge battery inside can charge standard smartphone by wide-gamut RGB LED ratio of 796:1, a colour temperaturebatteries several times before expiring, and unlike some of its rivals, the backlighting, the same panel of 6,221K and a gamma of 2.22.Juice Pack is capable of supplying 2.1 amps of current; enough even to and backlighting technology used With an average Delta E of 1charge the new iPad’s 11,000mAh in the top-end ColorEdge CG246. and a maximum of 2.6, it’s asbattery, albeit only partially. It’s colour accurate as you couldexpensive, but avid tablet and There’s also scope for future hope for without resorting to asmartphone users will upgrades. Splash out £77 exc full calibration.revel in the freedom VAT on Eizo’s ColorNavigatorfrom mains power. software and the CX240’s Eizo’s ColorEdge CX240 is calibrated mode and nifty dauntingly expensive – even moreSASHA MULLER SelfCorrection sensor come so than 27in monitors such as into play. This doesn’t perform Samsung’s Series 9 S27B970D calibration – you’ll still need a or Apple’s Cinema Display. third-party colorimeter for that However, the image quality is truly – instead, it regularly monitors the exceptional. If you don’t need the display’s luminance to ensure it specialist features of the CG series, hasn’t deviated since the last time the ColorEdge CX240 provides a calibration was performed. top-flight performance that won’t disappoint. SASHA MULLER Even without calibration, however, the Eizo is very capable. OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ KEY SPECS PERFORMANCE FEATURES & DESIGN 24in 1,920 x 1,200 IPS TFT • 300cd/m2 brightness • VALUE FOR MONEY 1,000:1 contrast • DVI • DisplayPort • HDMI • 575 x 246 x 545mm (WDH)www.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 117

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.netArchos 101 XSA keen price and plenty of power, but the integratedkeyboard is poor and the overall build is plasticky❱❱ PRICE £250 (£300 inc VAT) feet on the base, which means the The Archos 101 XS weighs There’s plenty of power under❱❱ SUPPLIER www.archos.com tablet has an irritating tendency only 800g with the keyboard the hood, courtesy of an OMAP to slide around your desk while 4470 processor. It’s the successorT he tablet market is full of you’re working – and scuffs flimsy coverboard: weight. to the chip used in the Archos 101 insipid also-rans, so it’s appear on its aluminium baseplate With the keyboard clipped to G9 Turbo, and it delivered good refreshing to see Archos in no time at all. the tablet, the whole shebang benchmark scores. A Quadranttrying something different with the weighs a mere 800g, and measures result of 4,071 crept ahead of101 XS. It’s a 10.1in laptop/tablet The keyboard isn’t the 13mm thick – significantly lighterhybrid, but instead of a locking finest we’ve used either: and slimmer than the 1.1kg,and hinging dock – similar to the the keys are too 19mm-thick Asus.one on the Asus Transformer Pad small, they have300 – the 101 XS’s 5mm-thick hardly any travel“coverboard” is held to the and, unless youfront of the tablet with magnets. prod them with reasonable force, they occasionally fail to To open it and start typing, you register a key press. Compared totwist apart the two sections, fold the £385 Asus Transformer Padout a stand in the base, and drop 300, which has a thicker,the tablet in a shallow slot, where sturdier base and larger, morea couple of smaller magnets – and responsive keys, typing on thisan electronic connection – hook tablet is slow and ponderous.the two halves together. Fortunately, although it’s still It’s a neat idea, but there are a touch plasticky, the tablet feelslimitations. There are no rubber more sturdy and there’s one benefit to having such a thin,Sony Internet Playerwith Google TVA neat idea that works well in some respects, butit’s too rough around the edges to recommend❱❱ PRICE £166 (£199 inc VAT) are installed via the Google Play Sony’s box adds internet around web pages and clicking❱❱ SUPPLIER www.sony.co.uk store and launched via a vertically streaming to regular TV links, a D-pad and a handful scrolling grid of icons. Web of other controls including theThe idea behind the first browsing, meanwhile, is carried It does this with a picture-in- familiar Android home, menu Google TV product from out via Google Chrome. There’s picture box, which displays live and back shortcut buttons. The Sony is simple: it takes no widget-based desktop, though. content from the HDMI input. rest of the buttons allow theyour regular television and turns The USB 2 slots on the rear allow remote to double as a universalit, effectively, into one of those In fact, the core interface is local file playback, with support device for your existing TVfancy smart TVs. pleasingly minimal, with a row for most file types. and set-top box. of apps on the main homescreen It does this by passing an displaying a clock and Android In use, the box is simple to The app model opens up allHDMI signal from a set-top box, notifications on the left, and operate; this is mainly down sorts of extra capabilities: youthrough input and output ports on links to core apps on the right: TV to its ingenious double-sided can add DLNA media streamingits rear, to your TV at the end of (via the HDMI input), the Play remote control, which connects via an app, allowing video to bethe chain. This allows you to store, Chrome, plus YouTube and via Bluetooth. On one side is a streamed from a compatible NASswitch between live TV and the Sony Entertainment portal, backlit, five-row Qwertyinternet content, which the box which allows you to buy music keyboard; on the other is a www.pcpro.co.ukaccesses via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. and SD/HD movies (or rent them). clickable touchpad for mousing The box runs Android so you One of the Internet Player’scan run apps on it, as you can key features is to provide internetwith a tablet or smartphone. Apps access – via the browser or an app – while you continue to watch TV.118 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net

WorldMagHsar.dwnaree tREVIEWSthe 4,037 scored by the Asus maximum brightness level of Compact andTransformer Pad 300, and its 225cd/m2, and a better contrast elegant, the1,604ms SunSpider result was level of 1,250:1. Used indoors it Sonos addsalso better. can produce a punchy, colourful bass without picture. Finally, battery life is the faff of a This pace, combined with acceptable, and in our looping, regular subAndroid 4, makes for a fluid and low-resolution video test, it lastedresponsive front-end, and most 8hrs 8mins. That isn’t as good Sonos Subgames ran with hardly a dropped as the Transformer Pad 300,frame. Archos hasn’t lumbered which lasted more than ten hours Sonos adds a subwoofer to its line-up, but deep bassthe OS with an armful of extra without its battery-equipped and natty design comes at an eye-watering pricesoftware either. What you do get, keyboard base attached, butthough, is good: Archos’ media neither is it a bad result. When it comes to ❱❱ PRICE £499 (£599 inc VAT)player app will play files (such as multiroom music ❱❱ SUPPLIER www.sonos.com1080p MKVs) the stock Android The Archos 101 XS is a tricky streaming, fewvideo player struggles with, and tablet to assess. On the one hand systems are as elegant or as easy subwoofer’s flank to pair withyou can also download an app to the screen isn’t bright, the build to use as Sonos’. Now, the your existing Sonos setup. Thatyour Android phone to remote is plasticky and the keyboard is company has added a dedicated done, a wizard instructs you to sitcontrol the tablet over Wi-Fi. poor. On the other, the price is subwoofer to its range, designed in your usual listening positionThis feature works pretty well, reasonable, and it’s powerful to complement its Play:3- and and observe a looped bassline toand is useful if you plan to connect and light. Rather than a direct Play:5-powered speakers, or optimise the Sub’s volume andthe tablet to your TV via its competitor to the Transformer partner with its digital amplifier, phase settings.mini-HDMI output. Pad 300, it’s best to view this as a the Connect:Amp. good-quality budget 10.1in tablet, Working alongside a single Elsewhere, the 1,280 x 800 with the bonus of a free cover and Unlike most subwoofers, the Play:3, the Sub makes a hugedisplay is middling, with a low keyboard. In that light, it isn’t Sonos Sub isn’t a giant featureless difference to sound quality. KEY SPECS bad at all. MIKE JENNINGS cube. Instead, Sonos has worked Basslines suddenly stretch right its design magic to make a down to chest-shaking frequencies, 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 CPU • 1GB RAM • 16GB storage OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ subwoofer that’s highly compact. with the Sub transforming the • 10.1in 1,280 x 800 LCD • single-band 802.11n Where most subwoofers employ crisp, punchy performance of the Wi-Fi • Bluetooth 4 • 720p webcam • microSD slot • PERFORMANCE huge bass drivers to produce the Play:3 into a far more visceral mini-HDMI • Android 4.0.3 • 1yr RTB warranty • FEATURES & DESIGN subsonic frequencies you’d expect, experience. Crank up the volume 273 x 170 x 8mm (13mm with keyboard) (WDH) • VALUE FOR MONEY Sonos has partnered two smaller, with riotous dance music and 600g (800g with keyboard) oval drivers in a push-pull there’s no sign of strain at all. HD video streamed smoothly, configuration. This allows the Shift to more delicate musicaldevice; there are games to play; scrolling up and down pages was two drivers to shift as much air strains, and the Sub still doesand even an app that will display often painfully slow, especially the as a considerably larger driver, its bit to add scale and depthtweets at the top of the screen sort of hefty, video-centric pages while taking up less room. to recordings.while you’re watching live TV – you’re likely to be accessing via ayou have to set the search criteria television. We ran the SunSpider Covered in an elegant It is possible to buy muchmanually, however. JavaScript benchmark on it, and it gloss black, the 16kg Sub feels more capable subwoofers for less finished with a result of 4,222ms reassuringly solid, and since it’s than the Sonos Sub. Opt for a It all sounds good, but the box – a very slow result. Even the only 158mm deep, it’s pleasingly Connect:Amp, and it’s possible toisn’t without foibles. For starters, simplest games installed from versatile too. It can be positioned connect any sub with speaker-levelyou don’t get the full selection of Google Play, meanwhile, stuttered standing on its side and pushed up inputs. The allure of the SonosGoogle Play store apps to choose and stalled. against a wall, or laid flat and system, however, is simplicity,from, only those approved for use placed under a table or sofa. and here the Sub retains its appeal.on Google TV. There’s no access Sony’s Google TV box is If you can’t be bothered with theto Google’s movie downloads and certainly a nice idea, and in The installation process is a faff of setting up a discreterentals – instead, you can stream some ways it works very well. picture of elegance. Cue up the subwoofer, and need a compact,movies from Netflix or rent titles The remote control is excellent, it Sonos client software, which runs décor-friendly, plug-and-playfrom Sony Entertainment. At the plays streaming Full HD content on PCs, Macs, Sonos’ Control alternative, the Sonos Sub is thetime of writing there was no BBC and compatible USB-connected handset or any iOS and Android perfect choice. SASHA MULLERiPlayer app available, although content smoothly, and the apps device, and all that’s requiredstreaming from the website works provide the opportunity to expand is to press a button on thewell enough. the features of the box over time. For now, however, the price of KEY SPECS If you were thinking this would £199 inc VAT is way too highbe the ideal appliance for browsing for a device with this many rough Active subwoofer • 2 x 6in drivers • Class Dthe web on your TV, there are edges. JONATHAN BRAY amplifiers • 10/100 Ethernet • 1yr RTB warranty •problems too. Although embedded 402 x 158 x 380mm (WDH) KEY SPECS OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ 1080p max resolution • HDMI input • HDMI output PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE • optical digital S/PDIF output • 10/100 Ethernet FEATURES & DESIGN FEATURES & DESIGN • 2 x USB 2 • Bluetooth remote control • Android VALUE FOR MONEY VALUE FOR MONEY 3.2 • 204 x 129 x 30mm (WDH)www.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 119

REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.netNetgear R6300A promising start for 802.11ac, but with few compatibledevices, it won’t revolutionise your home network❱❱ PRICE £150 (£180 inc VAT) 802.11n router. The Netgear New 802.11ac It’s a blisteringly fast router,❱❱ SUPPLIER www.pcworld.co.uk R6300 also sports a 2.4GHz radio, wireless promises and it’s quick over standard allowing concurrent 802.11n and 1,300Mbits/sec speeds 802.11n connections as well.T he transition from 802.11g 802.11ac connections. Running the tests over 802.11n to faster 802.11n Wi-Fi three simultaneous streams, 5GHz, it achieved an overall was among the slowest, Over 802.11ac, the potential through our usual battery of average of 25.2MB/sec in themost drawn-out upgrades in the speed gains are significant. This wireless tests. close-range tests, and 7MB/sechistory of technology. It was only Netgear R6300 router has a in the long-range tests.officially ratified by the IEEE theoretical maximum throughput Unusually, Netgear didn’tstandards committee in 2009, of up to 1,300Mbits/sec, almost supply us with an 802.11ac So the new standard is clearlybut before that, we had years of three times the 450Mbits/sec claim adapter, as these aren’t available quick. The question is, should youunofficial “pre-n” and “draft-n” you’ll see on the fastest 802.11n as yet; instead, we received a pair invest in an R6300 now? On theproducts released as manufacturers routers, and there’s also headroom of R6300 routers, set up for use in one hand, why not? You couldand consumers lost patience. in the standard for speeds far in repeater mode. We hooked up our replace your current router with excess of this. regular pair of test laptops to each the R6300 and enjoy the same Thankfully, it looks as if its one via Gigabit Ethernet, then level of connectivity as your oldsuccessor – 802.11ac – will go These speeds are achieved in transferred a series of large and router – even ignoring 802.11ac,through the process far more two key ways. First, the 802.11ac small files back and forth across it’s rapid.quickly. Although still at the has support for wider channels. the 802.11ac link.“draft 2” stage, it’s predicted the While 802.11n supported a On the other hand, it’sstandard will be finalised by the maximum channel bandwidth of At close range it was lightning expensive, and with no laptopend of 2012, with manufacturers 40MHz, 802.11ac goes right up quick. Large files copied across in adapters, let alone compatiblealready delivering new hardware. to 160MHz. Second, the standard an average of 41.5MB/sec and smartphones or tablets availableThis Netgear R6300 cable router supports the use of more MIMO small files at 27.5MB/sec, giving yet, it will be some time beforeis the first supporting the new (multiple input and multiple an overall average of 34.3MB/sec. you fully reap the benefits. Asstandard we’ve seen. output) spatial streams, up to The fastest router in our last such, we advise you hold onto eight from four in 802.11n. your cash for the time being; The 802.11ac standard is With a single spatial giving a routers Labs – the Asus however, as soon as the firstintended to boost wireless speeds maximum possible throughput RT-N56U (web ID: 371296) 802.11ac laptops begin toand range. It only operates in the of 433Mbits/sec on an 80MHz – achieved figures of 26MB/ arrive, we’ll be beating a path to5GHz band but is backwards- channel, there’s potential for sec, 21.5MB/sec and Netgear’s door. JONATHAN BRAYcompatible with 802.11n devices, throughput of up to 6.93Gbits/sec. 23.8MB/sec in this test.which means if you buy an R6300 Overall, the R6300 with KEY SPECSnow you’ll be able to connect any That’s the theory, but as we’ve 802.11ac was faster by adual-band laptop, smartphone found over the years, such figures factor of 1.4. At long range 802.11abgn/ac (draft 2) router • cable modem •and tablet over 5GHz just as you are rarely achievable in real-world – over a distance of 40m – dual-band concurrent 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios •would any regular dual-band use. So we set about putting speeds fell significantly, as 4 x Gigabit Ethernet • 2 x USB 2 for shared storage the R6300, which supports you’d expect. Once again, and printing • 1yr RTB warranty • 255 x 67 x 80MHz channels and though, it was considerably 205mm (WDH)Close-range average speed, 5GHz (MB/sec) quicker than the Asus RT- N56U, achieving an overallNetgear R6300 over 802.11ac 34.3 average of 7.4MB/sec. That’s 5.3 times the speed of the Asus’Netgear R6300 over 802.11n 25.2 1.4MB/sec, and almost 1.45 times the speed of the fastestAsus RT-N56U 23.8 router we’ve seen in this test, 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 the Netgear WNDR4500.Long-range average speed, 5GHz (MB/sec) The R6300 is quick – even over 802.11nNetgear R6300 over 802.11ac 7.4Netgear R6300 over 802.11n 7Asus RT-N56U 1.4 OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ 012345678 PERFORMANCE FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY120 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWHarodwrareldMags.netMotorola Razr iExceptional battery life and an enviable turn ofspeed make this a tempting mid-range buy❱❱ PRICE SIM-free, £350; from free More notable than PC on a £21/mth, 24mth contract all these results, however, is the phone’s battery life. PRO❱❱ SUPPLIER www.buymobile Although Intel hasn’t phones.net made much of the current RECOMMENDED range of mobile processors’T he inclusion of an Intel battery life, contenting The screen’s perfect contrast makes for vivid colour reproduction processor in the Motorola itself with claiming Razr i marks the first time the chips are merely Perhaps the most disappointing and a 10fps burst mode. It’s awe’ve seen one of its Medfield- “competitive”, the Razr i aspect of the Razr i is that it runs perfectly acceptable shooter,based Atoms in a big-brand blitzed our 24-hour Ice Cream Sandwich, but in this and we especially liked howsmartphone. The chip of choice is battery test. The incarnation, packed with small fast the camera app is to openthe Z2480, and it’s a significant 2,000mAh battery finished tweaks, it works well. There’s a – you can go from standby to onstep up from the Z2460 found the test with 76% dial of shortcuts on the lockscreen in just over a second, and fromin the Orange San Diego (web ID: remaining on the gauge. that open the phone, text- then to your first shot in another375175) – the first handset to That’s the best result messaging and camera apps, 1.5 seconds – but its shots lack ainclude one of these parts – we’ve seen from any and Motorola’s Circles widget little sharpness when comparedthanks to a headline-grabbing smartphone in recent takes centre stage on the to top-end handsets.clock speed of 2GHz. It’s still memory, with most homescreen. This provides asingle-core, but it has borrowed modern smartphones small selection of circular graphics All told, though, the Razr iHyper-Threading from Intel’s achieve 50 to 60%. that display the time, weather, punches above its weight infull-fat processors, so the Z2480 battery level and notifications. several key categories: itscan tackle two concurrent tasks. Physically, it’s less Flick downwards on each circle battery life is superb, the exciting. It has a 4.3in, 540 x and they flip around, showing Intel processor delivers good That’s the highest clock speed 960 screen, which is smaller alternative information. performance, and it’s compactwe’ve seen on any handset, but than top-end handsets, both in without sacrificing too muchperformance was mixed. The terms of size and resolution. Motorola’s Smart Actions app in terms of screen size. ThoseMotorola’s Quadrant score of While that means pixels can be allows you to create situation- solid fundamentals earn the3,784 lags behind many top-end seen with the naked eye, the specific rules for the handset. Motorola Razr i a Recommendedphones and mid-range There’s a selection of presets to award – it’s a fine mid-rangehandsets: the Samsung Motorola’s Super get you started: one reminds you smartphone. MIKE JENNINGSGalaxy S III (web ID: AMOLED panel has if the battery has less than 50%374950) scored 5,413, plenty going for it, with of its power left in the evening, KEY SPECSand the HTC One S a brightness level of and a work rule uses the phone’s(web ID: 375343) scored 219cd/m2 – reasonable GPS chip to turn off ringtones Single-core 2GHz Intel Atom Z2480 • 1GB RAM •4,717. In SunSpider, for an AMOLED panel when you’re at the office. It’s 8GB storage • 4.3in 540 x 960 Super AMOLEDthe Intel chip excelled: but without hitting the easy to add your own, too, with display • quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA •its score of 1,052ms is retina-searing heights of custom action “triggers” able Bluetooth 2.1 • dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi • 8mp stillsbeaten only by the the Samsung Galaxy S III’s to use the battery-life level as • 1080p video • 2,000mAh Li-ion battery • AndroidiPhone 5’s 932ms. 300cd/m2. The perfect well as the phone’s location and 4.0.4 • 1yr RTB warranty • 122 x 61 x 8.3mm contrast, meanwhile, time of day. (WDH) • 126g Those results makes for punchy, vividtranslate to slick colour reproduction. Finally, the 8-megapixel OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪Android navigation, Critically, despite the camera captures bright, accurateand the minor juddering 4.3in display, the Razr i colours, and boasts both HDR PERFORMANCEin Reckless Racing 2 and feels compact, lightweightDead Trigger won’t and highly pocketable, FEATURES & DESIGNstop us playing top-end much more so than the VALUE FOR MONEYgames. Performance first Android-based Razr.also bodes well for theeventual move to Build quality feelsAndroid 4.1 from the solid too, and the phone4.0.4 preloaded on the has also been treatedphone – an upgrade with Motorola’s water-Motorola says is coming, repellent Splash Guardalthough there’s no firm coating. The exposeddate yet. screws on the sides and Kevlar panel on the rear The Motorola won’t be to everyone’sRazr i feels as if it taste, but this phonewas built to last feels as if it has been built to last.122 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMags.net Philips Blade 2 249C4QHSB Stunningly beautiful - The new Philips Blade 2 monitor with stylish, ultra slim design and AMVA display is ready for brilliant performance. Features: - 24” AMVA LED for wide-view, Super high contrast viewing - HDMI-ready for Full HD entertainment - SmartContrast 20,000,000:1 for incredible rich black details - VGA and 2 x HDMI input connectivity - Superb glossy polish with distinctive features Price £199.99 inc VATPhilips Lightframe 2 Features: Philips V-Line Features:248X3LFHSB 226V3LSB - 24” W-LED-backlit panel - 22” LED-backlit panelRelax your eyes - the innovative - Full HD LCD display with a This attractive, slim display is a delight - Full HD LCD display with aPhilips LightFrame 2 display with its to use. Essential features such asunique bezel emits specific 1920x1080p resolution SmartContrast that ensure rich bright 1920x1080p resolutionwavelength cool blue light, which - SmartResponse 2ms images, make it an outstanding choice - Fast 5ms response timereduces your eye fatigue and - SmartContrast 20,000,000:1 for and excellent value for money! - SmartContrastimproves concentration. incredible rich black details 10,000,000:1 for incredible - VGA and 2 x HDMI input rich black details - DVI-D and VGA input connectivity connectivity Price Price £185.00 inc VAT £99.00 inc VATDesign and Performanceperfected to an art.The Philips range of monitors for both home and office effortlessly combines style, performance and goodvalue. Built with Award-winning features such as SmartContrast for vibrant images and rich black details andeco-friendly materials, Philips is the choice of the connoisseur.See the complete range of Philips monitors at http://www.philips.comAvailable from the following reseller partners: www.lcdmonitors.philips.com WorldMags.net

REVIEWSWSofotwarreldMags.netAdobe Photoshop Elements 11 PCThe new Elements interface makes a massive difference to photo editing, but there PROare too few new features to make it a must-have upgrade❱❱ PRICE £66 (£79 inc VAT) traditional look of RECOMMENDED❱❱ UPGRADE £53 (£64 inc VAT) full-blown Photoshop❱❱ SUPPLIER www.adobe.co.uk and most of its advanced tools. While previousT he pressure of meeting versions of Elements 123 Adobe’s annual refresh offered those three cycle weighs heavily on the editing modes too, theydevelopers of Photoshop Elements. now feel much moreLast year’s refresh was the coherent, with optionsdampest of squibs, adding little and side panelsbut novelty features to Adobe’s appearing only whenconsumer photo editor. needed. Expert modeA quick glance at the benefits the most fromfeature list of Photoshop this new look. TheElements 11 left us fearing the tool icons have beenworst again: an interface revamp, sensibly enlarged, witha few new filters, and a couple of the options for theseadditional editing tools hardly left tools – such as brushus tugging at the shrinkwrap. size adjustment – nowHowever, a few minutes in the located in a more The revamped interface is commendably clean and less gloomy than beforecompany of Elements 11 was generous panel at the compared to those in Snapseed Once you’ve created yourenough to convince us that there’s foot of the screen, rather thanmore to it than the specification crammed beneath the dropdown and Corel PaintShop Pro X5 album of photos, it’s easy to sharesheet reveals. menus at the top. Panes for Ultimate (see opposite). them online using various services.Let’s start with that new advanced tools such as layers and One advanced tool that’s There are built-in tools for easyinterface, which sees not only the effects now appear only when worthy of note is the new Refine publishing on Flickr, Facebookgloomy charcoal colour scheme clicked, eliminating the clutter of Edge dialog, which allows you to and Adobe’s own online servicesof yesteryear replaced by a lighter windows running down the right draw in areas that the quick- – but Twitter is curiously omitted.grey, but also a rethink of the of the screen. selection tool may have missed, There’s plenty to admire inentire editing workflow. The The new editing tools are hit theoretically making it easier to Elements 11, and we’d beeditor is now clearly divided into and miss. Of the smattering of perform cut-outs. In our tests with hard-pushed to name a betterthree modes: Quick, Guided and new effects added to Elements’ different types of image, however, all-round editing applicationExpert. Quick mode deals with already extensive library, only the results were erratic. for photography amateurs andbasic exposure and levels the Comic effect (pictured below) The other half of the Photoshop enthusiasts. Yet it falls short of anadjustments. Guided offers enthralled us. Elements package is the Organizer. essential upgrade for anyone whostep-by-step wizards for creating The addition of a simple This receives the light-grey has either of the previous twoeffects such as a shallow depth of vignette tool is long overdue, treatment, too, plus a selection of editions – not least because Adobefield and toy-camera style. Expert but the new tilt-shift effect new ways to sort and curate your offers a mere £15 discount on theprovides a modern twist on the is imprecise and complicated photo library. Disappointingly, full version of the software. we had to manually show the Elements is also becoming Organizer where to find our marooned between ever-more photos – but it works with powerful tablet apps costing impressive efficiency, with the only a few pounds and Adobe’s option to sort a collection by own Lightroom suite, which has Media, People, Places or Events. taken a massive price cut since the Places is the most intriguing of last Elements release. Lightroom these options. Photos arriving with doesn’t offer the fine editing geolocation data embedded are controls of Elements, but many automatically pinpointed on a enthusiasts are likely to conclude Google map (once they’ve been put it has all the editing power they through Elements’ Auto Analyzer), need, with casual editors covered or you can drag and drop images by apps. Another Adobe price cut without location data onto the may be in order. BARRY COLLINS map. It’s then possible to sortThe Comic filter, in the Sketch menu, creates a convincing effect photos displaying only those taken OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ in a particular location. You can also group photos by events, such EASE OF USE as birthdays or weddings. FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY124 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagSsof.twnaree tREVIEWSCorel PaintShop Pro X5 UltimateA worthy upgrade that offers many new features, but it’s still too slow andunresponsive to compete with rival editors❱❱ PRICE £53 (£64 inc VAT) Corel’s long list of❱❱ UPGRADE £50 (£60 inc VAT) additions is geotagging,❱❱ SUPPLIER www.more which picks up on embedded tags in computers.com photos, allowing youP aintShop Pro X5 is as old to organise your as the hills in software photo library by terms, but annual updates geographical location. The application’shave helped it to keep pace with Map View uses anthe crowd. This year sees another embedded Googleraft of improvements, adding map to display photos,(according to Corel) an impressive allowing you to tag85 new tools and enhancements. photos from camerasHappily, those changes don’t without GPS. Photoinclude an interface overhaul – locations are alsosomething that developers usually displayed in afall back on when there’s nothing collapsible tree view inelse to shout about – so the PaintShop Pro’s Smartfront-end remains split into three Collections on the leftsimple-to-understand workspaces: of the screen.Manage, Adjust and Edit tabs. PaintShop Pro PaintShop Pro’s improvements include a host of new editing tools and effectsThe Manage tab hosts the takes tagging a step range from film-style retro and match for its rivals until it fixes itsmain new features. The first further, too. Once you’ve taggedis the introduction of face your images, its “Share My Trip” quick black-and-white conversions workflow and performance issues.recognition, at long last. It’s function allows you to publish an to creative, artistic treatments. Despite its refinements, PaintShopremarkably quick, scanning a HTML-based slideshow to your This is all welcome, but the Adjust Pro remains a daunting prospectlibrary of 1,000 photos in just public Dropbox folder – a simple panel remains a destructive editing for new users, with a plethora ofover four minutes, then grouping way to quickly share holiday snaps environment. You can revert to the panels, sliders and icons makingphotos of similar faces ready with friends and relatives. original once you’ve saved your the Edit workspace in particularfor naming. It isn’t as spookily The rest of PaintShop Pro’s changes, but you can’t go back tricky to get to grips with.effective as Google Picasa’s face enhancements come in the shape and tweak what you’ve done Performance is also arecognition, marking all sorts of of editing tools and effects. The without starting all over again; problem. Many of the effects –odd items as faces (including the HDR tools from the previous adjustments must be saved to the even simple ones such as shadowtop of the BT Tower). However, version have been enhanced, file before you progress to the full and highlight adjustments – takethere’s one area in which it has an allowing the processing of multiple Edit module. far too long to apply. The centreadvantage – the ability to import and single raw files. The Adjust However, there’s plenty of focus and denoise effects, forprofile pictures from Facebook module benefits from more editing interesting stuff under the Edit tab, instance, take at least two secondsand use this information to pre-tag power, with a selection of preset where PaintShop Pro Ultimate to generate a preview, even on aphotos before they’re uploaded. Instant Effects included in a panel adds not only the new Retro Lab moderately powerful workstationThe next new feature on on the right-hand side. These tool, for vintage Lomo-style laptop. Those previews have a effects, but also a host of other tendency to automatically kick high-quality filters via Nik as you’re tweaking settings, too, Software’s Color Efex Pro 3 which is irritating when you’re Complete plugin. The current making only small changes. version of this plugin (Color Efex That’s a shame, since Pro 4 Complete) is sold for around PaintShop Pro has a huge amount £140, so it’s a worthy addition, of editing power and the quality and includes 52 different filters, of its effects is in many ways from the basic neutral density filter superior to Photoshop Elements to the more off-the-wall infrared (see opposite). However, its lack thermal camera effect. of speed makes it frustrating Elsewhere, there’s also now to use, meaning we can’t support for Photoshop brushes, a recommend it. JONATHAN BRAY new graduated filter tool includedGeotagging allows photos to be organised by geographical location under the Photo Effects menu OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ option, and more streamlined control over layer styles. EASE OF USE Unfortunately, Corel won’t be a FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEYwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 125

REVIEWSWSofotwarreldMags.netPC The revamped users would know whether to interface is tidier, more select normal or PAL templates. PRO responsive and far friendlier than before There are still no 24fpsRECOMMENDED templates for direct uploads or best consumer editor Blu-ray authoring, despite theAdobe Premiere for creating animated increasing use of this frame rateElements 11 montages from many by cameras. We couldn’t find an discrete elements. 1080/50p export template, either, A major interface overhaul delivers big rewards for both although we were able to create newcomers and experienced users The new Film a custom template using the Looks effects category, QuickTime H.264 format.❱❱ PRICE £65 (£78 inc VAT) various other editing functions meanwhile, provides Casual users can’t be expected❱❱ UPGRADE £53 (£63 inc VAT) are to be found in the new Action creative colour to do this, and the online help❱❱ SUPPLIER www.adobe.com bar that runs along the bottom, treatments, drawing on is anything but helpful. and it’s much quicker to use than existing effects such asA dobe clearly knows a the old tabbed panels. Timeline Split Tone and Three- This redesign has been a long thing or two about video editing is much as it was: there Way Color Corrector. time coming, but it’s great to find production, but we’ve are still no ripple-editing options, The results aren’t quite Adobe addressing so many of ourfound previous versions of but otherwise it works well. We as alluring as the Red previous criticisms. Where versionPremiere Elements to be lacking. like the Split Clip button’s new Giant plugins included 10 tried to please beginners andVersion 10 addressed long- location, which now sits directly with Pinnacle Studio Ultimate (see advanced users, but failed to dostanding preview performance on the playback marker. opposite), however. either, this version balances theirissues but responded lethargically Most importantly, the software needs better than any other editor.to user input, and we found Most of these changes could is faster, with barely any delay in It’s particularly impressive thatnumerous instances of poor be described as cosmetic, but there response to user input. It matched Adobe has delivered such aattention to detail. While it packed are new functions too. A Time version 10’s ability to play seven significant overhaul whileseriously powerful tools inherited Remapping tool produces variable AVCHD streams on our Core providing support for Windowsfrom Premiere Pro, they sat fast- and slow-motion effects. The i7-870, Window 7 64-bit PC, but XP all the way to Windows 8.awkwardly next to the mounting controls keep matters simple, with the problems we encountered withnumber of consumer features. speeds from 1/8x to 8x applied to dropped and repeated frames in Consumers are currently time zones within a clip; there’s version 10 have been resolved. spoiled for choice in the video- Premiere 11 is the update we’ve also the ability to ease in and As before, there’s a Render Work editing sector. Sony Movie Studiobeen waiting for. The interface has out. Audio is unaffected, so sync Area function for when the real- Platinum (web ID: 376474)been overhauled, and no longer is lost, but there’s an option to time preview struggles, but now comes top for audio handling andfeels like it’s been cobbled together remove the clip’s soundtrack. it’s clearly signposted. Consumer the speed of its timeline-editingfrom other editors. The simpler The Frame Blending option editors have raised their game for tools, while Pinnacle Studioand more advanced components avoids strobe-like slow motion preview performance in the past excels for creative colourare better integrated, giving users by cross-fading frames instead of few years, but Premiere Elements treatments and 3D support.a more gradual progression as interpolating motion to generate 11 is up there with the best. Now Premiere Elements hasconfidence grows. new frames, as is the case with Elsewhere, an Upload to Vimeo shrugged off its vices, those who CyberLink PowerDirector. option has been added to export want to exploit its Bézier keyframe The old Sceneline and Timeline options, and we’re happy to find tools to create sophisticatedviews are replaced by Quick and Blend modes allow colours in this and other export destinations animations – perhaps for introExpert modes, presenting users clips to be combined in complex now include 25fps templates. sequences or custom titles – havewith a clean, inviting layout. ways. It’s a common feature Previously, all projects were nothing to hold them back. BestVarious colour-correction filters among image editors, but rare in converted to 30fps, which resulted of all, Premiere Elements is noware a single click away, and each consumer video editors. This in duplicated frames for 25fps an excellent choice for newcomersone has a selection of template feature is neatly integrated into the footage. It would be better if too. BEN PITTsettings. Creative effects and Opacity settings, and builds on exports matched the source Premiere Elements’ standing as the footage frame rate automatically OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ – we wonder how many home EASE OF USE FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY There’s still access to the full set of Bézier keyframe controls126 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagSsof.twnaree tREVIEWSPinnacle Studio16 UltimateAn evolutionary update to an alreadyexcellent video-editing package❱❱ PRICE £67 (£80 inc VAT) on other parts of PC❱❱ UPGRADE £58 (£70 inc VAT) frames; Mojo is a❱❱ SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk one-stop-shop for punchy colours. PROIt’s quicker to setIn 2011, Pinnacle Studio Ultimate was rebranded as up than the similar Avid Studio. The result of Magic Bullet Looks, which is also RECOMMENDEDyears of hard graft since the buyout included along withof Pinnacle in 2005, the release many other high-addressed the chronic reliability quality effects. Colour correction The iPad app resembles previous versions of Pinnacle Studio, and handles its reduced set of functions elegantlyproblems of the original and is well specified, although it isn’tintroduced new features. Avid did in quite the same league as that of export options, but Blu-ray export using variable opacity. Avid Studioa good job with it, too, including Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 is only available as an anaglyph or could play five on the same PC.the best creative effects of any (web ID: 376474). side-by-side file; there’s no support Clearly, the CUDA accelerationconsumer editor – largely thanks All three versions of Studio for Blu-ray 3D, which encodes two doesn’t work on all hardware, asto superb plugins from third-party now offer 3D editing. It’s one of independent 1080p streams. once we’d turned the accelerationdeveloper Red Giant. the last consumer editors to add The new Trim mode uses dual off in the preferences, we were ableOne year on and ownership this feature, but it’s also the best preview monitors showing the last to restore preview performance tohas changed to Corel, with the implementation we’ve seen to frame of a clip beside the first the same level as with Avid Studio.name reverting to Pinnacle. date. In our tests, it correctly frame of the next clip. These edit Corel has also picked up theFortunately, the application itself identified 3D footage from a points can be shifted one or ten free Avid Studio iPad app, whichhasn’t gone backwards. The only variety of cameras, and there’s a frames at a time using keyboard now goes by the name Pinnacleslight blip is the Red Giant plugin button to show only 3D media shortcuts. Clicking on a preview Studio for iPad. It has no effectsset loses a couple of effects, raising in the library. The preview monitor dictates which clip is and we spotted a couple of bugs,potential project compatibility switched automatically to adjusted, and Ctrl-clicking to select but it handled basic editing tasksissues. Corel assured us it will anaglyph mode, and there’s both moves them together so the efficiently. It supports second-make the missing plugins available also support for Nvidia 3D overall length of both clips isn’t and third-generation iPads, andto upgraders for free. Vision displays. affected. It’s an extremely welcome had no problem editing 1080pAt the same time, though, it Best of all, the 3D Editor feature for frame-accurate edits MP4 clips transferred from agains a pair of new Red Giant GPU effect applies stereoscopic – something that’s often fiddly in Panasonic GF5 using the Appleplugins, and both are valuable transformations, so clips, graphics other consumer editors. Camera Connection Kit. Projectsadditions. Cosmo adjusts skin and titles can be animated in There’s also a new can also be transferred from iPadtones while having minimal impact 3D space. There’s a range of 3D twist on the storyboard concept. to Windows for further editing. A Storyboard view, where a It can be unnerving for existing thumbnail represents a clip, users when software changes doesn’t indicate the length of each owners, but it looks as if Studio clip but it’s more approachable is in safe hands. It builds on Avid than the timeline. Here, the Studio’s strong foundation with Storyboard appears just above a range of well-implemented, the timeline, allowing both to be genuinely useful new features. used simultaneously. We found it We prefer Sony Movie Studio useful not only for reordering Platinum’s marginally more fluid clips, but also as a way of timeline controls and superior navigating large projects. colour correction, but choosing Studio now uses Nvidia between the two is more a CUDA acceleration to handle matter of priorities than objective H.264 decoding, and in Corel’s strengths and weaknesses. own tests it gave a notable If creative colour treatments, improvement in preview 3D editing or iPad support is on performance for AVCHD editing. the agenda, then this is the editor Our experience was different. you should buy. BEN PITT Pinnacle Studio 16 could play The Media Library provides sophisticated tools for keeping on top of only two simultaneous streams in OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪media, project files, effects and other assets our standard preview test, which involves stacking multiple AVCHD EASE OF USE streams and mixing them together FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEYwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 127

REVIEWSWSofotwarreldMags.netSony AcidMusic Studio 9Higher quality and more polished recordingsthan before, but it’s woefully outdated❱❱ PRICE £32 (£39 inc VAT) hardware permitting. It❱❱ UPGRADE £15 (£18 inc VAT) took us a while to find❱❱ SUPPLIER www.sonycreative these options, though, as they aren’t listed in software.com the Help section;Acid Pro was a revelation they’re hidden behind when it first appeared in a tab in the Project 1998. It rejected the virtual Properties dialog box. By default, thehardware concept that dominated software runs at 16-bitmusic-production software at the and 41kHz.time, and presented a set of tools Another majorthat played to the software’s development isstrengths. It automatically automation for VSTmatched the tempo and key of effects and virtual Automation is now available for VST effects and virtual instruments, and is achieved by drawing envelopes across the screensamples, letting users throw instruments. Previous Other new features are equally drivers, audio recordings werearrangements together at versions supported envelopes forbreakneck speed. Tracks appeared the volume and pan on each hit and miss. Folder Tracks pack captured between 38ms andas soon as you hit record, and channel, but it’s now possible to tracks into folders and subfolders 70ms out of sync with the track,mixer controls were integrated draw envelopes using the mouse in an effort to tidy up the Arrange depending on which audio deviceinto the track headers. for virtually any parameter. panel, which a nice idea. But when we used for testing. We were ableOver time, though, it has Annoyingly, however, the it comes to moving them around, to remedy the problem by usinggradually become less easy to use, bundled Acid FX plugin doesn’t their behaviour is unwieldy. a manual offset control in theto the extent that the cut-price support automation, so you’ll The new Sections feature Preferences dialog, but it’s a lot toAcid Music Studio is now closer in need to install VST equivalents to provides a more practical method expect of users spending £40 on aspirit to the original release. It, use the feature. Another irritation for moving large chunks of music piece of software.too, has expanded in scope but the of the new feature is a lack of around, arranging audio and It’s also disappointing that theadded power is less overwhelming. accessibility: it must be enabled MIDI objects in a vertical stack problem is barely documented inThis update adds a number of for each parameter in a pop-up that can be dragged left and right the help files, and that, even withkey refinements. Gone is the window that casual users may to perform quick rearrangements. an ASIO sound card installed, the16-bit, 48kHz limitation that never find. Nor is it possible to Other parts of the project then software defaults to the Microsoftmade previous versions unable add automation simply by shuffle along to close gaps or make Sound Mapper driver.to exploit the full potential of recording fader and knob space, similar to ripple editing in Acid Music Studio 9 is ratherhigh-quality audio interfaces. movements as the track is playing video-editing software. an odd update, then. The newRecordings can now be made at – you have to draw them The audio input monitoring features will be welcome forup to 24-bit and 192kHz, audio laboriously by hand. feature is disappointing, though. technically minded users, but they It’s crucial to be able to hear don’t fit in with Acid’s beginner- yourself as you perform, and friendly approach. Meanwhile, doing so through the software MIDI recording and editing rather than via the sound card’s remains underpowered and mixer utility means you can clumsily implemented; the supplied monitor the effects applied. virtual instruments aren’t much However, this feature only works cop either. with an ASIO sound card. Using Acid Music Studio has its the standard Microsoft Sound strengths, but we can’t help Mapper driver, we were able to thinking that creating collages of click on the Input Monitor Mode sample loops lends itself to musical button, but it didn’t have any genres that were popular 15 years effect. There’s a good reason for ago. This software is struggling to this – without ASIO, there would keep up in a musical landscape be a long delay between playing dominated by virtual instruments a note and hearing it – but the and dramatic effects. BEN PITT software should make this It’s worth locating the audio resolution settings to enable 24-bit clearer to users. OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪recording as the software defaults to 16-bit Those without ASIO sound EASE OF USE cards have other things to worry about. Using Windows’ standard FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY128 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWS How we test WorldMags.netHow we test A REFERENCE GUIDE TO OUR BENCHMARKS AND TEST METHODSOur benchmarks are PC Finally, we time how long it takes BBEATNTCEHRMYA-LRIKFES designed to reflect the the multithreaded Cinebench 11.5 way people actually PRO renderer to produce a complex Our battery tests are also use computers today. 3D scene. designed to reflect the realWe use current applications, as time how long the system takes to world, so we aim to determinewell as a set of general open, close and move dozens of Overall the battery’s life for intensiveresponsiveness tests, to get an Explorer windows. tasks and everyday browsing.all-round picture of a PC’s or We compare all timings with thoselaptop’s performance. Media of our reference platform: a In the light-use test, we 3.4GHz Core i7-2600K with 4GB optimise the system forResponsiveness Our Media tests expose how of DDR3 RAM and a 7,200rpm power efficiency – Windows’ well a system can process music, hard disk. All desktops are tested power profile is set to PowerWith low-power netbooks now photos and video files. We use at 1,920 x 1,080; we test laptops Saver and we set theso popular, it’s vital to know how iTunes 10 to encode an album into at the display’s native resolution. screen brightness as close toresponsive a system is. To measure AAC and MP3 formats, then 75cd/m2 as possible using anthis, we first time how long it Adobe Photoshop CS5 to work Each score is given relative to X-Rite i1Display 2 colorimeter.takes to open documents and on a folder of 12-megapixel RAW the reference platform: a score of We disconnect the mainsswitch between a series of photographs. We adjust the 1.5 would indicate a PC that was and run a script scrolling acommon applications, including colours and curves, apply artistic 50% faster. We combine the three selection of web pages untilWord and Excel, Acrobat Reader sharpening and blurring, and scores into an overall average, the system shuts down,X and Internet Explorer. We then save the results in JPEG format. but we also show the breakdown giving you a realistic idea3D BENCHMARKS Finally, we use Sony Vegas 10 to of the three tests, so you can of surfing time. render a short 1080p video, with easily see a system’s strengths CRYSIS a picture-in-picture effect and a and weaknesses. For the heavy-use test, we cross-fade transition. engage Windows’ High 86fps 27fps 10fps 3D benchmarks Performance power profile, set Multitasking the brightness to maximum andSMOOTH PLAY PLAYABLE UNPLAYABLE We test 3D performance using run the taxing Cinebench 3D To really test a system, we pre-recorded sequences in Crysis. renderer to push the processor LOW MEDIUM HIGH simultaneously run the iTunes and We use the game’s Low, Medium load to the limit. This gives a Photoshop tests, then launch our and High quality settings in the worst-case figure for battery lifeREAL WORLD BENCHMARKS Responsiveness tests over the top. resolutions of 1,366 x 768, from a single charge. 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K, 4GB DDR3 = 1 1,600 x 900 and 1,920 x 1,080 BATTERY: LIGHT USE 3hrs 14mins respectively. For really fast systemsOVERALL 0.60 we replace the Low test with one at 1,920 x 1,080 and Very HighRESPONSIVENESS 0.71 BETTER quality. A system’s 3D graphs (see left) will be coloured red, amber orMEDIA 0.63 green to indicate how smooth on average gameplay will be. MULTITASKING 0.450 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 Displays Tablets & Routers Cameras smartphonesFocus on… We test all monitors, laptops Tablets and smartphones are We test wireless routers in a Cameras are tricky to test, as no and tablet screens in the same similar products, so we test domestic setting using similar benchmark we can carry out way. We use an X-Rite i1Display them in largely the same way. file-transfer tests to hard disks. will give us definitive figures. 2 colorimeter to gauge colour We run a selection of browser- We use two laptops – one Instead, we carry out a set accuracy (technically known as based speed tests (including the hooked up via Ethernet to the series of shots in outdoor and Delta E), maximum brightness, SunSpider JavaScript test). We router, the other connected via indoor conditions, and at black level and contrast ratio. also thoroughly test battery life wireless to the router – and different angles, then judge the We also display a selection of by simulating real use: phone copy a series of small and large results by eye, analysing how our own high-resolution test calls, browsing, playing a files to and fro. We measure sharpness, exposure, chromatic images and Blu-ray videos to podcast, and leaving the device speeds in two locations: at close aberrations and noise impact get a real-world perspective. on standby for 24 hours. range and a 40m distance. overall image quality.130 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWEntoerprrisle dMags.net EXCLUSIVE PCHP ProLiant ML350p Gen8 2 3A whisper-quiet pedestal server that combines good value, enormous expansionpotential and class-leading remote management features in a flexible package❱❱ PRICE £4,633 exc VAT RDIMMs support 1 components, and the extra thermal❱❱ SUPPLIER www.hp.co.uk up to 384GB for a sensors allow it to fine-tune fan dual-CPU server, but (flash-backed write cache) module, speeds and ramp them upHP’s latest pedestal server, with more expensive which does away with the need for individually when needed. the ML350p Gen8, is LR-DIMMs you can a battery pack. one of a small group max out at the full As the server was suppliedof ProLiant models to skip a 768GB. If you opt The ML350p Gen8 will sit without an operating system,generation. Out go the Xeon for cheap UDIMM well in a small or remote office we also had the opportunity to5500/5600 CPUs of the ML350 memory, the maximum as it’s extremely quiet. Four large play with HP’s new IntelligentG6, and in come Intel’s E5-2600 supported in dual- hot-swap fans (see 3 ) provide Provisioning feature. Accessedchips with their higher core count, CPU configurations cooling for the whole chassis; we during bootup, this does awayfaster QPI and extra memory. is 192GB. found they barely made a whisper. with the need for HP’s SmartStart Each is simple to replace and the DVD when installing an OS. HP offers two versions of this With both CPUs entire assembly with all four fansserver. The “performance” model in place, all eight PCI can be pulled out just as easily. The new ML350p Gen8 isreviewed here supports E5-2600 Express Gen3 slots an assured performer. It looksXeons, while the “efficiency” and the single Gen2 The power options are good capable of handling a widemodel uses lower-cost E5-2400 slot are activated – two as well, with the review system variety of tasks in SMB andprocessors. Whichever model you more than the Dell providing a pair of 750W hotplug enterprise environments, andchoose, though, this floor-stander PowerEdge T620 offers (web ID: power supplies. For lighter duties low noise levels make it ideallyhas a split personality: it has 375664). The ML350 comes with you can opt for 460W modules, suited to small offices. It doesn’tflip-out carry handles in its base four embedded Gigabit network but if you go for the highest CPU offer as much storage potentialand can be specified as a 5U rack ports, but if you want more there’s speeds you’ll need to choose the as Dell’s PowerEdge T620server instead. plenty of room and HP offers a 1,200W versions. pedestal server, but it does offer good selection of Gigabit and better value for money, lower Internally its design is efficient, 10GbE HBAs. We found the ML350p thrifty power consumption and the bestand the transparent air shroud where power is concerned: with remote management featurescovering the motherboard makes In storage terms, the ML350p Windows Server 2008 R2 in idle money can buy. DAVE MITCHELLthe server look like an exhibition can’t match the T620, though. Its we measured a modest draw ofmodel. The entire assembly slides three storage bays at the front can 96W; with SiSoft Sandra pushing KEY SPECSout easily and behind it the two accommodate only up to 24 SFF all 32 logical cores to the max,CPU sockets are mounted centrally hard disks (see 2 ), where the this peaked at only 248W. Tower chassis • 2 x 2GHz Xeon E5-2650 • Intel C600and surrounded by 24 DIMM T620 can handle up to 32. The chipset • 16GB DDR3 RDIMM expandable to 384GBsockets (see 1 ). ML350p is a better choice if you HP’s iLO4 controller ensures (768GB with LR-DIMMs) • 2 x 600GB HP SAS 10K want large-capacity LFF drives, the ML350p’s management hot-swap SFF hard disks (max 24) • Smart Array The price we’ve quoted here though, since it can squeeze in 18 features are tip-top. We’ve looked P420i with 2GB FBWC/capacitor • supports RAID0, 1,buys you a pair of eight-core as opposed to 12 for the T620. at its features in depth in our 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 • 8 x PCI-E Gen 3 • 1 x PCI-E Gen 22GHz E5-2650 Xeons along exclusive review of HP’s ProLiant • 4 x Gigabit Ethernet • 2 x 750W hotplug supplies •with 16GB of RDIMM memory. The drive carriers show off DL380p Gen8 (web ID: 376273) HP iLO4 Standard with 10/100 Ethernet • HP Insight HP’s SmartDrive feature. Each one and can safely say that you won’t Control software • 3yr on-site NBD warranty • find anything better. Power: 96W idle; 248W peak is packed with coloured LEDs Along with its standard range OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ that enable you of remote management features, to see at a glance the iLO4 can monitor most of the PERFORMANCE which are being components in the ML350p. Its accessed or “Sea of Sensors 3D” provides FEATURES & DESIGN updated, any that oodles of data on critical VALUE FOR MONEY have failed or are about to fail, and those that must not be removed. HP’s integral Smart Array P420i RAID controller also takes pride of place. A range of cache options is available, and the price includes the full 2GB FBWC The ML350p can also be specified as a 5U rack server132 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWEntoerprrisle dMags.net EXCLUSIVE 3Dell PowerEdge R420Dell’s PowerEdge R420 delivers high-quality hardwarewith a sharp focus on storage capacity – for a price❱❱ PRICE £4,533 exc VAT six DIMMs for each occupied 1❱❱ SUPPLIER www.dell.co.uk processor socket, which limits the 2 maximum memory to 192GB.With Intel’s new Xeon card and keeps an onboard copy licence key to activate its dedicated E5-2600 processors Six dual-rotor fans behind the of the primary boot media for full network port, vFlash slot, remote hogging the limelight, drive backplane keep the server hypervisor redundancy. control and virtual media services.it’s easy to forget that there’s a cool (see 2 ). Unlike the R620’s,lower-cost alternative. Showcasing they’re not hot-swappable, but We’re pleased to see that Dell Dell supplied our system withthe capabilities of Intel’s more they’re quiet, making the R420 a has spruced up its system setup two 550W hotplug platinum-ratedaffordable Xeon E5-2400 CPUs, good choice for a small office. interface. It’s now separated into power supplies (see 3 ), but forDell’s PowerEdge R420 is aimed sections for configuring the server, lighter duties you can opt forat SMBs looking for a powerful Storage is well catered for. the iDRAC7 controller and other 350W models. The system’s powerentry-level rack server with plenty There’s room for eight hot-swap devices such as the network ports consumption could be better,of expansion potential. It’s primed SATA or SAS SFF hard disks, and and RAID controller. though: with Windows Serverfor virtualisation, workgroup the price includes a pair of 300GB 2008 R2 in idle we measured acollaboration, email, web and file SAS 2 drives. Of course, you can Dell’s iDRAC7 handles remote draw of only 92W; at full loadserving – but also as a low-profile always cut storage costs by opting server management, and is just a that figure rocketed to 252W.compute node for data centres. for a base system with four LFF whisker behind HP’s iLO4 drives cabled directly to the controller. The web interface has There’s much to like here, Physically, the R420 isn’t as motherboard’s SATA port. In this also received a welcome upgrade, but at almost £1,000 more thandeep as Dell’s flagship R620 1U instance, RAID is provided by an and provides more information Boston’s Value Smart 360 G8 (webrack server (web ID: 373312), but embedded PERC S110, which than its predecessor. As well as ID: 376984), Dell’s PowerEdgeit crams a decent specification and supports software-managed more detail about storage, its R420 struggles to compete,plenty of storage capacity into a stripes, mirrors and RAID5 arrays. power-monitoring features offer despite superior hardware and awell-designed 1U rack chassis. The real-time and historical graphs more convincing suite of storagefront panel includes an optical Our system had the PERC of consumption. Better still, the options. DAVE MITCHELLdrive, two USB ports and Dell’s H710P Mini card, which fits in Enterprise hardware upgrade isnifty LCD panel and control pad. a dedicated slot next to a pair already present and needs only a KEY SPECSThis displays the server’s status of embedded four-port SAS 2and can be used to set the remote connectors. It has 1GB of DDR3 1U rack chassis • 2 x 2.1GHz Xeon E5-2450 • 8GBmanagement network address and NVRAM cache memory and 1,600MHz 1.5v RDIMM expandable to 192GB • 2 xview power consumption and supports RAID6 for 6Gbits/sec 300GB 10K SFF SAS hot-swap hard disks • PERCsystem temperatures. SAS and SATA drives. And since 710P Mini with 1GB NVRAM • supports RAID0, 1, 5, the RAID controller is based on 6, 10 • 2 x Gigabit Ethernet • 2 x PCI-E (dual CPU) • Inside, the twin CPU sockets LSI’s SAS2208 chip, you can iDRAC7 Enterprise • 2 x 550W power supplies • Dellhouse a pair of 2.1GHz E5-2450 activate its CacheCade feature, Management Console • 3yr on-site NBD warranty •processors (see 1 ). These eight- which uses SSDs as a high-speed Power: 92W idle; 252W peakcore CPUs have an 8GT/sec QPI, cache for improved read speeds.a 20MB L3 cache and support forRDIMM memory speeds of up to The R420 has dual Gigabit1,600MHz. The key differences network ports but, unlike thebetween these CPUs and the R620, there’s no room for anE5-2600 Xeons are that they extra daughtercard. Even so,use the Socket-B2 (LGA1356) two PCI Express Gen 3 slots arepackage, which reduces costs available and Dell offers a goodwith a single inter-socket QPI choice of Gigabit, 10GbE andlink. They have three DDR3 Fibre Channel upgrade cards.memory channels and support The PowerEdge R420 beats HP and IBM for virtualisation features thanks to its dual SD media card. This fits next to the H710P RAIDThe Dell’s front panel squeezes in an optical drive and an informative LCD panel OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ PERFORMANCE FEATURES & DESIGN VALUE FOR MONEY134 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWEntoerprrisle dMags.net EXCLUSIVEBroadberry CyberServe XE5-2400GPBroadberry’s quiet, low-cost E5-2400 Xeon pedestal server is well suited to small PCbusinesses and remote offices, and offers an impressive array of upgrade options PRO❱❱ PRICE £2,295 exc VAT room for another 3❱❱ SUPPLIER www.broadberry. cage below. The Intel RECOMMENDED C602-A chipset offers co.uk an extensive, if rather 2 confusing, range ofW hen Intel launched its port permutations and Xeon E5 processors upgrade options. earlier this year, itintroduced one of the largest The default setting for the review systemranges of motherboards and gives you ten SATAserver platforms in its history. ports: two are 6Gbits/ 1In this exclusive review, we look sec, four are 3Gbits/secat Broadberry’s CyberServe and the first SFF8087XE5-2400GP, which showcases mini-SAS port offersIntel’s S2400GP “Granite Pass” four more 3Gbits/secmotherboard and its “Union connections. ThePeak” chassis. second mini-SAS portA key feature in this new server isn’t enabled, andline-up is choice. The chassis is you’ll need to plug aavailable in short, medium and hardware upgrade keylong sizes. It accepts a range of into the motherboardmotherboards too: Broadberry has if you want to use all eight bays DDR3 RDIMM memory made up which is included in the price.chosen the S2400GP here since it in the supplied cage. of four 8GB modules. In a dual This little card is mounted abovecombines Intel’s low-cost E5-2400 Again, Intel gives you plenty of CPU system you can use all 12 the PCI Express slots and has aXeons with good expansion and choice, with no fewer than seven DIMM sockets and go up to a dedicated network port. It can’tstorage potential. upgrade key options. For example, maximum of 384GB. compete with HP’s new iLO4The XE5-2400GP’s chassis a black key brings RAID5 into the The tidy interior gives easy for features, but a tidy webdoesn’t feel quite as bulletproof as equation; a blue key enables the access to the major components. interface provides sensor readoutsthat of Dell’s PowerEdge series, second mini-SAS port; a green key A large air shroud covers most of for fan speeds, temperatures andbut it’s no lightweight. Behind the turns it from SATA to SAS; and a the motherboard, and five large voltages, and you can linklockable plastic front panel you purple key gives you all eight SAS hotplug cooling fan modules are thresholds to email and SNMPhave an eight-bay hot-swap SFF ports plus RAID5. positioned at the front (see 2 ). alerts. The power supplies can bedrive cage (see 1 ), and there’s Alternatively, you could specify Even under heavy load, the fans controlled directly, KVM-over-IP one of Broadberry’s were barely audible, making this remote control comes as standard, optional 16-port a good server for small offices. and a new virtual front panel RAID PCI Express The XE5-2400GP fared links up with the power, reset and cards. This would well in our power tests: with system ID buttons on the server. allow two eight-bay Windows Server 2008 R2 in The CyberServe XE5-2400GP cages to be cabled to idle, it used only 76W; pushing isn’t as ruggedly built or as a single controller for the processors to maximum manageable as Dell’s PowerEdge a single large RAID5 utilisation with the SiSoft Sandra T420 but it’s much cheaper. With or 6 array. benchmarking app saw usage an excellent hardware package for Broadberry peak at 190W. Power redundancy the money, plenty of expansion has equipped the is on the menu, too, as the price potential and extensive storage XE5-2400GP with includes a pair of 750W hotplug options, the XE5-2400GP is a very a pair of 2.2GHz supplies (see 3 ). For lighter duties flexible server. DAVE MITCHELL E5-2430 Xeons. and lower power processors, These are part of Broadberry also offers 460W KEY SPECS Intel’s standard and 550W versions. Pedestal chassis • 2 x 2.2GHz Xeon E5-2430 • Intel E5-2400 family There are more choices for C602-A chipset • 32GB DDR3 RDIMM expandable to and have six cores, 384GB • 2 x SATA III, 8 x SATA II • supports RAID0, a 15MB L3 cache, networking: the motherboard is 1, 5 (in Windows) • 500GB Seagate Momentus SFF a slower 7.2GT/sec the S2400GP2 variant with two SATA hot-swap hard disk • 2 x Gigabit Ethernet • 5 x inter-socket QPI link and embedded Gigabit ports; if you PCI-E Gen 3 • 1 x PCI (32-bit) • 3yr on-site NBD want more, you can specify the warranty • Power: 76W idle; 190W peak support for 1,333MHz memory. S2400GP4 model, which ups this OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ The price includes 32GB of to four onboard Gigabit ports. PERFORMANCE Storage space won’t be a Remote server management problem in the XE5-2400GP via a web browser is available FEATURES & DESIGN with Intel’s RMM4 module, VALUE FOR MONEY136 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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REVIEWSWEntoerprrisle dMags.net EXCLUSIVE PCD-Link DWS-3160-24PC PROCould be easier to deploy, but won’t be beaten RECOMMENDEDon value for money or features and enforce agreement with custom AUPs. Portals can be❱❱ PRICE £1,386 exc VAT The D-Link’s unremarkable assigned to SSIDs and specific❱❱ SUPPLIER www.lambda-tek.com exterior conceals a WLAN controller switch ports, so both wired and wireless clients can be presentedThe D-Link DWS-3160- As a Layer 2 switch, the external wireless services. The with portals. 24PC may look like a DWS-3160-24PC is impressive: it switch’s web interface has LAN standard Ethernet switch, offers features such as QoS, ACLs, and WLAN functions placed SSIDs combine functions suchbut its nondescript shell conceals a port-based authentication and under separate tabs for easier as VLAN membership, MACWLAN controller that allows it to much more. The basic L3 routing management, and you can start authentication plus WEP or WPA2manage both wired and wireless functions are designed to allow by defining captive portals. security. Each can have QoSclients. Naturally, it works only wireless users to roam across controls applied, where you definewith D-Link’s unified wireless APs different subnets without having Each portal uses local or how much wireless bandwidthbut supports 12 as standard; it can to change their IP address. RADIUS authentication, and the SSID is allowed to have.be upgraded in up to 48 steps and presents clients with a customsupports as many as 192 in a For testing, we used D-Link’s web interface when they firstfour-switch stack. DWL-8600, DWL-6600 and access the network. You can DWL-3600 APs, giving us a good add your own company logos, The switch provides 24 Gigabit mix of dual-band internal and change the background coloursports and the last four are dualpersonality, so you can use thefibre SFP’s port instead. It pumps15.4W of 802.3af PoE over thecopper ports and, with a total loadof 467W available, it can powerPoE devices on all of its ports.ZyXEL NWA1121-NIZyXEL’s compact, ceiling-mount access point supportsmultiple SSIDs, but wireless performance is pedestrian❱❱ PRICE £76 exc VAT separate SSIDs, each with their The NWA1121-NI is a neat wireless AP that’s well suited to discrete❱❱ SUPPLIER www.lambda-tek.com own security profiles. ceiling mounting and supports a wide range of operating modesZ yXEL’s new plenum-rated In root AP mode, it presents that may associate with it and client associations, all of which wireless access point (AP) up to five SSIDs and allows select a QoS profile with options can be emailed out, and it can send can be mounted on the other APs to be used as for prioritising voice or video Syslog data as well. You can viewceiling, where it aims to provide repeaters for extended coverage. traffic. SSID masking is available, all clients associated with the AP,enhanced Wireless-N coverage. In MBSSID mode, the ZyXEL and clients on one SSID can be along with their signal strength. AThis little 130mm diameter supports up to eight SSIDs but blocked from seeing those on all channel usage option provides aplastic disc has embedded aerials can’t team up with repeaters. As others – which is handy for guest site survey of all other nearby APs,and, as it’s 802.11af PoE- part of a wider network, it can internet access. plus their security type, wirelesscompliant, can be powered by also act as a client or a repeater. mode and signal strength.one Ethernet cable. The AP maintains detailed logs Each security profile defines an of all configuration changes and We had no problems with The NWA1121-NI appears SSID and combines further profilesto offer good value for money, for wireless security, RADIUSbut the first compromise is that authentication, QoS and MACit operates only in the 2.4GHz address filtering. The latter haswireless band. However, it eight profiles, each of whichmakes amends by supporting contains up to 128 MACa wide range of operating addresses; this means that it’smodes, and is capable possible to allow or block accessof presenting up to eight from specific addresses. For each SSID, you can limit the number of wireless clients138 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagEnste.rpnrisee tREVIEWS Next up are profiles that sent from provisioned APs. EXCLUSIVEcan be applied to any or all However, we advise beingsupported AP types, and enable cautious with D-Link’s rogue Zigor Tiber 1500either 5GHz or 2.4GHz radio mitigation; along with manybands. VAPs (virtual APs) are other features, this isn’t clearly A low-cost online UPS well suited to protecting criticalused by profiles to activate single explained in the manual and systems, but battery life isn’t as good as that of rivalsor multiple SSIDs, and you can could land you in hot water withadd more QoS controls with neighbouring businesses. W e’re accustomed to ❱❱ PRICE £378 exc VATtemplates provided for prioritising seeing the same faces ❱❱ SUPPLIER www.misco.co.ukvoice traffic. Firmware upgrades can be in the UPS segment, applied to multiple APs from but Spanish manufacturer Zigor The ViewPower software can APs must be set to Managed the web interface and you can has now entered the UK market. shut down the host system after amode and, since they’re online, reboot them in one fell swoop. The first model we’ve seen, the specific period of battery-poweredthey can be provisioned either with Tiber 1500, certainly makes operation or when the battery isthe default profile or a custom one. RF management plans control a promising start: this online almost exhausted. Other remoteThe web interface provides plenty AP-transmit power automatically, 1,500VA UPS costs less than £400. systems with a UPS attachedof monitoring tools so you can see so you can maximise coverage and locally can be monitored and shutwhich APs have been provisioned, avoid interference. Online UPS models usually down from the same interface.view all associated clients and, carry a price premium as theywith a single click, disassociate The range of AP management provide electrical isolation, which To test battery runtime, wethem from a specific AP. features offered by the DWS-3160- helps to protect business-critical used our Dell PowerEdge R515 24PC does make it complex to equipment. Despite its keen server, which draws around 140W Rogue APs will be picked deploy. However, it scores highly pricing, the Tiber 1500 uses when idle. The UPS’s battery keptup by the switch and can be for value for money, as it matches double-conversion technology, the server running for 46 minutes,attacked and knocked off the Netgear’s ProSafe WC7520 for which means that there’s no seven minutes longer than thenetwork using de-auth packets features; it also costs around half switching delay from mains to Tripp-Lite SmartPro (web ID: as much and has the added bonus battery power during a blackout. 374791). However, it’s much less KEY SPECS of a full 24-port Gigabit switch than the APC SmartUPS 1500 with PoE. DAVE MITCHELL The unit can be floor- or LCD (web ID: 374788), which ran Desktop or 1U rack chassis • 24 x Gigabit Ethernet • rack-mounted, and the LCD panel the same server for 1hr 45mins. 4 x Gigabit SFP • 48Gbits/sec backplane capacity, OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ provides information about input 802.3af PoE on all copper ports • supports up to 48 and output voltages, plus load and The Tiber 1500 is worth D-Link APs (192 in switch stack) • internal power PERFORMANCE battery charge status. considering if you want online supply • RPS port • web browser management • FEATURES & DESIGN power protection for critical 2yrs RTB warranty VALUE FOR MONEY At the rear of the unit are eight servers, and don’t mind the modest battery-protected outlets and two battery runtime. DAVE MITCHELLpowering the AP using either a RJ-11/RJ-45 surge-protected ports.power injector or an HP ProCurve a close-range WPA2 encrypted Runtimes can be extended by OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪2626-PWR switch. Its web link returned a fairly modest adding extra battery packs, andinterface is a tidy affair and 11MB/sec. At greater distances, USB and serial ports are present PERFORMANCEopens with a handy status screen the NWA1121-NI performed for local monitoring purposes. A FEATURES & DESIGNshowing system information, decently; moving the wireless single cooling fan is present, too, VALUE FOR MONEYmemory and CPU utilisation, client to the floor below and but it was noisy compared to theplus interface status. placing a couple of brick walls in Zigor’s similarly priced rivals. the way saw copy speeds fall by For performance testing, we around 20%. Four of the power outlets areused Netgear RangeMax N600 programmable and can be turnedand Cisco Linksys AE3000 We also noticed the AP’s off first to protect critical systemsdual-band USB wireless adapters. processor was becoming stressed on the other four outlets. YouIn MBSSID mode, both adapters out. During the copy tests, the web can also set them to turn offconnected at 150Mbits/sec even interface froze and when it finally immediately if the UPS switchesthough we had 20/40MHz came back to life, the status screen to battery power.channel bonding enabled on the showed that CPU utilisation hadAP. Further testing confirmed that increased to 100%. Zigor’s ViewPower softwarebonding for a 300Mbits/sec installs as a Windows service,connection works only in root Despite its faults, the monitors the local UPS andAP mode. NWA1121-NI is a neat wireless provides system shutdown AP that’s ideally suited controls. It can be accessed locally Even with a full-speed link, to discrete ceiling mounting. It and remotely, and provides aperformance wasn’t inspiring. isn’t expensive either, but if you graphic showing the status of theCopying a 690MB video clip to a want the eight SSIDs offered by battery and the active power route.Windows 7 PC on the LAN over its MBSSID mode, you’ll have to KEY SPECS accept a big drop in wireless The Tiber 1500’s LCD provides performance. DAVE MITCHELL plenty of useful information 2.4GHz wireless access point • 802.11bgn • 10/100 port • 802.3af PoE • ceiling mounting bracket OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ KEY SPECS included • web browser management • 1yr RTB warranty PERFORMANCE 1,500VA online UPS • 8 x C13 battery protected FEATURES & DESIGN outputs (4 programmable) • USB and serial ports VALUE FOR MONEY • 2 x surge protected RJ-11/RJ-45 ports • input power cable supplied • ViewPower software • 2yr advanced replacement warranty on UPS and batterywww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 139

REVIEWSWEntoerprrisle dMags.netKodak ScanMate i940It’s no lightweight, but the i940 is a low-cost portablescanner with a fair turn of speed and an integrated ADF❱❱ PRICE £192 exc VAT cable, although it’s worth bearing The Kodak ScanMate i940 P-215 delivers similar speeds for a❱❱ SUPPLIER www.lambda-tek.com in mind that USB power will more includes a 20-page ADF few pounds more. If your briefcase than halve scan speeds. has enough room, however, thenK odak’s ScanMate i940 colour and simplex and duplex the ScanMate is well worth portable scanner provides Scan options are set up in at 200dpi. On mains power, it considering – it’s just as good simple, one-touch Kodak’s Smart Touch software and delivered a 200dpi scan at 20ppm and offers useful scan-to-cloudscanning in a compact and include a choice of destination, and managed 8.8ppm at 300dpi. functions. DAVE MITCHELLaffordable desktop unit. colour or mono, plus simplex or duplex scans. Destinations can be Scan quality is adequate for OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ It isn’t quite as compact as a local file and include searchable business documents, and thesome of its competitors: it’s PDFs, RTFs, TIFFs, JPEGs and searchable PDF option is useful. PERFORMANCE38mm taller than Canon’s P-215 bitmaps. You can also scan directly Colour photos don’t fare as well, FEATURES & DESIGNand around 300g heavier. to email, a locally connected though, with slight banding and VALUE FOR MONEY printer, or a cloud destination. washed-out colours. Even so, it’s well built, withthe lid flipping to reveal a 20-page The software has predefined If compact size and light weightADF with sliding paper guides. options for Microsoft’s SharePoint, is your main priority, then Canon’sThe box includes an external Evernote, Box, webmail andpower supply and a USB power remote folders. A custom cloud KEY SPECS connector is provided, and you can add your own apps, too. 600dpi optical resolution • 20ppm • duplex scanning • 20-page ADF • USB host and power cables • The i940 delivered its claimed external power supply • Presto BizCard 6 and ISIS speeds throughout our tests. With Network Server software • 3yr replacement warranty USB power, it achieved 8.5ppm when scanning a ten-page A4 document in both mono and EXCLUSIVE The buttons on the top panel provide quick-scan functionsPlustek MobileOffice D412Pricey, but this nippy duplex scanner is highlyportable and has a useful software bundle❱❱ PRICE £259 exc VAT handled embossed plastic assign an app to the lower scan poor. We were left❱❱ SUPPLIER www.tradescanners. cards with aplomb. Our AA button and use the one above for with the onerous task of entering membership card and credit conversion to searchable PDF. most data manually. com cards were scanned on both sides in less than five seconds. Scan speeds are fast. A 200dpi The MobileOffice D412P lustek’s new OfficeMobile scan of an A4 glossy colour photo costs around £100 more than D412 scanner isn’t quite Another neat feature is the took fewer than five seconds, and Plustek’s S420, but with fast pocket-sized, but this 0.8kg ability to choose whether the ten seconds at 300dpi. Quality duplex scanning and great quality,scanner is eminently portable. paper is ejected to the front or rear surpassed Kodak’s i940, too. this is a very capable portable of the unit. With front ejection scanner. DAVE MITCHELL Both simplex and duplex selected, it scans in the document Plustek’s software bundle isscanning is supported, and the and hands it back when finished. better too. Presto PageManager OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪D412 handles paper of up to provides image and document125gsm, laminated cards up to There are compromises, management tools, and Abbyy PERFORMANCE0.76mm, and embossed plastic though. Since the MobileOffice FineReader Sprint handles OCR FEATURES & DESIGNcards up to 1.24mm thick. D412 accepts only USB power, and PDF conversion tasks. VALUE FOR MONEY the host system needs two spare Plastic ID cards were scanned USB ports: one for power and The Hotcard BizCard softwarewithout any problems and it one for data. The lack of an is the joker in the pack, though; automatic document feeder also it’s old and its OCR abilities are KEY SPECS means that it’s only as fast as your dealing hand. 600dpi optical resolution • single sheet feeder • USB host and power cables • Presto PageManager 7.10, Still, it’s easy to use; the two Hotcard BizCard Finder 3, Abbyy FineReader Sprint buttons on the top panel provide software • 2yr RTB warranty quick-scan functions. You can140 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

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SLIHNOUOXTOUTLABS LinWuxdiostrors ldMags.netIllustration: Magictorch (www.magictorch.com) Photography: mini-intros Danny Bird; repro, Jan Cihak142 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagsLi.nCunox ndeitsettrnotss LABSIf you fancy trying your hand at something Linux Mint 146other than Windows for a change, why not Ubuntu 148give Linux a whirl? In this Labs, we test drive Debian 150eight of the most popular variants, with Fedora 151the help of input from our knowledgeable Gentoo Linux 153readers, to help you make the right choice openSUSE 154 PCLinuxOS 155 Puppy Linux 156 Buyer’s guide 144 Feature table 144 How we test 145 Linux and touch 152 Why are there so many desktop environments? 158 View from the Labs 158www.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 143

LABS LinWux diostrors ldMags.netBuyer’s guideL inux has many advantages Linux is also more capable it. In the world of Linux, there reality that people have differing over operating systems such as a desktop OS than you are numerous distributions from needs and preferences. Many as Windows 8 and OS X may realise. It’s true that some which to choose. Each is based distributions are created withMountain Lion. The most obvious major apps are lacking: you’ll look on the Linux kernel, but builds a specific use in mind, such asone is that it’s free. You can install in vain for a Linux version of on this with its own selection of enterprise and server roles –it on as many systems as you like Microsoft Office or Adobe other components, from software– from laptops to servers and even Photoshop. However, management tools to desktop areas in which Linux has asupercomputers – without ever equivalents such as environments. What’s more, these well-established presence.having to spend a penny. LibreOffice and The GIMP choices aren’t set in stone. Should In this Labs, we’re focusing have become increasingly you wish, you can customise a primarily on the desktop, It’s terrifically secure too. usable and mature over the years. Linux distribution in almost any and even within this area,Like the Unix operating system way imaginable. there’s plenty of variety fromon which it’s modelled, Linux If you need to perform a which to choose.operates a strict regime of file specialist task, such as video The number of distributions For a start, each distributionownership and permissions that editing or desktop publishing, on offer can be quite daunting has its own setup routine. Somemakes it all but impossible for Linux may not be the right choice. to a new Linux user, especially aim to keep things as simple asmalware to spread as it does on There’s no denying that the overall if you’re transitioning from an possible, automatically detectingWindows. As a result, no native slickness and consistency of operating system that offers as much of your hardware asLinux viruses have ever been applications still isn’t quite up only one way of doing things. possible and installing a presetobserved in the wild. (Some exist there with the best that rival However, the choice reflects the range of applications. Others giveas proofs of concept, but in order platforms can offer. For everyday you more control at the expense ofto spread, they would require users office and internet use, though, simplicity. Distributions differ inwith administrative privileges to Linux will do everything cleanly which drivers are included andactively install them.) and easily – and with the arrival what hardware is recognised, so of Steam, Linux is set to become you may find that your wireless Linux systems aren’t entirely a viable gaming platform. controller and multitouchimpervious to attack: they can trackpad work in one distribution,still be compromised by weak The key appeal of Linux, but not in another.passwords and vulnerabilities in however, is its flexibility. In Once you’re set up, differentapplication software, such as web Windows and OS X, if you don’t distributions will use differentbrowsers. However, overall Linux like something about the operating desktop managers (see p158).is a very secure system indeed. system – tough, you’re stuck withOverall Debian Fedora Gentoo RECOMMENDEDEase of Use ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ Linux MintFeatures & Design ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪Core features ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪Release tested ✪✪✪✪✪✪Website 6.0.5 Squeeze 17 Beefy Miracle Minimal-20120710Default desktop www.debian.org www.fedoraproject.org www.gentoo.org 13 MayaMain alternative desktops Gnome 2.3 Gnome 3 N/A www.linuxmint.comPackage management KDE, LXDE, Xfce KDE, LXDE, Xfce N/A Gnome 3 (Cinnamon)Package manager software DEB (APT) RPM (YUM) ebuild Gnome (Mate), KDE, XfceUpdate mechanism Synaptic, Software Centre PackageKit Portage DEB Versioned (Debian Stable), rolling Versioned Rolling mintInstall, Synaptic, GdebiProcessor support (Debian Unstable) Versioned x86, AMD64, PowerPC, Sparc, Armel, x86, ARM, PowerPC x86, Alpha, AMD64, ARM, HPPA,Power profile support MIPS, MIPSel, S390 ia64, MIPS, PA-RISC, PowerPC, x86Bundled software SPARC64Web browser Epiphany, Iceweasel Firefox N/A FirefoxEmail Evolution Evolution ThunderbirdOffice suite OpenOffice LibreOffice, Goffice N/A LibreOfficePhoto editor GIMP, Shotwell Shotwell N/A GIMP N/AFile browser Nautilus Nautilus N/A NautilusFile sync N/A N/A Ubuntu OneVideo player Totem Totem N/A Mplayer, Movie Player, VLCMusic player Rhythmbox Rhythmbox N/A Banshee, Rhythmbox N/A N/A144 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagsLi.nunx deisttros LABSIn some cases, a distro will be useful if you’re dealing with HOW WE TESToffered in multiple versions, so a large-scale deployment.you can choose the desktop you We’ve taken an unusual approach to writing this month’sprefer. Or you can replace the Others, however, use a reviews. In keeping with the open source Linux philosophy, thisdefault desktop with one of your rolling release model. In this month’s reviews are part-based on our first ever Labs wiki, tochoice. It’s a similar case with case, software component which numerous PC Pro readers kindly contributed over abundled applications – again, it’s updates are incorporated into the period of six weeks. The results combine our own testing andeasy to install whatever you want, distro as they become available. analysis with real-world community experience for an all-roundbut different distributions have Depending on the activities for view. Our thanks also go to hosting provider Memset (www.different preinstalled programs. which you’re using Linux, this memset.com), which provided the server space on which we can be either an advantage installed our wiki. On that topic, another key or disadvantage.distinguishing factor between The aim of this Labs is unusual, too, as we’re not looking todistributions is how they handle Some distributions seek a identify a winner. The whole point of Linux distros is that each issoftware installations. You can balance between stability and aimed at a particular type of user, so what’s perfect for one persondownload and compile source regular updates by producing may be anathema tocode, but most distributions versioned releases to a rapid another. Our goal isinclude support for precompiled timetable; Fedora and Ubuntu, for simply to help find thesoftware packages via a package example, produce a new versioned right distribution for you.management tool. This may be release roughly every six months. Don’t forget, too, that mostbasic, or it could be an all-singing, distributions are available asall-dancing App Store-type affair. In this month’s Labs, we test live CD or USB images, so if drive eight of the most popular more than one distro makes A final consideration is Linux distributions, and weigh your shortlist, you can try asupdates. Most distributions use up each one’s strengths and many as you like beforea versioned release model, in weaknesses in the above areas, committing to a full install.which software components along with any other distinctivearen’t updated during the qualities. (Although similar tolifecycle of the release (bug-fixes Linux, FreeBSD isn’t includedor security updates may be because it isn’t fully compatible“backported” as needed). This with the Linux architecture, andprovides a stable platform – therefore isn’t a direct alternative to the distributions on test.)openSUSE PCLinuxOS Puppy Linux RECOMMENDED✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ Ubuntu✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪ ✪✪✪✪✪✪12.1 2012.08 Wary Puppy 5.3www.opensuse.org www.pclinuxos.com www.puppylinux.org 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin)KDE 4 KDE 4 JWM www.ubuntu.comGnome LXDE, Xfce Various (via puplets) UnityRPM RPM (APT) PET, DEB, TGZ, Arch KDE, LXDE, XfceYaST2 Synaptic Puppy Package Manager DEBVersioned Rolling Versioned Ubuntu Software Centre Versionedx86 x86 x86 x86, AMD64, ARM, PowerPC (unofficial) Firefox, Konqueror Firefox, Konqueror SeaMonkey Kmail Thunderbird SeaMonkey Firefox LibreOffice, Goffice, Koffice LibreOffice (manual install) AbiWord, Gnumeric Thunderbird GIMP, Hugin Panorama Creator, digiKam, GIMP, digiKam mtPaint LibreOffice ShowFoto, Gwenview Shotwell Dolphin Dolphin, Konqueror ROX-Filer N/A Dropbox N/A Nautilus Kaffeine VLC Mplayer, Ogle Ubuntu One Amarok Clementine, KsCD Mplayer, Pmusic Totem Rhythmboxwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 145

LABS LinWux diostrors ldMags.net PC PRO RECOMMENDEDLinux MintA thoroughly modern, usable and well-rounded distribution, Linux Mint makes an excellent alternative to Ubuntu,and includes a Gnome-based desktop manager, plus a complete set of applications and drivers❱❱ VERSION 13 Maya By sticking with a continuation to be a faithful continuation of but it’s more straightforward to❱❱ WEBSITE www.linuxmint.com of the older, popular Gnome 2 the outdated Gnome 2 desktop. use, with a panel of application desktop, Mint hash converted a It’s reasonably attractive, and shortcuts lined up on the left, aStarted in 2006, Linux Mint whole section of the Ubuntu we like the big, square brushed- categorised, dynamic menu system has seen a swift and faithful. Its developers claim it’s metal effect mintMenu that to the right, and a search box at dramatic rise in fortune. now the fourth most widely used pops up from the bottom-left the top that generates searchThe secret of its success is that, desktop OS behind Windows, corner, complete with links to results as you type. It’s veryalthough based on Ubuntu (which OS X and Canonical’s OS. places, favourite apps and a neat, and gives access to all themeans that it can use the same search box. Elsewhere, however, system’s settings and applicationssoftware repositories and supports In fact, Linux Mint offers users it’s pretty basic. in one place.the same wide range of hardware) a choice of two Gnome-basedits default desktop is a much more environments, dubbed Mate Cinnamon, on the other hand, The star of the show istraditional affair than Ubuntu’s and Cinnamon. As with other is a more modern affair – and our Cinnamon’s “hot corner” feature,controversial Unity interface. distributions, there are other Mint desktop manager of choice. which can be used to trigger an options such as KDE and the The menu resides in the same Exposé-style view. Move the lightweight Xfce. Mate is designed place in the bottom-left corner, cursor to the top-left corner of146 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagsLi.nunx deisttros LABSThe Software Manger allows the simple installation of extra apps The System Settings panel is clearly laid outthe desktop, and the view All the software you need to play movies and music is preinstalled, including Flash for streaming videosmoothly zooms out to showall your active, virtual desktops. video codecs, so no extra release version of Mint based on is one of the best in this Labs,That isn’t all, though. In this downloads for DVD and MP3 Debian, which receives constant providing a searchable andview, you can drag applications playback are required. updates. However, this isn’t as browsable list of packages,from one desktop to another, stable or usable as the Ubuntu- complete with descriptions inand even add and remove If there’s one negative point, based version and requires plain English and star ratingsdesktops as well as clicking to it’s the upgrade mechanism. more technical knowledge and to help you choose which onesbrowse to those desktops. It’s Unlike Ubuntu, in which you can experience to run. you want to install.beautifully implemented. upgrade to a new version without reinstalling from scratch, with The versioned distribution isn’t Overall, though, we’re huge The key to Mint’s appeal, Mint, the preferred way of without the odd rough edge either. fans of Linux Mint. It’s polished,though, isn’t the desktop, performing an upgrade is to back The first time we installed it, the rounded and simple to install, andattractive although it is – it’s the up your settings and perform a Software Manager refused to we love the easy-to-use Cinnamonrounded nature of the package. It complete reinstall. For people install any applications, which desktop interface and preloadedstarts with the installation, which who are accustomed to the meant that we had to resort to multimedia support. If you don’tis as trouble-free as it gets. Load simplicity of upgrading Ubuntu, using the less user-friendly get on with the modern Ubuntu,up the live disc, which gives you this is a backwards step. Synaptic Package Manager. That’s it’s a very usable alternative.the opportunity to try out a shame, as the Software Managerthe distro, and you’re given the There’s a version for those who MAIN CONTRIBUTORS OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪chance to install it to the hard disk don’t want to deal with this sort offrom a shortcut on the desktop. upgrade cycle and want a more Bluriteboy02, Jonathan Bray, Pjb304 EASE OF USE bleeding-edge system – a rolling FEATURES & DESIGN We particularly like thepartitioning tool included in theinstaller, which detects otheroperating systems, explains youroptions in plain English, and letsyou resize partitions on the fly. Once it’s fully installed, you’llfind it has other nice touches, too.On the Cinnamon desktop, theWindows keys work straight offthe bat, for example, and on ourtest laptop, the multitouch driversfor the touchpad worked as well.The system is also preloaded witha full complement of audio andwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 147

LABS LinWux diostrors ldMags.net PC PCPRO RECOMMENDED PRO RECOMMENDEDUbuntuSlick, accessible and powerful all at the same time; it’s easy to see why Canonical’s Ubuntu is the most popularLinux for everyday desktop duties, although its rivals are now hot on its heels❱❱ VERSION 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) differently to more established let you search online resources, standard graphical installer set up❱❱ WEBSITE www.ubuntu.com desktop managers. It has a too. The Wikipedia lens, for the OS perfectly, with very little taskbar at the top, with file menus example, allows you to search the user interaction. A few clicks wasUbuntu is the world’s integrated into it, and a launcher encyclopaedia from the desktop, all it required to repartition our most popular Linux down the left-hand side of the with the web browser opening only hard disk and set up a multiboot distribution. It was screen for immediate access to when the desired result is selected. loader and default user account.started in 2004 by South African frequently used applicationsentrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth and folders. The main attraction of Ubuntu The default installationand his company Canonical, with is its simplicity. Although server includes a large library of softwarethe goal of creating a frequently Clicking the Ubuntu logo installations are offered, Canonical and hardware drivers. Ourupdated, easy-to-use Linux distro. at the top of the launcher opens focuses on creating an easy-to-use wireless networking adapter, audio a search interface called the Dash, desktop that needs little terminal hardware and webcam were all The distribution is based on which can be used to find more or technical knowledge to install, automatically configured, andDebian, but uses its own front-end applications by typing search configure or use. once we’d enabled the feature,called Unity, which works quite terms or clicking through various we were able to use two-finger categories. Downloadable Lenses In our tests, Ubuntu largely scrolling on our test laptop to lived up to these expectations. The148 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk

WorldMagsLi.nunx deisttros LABSUbuntu One is a Dropbox rival for synchronising files Ubuntu’s power profile support makes it ideal for use on laptopsbrowse web pages and documents. The Software Centre provides a user-friendly way of discovering and installing third-party applicationsEven setting up a network printerproved no problem. A full list of interface, friendly What’s New Ubuntu is updated twice a year, that it’s easy to keep up to datecurrently supported hardware can and Top Rated sections, and user in April and October, with quirky with new technologies. The onlybe found at www.pcpro.co.uk/ reviews, it’s like a full-blown app alliterative zoological codenames notable point of contention is thelinks/218labs1. store for Linux. Items deemed for each one. This one is the user interface. Canonical claims “technical” are available, but Precise Pangolin, but it’s about most people are positive about One area in which Ubuntu’s hidden by default so as not to to be superseded by 12.10, the Unity, but experienced Linux usershardware support can stumble is overwhelm less experienced users. Quantal Quetzal. You’ll be able may find its individualistic way ofgraphics hardware. The built-in If you want, you can also install to upgrade in place or stick with doing things frustrating.drivers will provide a working other package managers to take 12.04, since this is one of Ubuntu’sdesktop on most systems, but the advantage of software that isn’t LTS (long-term support) releases, Still, officially approvedUnity 3D system that provides packaged explicitly for Ubuntu. with full support until April 2017. variants are available that usegraphical effects isn’t always KDE, LXDE or Xfce, and whilesupported. Often the requisite Ubuntu also includes the It’s clear why Ubuntu is so other distros may serve better fordrivers can be added via Ubuntu’s Ubuntu One cloud storage and popular: it’s friendly to beginners specific needs, as a general-purposehardware menu, but for unusual syncing service, with a generous but powerful enough for experts, Linux desktop, Ubuntu is toughhardware you may need to 5GB of free storage, which can be and regular official updates mean to beat.compile them yourself. accessed not only from Ubuntu systems but also from Windows, MAIN CONTRIBUTORS OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ Bundled software includes Android and iOS. There’s noLibreOffice, Firefox and the official support for OS X, though. ActionParsnip, Bluriteboy02, Ct1003, Darien Graham- EASE OF USEThunderbird email client. Media Smith, Jroa, Monotok, Pjb304, Robsapenguin, Ynot 82 FEATURES & DESIGNplayback works out of the boxwith the Totem video player andthe Rhythmbox Audio Player.The MP3 codec isn’t installed bydefault, but you can tick a boxduring the installation procedureto include it. For basic desktop use, you maynever need to install anythingextra – although if you do find youneed an extra tool or application,the Ubuntu Software Centreprovides a welcoming experience.With its colourful graphicalwww.pcpro.co.uk WorldMags.net PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 149

LABS LinWux diostrors ldMags.netDebian Our second attempt using an older HP Mini netbook wasA responsive distro with plenty of hardware support, but it lacks the slick more successful: Debian felt faroptimisations of friendlier rivals, and can be fiddly to get working fully more responsive on this device than Ubuntu.❱❱ VERSION Debian 6.0.5 Squeeze Unstable, which is a continually is the same. The distribution is❱❱ WEBSITE www.debian.org updated, rolling release installed to your partition of That may be due to the ageing distribution, and Debian Testing, choice, and you can create your Gnome 2.3 default desktop, whichW ith several other a snapshot of the unstable own partition structure or use is a rather basic affair. Effectively, distributions effectively distribution that’s destined to one of the installer’s selection of it’s the same desktop as that used based on the Debian become the next Stable version. “guided” modes. by Ubuntu before it switched tosystem, it’s fair to say that it’s an You can also download a version the Unity front-end.important distro. In fact, as Linux of Debian that’s built on the Either way, it isn’t the easiest ofdistributions go, it’s positively non-Linux FreeBSD kernel, but distros to set up properly. On our There’s a rather unusualstately; a grandaddy among open this has only just been included in first test laptop – a Dell Inspiron selection of preloaded softwaresource upstarts. the official release. R17 – the Debian installer failed to included. For web browsing pick up the Nvidia graphics, Wi-Fi duties, there’s Epiphany or As you might expect from such Installation is straightforward. chip and multitouch touchpad Iceweasel (an unofficial buildan elderly, respected relative, it’s You can choose a graphical or correctly, leading to a good deal of the Firefox browser that lacksawash with hardware support text-based install, but the process of fiddling to set matters right. support for plugins), while the– as well as the common Intel x86 office suite is Apache’s OpenOfficeprocessors, it will work with a rather than the more popularnumber of other architectures, LibreOffice. Debian’s focus is onincluding PowerPC. Plus, there’s completely licence-free software,a huge 29,000 software packages hence these rather unusual choices,included on the full DVD-based and this approach is reflected inISO, a download that runs to the official Debian software4.4GB. In many respects, Debian’s repositories, too; these are accessedtagline – “the universal OS” – is by one of two different packagewell earned. manager tools – the Ubuntu-style Software Centre, and the slightly To test it out, we downloaded less friendly, but very powerful,the Stable version, but there are Synaptic. Whichever one youtwo others, separated by package use, however, will involve somematurity and stability. The rather fiddling once again. By default,alarmingly named Debian both asked us to insert optical MAIN CONTRIBUTORS media when we attempted to download and install newJonathan Bray, Ynot 82 software; we had to uncheck the “cdrom” option in Software Sources before it would go online. In all, Debian is a usable and responsive distribution, but it isn’t one we’d recommend for complete beginners. It’s an important distribution to be sure, but a few niggles and a dogmatic approach mean that it isn’t as good as others here for general desktop duties. Software Centre needed some persuading to work as expected OVERALL ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ EASE OF USE FEATURES & DESIGN150 PC PRO•DECEMBER 2012 WorldMags.net www.pcpro.co.uk