The most recent articles from PC Magazine

VisionPlus VisionDTV USB-Ter

Kelvyn Taylor — 2004-11-04T13:07:22.000Z

Kelvyn Taylor, PC Magazine, Thursday 4 November 2004 at 13:07:22

A good-value digital TV tuner

The VisionDTV USB-Ter from Visionplus claims to be the world's first external digital TV tuner with Windows Hardware Quality Labs certification. In theory this should ensure good XP compatibility, and we found that it worked flawlessly when a good aerial signal was present, but poor signal strength led to random application freezes when trying to change channels.

The VisionDTV is a tiny silver box that connects via USB1.1 or 2. Power is delivered down the USB cable so you don't need a separate adapter; at 100mA, its needs are well below the 500mA rating of a standard USB port. The aerial connection is a standard 75ohm coaxial plug, but there's no external audio or video input capability.

Channel setup was simple using the automatic scan menu; you just set it to your geographic location and it will do the rest. It will detect freeto-air and scrambled channels, but there's no support for subscribing to such content (for example, via Top Up TV services).

You can edit channel names and add channels to a Favourites list, which usefully separates them into TV and audio channels, and if your soundcard has an S/PDIF output you can route the audio to it.

VisionTV is the clunky but functional software application included with the device. The VCR-style panel gives you access to programme controls, personal video recorder (PVR) and electronic programme guide (EPG) functions. It's not a particularly elegant interface, but it does the job.

Channels can be viewed and recorded in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio and there's also a free-resize option. The one thing lacking is a title-free mode. You can hide the control and Favourites panels, but you can't get rid of the title bar in the video window.

A supplied infrared remote control replicates all program and navigation commands, usefully including the Enter and Tab keyboard buttons. It's also easy to control via a keyboard as all program functions have a shortcut key, but the listing for these is buried in the pdf manual.

Picture and audio quality were excellent, and the PVR system was a joy to use with easy scheduling; you can set schedules manually or via the EPG. You can also timeshift live TV. The record buffer defaults to five minutes but you can increase this, subject to available system resources.

Recordings are saved as multiplexed (.mpg) mpeg2 files, but the one downside of this product is that you can't adjust the recording quality settings. It's preset to record in a 'standard play' mpeg2 mode of about 3Mbytes/sec, which means that recordings aren't quite as high quality as the raw digital TV mpeg2 streams.

There's a 4GB file size limit (about two hours), and longer recordings are automatically spanned over multiple files in order to maintain compatibility with FAT32 file systems. Recorded content is saved in a list accessed from a button on the control panel, from where you can replay, rename or delete your recordings.

Despite this reservation, for the price it's an outstanding product. Cheaper than some rival USB Freeview TV tuners, it has as many, if not more, features.

Aopen XC Cube AV

PC Magazine staff — 2004-11-02T14:45:37.000Z

PC Magazine staff, PC Magazine, Tuesday 2 November 2004 at 14:45:37

A multimedia barebones PC that packs a punch

The current flagship of Aopen's SFF PC XC Cube range is the multi-talented AV multimedia barebones PC.

As well as the usual motherboard and CPU fan of normal barebones packages, the AV also comes with a PCI TV/FM card and its own Linux-based OS called Instanton. This OS takes up just 100MB of disk space and allows the AV functions to be ready to use within six seconds, great for playing DVDs, watching TV or listening to music.

The installation is easy and the accompanying booklet guides you through all the steps to get started. Instanton must be loaded before you install Windows or any other OS. For ordinary Windows, the Intervideo Home Theater application is provided. The Instanton DVD, audio and Home Theatre functions can be controlled via the supplied infrared remote control.

The system is well built and looks good in its black finish. It features a multifunctional front display panel and controls that light up blue when the unit is switched on. At the heart of the XC Cube AV is one of Aopen's own UX4SG-1394-II motherboards, built around Intel's 865G chipset.

This supports Socket 478 Pentium 4s with 400MHz, 533MHz and 800MHz FSB speeds up to 3.2GHz (including Prescott versions), but it may be wiser to install a less powerful CPU because of problems with the heat generated by larger processors.

The CPU cooling fan is very loud when the system is first switched on and, although the noise level drops after a while, the AV is not what you would call a silent PC. Two Dimm slots support up to 2GB of DDR266/333/400 memory, depending on which processor you fit.

To fit the processor and memory, the whole drive cage can be removed by undoing two screws. The drive cage contains a seven-in-one card reader, but if you don't mind empty slots in the front of your AV you can remove it and fit a second hard drive.

Above and below the card readers are the 5.25in and 3.5in drive bays. Aopen supplies a Sata data cable and specially shortened parallel ATA cables to use on any standard hard drive.

The integrated graphics supplied by the Intel 856G chipset is fine for everyday applications, but that's about the limit. For serious gaming you should add a decent 3D card in the AGP slot.

However, with the TV/Radio card sitting in the PCI slot, there's not much room to get rid of heat generated by the graphics card, and the graphics card will need to be a slimline model that doesn't need more than a single expansion plate.

Apart from these reservations, the XC Cube AV offers the chance to make a true multimedia PC in a format that will grace any room.

Albatron PX915G Pro

PC Magazine Team — 2004-09-03T09:29:24.000Z

PC Magazine Team, PC Magazine, Friday 3 September 2004 at 09:29:24

PC Magazine's first review of a board with the -G version of the Intel 915 chipset.

Albatron's PX915G Pro is the first board we've seen with the -G version of the Intel 915 chipset. This incorporates the updated version of Intel?s graphics core, known as the GMA 900 (Graphics Media Accelerator).

It's the equivalent of an entry-level graphics card such as an nVidia GeForce FX5200. If you want more than basic graphics performance , the board also has a 16X PCX graphics slot.

For the PX915G Pro Albatron has chosen the DDR1 memory option, and the four DIMM slots can take up to 4GB of either DDR333 or DDR400 memory in dual-channel mode.

For those without SATA hard drives, the two Ultra ATA/133 RAID ports can be configured to work as standard Ultra ATA/133 ports, leaving the single standard Ultra ATA/100 port free for optical drives. There are four SATA ports but as the board uses the basic version of the ICH6 Southbridge there's no SATA RAID support.

Aside from all the usual data cables in the box, there's a useful A3 colour installation poster. It's definitely an entry-level board, but it has some useful upgrade potential.

Contact: Discount Computer Supplies (01302) 364155

www.dcs-online.biz

Gigabyte GA-8I915P-D Pro

PC Magazine Team — 2004-09-03T09:27:45.000Z

PC Magazine Team, PC Magazine, Friday 3 September 2004 at 09:27:45

A well laid out motherboard from Gigabyte.

Part of Gigabyte's PX (Performance Extreme) range, the GA-8I915P-D Pro is the most basic of the three 915 boards featured here, but basic is a relative term when you take into account the features the new chipsets provide as standard.

What you do get is integrated Gigabit Ethernet, support for up to eight USB 2.0 ports, a 16X PCI Express (PCX) graphics slot, two 1X PCX slots and integrated 7.1 audio.

As with most Gigabyte boards, there's plenty of room around all the components.

The GA-8I915P-D Pro is the single channel memory option sibling of the GA-8GPNXP Duo. Instead of the dual DDR1/2 support you get with the Duo, the GA-8I915P-D Pro supports up to 4GB of just DDR2 memory in dual-channel configuration.

The board has four SATA ports but it uses the basic ICH6 Southbridge so these can't be configured into a RAID array.

Bundled in the box are two SATA data cables, SATA power cable, Ultra ATA/100 and floppy cables and two expansion plates.

Contact: Scan (0870) 755 4747

www.scan.co.uk

Asus P5GD2 Premium Wireless

PC Magazine Team — 2004-08-31T13:03:31.000Z

PC Magazine Team, PC Magazine, Tuesday 31 August 2004 at 13:03:31

This motherboard from Asus is loaded with features.

One of the most feature-rich motherboards we have ever seen, the P5GD2 Premium from Asus is so full of extras that one of the LAN connections is supplied on an expansion plate, as there is just no free real estate left on the board for it.

When it come to the feature list you'll need to take a deep breath: triple RAID array support (Ultra ATA/133 and two SATA), onboard Wi-Fi 802.11g, dual Gigabit LAN, FireWire 800, loads of Asus software utilities and the biggest bundle of accessories you?re likely to see.

With the P5GD2, Asus has taken a close look at the heat generated by Prescott motherboards. If you turn the board over you'll notice the proprietary Stack Cool cooling system, an Asus patented technology that conducts heat away from the power components.

The system is a miniature circuit board that is stacked against the main PCB - Asus claims this gives a heat reduction of 10 deg C.

Passive heatsinks are used on the Northbridge and Southbridge and even the power phase circuits are cooled by a passive copper heatsink.

The P5GD2 uses the R version of the ICH6 Southbridge so you get RAID 0 and 1 support for four of the eight SATA ports. A Silicon Image 3114R chip provides support for SATA RAID 0/1/10 and JBOD ('just a bunch of disks') arrays on the other four SATA ports.

RAID 5 can be added via software patch, available as a download from www.asus.com. If this still isn't enough there are two Ultra ATA/133 ports that support RAID 0/1/0+1 and JBOD arrays.

As well as a 16X PCX graphics card slot there are three 1X PCX slots and two standard PCI slots. One of the two Gigabit LAN controllers also uses the PCX bus. The second Gigabit LAN port is provided via an expansion plate that plugs into a header on the motherboard.

When you first open the box, you might wonder how Asus managed to close it in the first place. There are 10 SATA cables, four dual-plugged SATA power cables, two Ultra ATA/133 data cables, plus an 80-conductor EIDE cable and a floppy cable.

There are also four expansion plates, one with an RJ-45 LAN port and two FireWire 800 ports, one with just a single serial port, a game port that also has two USB 2.0 ports and a plate with two SATA connectors for use with external SATA drives. Last, but not least, there's an antenna for the Wi-Fi adapter. It has a huge number of features, but unless you need them all it might be a little over the top.

Contact: Dabs.com

www.dabs.com

Shuttle XPC SB81P

PC Magazine Team — 2004-08-27T09:46:23.000Z

PC Magazine Team, PC Magazine, Friday 27 August 2004 at 09:46:23

This small form factor PC from Shuttle is ahead of the game.

Shuttle has been at the forefront of SFF (Small Form Factor) PC design since the concept first saw the light of day, and its latest offering, the XPC SB81P, shows that it is still one step ahead.

The XPC SB81P is based on Intel's latest 915 chipset and 775-pin CPU socket and features some clever design updates.

It's a little taller and longer, and now has the 6-in-1 memory card reader positioned above the optical drive bay, hence the increase in height. The internals have been redesigned to allow the fitting of three hard drives - overcoming the lack of drive bay space that has been a problem with the format.

The removable drive cage unit has been redesigned to accommodate two extra hard drives across the top of the cage, using the special drive rails supplied; these are in addition to the standard 3.5in drive bay.

The Shuttle FB81 motherboard uses the RAID version of the ICH6 Southbridge, which supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 arrays. The core chipset is the 915-G, which incorporates the latest version of Intel's integrated graphics, the GMA 900. This is fine for everyday use, but if you want to play serious games with the SB81P you will need to install a PCI Express graphics card in the 16X PCX graphics slot.

The heatpipe technology that Shuttle uses to cool the CPU has always been one of the most impressive things about the Shuttle range. This system has been redesigned to take into account the increased heat generation of the latest Intel Prescott CPUs. There's now a dual-fan processor cooling system that has been moved to the front of the case.

Despite these two fans and a further two case fans, the SB81P isn't as noisy as we'd feared, mainly because the fans have new four-pin connectors that allow for more advanced cooling settings to be set in the BIOS.

Once again Shuttle has pushed the boundaries of what's possible with the SFF format and maintained an edge over its rivals. The SB81P could easily form the basis of a powerful desktop or even entry-level workstation system.

Contact: Microdirect (0870) 444 4456

www.microdirect.co.uk

Storpac 40

Alex Arias — 2004-08-25T16:12:00.000Z

Alex Arias, PC Magazine, Wednesday 25 August 2004 at 16:12:00

Extra storage on your desk.

As demand for storage continues, and the need to back that data up becomes ever greater, Storpac's desktop RAID system may provide a useful solution if you?re struggling to back up gigabytes of data.

It's certainly an eye-catching product, with a contoured metallic silver casing and a blue illuminated LCD display, disguising up to a terabyte of raw data capacity.

The four drive bays support Ultra ATA/100/133 hard drives, with each easily fitted into a proprietary caddy that slots into the backplane.

Internally there's a FireWire and USB bridge chip that provides two rear FireWire 800 ports and a single USB 2.0 port. Additional devices can be daisy chained to the FireWire ports and there's also a serial management port.

No drivers are needed, nor are there any software requirements, because the drive automatically appears within Windows, and can be managed through the Windows disk manager. Initially it takes a while to format the drives, at two and half hours for a terabyte at RAID 5 750GB useable capacity).

The front LCD panel provides status information on each drive and environmental data such as temperature, fan speed and power supply. Although not as noisy as ordinary PCs, it's still noticeable in use. If the fan fails it can be replaced quite easily.

The unit comes with Dantz Retrospect backup software, which is straightforward to use.

The Storpac 40?s only real disadvantage is its high price - as an alternative it may be worth considering a NAS device, although this would require more administration. However, as a solution for a single desktop PC it's attractive if you can afford it.

Contact: Lapistor 01274 610800

www.lapistor.com

Specifications:

Dimensions 17.5x40.2x20cm
Number of drives 4 hot swappable. Ultra ATA/100/133.
Max capacity 1 terabyte (4x250GB drives)
Interface USB 2.0/Firewire 800 RAID Levels Supported 0 or 5 with spare
OS supported Apple Mac 9.x/X.x + later versions, Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP
Software included Dantz Retrospect
Warranty One year on-site

Price details:

£1,799 (ex. VAT) 480GB

£2,199 (ex. VAT) 1TB

Dell Axim X30 Wireless

Kelvyn Taylor — 2004-08-25T11:14:33.000Z

Kelvyn Taylor, PC Magazine, Wednesday 25 August 2004 at 11:14:33

Multimedia in your hand.

Dell's original Axim X5 PDA, launched almost 18 months ago, was notable for bringing the price of a Pocket PC down to an affordable level. The X3 improved the range by adding a slimline design, and the new Axim X30 maintains both benefits while adding all the latest technology.

Externally its slimline case is identical to the Axim X3, but the major difference that the Axim X30 Wireless is powered by Intel's latest X-Scale PXA270 processor. This is the first embedded CPU to incorporate the Wireless MMX (WMMX) instruction set, designed to improve multimedia, 3D and encryption/decryption performance.

Our top-of-the range review model featured a 624MHz PXA270 CPU. There are two other models in the range - an entry-level 400MHz non-WMMX PXA255 and a mid-range 312MHz PXA270.

In use the PDA feels extremely responsive, with little lag when using the on-screen character recognition, and video playback was smooth. The screen's commendably sharp and bright, and almost readable in bright sunlight.

The slim but uninspiring slab-like design offers no concessions for left-handed users - the asymmetric casing is uncomfortable to hold and the jog wheel is in an awkward position. Right-handers will find it's a comfortable shape, however.

The X30 Wireless comes with both a USB docking cradle (easy to slot the X30 into, but not quite as easy to remove it) and a USB sync cable. There's space in the dock for charging a spare battery.

Both Wi-Fi (802.11b) and Bluetooth are built in. You can manage connections with either the Dell WLAN utility or the free Odyssey client - we found Odyssey slightly easier to use. There's a dedicated button on the front panel for disabling the wireless in addition to the usual four navigation buttons and four-way control paddle.

At this price and with this processor, the X30 Wireless is a welcome addition to Dell's competitive range of Pocket PCs.

Contact: Dell (0870) 152 4649

www.dell.co.uk

Specifications:

Dimensions 77.2x14.9x122.4mm
Weight: 139g
OS Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
Processor Intel PXA270 624MHz
Memory 64MB RAM/64MB ROM
Screen 3.5in transflective TFT, 240x320 pixels, 65K colours
Card slots Single SD/SDIO/MMC slot
Extra ports Headphone, infrared
Software None
PC connection USB cradle or USB sync cable

Fluke Networks Optiview Series II INA

Alex Arias — 2004-08-24T12:24:37.000Z

Alex Arias, PC Magazine, Tuesday 24 August 2004 at 12:24:37

Help for network managers.

Fluke recently released the latest version of the OptiView Integrated Network Analyser, adding new features to what was already a highly functional network troubleshooting tool aimed at professional users.

The unit itself has not changed in physical format - it uses the same tablet form factor with a touch sensitive display, although this now operates at a higher resolution. But its base operating system has been upgraded to run a customised and locked down version of Windows XP.

The real work is done using a custom network analysis board, which provides analyses at full wire speed, and is capable of coping with gigabit network speeds.

A wide range of testing tools are available including protocol analysis, SNMP discovery and mapping tools, RMON2 probe and a UTP cable tester. It's also possible to troubleshoot wireless LANs in tri-band - although this is an add-on option and requires a proprietary wireless card from Fluke costing £2,866 (all prices ex VAT).

The basic OptiView comes with a single 10/100Mbit/s wired interface. A 100Base-FX fibre connector is available on the OptiView Pro (£11,473), while the top of the range OptiView Pro Gigabit has a hot pluggable 1000Base-X interface card (£15,936).

Once connected to a network, automatic discovery is triggered and it instigates a search for manageable devices. There is now an estimated time for completion, which was previously lacking, again a minor but useful update. The summarised data is then presented.

Detailed analysis on WAN environments and on VLANs can be carried out, although some of this is dependant on the model of switch. and both are extra cost features (WAN £1,116, VLAN £1,909).

The usual cable testing facilities are included, and it's also possible to create different traffic loads to assist with stress-testing the network. Capturing and decoding network packets for troubleshooting is done using the Expert viewer application. This automatically decodes and categorises problems throughout the OSI layer.

Reports can be generated using the OptiView Reporter software in a variety of formats including HTML. It can be deployed as a semi-permanent monitoring station, accessible via a web browser.

The OptiView Series II is a rounded tool to help supervise and keep a network in optimum condition. Although it's portable, the limited internal battery life makes it more of a desktop than a handheld tool. Even though the pricing has dropped it's still really only an option for the enterprise market.

Contact: Fluke (01923) 281300

www.fluke-networks.com

Specifications:

Wireless standards supported 802.11b/g/a
Weight 2.1Kg without external battery
Battery life 1 hour (internal)
Interfaces 1xVGA 2 USB
Connectivity RJ-45 10/100Base-T Ethernet, 100Base-FX (OptiView Pro), 1000Base-X (OptiView Pro Gigabit)
Warranty 2 years RTB

HP Laserjet 4650 Series

Alex Arias — 2004-08-23T14:40:15.000Z

Alex Arias, PC Magazine, Monday 23 August 2004 at 14:40:15

Fast, heavy-duty HP printer.

The LaserJet 4650dtn from HP is the newest addition to the 4600 range of printers, featuring an increase in engine speed to 22ppm and a faster processor. Designed for high volume business printing, it produces good quality mono and colour output.

The 4650 family range comprises five A4 printers, starting with the non-networked LaserJet 4650 (£1,049 ex VAT) , with parallel and USB 2.0 connectivity as standard.

The next model up is the 4650n (£1,149 ex VAT), which adds 10/100Base-TX Ethernet connectivity and a JetDirect 620n print server. This allows you to manage the printer through a browser. Its interface is well designed and can be accessed securely over HTTPS. Wireless options for connecting to the interface include 802.11b and Bluetooth.

Although the printer is neither small nor light, its size is typical of its class. The four toner cartridges are conveniently accessed from the front, which makes maintenance easier and provides more flexibility in terms of location. The front LCD panel menus and buttons are intuitively labelled, making it easy to navigate and obtain the relevant information. You can quickly print out the status page and obtain the IP address for the printer if you're on a DHCP-enabled network. It also provides a quick indication of the toner levels.

The base resolution of 600 by 600 dpi is enhanced using HP's ImageREt 3600, a proprietary printing technology that aims to improve the quality of printed output. The sample prints we tested were impressive, with no complaints on the mono printing. The throughput speeds on a range of text and mono PDF files came in at around 21 pages per minute.

Colour prints were also impressive, with a good level of detail retained within the image. It took just 55 seconds to print our 18.5MB A4 test photo. The faster processor and its large memory capacity help to process the file rapidly.

As an option you can add a 20GB hard drive to allow you to store print jobs - this drive comes as standard only on the 4650hdn (£2,084 ex VAT).

Automatic duplex printing comes with the 4650dn at £1,275 (ex VAT), while the 4650dtn (£1,753 ex VAT) has extra paper trays to provide a maximum capacity of 1,600 sheets.

Overall, this is a fast laser workgroup printer with strong management capabilities. The print qualities are good for both colour and mono, although it is a little expensive and has a slightly lower page per month duty cycle (85,000 sheets) than its competitors.

Contact: HP (0845) 270 4222

www.hp.com/uk

Specifications:

Dimensions (DxWxH) 64.5x48x103.4cm
Print technology Single-pass laser
Claimed print speed 22ppm colour and mono
Processor speed 533MHz
Monthly duty cycle 85,000 pages
Print quality 600x600 dpi
Resolution technology HP ImageREt 3600
Input capacity Max 1,600 sheets
Duplex printing Optional on base models, standard on 4650dn upwards
Memory Max 544MB
Memory Slots 2 (DDR) SDRAM SO
DIMM slots, 3 flash memory card slots
Print languages HP PCL 6, HP PCL 5c (Web download), HP postscript level 3 emulation, native PDF printing
Warranty, std. One-year, next day, on-site limited hardware warranty
Price: £1,045?1,753 (ex VAT)

Upgrades for free - Part 2

Kelvyn Taylor and Richard Hunt — 2004-08-16T13:59:53.000Z

Kelvyn Taylor and Richard Hunt, PC Magazine, Monday 16 August 2004 at 13:59:53

The second and final part of our guide to using firmware updates to improve the performance of many hardware products

Firmware updates are more than simple bug fixes: by installing new firmware you can get improved performance from a number of your hardware products.

DVD writers

The performance of some DVD writers can be doubled by applying firmware upgrades. Many officially available updates make available new features, such as support for additional DVD formats. Hacked versions of firmware, on the other hand, should be approached with extreme caution.

It's wrong to assume that if the write speed of your DVD writer is no longer up to your requirements the only thing to do is to buy a faster model. In many cases you can apply free firmware to achieve faster DVD write speeds, support for new DVD formats and optimised writing strategy for different media.

Doubled DVD write speed

To try out these improvements it's often simply a matter of looking at the DVD recorder manufacturer's website. For example, Sony is offering an update to firmware version 2.0c for the DRU-530A multi-format DVD writer that can be run straight from Windows, which is downloadable here. This doesn't just double the DVD-R write speed to 8X, it doubles the DVD-RW write speed from 2X to 4X.

Benq is offering added value to anyone who buys its DW822A 8X writer; from the third quarter of 2004 it will offer a free firmware upgrade that enables the drive to write dual-layer DVDs containing up to 7.9GB of data. Patching straight from a command prompt is not often required these days, as most flash tools spring into action at the click of a button under Windows.

The firmware upgrades given as examples are the exception rather than the rule, however.Usually, new firmware won't speed up the writing process, but will contain information on how to optimise writing to various types of blank media. The importance of correctly matching the writer and blanks was shown in a test of DVD blanks carried out by PC Professionell, our sister magazine in Germany, for its May 2004 issue - two-thirds of the DVD blanks were damaged irreparably after writing because of badly set up recorder firmware.

Beware of hacked firmware

On some web forums you will find hacked firmware upgrades that are not approved by the manufacturers. A patch modified by a third party can be used to flash the NEC ND-1100 external 4X writer to emulate its multi-format sibling, the ND-1300A. Similarly, by applying a firmware patch the Lite-On LDW-41 1S 4X writer metamorphoses into the 8X LDW-811S.

The patches offered on 'insider' websites are usually modified original firmware upgrades. It's by no means clear which parameters the hackers have altered. The removal of the regional code barrier and the DVD rip speed limit do not usually cause problems. However, when it comes to burning DVDs it is a different matter, which can be seen with the NEC ND-1100A.

After flashing with a hacked firmware version, the recorder is recognised as an ND-1300A and burns DVD-format media, but with difficulties. According to a survey by The Firmware Page, many users reported that DVD-R and DVD-RW media written with an 'enhanced' NEC ND-1100A could not be read in another drive.

Tuning for CD writers too

The opportunities and risks of tuning outlined above are similar for CD writers. However, it is not possible to get much extra performance out of a modern 52X writer, although older CD writers will profit from an upgrade. For example, by updating the firmware the 32X Lite-On LTR-32125W can be made to perform like the newer 48X LTR-48125W - an increase in performance of around two per cent.

Digital cameras Firmware updates can also add new features to digital cameras. Installing the new, freely available firmware is quick and straightforward. Obviously the updates include bug fixes but they also often include new display modes and operating routines.

If you have a digital camera, it is a good idea to update the firmware, if available. The free updates mostly serve to correct minor problems. Updating the firmware often adds a few new features - upgrading the Nikon Coolpix 5000 firmware to Version 1.8 ensures that the correct shutter speed is shown on the display during manual exposure.

When its firmware has been upgraded to version 1.03, Canon's EOS 100D will recognise 2GB Compact Flash (CF) cards. With older firmware the CF memory cards are not always formatted at full capacity, with the result that the card holds fewer photos than it can.

A new feature also appears on the Sony DSC-T1 when you upgrade the firmware to version 2.0: the Pictbridge function allows you to print direct from the camera using a compatible printer (for example from HP or Canon) without needing to use a PC.

If you have a Sony DSC-F828 8-megapixel camera, you can avoid data loss by upgrading the firmware from version 1.0 to version 2.0. If the camera's Memory Stick contains more than two folders there is a danger that an image in the wrong directory will be deleted when using the camera's own delete function. The same goes for transferring images to the Memory Stick: in USB 2.0 mode it is possible that the copied file on the Memory Stick might be corrupted.

Notebooks, PDAs and Wi-Fi

More secure, faster, more functions; firmware upgrades also work wonders for devices in the mobile arena. The best part is that you can do all the upgrades yourself without going near the dealer.

It's true that notebooks are nothing more than small, mobile PCs. However, when it comes to BIOS updates, they are different from their deskbound relatives - the upgrades are specific to the manufacturer and not the BIOS or motherboard maker. The motherboards are manufactured for each notebook series and therefore require a customised BIOS.

Even if at first glance the BIOS appears to be a standard Phoenix one, for example on a Samsung notebook, an upgrade is only available if Samsung makes it available. There isn't a central place where new versions appear; the only thing to do is to check the manufacturer's website frequently.

What does it really do? BIOS updates for notebooks do not usually add support for new processors, as is the case for desktop PCs .MobilePCs, because of heat considerations, are usually only designed for a small range of processors, so swapping the processor will seldom work.

Instead, upgrades add functionality, such as support for new, fasterWi-Fi Mini PCI modules, larger hard disks or the option of booting from a USB stick. This last option is something a lot of users would like, and many manufacturers offer it via a BIOS update. For example, if your Dell Inspiron D600 won't boot from a USB stick , the solution is to upgrade to the BIOS version A11.

Bring your PDA up to date

Upgrades for Palm PDAs or Pocket PCs come in two versions: either small patches that are just a few kilobytes in size, which fix minor problems such as difficulties with the Bluetooth interface, or complete updates, which overwrite the Rom and usually deliver an improved or new operating system. The files for both types of upgrade are always loaded from a PC connected by USB or serial cable.

As with notebooks the process is straightforward and can be controlled easily fromWindows. Again, make sure mains power is connected because battery failure can be fatal.

Updates for Wi-Fi devices

Almost all manufacturers of Wi-Fi access points (AP) offer updates that add WPA encryption. Users should install these updates urgently, because WPA's forerunner, WEP, has significant security loopholes.

The AP has to be connected to the PC using an Ethernet cable, because the Wi-Fi interface is not reliable enough. Once the firmware has been downloaded from the manufacturer's website, it can be installed using either a Windows utility or the AP's web interface.

A real-life example

The Linksys WAG54G router up to firmware version 1.01.5 had problems with port forwarding. To update the firmware, download version 1.01.7 here. After the download, the router's web interface opens in the browser. Select Administration|Firmware upgrade, click the browse button and specify the update file's location. Writing the data takes a few seconds. When the LEDs on the router stop blinking, you can reboot and begin using the new firmware.

Printers

Owners of laser and inkjet printers can rejoice. With firmware updates even older models can be equipped with performance enhancers such as Direct Print. Laser and inkjet printer manufacturers conti nually make firmware upgrades available.

Whether they're simple bug fixes or real power updates, they can affect the overall performance of a printer, including print speed and copy resolution. For example, to increase resolution on Konica-Minolta laser printers, the new firmware realigns the device's internal laser reflectors. A firmware update might also allow the printer to show more information via its LCD panel - for example, ink cartridge levels or the current print quality setting.

Upgrading the firmware on a high-end device such as the Epson Stylus Pro 10600 can improve several performance characteristics at once. After the upgrade, the printer will have more accurate cutting modes and an improved paper feed that gives higher print quality when using special papers.

Canon makes available particularly comprehensive firmware.Once it has been installed, even older inkjet models benefit from a Direct Print function. This means that you can print photos directly from compatible digital cameras (such as the Canon EOS 300D digital SLR or the Powershot G3 compact) without needing a PC. Lexmark goes a step further, and will customise firmware for large customers. There's just one fly in the ointment: after the update you need to rebuild customised colour profiles.

Updates using the IP address

All printer manufacturers make firmware updates available for download from their websites. There are two ways to transfer a specified update into the printer controller's flash memory. The first is to use the manufacturer's recommended Windows flash utility. The other is to use command line MS-DOS.

Use the command copy filename LPT1:wb to address the printer interface directly (filename stands for the name of the firmware). Network printers can also be updated from an MS-DOS command line by specifying the IP address of the printer to be updated.

Flashing a USB printer is particularly easy with a bootable USB stick. Just plug the memory stick into the printer's USB port. After switching on, the printer will recognise the update automatically and transfer it to the flash memory.

Upgrades for free - Part 1

Kelvyn Taylor and Richard Hunt — 2004-08-13T16:19:02.000Z

Kelvyn Taylor and Richard Hunt, PC Magazine, Friday 13 August 2004 at 16:19:02

Firmware updates are more than simple bug fixes: by installing new firmware you can get improved performance from many hardware products

Why buy a new piece of hardware if your existing model's performance can be noticeably improved by a firmware update? A firmware update can help you to achieve better performance from many devices. Possibilities include doubled burning speed for DVD recorders, higher clock speeds and unlocking the full performance potential of your motherboard.

Firmware updates can not only enhance performance, but can add new features to the hardware. For example, digital cameras might show additional information on their LCD display or offer more preset features. Official upgrades from printer manufacturers can improve picture quality and optimise paper feeding.

You should also keep an eye open for firmware upgrades for your graphics card: for example, applying an update transforms a sub-£300 ATI Radeon 9800 Pro card into the much more expensive Fire-GL-X2 Pro accelerator. This is possible because both cards use chips from the same product family.

In this feature we'll describe the concrete improvements you can achieve through firmware updates, for motherboards, graphics cards, DVD and CD recorders, PDAs and printers. First, though, we go over the basics and explain how to do firmware upgrades safely.

The basics: Flash at the click of a mouse

A firmware update will go smoothly if you observe a few rules. Before flashing the firmware, you must back up the old version. Almost all updater software has this facility. If a device doesn't behave properly after a firmware update, in most cases you can simply restore the old version.

Upgrading is easiest with tools that work under Windows. In particular, flash programs for products such as DVD and CD writers and digital cameras work like this. A single mouse click is all that is needed to start the firmware update.

Even printers, graphics cards and motherboards can be flashed easily under Windows. However, you need to be particularly careful when flashing a motherboard: unstable Windows drivers can interfere with the flashing process. A BIOS update using the Windows interface should only be carried out on systems that are operating smoothly.

If you want to put new firmware on a Wi-Fi access point, you have to connect the access point and the computer via an Ethernet cable. The wireless interface is not reliable enough for this fussy process. You can either install the new firmware to the access point from the PC using a Windows utility, or use the access point's own web interface to fetch it from the PC.

More reliable with DOS

If you don't trust Windows you can, if themanufacturer allows it, update a PC?s BIOS using a floppy disk. To do this, you need to copy the firmware file and the flash program to a boot diskette. If you don't want to make your own Windows startup diskette, you can use a disk image, such as those at Bootdisk.com. In order for the PC to boot from the floppy, the floppy disk drive must be specified as the first boot device in the BIOS.

Updating is done from the command line after booting from diskette. The name of the flash program, the firmware filename and further parameters are entered here. A more precise set of instructions can usually be found in the relevant readme.txt file.

Warning: do not turn off the computer while the update is running (usually shown by a progress bar), or the device being flashed might be damaged. During the flashing procedure on a notebook PC, the external power supply must remain connected under all circumstances because if the battery ran out during flashing it would have fatal consequences. The notebook would be left without functioning BIOS, requiring manufacturer service.

Not always legal

Numerous hacked firmware versions are circulating on the internet. Often these work by tuning the device above the manufacturer's specifications, which can lead to the product being damaged, for example by overclocking. If you install an unofficial firmware patch, you will invalidate your warranty and possibly damage your hardware irretrievably.

Firmware files patched by third parties infringe intellectual property rights and are illegal. However, legal firmware patches have many advantages and are usually much more effective than tuning by altering software settings, because the firmware controls hardware directly, while software tuning tools are dependent on the Windows device driver. These only influence the hardware to a limited extent and are nowhere near as effective as optimised firmware when it comes to tuning.

In addition, settings specified in the device hardware are retained, even if the computer is turned off. If software patches can't solve a problem, installing new firmware is often the only way to overcome it.

Motherboards and CPUs

Add value to your motherboard at no cost: BIOS updates improve compatibility and add new features to your system. For some chipsets, a firmware upgrade can even push the system into the next performance class.

More performance for free: a firmware update can boost an older motherboard to the same performance level as its more expensive successor. You can save about £35 with a firmware upgrade of this type. For example, motherboards that use the Intel 865PE (Springdale) chipset can be elevated to the same performance level as a board using the high-end Intel 875P (Canterwood) chipset.

The difference between these chipsets lies in the Performance Acceleration Technology (PAT) function. This frees additional performance reserves, optimising the memory access between the CPU and system memory at 800MHz front side bus (FSB) frequency and dual-channel DDR400 memory.

It's possible to activate this feature because Springdale (865PE) and Canterwood (875P) come from the same production line. They are identical, but at the quality control stage, the most powerful chips are selected for use in Canterwood chipsetswhile the rest are used in Springdale chipsets.

Enabling the PAT function with a BIOS update improves overall performance by about two per cent. If your motherboard uses the Intel 845P chip set with an FSB frequency of 533MHz, you can switch to an Intel CPU with an 800MHz FSB without buying a new motherboard. Many manufacturers offer BIOS updates that support the higher FSB rate.

The same goes for AMD CPUs with a 400MHz FSB - motherboa rds using nVidia's nForce 2 chipset with a system frequency of 333MHz also work with newer AMD processors after a BIOS update. The new frequency brings an improvement in performance of up to six per cent.

Manufacturers such as Abit, MSI and Epox include overclocking functions that can be optimised by using updates to their firmware. Apart from menus for selecting preset values, they include tools for altering the FSB frequ ency, core volt a geand multiplier.

MSI offers by far the most advanced overclocking with dynamic overclocking technology (DOT); its integrated overclocking function increases the FSB frequency by up to 20 per cent for demanding applications. Different performance profiles can be selected from the BIOS. Support for DOT and updates for this function are added via BIOS upgrades.

If your computer won't start after an interrupted or completed BIOS update, then hardware intervention is the only way out. Manufacturers such as Gigabyte produce models with dual BIOS chips - if one BIOS chip is damaged , then a second takes over. Some motherboards also have a DIP switch to perform a BIOS reset. If this is still not successful then the BIOS chip will need to be replaced, which means returning the board to the manufacturer.

With regular chipset driver updates you can optimise hard disk and ATAPI drive access times. The aim is to get a high data throughput rate with low CPU usage. If you have a motherboard with an Intel chipset, you install the Intel Application Accelerator.

This speeds up loading times for both Windows and application programs. If you have an AMD Athlon 64 CPU you should keep the proce s s ordriver up to date. This will enable the Cool 'n' Quiet power saving function to be activated fromWindows.

Graphics cards

Even small changes to the BIOS can make graphics cards perform better. This renderscomplicated software tools superfluous. If the firmware meant for another card is installed, some 3D accelerators can transform themselves into different models.

Performance freaks are catching on to graphics card firmware upgrades, which allow optimised settings to be saved in the hardware. The advantage over software tuning is obvious: these programs are available for numerous 3D cards and make it possible to make changes to the most important settings such as clock rates and AGP modes. The changes are effective as soon as the operating system is reinstalled, a new driver comes into use or even if the graphics card is installed in a different PC.

Two update methods

There are two possible ways to make changes to a graphics card BIOS. Some BIOS editors allow you to modify the original BIOS directly, which can be used, for example, to permanently specify a higher clock speed .Alternatively, you may be able to update theBIOS using the firmware for a technically similar but more powerful card.

For example, nVidia GeForce FX-5900 cards can be partially upgraded using the same manufacturer's BIOS to the faster FX-5950 Ultra , as long as the graphics chip and memory can cope with the higher frequencies. For both options, you'll need matching flash tools to read the firmware and transfer the new or modified BIOS back to the graphics card. For graphics cards with ATI or nVidia chips, you can find suitable programs on the internet at sites such as Mvktech.net.

For ATI cards,WinFlash makes the process particularly easy. This allows you to access the BIOS directly from Windows. After clicking on Load Image, the BIOS data is read and stored as a BIN file using the Save function. The program then rewrites the firmware.

For cards with nVidia chips, use the nVFlash utility (currently at version 4.46),which requires use of the command line and a boot diskette.

Adjusting the BIOS yourself

If you're using an ATI graphics card, once the BIOS is on your hard disk as a file you can adjust them parameters it contains using the RadEdit utility. These parameters include the clock speed, the TV standard for video output and the frame refresh rate for DOS mode. Version 1.1D supports all current ATI cards.

X-BIOS Editor (the current version is 1.0 build 520) is a powerful tool for nVidia graphics cards, which doesn't cover all of the latest chips' functions. For example, the clock rate on cards newer than the GeForce4 can't be changed. The Russian developers are reported to be working on a new version.

With older cards the functionality encompasses further possibilities such as the ability to deactivate AGP settings such as sideband or fast write addressing if there are compatibility problems. A unique feature is that you can use the X-BIOS Editor to change any graphics card's boot message. You can import the current 3D card's BIOS directly using the menu command Open/Read current. However, to write it back, you'll still need to use another utility such as nVflash.

New identity by changing the BIOS

Loading the firmware meant for another graphics card offers more opportunities for tuning than BIOS editing utilities. On the internet you can find, for example, BIOS versions that remove the frequency limitations on individual ATI cards, or you can use a suitable BIOS to transform the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro into the much more expensive Fire GL X2.

The Fire GL cards are based on the same chip technology, but have additional functions for accelerated display of raster graphics. This has advantages when using professional level graphics applications such as 3D Studio Max or CAD programs.

When looking for replacement BIOS versions, sites such as mvtech or ocfaq.com are a treasure trove for files and information on all types of card. Obviously, before changing the BIOS you should check the planned settings thoroughly. Faster clock speeds can be set up with utility software such as Powerstrip and soak-tested.

If there are problems after changing the BIOS, start the system using a PCI graphics card and then put the old BIOS back on to the AGP graphics card. Alternatively, use a boot diskette that has an entry in its AUTOEXEC.BAT file that carries out the BIOS re-update without requiring screen output.

Everything has its price

Paul Monckton — 2004-08-11T16:00:50.000Z

Paul Monckton, PC Magazine, Wednesday 11 August 2004 at 16:00:50

Whatever you're trying to do at home, chances are you'll end up paying - either for hardware upgrades or customised software, or at the expense of your time and domestic harmony

Rory is a winner in the dating game and tonight he's training at altitude. Spying his prey, he approaches. "Hi," he smiles, Zaurus in hand. "I'm Rory. I'm a Linux user."

Don't try this at home. Rory's cool enough to pull using the Linux handicap system; you and I are not.

I recently had a bad idea. Now, it's not unusual to have a collection of MP3s, especially in something cool like an iPod. I confess that mine reside on a server on my home network. One day you'll all have one - it's compulsory, according to Microsoft, Intel and others.

All I want is to be able to play my MP3s wirelessly around the house. And while this announcement is enough to get many of the above manufacturers of 'stuff' rather excited, I'll calm them down immediately by saying I don't want to buy anything new to achieve this.

I could buy something that's almost what I want, plug it in and gasp as it almost fulfils my requirements in a rubbish way that doesn't quite work with all my other equipment, leaving me paddling in a shallow, tepid pool of disappointment, splashing my feet and trying to convince myself I'm having fun.

Still, my half-baked solution would now be in place. I'd be free to move on, go outside and get on with life. I suppose that's what most sane people would do, but this is a project that sits precariously on that wall between normality and geekdom, and I can already feel myself leaning over for that inevitable great fall.

My choices? Buy Windows XP, upgrade the hardware, listen to some music and then spend the evening out with my friends; or, install Linux, leave the hardware just as it is thank you very much and save some money.

My hardware? An old laptop with a Wi-Fi adaptor and an external USB soundcard, functional but of a specification modest enough to ensure that Windows XP would be hell. Anyway, I just want to listen to some MP3s - why should I buy something as complex and expensive as XP for that?

Entering the world of Linux should be a liberating experience. Having been trapped for years in a loveless, forced marriage to Windows, I found the thought of returning to Linux left me feeling positive, energised and with younger-looking skin.

Sadly, it turned out not to be quite the kind of freedom I had hoped for. Despite all my years of experience, I was unprepared for operating under the Linux handicap system. Here, the old rule that you don't get something for nothing still holds true.

Many late nights spent trying to get every piece of the jigsaw slotted in at once will attest to this. I tried one Linux distribution after another. This was no speed-dating event. A couple of hours spent with each found ever-changing incompatibilities: Wi-Fi not working, no support for my Extigy soundcard.

Finally, I found an answer. Xandros, a Linux distribution designed for people familiar with Windows, practically installed itself and everything just worked! I didn't have to configure anything.

But Xandros isn't free. All the hard work making it 'just work' comes at a cost, albeit rather less than that of Windows XP.

The adage is still true. You can pay for your stuff and buy your freedom or you can get it for free and pay for it with your life, or at least your love-life.

Smile, you're on webcam

Guy Kewney — 2004-08-11T14:51:32.000Z

Guy Kewney, PC Magazine, Wednesday 11 August 2004 at 14:51:32

Hard disks are getting bigger, and we need a use for all that extra capacity. So how about taking the webcam to the next monthly sales meeting?

It's hard being a hard disk maker. You make things bigger and bigger and bigger, and people say: 'Oh, 30GB is plenty.' So they search desperately for things to do with PCs; things that really, really chew up the disk space.

This has two effects. The obvious one is that people start creating video software. The less obvious one is that the makers of expensive disks start complaining. The expensive disk business isn't what it might seem.

You can still hear people proclaiming the glory of the 15,000rpm SCSI disk. Among these enthusiasts you will find HP, maker of the eye-wateringly costly Proliant range, not to mention the nut-tighteningly expensive Blade servers.

'It's all nonsense,' is what the mavericks say. And one of those mavericks is Jim Gray, one of Microsoft's senior researchers (and known as 'the father of transactional processing') from San Francisco.

"I'm getting into a lot of trouble," he confessed when I met him in Amsterdam at Microsoft's TechEd forum. "I keep saying that I don't need these disks. I also keep arguing that storage area networks are not a good thing."

It's not as if Jim is playing with small laptops. His project at the moment is the WorldWide Telescope, a globally distributed database with simply vast amounts of storage.

"We had a $2m system," he explained. "A lovely system from Compaq, now HP. We've replaced it with a no-name PC, which we mirror and, because we're paranoid, we mirror it again, so we have three systems, with petabytes of storage. It costs $120,000."

And it uses plain old 200GB 7,200rpm Seagate disks, of the sort that are only supposed to be used for digital video recorders, costing around $200 per disk.

"And people say to us: 'You have got to have good solid SCSI San systems with good solid reliable hardware.' And, in fact, we have not had a single failure since we built this no-name system," said Jim.

Back to video. I think I've found a way of forcing people like me to upgrade their disks. It's called OneNote and is designed for Tablet PCs. It works well with Tablets because it uses digital ink, but it works just as well on a notebook.

Here's the trick: say you're taking notes of a meeting for the minutes. You can probably keep up with some of it, until you have to start contributing. Five minutes of heated argument later, you realise that you haven't noted a word.

OneNote lets you record audio at the same time as you type. Well, any tape recorder can do that. What makes OneNote special is that if you click on your typed notes later, it starts playing back the audio that was recorded at that point.

So you can just type the name of who was speaking, and a two or three word summary. 'Jim: cats are fierce. Brenda: the garden needs digging. Tim: how to clean a duck.' And so on.

The thing is, nobody's interested in duck-cleaning. So when you transcribe the notes, you can ignore it without having to listen to the whole recording to see when the duck bit starts and finishes.

How many thousands of meetings could you minute on a 10GB disk? At full CD quality? 'Pah' (said the vicar), 'I could fit that on my iPod.' So Microsoft upgraded OneNote to record video. Take the webcam with you and you get lip-synch as well as voice-synch for your recordings.

Yes, of course it will chew up disk space. Buy a new 200GB Seagate for £150, stick it in a USB 2.0 enclosure, and what do you care?

Corsair TwinX CMX512-3200XLPT

Simon Crisp — 2004-07-29T11:31:16.000Z

Simon Crisp, PC Magazine, Thursday 29 July 2004 at 11:31:16

Fast performance memory from Corsair.

One of the major thorn in the sides of any overclocker is the latency of the systems memory. Latency is the time it takes for requested data to be ready for reading from the memory, so it?s pretty obvious the lower you can get the latency values, the faster the memory will perform. Corsair has taken some of the pain away with its DDR400 modules, which feature the lowest latency timings available ? 2-2-2-5, making them the fastest around.

The new modules feature Corsair?s Plug-n-Frag technology, which has the latencies pre-programmed into the SPD (Serial Presence Detect) chip on the module. This means that the modules automatically boot up at the lowest settings, thus avoiding any more tweaking in the BIOS.

As with most of the Corsair range, the modules are available separately or more usefully as TwinX matched pairs .

Contact: Overclockers UK (0870) 443 0880

www.overclockers.co.uk

Price details:

Single 512MB module £123.38 (inc VAT)

1GB TwinX (2x512MB modules) £240.88 (inc VAT)