How-tos

  • 15 best keyboard shortcuts ever

    21 Dec 2009 4:27 PM

    Speed up your computing life immeasurably with these shortcuts for multiple programs and OSes.

  • Ask Us: What is FLAC?

    21 Dec 2009 4:05 PM

    FLAC is a lossless audio format or codec. Craig Simms explains the quality vs. file size trade-offs.

  • Home cinema systems: Are kits or components right for you?

    19 Dec 2009 11:56 PM

    Whether you want to buy a home theatre in a box or go the components route, you'll need to decide which way is best for you right from the start.

  • Ask Us: How do I stop PDFs from crashing Firefox?

    16 Dec 2009 11:52 AM

    Tired of crashing your browser every time you click on a PDF link? Craig Simms shows you an easy way to fix this problem.

  • Must-have utilities for your Windows tool-kit

    16 Dec 2009 11:07 AM

    How often do you think about the background systems that make your computer run smoothly and surely? We show you seven of our favourite programs to keep your system in tip-top shape.

  • Mobile phone starter's guide: Extend your mobile phone's battery life

    14 Dec 2009 4:20 PM

    There's little in life more frustrating than having your mobile phone run out of battery when you've left your charger at home. Follow these simple tips to extend your phone's battery life and avoid being caught short.

  • How to upgrade your laptop

    07 Dec 2009 10:18 AM

    If you've ever wondered if you can get extra life out of your laptop by upgrading your hardware, there are some options open to you.

  • Desktop digest: 13 things you need to know to buy the perfect desktop

    07 Dec 2009 8:54 AM

    Despite the laptop gaining strength as the PC du jour in recent times, the desktop still has a place in the home. Here are our top 25 things to consider before buying or building your own desktop.

  • Please Explain: Ping

    30 Nov 2009 2:58 PM

    You can use a Ping command to check connections to other PCs across a network and test latency and packet loss. Craig Simms explains more.

  • Digital camera basics: Understanding exposure

    30 Nov 2009 2:56 PM

    Ever wondered how to gain total control over your photographs? Welcome to the world of exposure. In this instalment of the Learning Centre, we'll take you through aperture, shutter speed, ISO and light meters.

The Explain Series

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Reviews

  • Toshiba 26DV615Y

    The Toshiba 26DV615Y won’t blow you away with image quality or features but it is perfect as a second television and the integrated DVD player is excellent value at this price.

    Specs: LCD , 26 inch, 1366 x 768 pixels

    Where to buy? Check price listings

  • LG Watch Phone GD910

    The GD910 certainly has wow-factor. It looks like a watch but performs well as a mobile phone cum messenger. Sadly, the high price really dents the appeal of this wonderful gadget.

    Specs: Bluetooth, HSDPA , 80 MB, Touchscreen , VGA

    Where to buy? Check price listings

  • Nokia N900

    What's Maemo? Never mind. The N900 ditches the "internet tablet" moniker of its predecessors and stands out as one of the most impressively featured handheld devices of 2009.

    Specs: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) , GPRS, WAP, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA , 5-megapixel , microSD

    Where to buy? $40 to $929 at 10 stores