Author: Andy Merrett
Ten great reasons to switch to OS X
What? Hasn’t the OS X versus Windows debate died out yet?
‘fraid not, and it’s not likely to either.
So, without further ado, here are ten superb reasons why you should switch to Mac OS X.
1. Manage your windows better
No, not that Windows (though it’s worth noting that you can still run Windows applications on a Mac with the right bit of software).
One of the biggest headaches on any computer desktop is the number of application windows you have to manage all the time.
Sure, there’s a minimise feature and you can always close windows you no longer need, but Mac OS X has some very elegant ways of managing the clutter of multiple windows with just a few keystrokes.
There’s Exposé which shows you all the windows you have open and lets you switch easily between them (you can even drag and drop items between windows this way) or alternatively clears everything out of the way so you can see the desktop behind.
Combine this with Spaces which lets you have multiple virtual desktops and you have a very slick window management system that makes it easier to accomplish tasks rather than wrestling with windows.
Sure, Windows can do some of this, but not as well…
10 full HD camcorders you can actually afford
Consumer camcorder technology has come on in leaps and bounds in the past couple of years, as evidenced by the number of high definition models we’ve reviewed on Tech Digest.
All that technology doesn’t necessarily come cheap, though. Is it possible to get full HD on a fairly modest (sub-£500) budget?
Here are ten 1080p-capable camcorders that offer you a way in to high definition film-making.
Click on the image below to start the tour.
15 ways to watch TV programmes and films online in the UK… legally
It may come as a bit of a shock to anyone deeply entrenched in YouTube, TBP and other P2P sites, but it is possible to watch a lot of TV shows and films online in the UK totally legally.
Some are even free.
It’s a fairly depressing exercise hunting them all down, though. Many services are only available in the US, have shut down or are on an extended hiatus.
Nevertheless, here are 15 services (eight free, seven paid for) that you can use to view TV programmes or films. If you know of any more that are legal and easily available in the UK, let us know in the comments below.
Free Online TV / Film Services
About: Offers live streaming of BBC1 and BBC2 plus 7-day programme catchup service.
Pros:
- Well-established service offering access to a wide range of BBC TV programming.
- Wide range of platforms supported for either streaming or downloading content, including PC, Mac, iPhone, Nokia devices.
- Shows from BBC HD are available to download in high definition.
Cons:
- Rights management issues means some programmes aren’t available to watch live or archived.
- Streaming service can sometimes appear jittery (this may be due to broadband connection)
Guide: The difference between SSDs and HDDs
This guide outlines the main differences between solid state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs).
There are two major types of SSD in current production — NAND and DRAM. This guide focuses on the more common one: NAND.
It’s worth noting that advances are being made all the time on both types of drive and that these differences are generalisations. Individual performance will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
1. Speed
Most solid state drives, except ones made using cheaper components, are significantly faster at reading data than a hard drive.
This is because there are no moving mechanical parts on a SSD and so the “seek time” is significantly reduced. Incidentally, DRAM drives are faster still.
Writing large files is also generally quicker on a SSD, though at present there are often performance problems when trying to write a lot of small files to a SSD. It’s possible to overcome this through improved system design.
In general, though, SSDs are faster than HDDs.
(PS: SSDs are generally quieter than HDDs because they don’t have any moving parts and are usually fanless)
Gallery: 10 pairs of headphones you can actually afford
As part of Tech Digest's Headphones Week, here are ten pairs of headphones / earphones that you can actually afford. By "afford" I'm talking those that retail for under £200. Don't worry, there are some decent pairs for well under…
Gallery: Top 10 Cameraphones
So your converged life needs a decent camera and mobile phone in one? Here are ten of the best cameraphones around, and not an iPhone in sight.
Click on the image below to start the tour.
Alienware versus Predator: top spec gaming desktop PCs go head-to-head
It’s time to put two maxed-out gaming PCs to the test — the best Alienware versus the best Acer.
Here’s a raw specs comparison for a top-of-the-range Alienware ALX X-58 and Predator Crusader II. Which one will cut it as the ultimate gaming PC?
| Alienware ALX X-58 | Predator Conquerer II | |
| Processor: | Overclocked Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme 3.86GHz 8MB Cache | Intel Core i7-965 3.2GHz 8MB Cache |
| Graphics: | Dual 1792MB NIVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 with Optional Ageia PhysX Physics Processing Unit | 2* Nvidia® GeForce® 2* GTX 285 + Nvidia® nForce® 780i SLI (3 way SLI) 2* 896MB VRAM |
| Audio: | 7.1-channel audio + Sound Blaster X-Fi High Definition Surround Sound Audio | High Definition (7.1) channel audio support + Dolby Home Theatre audio enhancement + Creative EAX 4.0 support |
| Memory: | 12GB Triple Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz | 12GB DDR2 1066MHz SDRAM |
| Storage: | 2x256GB SSD + 1.0 TB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM | 2* 1TB SATA Hard Disk Drives & 1* 150GB WD Raptor® Drives |
| Optical drives: | 4x Dual Layer Blu-ray Burner | BD Burner + SuperMulti burner |
| Other connections: | 8xUSB 2.0, 2xFireWire, 1xESATA, 2xheadphones, 2xmicrophone, 1xEthernet | 9xUSB 2.0, 1xFireWire, S/PDIF, 2xEthernet, 18-in-1 memory card reader, 1xline out, 1xmicrophone |
| Cooling: | AlienIce™ 3.0 high-performance cooling | Liquid Cooling on the CPU |
| Other: | Customisable lighting, acoustic dampening, Killer Xeno Pro networking card, Alienware TactX Headset | |
| Guide price: | £5,353.25 | £3,999.99 |
25 Camping Gadgets you really should have
The British camping season is now truly upon us, offering inexpensive holidays under canvas.
Here are 25 bits of kit that will make your life a lot easier, whether you’re cooking, foraging, hiking, or relaxing under the stars.
1. Tent
It goes without saying that you’ll need a decent tent if you’re planning on sleeping in a field.
My personal favourites are Khyam tents. They come in a wide range of sizes and styles and are generally quick and easy to erect. You may pay a bit more but you can usually find them on special offer, and they’ll last a long time…
10 accessories Nintendo should add to the Wii
The Nintendo Wii is an insanely popular gaming console, but there’s always room for improvement, right?
Here are ten bits of kit Nintendo could add to he Wii console to make it even more versatile – ranging from the fairly sensible to the downright weird.
What would you add to the Wii?
1. Bluetooth Headset
OK, so this one is pretty sensible, and you’d think would be fairly easy for Nintendo to create and market.
I know there’s the Wii Speak, but perhaps you’d like to have a more private conversation with someone about subjects more personal than Animal Crossing.
2. WiiPhone
A few years ago we didn’t think Apple would venture into the mobile phone market, but it happened.
Nintendo has denied that it will ever get into telephony, but it wouldn’t be hard to hook up a telephone interface to the Wii and use the controller to dial your numbers.
After all, it’s likely that not everyone you want to talk to has a Wii, and it’s just so much effort to pick up the real phone when you’re constantly attached to the Wii.
Five things Nokia must do to make the Ovi Store a success
The Ovi Store launched today, promising thousands of applications for a range of Nokia’s S40 and S60-based handsets.
What does Nokia need to do to give the Ovi Store the best chance of succeeding? Here are five for starters.
1. Create an easy to use Store
It’s inevitable that all mobile application stores are being compared to the one Apple implemented for iPhone users.
There’s no denying that the iTunes App Store offers a very slick and integrated system for the user, and Nokia needs to do exactly the same if it’s to encourage users to spend and download.
Some early reports suggest that the Ovi Store’s current layout is overcomplicated and difficult to navigate. Nokia would do well to make the store as easy to use as possible.
Does the Ovi Store really need a separate app to be installed prior to downloading other apps? If so, Nokia had better make that a seamless process. If not, scrap it and just give direct access to a WAP or web site.
Nokia also needs to make sure that it’s easy to pay for apps. Users will always be able to purchase using a registered credit card, but some will also be able to pay via their mobile network provider. I sense complications could arise from this.
Nokia may be thankful that a lot of its users, by nature, won’t have experienced other mobile app stores, because at present it’s not as good as it could be.
