August 2011: Portable power

Pump up your laptop with our huge guide, extend your notebook's battery life with our exclusive software, plus 3G broadband mega-test and more.

Cover story – portable superguide:

Easy and advanced laptop upgrades
Trim Windows or install Ubuntu
Use your netbook as a server!
Replace the power brick
Boost battery life and more

Plus:

3G broadband mega-test: USB and WiFi modems, iPad microSIMs and all major networks tested
Best-value laptops: Amazing $1000 Sandy Bridge notebooks
Upgrade Android: Add Gingerbread to your smartphone now
15 iPod speakers: They're not just for iPods anymore
Latest tablets: Blackberry Playbook, ASUS Transformer

Full magazine contents

Opinion

Editorial: PC User's new era.
Feedback: Readers' emails and letters.

TestBench

PC products reviewed: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and Blackberry Playbook tablets, Toshiba DX1210 PC, Netgear DGND3700 router, Thermaltake Esports Azurues, Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection.
Gadgets and home entertainment gear reviewed: Swann DVR-460 Sportscam camcorder, AC Ryan Playon!HD2 network media player, Corsair SP-2200 speakers, Genius Maxfire Wireless Grandias 12V gamepad, Teac SB04T soundbar, Viewsonic PJD7383I and InFocus IN2114 projectors.
Android smartphones compared: Samsung Galaxy S II, Motorola Atrix, HTC Desire S, Sony Erricsson Xperia arc, Telstra Smart-Touch.
Windows file managers reviewed: Directory Opus 10, Xplorer2, Explorer++ 1.2, FreeCommander 2009, NexusFile 5.31, Q-dir 4.59, Total Commander 7.56, CubicExplorer 0.94.
Intel Z68 motherboards tested: ASRock Z68 Pro3, Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3, MSI Z68MA-ED55, ASRock Z68 Extreme 4, MSI Z68A-GD80.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 graphics cards reviewed: MSI N560GTX Twin Frozr II/OC, Gigabyte GV-N560GSO-1GI.

Features

15 iPod speakers reviewed: Sony XDRDS12IP, Grundig Trio GMSX900DABIP, Kogan Deluxe Wi-Fi DAB+ Digital Internet Radio With iPhone Dock, Logitech S315I, Sony CMTMX750NI, Grundig Trio Touch GMSX1000DABIP, Panasonic SC-HC30DB, Philips Fidelio DS8550, Pure I-20, Philips Fidelio DS1100, Soniq IM501K, Yamaha MCR-040, Philips Fidelio SBD7500, Bush BMS05DABIP, Revo Domino D3.
Gingerbread upgrade guide: How to root your Android phone and upgrade it to Android 2.3.

Portable superguide

Sub-$1000 Sandy Bridge notebooks reviewed: MSI CR640, Dell Vostro 3550, Toshiba Satellite C660/00J, HP ProBook 4330S, MSI CX640, Pioneer Computers Dreambook Style W25-1H, Acer Aspire 5750, Toshiba Satellite L750/03C, Acer Aspire 5750G-2414G75, Acer Aspire TravelMate 5760.
Mobile modems road-tested: USB modems: BigPond Ultimate USB, BigPond Elite USB, Virgin USB Modem, Optus E173 USB Modem, Vodafone Mega Modem, Three Internet Key E122. Mobile Wi-Fi modems: Telstra Elite Pre-paid Mobile Wi-Fi, Optus Mini WiFi Moem, Vodafone Pocket WiFi, Virgin Wi-Fi Modem, VividWireless ViViFi Wi-Fi Hotspot. iPad microSIM cards: Telstra, Vodafone, Optus, Three.
Easy notebook upgrades: How to install a new hard drive and RAM in your notebook or netbook.
Advanced notebook upgrades: How to upgrade your notebook's CPU, GPU and more.
Notebook reboot: How to re-use your old notebook or netbook as server, PVR and more.
Extend your laptop's battery life: How to use our exclusive PC User Super Power Manager software.

Replacement notebook power bricks: How to choose the right power supply for your laptop, plus 15 reviews: PSUs under 90W: Amacrox Netbook Adapter Mini MN 40, Amacrox UltraSlim 65, Belkin F5L010AU Laptop Travel Power Adapter, Huntkey 65W Slim, Jaycar MP3477 PowerTech Plus Mini Notebook Power Supply, Jaycar MP3320 PowerTech Plus 70W Automatic. PSUs over 90W: Amacrox UltraSlim 90, Amacrox Laptop N12, Huntkey 90W Mini, Jaycar MP3476 Powertech Plus 90W Regulated, Jaycar MP3471 PowerTech Plus Universal 144W, Jaycar MP3473 PowerTech Plus 150W Automatic, Targus APM68AU Universal Wall/Car/Air 90W, Targus APA30AU 90W Laptop Charger, Targus APA68AU Universal Wall Power Adapter.

HelpStation

Q&A: Your technical questions answered.
Windows: How find any file with Everything.
Windows: Slipstream to save time and hassle when reinstalling Windows 7, Vista or XP.
iOS: Create custom ringtones for your iPhone.
Peer to peer: Access and manage µTorrent remotely.
Networking: Set up a simple two-PC USB network.
Ripping & burning: DOS commands that merge video files.
Home studio: Create titles for your movies with Adobe Premiere Pro.
Web design: Save time with some smart new Dreamweaver features.
Photo editing: Create interesting effects with Photoshop's Warp tool.
Excel: Seven common Excel mistakes to avoid.
Microsoft Word: Customise Word's brochure templates, plus our exclusive macro provides a smart way to expand letter spacing.
Google Docs: Use conditional formatting in spreadsheets.
Guest app: Build a library of PDFs and .epub books using Adobe Digital Editions.
Programming: How to read and write files using Visual Basic.
Cover disc guides: Get started with Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3 and Catch-A-Page.

Doing Business Online

IT pro's guide to the cloud: What does cloud computing mean for IT jobs?

Netguide

Download sites reviewed: CNet Download, Brothersoft, FileHippo.com, MajorGeeks.com, Softpedia.
Kids' software and hardware reviewed: Numbers Up! Volcanic Panic v2, I-Spy Mystery, Aunt-Annie.com, Zibits Mini Robots.
Genealogy: Use newspapers to research family history.

After Hours

Game previews: Deux Ex: Human Revolution, Rage.
Game reviews: LA Noire, Duke Nukem Forever, Dungeon Siege III, Infamous 2, Dirt 3, Red Faction: Armageddon, Brink, Socom: Special Forces.

Buyer's Guide

Perfect PC: We select the best-value PC specs.
Top 100 products: Highlights from previous reviews.

August 2011 DVD: Battery extender

World exclusive power manager: Increase your notebook’s battery life with PC User Super Power Manager. Our exclusive new utility gives you greater control over CPU clockspeed and screen brightness than Windows’ built-in power manager.
Photo optimiser: Touch up your images fast with the full version of Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3.
Ubuntu 11.04: This full OS offers a slick new interface and much more.
Huge playable demo and free game: The Next Big Thing playable demo, plus Warsow, a free action game.
Laptop revival kit: 30 free essential utilities, communications tools and lightweight apps for your notebook.
Your own PC expert: Get our recommended PC specs, tailored to your budget, with our world exclusive PC User Perfect PC.
Exclusive videos: How to use PC User Super Power Manager and more.

Full DVD contents

Portable resource kit

System & security tools:

PC User Super Power Manager
Daemon Tools Lite
WinToFlash
Dropbox
Truecrypt
PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition
Microsoft Security Essentials

Communications tools:

Chrome
Thunderbird
Lightning
Skype
Digsby
Trillian Astra

Lightweight apps:

AbiWord
Gnumeric
Foxit Reader
CuteFTP Writer
Media Player Classic
IrfanView
Fotografix
Notepad++
Portable App Suite Standard
VLC

Software

Full versions:

Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3
Ubuntu 11.04
PC User PerfectPC
PC User Super Power Manager
ImagineBooks PhotoBooks

Applications:

Photobie
Flashnote
Free Studio
IObit Security 360
Photo Pos Pro

Online tools:

Clip to Evernote
Free Download Manager

System utilities:

Kantaris Media Player
Gizmo Central
Gizmo Drive
AppRemover
Efficient Password Manager Free Portable

Entertainment

Game demo:

The Next Big Thing

Free game:

Warsow

Tutorials

Exclusive video guides:

Creating warp effects in Photoshop & Photoshop Elements
Don't make these mistakes in Excel
Creating titles in Premiere Pro
Introducing PC User Super Power Manager
Portal 2 game guide

Featured tools:

Word macro of the Month
Excel macro of the month
PC User PerfectPC
PC User Super Power Manager
nLite
CDBurnerXP
vLite
RT Se7en Lite
WAIK for Windows 7
Everything
Icon Tweaker

DVD registrations

Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3

Ensuring you are connected to the internet, install Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3 from PC User's August cover disc. Once the installation process is complete, your web browser will go straight to the registration site. Here, enter a valid email address in the form provided and click Send. A registration code will then be sent to that email address. (If you don't receive the email please check your junk email folder, as these emails are sometimes picked up by spam filters). Launch Photo Optimize, enter the licence key where prompted and click Activate Now (or, in the same dialog box, you can click Free Full Version Key if you do not yet have one). Note: if you have previously installed other Ashampoo products you may be taken directly to Ashampoo's site and your registration code may appear automatically in your browser.

PC User Super Power Manager, PC User PerfectPC, Ubuntu 11.04

No registration required. Just install the software from PC User's cover disc and enjoy!

Special offers

Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 4 special offer

Enjoying Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3 on our August DVD? For a limited time you can receive a big discount off Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 4, the latest version which offers even more tools for touching up your photos. From inside Photo Optimizer 3, click the MyAshampoo menu and choose Upgrade to Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 4.

PC User