Desktops - Crave at CNET UK

Snow Leopard vs Windows 7: How the Apple has fallen

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Snow Leopard is as slick as ever, but after weeks of exhaustive testing, we've discovered the newly spray-painted pussycat simply doesn't have what it takes to go up against its main rival, Windows 7

Video: Alienware Area-51 ALX hands-on

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:02:01 +0000

It's impossible not to be in awe of the Area-51 -- with enormous vents, customisable lights and the fastest spec we've ever seen, it truly is the mothership

'Get a Mac' ads heckle Windows 7 launch

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:40:01 +0000

Apple has released a set of new commercials, all designed to upset the launch of Windows 7 and -- to a lesser extent -- highlight the advantages of its own products

Using the new iMac as a games console display: Not that easy

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:26:02 +0000

Theoretically, the new 27-inch Apple iMac allows you use it as a display for Blu-ray players and games consoles. But our tests prove it's not quite that simple

Amazon to publish free Kindle PC app

nick.hide@cnet.co.uk (Nick Hide) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:36:02 +0000

Amazon is increasing the number of ways you can access its Kindle electronic book service, with a new free app for Windows PCs

Microsoft launches Windows 7 with new hardware and massive PC World discounts

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:41:02 +0000

Microsoft has launched Windows 7 in London, showing off the sparkly new OS on Sony, HP and Toshiba laptops and desktops

Asus Eee Box 1501 mini PC hands-on photos

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:07:01 +0000

The first Asus Eee Box to run Windows 7 was shown off in a swanky Soho members club last night. It's the dual-core Eee Box 1501, and we got to try one out

Apple iMac goes quad-core, gets graphics choice, SD slot and multi-touch Magic Mouse

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:10:02 +0000

Apple has announced 21- and 27-inch iMacs, which give you graphics and hard-drive options. There's an SD card slot but no Blu-ray too. Check out our story for details and prices

Alienware Aurora: Doesn't hate the player or the game

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:48:02 +0000

You've seen the Alienware Area-51 ALX -- a PC so sphincter-twistingly scary it should come with an Asbo. Now we bring you a look at its baby brother, the Aurora

Sony Vaio L all-in-one: The L stands for lovely

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:55:02 +0000

It's be-Sony's-bitch morning. We just got word of its new Vaio L series all-in-one Windows 7 desktop and we have to concede, it's too lush not to write about

Alienware Area-51 ALX: Exclusive hands-on with the fastest PC ever

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:55:02 +0000

Bow before us, mortals, for we have an exclusive look at the fastest gaming PC in the world. It calls itself the Alienware Area-51 ALX, but you, puny human, will refer to it as Sir

Mechanical Tumour: Revolting brain-thing pulses with your CPU

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:29:02 +0000

"Wouldn't it be great," thought Japanese artist Mio Lizawa, "if my PC had some sort of pulsating, frightening, brain-like thing hanging out of the side of it?"

Alienware Aurora gaming desktop has scary motorised vents

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:33:02 +0000

Alienware has gone all-out with some pimpin' refreshes to both the design and the technology of its high-end Aurora gaming desktops

ViewSonic VOT550: Itsy-bitsy Blu-ray PC

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:58:02 +0000

Heads up, home-cinema fans, we've just got our grubby mitts on the ViewSonic VOT550 -- a Blu-ray playing PC so small it could hang-glide on a Dorito

Packard Bell debuts EasyNote DT85, oneTwo M and L all-in-ones and dot m/u netbook

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:08:02 +0000

Packard Bell has given its desktop, laptop and netbook lines a primp and polish with the launch of the oneTwo M and L, EasyNote DT85 and dot m/u

HP Pavilion All-in-One MS214: No touching

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:17:02 +0000

The HP Pavilion All-in-One MS214 packs everything into one shell, but without the touchscreen of its bigger brothers. At least that keeps the price down

Dell Studio XPS 8000: Intel to the Core

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:55:02 +0000

Dell has ordered a whole fistful of Intel's new Core i7 and Core i5 CPUs and jammed them in a new addition to its desktop line-up, the curvy Studio XPS 8000

MSI Windtop AE2400 hands-on photos

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:41:02 +0000

An all-in-one desktop computer just gave us an enormous, sweaty happy. MSI's Windtop AE2400 is a Windows 7-powered Intel Core 2 Quad monster with a 24-inch 1080p touchscreen

Photos: 2TB Buffalo LinkStation Quad tested... as a Time Capsule

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:58:02 +0000

Buffalo's LinkStation is not just a box with up to 8TB of hard disk space for every computer on your home network. It's also a fully functioning Time Machine backup device for your Mac

Microsoft: Future desktop PCs will transform the office

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:08:01 +0000

Microsoft's top strategy officer believes that, in the future, desktop PCs will use entire rooms as display and input devices

HELLO!? WE'RE TESTING THE ADVENT PQG-9002! NO, IT'S RUBBISH!

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:13:02 +0000

The PQG-9002 is one of the loudest PCs we've ever had the misfortune to encounter. It's loud enough to wake the dead, then perforate their eardrums so badly it'd kill them again

PecoBOO: Eco-friendly webcam software turns off unwatched screens

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:42:01 +0000

VeryPC's PecoBOO face-detection program works with your PC's webcam to turn off your screen when you're not looking at it, and turn it on when you face it again

Photos: Dell Studio One 19 hands-on

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:21:01 +0000

Our topic today is Dell's Studio One 19 -- a 19-inch touchscreen all-in-one PC -- and of all the people who could've played with it this week, we were some of them

Breadbox64: Twitter on your Commodore 64

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:15:02 +0000

We can now tweet even in the midst of a deep bout of nerdstalgia, thanks to this brilliant Twitter app for the Commodore 64

Advent AIO-101, AIO-156: All-in-one twins

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:21:02 +0000

The tech stork delivered twins this morning, in the form of two Advent all-in-one PCs. It's just as well, we're horribly hungover and in no mood to clean up after a human infant

Steve Jobs ready to appear at WWDC?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:19:01 +0000

The Apple supremo is on track to return to the helm of his company this month after six months of medical leave, according to a report

Shuttle X Vision X50 all-in-one: Ready for your meat grease

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:23:02 +0000

Nettops have never had the same popularity as their netbook brethren, but that hasn't stopped Shuttle crashing the party. But can the X Vision X50 all-in-one PC combat consumer apathy?

VirtualBox: Windows 7 on your Mac for free

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:25:02 +0000

We walk you through a simple method for getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate on your Mac so you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about. The best part? It's free

New Apple Mac ads: Stitch that, Microsoft!

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:23:02 +0000

Apple has come out swinging with three new ads jabbing back at Microsoft's recent cheap shots. We tell the tale of the tape as these two computing giants square up once again. Fight!

Intel fined a record �1bn for illegal business practices

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:58:01 +0000

A billion-euro fine for anti-competitive deals with computer manufacturers landed on Intel's doorstep this morning, after five years of trying to restrict AMD's business

Apple preparing iMac, MacBook price cuts?

Fri, 01 May 2009 10:28:02 +0000

Apple plans to introduce less expensive versions of its two most popular Macs at some point over the next several months, according to AppleInsider

Apple Macs to get Blu-ray drives?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:01:02 +0000

The yet-to-be-released iTunes 8.2 mentions Blu-ray on the 'About iTunes' splash screen, hinting that Apple computers may be about to get Blu-ray support

Dell Studio XPS 435: Future-proof PC

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:06:02 +0000

The new Dell Studio XPS 435 is a sleek desktop with all sorts of upgrade options to expand storage, so in future you can turn it into a Frankenstein's monster of a multimedia PC

Apple makes $1.2bn profit in one of its best-ever quarters

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:44:03 +0000

Apple has defied the credit crunch, with the iPhone and iPods driving massive sales and $1.2bn in profit, in the company's best non-holiday quarter to date

MSI Wind Top AE1900, AE2200: Imminent all-in-one nettops

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:04:01 +0000

MSI really has no shame. Not content with jumping on the Eee PC bandwagon with its Wind netbooks, it�s just announced a couple of Wind Top nettops, inspired by the Asus Eee Top

Apple hits back with four new Hodgman-Long Mac ads

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:53:01 +0000

Apple has released four new Get a Mac ads, just weeks after Microsoft began firing back, with John Hodgman and Justin Long reprising their roles as PC and Mac

Apple trounces PC rivals in customer-satisfaction survey

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:09:02 +0000

Apple easily outdistanced its peers in a PC industry customer-satisfaction survey conducted by Forrester Research in the US

Acer Z5600 all-in-one desktop PC: Twin-terabyte touchscreen

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:55:02 +0000

The Acer Z5600 is an all-in-one with all sorts of multimedia whistles and bells, including a touchscreen and 2TB hard drive. But no actual whistles or bells, obviously

Acer AspireRevo: A half-decent mini PC? One can but hope

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:43:01 +0000

Acer has announced its AspireRevo mini PC -- tiny Intel Atom-powered desktop, small enough to be attached to the back of your HDTV, and geared up for 1080p video playback

DIY Microsoft Surface clone: Touch of genius

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:37:02 +0000

Using little more than a webcam, a small form-factor PC and a dollop of gumption, some clever fellows on the Internet have made their own tabletop touchscreen computer

Dell Inspiron 545, 546, 545s: Choose your own adventure

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:27:02 +0000

Dell debuts a flexible range of desktop tower PCs: the 545 and 546, and slim 545s. They come in a rainbow of colours, with customisable options up the wazoo

Dell Inspiron Slim and Mini-Tower: Desktop on a diet

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:10:02 +0000

The PC maker is releasing new slimline Inspiron desktops in a range of eye-catching colours

OnLive: Top games streamed to your TV

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:19:02 +0000

Seven years in the making, OnLive is an online service that promises to stream the latest games to your TV or PC, no matter how powerful it is

Apple to offer new 17-inch iMac?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:13:02 +0000

What seems to be a new 17-inch iMac aimed at the education market has been spotted on Apple's Web site

ThermalTake Level 10: BMW-designed PC chassis

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:16:02 +0000

BMW DesignworksUSA's Level 10 case for ThermalTake is a far cry from any other desktop PC chassis we've seen recently -- each component has its own moulded enclosure

BBC buys botnet, bothers barristers

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:16:02 +0000

To demonstrate the threats from botnets, the BBC, acting under legal guidance, purchased a network of 22,000 infected computers and used it to spam its own email accounts

Dell Studio One 19 PC: Big in Japan

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:31:01 +0000

The Dell Studio One 19 PC is a decently priced multitouch all-in-one desktop PC from Dell. Do you want the good news or the bad news?

Photos: Asus Eee Box B206 hands-on

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:05:02 +0000

We go hands-on with the brand-new Asus Eee desktop -- the Eee Box B206. It costs just �300, supports HD video and now has both dedicated ATI graphics and HDMI output

Asus announces wireless USB LCD monitors

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:57:01 +0000

Asus has been talking up its latesy non-Eee creation: wireless computer monitors. That's right, one cable less behind the desk

One-terabyte desktop SSD benchmarked, 4TB model on the way

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:54:02 +0000

OCZ has shown off a 1TB solid-state disk drive for desktop computers called the Z Drive. It sits in a PCI-E slot, just like a graphics card, it's wicked fast, and a 4TB drive is apparently around the corner