Desktops
Snow Leopard vs Windows 7: How the Apple has fallen 
Apple's products are universally acclaimed for their wonderfulness and gorgeousness -- except in the real world, where people use computers for actual work and not just for messing around.
Just ask The Onion, and when you're done, have a butchers' at the latest market-share statistics. Apple's Leopard operating system failed to make significant in-roads against even an ailing Windows Vista, and we're not so sure Snow Leopard, despite its claimed improvements, has what it takes to topple Windows 7.
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Video: Alienware Area-51 ALX hands-on 
No one would call Rory a small man, but even he's dwarfed by the monstrous Alienware Area-51 ALX desktop gaming PC. It truly is the mothership -- the fastest PC we've ever seen.
It's impossible not to be in awe of the Area-51's ludicrous chassis. With enormous vents on the top that lift up when its silicon heart starts pumping, and customisable lights everywhere (even inside), it makes a massive statement. And that statement is: I am geek, hear me roar. Or as Rory says, "Don't f*** with me."
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'Get a Mac' ads heckle Windows 7 launch
Apple has released three new 'Get a Mac' adverts, all designed to upset the launch of Windows 7.
In one spot, 'Broken Promises', the nincompoop PC character, played by John Hodgman, wants to celebrate the "good news" that the newly released Windows 7 won't have the problems of its previous operating systems. The ever-smug Mac character (Justin Long) retorts by saying PC has made the same promises every time it's launched a new OS, triggering a smart-aleck retro montage. Continue reading...
Using the new iMac as a games console display: Not that easy
Apple's 27-inch iMac is a thing of highly reflective, hedonistic beauty. With up to 2.8GHz of quad-core Intel i7 power, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, 2TB of hard disk space and powerful ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics, this £1,600 beast is probably the most powerful all-in-one on the planet.
But it has a much-discussed additional feature over its smaller, less powerful 21-inch brother: Mini DisplayPort input. Theoretically, this allows you to hook up anything that either outputs video via Mini DisplayPort (such as a MacBook), or via HDMI when used with an adaptor. Continue reading...
Amazon to publish free Kindle PC app
Amazon is increasing the number of ways you can access its Kindle electronic book service, with a new free app for Windows PCs that lets you read and download ebooks on your computer. Like the iPhone app, it'll sync with your Kindle reader -- recently made available in the UK -- so you don't lose your page whichever device you're reading on. It also makes use of Windows 7's touch-control features. An app for Macs will follow soon. Continue reading...
Microsoft launches Windows 7 with new hardware and massive PC World discounts 
Windows 7 launches tomorrow, and Microsoft has been showing off its new OS on a range of laptops and desktops at a swanky London launch.
Although most of the kit isn't brand-spanking-new, it was our first opportunity to get hands-on with many of the new models. First up is the Sony Vaio L11S1E/S, a high-definition all-in-one. With its 3GHz Intel Core Duo E8400 chip, the Vaio's multi-touch touchscreen is supersnappy. Continue reading...
Asus Eee Box 1501 mini PC hands-on photos
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 Intel Atom-powered Eee Box 1501, and we shared a seductive booth with one.
Like the older Eee Box mini PCs, there's no screen included. Instead it's got HDMI for connecting it up to an HDTV. But it's the first model to include a DVD drive, and its graphics system is now handled by Nvidia's powerful new Ion technology. Continue reading...
Apple iMac goes quad-core, gets graphics choice, SD slot and multi-touch Magic Mouse
Apple has refreshed its iMac line of all-in-one desktops and MacBooks. The new LED-backlit 21.5- and 27-inch widescreen iMacs come with a choice of graphics and hard-drive options, as well as a long-awaited SD card slot and the new multi-touch Magic Mouse. Still no Blu-ray, though.
Each of the new models includes an edge-to-edge glass design and aluminium unibody. They pack 4GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 memory, with room to upgrade to as much as 16GB across four SO-DIMM slots. DVD drive, AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, FireWire, iSight webcam and that SD card slot are built-in. Continue reading...
Alienware Aurora: Doesn't hate the player or the game
A while ago, we brought you an exclusive look at the Alienware Area-51 ALX -- a PC so sphincter-twistingly scary it should come with an Asbo. Today, we bring you a look at its baby brother, the Aurora.
Think of it as Posh to the Area-51's Becks, the Pinky to its Brain, the subtle Sharky to Area-51's all-action George. The... look, it's just a bit more sensible, alright?
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Sony Vaio L all-in-one: The L stands for lovely
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.
The L series -- known as the VPC-L11M1E/S and the higher-spec VPC-L11S1E/S -- has a 24-inch 1080p touchscreen. The top model packs an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at up to 3GHz, 4GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce G210M graphics processor, an optional Blu-ray drive, speedy 802.11n Wi-Fi and HDMI input (to use the screen as a normal TV), but a relatively small 500GB hard drive. Continue reading...
