http://www.computershopper.co.uk/labs/ Computer Shopper labs en-gb Sat, 17 May 2008 11:04:11 +0100 Sat, 17 May 2008 11:04:11 +0100 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 site.editor@computershopper.co.uk webmaster@computershopper.co.uk http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/20-studio-speakers/products.html You wouldn't put up with a blurry, distorted picture on your monitor, so why make do with shrivelled splutters and wheezes from your PC's speakers? The systems in this round-up will turn your PC into the best music system in the house, totally transforming your MP3 collection, games and DVD soundtracks. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/21-stereo-speakers/products.html You wouldn't put up with a blurry, distorted picture on your monitor, so why make do with shrivelled splutters and wheezes from your PC's speakers? The systems in this round-up will turn your PC into the best music system in the house, totally transforming your MP3 collection, games and DVD soundtracks. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/51-surround-speakers/products.html You wouldn't put up with a blurry, distorted picture on your monitor, so why make do with shrivelled splutters and wheezes from your PC's speakers? The systems in this round-up will turn your PC into the best music system in the house, totally transforming your MP3 collection, games and DVD soundtracks. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/external-hard-disks/products.html Hard disks that once seemed impossibly vast can fill up with files surprisingly quickly. It's important to have plenty of storage space, whether you want to shoot high-definition video, take photos in RAW format or convert all your music CDs into MP3 files. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/processors/products.html If your PC is struggling with high-definition video, the latest games or even Windows Vista, you should consider buying a new processor. Whether you're upgrading an old PC or building a new one, many of the latest processors provide incredible amounts of computing power for little money. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/streaming-media-players/products.html More media files are stored on PCs than ever. Unfortunately, most PCs live in studies and bedrooms and not in the sitting room, where most people like to listen to music or watch films. Media receivers get around this problem by wirelessly streaming audio and video files from your PC to your TV and hi-fi. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/ultraportables/products.html Most laptops rarely travel further than from the sofa to the kitchen table, but ultra-portables are designed for greater things. With weights as low as 1kg and battery lives up to six hours, the models in this month's Labs can travel with you every day. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/web-browsers/products.html Everyone needs a web browser, but how many of us take the time to choose the best one for us? After all, Internet Explorer comes preinstalled with Windows and it seems to work pretty well. As the leading browsers mature, they are tending to become very similar. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/244/web-design-software/products.html The internet has been part of public life for over 10 years. Time enough, you would think, for someone to create a web-design package that wasn't baffling and frustrating. All too often, however, web design feels arcane and impenetrable, closed to all but the initiated. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/barebones-kits/products.html It's often better to build your own PC rather than buy one pre-assembled. You'll have more control over the size of the case and the exact specifications. You can opt for the latest components or use parts cannibalised from an existing computer. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/flatbed-scanners/products.html The scanners integrated in multifunction peripherals (MFPs) can produce decent results, but if you already have a perfectly good printer or you're serious about high-quality imaging, a standalone scanner is just what you need. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/home-laptops/products.html A computer isn't just there for the dull things in life, such as writing letters and checking your bank balance, so why should it sit in a mess of cables in the corner of your home? The laptops in this Labs can do everything a desktop PC can, and they'll do it without cluttering up your home or forcing you from the comfort of your sofa. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/lcd-monitors/products.html Of all the components that make up a PC, it could be argued that the monitor is the most important, as it's the main way in which you interact with your computer. A poor display can make even the most straightforward task feel like a chore, while a top-quality one can have the opposite effect, increasing your productivity. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/online-backup/products.html Areliable computer is a great asset, but at some point all but the luckiest of us has probably experienced some kind of hardware failure. If your hard disk gives up the ghost you could be waving goodbye to irreplaceable documents. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/243/usb-flash-drives/products.html Flash drives have taken over from floppy disks and optical media as the best way to carry around everyday files. They're great for carrying photos to show to a friend, or as an inexpensive backup device for important documents. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/242/home-cinema-kits/products.html Prices of LCD TVs have come crashing down recently, with big 37in models now available for under £500. If you've picked up one of these monster screens, you may have noticed that the built-in stereo speakers don't match up to the big-screen action. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/242/mini-photo-printers/products.html Compact photo printers are perfect if you want to print your snaps quickly and easily at home. Over the past couple of years, they've become increasingly popular and affordable, giving you the freedom to print photos from your PC or directly from a digital camera or memory card. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/242/pata-hard-disks/products.html Pundits predict that solid-state flash memory disks will replace traditional internal hard disks inside our computers, as they are faster, more reliable and less power hungry. This is unlikely to happen any time soon, though, as a 16GB solid state disk can cost as much as £280. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/242/prepay-mobile-phones/products.html We review mobile phones every month in our What's New section. These are often amazingly powerful miniature computers, but they can be incredibly expensive, even with a monthly contract. Not everyone wants to spend a fortune on a phone or be locked into paying a set amount every month for a year. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/labs/242/sata-hard-disks/products.html Pundits predict that solid-state flash memory disks will replace traditional internal hard disks inside our computers, as they are faster, more reliable and less power hungry. This is unlikely to happen any time soon, though, as a 16GB solid state disk can cost as much as £280. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000