Stories by: Elias Plastiras

Around 10 years ago the concept of an overclocked retail PC was something associated only with dodgy dealers looking to sell a slower CPU for a higher price. It was generally frowned upon by non-enthusiasts, as components weren't as reliable when overclocked as they are today (anyone remember the Kryotech machine that used a fridge to overclock an 800MHz AMD Athlon to 1GHz?). With the Core 2 Duo, though, it's possible to ship reliable factory-overclocked PCs. Altech is taking advantage of this to give its customers more value for their money.

What do you do when your ADSL2+ connection has been working fine for weeks and then all of a sudden, when you need to make an online booking or transfer some bank funds, you find that the lights on your modem are flashing and that the status of your ADSL connection says anything but 'connected'? The natural tendency is for your blood to boil, anxiety to set in, and eventually to scramble to find the number for tech support. But before talking to someone on another continent about what is wrong with the connection in the next room, it's worth taking a few steps to resolve the problem yourself.

Toshiba's NB100 is a Windows XP--based, 1kg netbook that is a little over-priced but well built and with some good functionality. It's one of the best options on the market for travellers; users who want a portable unit to watch videos and listen to music while on the move will definitely appreciate it.

Acer is the first to market with an Intel Core i7-based machine, which means that if you want to buy the absolute latest in PC technology right now, then you have to check it out. It's called the Aspire M7720, and not only does it have some of the most advanced components on the market, it also features a functional and feature-rich case design.

Vodafone is offering a free Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook for users who sign up to the company's $69.96, 5GB broadband plan. It's a convenient bundle for anyone who wants to get a new, basic laptop, as well as the convenience of a mobile broadband connection.

Get a great laptop this Christmas!There's no doubt that one of the most functional and affordable tech gifts this Christmas season is a netbook. This is a laptop category that was virtually created by ASUS and its Eee PC, and since then almost every laptop vendor has chimed in with its own variation.

The latest in desktop replacement notebooks is HP's HDX 18. In fact, it's more than just a desktop replacement -- it's an entertainment notebook. At least, that's the way it's sold. You get a Blu-ray player, a built-in digital TV tuner and an 18.4in high-definition screen. Not only that, it has plenty of storage and connectivity options, including HDMI.

The specification sheet might not say it, but the Linksys WRT110 wireless router can actually deliver speeds that are pretty close to what an 802.11n router can achieve. It’s not actually certified for 802.11n functionality, only 802.11b and 802.11g, but its chip can nevertheless take advantage of 802.11n devices in a typical home network.

HP’s Compaq 2230s is a fully featured, 1.8kg laptop for business users that has an affordable price tag. It’s a 12.1in laptop with a built-in optical drive, and it has plenty of security features for locking down the computer and encrypting your data.

Look out world: it's another netbook. This one comes courtesy of Lenovo, and it's definitely a winner. It runs Windows XP, has a 10in screen, a conventional (spinning) hard drive, weighs 1.3kg, and is quite easy to use. It costs $699, so it's not too expensive — which is just as well in the current economic climate.

In case you didn't know, iiNet is being sued for not doing anything to stop its users from downloading stuff off the Internet. It's a case that could change the landscape of the Internet industry in this country if iiNet loses, as Roadshow, Universal, Paramount, Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. and Columbia, as well as Channel Seven, seek unspecified damages.