IT Reviews

Sega - Football Manager 2009

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:04:14 GMT

a new dimension for the much-loved manager: With a slick interface and a game mechanic that's now built on a decade and a half's worth of solid experience, it's little surprise that Football Manager 2009 is as exhaustive and engrossing as it is....

Introversion - Multiwinia

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:04:14 GMT

streamlined stick-man warfare: When Lowry painted his matchstick men, he probably didn't envisage them romping around a virtual 21st Century battlefield massacring each other with guns and bombs. But that's exactly what happened in Darwinia, the critically acclaimed strategy...

Archos - Archos5 Internet Media Tablet

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:04:14 GMT

sleek new design and range of new features for wireless PMP series: We've been big fans of Archos's series of portable media players in the past, so were itching to try out the new Archos5 Internet Media Tablet to see what new features it brings to the table....

Activision - Quantum Of Solace

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:10:04 GMT

We've been expecting you, Mr Bond, to be a bit better than this: Excluding the time when Nintendo 64 owners got to enjoy the majesty of GoldenEye, James Bond and videogaming haven't really got on. A never-ending collection of lacklustre titles from Electronic Arts seemed content to bastardise the...

Ascaron - Sacred 2: Fallen Angel

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:10:04 GMT

vast and varied fantasy RPG: All is not well in the land of Ancaria. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is chronologically a prequel to the events of the first Sacred game and concerns the consequences of the angelic warriors of the Seraphim...

Sony - Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:10:04 GMT

Ultraportable Vaio with superb wide screen: Sony's Vaio Z series is not for the faint hearted. Even the least expensive notebook in the range will set you back 1,399 inc. VAT and if you want the top notch specifications you are able...

Britannica - Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate 2009

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:11:20 GMT

more dollops of reference wisdom from Britannica: The DVD-based version of the Encyclopedia Britannica is back for its yearly regeneration. A bit like Doctor Who, but with a little less pizzazz. Interestingly, the promotional blurb for the package states the advantages of Britannica...

Pentax - K-m

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:11:20 GMT

entry-level 10.2-megapixel digital SLR: In a world that's now swarming with entry-level digital SLRs, Pentax is in a crowded market with the K-m (known as the K2000 in the US). It's a 10.2 effective megapixel model that comes with either...

LG - KC550

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:13:17 GMT

mid-range 5-megapixel mobile: Phones at the leading edge are currently offering 8-megapixel cameras, but 5-megapixel ones are far from ubiquitous and arguably a better value for money proposition. If you want the quality and clarity that 8 megapixels offers...

Dell - Latitude E6500

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:13:17 GMT

highly configurable 15.4-inch laptop: The Latitude E6500 is - as ever from Dell - highly configurable, and the base price, while it might be attractive, will almost certainly not be what most people end up paying. However, the ability to...

Penny Arcade Adventures - On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode Two

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:09:17 GMT

further escapades in the land of rain and precipices: The darkness is nothing to be afraid of. Unless you're talking about the sounds of the hideous pop-rock band, in which case you should run to the hills screaming, tearing at your ears until their drums...

BenQ - MP771 projector

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:09:17 GMT

excellent short-throw projector: It used to be the case that projectors weighed a ton, had to be placed in a room the size of a garage in order to have half a chance of achieving a decent focus, needed...

UbiSoft - Far Cry 2

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:24:19 GMT

it's not like Far Cry, but it's very, very good: There's no point beating about the bush here: Far Cry 2 is a huge game. The reviewers' notes that came with our test copy describe the game in 20-hour chunks, and it's clear that - contrary...

Creative - SoundBlaster X-Fi Go!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:24:19 GMT

X-Fi sound adapter as USB dongle: Laptops aren't known for the quality of their sound and even upgrading a desktop's sound card can be fiddly and driver-ridden. Creative's X-Fi sound systems can produce excellent multi-channel sound and can simulate surround sound through...

Canon - HG20

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:24:19 GMT

upgraded and superior HD camcorder: Canon's current crop of camcorders has been gathering a clutch of plaudits, with its flash memory-based HF10 and HF100 leading the way, the DVD-based HR10 and the MiniDV-centred HV30 catering impressively for other storage formats. The...

Konica Minolta - Magicolor 5670EN

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:24:19 GMT

high-speed colour laser printing for the office environment: Konica Minolta's Magicolor 5670EN is part of a new line of business printers offering speed and quality for those who deal in high-volume yields. It's a colour laser printer but is otherwise pretty basic in both...

11 Internet - MailXchange

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:17:28 GMT

hosted communication and collaboration for SMEs: One of the hassles involved in running a small to medium sized enterprise is managing the software that your employees use to go about their daily tasks. Leaving aside word processors and spreadsheet applications for a...

BitDefender - GameSafe Antivirus Defence

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:17:28 GMT

keep your PC safe, but don't hold your games up doing it: There's a fairly substantive list of boasts on the box of BitDefender GameSafe Antivirus Defence, and it's a wonder Focus Multimedia could squeeze them on, given the length of the product's name. But for 12.99, this...

Fujifilm - FinePix S2000HD

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:04 GMT

impressive HD digital camera for enthusiastic amateurs: With the modern generation of camera users becoming more comfortable with the digital format, most camera manufacturers are wisely ensuring that they are meeting the needs of both the point-n'-click amateurs who don't want to be...

Epson - Stylus SX600FW

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:04 GMT

SOHO all-in-one printer with fax: The Stylus SX600FW is one of Epson's new range of inkjets, intended for use in small and home offices. It's a full all-in-one, with fax and photo printing as well as its core print, scan and...

Rockstar - Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:18:31 GMT

Grand Theft Auto gets a spoiler and go-faster stripes: Los Angeles is huge. We can still remember the first time we flew into the place at night, just marvelling at the city lights below stretching to the visible horizon in every direction. And Rockstar has...

Brother - DCP-585CW

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:18:31 GMT

inexpensive multifunction printer: Brother has a range of inexpensive inkjet all-in-one printers and the DCP-585CW is designed to sit near the top of that range. It's a four-in-one machine, offering printing, scanning, copying and photo print, and this last...

Fluenz - Language Learning

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:06:18 GMT

one of the most effective language learning tools available: Language learning isn't what it used to be. Interactive DVDs that were basically glorified school textbooks have now been replaced with revolutionary' new systems that stop just short of promising to trick you into learning while...

Brother - HL-2035

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:06:18 GMT

compact and efficient mono laser printer: You may think Brother is a comparative newcomer when it comes to providing office printers, but the company has been rapidly establishing a reputation as suppliers of solid and reliable machines to meet all your practical...

EA - Dead Space

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:10:23 GMT

Space survival horror: The survival horror genre has come a long way from the original Doom and Resident Evil days, with the action frequently moving into space, Hell (Hellgate London, Painkiller) and even under the sea (BioShock). Usually the...