gladget magazine january 2012

Peripherals enhance gaming

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The Ultimate Portable Gaming Experience

Uncharted Golden Abyss WipEout® 2048

ModNation™ Racers LittleBigPlanet™ Little Deviants

Reality Fighters

Brand New Ways to Play

Dual Analog Sticks

5” OLED Touchscreen

Wi-Fi + 3G

CrossPlay with PlayStation®3

Launching 22.02.12

Find out more at za.playstation.com/psvita

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PS Vita DPS GAMECCA Ad.indd 1 2011/12/19 1:33 PM

From the Editor

The SidelinePeripherals make gaming better

Photography PrimerLooking back

ReviewsGraphics,sound and more...

DVD SeenHome entertainment of the movie kind...

Money to BurnBling up your Mario Kart

PC BuilderEmpowering consumers!

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Inside

g l a dg e t c o n t en t s • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 20124

THIS MONTH’S COVERThird-party peripherals get a grip on the gaming market.See the feature on page 8.

Nitho Drivepro V16 Wheel

Canon Powershot S100 Camera

LG Flatron E2770 Monitor

MSI X460 DX Notebook

Logitech Pure-Fi Plus iPod Dock

Tomtom Go Live Top Gear Edition GPS

MSI GeForce GTX 590 Graphics card

HP Officejet Pro 8100 ePrinter

Logitech H250 Stereo Headset

Toshiba Portege R700 Notebook

In Win 2.5” to 3.5” Converter

Logitech Z120 Speakers

LG IPS235 Monitor

Rayman: Origins (X360)

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 to 7 (X360)

WW12 (X360)

Lord of the Rings: War in the North (X360)

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Editor:Walt [email protected]

Writers:Brian MurdochCharlie FrippChristo van GemertDylan BouchAlex ScanlonRob Edwards

Letters:[email protected]

Competition Entries:[email protected]

Newsletter Subscriptions:www.gladget.co.za

Design & Photography:1337 Media

Technical Support:Brian Murdoch

Marketing Contact:Katia [email protected]

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Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2012

GLADGET Volume 2 Issue 15January 2012

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

technology. simply.

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

Adobe CS5 CREATED USING

MASTER SUITE

Happy New Year! Yes, the future is here, yet again, and we are all looking forward to

what we hope will be another great year. Unless the flakey interpretation of the ancient Mayan calendar is right, of course, which would have the year ending on quite a downer. And it seems that, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary, people still buy that whole Mayan Prophecy rubbish.

It does make one wonder, though, about how our society will be percieved by future generations. Then again, our society is extremely different. When our days become history, there will be very little speculation needed with regards to how we lived, because we now keep very accurate records of the events in our world. Things like mass book publiching and the Internet almost make it impossible not to. And with

henomena like social networking in the mix, history will become more personal. It will be easier for future generations to, for example, track family trees and images of their ancestors.

But a lot of what we know about our own history is based, in part at least, on guess-work. We know, for example, that the Mayans were a relatively advanced civilisation, but their record keeping leaves a lot to be desired. Also, changes in language have made things more difficult to interpret. And so you get all kinds of weird theories...

I saw a cartoon the other day that I believe illustrates the issue perfectly. One Mayan is talking to another... “I finished the calendar,” he says, “but I only had space to go up to 2012.”

“Boy,” the other responds, “I bet that’s gonna freak someone out one day...”

This first 2012 issue of Gladget is a little skinnier than usual, thanks to the quiet that hapened in December, when it was put together. We are also resting Inner Workings for this month, but have a new section called PC Builder for you to check out.

But wait, there is more! Regular visitors to the website may have noticed a change. We have launched a new website, which will not only bring you the magazine, as always, but also news and a bunch of other stuff that will be rolled out over the next few months. The official URL has changed as well. It’s now www.gladgetmag.com. However, the www.gladget.co.za URL will still work, too.

And so starts what we believe will be a very exciting year for everyone, including us here at 1337 Media. We hope that your year is also filled with fun, laughter and excitement. g

by Walt Pretorius

g l a dg e t c o l umn • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 20126

New Beginnings...

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Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexint.co.za Email: [email protected] All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners. www.apexactive.co.za

g l a dg e t f e a t u r e • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 20128

by Alex Scanlon

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Third-party companies and the console gameThe Sidelines

g l a dg e t f e a t u r e • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 2012 9

The competition is still very fierce, with the three companies vying for control of this most lucrative market. While the one-

upmanship between Microsoft and Sony is the most obvious, often devolving into a fairly nasty war of words, Nintendo also enters into the fray, albeit with a seemingly more aloof attitude. Between the three of them they have seen other would-be competitors come and go, and they watch each other keenly to see exactly what the competition will be doing next. And in the end, it is the consumer who benefits, as the three major players try to create the best hardware for the most reasonable price.

Of course, brand loyalty often affects consumer decisions, so the companies have their work cut out for them. Aside from creating the best products they can, they also employ tactics like releasing top notch games that are exclusive to their platform in an effort to drive sales. This, obviously, is not to the consumer’s advantage, but it is a strategy that has long been in play.

While it seems that these three companies hold the gaming world by the essential bits, they are also at the mercy of a very large group of people. Sure, the consumers have a lot of control in the situation, and their response to a particular product can make or break a corporate giant’s financial year, but there is another group of companies that manage to exert a large, if often unconsidered, influence on the overall situation... a group that is known as third-party companies.

By way of explanation, a third-party company is one that will provide, in terms of the video game industry, software and other products that are used with manufacturer (or first-party) hardware. The three console makers do release their own video game and peripheral products, true, but theirs are a relatively small percentage of what is available for their product lines. Some are less active that others, too: Microsoft releases far fewer in-house games than Sony, for example.

While third-party concerns need to have permission to create their products from the first-party companies, their contribution and


influence on the market is massive. Take the actual publishers of video games... companies like Activision, Electronic Arts, Bethesda, Capcom, Namco Bandai and Ubisoft (to name just a few) don’t only provide games to be played on first-party consoles. They often drive the market and can even increase console sales with the right release. A game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, as an example, stands a good chance of motivating consumers to buy new consoles, even late in the lifecycle of the hardware. Stalwarts like the ever-popular and extremely accessible FIFA series can do the same.

The influence of third-party video game developers is almost obvious, and without them the industry would not be what it is. But there are other third party companies that also make a contribution, although one that is less in support of the first-party companies and more eith the consumer in mind. These companies take existing ideas and improve on them in a variety of ways, allowing the first-party manufacturers to turn their attention away from certain areas. They serve to improve the overall gaming experience by making it easier and even more comfortable. They are the third-party peripheral manufacturers.

The first-party companies produce the hardware and associated peripherals like controllers as a matter of course. They provide gamers with exactly what is needed to use their devices. Often they will go further, and create extended support hardware like rechargeable batteries and controller-top keypads (for easy written communication while playing online) but these items tend to be few and generally rather expensive, thanks to the direct association with their brand.

Third-party peripheral creators fill a similar role, although it does differ in a few ways. Often, their products feature improvements on those made by the first-party companies. This is due to a number of factors, which include stiff competition and generating increased appeal with consumers (brand loyalty being what it is.) Selling a product for use with a PlayStation 3, for example, can be tricky if it doesn’t carry the


official logo. Consumers can be very suspicious of products they are not familiar with, and may often opt for the more expensive, less innovative official product, rather than take a chance on a manufacturer they are unfamiliar with.

The increased popularity of video gaming, brought about at least in part by the release of the current generation of high definition consoles, has seen a rise in the number of peripheral manufacturers. There are some in the ‘old guard’ that have built up a solid reputation, including companies like Razer and Logitech. But there are a great many newer entrants to the market who are attempting to tap into the lucrative video gaming spend by introducing products that stand out from the rest. Companies like Nitho and Orb are prime examples.

The real question, of course, is how trustworthy are these brands? The answer is not quite as simple as one might hope. There are manufacturers out there who may make use of cheaper materials and manufacturing processes to keep costs down. On the other hand, there are several that won’t to do that, and will rely on innovative ideas to sell their products, rather than rock-bottom prices. Finding out who is who, though, can be tricky.

As always, research into the products you’re interested in buying is always better than an impulse purchase. Rather take the time to find out what other people have said about the product through numerous online sources or, if possible, give it a spin before committing to a purchase.

You will find, if you take the time to look around, that third-party peripherals have massive potential to improve your video gaming experience. The innovation needed to be successful in this highly competitive market is something that can truly benefit the consumer, from recharging solutions through to controller modifications and even controllers themselves. While brand associated products may seem more appealing, there is a wealth of potential offered by the third-party peripheral market. You may well find that you have a better time gaming because of the fresh ideas these products often introduce.g

g l a dg e t r e gu l a r • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 201214

by Walt Pretorius

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A quick reminder…Looking Back

g l a dg e t r e gu l a r • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 2012 15

Adobe CS5 PRESENTED BY

MASTER SUITE

From the next issue we will be taking the photography primer in a newer, fresher direction. We have some exciting plans

in store for this part of the magazine, which we are sure our readers will really enjoy. But, before then, and as a kick-off to the new year, we want to take a look back at the very beginning. We want to go back to the basics we covered in the first few issues, summarised here for easy reference, just to make sure that you remember the technical aspects of taking a good photograph. If you want more detail, remember that Gladget issues are always available online, so head back to the first few and take a look.

There are a number of aspects that affect the way a photograph is taken. Together they form a delicate balance that can make the difference between a good picture and a great one. Or, if they are completely wrong, they can lead to disastrous results. They are aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus. These five elements are important to remember with virtually any camera. Sure, shooting in automatic modes takes care of the nitty gritty, but truly crafting a photograph will require using at least some of these settings.

Aperture, or f-stop, refers to the adjustable ‘hole’ that allows light to pass through the lens of the camera. The size of this hole is measured by the f-stop rating, a number displayed as f22 or f8, or similar. It is important to remember that the greater the number, the smaller the hole, and consequently the less the amount of light that will pass through the lens into the camera body. F22 will admit less light than f8, for example.

Another important effect that the aperture setting has on a photograph is depth of field. This refers to how far focus extends in front of and behind the intended subject matter. A long depth of field will mean that more of the background will be in focus, while a short depth of field means that the background will be more blurred. To lengthen the depth of field, use a higher f-stop rating, like f22. To shorten it, open the aperture up by using lower f-stop

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rating.The second part of the process, that

determines how much of the light let in by the aperture actually reached the photographic sensor, is the shutter. It opens and closes very quickly, effectively freezing a moment in time. How long it stays open for is determined by the shutter speed setting.

Obviously when less light is allowed in by the aperture, the shutter needs to remain open for longer. But slower shutter speeds can result in blurring, not only from fast moving subjects, but also from the camera shaking in the photographer’s hands. Even the slightest movement can result in camera shake, so at slow speeds a tripod or other form of stabilisation is essential.

The solution is not to shoot everything at high speed. A slow shutter speed can have many benefits on a photograph, including intentional blurring (which is used in those beautiful veil waterfall images) and softening and starring of light. Additionally, if the photographer wants a long depth of field in the photograph, a slower shutter speed will become necessary.

Shutter speeds are generally rated in fractions of seconds, using the form of 1/ followed by a number. The higher the number behind the slash, the faster the shutter speed. If the number is followed by inverted commas (“) then the shutter speed is measured in seconds. In this case, the larger the number, the slower the shutter speed.

One of the things that can be used to adjust the balance of aperture and shutter speed is the ISO rating. What this setting does is determine how sensitive the sensor is to light. The higher the number, the greater the sensitivity. In other words an ISO rating of 1600 is much better for low light or high speed photography than a rating of 100. While it would be tempting to shoot all images with a higher ISO rating, it is important to remember that higher settings have a greater chance of poorer colour reproduction and pixel noise in the image. It is a trade-off that must be

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carefully considered. Crisper, brighter images are the results of lower ISO settings.

Another extremely important consideration, that is the one most ignored by photographers, is white balance. There are different frequencies, or ‘temperatures’, of light that result from different sources. The light from a light bulb is very different to that from the sun, for example. White balance settings instruct your camera on how to interpret light waves - and thus capture accurate colours - by determining what white looks like under the light in question. While most automated white balance settings are accurate, there will be times that the photographer may want to use a custom white balance setting... purely to ensure that the colours captured look perfect.

The last consideration is the most obvious, but it is also one that can most easily go wrong. That is focus; with auto focus functionality built into all cameras these days, the photographer needs to be careful to make sure that their subject is in focus... particularly if the composition of their photograph doesn’t have the subject in the middle of the image. Many cameras have adjustable focus points or manual focus abilities to help deal with the problem. Recomposing the image after the camera has focussed (while keeping the shutter button depressed part-way) will also help.

These five elements form the cornerstone of every good photographic image. While artistic concepts like composition, contrast and other elements also play a part, if the basics aren’t right, no amount of work will save the image. And they are common to every camera, from the cheapest pocket camera through to the priciest DSLR. Most cameras allow for the adjustment of at least some of these elements - reading your camera’s manual will tell you what can be adjusted, and how.

Taking the time to work with these elements, and to understand how your camera works, will make the world of difference to your photographs, elevating them from the level of snapshots to art. g

g l a dg e t r ev i ew • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 2012

Nitho Drivepro V16Drive control!

Canon Powershot S100Monster in your pocket...

MSI X460 DXUnderstated...

Logitech Pure-Fi PlusSound all around

MSI Geforce GTX 590A ton of VRAM

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Things get pretty quiet for the hardware market around the end ofeach year, at least in terms of new products and such. but there is still a lot of exciting hardware out there

and, as always, we take a look at some of it in this issue.There are a lot of exiting tings going to be happening round

hardware and gadgets within the next twelve months and, as always, Gladget will be right there to tell you all about them. Be sure to check out every issue! g

Highlights

Get a GripTake your racing games further…

by Walt Pretorius

g l a dg e t h a rdwa r e • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 201222

Nith

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V16

Let’s be really honest here... there are very few people out there who do not enjoy the experience given them by a good driving simulator video

game. Some may not admit it, but there is an appeal to driving a virtual car recklessly fast around a track. Unfortunately, the experience isn’t quite right if you’re using a normal gaming controller. To really feel like you’re doing it, you need a good racing wheel.

A good racing wheel peripheral, though, is not always easy to find. The are many brands out there and, while they essentially all do the same thing on paper, many fall short in a number of ways.

Enter the Nitho Drivepro V16. This is not one of those wheels. This is the kind of thing you can really get to grips with, if you’ll excuse the slightly lumpy pun there.

The 10 inch wheel is coated with a comfortable, rubberised grip, and is connected to a rather large housing. It allows for 270 degrees of turn, which is not too shabby, although we have seen bigger turning

angles in the past. Still, it should be enough for most gamers.

The wheel further features four PlayStation compatible buttons (this particular device is compatible with Ps3, Ps2 and PC.) Two paddle style shifters at the back of the wheel round off the package.

The housing unit is held in place by six oversized suction cups that actually do what they’re supposed to... hold the thing in place. On the right side of the housing is a gear shifter, that uses an up/down style to move through gears. But, here’s a beauty... move it diagonally, and you kick into reverse instantly. That’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference. On the left there are a bunch of programmable buttons and function buttons, and both sides have LEDs that display acceleration and braking (another nice touch.)

A set of two pedals rounds the deal off. But this set also has a heel-plat that can unfold, preventing it from getting away from the user’s feet. It’s a simple yet fantastically practical idea.

g l a dg e t h a rdwa r e • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 2012 23

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: NithoDistributor: GammatekOnline: www.gammatek.co.za

PROS:• Great design ideas• “Instant” reverse• Solid

CONS:• Limited compatibility

A great racing wheel for simulation enthusiasts.

TECH SPECS:• 10” wheel• 270 degree turn• Gear shifter• Programmable buttons• Oversized suction cups• Foot pedals

97Score

In fact, this wheel is full of those. It’s the kind of thing we expect from a manufacturer like Nitho, who not only make generally great quality products, but also put a good degree of thinking into making the gamer’s life better. These little things help their products stand head and shoulders above the competition... and the Drivepro V16 is no different.

In terms of performance, this wheel does everything it is supposed to, and does it well.

We loved playing driving games with it, and we’re pretty sure you will too. Our only complaint is that it is really rather bulky, but the great performance and wonderful practicality built into the device go a long way to mitigate that.

With great performance, excellent design ideas, practical tools that make the gamer’s life easier and a good, solid build, this is one of the best wheels we have seen in ages. Yet another great product from Nitho... it’s hardly a surprise. g

Pocket MasterBig power in a small body

by Walt Pretorius


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In last month’s issue, we mentioned the idea of having a back-up camera as part of a photographic kit in the Photography Primer. We’re sticking

with that; it’s a great idea, and finding the right pocket camera to stick in the photography bag with all your other stuff will add a lot of versatility to your photography. And here is the perfect candidate... the Canon Powershot S100.

But this camera isn’t just a great back-up device for the serious photographer. It is an extremely powerful pocket camera that will serve anyone very well, regardless of their skill level. In fact, a little experimentation with this camera by less experienced photographers will result not only in great photos, but also in development of their skills.

See, while the S100 is small, its diminutive size belies its excellent features and tool set. Right off the bat, the specs look impressive, starting out with a chunky 12.1 megapixel image size. This large size means that the

photographs taken can be used for anything from internet galleries through to high quality physical prints. But image size pales in comparison to the capabilities that this device offers.

Take, for example, the ISO range it provides... from 80 right through to 6400. That’s a huge range, making the camera useful in almost any light conditions. In addition, its aperture range goes from f8 through to f2. Ok, we may have liked a bit of a smaller hole at the top of the f stop range, but that f2 tempts one into shooting images with a beautifully reduced depth of field. The shutter speed ranges from 15 seconds through to 1/2000, which adds a whole bunch of extra options when it comes to lighting conditions and final effects. Anyone in the know will be able to tell you that this camera is not only versatile, but capable of some very quick snaps... from lowlight to high speed, this one can do almost anything.

Here’s the real beauty, though... it offers fully manual shooting, meaning that this tiny pocket camera can do


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: CanonDistributor: CanonOnline: www.canon.co.za

PROS:• Tiny• Powerful• Fast

CONS:• You can’t change the lens• Limited zoom

A truly amazing pocket camera!

TECH SPECS:• 12.1 megapixel• Full manual mode• 5x Zoom• 80 – 6400 ISO• 3” LCD screen

95Score

almost anything a big DSLR can do. The small size means that the controls have had to be consolidated somewhat, but even though setting up a manual shot may take a little longer than doing so with a DSLR, it still is surprisingly easy to do. The preview on the S100’s 3 inch LCD screen also adjusts according to the settings, which means the photographer has a fairly accurate preview of the exposure levels of the image.

This camera has a host of other features that make it a good option for almost anyone, including high speed burst, HD video recording and numerous presets. It is, in short, a very impressive device. The only real downer here is that the zoom function is fairly limited at 5x. But that’s no deal-breaker when considering everything else that this little beauty has to offer.

Small on size and big on capabilities, the Canon Powershot S100 is a truly excellent pocket camera... even the most hard-core DSLR fan would be well impressed by what this pocket rocket can do. g

Image OptionsAesthetics and versatility count

by Rob Edwards


LG F

latr

on E

2770

A good monitor is always a great thing to have. And these days, we really are spoiled for choice when it comes to top notch, flat

screens that deliver crisp, clear graphics. But as out entertainment and work needs become more complex, picking the right viewing device can be really rather tricky. This is especially true when you consider that the market is full of great monitors and TVs. The decision that needs to be made is one that cannot truly be affected by performance... not when performance is becoming so uniformly excellent. Rather, other, slightly more obscure ideas, like versatility and aesthetics, need to be taken into account.

The most obvious consideration is size and, if you have the luxury of a large space for your monitor, the LG Flatron E2770 is a great option. Even if you don’t have the space, this monitor is large enough to warrant a wall mounting option. In fact, this device feels more like a small TV rather than a large monitor, even though

its 27 inch screen looks great when hooked up to a gaming console. The fact that it even comes with a small, hot key remote further reinforces the idea. But it doesn’t have a TV tuner built in, and its general functions are that of a monitor, first and foremost.

In the design of this beautifully large and very good monitor, LG moved away from some of their fancier ideas. The column that connects it to the base is simple and black, and allows for a rather wide degree of tilt. The base, too, is fairly nondescript.

The screen edging has been finished to look like black brushed metal (even though it is plastic) and the expected touch sensitive controls that LG made use of in many of their monitor products are nowhere to be found here. Rather, this monitor makes use of a number of discrete multifunctional buttons built into the base of the panel housing... more low tech, but certainly much more reliable.

When it comes to versatility, this device is great. It features DVI and VGA inputs, as any PC monitor should.


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: LGDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.za

PROS:• Great performance• Versatile• Reliable controls

CONS:• A bit big for some?

Good looks, numerous uses and an awesome screen size!

TECH SPECS:• 27” screen• LED• 2 HDMI inputs• Audio output• Wall mountable• DVI input

90Score

It also offers two HDMI inputs, as well as an audio out port. This means it can easily be used with video game consoles and other entertainment devices that use HDMI connections. The excellent picture quality is great for that, and the added convenience provided by the remote control makes it a joy to use for a number of functions other than PC work or gaming. The two HDMI ports also mean that devices can be permanently connected, without the user having to swap stuff around, and the position of all the ports and controls mean that wall mounting won’t be a problem.

The real joy, of course, comes from the performance of the mega contrast ratio, super resolution monitor, which brings the user bright, crisp and colourful visuals in full HD.

If you want a monitor that can provide for a number if functions and is not shy on size for a desktop model, this one is a great choice. It avoids all those silly gimmicks like 3D and such, and delivers exactly what it should. g

Small PackageBig power

by Alex Scanlon


MSI

X46

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X

These days it seems that two extremes are proving to be very popular. Those extremes are super big and super small, and the trend seems to carry

across several markets. Sure, sometimes we waver back and forth between the two - as is the case with cell phones, which started big, got really small and are now heading back towards big again. But it seems that the two ends of the spectrum are where impressiveness resides, and not really in the middle. Take, for example, the notebook market. Slim, small and sleek looks good and impressive. Big and bulky looks... well, good and impressive. There isn’t too much middle ground, it seems, or at least not much middle ground where great impressions stem from. Maybe it’s just me.

But thanks to components getting smaller, smaller notebooks are no longer glorified word processors. Rather, these diminutive machines are able to pack a lot of punch, while remaining light and easily portable. The MSI X460 DX is a prime example of that kind of

machine.Weighing just two kilograms, this isn’t the kind of

portable computer that’s going to give you a good upper body workout just carrying it around. It’s a pretty standard size for a small notebook, yet it’s screen is just a little bigger than most’ measuring 14 inches. The interior of the unit is finished and black brushed metal and durable black plastic, both design elements which extend to the exterior finishes as well. It features a standard notebook keyboard layout (no number pad) comprised of soft touch chicklet style keys. Beneath the keyboard is a slightly left aligned touch pad, which features a solid button for both left and right clicking, rather that two separate ones. An integrated web cam sits above the monitor.

The design is pretty enough, although not particularly revolutionary or awe-inspiring. Under the hood, things look a little better, though. The whole machine is powered by an i5 processor, supported by 4GB of DDR3 RAM. To help the graphics along, the unit sports an Nvidia Gefore GT 540M


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: MSIDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.za

PROS:• Like• Powerful• Good battery life

CONS:• Looks a little plain

A great, small notebook

TECH SPECS:• i5 CPU• 4GB RAM• 2GB VRAM• 500GB HDD• 3 USB ports• HDMI output

80Score

chipset, supported by a rather generous 2GB of GDDR3 RAM, which is pretty impressive in a machine this size... you may even be able to squeeze some decent gaming out of it. The 500GB hard drive is also a nice size, but always prefer to see more storage space.

In terms of ports, it’s pretty standard; VGA, HDMI, LAN, headphones, an SD card reader and three USB 3.0 ports. In addition, it features Bluetooth and a souped up battery life.

It seems that MSI, as a company, have a good idea about the requirements of their customers.

This notebook serves as a good example to illustrate that point; it might be small and light, and have an elegant look to it, but all that belies a power that is excellent, and performance that is surprising from a small machine like this. It will look at home almost anywhere, with unassuming looks hiding what’s lurking beneath the surface... an extremely capable notebook that will serve people on the go very well indeed. g

Sound AroundYet another dock… but a very good one.

by Walt Pretorius


Logi

tech

Pur

e-Fi

Exp

ress

Plu

s

It seems that everywhere you look these days there is a new iPod dock. It stands testament to the amazing success that Apple’s range of personal

music devices have enjoyed over the years. And that success provides makers of third-party peripherals to strut their stuff.

Logitech, for example, have a few great options for sharing the music on your iPod or iPhone. These docks make playing your music for everyone to hopefully enjoy easy, and the general quality associated with the brand means, more often than not, that the sound clarity is awesome.

All of that can be said about the Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus. This large iPod dock supports virtually every iPod and iPhone model on the market, service as a speaker system when music shouldn’t be personal. It even recharges the device plugged in to it (although pretty much every dock does that, so it’s not a massive

selling point.)Rather, the thing that will turn heads with this particular

beauty is the sound quality it offers. It is, in a word, excellent. Good, loud sound with no perceptible distortion. And not only normal sound, either... but 360 degree audio.

Ok, before you get all excited and try load some surround sound movies on your iWhatever, let’s explain that. The dock has two playback modes. Direct sound provides ‘normal’ stereo performance, while 360 degree sound means that the device makes use of its four high-excursion drivers to evenly distribute sound in every direction. Stick it on a table in the middle of your party, and the music goes everywhere. And it works really well.

Add a remote control to the mix, and you’ve got the near-perfect party started... provided you play the right tunes, of course. And, despite being quite large, the dock runs off of both direct power and batteries, making it portable. And to add even more functionality, it has a built


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: LogitechDistributor: LogitechOnline: www.logitech.co.za

PROS:• Great sound• Looks funky• Battery option

CONS:• No other inputs

An impressive looking, powerful iPod dock option.

TECH SPECS:• iPhone compatible• Battery powered option• Alarm clock• Remote• 360 degree sound option

88Score

in alarm clock, as well as shuffle and repeat buttons.The Pure-Fi Express Plus is, as said before, a large dock,

and is a little heavy. Not overly so, but you’ll know you’re carrying it. It comes in a variety of finishes, too... at least, the fabric speaker covers do. The one we saw had bright orange speakers, as you can see in the images. We’ve seen black, too, and there are presumably other colours, too.

The design of the device is really rather nice. It has a stylish retro-tech feel to it, reinforced by the large silver knob and old fashioned LED style display. It looks almost as good as it sounds, and can make a discrete addition to any room (until you turn up the volume, that is.)

As far as iPod speaker docks go, we have to say that this one is one of our favourites. It is solidly built and beautifully designed, portable and powerful. It’s not the cheapest dock around, but it certainly is well worth the price. g

Where, Jeremy?Clarkson calls the shots…

by Rob Edwards

Tom

tom

Go

Live

Top

Gea

r Ed

ition

GPS


It looks like Tomtom are making a habit of cashing in on popular franchises. We saw a Blue Bulls rugby team themed GPS unit from them a few

months back. Now it’s one that takes advantage of the popularity of the hit TV show, Top Gear.

For all intents and purposes, this is a standard Tomtom Go Live GPS. We couldn’t find anything to make it seem any different from any other model of the same type. That said, there is something masochistically amusing about having Jeremy Clarkson give you directions to get where you are going.

From the way that people are using the Top Gear franchise - including the recently released video game Forza Motorsport 4 - you would think that Clarkson is the only one on the show. The other two guys are nowhere to be found. Then again, the fact that I just referred to them as ‘the other two guys’ probably illustrates why.

If you are a fan and don’t already own a GPS, this model is a good choice, but be warned that all that fancy packaging and hype only indicates an extra voice selection.

Other than that, it’s not really a new product. g

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: TomtomDistributor: TomtomOnline: www.tomtom.co.za

PROS:• Clarkson is funny• A few interesting POIs

CONS:• Not enough to warrant all the fuss?

The only added extra is one celebrity voice… and a few icons and POIs.

TECH SPECS:• 4.3” screen• Integrated mount• Google search• Traffic advisory• Silent ‘Stig’ mode

70Score

Massive RAMAnd massive everything else, too!

by Alex Scanlon


MSI

Gef

orce

GT

X 5

90

We almost - but only almost - did a double take hen we saw the box that the MSI Geforce GTX 590 comes in.

It’s a really big box, but we have seen those before. We are also not surprised by the design of the box; we have become quite used to MSI’s understated packaging. Rather, it was the 3072MB of GDDR5 RAM, mentioned in relatively small letters on the box, that caught our eye. If we had been designing this packaging, we would have made that statement a bit bigger and bolder. Like at least half of the space on the front of the box... because 3 gigs of graphics RAM is not something you see every day.

Neither, for that matter, are the three DVI outputs the card sports. Sure, we’re used to seeing clusters of outputs on Radeon cards, but Nvidia offerings have tended towards a generally less ambitious approach in that department, for the most part. A lone mini HDMI output can also be found there, but we almost didn’t notice it.

Armed with the Nvidia 590 chipset and that huge whack of RAM, this card means business. It slices through tough tasks mercilessly, delivering performance that is smooth, stable and quite brilliant. It had better, because the price point on this beauty isn’t exactly cheap. However, the thought of two of these cards set up in an SLI configuration is a geek’s wet dream’ because it will deliver results that are really awesome.

Physically, the card is fairly big and looks like it means business. Eschewing bright fantasy characters, MSI have stuck a fairly simple graphic on the card. It almost belies their confidence... they do not need to decorate this baby with impressive looking images, because it’s performance does all the impressing required.

Being an MSI card, it has all the bits and bobs we have mentioned many times before when reviewing their other products.

In case you weren’t paying attention, we’ll go through them again.

While cooling is chiefly provided by a large fan and


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: MSIDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.za

PROS:• RAM, glorious RAM!• 3 DVI outputs

CONS:• Expensive

A really big card in performance terms…

TECH SPECS:• Nvidia GT590• 3GB VRAM• 3 DVI outputs• 1 mini HDMI output• Afterburner software

95Score

heat sink setup, the military grade components used by the card also help keep things cooler, and quieter. Solid capacitors help reduce noise and stand a lower risk of popping, and the use of this kind of high grade component has MSI claiming a theoretical lifespan of ten years for this card. Not just ten years chugging along, either, but ten years working under strain.

Sure, people upgrade more often than that, but the power that this card has on offer would probably see even the most demanding gamers happy for the majority of that decade.

And, as if you actually would need to, more performance can be squeezed out of this card, thanks to simple overclocking and tweaking allowed by MSI’s included Afterburner software.

This big card will deliver every time, without a doubt. It is well worth the expense, and is yet another great

addition to MSI’s already solid stable of graphics devices. But we’re going to go look at the box again, and try figure out why they made those letters so damned small... g

Print from AnywhereBut do you really need to?

by Rob Edwards


Offi

ceje

t Pro

810

0 eP

rint

er

Some people - including me, at times - have problems with consolidated devices. Those are devices that do everything they possibly can. A

cell phone is a good example, particularly when people use it for everything it can do. When that one device, that you have come to rely on for a variety of different functions, fails... well, you lose all the functions, don’t you? It’s great to have catch-all devices, particularly in terms of space, but when your printer-copier-fax-scanner-coffee maker goes bang, you effectively lose more than one device.

Do you remember the time when a printer was a printer, a scanner was a scanner and so on? HP do, apparently, as indicated by the release of their Officejet Pro 8100 ePrinter. It is just what the box says it is... a printer. No scanner, fax or copier here, folks.

Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. It is an ePrinter, which means that it has a different kind of functionality. Sure, it prints like normal, connected to a computer

or network or whatever, but it has the added bonus of being able to print remotely. Essentially, the user can ‘email’ the printer from anywhere, and it will print out required documents or images. It’s a good idea, although there are chinks that do appear in the theory. Like printer maintenance... you cannot do that remotely. But if you ensure that you have set everything up correctly before you go to wherever you are going to be printing from, it should be fine. Also, aside from business applications, the practicality of eprinting is a little suspect. And even in a work environment, it still seems like more of a gimmick than a truly essential function. Oh, incidentally, eprinting can also be done from a variety of Apple i-devices.

So lets consider the eprinting to be an added extra, and look at the printer itself. The Pro 8100 is one of the prettier printers we’ve seen in a long time, in terms of aesthetics, and it will look good in pretty much any environment.

The print quality is, as expected, excellent. The printer


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: HPDistributor: HPOnline: www.hp.co.za

PROS:• Simpler device• 4 cartridge system

CONS:• Will you need ePrinting?

A printer that is just a printer, with eprinting thrown in

TECH SPECS:• A4 printer• Inkjet• 4 Cartridge system• LAN• WiFi• ePrinting

80Score

makes use of a sensible four cartridge system, which saves money and ink in the long run.

In terms of controls, this device is extremely simple... no touch screens, no complex button arrangements. And why would it need them. It is a printer, nothing more. That is a joy, in many ways. But not being a multifunctional device does have a downside; space. And this is a fairly big device.

Still, it’s worth a look if you want something uncomplicated. And the whole eprinting thing may well be a big draw card for some. As the packing proclaims, ‘if you can email it, you can print it’.

It’s a good idea, I guess, although I must admit that I fail to see where it becomes a necessity. Perhaps you can. Either way, if you need a printer that is just a printer - even if you will never use the eprinting function - it is a good device.

Oh, and it has wireless and network printing support, which is a big help. g

Simple SoundA very handy headset indeed

by Walt Pretorius


Logi

tech

H25

0 St

ereo

Hea

dset

Headphones can often be more of a grudge purchase than most people like to admit. The necessity for them even comes out of a grudge

sometimes... the need for silence while computing or gaming is often imposed on us by others, rather than through our own desires. The same cannot really be said for those playing games online, when the voice communication afforded them by a good gaming headset is invaluable. We’re not talking about gamers right now.

Besides which, gamers are going to spend a hell of a lot of money on a headset with all the bells and whistles, like surround sound and multi-platform capabilities. ‘Normal’ people don’t necessarily want, or need, those kind of functions. Rather, it is pure functionality and convenience that drives the purchase of headphones for folks like that.

Thankfully Logitech have a whole range of headphone solutions that fit into pretty much every taste and budget. The H250 Stereo Headset, as an example, is

a great device for someone who wants versatility and good performance at a price that won’t destroy the bank. They’re not wireless or anything fancy like that... rather they are dependable, and relatively discrete. And comfortable, which is also obviously important.

A thin, padded, adjustable headband forms the basis of this headset, with a pair of comfortable, padded ear-cups at either end. OK, maybe cups isn’t the right term... these sit on top of the ears, rather than covering them. The headset delivers stereo sound via these ear-cups, and the left one houses an adjustable microphone that can be swivelled up out if the way. The real beauty here is that the OCD folks out there can wear the microphone on either side, thanks to a fully swivel design. You will need to reverse your audio channels, of course, but the added versatility may have a great amount of appeal for some.

The microphone also features noise cancelling technology for clear communication, and can also be muted thanks to simple in-line controls fitted to the headset’s cable. Volume can also be controlled from here.


AT A GLANCE:


PROS:• Comfortable• Good sound• Fully adjustable

CONS:• Wired

These headphones offer all kinds of uses…

TECH SPECS:• Stereo headphones• Wired• In-line volume• Multi-position mic• Noise cancelling mic• 3.5mm jacks

79Score

One of the things that adds a lot of variety to the possible devices that these headphones can be used with arises from the fact that they are analogue... in other words, they have two 3.5mm jacks, one for headphones and one for the microphone, at the end of the rather generous cable.

While wireless, USB headsets may be cool for exclusive use with a computer, there allow for a whole lot more, which adds value to the overall deal.

The sturdy construction and clever design of this headset goes a long way in changing them from a grudge purchase to an essential item.

They also deliver excellent sound quality, although not the loudest we’ve ever heard, and are at home with a variety of functions, from internet calls through to PC games.

If you are after a set of headphones that will serve you well wherever you need personal audio, these are a great option, packed with the expected Logitech standards of reliability and performance. g

Smaller…But size belies power…

by Alex Scanlon


Tosh

iba

Port

ege

R700

There is an assumed connection between size and performance when it comes to laptops and notebooks. The smaller it is, conventional

wisdom dictates, the less powerful. And while that kind of thinking might have been accurate at some point - and while it might still hold true in some cases today - the miniaturisation of components is allowing smaller machines to be more powerful. Take the Toshiba Portege R700 as an example. It is a diminutive notebook, the size of which belies a considerable amount of power lurking under the hood.

On the surface, the R700 is a small, unassuming notebook, stylishly finished in brushed black metal and plastic. It’s a bit heavier than one might expect. Open it up and a 13 inch monitor greets you, along with a standard laptop keyboard (not enough room for a full one) and a touch-pad set slightly to the left. Between the pad’s two buttons is a fingerprint scanner. Looks-wise, it’s nothing really out of the ordinary, although

there are one or two slightly strange design ideas that have been implemented here... like the fingerprint scanner placement. Also, all the indicator lights have been placed at the ‘bottom’ of the tough pad, rather than above the chicklet style keyboard.

But turn it on, and the R700’s i5 2.4GHz processor kicks in, supported by a chunky 4GB of DDR3 RAM. It puts up quite a performance, with further delivery coming from an Intel graphics accelerator that is allocated up to 1.6GB of shared RAM. You’re not going to get prime gaming performance out of that set-up, but this machine isn’t about games. It is an easily portable workhorse, more than anything, and it provides great performance for that task.

In terms of ports, though, it is just slightly on the light side. The LAN, HDMI and eSATA ports are great, as well as the expected VGA output and speaker and headphone jack ports. It also features an integrated card reader, although only SD cards are supported. But with only two USB ports, it’s a little on the stingy side. The hard drive,


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: ToshibaDistributor: ToshibaOnline: www.toshiba.com

PROS:• Good size• Powerful• Very portable

CONS:• Slightly small HDD• 2 USB ports

A small notebook that still packs the right amount of punch.

TECH SPECS:• i5 CPU• 4GB RAM• 320GB HDD• 13” screen• 2 USB ports• HDMI output

78Score

too, could have been more generous, with a slightly mean 320GB on offer. It is in areas like this that the small size of this notebook implies performance correctly - surely an extra USB port or two could have been fitted into the design?

The unit’s audio performance, too, leaves a bit to be desired... it really isn’t all that much better than any other notebook, at least not when using the built in speakers, which have presumably suffered because of the minimal space allowed them.

Still, even the very few shortcomings that the R700 has do not scupper its super performance. The small size and stylish (if understated) design make it a sexy little number, with excellent performance when it is needed. It might not look the part, but the R700 delivers where it counts. This one is all about understatement and performance, rather than being a case of style over substance. It won’t be getting any raised eyebrows or wolf whistles, but those who use it will know what it’s all about. g

Fitting InA really niche product…

by Rob Edwards

In W

in 3

.5”

to 2

.5”

Brac

ket


Now many times have you come across an item for sale on a store shelf and though “what the hell would I want that for?” That’s pretty much

what we thought about the In Win 3.5” to 2.5” bracket. In fact, we’re still not entirely sure why one would need a device like this, but perhaps there are people there who need to convert their PC drive bays to hold smaller units. There must be.

This simple device does work very effectively, to be honest. The 2.5” drive fits snugly into it, and it is held very securely once that bracket has been fitted into the PC chassis. As an added bonus, the bracket can also fit an 80mm fan, to help keep the fitted drive cooler... and cooler is always good when it comes to a PC.

So while we cannot necessarily say who would need a device like this, unless it is someone who has stripped their laptop for parts, we can say that, should you need this kind of conversion bracket, there is one available, and it does what it is supposed to do perfectly. g

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: In WinDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.za

PROS:• Space for a fan• Well built

CONS:• Do people actually need these?

A bit of niche product, but handy should you need one.

TECH SPECS:• 80mm fan bracket• Screw system

70Score

PS3TMPeripheralsFeaturing a “point stick” mouse controller and PlayStation®

action buttons, the wireless Bluetooth keyboard makesdata entry and in-game text communication simple.

Bluetooth Keyboard

Dualshock®3Charging StationKeep your wireless controllers close at hand and ready to go with this convenient charging station that lets you charge two wireless controllers simultaneously.Connect a discreet charging adaptor to the top of your wireless controller to instantly and wirelessly power it up via the Charging Station.

WirelessHeadsetThe enhanced WirelessHeadset brings crystal clear, hands-free conversation to your in-game experienceand your mobile phone.Smaller and sleeker than ever before.

Lovers of SingStar® can go as wild as they please with the Wireless SingStar® Microphones.They’re easy to use and great for passing around at your SingStar® parties. Compatible with PS2TM and PS3TM.

Wireless Singstar®

Microphones

Dualshock®3Wireless Controller

Blu-Ray DiscRemote Control

With its vibration function and SIXAXIS™ motion sensor, the DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller really lets you feel at one with the in-game action.

Designed exclusively for use with the PlayStation 3 system.This remote control uses Bluetooth wireless communication to operate the playback of Blu-ray Discs and other types of disc media Sit back, relax and enjoy watching your favourite High Definition BD movies with PlayStation 3 and the Blu-ray Disc Remote Control.

PS3 Peripherals GAMECCA Ad.indd 1 2011/12/19 1:42 PM

Small Package… with big sound!

by Walt Pretorius

Logi

tech

Z12

0 Sp

eake

rs


Sometimes you don’t want the biggest speaker system money can buy. We know it’s an odd thought but, perhaps, you need to carry your

speakers with you... like for use with a notebook. If that’s the case, then Logitech has yet another smart solution for you.

The Logitech Z120 speaker system is a stereo sound solution made up of two fairly small speakers. They draw power from a USB port, and are armed with a 3.5mm jack for sound input. Why these two plugs weren’t unified into one USB solution we’re not sure, but it is what it is.

The speakers have an independent volume control, and have a cable storage system worked into their backs. And, even better, they sound awesome... surprising for such small units.

Another plus is that they look good, too. However, the speakers themselves are not protected, so you’ll have to treat this particular sound investment with care. And they’re well worth the money... easy to set up, easy to control, and capable of great sound. g

AT A GLANCE:


PROS:• Portable• Good sound• Cable management

CONS:• Why not one unified jack?

Handy, highly portable speakers for folks on the go.

TECH SPECS:• Stereo• USB powered• 3.5mm jack

77Score

Sometimes having the biggest monitor around simply isn’t practical. Sure, 23 inches is still a good size, but it won’t consume as much space

as the 27 inch option we review on page 26. LG really know how to deliver the goods with

monitors, but they have taken a step towards simplifying things in terms of aesthetics that is actually quite refreshing. So while the IPS235 performs really well, it looks simple. Even the controls have moved away from the touch sensitive type that LG employed in the past... this unit employs a more reliable set of discrete buttons.

This LED monitor can be used for a variety of sources. In addition to the standard computer inputs, it also features a single HDMI input and audio out jack. This is its only real failing... we would have preferred to see two HDMI ports. But one is most certainly better than none, and the audio output is a bonus that adds all kinds of versatility.

If you’re in the market for an unassuming yet effective monitor, the LG IPS235 is a great bet, thanks to excellent mage quality and versatility. g

SimplerYet still awesome

by Rob Edwards

LG Flatron IPS235


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: LGDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.za

PROS:• Decent size• Versatile• Good image quality

CONS:• Only one HDMI input

A smaller option, yet still brilliant performance.

TECH SPECS:• 23” screen• LED• HDMI input• DVI input• Audio output

85Score

And the Winner is...

www.gameccamag.comIS

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1 / V

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Jan

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12

Rayman: OriginsMario Kart 7LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 to 7WW12Anno 2070Blackwaterand more...

Game of the Year Edition

www.gameccamag.comTaking fun seriously!

This year saw the Sweet 16th birthday of the Rayman platform series. While not quite as old as Mario, it is arguably one of the most successful

video game franchises of all time in terms of its loyal fan base.

Originally released in 1995 for the PlayStation, Rayman reignited nostalgic memories in many gamers for those platform titles of the ‘80s. In fact, when I first played Rayman, the sights, smells, and sounds of the corner cafe of my childhood where I had invested countless 20c coins in the arcade games of the time came flooding back.

Such has been Rayman’s success that at more than five million copies sold it is still the best-selling PlayStation title of all time in the United Kingdom beating such respected franchises as Tomb Raider and Gran Turismo. Counting the spin-offs, the Rayman series covers nine titles on a multitude of platforms with Origins

the latest to hit store shelves.The plot, such as there is in a platformer, sees Rayman,

his best friend Globox and two Teensies captured after their arch-nemesis Mr Dark escapes from the Land of the Livid Dead (yes that is not a typo). Play begins as Rayman and the group escape and begin to set about saving the world from the dastardly Mr Dark.

The first thing that will grab your attention is the beautiful graphics of Origins. In fact, this is by far the best-looking platformer I have ever played. In part, this is thanks to the debut of the UbiArt Framework, the in-house graphics engine from Ubisoft. In essence, the engine allows artists and designers to focus on the art without needing to be concerned about the technical elements around game development.

To a certain extent, this is the game’s greatest failing, if I can call it that. By definition, a platformer is an intense ride that tests the player’s reflexes and is focused on

g amec c a r ev i ew • i s s u e 17 • N ovembe r 2010g l a dg e t v i d e o g ame • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 201248

The proud franchise returns and is more fun than everby Iwan Pienaar

Raym

an O

rigi

ns

A Ray of Hope

getting as much done as quickly as possible. But in Origins you do not want to rush things. Instead, you want to lie down on one of the rolling hills and just look at the world passing you by. Admittedly, there are worse things to fault a game on, so pardon the diversion.

As expected, gameplay is immensely fun. In single-player, you can control any of the four characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Multiplayer sees up to four people playing simultaneously which is not only fun, but a truly chaotic experience befitting the genre. The nice thing is that you can be a complete newcomer to the series and still pick up the controller and jump right in without having to worry about any familiarity with the back story or knowledge about the characters.

A platformer needs a good and easy-to-use control system and in Origins gamers are able to jump, attack, duck, and run faster to their hearts content without getting the feeling of being an octopus playing a flight simulator.

g l a dg e t v i d e o g ame • i s s u e 15 • J a nu a r y 2012 49

Accessibility

PrejudiceDrug UseSexLanguageViolence

7+Parental Advisory

Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 90

Score

The humble platformer makes a triumphant return in Rayman Origins.

Developer: UbisoftPublisher: UbisoftDistributor: Megarom

PSPWiiMovePS3KinectX360PC

Plat

form

s

X360AT A GLANCE:

3DSDS

The levels are varied enough to provide challenges for beginners and experts alike with the later stages being a joy for those who want to test their reflexes and eye-hand coordination. There are plenty of waypoints so even when your character gets eaten, beaten up, or falls of a cliff, there is not a lot of catching up to do to get back to your last position.

Players also have the obligatory unlockable levels, special skills, and so on to add to the replay value. The hallmark of a really great game is the ability to get lost in it for a few hours. In Origins, do not be surprised to find yourself starting the game at night and still playing when the first rays of light enter your living room/study/gaming venue of choice.

While not really a game for the young ones (it is too fast-paced for them to really enjoy it), it is a great title for those who do not want to play yet another first-person shooter, role-playing game, or driving simulator. g

Talking about this game as the new Mario Kart in the series seems to ‘downgrade’ it to just an upgrade or extension to the story; there is the

upgrade, but of epic proportions… more than just some new tracks.

There are 16 new tracks and 16 revamped tracks. The revamped ones got updated to cater for the new features but it’s a good feeling as a veteran player to find that the good old short cut that I always take to beat my friends is still there! Some of my favourites, like Waluigi’s Pinball, old N64 Rainbow road and online favourite Maple Treeway, are because most people don’t know of the excellent short cuts. There is a good effort in the new tracks, especially the Wuhu Island track, extended into long single lap riding around the island, and taken from Wii Sports Resort and both Wii Fit Games. There is even a nice long Gliding section to give you the feel of

Pilotwings.New tracks are easily predicted in Mario Kart but no

one guessed the addition of a kart customisation option. We are not talking F1 engine tuning but more simple stuff, like frame, wheels and glider option to change the speed, handling and acceleration of the kart. Yip if you are just being out-run online maybe play some more single player and collect more coins to unlock those other parts for your kart.

The same number of cups and bonus games are there to make it a very entertaining single player game but the extra modes are where all the fun is to be had. Friends can download play with 8 players, as long as one of them has the game! It not a new thing but still fantastic! Take the game online and there are a lot of new upgrades from the Mario Kart Wii system. Finding out if your friends are online is easy and even displayed on the native 3DS


Mario, Part 1 of 2by Brian Murdoch

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Lucky Number 7

friend’s list with a “Join in” option. There is also a friend competitive score that is not only updated if you race against each other alone, but in the group as well. There are also community groups created for web sites, forums and races with custom rules. This means that the standard Tuesday nights of Mario Kart from the Nintendo ZA boys are very easy to organise, as the members can just join the group and play. No one needs to be the host or befriend everyone and be there every night.

These communities are also shared and suggested to others, I found an excellent “bananas only” group but it’s mostly the fastest in the front that wins as there are no power ups other than bananas. It took me a long time to figure this out because I was in front most of the time.

I did, however, feel violated by the inclusion of the Miis that I played online appearing in my Mii Plaza. If the Invitations option is on then all the player you race with


Accessibility


7+Parental Advisory

Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 95

Score

Mario Kart landed on the Nintendo 3DS and uses all of its features: online, gyro and portability.

Developer: NintendoPublisher: NintendoDistributor: Core Gaming Systems


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online are seen here. This is great if you don’t have StreetPasses but I

personally did not like this.All this would have still made me buy and enjoy the next

version of Mario Kart but I have not even mentioned the fun improvements. With the Gyro sensor in the 3DS you can now drive like the console is the steering wheel. This will not give you the fastest times but make the game a lot of fun in the cockpit view. Mario Kart can fly and swim too, with gliding and underwater racing sections added to new and old tracks. This adds a great change to the short cuts and general track design and I feel is marked out well in most tracks, unless it’s a secret.

Mario Kart Wii was a long investment for the Wii and the price did not drop for years so getting a copy of Mario Kart 7 is a must and even a reason to get a 3DS, if you did not get it from Christmas. g

If anyone ever wrote a book about development houses that managed to get a finger in a whole bunch of franchise pies, Traveller’s Tales would

certainly be mentioned, at very least. Their series of LEGO games, which take well known movie properties and give them a little plastic block make-over, have seen them get involved with five big franchises and three big name publishers.

Their latest offering is based on the fourth franchise they got involved with; the awesomely popular Harry Potter series. Based more on the movies than on J K Rowling’s fabulous books, this second LEGO Harry Potter game, subtitled Years 5 to 7, takes players through a tongue-in-cheek reimagining of events from Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.

One would be forgiven for wondering exactly how much fun can be poked at these three chapters in the Potter

saga, because they are the darkest, most serious stories of the lot. But the developers have managed to get the balance just right, as they always do, injecting tons of often off-beat humour and jokes that fans alone will get, while not cheapening the source material.

When the original LEGO Harry Potter came out, it was heralded by many as a great game because it took the ideas from previous LEGO games and expanded on them. It was, in essence, the freshest LEGO movie-based video game in ages, and something that the franchise sorely needed. From that point, they managed to improve things even more when they released LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean through Disney Interactive, effectively meaning that the previous Potter title was something of a change of thinking in these titles. The same, sadly, cannot be said for this newer game. That doesn’t make it bad, necessarily, but those that played the previous version will find that, aside from the story, everything is pretty much


Potter returns to the world of plastic blocksby Walt Pretorius

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ExpeLEGOmus!

the same as it was before. Traveller’s Tales haven’t tried to do anything unique with this title, preferring to stick to the ‘Harry Potter’ formula that worked so well in the previous game.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. When you consider the previous game, you will realise that there is a lot to enjoy in this new title.

See, where other LEGO games of this nature are fairly linear, and this one also suffers from that issue to a degree, there is a hell of a lot of exploration and stud collecting to do in this game. The levels are large and complex, with tons to fiddle around with. There are things to blow up (to collect studs), things to rearrange (to collect studs), hidden bits to explore (more of the studs) and so on.

Along with working through the stories of the three chapters, players will also be able to unlock characters, collect special items and a host of other things, pretty


Accessibility


7+Parental Advisory

Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 80

Score

The next LEGO Harry Potter game offers more of the same.

Developer: Traveller’s TalesPublisher: Warner BrosDistributor: Nu Metro


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much like another LEGO game of this sort. One of the things that sets it apart is the use of spells,

with each player having a handful available. The player, or players in the case of co-op, will need to change between characters fairly regularly to take advantage of their various abilities and spells.

With bright, colourful characters and settings based on a well-known franchise, not to mention tons of off-beat humour, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 - 7 is something that the whole family can enjoy.

There is a lot to do, many often challenging puzzles, and the need to take characters that are unlocked later back to already completed levels to access new things adds a lot of replayability to the game.

t is, essentially, just another LEGO based title, but with that said, it needs to be pointed out that it is a good one. Fans of both this unique genre and the Harry Potter series should really enjoy it. g

Management games are fairly rare these days, and really good management games are like hen’s teeth. So when a good management title

comes along, it can be extremely gratifying for fans of the genre... and Anno 2070 is such a game.

That said, it still falls into the category of niche appeal, just like any other management title of this sort. That’s because games like this don’t focus on blowing bad guys to bits, which is something that the vast majority of the game-playing public wants.

Anno 2070 moves away from the traditional quasi-medieval feel that the franchise had before, as the name implies. This time, it’s set a few years in the future, at a time when global warming has had a devastating effect on the Earth. Landmasses have changed with the melting of the polar icecaps, and society as a whole is very different.

Enter the player, an intrepid city builder set on re-establishing a colony in the wake of this disaster. There

are two superpowers in the world, lead by capitalist tycoons on one hand and ecologists on the other, and the player will need to not only build a thriving settlement, but work with one or both of these factions as well.

As with previous Anno titles, 2070 sees the player inhabiting several islands. Different islands offer different resources, so setting up a stable, well-supplied colony will require either expansion or trade, both of which are possible in this game’s numerous modes.

The whole game dynamic is based on a supply and demand system that is, on the surface, quite simple. In order to generate income, the player needs to grow and develop the population of his colony by meeting their demands. As the inhabitants develop in social status (and consequently pay higher taxes) their demands become more numerous, requiring the player to colonise more islands and ramp up production. It seems quite simple, but some of the required supply chains have numerous steps. And then there are politics to consider, and the impact


Rebuilding after the catastropheby Walt Pretorius

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The Day After

that environmental degradation, as a result of the player’s operations, has on those self-same industries. It can get pretty complex and, while the game is generally rather slow in terms of pace, sudden supply shortages or political problems will have the player jumping.

Aside from a really good management model and great graphics, Anno 2070 offers a few improvements over its predecessors. For example, supply chains are defined in then user interface by the final product; clicking on it will bring up a tab that shows all required buildings, which is very handy.

While the sound in the game is also very good, there is one downside... some of the character interaction speech is sickeningly repetitive. It gets so bad that the player may well consider disabling them.

Additionally, the game can throw incautious players curveballs in the form of sudden declines in supplies. The player needs to be on too of things constantly to keep things running smoothly, and even then there will be tense


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7+Parental Advisory

Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 90

Score

An excellent option for management fans!

Developer: Blue BytePublisher: UbisoftDistributor: Megarom


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moments.The developers also included a multiplayer aspect, but

considering that a single game can go on for days, this is often an exercise in extreme patience. However, there is a global community which all players can affect... their votes result in different buffs and penalties being applied from time to time.

On the whole, if you like good management games, you will find nothing better than Anno 2070 on the new release shelves. It is an extremely well-crafted game, as frustrating as it is gratifying, and those that enjoy complexity in their management titles will certainly find that here.

The game isn’t for the faint-hearted, though; it can be extremely mentally demanding.

But sitting back for a few moments and watching your colony chug along smoothly, thanks to all your hard work, is really very satisfying. Until the next crisis kicks in, of course...g

Movie of the Month


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Super sci-fi for all!


Super 8

DIRECTOR:JJ Abrams

STARRING:Elle FanningAmanda MichalkaKyle Chandler

FPB Rating: TBC

88Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Nu Metro

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

This movie is, rather fittingly, named after a type of movie camera. When a group of kids are busy filming an amateur movie at a train station late at night, they witness a terrible accident that results in a train derailment. Narrowly escaping with their lives, the kids soon learn that the train was transporting something not of this world... a nasty alien bent on destruction.Super 8 smacks of director J J Abrams’ style, which is in no way a bad thing. The film has a larger than life feel to it, and could easily be compared to classics like ET, although the alien in this film is massive, brutal and generally scary.The cast works very well together, crafting a tale that has more to it than a supernatural menace stalking a small town while the government tries to cover it up. There are some extremely moving moments in Super 8. Of particular note is the performance of Elle Fanning, who is really coming into her own as an actress.Super 8 has all the elements that a good film needs, combined with very solid production values, great acting, excellent direction and awesome special effects. It is a great movie for the family, although youngsters may find it a bit on the scary side. But one thing is for sure... it is a great adventure, and one that every viewer is likely to enjoy. g


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A brilliant young scientist is close to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that is ravaging his father. But when things go wrong at the lab, he finds himself in the position of surrogate parent to a baby chimp who has developed a great intelligence, due to the fact that the drug was tested on his mother.But the world is not ready for this misunderstood creature; while the scientist desperately tries to maintain a balance, the chimp’s increasing frustration and mistreatment leads him to rebel against humanity.This film is a prequel to the original Planet of the Apes films, and does a great job of ignoring Tim Burton’s failed remake. There are numerous references to the classic in the film, but it manages to stand on its own two feet as an original movie. Excellent performances by John Lithgow and James Franco are complimented by excellent CG and special effects, and the strong emotional charge will have you rooting for the rebellious apes as the fairly predictable plot unfolds.It’s no masterpiece, but it is good, solid entertainment.g

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

DIRECTOR:Rupert Wyatt

STARRING:James FrancoAndy SerkisJohn Lithgow

FPB Rating: 13V

80Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Next Entertainment

Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox make an unusual romantic duo in Passion Play, a film written and directed by Mitch Glazer. Rourke plays Nate Poole, a down-on-his-luck jazz trumpeter who has earned the ire of gang boss Happy Shannon (played, surprisingly, by Bill Murray). When he narrowly escapes being executed in the desert, Poole stumbles upon a travelling carnival where he meets Lily the Bird Woman. But Lily is no fake... her wings are real. They escape the carnival together, and start a surreal journey filled with romance and danger... particularly when Happy decides that he wants Lily for himself.Passion Play tries to be an unusual drama, and pulls it off for the most part. The level of acting is very good, the cinematography is, at times, beautiful, and the over the feel of the film is pleasing. Yet it manages to be slightly scuppered by a very predictable script. There are few surprises in store for the viewer, which is a little disappointing, because the overall concept is so great. Still, it’s not a total loss, and if you are in the mood for a film that is fairly tender and a little unusual, the passion Play is a worthwhile bet. g

Passion Play

DIRECTOR:Mitch Glazer

STARRING:Mickey Rourke Megan FoxBill Murray

FPB Rating: 16 VLN

78Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Ster Kinekor


Cowboys and Aliens is based on a fairly obscure comic of the same name, and sees Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde team up in a film about... well, the title says it all, really.The film has a weak plot that involves cowboys fighting aliens. It is almost completely a case of style over substance, with special effects and big action sequences trumping depth and emotional charge. And even though I never thought I would say this, that’s just fine.Cowboys and Aliens never pretends to be anything more than it is... an action-packed, popcorn-muncher of a film that is crammed with gunfights, fist fights, explosions, horses, spittoons and, of course, nasty alien invaders.If you’re looking for depth and a moving experience, look elsewhere. But if you want a thrilling, fun film to just enjoy without all that deep stuff interfering, it’s a great choice. Two popular pulp genres mesh wonderfully in this movie... it makes one wonder why no-one ever thought of making a film like this before. And, at very least, it is pretty unique. g

Cowboys & Aliens

DIRECTOR:Jon Favreau

STARRING:Daniel CraigOlivia WildeHarrison Ford

FPB Rating: 16LV

70Scor


We are getting closer and closer to the release of The Avengers, an event that has super hero film fans frothing at the mouth. It will either be the best or the worst super hero movie ever made, but with a massive budget and a star-studded cast, we’re putting our money on the former.But for that to happen, all the individual characters need their stories before being Avengers told. The last one to get that treatment is Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America.The movie is mostly enjoyable, but suffers from feeling rushed in a number of places. That’s probably because it was, to a degree. After all, they had to beat the deadline. The performances by the actors are fairly good, with Hugo Weaving stealing the show (which is to be expected). The cinematography is also good, and the overall production, from wardrobe to special effects, are of a high quality. And yet the film feels unfinished and clumsy. This is probably largely due to the fact that the plot is threadbare at best, and the pacing of the picture feels all wrong.If you’re looking forward to the Avengers, you should probably see this film. But the fact is that Captain America: the First Avenger is missable. g

Captain America: The First Avenger

DIRECTOR:Joe Johnston

STARRING:Chris EvansTommy Lee JonesHugo Weaving

FPB Rating: 13 PGV

65Scor



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When one thinks of Cameron Diaz, one thinks of a slightly quirky, nice girl with a cute smile and a nice streak a mile wide. One does not think of a foul mouthed, skanky ne’er-do-well school teacher who will do anything to raise money for her breast enlargement surgery... which she wants done so that she can and a rich husband and stop working altogether. But that’s exactly who she plays in Bad Teacher. Perhaps this is why the film got such a cool reception... people just didn’t expect this kind of role from the Hollywood darling.But she pulls the super-sexy role off with style. She gets to shoe off a sexier side of herself in the film too, in a car wash scene that is likely to achieve comedy legend status.Along with her excellent performance, the off-colour, borderline-adult humour that Bad Teacher serves up is quirky and crass. It’s got more than a few good laughs in it, and while it might offend some, it’s still a great comedy. Just make sure you’re prepared for a very different side of Cameron Diaz before you watch it. g

Bad Teacher

DIRECTOR:Jake Kasdan

STARRING:Cameron DiazJustin TimberlakeJason Segel

FPB Rating: 15LS

82Scor


The wolf pack is back, and this time they take to Thailand as Stu prepares to tie the knot. But, just like in Vegas, a bachelor party goes horribly wrong, and the four of them are left trying to figure out what happened before the whole wedding gets called off.The cast is superb in this film, with special kudos going to Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, who brings a whole new level of comedy with his characteristic ‘inappropriate’ role. The film is full of laughs, particularly if your tastes tend towards off-beat and off-colour humour.This film will certainly not appeal to everyone. Its humour gets rather rough at times, although it manages to never really stoop to cheap vulgarity and toilet gags. Still, it gets pretty heavy here and there, and it is certainly not for the whole family. If you enjoyed the first film, then The Hangover Part II is well worth watching. If not, you should probably best avoid it, because we can understand how some folks might find some scenes extremely offensive. We loved it, though... g

The Hangover Part II

80Scor

e

DIRECTOR:Todd Phillips

STARRING:Bradley CooperEd HelmsZach Galifianakis

FPB Rating: 16LND

DISTRIBUTOR:Nu Metro


Colin Farrell as a drug using sociopath? No problem. Kevin Spacey as a power-crazed megalomaniac? Check. Jennifer Anniston as a near-psychotic nymphomaniac... ok, that’s a bit outside of the general comfort zone, although she does pull it off with a lot of sassy style.But outside of comfort zones is pretty much what Horrible Bosses is about. It’s a pretty hard hitting film for a comedy, and it presents a situation that almost everyone can identify with: three guys who are miserable at their jobs plot to kill their bosses, played by the three actors mentioned above. Other cast members include a very memorable Jamie Fox and Jason Bateman, who is really doing well since his mainstream return.Horrible bosses is off-beat and rather dark, and it certainly won’t appeal to everyone. But it has a witty, intelligent streak to it that is so often missing from comedy these days. The characters are believable while still being over the top, and the dialogue and chemistry between the actors is excellent. It is not your run-of-the-mill comedy, but its slight edginess and black overtones are well worth experiencing. g

Horrible Bosses

DIRECTOR:Seth Gordon

STARRING:Jason BatemanCharlie DayJason Sudeikis

FPB Rating: 16LS

82Scor


In the Scream series, it always went like this: the phone rings and then a mysterious voice asks “what’s your favourite scary movie?” Nothing changes in the fourth instalment of the horror franchise. Sidney Prescott returns to her hometown on a book tour coincidentally on the anniversary of the original murders and, of course, there’s a copycat out to get her.With return appearances from Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette, the new Scream movie feels just like the first 3 but with a little more flair in the stabbing department, better gore (quite realistic too) and the acting is not too bad. The only problem with this film is the cliché mistakes made by the soon to be dead victims. The plot seems too predictable at times but I’m sure you’ll be just as surprised as I was at the end, which I think might lead to another sequel. This film will get you jumpy and bring back some old memories… it’s almost comical at times but this horror-slasher is a decent watch on DVD, preferably on a cold rainy day. g

Scream 4

DIRECTOR:Wes Craven

STARRING:Neve CampbellCourtney CoxDavid Arquette

FPB Rating: 16LV

65Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Ster Kinekor

Collectables


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Twisting and turning...


The Usual Suspects

DIRECTOR:Bryan Singer

STARRING:Kevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneStephen Baldwin

FPB Rating: 18VL

95Scor


COLLECTABLEOF THE MONTH

We mentioned Kevin Space before, so we thought we would take a look back at one of the films that defined his career.The Usual Suspects features a star studded cast, including the likes of Stephen Baldwin, Gariel Byrne, Chazz Palmitieri, Benicio del Toro and, of course, Kevin Spacey. Under the direction of Bryan Singer, it tells the story of a group of criminals who are hired to do a job by a mysterious benefactor. As the story unfolds (told by Spacey’s character to a police officer) it turns out that the man they were hired by is a legendary super criminal wanted the world over. But there is more to what’s going on than he is admitting...Singer manages to weave a complex tapestry of intrigue and betrayal in this film, which will keep the viewer guessing right until the last minute, and then throw out a curveball of a twist that is almost perfectly crafted. The film draws in many classic inspirations and is a modern classic in its own right. Anyone who likes a good thriller with a superbly crafted plot should have this one in a place of honour in their collection. g

A Princess’ Ransom!Ain’t it Peachy?

by Walt Pretorius


A fool and his money, the saying goes, are soon parted. The secret is figuring out how to find that fool, and to figure out how exactly to

part him from the aforementioned cash. That’s the key to instant, overnight success.

One way that seems to work is to dip stuff in gold. Now, it takes a little more effort than just actually dipping stuff into molten gold. That, in the first instance, would probably melt the thing you’re dipping in. Instead, you have to apply some skill... and then grow a pair big enough to put a price tag on that skill that makes the item you’re selling 2435 times more expensive than the undipped model.

Take, as an extremely good example, the Nintendo Wii Supreme, lovingly crafted and price-tagged by Stuart Hughes himself, one of the kings of turning ordinary stuff into gold covered ordinary stuff. If you were to walk into a store in the USA, you would pick up a Wii for around 200 US Dollars. But after Mr Hughes has finished with it, that same Wii will cost you 487 000 US Dollars. That’s quite a price jump.

So, OK, let’s assume you want to buy a Wii. For whatever reason. Why should you look at the Supreme

over the ordinary version? What follows is a list in the specification differences for the actual working of the console: bugger-all. It’s just a normal Wii.

In all fairness, it doesn’t look normal. That’s because it is covered in two-and-a-half kilos of solid gold. You could choke a yak with that much gold. And, to add more to the already heavy bling factor, the buttons are diamond studded, for a total of 78 diamonds added to the mix. And the controllers are gold, too, so there’s even more ostentatiousness to deal with.

This is the kind of thing you buy if you seriously have everything, include five tons of gold around your neck, extensive gold grill work and a recording contract for your back-street rap songs. I mean, seriously have everything, because I can think of about a million better things to spend half a million dollars on than a Wii. I am not knocking the Nintendo console. I am just saying that I can get a fix of Mario Kart on a reasonably priced console just as well as on this one. And I would probably look like a lot less of a pretentious prat.

But if you absolutely feel that this is an essential purchase, please feel free to contact us so that we can point you to a good psychiatrist. Just saying... g

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he is doing is padding the bottom line, and his commission. And the customer will walk away with more PC than he needs, essentially having been ripped off by paying for too much machine.

There is another scenario, which is just as bad. The situation is exactly the same, except that the salesman has just as little clue about what he is selling as the guy who is buying it. The result is generally the same, but this time the customer buys too much computer because the salesman was genuinely trying to put a great machine together for him, by simply selecting the most important components on his product list.

The third scenario is ugly for a different reason. This is when the consumer goes to a mass retailer to purchase

There is a moment in every computer salesman’s life... well, actually, this comes up quite often, really. More than once. So let’s try that again. There is a

moment in every computer salesman’s day that he lives for. He sees the guy as soon as he walks into the store; the slightly nervous bearing and the look of someone who is actually way out of his depth. And the salesman knows that today he will earn his commission, because his victim... er, make that customer, is looking to buy a new computer, without knowing what he needs or why he needs it. And so said salesman will tell the poor, hapless customer that he needs components that just happen to be the most expensive in the store. He will tell the customer that certain items are essential, when in fact all


by Walt Pretorius

PC

Bu

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In the KnowInformed consumers are powerful

a ready-built machine as advertised in a newspaper or magazine. The sales staff know even less than the guy in the previous example, and the low priced machine will barely run an operating system, let alone software and most certainly not games.

These sad situations happen far more often than they should because most consumers don’t know what they need, and are often intimidated by all the jargon. We believe that empowering a consumer is important, and so we have created this new section that will, from the chassis to the keyboard, explain what the components are and what they do. We will even give broad advise on requirements, and tell you how to save costs by putting your PC together yourself. And in this way, not only will

you learn more about your computer as a whole, knowing your RAM from your hard drive, as it were, but you will be able to confidently walk into that computer store and tell the salesman exactly what you want, and why you don’t need to spend as much money as he would like you to on your investment. We like to think of it as doing our bit to protect South African consumers, and help create a healthy computing society.

Next month, we will start at the very beginning... the chassis.

No, it’s not a part of your car. Rather, it will be one of the most important choices you

will make in putting together your PC. Check out the next issue to find out why. g


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