| Product: |
Computeractive |
| Date: |
12/08/00 (22 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: No coverdisk
***
The following review was written in August 2000. I have left the review untouched but have placed an update at the end to cover any changes since the review was written.
***
So you've unpacked your brand new PC and after an hour or two of deciphering the quick set-up guide you've managed to plug in all the cables and get it up and running. It's at this point that you start rummaging around excitedly in the discarded packaging to find the user guide. But a quick look through the first couple of pages and you start to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. It's a slowly dawning realisation that things are not going to be as straightforward as you thought. You need help.
Published fortnightly at a very reasonable price, Computeractive is aimed at the novice. It's been approved by the Plain English Campaign and as such it is a joy to read. Every feature comes complete with its own 'Jargon Buster' guide explaining all the technical terms. The advertisements are kept to a minimum and the layout is straightforward and uncluttered, unlike most of the other titles available.
Each issue contains several workshops, step-by-step tutorials that explain everything from using your desktop to installing new hardware. In addition to these there are reviews of hardware and software, news, education and kids sections and regular Internet articles. There is also a section devoted to solving reader's problems, which I find invaluable.
I am not a beginner myself, in fact I've been using computers for many years now but I still keep buying this magazine. It's a mine of information and while you may well feel the need to progress to more technical titles as you learn more, you will still find something new and useful here each fortnight.
Thanks for reading.
© Nomad 2000
***
Update - August 2005
Aaah, my very first review on Dooyoo. How innocent I was back then. Still I have to say not much has changed for this magazine. It's gone up the princely sum of fifteen english pence to a still very friendly £1.35 per fortnight. Most of the features have remained pretty much untouched although the workshops seem to cover a wider variety of tasks including replacing the processor (not for beginners I hasten to add) through to setting up databases and managing your accounts. Being published fortnightly means the news is usually more up to date than other PC magazines. So still top marks for a very useful magazine.
***
Summary: Good value computer magazine aimed at beginners but also useful to those with more experience.
|
|
