Attention all technophobes (PC Advisor)

Member Name: goosey

Product:	PC Advisor
Date:	19/06/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not too difficult to understand

Disadvantages: Not really a beginners magazine - unless you are a teenager

To think that only a few years ago, I was sinking rapidly into a technophobic state of mind. I was quite happy with my lot - a telly, BT landline, car, and the usual inexpensive trappings of most households - except a computer and mobile phone. "What," I asked, "would I need a mobile phone for, or a computer?" and usually had an answer for all the arguments put to me for considering giving both a try - especially a computer

My nephew was a computer buff who enjoys reconditioning or upgrading second hand computers. One day he arrived at my home, carrying a huge monitor, and was closely followed by his son, struggling under the weight of the PC, and who in turn was followed by his mum carrying the bits and bobs to set it all up.
He had reconditioned an old kit and brought it for me to '"Play with," as he put it.

I'm not sure whether I was pleased or horrified. Terrified perhaps.

Having been reassured that it was "idiot-proof," - me to a Tee - I thought. I set about 'playing' but was adamantly determined that I was NOT going to join "That Internet!!" I must have sounded like my old granny did when being persuaded to swap her ancient mangle for a spin-dryer.
It was another couple of years before I relented and began tentatively , exploring that new world of www-dot-coms and emails.


My confidence in new technology was begining to grow, yet I knew there was a tremendous amount still to be learned before I could contemplate claiming anything near computer literacy.

This is where PC advisor came in to my life.

I was browsing, one day, along a large rack of computer magazines in WH Smiths; there were so many to chose from that I just picked up the one I thought might help me. A random selection if truth were told. I certainly needed advice. An advisor gives advice. Hence my choice, the brain was already beginning to use the logical approach - a promising sign.

I took it home and began reading. At first it was all gobbledy-gook to me, but after a few phone calls to my nephew and others in the know . I began to get to grips with all those new words and abreviations.

PC Advisor is not really the book-for-begginers. However, now, a few years on, I can thoroughly recommend it.

It is packed with comparisons between PCs, Laptops and other computing gadgets, as well as digital cameras and mobile phones. They test each model then grade them according to price, style, ease of use, build, looks, efficiency etc. and also give recommendations, based on the findings of their group testing procedures. A bit like 'Which' magazine in that respect

There is also a section on different, and unusual or new websites and programs - some of which are free to download.

A question and answer section deals with problems experienced by the more experienced computer users. Most of which, are still over the top of my head as yet!! Although I have found one or two that I could understand and that have helped me.

Often each magazine comes with one or two free CDs.

Despite all the complicated jargon that accompanies computing, I found this magazine, easy to read and eventually, less difficult to understand. I did like the fact that when using abreviations - like USB or url, they would print and bracket each word, that the letters stood for -which made it feel less like I was learning a new language and didn't leave me feeling so ignorant.

Each monthly issue costs £4.99, but do offer a years subscription at a much reduced cost.

I am still learning, and not quite so scared of new gadgets and technology as I was, thanks to my nephew and PC Advisor. No doubt, the other PC magazines would have been just as helpful, but it was this one that beat them to it.

Summary: It helps me keep in touch with todays technology