| Product: |
PC Utilities |
| Date: |
16/09/06 (429 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: 'how to' guides, written in laymans english.
Disadvantages: Poor range of cover disc software. A bit to basic for most users.
PC Utilities is available most of the larger newsagents and book shops on the highstreet.
What it is-----
PC Utilities is a magazine aimed at the beginner or light home user and is a magazine focused on software and hardware that can help speed up, maintain or help you get the most out of your computer.
Inside-----
Like most other magazines there are brief reviews of the latest hardware and software that has just come out. Each review is fairly brief is written in easy to understand english without the use of tech jargon. The reviews are well written and seem to be unbiased to any particualr manufcaturer. Moreover, I have bought stuff that has been recommended by them and have been totally happy with my purchases.
There are 'how to' guides which help those not to familiar with Windows on how to do certain tasks. These vary from issue to issue, and there are accompanying screehshots to help you along the way. The reviews are broad and wide ranging from pc maintanence to getting the most of your pc.
Cover Disc----
There is a cover disc provided and this is packed full of software programs for you to use. Many are freeware and available to download if you search for it on Google, but they do have the occasional full version that would cost money to buy in the shops. That said in my opinion the CD isn't very good as most of the stuff on there is available for free on the net via the programmers website.
My thoughts----
I can't see any reason for people other than beginners buying this magazine. For most regular users its too simple and the articles will be about features that the average user should know about anyway. Its the sort of magazine that you would browse through and buy only if there was a particular artice that was interesting. It not really necessary to get a subscription.
Its a good beginners magazine. Its format does get a bit tiring as it is about utilities. I would recommend a more broad magazine such as Computer Shopper that contains 'how to' guides, has far more reviews and has some interesting columns written by IT techies but in layman's language. You also get more for your money with something like Computer Shopper, page wise and the cover disc often contains better software.
Overall I give the magazine 6/10.
Summary: Suitable for the first time computer user.
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