• Tag Archives Windows

  • PC Zone (February 2000)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC Zone – Issue Number 86 – February 2000


    PC Zone was the first IBM PC compatible gaming magazine published in the U.K. It was published from April 1993 until September 2010. The February 2000 issue includes:

    2000 and Beyond

    • Previews – A massive preview section that covers 200 games being released over the following year or so. Some highlights include Team Fortress 2, Duke Nukem Forever, X-Com Alliance, Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, Tribes 2, Thief 2: The Metal Age, Warcraft III, The Sims, Shogun: Total War, Star Wars: Force Commander, Alone in the Dark 4, Deus Ex, C&C: Renegade, Halo, MDK 2, Max Payne, Carmageddon: The Death Race 2000, Diablo II, Baldur’s Gate 2, Icewind Dale, Final Fantasy VIII, Neverwinter Nights, Arcanum, Black & White, Gunship III, Crimson Skies, Comanche 4, and much more.

    Reviews

    • Quake III Arena – The Quake franchise was still going strong at this point with the Quake series essentially being the successor to the Doom series. Arena required a Pentium 233 MMX, 64 MB RAM and an 8 MB 3D card. A Pentium II 350 was recommended.
    • Le Mans 24 Hours – A racing sim for Le Mans. The good news is that you don’t actually play for 24 hours. Minimum requirements include a Pentium 233 MMX, 32 MB RAM and 4 MB 3D card. A Pentium II 450 and 12 MB 3D card are recommended.
    • Planescape: Torment – Another D&D game based on an improved version of the Baldur’s Gate engine. I loved Baldur’s Gate but never played this one. Minimum requirements include a Pentium 200 MMX, 32 MB RAM, 4 MB video card, and 650 MB hard disk space. A Pentium II 300, 64 MB RAM and 2 GB hard disk space were recommended.
    • Interstate ’82 – A sequel to Interstate ’76, this vehicular combat game set int he early 80s sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as well executed as it should have been. Not a terrible game but Interstate ’76 is arguably better. This one seems like more of a step back. Minimum requirements include a Pentium 233 MMX, 32 MB RAM, 400 MB hard disk space and a Direct3D 3D accelerator.
    • Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom – This World War II shooter is a game full of bugs but still fun to play. Minimum requirements include Pentium 166, 16 MB RAM, and 4 MB 3D card. A Pentium 233 MMX and 32 MB RAM is recommended.
    • PC Zone Game of the Millennium – The editor’s choose the best game of all time (so far…at the time). Their top ten in order include:
      1. Half-Life
      2. System Shock 2
      3. Hidden & Dangerous
      4. Unreal Tournament
      5. Championship Manager 3
      6. Civilization II: Test of Time
      7. Final Fantasy VII
      8. Homeworld
      9. Tiberian Sun
      10. Dungeon Keeper II

    Regulars

    • PCZ Top 100 – The 100 best games currently available separated into categories. Some highlights include Half-Life (best first person shooter), Age of Empires II (best strategy game), System Shock 2 (best RPG…though I never really thought of this game in that category), Grim Fandago (best action/adventure), Colin McRae Rally (best racing game), Falcon 4 (best simulation), FIFA 2000 (best sports game), X – Beyond the Frontier (best space combat…though my favorite is the X-Wing series), CM 99/2000 (best management game…an odd category), Ultima Online (best online game), Hidden & Dangerous (best 3D action/strategy), and many more.
    • On the CD – Contents of this months cover CD include demos or shareware versions of Quake III: Arena, SWAT 3, Star Trek: Hidden Evil, Urban Chaos, Delta Force 2, Supreme Snowboarding, The Longest Journey, and FIFA 2000 as well as various patches and more editorial content.

    Features

    • The Shape of Things to Come – A tongue-in-cheek vision of the future of gaming including full price bug-fix patches, polygon counts beyond calculation, sexual activity simulator, and more.
    • Online 2000 – The upcoming revolution of broadband internet connections and how it will affect gaming. I remember switching from dial-up to a cable modem in 1998.
    • Great Expectations – Readers answer questions like “Which game would you most like to see a sequel to?” and “What will the games of the future look like?” among other questions about the future of gaming.
    • The Future of 3D Gaming – A preview of upcoming 3D graphics cards and the features they will have including Matrox’s G400 MAX, S3’s Savage2000+, 3DFX’s VSA-100, nVidia’s GeForce 256, ATI’s Rage Fury MAXX plus hardware support for upcoming technologies like DirectX 7 and OpenGL.
    • The Future According To… – Various developers talk about their expectations for the future of games on the PC.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana DOS Retro Games 📎and tagged

  • PC World (December 2009)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – December 2009

    PC World was one of the longest running and most popular PC magazines in the world. The first issue was published in March 1983 and the final issue as the relatively recent August 2013 issue. A 30 year span is a long time for a computer magazine. This issue is from 2009 and while that hardly seems “retro”, it’s still coming up on 12 years ago. Twelve years was almost the entire life span of the Commodore 64. This issue includes:

    Features

    • PC World 100: The Best Products of the Year – A lot of outstanding hardware, software, and services passed before our eyes this year. Here are the very best ones – the products we most wanted to keep after testing and reviewing them.
    • The TV You Want Today – HDTV features continue to evolve rapidly, in areas that range from motion-smoothing technologies to 3D. we look at the changes and rank the best 40- and 47-inch sets.
    • Sneaky Fees – Slipped into phone bills, tacked on to triple-play packages, or added to financial transactions, hidden fees are everywhere. Read how to identify and avoid them.

    Departments

    • Techlog
    • PCW Forum
    • The Back Page

    Forward

    • Wireless Wars – As carriers and the FCC tussle, users are caught in the middle.
    • Beta Watch
    • GeekTech

    Consumer Watch

    • Avoid Wireless Gouging – Minimize your phone service fees by scrutinizing five crucial areas.
    • Skeptical Shopper
    • On Your side

    Business Center

    • Build a Social Network – Ning makes customization easy.
    • Net Work
    • Tech Audit

    Security Alert

    • Phishers Dangle New Bait – Information thieves devise new ways to steal your personal data.
    • Bugs and Fixes
    • Privacy Watch

    Reviews and Ranking

    • E-Book Readers – A stack of better-quality readers vie for shelf (and luggage) space.
    • Top 10 Cell Phones
    • Digital Photo Frames
    • Top 10 Multifunction Printers
    • iPod Nano, Zune HD
    • Top 10 External Hard Drives
    • HP TouchSmart 600
    • Download This

    Here’s How

    • Privacy on Social Networks – Rules for protecting your personal data on Facebook and Twitter.
    • Answer Line
    • Rick Broida’s Hassle-Free PC

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • PC World (April 2006)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – April 1996

    It can be argued whether or not Windows XP era machines are “vintage” or not but these days it certainly feels like print magazines are. The last issue of PC World was published nearly 8 years ago. The April 2006 issue includes:

    Cover Story

    • Windows Hacks – With just a few simple tweaks to Windows XP’s Registry, you can tailor the OS to your taste. We show you how and suggest a few utilities that make the job even easier. And if you’re eager to jump from XP to the upcoming Vista, don’t miss our in-depth preview of its revamped design and enhanced security features.

    Features

    • Get More Out of Your Wireless Network – Suddenly, it seems, a multitude of gadgets have added wireless capability to their repertoire. Whether for making phone calls, sharing files, or streaming music and video, here are some of the best on the market.
    • Battery Boosters – Every gadget you own lives or dies by its batteries. We tell you how to wring every bit of life out of them, which tyeps last longest, and what new technologies are on the horizon.
    • Projectors for Everyone – High-resolution, multipurpose projectors that can handle both business presentations and home entertainment? They’re here, at prices as low as $899. We evaluate 16 and rank the 10 best.

    Reviews & Rankings

    • Power Desktop PCs – AMD FX-60-based units from ABS, CyberPower, and Polywell
    • Top 5 Power Desktops
    • high-Resolution HDTVs – Sets from HP, JVC, and Mitsubishi
    • Satellite Radio – Sirius Satellite Radio
    • Desktop Computer – Apple iMac G5
    • Graphics Software – CorelDraw Graphics Suite X3
    • Top 5 Laser Printers
    • Digital Camera – Nikon D200
    • Finanical Software – Sage Software Simply Accounting Basic 13
    • Top 5 Value Graphics Boards
    • Notebook PC – HP Pavilion dv5000z
    • Hard Drive – Western Digital Raptor X
    • Top 5 Speakers
    • Scanner – Microtek ScanMaker i800
    • More Reviews

    Departments

    • Up Front – Has television over the Internet finally arrived?
    • Letters – Excessive copy controls are cause for concern.
    • Consumer Watch – What to look for in a Web site hosting service. Plus: How much does Google know about you?
    • Hassle-Free PC – Get rid of the junk cluttering up your system tray.
    • Gadget Freak – Blu-ray vs. HD DVD: The battle has just begun.
    • Bugs and Fixes – Windows risk: booby-trapped fonts on Web sites.
    • Full Disclosure – Unwanted bundled apps are the new spam.

    News & Trends

    • Spam Mutates – Filters may hold junk e-mail at bay, but spam is now invading blogs, IM, and cell phones.
    • Microsoft Offers New Web Apps – Windows Live and Office Live – still in beta – bring software and services over the Internet.
    • Internet Explorer 7: New Security, Navigation – The preview of Beta 2 offers some cool features long available in Firefox and Opera.
    • Patent Overload Hampers Tech Innovation – A huge applications backlog is swamping the U.S. Patent Office, and disputes jam the courts.
    • Plugged In – Google, Amazon move into online video; waiting for superfast wireless; a new type of high-def TV.

    Here’s How

    • Internet Tips – Control cookies to preserve your online privacy.
    • Answer Line – Notebook security – at home and on the road.
    • Windows Tips – Annotate a large group of files in one fell swoop.
    • Hardware Tips – Choose the right PC storage upgrades for you.
    • Power-Saving Tips – Save dollars by reducing your PC’s energy costs.

    Resources

    • How to Contact PC World
    • PC World Marketplace
    • Advertiser Index

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged