Why 802.11n is a hard act to swallow

Tech Guide Current wireless data transmission techniques are coming up against fundamental physical limits. We explain why, and show how the upcoming 802.11n Wi-Fi standard fits into the overall picture.

Benchmarks: the unofficial eight-core Mac Pro

Tech Guide Unless you normally work on high-end workstations, perform massively multitasking workloads or just want the bragging rights, eight cores is definitely overkill -- at least for now.

A half-century of hard drives

Tech Guide The hard disk drive, invented by IBM 50 years ago, underpins modern computing and will continue to do so for a while yet. But how did today's data storage technology evolve, and what does the future hold?

Inside a notebook battery pack

Tech Guide Ever wondered what exactly is inside your notebook's battery pack? We take the cover off a typical example, and explain how it can, occasionally, burst into flames.

Inside Intel's Core architecture

Tech Guide Intel's Core architecture now underlies mobile, desktop and server chips, and is a major departure from the Pentium 4's NetBurst design.

A guide to VoIP telephony

Tech Guide What is VoIP, how much does it cost, how does it work and what are the alternatives? Our Tech Guide provides the answers.

Dual-core AMD Turion: slow out of the gate

Tech Guide Preliminary benchmark results for AMD's new dual-core mobile processor suggest that Intel has little to fear.

Intel Core 2 Duo preview benchmarks: a different approach

Tech Guide How does Intel's new Core 2 Duo E6700 processor cope with multitasking? We have some preliminary test results.

Inside Intel's Napa platform

Tech Guide Intel's latest mobile platform, now officially christened Centrino Duo, introduces the Core Duo (Yonah) chip with dual CPU cores. This and other developments should deliver useful -- if not revolutionary -- increases in notebook performance and battery life.

Tablet PC productivity tips

Tech Guide Pen-based computing can be highly productive -- especially if you follow our expert advice.

Dual core shoot-out: Intel versus AMD

Tech Guide AMD's Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is an affordable entry-level dual core processor. But how does it match up to Intel's equivalent Pentium D? We have the benchmarks.

Give public biometrics the finger

Tech Guide Like it or not, fingerprint scanners are becoming ever more widespread. Are they more secure? No.

Proceed with care

Tech Guide When your computer breaks down, think first before you try to fix it.

Managing a two-computer installation

Tech Guide What's the best way of keeping two computers -- a home PC and a work notebook -- synchronised? Here's one solution.

AMD's dual-core CPUs come out fighting

Tech Guide How does AMD's new dual-core Athlon 64 X2 processor stack up against Intel's Pentium Extreme Edition 840? We have some preliminary – and dramatic – benchmarks.