Advantages: Powerful and relatively cheap
Disadvantages: None

...As you are probably aware, there are literally tons of different versions of AutoCAD to choose from. AutoCAD LT97 is purely the version that I’m using at the moment and for your typical tech. drawing office duties, I can’t think of a better package for the price. I have worked with numerous versions myself (starting with release 11) and I have also encountered release 14 and AutoCAD 2000. Both r14 and 2000 supersede 97 but you’ll only really need to use these if you’re pretty involved with 3D/Modelling/MOSS work, either that or you tend to incorporate tons of images within your drawings. If not, then there’s not really a need to bother with either r14 or 2000. To be honest, the sheer cost of either of these alternatives will be enough to put most (smaller) firms off completely (you could probably buy another car). For you folks... Read review

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Advantages: the best product on the market
Disadvantages: poor raster image support

...building a house or even some wort of plan equipment this package will handle what you need. there are newer version of autocad out up to autocad 2006 but with all package when they first come will cost you thousands of pounds and do practically the same thing but just have a few tweaked features. the only downside to this package is when you work with raster images instead of the picture printing out in the quality it is taken you may have to tweak it in the printers settings but this is no problem once you have found te settings. no great lot of power is required to do 2d drawings such as plans howeveer when working on large 3d models i recommend that you have a fairly decent graphics card which will allow you to work alot more smoothly. the help facility in cad is excellent if you are strugglingthe remember how to use a command... Read review

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Advantages: GREAT FOR QUICK ART,MAPS ECT
Disadvantages: DIFFICULT TO USE FIRST TIME

...A couple of years ago, I began using CorelDRAW 3 to create simple property location maps and to incorporate scanned images such as photographs and topograhpic maps onto templates that are used in the reports that I write for work. It was easier to use than AutoCAD and Microstation and the complexity of the diagrams were simple enough that CorelDRAW 3 could handle them. I'm not saying the CorelDRAW 3 could have replaced our CAD (computer aided design) software, but I did use CorelDRAW for simple diagrams that need to be completed fairly quickly. With the purchase of CorelDRAW 9 I can say that I am now comfortable using the software to create more complex diagrams and tend to choose it over AutoCAD LT 98, which we have also recently acquired. The reason for this is that CorelDRAW 9 has incorporated a number of the menu features (such... Read review

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Advantages: Smaller, faster and a LOT more stable
Disadvantages: still not a superstable operating system

...concept of the operating system is based on programmability and not USEABILITY which is the model Bill Gates uses for Windows. However the additional hardware demands and compromises on stability that this requires sets up the Unix machine perfectly for serious computation work like movie effects or mission critical calculation. And in its favour, once a Unix computer is set up on the same PC, apart from a few issues of useability, nothing goes faster or is as reliable. Also The Unix or Linux for PCs is free and downloadable. However u can also purchase a Linux/Unix pack from people who support it completely for 'easy' PC use. Two of the best in my experience are SuSE and Redhat. All in all you can expect to pay 75% less for a good Linux 'package' and u get just about every piece of software in the WORLD included in that. These types... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, Super stable, good for office work/students/multimedia
Disadvantages: Poor 3d performance, DVD playback is average.

...I bought this cpu to upgrade my socket seven board. I bought the board with upgrading to this cpu in mind once it's price fell as newer cpu's came out. I got the cpu for 50 pounds from Jungle.com and it has been the best 50 pounds I have ever spent on my computer. I use the cpu for a variety of tasks, running Win98 is it's main job (I've also used Win95 and 2000 - both were fine), and also MS Office 2000, the internet, watching DVD movies , playing games and graphics work with Autocad and Photoshop. It copes with all of these applications with no real problems, especially the office tasks and internet aswell as the graphics work. It is however let down slightly by performance in 3d games (due to poor floating point performance) such as Quake - but don't let this put you off, it is still perfectly playable and it runs Tiberian Sun... Read review

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Advantages: Big working area, easy to use, compatible with the major graphics packages. It's also great for playing and developing on.
Disadvantages: It's physically big, needs careful planning, and is a specialised device not suitable for everyone

...This is the story of how an unhappy artist was relighted using a Trust model 1200 (A4) Wireless Graphic Tablet. Also 3 examples of artwork using it done by the author. Please see "ARTWORK AND LINKS" below. I often thought about using a Graphic Tablet when doing website images and when messing about in my spare time mainly using 'Photoshop' and 'Paint Shop Pro' (hmmmm I hear you say). Using a mouse everyone will agree is not a natural process when drawing which is what I had to do if I wanted to put it straight into the PC as a digital image or mess with an existing one. I had used a Tablet before during my not-so younger AutoCad days and liked them then. AVAILABILITY: With this in mind I trotted off to the local PC haunts in my locale, first visiting Dixons, "hmm can I get someone for you"? Then PC World, "Oh yes they are very... Read review

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Advantages: cheap, quick, many features
Disadvantages: has no full render capabilities

...Easymodel is a 3D modeling program. It allows you to create 3D scenes and export them to VRML#1 or VRML#2 format, Autocad format povray format and 3D Studio format. With some limitations it also allows you to import files of these types. Easymodel is very flexible in creating 3D objects. You can use pre-difined objects like a box, sphere, piramid, tube and much more. You can create random landscapes as well. To create real complicated 3D objects you can use the modeler. This tool helps you to create complex objects like a human face in very short time. After you have created your 3D scene you can walk through it in the perspective mode. Easymodel is a very cheap 3D modeler, but it has most of the functionality of expensive 3D modelers like autocad or 3D-studio. You can download the shareware version or get information at : http://home.wanadoo.nl/jaap.thesing/easymain.htm... Read review

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Advantages: Great flavour, good for plaque, doesn't lose it's taste
Disadvantages: Contains Aspartame and Phenylalalnine

...The Product Orbit Complete is the latest sugarfree gum from Wrigleys. The spearmint is my favourite flavour. Since I have been trying to give up smoking, gum has been my crutch. Wrigley's Orbit Spearmint Sugarfree Gum has a lovely spearmint flavour that lasts for ages and doesn't go sour after chewing it for a few minutes. Because of the tasty spearmint flavour it also keeps the hunger pangs at bay. It comes in a lovely envelope packet and you get pellets or tabs. I always have the spearmint tabs, they are all neatly packaged in orbit paper and there are 14 in each pack (mega pack). On the packaging thy say Healthy, Clean & Fresh and that's exactly how they feel. The bonus is they have Xylitol (a natural sugar that inhibits the growth of oral bacteria) in them which helps reduce plaque and is great for chewing after meals... Read review

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Advantages: Strong smell and taste/ healthy ingredients
Disadvantages: Loses flavour when damp

...Wrigleys orbit complete Spearmint sugar free gum comes in a bright green carboard box with 14 pieces of gum. The front of the package has a number of titles on it; "Healthy clean and fresh","New 14 tabs","Spearmint sugar free gum","With xylitol","Sugar free","Sweetners and mint flavours". On the back the Ingredients section notes-excessive consumption can produce laxative effects;Nutrition-energy/640kjl(carbohydrate 60g) suitable for vegetarians. Warning keep in a cool, dry place. It is always a good idea to read the package of anything before you use it (especially the bit about laxative effects). I am not a big fan of chewing gum, there are only 1 or 2 brands I would ever use, but Wrigleys has a good reputation and their flavours are usually fresh. I picked this one up in Tesco when I had a voucher to use up at the checkout. I do... Read review

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Advantages: A good tough laptop that will accept a certain amount of negligence.
Disadvantages: Built-in speakers are not the best.

...of the speaker, although I do think the speakers are not that good. I changed over to headphones after a while, as the sound was annoying me and I found that my headphones gave a better sound. The video card will play Windows media files, DVD and handles AutoCAD drawings well. In short, it can display all the standard and non-standard applications on my laptop with no real problems. On the game front I have no idea how this laptop performs, (this is a business computer after all). As it is not really designed for your top end graphic packages I would not expect it to run modern games like 'CoD' or 'Doom 3'. The DVD/CD writer is quick and easy to use. It pings out from the laptop with ease and does not feel like it will snap of easily. The tray doesn't bend or flex when you insert a disc and it neatly slides back into the laptop. DVD's play okay... Read review

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