COMPUTER OFF? STILL COSTING YOU MONEY.

Advantages: Saving you money, being green and a warm smug feeling
Disadvantages: Only initially when trying to find your wall socket

...IS YOUR COMPUTER ACTUALLY COSTING YOU MONEY TO RUN EVEN WHEN IT IS SWITCHED OFF? I seem to be running a general theme recently on my recent reviews - basically money saving and energy saving, so I thought I would continue with this theme for this review, as in times of money being hard to save or earn, every penny saved is valuable. IS YOUR LIVING ROOM FULL OF LITTLE LIGHTS? A large proportion of homes these days have computers, and a lot of these computers have items attached to them such as monitors, broadband modems, printers, speakers, scanners and / or sub woofers. Most people, when not using their computers, switch them off, but do they actually switch off the items attached to it (the technical term for these add ons is 'peripherals')? Little tell tell signs give it away - all those little green, blue, amber lights...

JAVER1967 16.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of OneClick Desktop Computer Intelliplug DSK105 - automatic power switch

Terrible experience with Desktop Option

Advantages: website OK, pre-sale OK
Disadvantages: Completely ignore their customers enquiries despite calling / emailing , After-sale abysmal

...Very poor experience from the off and continued poor customer service Initial contact was OK. Made an online order and was advised by e-mail of delivery delays due to high volumes etc. so was expecting arrival a few days later than advertised. On chasing was eventually given a delivery date which failed to happen. PC was eventually supplied very late (over a month to deliver) and money was taken from my account at time of order not delivery. Subsequent delivery timing meant I had to collect from the courier myself. PC was initially supplied with spec not as ordered. Downgraded on processor (notified as out of stock), memory, motherboard and different optical drive to that specified. Collected and returned to base for remedy. Returned with mods but memory still wrong. Returned memory for swap-out. Then notified as out...

shoppershopper 20.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Desktop Option

Do not buy from Desktop Option

Advantages: Attractive range of Media PCs
Disadvantages: Appalling customer service, don't keep their promises nor refund where due

...Like many Ciao users, I read the positive feedback here and thought that this was genuinely a decent business to buy a customised media PC from. Their website was knowledgeable with sensible terms and conditions and a 3-year warranty. I also used their online chat service and got comprehensive answers. So far so good. I placed an order in mid August (and was told 7-10 days for delivery). After multiple chase calls and emails, I received it mid-October. Their staff turnover seemed horrific as you'd speak to someone on one day and they'd no longer be working there the week after. After only a few days, it had to go back as it had stopped working. I tried all they suggested and it was dead. To their credit they arranged to pick it up and returned it (after the inevitable chase) 10 days later and it has worked ok since then. However...

debbybebby 16.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Desktop Option

More than the Desktop PC

Advantages: Every feature is special
Disadvantages: nothing

...Lenovo Thinkstation S10 ************************' Basic Words Have you decided to think like computer? Ohh no computer can't think as fast as our mind can. So it is not a wise decision to compare computers with our mind because the human mind is always more than super computer. We can take a help with computing machine to support our brain exercise to resolve complex matters in daily life. *** So Lenovo has a good companion of your thinking process and here is a latest product with Lenovo Thinkstation S10 6483. This model is available in different configuration like RAM upgradation and processing speed. I am going to discuss my experience and opinion about this product with 3 GHz processor and 2 GB RAM. *** The secrets Speed First of all we have to take a look on processing speed and it is only possible with good...

gemsarchitect 26.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lenovo ThinkStation S10

A Good Family Desktop Computer?

Advantages: Good Family Desktop Computer
Disadvantages: Sometimes quite slow, Rather old machine

...The Dell Dimension 5100 is a great family desktop computer, in fact I am using it right now. Mine did not come with the DVD-ROM so it lacks to play the new games so I pay to download them but I?m sure newer versions of the dell 5100 have it in. It comes with SMC/xD, MS/MS PRO, CF 1/11 and SD/MMC card slots. Two Usb ports at the front and five at the back. Mine took a bit of a while but I managed to get it to burn onto dvd-rw disks. It lives up to expectations and it?s designed for a family computer and not just for gaming. My graphics card isn't the best but since it?s not made for gaming so that?s acceptable. I use lots of software on it, manly 3d design software and gaming software and it still works well. If you?re planning on purchasing one I would not advise you to rely on the windows firewall to stop viruses. I suppose...

swimmer115 19.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dell Dimension 5100

My review & experience so far with Desktop Option Ltd.

Advantages: Price - workmanship
Disadvantages: None so far

...My review & experience so far with Desktop Option Ltd. I've had this awesome speedy PC from the webiste of www.desktopoption.com for some months now I cannot fault it. It's quiet ,well built and it makes me realise how slow and outdated my previous PC was. As for Desktop Option they cannot be faulted. I was kept informed all of the time throughout the build process of progress.The machine arrived when it was supposed to in excellent packaging with everything one could want for getting it up and running. I had a small problem (the fan on the PSU developed an irritating noise) no problem I could send it back or as in my case as it was an easy job to change it myself they sent me a new one with a pre-paid package to send the faulty one back all in two days ! To sum up in my opinion they do the job and even when received and paid for you...

DELETE_ 10.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Desktop Option

Desktop Option are the worst company on earth!!!!

Advantages: none
Disadvantages: Mr T Muir - his attitude is diabolical .

...Having read numerous bad posts and having dealt with them myself and wishing to all deities that I hadn't I ask Mr Muir to explain why he thinks it appropriate to respond to polite and legitimate emails with profanity? Mr Editor this can be evidenced in case you want to see it. My story is shocking - spent a small fortune on a state of the art pc (well supposed to be) never worked from the minute I got it, despite going back twice and Mr Muir begging me to remove my legitimate opinions I am still with a PC that I cannot get to work. In fairness after the last return a few months back personal circumstances overtook me (twin children born), however the adaptor that was in the box when I returned it was not when I cut through the tape on the box last week. Mr Muir's WRITTEN response - "We don?t have any spares in stock. I?m surprised...

yewingisback 20.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Desktop Option

Lacie Desktop Hard Disk 320 GB

Advantages: Does what it says on the tin.
Disadvantages: Disadvantages?!

...During my final year of uni, this little gem turned out to be a Godsend. Doing a course which required a lot of camera work, I needed somewhere to store all the raw footage, which anyone who's ever worked with footage from a high quality video camera knows, takes up a hell of a lot of space. So I needed somewhere to keep it locked away safely to take around from uni computer to uni computer. My weapon of choice for an external hard drive was the Lacie Desktop Hard Disk 320 GB. Having brought it online for just under £50, that instantly stuck me as a bargain. Purchased approximately 18 months ago, that was a steal. Naturally, with the passing of time and the increasing availability of external hard drives, the price of this items has began to fall, as is the case with all types of technology. Once plugged in and inserted into a USB...

carl.mcqueen 28.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of LaCie Desktop Hard Disk 320 GB

ASUS EEE PC 701 - Small but perfectly formed

Advantages: Size, Ease of Use
Disadvantages: Small keyboard, small screen

...This review looks at one of many netbooks to be released in the UK over the past few months, ASUS's EEE PC 701 SD. The model I have is fitted with Windows XP and has an 8Gb hard drive. I bought it on special offer for £155. Appearance The 701SD is absolutely tiny. It weighs around a kilogram and is roughly the same size as a hardback reading book when in the closed position. It comes in a neat box along with instructions,a mains charger, a protective case and a system CD. It has a 7 inch screen which is absolutely tiny but is still perfectly functional. The unit has three USB sockets, headphone and microphone jacks, and SD memory card slot, a small webcam above the screen and a microphone positioned just underneath the keyboard. It has a small touchpad which is small but works in exactly yhte same way as a normal sized laptop...

Future77 27.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Asus Eee PC 701

Seagate FreeAgent Desktop 500GB

Advantages: cheap - all that it is
Disadvantages: poor structure, prone to overheating, not reliable

...Out shopping for a new external hard drive the Seagate FreeAgent Desktop caught my eye. It looked appealing with a massive 500GBs and 5 year limited warrenty as standard. I thought it was great value for money. The dimensions are (WxDxH) 4 cm x 16.2 cm x 19 cm and it is 0.9kg in weight. This product is black in colour with a yellow strip of light which is constantly on, though it isn't too bright so i had no problems there. It's Interface Type is Hi-Speed USB and has a Data Transfer Rate of 480 Mbps. Also has a Spindle Speed of 7200 rpm. These are also compatible with the following - OS Required Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Apple MacOS X 10.3.9 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista, Apple MacOS X 10.4.6 or later This all sounded promising. After getting home...

vikki-adam 05.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of FreeAgent Desktop 500 GB