Internet Connection Troubleshooting

Having problems with your internet connection? Let us help you with some handy troubleshooting tips

When our internet connections evolved from clunky dial up connections to ADSL and fibre optic cable we not only got far greater speeds and data limits, but also much improved reliability. Internet connections no longer suffer from the same level of unpredictability dial up connections once had, and for the most part we can relax in our fully connected homes, able to socialise, play games and stream movies. It’s great, but it’s not perfect.

What Will Facebook’s New Reactions Mean For Online Interactions?

Sarah Dobbs looks into Facebook’s new ‘Reactions’

It’s hard to remember what online communication was like before the ‘Like’ button. Added to Facebook statuses back in 2009, that little thumbs-up icon has become a handy crutch for online interactions. While it’s obviously meant to convey approval – you’re meant to click it when you actually like something your friend has posted, whether that’s a flattering new selfie or a link to an article they think everyone should read – in practice, it’s grown to encompass more degrees of meaning than that.

A New Star In The Sinclair Sky

Stuart Williams talks to the managing director of Retro Computers Ltd about Sinclair, the ZX Spectrum Vega and Sir Clive himself

Retro Computers Limited is a British start-up company established in 2014 in Luton. The company’s first two products, both crowdfunded on Indiegogo, are the Sinclair  ZX Spectrum Vega and the recently announced Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+.

Both devices are low-cost (around £99), microcontrollerbased handheld games consoles, which use modern technology and software to ensure compatibility with the classic Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k (launched 1982) and 128k home computers, which made the Sinclair name during the British home computing revolution. They also pack in 1,000 Spectrum games!

Microsoft Surface Alternatives

We take a look at some alternatives to Microsoft’s flexible mobile device

The humble laptop has come a long way since the bulky blocks with tiny screens we once called portable. Once weighing almost as much as a flatscreen monitor, laptops now come in much more streamlined form, with ultra-thin and compact versions making the portable form factor indispensable for many.

Eventually, technology evolved even more and we were graced with the arrival of the PDA, which in turn heralded the tablet and modern smartphone. These touchscreen devices opened up a whole new world of possibilities, with input being freed from the standard keyboard and mouse/touchpad. Touchscreens allowed greater ease of use, not to mention a whole heap of new application types.

Choosing The Right Processor

The world of CPUs is bewildering, so let us help you make sense of it

When building a new system or upgrading an existing one, it’s easy to just opt for the most powerful processor you can afford, but is that the best decision?

Spending £350 on an Intel Core i7-5820K may well let you play the latest games, fly through video and image editing and look nice on the benchmark league table, but it’s overkill if you’re only ever going to use your computer for basic web browsing.