How-to Basics Choosing Free Anti-virus Software

Need protection for your PC but don't want to spend anything? Read on...

Unfortunately, we live in a world where it's nearly impossible to connect to other computers and visit websites without picking up nasties that can affect our own computer.

It doesn't matter if you're using Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android or any other modern operating system; you can guarantee that some little oik out there has developed a bit of code that will vandalise your setup and create untold havoc.

Thankfully, we have anti-virus programs to help combat and prevent such nasties from entering our system, or if they do, they can quickly be quarantined and dealt with. Many of these programs cost a few pounds, and if you're on a tight budget you could be left unprotected. However, there are many that are free to use and are just as good at protecting you as their paid-for relations. The problem, though, is knowing which one to choose.

Laptop batteries explained

They're essential to any laptop, and often a hot topic.

If there's one thing most laptop owners will agree on, it's that they'd all like a better battery. Poor battery life is the number one frustration laptop users have to deal with, and no matter how careful you are, the battery life gets worse and worse the more you use a laptop. Eventually, they fail to hold a charge entirely, meaning you have to shell out for a replacement - no small expense, especially when you haven't done anything with the battery that it wasn't designed for.

But why is that? And why, when processors, memory, hard drives and screens get better and better every year, does it seem like battery technology is standing still? We've looked into it, and while we may not be able to improve laptop batteries for you, at least we can explain them.

SteelSeries DeX Gaming Mousepad

Mark luxuriates in silicon and textured fabric combo of the SteelSeries DeX.

In my daily work I use an old SteelSeries mouse pad, one of its older S&S designs. Made from a very durable hard plastic, it adheres to my desk with a soft rubberised coating that stops it moving around.

Unfortunately, being at least seven years old, the rubber coating has started to shed like the tire of an F1 car that's done far too many laps.

With perfect timing, SteelSeries sent me its new DeX pad, and what a wonderful replacement it is. The DeX, as you can see in the images, is made from two distinctively different materials that are heat bonded into a single flexible pad. On the underside is a brightly coloured orange silicon surface that has sufficient tack to maintain zero slippage, however aggressively you move your mouse.

Edifier Studio 980T Speakers

Аlthough not an essential addition to a PC system, a set of speakers certainly provides another form of entertainment, particularly if you use your PC for more than word processing. The fact is that PCs and computer devices in general do far more these days than they were originally conceived for, everything from video editing to running a full DJ studio. Or perhaps to simply play a few games to provide an escape after a long day poring over figures in an office.

Should you buy a tablet or laptop?

We look at how to choose the right portable computing solution for your needs.

Although tablets and laptops are very different classes of devices, they also have a huge amount in common. They’re both fairly casual devices compared to a full-size desktop system, so you don't have to spend a lot of time maintaining them. They're both quite cheap, so you don't have to spend a lot of money on them. And they're portable, so you can take them anywhere you like whether that's on holiday or simply into the next room.

But that's where the similarities end. Although they're often mentioned in the same breath, there are as many differences as similarities. At some point, you have to decide whether you actually want a tablet or a laptop. To try to help you do that, we've taken a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of each class of device so you can decide which makes sense for you.