Take command of your entertainment systems this month, as we take you through the choices and complexity of creating the ultimate multimedia system. Our main feature sets the scene, with the technology and software that you need to assemble the equipment, and the sites where you can start to get content. In Hands On, we continue the theme with the more advanced tricks and tips for networking your TV and making your own PVR using Linux and a copy of MythTV.

Also in Features this month, we create a second life in Second Life, investigating the current shape of virtual worlds and explaining how to set in as a builder, instead of a mere tourist. In the Labs, memory goes on trial, as we examine all the principle families in search of the fastest, brightest, and best chips on the market. And to see what people are doing with the increased power of modern systems, you won’t want to miss our artificial feature, finding out how faking brainpower is revolutionising computing.

Reviews this month include the Alienware Sentia m3400, Dell Inspiron 9400, the latest Mac Mini and MacBook Pro, Corel Painter IX.5, Seapine Surround SCM 4.1, and the Evesham Axis Dominator 79GTX. And in a graphics shootout, ATi again goes up against Nvidia with their latest motherboard technologies.

Back in Hands On, as well as entertainment systems, we have a full Web 2.0 pick ‘n’ mix, plus a guide to our lead SuperDisc product, Serif PagePlus 8, and our regular columns on Office, Mac, Linux, Web development, C#, Delphi and more.

Plus! This month we add a whole new section: After Hours. Here’s where we take a brief look at the month in entertainment, from the latest games worth your attention, to the groups, projects, and software worth kicking back with after a long day in the office. Reviewed this month are the excellent sci-fi strategy of Galactic Civilisations II and mental-mystery Psychonauts, and a look at how pen and paper has put down its dice in favour of graphics cards and random number generators.

PLUS! Read the brand new PC Plus blog: http://blog.pcplus.co.uk

PC Plus 242 is available now at all good newsagents.