The December issue (249) of PC Plus is on the newsstands now and this month you’re in for a bigger treat than usual. I’ll chat about some of the exciting features, news stories and reviews in a moment but before I go any further there’s something I need tell you. Issue 249 and all future issues of PC Plus will cost only £4.99 as opposed to the usual £6.49! Don’t worry though – we haven’t sacrificed any quality or content. The issue will be brimming with information and detail about the latest trends in technology, just as it always is. It’ll just be £1.50 cheaper.

If you’re a subscriber to PC Plus don’t think you’ll miss out. We’ll pass the cost saving on to you too. To find out more, see the letter that accompanies November’s issue.

If you’d like to get a sample of the magazine visit www.pcplus.co.uk where you’ll find a link to a free online sampler. Check it out and see more of what’s on offer.

Here’s what you can look forward to in issue December’s issue :-

Vista vs XP

You’ve read all of the hype – Vista is coming and there’s never been anything like it before. It’s will be the greatest operating system ever released. But hang on a minute. Will it really be that good? To find out the truth we pit Vista against XP to see how, where, why and indeed if the new operating system is better than its predecessor. It’s a fascinating and enlightening read with some unlikely findings. See pages 59-65.

Advanced PC building

You probably already know how to build a PC – when you’ve done it once, the next one is pretty straightforward. But are you doing it correctly? Are you building the machine such that all its components run at their maximum potential? In issue 249 we’ll life the lid on how the experts build PCs, the tricks they use and the smart practices they employ. See pages 96-104

Beyond Quad core

We’ve seen Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad is on the way – these are Intel’s next generation chips and will be built from two Core 2 cores which have been fused together to create one chip. But what’s next? How will chip design evolve? What kinds of challenges do engineers face as they charge headlong into sci-fi like computers with teraflops and petaflops level performances? See page 10 and 11 of issue 249.

If you’re a regular reader you’ll know there’ll be a whole lot more in December’s issue of PC Plus so, keep an eye out for the magazine.

Windows XP Service Pack 3

With your FREE DVD, enjoy our exclusive (albeit unofficial!) upgrade to Windows XP. Also enjoy creative web design with NetObjects Fusion 8, fuss-free downloading with WS_FTP Home 9, the amazing image utility Morphbuster 6 and over 100 essential specially selected tools for better computing.

Ian Robson

Editor, PC Plus 

 
PS: Did you know you can have PC Plus delivered right to your door every month and it’ll be 30% cheaper than buying the magazine in the shops? All you need do is buy a subscription which costs just £11.25 a month – to find out more see the coupon on page 118 of issue 249 or visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/ppd/w020