Superguide: Printers -- all you need to know

Canon Pixma MX330

The Canon Pixma MX330 doesn't produce the best quality prints, but you won't find a more versatile printer in the sub-$200 category. An auto-document feeder, 1.8-inch LCD screen, and easy-to-use features make it an excellent choice for creative homes on a budget.

Canon Pixma MP980

The Canon Pixma MP980 multifunction printer, copier, and scanner is a step up from its predecessor, but the print quality isn't up to standard and it doesn't perform as quickly as the competition.

HP Officejet Pro L7590

While it may seem like an ideal office multifunction printer on specs alone, the L7590 has its fair share of problems. Variable print quality and its sheer size do a lot to offset the speed and versatility to be found within.

Samsung CLP-315W

The Samsung CLP-315W is a fancy looking wireless laser printer with a clean design and small footprint, but the output quality is unacceptable and the blisteringly slow speeds will have you searching for other options.

Dell 2135cn Colour Laser MFP

The 2135cn from Dell is a colour laser MFP with network support. While the 2135cn is a mixed bag in terms of quality and performance, it comes at a reasonable price.

Canon Pixma iP100 Inkjet Printer

It isn't cheap compared to standard printers, but the Canon Pixma iP100 has the highest resolution available in the mobile printer market and prints at an impressive speed to boot. If you simply must have a printer with you at all times, the iP100 should be the do-it-all at your side.

Samsung CLX-6210FX

The Samsung CLX-6210 Colour Laser MFD offers great feature set at a very reasonable price, but duplex printing is slow.

Lexmark X4875

It's a step back in the style stakes, but there's still plenty to like about Lexmark's latest small office wireless printer.

Canon Pixma MX850

The Canon Pixma MX850 is a small, versatile multifunction printer suited to a small office looking for a cheap, do-it-all machine. It offers a broad range of features and reasonable document print quality, but don't expect top quality colour prints.

Brother HL-2170W

The Brother HL-2170W laser printer can be the perfect money saving sidekick to your existing inkjet, but don't expect it to handle even the most minor graphic jobs.

HP Colour LaserJet CM1017

The HP Colour LaserJet CM1017 MFP is a great choice for small offices that need a multifunction laser with excellent print quality.

Canon Laser Shot LBP5360

The LBP5360 colour laser is the latest printer from Canon. Recently machines from the company have produced good quality output, but we have found them somewhat lacking when it comes to ease of installation.

Brother MFC-685cw

The Brother MFC-685CW inkjet multifunction printer offers tons of great features at the expense of print speed and quality. If speed and quality are your priorities, look elsewhere.

Samsung ML-2571N

The Samsung ML-2571N mono laser printer has the right combination of price and features for a home office user with basic printing needs.

Lexmark launches SMB printer

Printer manufacturer Lexmark has unveiled an all-in-one offering aimed at the small- to medium-size business market.

IBM sells printer division to Ricoh

IBM is transferring its Printing Systems Division to Japanese electronics company Ricoh as part of a joint-venture agreement, the companies announced Thursday.

Canon Pixma MP460

The Canon Pixma MP460 is a minor update to the MP450. We still like its print quality but were disappointed by its scans. Still, it's one of our top choices for a photo-centric budget all-in-one.

Lexmark X3550

On the surface, the X3550 appears to be a budget workhorse of a printer with the enticing option of wireless connectivity. It's a pity then, that the wireless is so expensive to include, and the printer itself so slow.

HP PSC 2355 all-in-one printer

The HP PSC 2355 all-in-one provides convenient printing and scanning tools for photo hobbyists.

Lexmark Z735

This printer should sit comfortably in your home, just don't expect it to churn out award-winning pictures.

Tech guide: When printers ain't printers

Choosing the right photo printer can mean the difference between crystal clear prints or smudged impressions. Our tech guide lets you know what to look for in a photo printer.

Canon Pixma iP5000

A relatively fast, versatile printer with excellent text and graphics quality.

HP Photosmart 3310 All-in-One

This wireless all-in-one prints photos at a blinding pace.

Lexmark X7170

The Lexmark X7170 prints great colour photos, but bad text prints and the lack of media-card slots might frustrate users.

Canon i475D Photo Printer

The Canon i475D is small-scale photo printer with some nice features for amateur digital photographers, but the i860 is a better deal.

Do-it-all office inkjets

Laser printers are the office workhorse, but only ink-based multifunctions can juggle spreadsheets for work and print pictures for play.

Tech Guide: Which Printer?

If you're pondering a printer purchase, but are befuddled by the bevy of options, then you need our comprehensive guide to printer types, technologies and costings.

HP Photosmart 2710

This great all-in-one costs more than most but delivers on speed, print quality, and features.

Dell Personal All-In-One A940 Printer

What kind of AIO printer do you get for under AU$200? ZDNet Australia investigates Dell's low-cost printer offering.

Dell steps onto printer stage, but will Aussies miss out?

The PC maker is taking on Hewlett-Packard and others with a quartet of inkjet and laser devices, which it will begin shipping in the US in April. Meanwhile, Australian users are unlikely to see Dell-branded printers any time soon.

HP OfficeJet 7410

This sumptuous all-in-one is sure to please well-heeled families, photographers and small offices.

Lexmark P6250 Home Photo Center All-in-One

The P6250 is an all-in-one home photo printer that includes a scanner and some intuitive consumer-friendly touches such as animated tutorials on its 2.5-inch colour LCD.

Tech Guide: Buy the right photo printer

Photography is not just about shooting nice portraits and beautiful scenery. Many camera users agree that the most gratifying experience is, in fact, printing their own pictures.

Reading the fine print: 7 laser printers tested

Just because a printer is cheap to buy off the shelf doesn't mean it's going to save you money in the long term. We look at the real costs of network laser printers.

Tech Guide: Tinker with your inkjet

Remember when you had to drag a floppy disk over to the local copy shop if you wanted to make a colour printout? Now anyone can be a printmaster.

Tech Guide: Tips for better photo printouts

Want to know how to print great-looking photos? Here are some tips on how you can get the best results from your printer.

Lexmark Z818

The Lexmark Z818 is a good-looking but otherwise humdrum colour inkjet printer. However, it is affordable.

Brother MFC-8440

Small offices that don't need a colour scanner will appreciate the other features in the Brother MFC-8440.

First Take: Epson Stylus CX6500

Epson's latest All-In-One (AIO) continues to use the manufacturer's DURABrite inks, but does this all-rounded multifunction bring anything new to the table?

Epson Stylus C65

The Epson C65 brings quality photo printing to the home at an affordable price, but offers little else over its predecessor.

HP PhotoSmart 1215 Printer

Relying on Hewlett-Packard's proprietary PhotoREt III color-layering technology, the AU$799 HP PhotoSmart 1215 can create prints on premium glossy paper that display good continuous tones and subtle shading. The 1215 can also print text and photos onto plain paper, so it's an excellent choice for a multipurpose printer.

Brother HL-5140

The Brother HL-5140 is an affordable laser printer that will grow with your small business or home office.

Canon i80

With a car charger and Bluetooth support, the i80 brings mobile printing to the next level.

Lexmark's small, cheap laser printer

The Lexmark E210 (AU$599) is a good all-purpose home or office laser printer, producing crisp prints at a fraction of the cost of larger printers. Easy setup, simple software, and low-cost toner refills make the E210 an acceptable printer solution for home or small-office needs.

HP LaserJet 3380

The HP LaserJet 3380 is a good match for a very small-business operation that doesn't require colour printing.

HP OfficeJet 5510 all-in-one

A multifunction unit that's not only compact, but also a good all-round performer.

Epson Stylus Photo R210

The Epson R210 includes many useful features and a price point that's sure to please digital photo enthusiasts.

First Take: Canon i560

This new desktop photo printer offers true borderless images up to 8.5x11 inches, plus camera-to-printer capability.

Samsung SCX-4216F

Can Samsung provide a multifunctional device that can print, scan, copy and fax without breaking the budget of the average SOHO user? Read our Australian review.

Canon i905D

The six-colour Canon i900D photo printer is smartly designed, and it's versatile enough for serious home digital photographers.

HP Photosmart 7960

This photo printer's beautiful output, plentiful direct-printing options, and ease of use make it an excellent choice for any digital-photo enthusiast.

HP Deskjet 3550

The HP Deskjet 3550 is an entry-level printer that's surprisingly fast and produces reasonably good-quality prints. However, it is let down by high ink costs.

Brother MFC-3820CN

The Brother MFC-3820CN is a no-nonsense AIO that offers full functionality at a affordable price.

Canon CP-300

The CP-300 is an ideal choice for users who want to make instant 4R prints of their digital captures on the road.

Lexmark P707 Photo Jetprinter

The P707's cutthroat price along with its built-in memory card reader give the P707 tremendous value. However, its high running costs and slow print speeds make it hard to recommend.

Canon LBP 2410

The Canon Laser Shot LBP 2410 fuses fast print speeds with good output quality, all at an affordable price to SOHO users.

Epson Stylus Photo 935

The Epson Stylus Photo 935 offers a plethora of printing options as well as high-resolution prints, but owing to its slow print speeds and sub-par text outputs, this printer just doesn't hack it for office work.

HP PSC 2510

Wireless connectivity is only one of the tricks that this MFD can perform.

HP OfficeJet 6110

Although light on fax tasks, the HP OfficeJet 6110 is still a versatile multifunction printer.

HP LaserJet 2300dtn

HP's LaserJet 2300dtn fits an impressive number of high-end features into a printer that's priced for budget-minded small offices.

Tech Guide: Buying for your business

Don't make a costly mistake. Before you plunk down the big bucks on new hardware, read our expert advice on how to choose the right desktops, notebooks, displays, and printers for your business.

HP PSC1210: Teeny-tiny all-in-one

Some all in one printer, scanner and copier units are defined by their nifty add-ons, or groovy style choices The PSC1210 is just small. No, strike that, it's very small. Read our Australian review.

Open your own document centre

We put some of the top office printers/copiers head to head.

Camera-print standard comes into focus

In a move contrary to current proprietary practices, six companies are now rooting for an industry standard to allow photos to be printed through a direct camera-to-printer connection.

Epson Stylus CX5100

The low cost, good looks and straightforward use makes it a good choice for home or SOHO users.

HP Officejet 4110: Small gets smaller

With dimensions smaller than HP's own 1210, the Officejet 4110 accomplishes a feat. We put it through the paces to see if it improves and even performs up to the mark.

Epson Stylus Photo 830: Budget contender

The Stylus Photo 830 capable entry-level inkjet printer that produces brilliant photo quality images and tidy text print-outs at a reasonable price.

HP Deskjet 6122: SOHO features with a catch

HP's sturdy Deskjet 6122 provides lots of small office/home office (SOHO) perks at a budget price -- but you still can't get something for nothing.

HP Photosmart 7150: No frills

HP's Photosmart 7150 is a no-frills photo printer, or at least a no-frills-worth-mentioning photo printer.

Tech guide: Ink-conceivable

If inkjets leave you flustered and lasers sound dangerous, check out our guide to the various types of printing solutions available.

Reviews News: Graphic content

It's graphic designer's week here at Reviews News, with some programs designed to help you make things look pretty and a colour printer, so you can stick them on your wall.

What you'll buy this year

Pundits are predicting a slow tech year, but that doesn't mean that there won't be gizmos to catch your eye and snag your wallet.

Pocket printing with a punchy price tag

The PV-10 is an interesting mobile printer but the price tag may deter all but the most ardent gadget fan. Check out our Australian first review.

Budget Inkjet shootout

It's never been a better time to buy a cheap and feature packed inkjet printer. We test two likely candidates from HP and Canon.

Printing for professionals

The Epson Stylus Photo 2100 isn't cheap, but its print quality more than justifies its high asking price. Check out our review.

Lexmark Z65: High definition, low paper sense

Lexmark's Z65 prints well, but its claim to be able to sense all paper types needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Reviews News: Wireless and PDA's

Peripherals continue to be a focus for companies, with several being released not just for the PC, but for PDA's as well.

Best of October 2002

Take a look at the best and most popular stories at ZDNet Reviews for the month of October.

Canon S900 -- Too fast, too pricey?

The Canon S900 colour photo printer is one of the new, flagship inkjets in Canon's 2002 fleet, and it has the styling to prove it.

Reviews News: Notebooks and Switches

The staple diet of new switches and broadband technologies has this week been supplemented by a healthy addition of notebook launches.

Lexmark targets SOHOs with new laser

Lexmark's latest offering brings to the table a few key qualities that'll endear it to small businesses: affordability, versatility and speed.

HP LaserJet 4100n

The AU$3,199 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4100n is a fast, reliable office laser printer that cranks out sharp, affordable text pages typical of HP's high standards. What sets the 4100n apart from the pack is a nifty software suite that lets network administrators monitor and manage the printer via email and Web browser notification--an amazingly helpful tool for IT folks everywhere.

HP Business InkJet 2250TN

A new addition to Hewlett-Packard's fairly new HP 2000 series of business inkjets, the 2250tn proves to be an improvement. Its two stacked paper trays and large size show it means business and it also includes an internal printer-server card so you can hook it up to Ethernet, Token Ring, and LocalTalk networks.

The Essential Inkjet Buying Guide

Get top-notch print quality from an inkjet without draining your wallet. Within the last year, true photo-quality inkjets have stormed the market, accompanied by superior resolution, low prices, and long-lasting ink.

Lexmark Z52

Advanced-level home users and small-office users are the target markets for Lexmark International's latest addition to its Z series of colour ink jet printers.

Canon's new all-in-one device

The Canon MultiPASS C100 is an exciting all in one device that uses inkjet technology to print, copy, scan, and fax.

Brother DCP-165C Multifunction Printer

We've tested plenty of printers at CNET, but very few have frustrated us as much as the Brother DCP-165C multifunction has. The counter-intuitive set-up, bland design, deplorable print quality and crawling output speeds earn this printer a double thumbs down.

Inkjet Printers

In the market for an inkjet printer? Then this product comparison is required reading.

Printers, Scanners and Monitors

From Flat Faced monitors, budget printers and cool, compact scanners, we look at the essential PC Peripherals.

Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010 Beta 1

If you spend more time fighting fires than adding business value through IT, it's time to look at this comprehensive management solution for medium businesses.

Reviews News: Mostly printers, mostly Epson

Epson has flooded the market with new product this week, so you're spoiled for choice if you're looking for a photo printer. Linux is also moving out of the shadows, with a couple of companies bragging about Linux compatibility.

Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)

Windows 7 looks like the operating system that we've all been waiting for. Despite its imperfections, it shows a lot of promise for the future while presenting a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X.

HP Color LaserJet CP1215

The Color LaserJet CP1215 is HP's entry-level printer built to serve small workgroups, but it suffers from frustratingly slow print speeds, a missing LCD screen, and other problems.

Thecus N7700

The N7700 is one heck of a NAS box if you need something to take seven drives and have nowhere to put a rack mount unit.

QNAP TS-509 Pro

The QNAP TS-509 Pro comes highly recommended — it's a flexible NAS with an interface that's gaining usability as time goes on.

Synology DS209

The Synology DS209 is an excellent little unit, with a more complex than necessary set up routine. Still for those looking for a highly featured, high performing NAS with an easy to use and flashy menu, it's certainly a compelling choice.

Iomega Home Media Network Drive (1TB)

The Iomega Home Media Network Drive, a single-volume NAS server, is easy to set up and use for even the most novice user; however, its lack of advanced features might lessen its appeal to savvy users.

Lotus Foundations Start

Lotus Foundations is a great solution for a wide range of businesses because it takes away the need for an on-site IT guru, and minimises management overheads so staff can get on with core business activities.

Synology DS209+ NAS Server

Although it's expensive and requires networking experience to use, the Synology DS209+ offers excellent throughput and nearly all the features you're likely to need in a small-business NAS server.

Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (2009)

The AirPort Extreme Base Station is a great wireless router for Mac or novice users who need something that's simple, nice-looking and works well for their homes. Savvy and Windows users will find many other alternatives that offer a lot more features for their money.

Lexmark's most-in-one printer

Lexmark's X83 All-In-One should really be called the Most-In-One; it's a colour inkjet-based multifunction that combines a flatbed scanner, a printer, and a photocopier in one box.

Thecus N5200 Pro

The Thecus N5200 Pro is definitely a higher end NAS, and will benefit power users and tweakers a lot more than entry-level users.

Fit to Print: 9 colour laser printers tested

Printing solutions for the office come in all shapes and sizes. Check out our review to find the right one for your needs.

HP iPAQ 912c

The HP iPAQ 912c defines the middle of the road. When you consider its performance versus the price, the 912c is passable but painfully average.

Synology Rack Station RS408

The Rack Station RS408 is an attractive NAS solution with plenty of performance, plus lots of extras to tempt the smaller business.

Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 450r

The StorCenter Pro NAS 450r is a generously-specified appliance running Windows Storage Server 2003. While it scores on performance, it's pricey and lacks capacity.

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended (Beta)

Adobe's latest incarnation of Acrobat is top of the line, highly featured software. Just make sure you need all the bells and whistles before you pay the AU$999 price tag.

Lenovo IdeaPad U110

Lenovo's bright red foray into the ultraportable consumer space is for the most part a successful one, despite a few missteps.

Apple AirPort Express Base Station (802.11n)

Apple's AirPort Express Base Station has always been remarkable in that it is networking hardware that people actually seem to get excited about. Thanks to an update to the 802.11n wireless networking standard, this compact, easy-to-use device can now add increased wireless networking performance to its list of pros.

NComputing L230

NComputing's L230 thin client is an option if you need to add a group of low-impact users to an existing Ethernet LAN. However, you'll need to ensure that the host PC is adequately specified to deliver acceptable performance to the terminals attached to it.

Netgear ReadyNAS RND4250

The ReadyNAS RND4250 is a new product in Netgear's line-up developed to bring enterprise level storage technology to small business and home users at a reasonable price.

Mandriva Linux 2006

Despite combining the heritage of Mandrakesoft and Connectiva, Mandriva is usually considered a second-tier Linux distribution. Nevertheless, the latest version, Mandriva Linux 2006, is well packaged and includes support for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 150d

An appreciably large NAS server targeted for small- or home office use, above-average performance and considerable storage space make the Iomega Storcenter Pro 150d a great solution for data archiving and backing up PCs in your office.

Belkin Wireless G Router with Built-in USB Print Server

Just about everything to do with this wireless router and print server is extremely easy to use. If you're looking for an 802.11g router and want a simple life, the Belkin Wireless G Router with Built-In USB Print Server comes highly recommended.

Citrix GoToMyPC 6.0

Cost aside, GoToMyPC 6.0 is a great service. It is extremely easy to install, has great features and most importantly, it just works.

PDF-eXPLODE

For standard invoices and reports requiring efficient delivery, PDF-eXPLODE could well be a lifesaver. It can be a bit touchy on occasion, but once your document templates are set up properly it should be plain sailing.

Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Ultimate is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Internet Explorer 7 RC1

No new changes in this latest build of IE 7 from Microsoft, except for more stability and application compatibility, but this browser still is not ready for prime time.

Nokia N80

A wealth of cool multimedia features including UPnP and a 3-megapixel camera make this model impressive. The only downers are in the button design and battery life.

Linksys EFG120

The EFG120 network attached storage unit offers the perfect feature set for some small businesses, but everyone else should turn to better-equipped competition.

Canon Pixma iP4000

The flagship printer in Canon's latest low-end inkjet lineup is fast and inexpensive, and it's capable of producing fairly good output.

HP Photosmart 245

This compact portable photo printer is a great choice for those who really need to print on the go.

Red Hat Desktop 4

Businesses that need to support a reasonable number (>10) of Linux PCs may find that Red Hat Desktop 4 delivers an attractive total cost of ownership (TCO).

Samsung SyncMaster 204B

The Samsung SyncMaster 204B can handle productivity and entertainment tasks, but there are less expensive alternatives that offer comparable image quality and superior features.

First Take: Microsoft Windows Vista

Microsoft has released the first public beta of its Windows Vista operating system. We examine the new features.

Canon S200SP: Low price, good resolution

The Canon S200SP offers high resolution colour prints at a reasonable long term cost.

Maxtor Shared Storage Plus

Consumer NAS drives don't get classier or easier than the Maxtor Shared Storage Plus, but we'd like to see Gigabit Ethernet on it.

Nikon Coolpix P2

We love the Wi-Fi properties on this Coolpix P2, but we are sure the camera could have done better if it allowed us to connect to the Internet as well.

First Take: Kodak EasyShare-One

What's better than a digital camera with a 2-inch LCD screen? A 3-inch one, of course!

Analysis: Microsoft's OS update

Underneath the sheen, what's Windows Vista made of? We take a detailed look at the recently delayed operating system.

Tech Guide: Small-business networking

Tips for implementing a wireless, Ethernet or power-line network in a small-business environment.

eXpressing yourself in colour

Next time you pick-up a flyer at local café or clear one off your front porch you can expect it be a full-colour print. Colour printer manufacturers seem to have taken a keen interest in medium-size small businesses, designing products that can produce professional quality prints at speeds and costs within their reach. The Fuji Xerox has developed an innovative new print head that should give their Xerox DocuPrint M750 an edge in this market.

Epson Stylus C63

The Epson C63 brings quality photo printing to the home at an affordable price.

Microsoft Windows Vista Preview

Microsoft has more to do on its new operating system, but this first beta suggests that Windows Vista could be up to par with Linux and Apple Mac OS X.

Is ink ever mightier than laser?

According to conventional wisdom, attaching a colour inkjet printer to an office network is like trying to demolish a skyscraper with a hammer; fast, but prohibitively expensive for small businesses, colour Laser printing has long been considered the only viable technology for this scale of duty. Printer manufacturers are seeking to fill the colourless niche with enhanced-performance inkjet printers that promise laser performance with inkjet economy. ZDNet reviews hauled Lexmark's offering, the J110tn, into its offices to see how it faired.

Nokia, HP put wireless words into print

Nokia is working with Hewlett-Packard to let customers print content from their mobile phones.

First Take: Maxtor Shared Storage Drive

Maxtor's Shared Storage Drive provides a simple way to organise, centralise and backup digital content such as photos, music and documents over a home network.

Tech talk

Technology developments are being foisted on us at every turn, but what do we really get out of them?

Swiss-army printing: 3 MFDs tested

They can print, copy, scan, and fax but can they open tins? We put multifunction devices to the test and find out.

Hard copies: Paler by the day?

As digital cameras replace film cameras, the lifespan of printed images becomes a worry. This is especially true if you pay top dollar for a photo-grade inkjet and splurge on expensive ink and coated photo paper.

GoToMyPC 4.1

After years of flying high with no competition, GoToMyPC falls to earth against stiff competition from MyWebEx PC, which is free.

HP Deskjet 5652

The 5652 is HP's latest top-of-the-line Deskjet offering. Does it justify its top-of-the-line price?

Lexmark X522: More than the sum of its parts

If the Lexmark X522 multifunction printer could choose its own attire it would wear a suit and bowler hat around the clock. This multi-role device offers all the features necessary to meet the document management requirements of the mid-to-large scale enterprise. However, at AU$8,250 it will probably take a dedicated document server and a well-conceived capital expenditure proposal to get it into your office.

Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200

The Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200 by Lexmark lets you print directly from your digital camera. It even has a built-in colour LCD on the top panel, which lets you preview the photos stored on your memory card.

MyWebEx PC

MyWebEx PC offers powerful remote-access features for free, plus some extra capabilities for a low monthly subscription, making it a great solution for telecommuters.

Contact management packages reviewed

We look at which product can help improve customer satisfaction.

First Look: InDesign CS

The new InDesign CS will hold its own as the document-layout anchor of Creative Suite and as a standalone DTP package, but as a product update, there's little to write home about.

Reviews News: Burners and wireless tech

This week there were numerous high-tech announcements -- from a printer that talks telephony to the vanguard of affordable DVD burners.

Reviews News: Gearing up for Xmas

With the world's biggest buy-buy give-give holiday celebration coming up, we can all expect to see a lot of new offers and special deals heading our way. Check out this week's Australian product announcements.

The latest Lexmark

The Z53 boasts a 2400 x 1200dpi print resolution, photographic sharpness to its prints, speedy text print times, and more-all for a reasonable AU$399.

Olympus Camedia AZ-1

Olympus' elegant, pocket-sized Camedia AZ-1 is sophisticated, slim, and full of features, combining style and substance in one.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-U40

Snapshot photographers who value portability and style over advanced features and photo quality will like this sleek little camera.

First Look: Apple AirPort Express Base Station (with AirTunes)

Apple's latest AirPort networking product also streams iTunes music to your home stereo, but it lacks the computer-free control found in competing network media products.

D-Link DSA-3100

The DSA-3100 gives your small business a good reason to provide wireless Internet access to customers as a value-added service.

Compaq name fades from HP's lips

The Compaq name is getting pushed further aside in the no-longer-so-new Hewlett-Packard.

Netgear FWG114P

Netgear's FWG114P wireless access point/router/firewall/print server is a great all-in-one device for those planning to set up a home office.

Apple introduces AirPort Express

Apple Computer unveiled yesterday a AU$219 device that acts as both a portable wireless base station and a way to stream music throughout the home.

Clie to plug into USB upgrade

Sony's handheld computers will soon be able to exchange data with other digital devices without going through a PC first.

Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 DockStation

Belkin's DockStation provides extra USB ports and a simple docking solution that should work with any notebook, regardless of manufacturer. Read our Australian review.

Crazy eights: 8-megapixel cameras compared

Resolution junkies unite: these 8-megapixel models deliver your latest fix. But is 8 enough already?

New, improved ZDNet Australia Reviews Channel

ZDNet Australia presents its new and improved Reviews service. With streamlined content, easier navigation and more intuitive organisation, ZDNet Australia Reviews continues to provide the best technology reviews, product news and tech guides.

Dell Dimension 8400

The Dell Dimension 8400 offers exciting new hardware, but unless you're a staunch early adopter, you won't see a compelling reason to make an immediate upgrade.

Lindows hits virtual shelves

Lindows on Monday unveiled the latest version of its low-cost operating system aimed at bringing Linux to the masses.

Ximian's desktop Linux talks to Windows

Ximian, hoping to accelerate the pace of Linux desktop adoption, releases a new version of its main software package for PCs which adds and/or upgrades several new features.

Tech Guide: Alternatives to AvantGo

If you are looking for an AvantGo replacement, here are five software programs you can utilise to put the Web on your PDA.

Reviews News: LASERS and utilities

With everything from annoyingly capitilised products to utility packages, we've got this weeks new product releases all rounded up here.

Ulead DVD Movie Factory 3 Disc Creator

Movie Factory is an excellent product for novice DVD creators, or anyone needing a quick and simple DVD authoring application. Read our Australian review.

Tech Guide: Letting in Linux

We'll step you through the process of installing Linux alongside Windows XP so that you can boot either OS.

Gadgets you can't have

We take a look at the latest and greatest cool gear from Japan. There's just one catch -- you can't have any of it.

Travelling light: replacing your notebook with a Palm

Do you find even an ultraportable notebook too much to carry? We set out to discover how feasible it is to restrict yourself to a Palm OS handheld on your travels.

Running Linux with Office XP: Ready for business?

Linux has made a big impact in the server room, but usability issues and lock-in to Microsoft Office have conspired to hold it back on the desktop. Has that all changed?

Fluke NetTool

The Fluke NetTool is an easy-to-use, effective way of testing network cables (Cable Testing), network connectivity between desktops and networks (Inline Mode), and PC configuration.

Dell Axim X30 (64MB, 312MHz processor)

The midlevel X30 is a feature-rich PDA with an affordable price tag to attract both consumers and business users.

Canon PowerShot Pro1

This 8-megapixel megazoom model has some annoying drawbacks, but its top-notch pictures will please many advanced and enthusiast shooters.

HP DeskJet 350CBi

The HP DeskJet 350CBi is a cleverly designed portable inkjet printer that's small enough to toss into a briefcase. It's solidly built and reasonably priced at AU$542.

Canon imageCLASS MP730

The good performance, quiet operation, and a solid software package makes the MP730 an ideal choice for SOHO users.

HP Compaq Business Notebook nx7010

The nx7010 has the power and the features to serve as your sole PC, and it offers more mobility than a typical desktop replacement.

Untangling the wireless future

Faced with an increasing number of wireless technologies and standards, planning a long-term networking strategy is a daunting prospect.

Nokia 6600

This high-end mobile can be used for TV watching, taking photos, recording video, and Internet browsing. Read our Australian review.

Belkin Bluetooth USB Adapter: Affordable wireless

If you have Bluetooth-enabled equipment and you'd like to connect it to your PC, the Belkin Bluetooth USB Adapter offers a straightforward and affordable way of doing it.

Fujitsu LifeBook L2010

An onboard battery, integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and small footprint give the LifeBook L2010 convenient mobility within crowded offices and homes.

RMIT's tech watch

Steve Turvey of RMIT IT Test Labs provides an indepth view of the latest technologies to hit Australia.

Server hassles are virtually solved

With one new product released, and one about to be, server virtualisation is becoming a reality in the low-end server space. How can virtual servers help you?

Tech Guide: Wireless network purchases

Here's what you need to know about wireless networking, from the standards and technologies to the best products for your home or office.

Canon PowerShot S50

Top-notch image quality and a high-end feature set make the compact 5-megapixel PowerShot S50 irresistible.

MS keys into bluetooth trend

Microsoft's Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth brings a solid keyboard design but has flaky wireless performance.

Sony VAIO PCG-TR1

The VAIO TR1 is a touch too diminutive to serve as your primary computer, but it's an excellent supplementary system for frequent travellers.

Sega Dreamcast

The Sega Dreamcast is a marvelous 32-bit game console with unsurpassed graphics and great stereo sound.

Pantone OfficeColor Assistant

If a presentation is going to represent your company, shouldn't the corporate logo be accurate? Pantone OfficeColor Assistant can help.

Canon MV6iMC

This well-constructed camcorder fits into a coat pocket, but it delivers less than stellar low-light video.

The flukey business of network diagnostics

Having access to a portable network and cable testing device can be a lifesaver for a network technician, but the high price of most testing tools makes it tough for a manager to justify purchasing more than one or two. Fluke Networks' lightweight NetTool provides managers with some financial relief and technicians with a potent portable analysis tool with great battery life.

HP Photosmart 945

The HP PhotoSmart 945's 8X zoom lens is sure to make the hearts of telephoto aficionados beat faster.

Apple laptop gets jumbo screen

On the two-year birthday of the high-end Titanium PowerBook, Apple Computer on Tuesday upped the ante by introducing a model with a massive 17-inch display.

HP Photosmart 935

This camera offers point-and-shoot ease to budget buyers, but lags in the performance stakes, making it a wise choice only for less-demanding shooters.

Tech Guide: Buying a handheld PDA

A PDA can become an indispensable tool for staying organised, connected, productive, and entertained. This guide steps you through the decision-making process.

OpenOffice.org 1.1

This feature-rich, flexible and above-all free office suite is much more than a refuge for the anti-Microsoft tendency. It works, it's reliable and it's useful.

Hands off my assets: 6 asset management packages tested

Sure you know how many PCs are on your network, but can you say for sure how many have out-of-date licenses or pirated software?

Compaq PDA paqs a punch

Compaq's iPaq H3870 offers Bluetooth built in to a PDA. Is Bluetooth enough of an incentive to upgrade?

HP DVD Movie Writer dc3000

HP's innovative DVD Movie Writer dc3000 offers an easy route from VHS to DVD, and it's a decent burner to boot.

The broadband route: 12 routers tested

Looking for an easy way to extend that broadband connection to more of your organisation's PCs? One of these broadband routers could be the solution.

HP ScanJet 4400C -- low budget, fast

This scanner offers more dots per inch (1200 dpi) than entry-level scanners, and a few more console button to quick-launch functions such as scan-to-web, email and scan-to-printer.

Dross surfaces during silly season

Commentary: It's that time of year when unlikely ideas experience their brief moment in the sun.

Reviews News: New year, new products?

It's a new year, and that can only mean a lot of new goodies hitting the stores. Check out this week's Australian product releases.

Palm Tungsten T2

The Bluetooth-equipped Tungsten T2 is an evolutionary upgrade to the business-oriented Tungsten T, doubling the RAM from 16MB to 32MB and featuring an improved display.

Tech Guide: Desktop PCs for students

If you're heading back to school, you'll need to equip yourself with the right tech gear to make the grade. Our guide gives you expert advice on how to choose a desktop PC.

Mac, Windows updates on the way

Apple Computer and Microsoft have taken steps toward releasing important operating system updates.

Netpliance's i-opener

Netpliance's i-opener is for moms who don't want the burden of buying a complete computer. Just plug in the flat panel LCD screen and keyboard - and mom's ready to experience the Internet and e-mail. Just in time for Mother's Day.

Bluetooth to break through gum line

Demand for Bluetooth chips and devices is starting to pick up as the technology finally matures.

Image editors: Coursey offers a parting shot

I've been playing with After Shot lately, a new digital photography app from Jasc Software, the folks who brought us the popular Paint Shop Pro image editor.

Sony CLIE PEGNZ90G: Expensive and expansive

Sony's crammed everything it could think of into the NZ90. Will Palm aficionados bite on this expensive and expansive unit? Read our Australian review.

RIP: The Map

Maps have been helping people find their way at least since 2300 B.C., when Babylonians sketched the lay of the land on clay tablets. Today's paper maps might be more portable, but they're far less necessary, thanks to Global Positioning System technology and the Web.

Epson Stylus Photo 1270

The Epson Stylus Photo 1270 is a hefty printer. It measures 15.5 by 23.5 by 31 inches (HWD) with all trays extended. The 1270 has a maximum true hardware resolution of 1,440-by-720 dpi and uses a variable-size droplet technology (VSDT) that produces drops as small as 4 picoliters. The result--when printing on photo paper with Epson's new quick-drying dye-based inks in six colors--is breathtaking.

10 gigabyte digital album for your pocket

As high image capture resolution and video-recording capabilities have become common place in digital cameras, the biggest problem facing most digital photographers is limited storage space.

Canon Digital IXUS 400

The IXUS 400 offers great image quality and performance in an ultracompact package. Don't look for manual controls, though.

SuSE Linux Desktop

Can you use a Linux system successfully in a Windows-dominated environment? That's what SuSE's Linux Desktop is designed to facilitate. We find that you can, although there are plenty of glitches to iron out.

Filling the gaps in Windows

Microsoft always has grand plans for Windows, but it's the little things that need fixing first.

Epson Perfection 2400 Photo: It's fast, but is it perfect?

Calling a product 'Perfection' displays a lot of moxie. What possible product can you release after it if you're right? We test Epson's latest scanner to see if it can live up to its perfect billing.

Crouching Jaguar, hidden features

Apple developers now have their paws on a final beta of Jaguar, the next major Mac OS X update. ZDNet Australia takes a look at the beta version of Apple's latest operating system.

Like virtually being there

Connectix's Virtual PC for Mac is an inexpensive and effective way of running PC applications on your Mac.

Micronica HiP-400S: Easy broadband splitter

If you want to share a broadband connection such as cable or ADSL over a network, you can either set up a PC or server as a router to share the Internet connection, or you can choose from a variety of hardware routers.

FireWire or USB: And the winner is?

A speed boost with USB 2.0 gets PC makers excited. But a faster FireWire is just around the corner.

Mac vs. PC: Which is better for business?

A friend of mine is starting a new business. I get to choose which computer he's going to use. Question is: Should we go with the PC or the Mac? Here's what I think.

Networking without wires

If the thought of networking makes you cringe, don't worry; 3Com's wireless network solutions can save you the hassle of all those cables.

Tech Guide: USB 2.0

Learn about this next-generation peripheral connection for personal computers. How does it supplant USB 1.1, and is it a worthy foe for FireWire?

Make Your PC Work Better

Learn how to print painlessly, improve Internet connections, avoid crashes and more in this complete guide.

HP OmniBook 500 Mobile Pentium III 600MHz

Size can be a real dilemma. You want a light, compact notebook that won't dislodge your shoulder from its socket as you run through the airport. But small notebooks usually mean compromise, and you're not willing to sacrifice capability HP may have the solution.

KDE polishes Linux look

The new desktop environment for Linux adds features designed to rival Mac OS X and Windows XP

Linux poised to plug in USB 2

Support for a faster version of USB in Linux is imminent and will become a permanent part of the Linux landscape when the next version of the operating system is introduced.

Wireless hits notes in 802.11a, b and g

Just when consumers have learned to use--and pronounce--the wireless networks known as 802.11, along comes a few new versions that threaten to confuse the market.

Bluetooth Gets Spiffed Up

It's been slow going for Bluetooth's wireless gadgets, but this could be the year they connect.

Office politics: Microsoft Office XP vs Sun StarOffice 6

Sun would like to think it can succeed where others have failedÃ,­ââ,¬"in breaking Microsoft's stranglehold on the office productivity marketââ,¬"by offering a product that's almost as good as Microsoft Office at a much lower price. Do the sums add up?

LifeBook E Series: High-octane mobility

Delivering blazing speed at a very fair price, a two-spindled, high-octane LifeBook E Series notebook from Fujitsu will satisfy itinerant business users who require a modicum of portability without sacrificing much in the way of power or performance.

UMAX PowerLook 2100XL

The Umax PowerLook 2100XL (AU$5,493) is a heavy-duty, high-resolution device specifically designed for scanning drawings and photographs destined for print.

Olympus digital SLR now showing in 4-megapixels

Olympus's elegantly designed SLR combines a 4-megapixel sensor with great optics to provide sharp, well-exposed images that should satisfy most enthusiasts. The trade-off that you make for the high resolution, though, is relatively noisy images that might be disappointing after you've plunked down AU$3,999 for the camera.

Reviews news: Heavyweights and titches

This week the releases were evenly peppered with industrial-strength bombshells and feathery whispers. Read all in our weekly roundup.

Tech Guide: Wireless Networking 101

Ever wanted to connect computers without cables? Our primer will explain the different wireless technologies, help you get started, and offer tips on making your wireless network secure and efficient.

Apple refreshes Power Mac line

New systems sport faster memory and speedier system architecture, and mark a return to dual-processor systems. The eMac, meanwhile, gets a DVD upgrade.

Jobs: Jaguar, new iPods, new iMac and. . . Windows?

As the Mac faithful gather in New York, Apple CEO Steve Jobs rallies to the defense of the Mac OS X operating system and trots out new hardware, including a bigger iMac and iPods for Windows.

Solo 5300 XL Pentium III 800MHz

Indecisive notebook shoppers, let go of your mouse and look no further. The new Solo 5300 XL from Gateway delivers the perfect compromise between easy-on-the-shoulders portability and muscular desktop-replacement power.

A film scanner substitute

If you're the kind of amateur photographer who wants to scan slides but doesn't want to invest in an expensive, dedicated film scanner--the 1250 Photo counts as a good value for the price.

Search and deploy

ZDNet Australia looks at software deployment packages designed to help you reduce network administration costs.

WinFax PRO 10.0

If you have a computer with a fax modem, Symantec's WinFax PRO 10.0 is worth having -- even if you also have a standalone fax machine.

From Paper To PDF

Acrobat PDFs are great for sharing electronic documentsââ,¬"everyone knows that. The recipient always sees the page exactly as it looks on the screen.

UMAX PowerLook 1100

Most users are perfectly content with an ultra-inexpensive flatbed scanner, but graphic artists and other professionals need high-quality, industrial-strength scans that require significantly superior hardware.

HP's DVD CD-RW combo deal

Until recently backing up data to a CD-R or CD-RW and playing DVD movies on your PC required two separate drives. With Hewlett-Packard's 9900ci, a 12x (CD-R) by 10x (CD-RW) by 32x (CD read) by 8x (DVD read) drive, you get all the features of a CD-RW and a DVD-ROM drive in one inexpensive and easy-to-install unit.

DIY, white box or branded PC?

What sort of computer makes the most sense for you? Self-assembled, a branded system or a white box assembled by a parts shop?

Twenty tips to keep PCs out of the junk pile

Without a conscientious effort to properly maintain older computers, your company could be faced with the unenviable task of investing in new technology.

Sony gets Vaio right

The Sony Vaio R505AFT may not be the fastest notebook on the market today, but in terms of style and interoperability with Sony's range of other multimedia products, it's definitely one of the grooviest.

Tech Guide:PC hardware basics

Ever wonder what's inside your PC? This guide will take you step-by-step through identifying all the standard parts of a computer.

Mobility Electronics EasiDock 1000E

Gateway Solo 5300xl Deluxe

Indecisive notebook shoppers, let go of your mouse and look no further. The new Solo 5300xl Deluxe from Gateway delivers the perfect compromise between easy-on-the-shoulders portability and muscular desktop-replacement power.

Canon CanoScan more scanning for your dollar

The ultra-portable Canon CanoScan N670U offers one-touch capture, fast performance, and excellent image quality for its competitive price. There's no difference between the two models under the hood, but the pricier version has a sleek metallic lid instead of the N670U's dark blue one.

Mobility Electronics EasiDock 1000E

The Mobility EasiDock 1000E (AU$585.20), from Mobility Electronics,uses a unique PCI Split Bridge technology for maximum 1.25-Gbps performance shared among nine device ports.

Servers Up

Don't even think about purchasing a server without looking at our guide to choosing the best server for your business.

XP product activation: Solution, not conspiracy

Since Windows XP went 'Gold', the conspiracy theorists and corporate planners have been hard at work. Contrary to the beliefs espoused by the 'Oliver Stone' DOJ advocates, Microsoft did not rush XP to market to beat some artificial government deadline and avoid an injunction.

New Technology: Micron Millenia MAX XP Athlon 1.2GHz

The launch of the Pentium 4 processor has been grabbing lots of headlines, but it's not the only new game in town for buyers of high-speed desktop PCs. After months in the pipeline, the combination of the AMD Athlon processor and double data rate (DDR) SDRAM is finally here, and the result is very dramatic

Handicapper's guide to storage

Moore's Law applies to disk drives, too. Every 18 months, the capacity seems to double. So do the choices. Here's a handicapper's guide to today's storage options.

Burn For You -- 5 DVD Burners Tested

Pre-recorded DVDs like DVD-ROM and DVD-Video discs have been around for some time now but it has only been recently that recordable and re-writeable DVDs are becoming most talked about.

Your next disc drive

We started out this comparison intending to test DVD-ROM drives that were CD-RW capable, it soon became apparent that these were a rare beast indeed.

Meet the dark side of Windows XP

While I really like Microsoft's new operating system, there are still some issues that may make it impossible for you to upgrade. And other issues may make you want to skip XP entirely. Here are a dozen potential roadblocks to consider--don't upgrade before you read this!

Software rage: Our readers vent

Frustrated software users must often suffer the indignities of sloppy code. We continue to explore the Software Rage phenomenon with contributions from our readers on the subject.

Handheld Computers and Accessories

What are the pros and cons of Palm and Pocket PC devices? How do you decide which one is best for you? We'll help you sort it out. But choosing the right handheld is just the start. The fun part is adding all the peripherals to help you get the most out of your investment.

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Windows 98 and Me

Are Windows XP's new features worth the cost of upgrading? Find out how Windows XP measures up against Windows 98 and Me.

Microsoft Windows Me

The name says it all. Microsoft Windows Me -- short for Millennium Edition -- is designed for individual home users, not for business. Available as an update package , Windows Me is the most radical upgrade yet in the Windows 9x family.

Sub-2K PCs

In this feature we looked at 16 Budget PCs. And, in the process, we had our first look at the all new AMD Duron processor. We also received Celeron-, Cyrix-, Pentium III- and Athlon-based machines.

Smash Windows bugs

The second service pack for Windows 2000 doesn't offer a lot of new thrills, but it does kill off a few bothersome bugs. Do you need it?

Choosing the right digital camera

Just as computers are more complex than typewriters, getting a digital camera is a little more complicated than buying a film camera. Before you make your trip down to your local electronics or camera retail store, there are a few things you should probably consider about first.

It's All About MP3

With the rise and fall of Napster, just about everyone knows what an MP3 is. But in case you have been hiding under a pile of vinyl records for the last 18 months, here are the basics.

Clock Your Connection Speed

Is your ISP delivering on its promises of fast Internet connectivity? Use NetPerSec to call its bluff.

Microsoft Office XP

It's certainly slicker looking, but is there more to the newest version of Office than just a pretty face? Here's our in-depth look at what's new and what's not.

Computer Shopping Site Review

Having observed hundreds of customer test sessions and chatted with thousands of consumers, we've noticed that customers, when looking for hardware over the Web, fit into one of two categories: (1) those who are researching certain items, (2) those who've already researched and have decided to purchase online.

Photos: Dell launches Vostro range for small business

Dell has introduced its new Vostro range, aimed at small businesses that require minimal IT support. Here's the full line-up available in Australia at launch.

HP's PC dreams

By combining the printer and PC units, HP is fusing its cash cow with a unit that has struggled to achieve consistent profitability. Will it work?

Making the upgrade

You've got a lot invested in that current infrastructure, but there are those who are telling you it's time to upgrade. When is really the right time?

Q&A: BMC CEO Bob Beauchamp

BMC Software CEO Bob Beauchamp has headed up the company since the beginning of the decade, transforming it into the business service management power it is today. We find out what his priorities are.

Is green IT a marketing fad?

It seems that green IT has dropped off the radar, with other technology issues moving to the fore. But was green IT ever a real technology movement, or was it just a marketing fad?

Tabbed browsing and shrink-to-fit printing in Vista

Tabbed browsing is a feature that has been available in alternative browsers for many years but Microsoft has finally caught up with IE7. Here is a demo on how to make the most out of the new feature and also a demonstration Vista's shrink-to-fit feature, which automatically resizes pages before sending them to your printer.

Photos: HP wants your media

Unveiled at its Print 2.0 event in New York earlier this month, Hewlett-Packard's imaging and printing group showcased a range of new hardware and software products and services designed to manage media for business and consumers.

Pollies fail to grasp key IT issues

An analysis by representatives of Australia's two largest IT industry groups shows that neither political party in the federal election has come up with a comprehensive policy around technology.

Cesare Tizi, ZDNet Australia CIO of the Year 2007

Welcome to the CIO Vision Series and congratulations to Cesare Tizi, who was awarded the ZDNet Australia CIO of the Year award for 2007. Tizi was recognised for the work he did while successfully leading Australia's largest energy supplier, AGL Energy, through a period of intense change.

Photos: Sun's Gosling shows off Java

On the last day of JavaOne, the Sun vice president shares exotic uses of the software, like dancing robots and underwater exploration vehicles.

LCA Open Day

Yesterday was show and tell day for linux.conf.au with a pavilion full of gadgets, toys and cool stuff

Dealing with storage and data leaks

In today's knowledge economy, getting the right information at the right time can make the difference between success and failure. However companies need to put adequate controls in place before sharing information freely. We look at how to ensure confidential data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Making Dell a cool brand

Product design chief John Medica has a big job ahead -- jazzing up Dell's image with computers that capture the public's imagination.

10 things to consider when leasing computers

Leasing computer equipment makes sense in a lot of situations, but the process needs to be managed as carefully as an actual purchase. These tips will help your organisation make sound leasing decisions.

Eraser ... McNealy style

While Sun Microsystems went to great efforts to portray Scott McNealy's stepping down from the CEO role as a natural transition and part of a well-thought out succession plan, it was clearly not something the company had chance to chat to its printers about.

Who's taking the ITIL bait?

In an industry known for its hype, it's understandably difficult for many managers to make sense of new trends. But in the case of IT Infrastructure Library, a growing body of success stories confirms this is one trend that you should definitely be on top of.

HP -- more than hardware?

HP this week staged its first software forum for the Asia Pacific region at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.

Windows only for $140m government tender

The Northern Territory government has released details of its four-year, $35 million per annum desktop sourcing tender.

Remote access no longer an Upstream battle

Single view of IT assets saves gas company thousands.

HP outlines long-term strategy

Hewlett-Packard executives are mulling plans to improve over the next 18 months the technology the company uses to manage its direct sales, while it continues with commercial printing efforts and acquisitions of software companies.

HP: No driver, no direction

Now that Carly Fiorina has been ousted, Hewlett-Packard says it needs a new captain, not a new course, but outsiders say the company needs to change its tack.

Do-gooder Trojan has nasty bite

Symantec is warning Internet users of a Trojan horse that removes spyware but alters the security settings in computers.

Berri: There's juice in Dell's cup

Fruit juice vendor Berri is taking lessons from supply chain guru and PC giant Dell to improve its business.

Tech talk

Technology developments are being foisted on us at every turn, but what do we really get out of them?

How to 'hide' on the Web

Web site operators and corporations are playing game of I spy, you spy with covert cloaking trick.

How Hewlett-Packard can be saved

We give incoming HP CEO Mark Hurd a few words of advice ... like ditch the Gulfstreams.

Guide: Microsoft European draft licence

The European Commission has rejected Microsoft's proposed server interoperability licence. We dissect its contents.

Laments of an IT buyer

General Motors CTO Tony Scott says he's fed up with products that fail to work as advertised and with technology suppliers who may be ducking responsibility for it.

The importance of being 64-bit

IT vendors such as Microsoft and Intel have grand plans for 64-bit computing and the improved processing potential it promises but convincing customers may not be so straightforward.

Contact management packages reviewed

We look at which product can help improve customer satisfaction.

Is Dell's winning streak in jeopardy?

CEO Kevin Rollins' long run of good fortune faces the biggest test yet. Still, he says, "I wouldn't go run (HP)."

The office of the future?

Broadband and biometrics help NEC reinvent the workaday world. The average length of meetings has dropped 20 percent and conference room time is down 70 percent.

Oracle: Deal, no deal or ....

The latest Oracle ruling is just another indication that consolidation, mergers and acquisitions are part and parcel of the business landscape. The underlying issue for customers is this: who controls the destiny of their software?

Intel plans Linux support for Centrino

Intel is working on Linux support for Centrino, its package of chips for mobile computers with wireless networking abilities, but the company hasn't yet decided how or when to release it.

Making customers miserable the Microsoft way

Microsoft's Software Assurance program puts even greater pressure on customers to renew existing Windows software. And the final deadline is approaching.

Lindows hits virtual shelves

Lindows on Monday unveiled the latest version of its low-cost operating system aimed at bringing Linux to the masses.

Next-generation search tools to refine results

The vast corpus of human knowledge could soon be published on the Internet. The problem now is how to wade through it.

A billion PC users on the way

By the end of the decade, a billion people will be clicking away at computers, but generating a profit out of newly wired portions of the world is going to take a lot of work.

Detect unauthorised devices on your network

If you're not the only person with the rights and permissions necessary to add devices to your network, you'll never know what's really "live and on the wire"--unless you listen to your network.

Running Linux with Office XP: Ready for business?

Linux has made a big impact in the server room, but usability issues and lock-in to Microsoft Office have conspired to hold it back on the desktop. Has that all changed?

Linux racks up corporate credentials

Ahead of LinuxWorld next week, IBM and HP announce more big corporate customers for the relatively young operating system.

UPDATE: New worm poised to unleash hell on MS

A worm that takes advantage of what some security experts describe as the most widespread Windows flaw ever has started spreading, while new analysis has uncovered a time bomb in the worm's code poised to unleash a furious denial of service attack at Microsoft itself.

How your boss can spy on you

New software gives businesses the ability to access your work PC's data--without your knowledge. Even if you believe this is wrong, you've got to stop thinking of your office computer as a private place.

What Linux can learn from Windows

The Linux community could benefit by taking a page from Microsoft's security playbook, says CNET News.com's Robert Lemos.

Wireless: Breaking the shackles

We look at four examples of the way mobile technologies such as GPRS and 802.11 are giving Australian businesses the opportunity to bring the benefits of connectivity to mobile workers.

E-commerce in Australia: Enter the experts

When setting up an e-commerce function, you might want to get some retail therapy from an expert. ZDNet Australia reports.

RMIT's tech watch

Steve Turvey of RMIT IT Test Labs provides an indepth view of the latest technologies to hit Australia.

Virtual wars: VMware vs Microsoft

With one new product released, and one about to be, server virtualisation is becoming a reality in the low-end server space. How can virtual servers help you?

Putting the brains into your network

Networks don't just ferry packets around your office anymore. ZDNet Australia looks at some of the latest developments that allow your network to manage itself more intelligently.

Untangling the wireless future

Faced with an increasing number of wireless technologies and standards, planning a long-term networking strategy is a daunting prospect.

Slash costs with Sun's Java Desktop

Are software licences overloading your IT budget? Here are a few ways to save your department time and money by installing Sun's Java Desktop. Additional reading: How to manage your IT assets

Michael Dell: Challenging the rules

As Dell strays beyond its familiar PC turf to laser printers and routers, naysayers are getting ready to say, "I told you so." But, columnist Charles Cooper is adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

Work at home? Here's how to stay secure

Commentary: Whether you work at home full-time or only occasionally, you need to make sure your systems and data are protected. So what is the best software for preventing a business-threatening disaster?

Why Windows makes mobility so hard

For those who experienced "Windows rage" after changing all the settings on their notebook between a Windows' domain at work and a home workgroup network. Take heart: you're not alone.

Mobile rings ranked the top workplace nuisance

Got bad breath? Haven't bathed for a few days? Don't bat an eyelid because irritating mobile phone rings have been voted the top ten workplace annoyances, outranking body odour, bad breath and co-workers who don't change empty toilet rolls, according to a recent survey.

The hidden relationship between project managers and technical writers

Want to know the secret to better quality documentation and improved software design? This article from Builder.com outlines how the key is an effective relationship between PMs and tech writers.

Block unauthorised PC device access with DeviceLock

DeviceLock is designed to lock down a desktop's hardware on a per user basis and this could be your solution to securing a Windows XP workstation.

Pitfalls of moving to Active Directory

Most IT consultants have no problem recommending Active Directory for their Microsoft clients. However, there are certain factors that could make Active Directory a difficult pill to swallow.

Archiving: what's in store?

Tape, disk, or optical? We set a budget of AU$20,000 and asked three vendors to come up with a storage solution.

Network autodiscovery tools: weak or costly?

Autodiscovery tools can help uncover hidden or forgotten additions in the network. While many tools are available that claim to do this well, IT professionals have found that they're all either ineffectual or cost-prohibitive.

Choose your next training course carefully

Future career success can hinge on making wise decisions about what skills to add or polish. Here are some considerations you need to take into account when choosing which course of action fits your current and future needs.

Centralise Windows administration with Hyena

Wrestling with the links and shortcuts to all your admin tools and configuration utilities can be inefficient. Luckily, Hyena streamlines the process of managing Windows by combining popular tools into a single console.

Balance access, security when building network lockdown policies

You don't want the IT department to be known for preventing users from getting their work done, but you also can't risk being blamed for security breaches. Here are some suggestions for building effective network security policies.

Commentary: Filling the gaps in Windows

Microsoft always has grand plans for Windows, but it's the little things that need fixing first.

Succeeding in integration: Part two

Nothing succeeds like other people's success if you can learn from their experiences, that is.

Managing helpdesk users

You can provide all the documentation your users need to be self-sufficient, but it won't do a bit of good unless they read it. Check out these ideas to ensure users will read information.

Measuring productivitiy post IT boom

It seems that IT is about to change the way Victorian courts operate, with the directive that lawyers can now demand from the other party that documents are delivered in electronic format.

Top Windows security threats

Easily exploited vulnerabilities are a hackers favourite target. Use this updated SANS/FBI list of the top threats to Windows to find out where the hackers may be lurking.

2002 predictions get a low grade

Columnist Tim Landgrave reviews his 2002 predictions and how they fared. While he believes the sluggish economy was a major reason for his poor prediction grades, he's still pretty bullish on a few expectations.

Office politics: Microsoft Office XP vs Sun StarOffice 6

Sun would like to think it can succeed where others have failedÃ,­ââ,¬"in breaking Microsoft's stranglehold on the office productivity marketââ,¬"by offering a product that's almost as good as Microsoft Office at a much lower price. Do the sums add up?

HP, Compaq: A meritocracy of dunces?

HP believes that retaining executive talent is what will make the Compaq merger succeed. But history shows that heroes with lofty resumes aren't always enough to turn things around.

Building a security response team

With security an ever-increasing concern, enterprises are building security response teams to combat and solve problems. Learn who you should include on such a team, and some models around which you can structure your task force.

2003 industry predictions: Straight to the source

What do you think will happen in the IT industry this year? ZDNet Australia asks Australian opinion leaders what they think will happen.

Could Macs mean business at last?

Is recently released Mac OS X Jaguar just a catch-up to Windows XP features, or is there more to Apple's latest operating system than meets the eye.

Network security tips for managers

Security tips from an expert, including how to inventory your systems externally to become more informed and strategies for checking the work your network administrator performs.

King Kaz: building an Aussie IT empire

Going against conventional wisdom, Peter Kazacos built Kaz Computer Services on the principal of quietly and strategically taking on markets where the barriers to entry are high. He talks to ZDNet Australia about how his empire was made.

Build next-generation applications

Reduce time to market and meet the requirements of Web-aware applications by adopting one or both of the new virtual machine standards.

Buyers' Guide: Scanning headlines

Knowing what you'll use your scanner for will help you decide what kind of scanner to get.

Pulp Fiction: Turning paper digital

It's hard to imagine doing away with paperââ,¬"sticky notes, receipts, newspaper articles, faxes, and such. But new technology and advanced applications will see the myth of a paperless office becoming a reality. Get ready to burn those books!

Microsoft moves to coexist with UNIX

Some product announcements from Microsoft over the last few months do indicate a new willingness to not only admit the existence of UNIX, but also to recognise its success in the enterprise. Take a look.

OS Wars: Microsoft vs Open Source

Can one operating system fit all your needs? Or is it a matter of mixing and matching to the tasks at hand? ZDNet Australia assembled a panel of IT experts to find out which OS fits best.

Ricoh Australia appoints new MD

Printer maker Ricoh has appointed a new managing director to lead its Australian business, Les Richardson, who will replace the outgoing manager Nigel Shepherd.

Remote printer spam made easy

Security researcher Aaron Weaver claims visiting a random Web site could send unwanted print requests to your nearest office printer.

HP: Cutting Edge printers not for sale

Hewlett-Packard's new line of printers may be cutting edge but you won't be able to buy one -- for the first time in history, the company will make customers purchase printing services, rather than the product itself.

Apple, Dell leap on Victoria green IT plan

Victorians will now be able to ditch their unwanted, end-of-life technology equipment in a green fashion following the launch of a state IT take-back program -- with support from big name vendors including Apple, Dell and HP.

WA Attorney-General's dept gets new printers

Western Australia's Department of the Attorney-General has bought almost three quarters of a million dollars worth of Lexmark's newest printers.

IBM sells printer division to Ricoh

IBM is transferring its Printing Systems Division to Japanese electronics company Ricoh as part of a joint-venture agreement, the companies announced Thursday.

Law firm Allens Arthur Robinson saves with HP

The legal firm has reduced costs by up to 30 percent after consolidating its printing and imaging resources with Hewlett-Packard, an executive said.

Printers get a glimpse of OLED tech

Seiko Epson is bringing emerging OLED technology to one of the more staid pieces of office equipment, the printer.

Lexmark printers recalled

Several new models of Lexmark printers have been recalled due to a "multiple component failure", the company said today, however Lexmark Australia maintains that despite the recall the problem doesn't really affect Australian models.

Australian printer market declining: IDC

The Australian printer market is in decline, according to fourth quarter 2003 figures and overall estimates for 2004 released today by analyst International Data Corp.

Brother recalls printers after fires

Electronics conglomerate Brother International is recalling about 100,000 business printers after reports that some have overheated and caught fire.

HP separates PC group again, names new boss

Five months after merging its PC business with its imaging and printing group, Hewlett-Packard split them up again on Monday and appointed R. Todd Bradley, former chief executive of PalmOne, as new leader of its personal systems group.

Print server market hits two-year low

Unit shipment numbers in the Australian print server market have declined by 11.5 percent year-on-year for the last half of 2003, according to an International Data Corporation report.

Samsung aims printers at the enterprise, kills OEM

Samsung launched its first range of business printers on Friday and said it will phase out its OEM deals in the long term.

CSG to buy second Oracle specialist

Darwin-based IT services company CSG has announced plans to acquire Oracle consultant Delexian.

64-bit Snow Leopard defaults to 32-bit kernel

Apple's OS X 10.6 operating system Snow Leopard by default loads with a 32-bit kernel, despite running 64-bit applications.

All-in rumble for $80m NT Govt tender

Virtually every large technology goods and services provider in Australia has thrown their hat in the ring as the Northern Territory Government prepares to overhaul its ICT contracts in an $80 million whole of government purchasing initiative.

Snow Leopard benefits to be longer term

Apple began shipping Snow Leopard on Friday, but the true importance of the Mac OS X update likely will emerge well afterward.

Defence rethinks $200m Kaz contract

The Department of Defence has put out a request for information to test a new model for providing the services in its $200 million central ICT infrastructure contract, currently serviced by Kaz Group.

ATO fingers Optus for network deal

The Australian Taxation Office has chosen Optus over Dimension Data for its managed network services contract, which the agency has said is worth around $60.5 million a year.

ATO moves on $60m end-user deal

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released a request for tender for its five-year end-user computing contract worth around $60 million a year.

Group 8 moves on post-Commander

The Group 8 cluster of federal agencies that signed a collective IT outsourcing arrangement with Commander-owned Volante in 2000 are moving on as the contract nears its end on 26 June.

CSG snaps up print expert

In the hopes of getting a larger slice of the Federal government pie, IT services company CSG Limited has bought Canberra-based outsourced printer management business ATI Group.

EDS global head retires

HP has announced that EDS chief executive Ronald Rittenmeyer will retire effective 31 December with current EDS senior VP Joe Eazor set to take his place.

Barbie gets her own printer

Welcome to Barbie's cubicle. Hewlett-Packard, long more comfortable dealing with the computer language Perl than with young girls, nevertheless figures it can bridge the geek gap among kids -- by turning its popular ink-jet printers into Barbie accessories.

New way to save energy: Disappearing ink

Xerox has paper you can use again and again, which could cut down on energy and the cost of recycling.

HP/EDS Australia expect to cut 450

Hewlett-Packard and EDS expected to cut about 7.5 per cent, [approximately 450 workers], out of their combined Australian workforce over the next three years, a spokesperson for EDS' local division said today.

Myer centralises back office further

Retail giant Myer has flagged plans to centralise its back-office systems further in what it today described as a "store of the future" initiative.

AGIMO denies new ICT office

The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) has labelled a newspaper report "factually incorrect" that said it had moved to a strategy of centralised IT procurement before the findings of the Gershon review which will be released next month.

Whitehall IT to be carbon neutral by 2020

The UK government has announced plans to make its computer systems wholly carbon-neutral by 2020 by adopting various green IT strategies, including automatically powering down PCs, configuring virtual servers and selective deployments of thin client technology.

Environment dept makes outsourcing move

The federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) is one step closer to replacing an eight-year-old IT outsourcing contract believed to be held by Commander after it today started briefing the industry on its requirements.

Lockheed Martin in $1bn ATO race

The Australian Taxation Office has picked a shortlist of five vendors, including aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin Australia, to compete for a key part of the agency's AU$1 billion technology outsourcing work.

Officeworks named as Dell's Aussie retailer

From Monday, office supplies retailer Officeworks will start selling a limited range of pre-configured Dell PCs and laptops at 104 locations across the country.

Windows OneCare antivirus sheds beta skin

Microsoft has released the latest version of its all-in-one security product, Windows Live OneCare. In beta since July, version 2.0 offers many enhancements to existing tools and offers several new tools, particularly in the area of networking and backup storage.

Public info kiosk running Citrix hacked in demo

A consultant from McAfee Foundstone has shown how to map the internal network on a public kiosk running Citrix XenApp.

Think green ... and protect your data

Sending old equipment off for recycling not only helps the environment, it also ensures that "forgotten" data stored in old storage devices does not find itself in the public domain.

Red Hat's Fedora 8 hope: An all-purpose Linux foundation

Over the years, Red Hat's Fedora has made a name for itself as a version of Linux for enthusiasts, developers, and those who want to try the latest thing in open-source software. But a curious feature of the new version 8, released Thursday, is the ability to strip out the Fedora identity altogether.

Dell targets small businesses with new line-up

Dell is targetting small business with a series of laptops, desktop and associated services to cure integration blues for organisations with less than 10 employees.

Apple's Jobs more powerful than Gates

Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs has topped a list of the 25 most powerful business people in the world.

Green issues define banks' tech investments

Banks are using technology, carbon trading and green contract clauses to minimise the impact of their operations on the environment.

ATO takes axe to EDS AU$1bn outsourcing deal

The Australian Tax Office says it will open its IT outsourcing contracts worth over AU$1 billion to multiple suppliers, ending its 10 year single-supplier arrangement with EDS.

Adobe writes FreeHand obituary

It should come as no surprise, but Adobe Systems has officially declared an end to development of FreeHand illustration software and is trying to coax users to its rival Illustrator package.

Dell calls on HP to investigate spying charges

A corporate shoving match has begun between Hewlett-Packard and Dell following new allegations that HP robbed Dell of trade secrets.

Windows Vista SP1 beta lacks 'wow'

If you've been waiting for Windows Vista SP1 to come out before you make the leap to the new operating system, don't, says Microsoft.

Desktop virtualisation opens new doors for users

When Apple released Parallels Desktop in June 2006, it showed most users for the first time what they could achieve with desktop virtualisation.

Lexmark accused of installing spyware

A Usenet news group has claimed that Lexmark is installing spyware on its customers' computers

Device drivers wanted for 64-bit PCs

Microsoft and Apple are pushing ahead with 64-bit computers, despite device drivers and application for the high-powered systems being thin on the ground.

AU colour laser market rising: IDC

A total of 430,000 printers were shipped in Q1 2004 showing a 10 percent surge in unit shipments quarter on quarter.

Seagate simplifies remote access for SMBs

Seagate has launched a free remote access service for the small business market that enables users to access files on their external storage device from any Internet-enabled computer.

Battle for Sydney Water reaches boiling point

Sydney Water will soon decide on suppliers for a substantial portion of its IT spend over the next three years with the business planning to continue keeping a lot of its technology work at arm's length.

Acer bags NAB PC deal

The National Australia Bank has awarded Acer a contract to supply up to 20,000 desktops and notebooks under a refresh project that is also seeing the institution shift to a Windows XP standard operating environment (SOE) across its Australian business.

Patch Tuesday comes for Vista too

While Microsoft has touted Windows Vista as its most secure client operating system yet, the unfinished product is already getting regular security fixes.

HP beats expectations, but CEO cautious

Hewlett-Packard reported on Tuesday that its net income increased 9 percent to US$966 million for its first quarter under the management of chief executive Mark Hurd, results that lifted the printer and computer maker just ahead of analysts' expectations.

Sydney Water signs business intelligence vendor

Sydney Water has signed an extensive deal with vendor Business Objects to assist in the utility's business intelligence program, with a larger contract on leased IT assets still being decided on.

HP to expand 'smart chip' range

Hewlett-Packard plans to expand its controversial 'smart chip' technology into all its printer products, reinforcing a growing determination by printer companies to protect their lucrative supplies business.

Inkjet refiller lashes out at HP for lawsuit

Rhinotek's chairman has sharply criticised Hewlett-Packard for a lawsuit asserting that the inkjet cartridge refiller falsely advertises its products as new.

Hunter health division consolidates domains

The Hunter New England (HNE) division of New South Wales Health will soon commence a massive migration project to consolidate some 12,000 end users into one Microsoft Active Directory domain.

JavaScript opens doors to browser-based attacks

Security researchers have found a way to use JavaScript to map a home or corporate network and attack connected servers or devices, such as printers or routers.

Vic govt dept to get reporting software

Victoria's Department of Human Services (DHS) will early next year implement a corporate reporting software solution supporting some 3,000 internal and 100,000 external users.

Another hefty patch month for Microsoft

For the third straight month, it's a busy "Patch Tuesday" for the software giant.

Joy unearths more comms value

The local arm of mining machinery group Joy Global is close to completing a corporate telephony refresh, a move taking place in the context of a wider international push to consolidate the group's ICT resources.

Novell hopes its next desktop will leapfrog Windows

Novell on Thursday unveiled the features that will be available in the next version of its Linux desktop product -- SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop -- which the company claims will be more usable than any other desktop product on the market.

Microsoft shows off JPEG rival

If it is up to Microsoft, the omnipresent JPEG image format will be replaced by Windows Media Photo.

HP's iPod to lead consumer push

Hoping to make a big bang in consumer electronics, Hewlett-Packard plans on Friday to unveil its long-awaited HP-branded iPod, along with its first televisions, an entertainment hub and the usual array of new printers and cameras, sources said.

Intel: Driver flaws no major threat, yet

Flaws in driver software may be worrisome and a potentially serious threat, but security experts at Intel see no need for alarm. At least, not yet.

On the hunt for Vista bugs

When it comes to Windows Vista, there are bugs -- and then there are bugs.

Lexmark provides fraud protection with magnetic ink

Printer manufacturer Lexmark on Wednesday teamed up with Dataline, a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition specialist, to help companies automatically recognise fraudulent documents and more easily organise their financial paperwork.

HP to announce restructuring tonight

Hewlett-Packard said it will announce details of a company restructuring plan on Tuesday morning in the United States during a pair of conference calls with chief executive officer Mark Hurd.

Microsoft to support PDF in Office 12

Microsoft will enable people to publish documents in the Adobe PDF format with Office 12, a company product manager said on Saturday.

HP to retrench 14,500

Sales and support workers are hardest hit under restructuring plan intended to save US$1.9 billion annually.

Australian government defends wireless patent

Some of the world's largest IT firms are on a collision course with the Australian government's scientific research arm over a patent for wireless local area networks.

Apple updates Rendezvous for Windows, Linux

Apple Computer has published updated source code to its Rendezvous network-configuration technology for use in Windows, Linux, Unix and Java applications.

Lenovo touts notebooks, Olympics push

Lenovo's quest for worldwide acceptance will begin at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Networked storage heads for homes

Storage companies are betting a technology once reserved for businesses will appeal to consumers dealing with large files shared by multiple PCs and a need for data protection.

Qantas kicks off application review

The nation's leading carrier plans to examine how it delivers software applications as the next step in a billion-dollar-plus IT transformation project spearheaded by CIO Fiona Balfour.

Mass worm attack could be imminent

A surge in scanning on a port associated with a Windows flaw patched last week suggests that a mass worm attack may be imminent, experts have said.

Does HP need a new course?

Hewlett-Packard says it needs a new captain, not a new course, but outsiders say the company needs to change its tack.

Fiorina steps down at HP

Carly Fiorina, the embattled leader of Hewlett-Packard, stepped down as chairman and CEO on Wednesday as HP tries to redefine itself for a new era.

Samba servers vulnerable to DoS attacks

The Samba Team released on Tuesday a patch to fix two flaws that could result in disruptions for networks using the widely installed Unix and Linux software.

Australian Samba creator joins Torvalds at OSDL

Australian Andrew Tridgell has been appointed a Fellow at Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a move which will allow him to continue leading global development on the open-source Samba project.

Game over: Acclaim's assets up for auction

Anyone need 43,000 video game cartridges?

AOL passes 30 million mark

America Online says worldwide membership in its flagship Internet service has surpassed 30 million.

Do-gooder Trojan has nasty bite

Symantec is warning Internet users of a Trojan horse that removes spyware but alters the security settings in computers.

Microsoft gunning for Adobe's PDF format?

When Bill Gates showed off the new Metro document format in Longhorn at a hardware conference last week, some analysts were quick to call it a PDF killer.

Inspiron owners complain of SP2 slowdown

Owners of Dell Inspiron notebooks have reported that Microsoft's Windows Service Pack 2 is cutting their system speeds dramatically -- in some cases by a factor of almost ten, from 2.6GHz to 300MHz.

Fiorina unveils HP's consumer goods for 2005

Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Friday morning, HP CEO Carly Fiorina offered a sneak peek at the products her company will try to insert into people's living rooms, as well as prototypes of other things yet to come.

Microsoft XML guru sees power for the people

For some insight into how Microsoft plans to drive upgrades of its nearly ubiquitous Office desktop application suite, talk to Jean Paoli.

Microsoft's antitrust offering 'blocks Samba'

The European branch of the Free Software Foundation (FSFE) has accused Microsoft of freezing out Samba, the open source work group server operating system, in its final attempt to comply with last year's European antitrust ruling.

Rumour site pictures Photo iPod for holidays

Mac sites were abuzz Friday on reports that Apple Computer is readying a colour-screen iPod in time for the holidays.

How Hewlett-Packard can be saved

We give incoming HP CEO Mark Hurd a few words of advice ... like ditch the Gulfstreams.

Microsoft won't dance with Samba

The Free Software Foundation is lobbying the European government to reject the server licence that Microsoft has proposed following the European Commission's antitrust ruling. Microsoft's terms, says the FSF, will mean that open source software such as the widely-used Samba file and print server software, will not be included in the interoperability measures intended by the EU.

Counting on print management software

Printer administration software, might not be the sexiest software around but if your organisation has a lot of widely distributed printers, your IT guys are not going to be happy little soldiers if you don't have any.

Xerox buys Tekronix for $950M

In one its biggest deals ever, Xerox Corp. has announced that it would buy a division of Tektronix for US$950 million.

Bugbear bugs Aussie business

As the latest worm attack spread across Australia, many businesses learned they were infected when their printers started exuding reams of garbage. ZDNet Australia spoke to one small business that lost a days work in the latest attack.

HP joins the digital party

Hewlett-Packard has announced home networking products allowing digital photos and music to be viewed through a television.

NZ retailers enjoy wireless EFTPOS

New Zealand pulls a first in Australasia with its wireless EFTPOS via CDMA now available to retailers.

Is Real's hacking of iPod legal?

Code-crackers risk fines and prison time when they defeat copy-protection technology, but such draconian rules likely don't apply in the case of RealNetworks and its iPod "hack," legal experts said.

Rollins to take up the reins at Dell

Twenty years after starting in a University of Texas dorm room what is now the world's largest PC company, Michael Dell is handing the reins over to a new CEO.

Document central: Multifunction imaging centres

If your business has heavy duty copying, scanning, printing, and faxing needs, take a look at the latest multifunction imaging centres.

UK file-swappers could face jail under new law

New UK regulations that will implement a European directive on copyright could mean up to two years in jail for file-swappers.

Is a bulked-up HP ready for battle?

Although Hewlett-Packard is finally getting settled into married life, some analysts say the company still needs to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up.

Cutting through the confusion

Unreliable internet service providers, too many plans, and a server market that intends to replicate the mobile phone market... could it get any more confusing?

One ISP with the lot please

It is tempting when you offer a good service to keep expanding and adding more services, but at what point does it get out of hand?

Why Lenovo-IBM is a tough sell

Two years ago, I got an inside look at operations at Lenovo Group, the Chinese computing giant that is forming a joint venture with IBM to sell PCs worldwide.

Apple invites open source to Rendezvous

The Mac maker says it's not just opening up the source code for its Rendezvous networking tool--it's actively courting open-source developers to work with the technology.

Aust health funds come up short online

Potential health fund customers use multiple channels to obtain information about products or services, but their experience is not consistent within or between those channels.

AU Tax Office extends outsourcing deal with EDS

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has extended their outsourcing arrangement with troubled IT giant Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

Compaq name fades from HP's lips

The Compaq name is getting pushed further aside in the no-longer-so-new Hewlett-Packard.

Symantec snaps up SafeWeb

Security company Symantec has acquired SafeWeb, a maker of secure network devices, for US$26 million in cash--as the tide of consolidation continues to sweep through the security industry.

Fessing up

There's no doubt about it -- we're living in a complex world. And that means we simply have to be more careful.

Bluetooth chipmaker warns of cash crunch

Cambridge Silicon Radio, the UK-based Bluetooth chipmaker, said Monday that it will need more cash by the end of next year.

Fancy a recycled Dell PC?

Come June, Dell Computer will start its PC recycling programme in Australia and New Zealand. Apart from the environmental upside, will this lead to cheaper PCs?

Why dis Fiorina?

Two takeaways from Hewlett-Packard's most recent earnings report: Carly Fiorina still can't claim ultimate vindication, but neither can Walter Hewlett.

Antivirus 'drivers' secure MS Exchange

Microsoft is set to detail a future version of Windows that will make it easier to detect and isolate viruses.

HP closes book on Compaq deal

After a rancorous eight-month proxy fight, a three-day trial, countless speeches, a blizzard of regulatory filings, and a bitter boardroom squabble, Hewlett-Packard has completed the largest technology merger in history by acquiring Compaq Computer.

EDS lauds outsourcing benefits amid SA revamp

EDS has released a report claiming the company's massive whole-of-government outsourcing deal with the South Australian government generated an AU$1 billion "side benefit" to the state over the last nine years.

Microsoft moves on 'critical' Windows flaw

Microsoft on Wednesday warned of three new security gaps in its software, including one "critical" Windows flaw that could allow a hacker to run unauthorised code on victims' PCs.

Lindows hits virtual shelves

Lindows on Monday unveiled the latest version of its low-cost operating system aimed at bringing Linux to the masses.

Leaving your prints all over the place

Print documents are already being drawn into the world of digital security, and it's happening faster than we think.

US taxes on tap for Internet chat?

Tiago Bittencourt Silva started an ambitious programming project last month: an open-source utility that lets small groups of Internet users communicate through instant messages, video links and audio chat.

HP holds tight amid wild ride

Analysts are concerned HP will miss its estimates again due to declining printer markets, server market share and a PC sales slump.

Running Linux with Office XP: Ready for business?

Linux has made a big impact in the server room, but usability issues and lock-in to Microsoft Office have conspired to hold it back on the desktop. Has that all changed?

Intel envisions TiVo-like wireless PCs

Intel wants desktop PCs to double up as network hubs and video recorders, a move that could make life tough for the companies that produce those standalone products.

HP, Compaq: Australian Special

News of this IT super-merger has sent shockwaves throughout the world, with its full impact likely to be felt throughout the industry for some time. This ZDNet Australia Special Report examines the local and international implications of the union through comprehensive analysis, the latest news and an interview with HP's Carly Fiorina.

Report: New standard helps Wi-Fi growth

A new Wi-Fi standard is picking up where its predecessor left off, helping to maintain strong growth in wireless networking as the market prepares for combination products next year, according to a research report.

Linux racks up corporate credentials

Ahead of LinuxWorld next week, IBM and HP announce more big corporate customers for the relatively young operating system.

Smart Fuel Mobile shows off 'alcoholic' laptop power

Running your mobile phone on alcohol is becoming closer to reality than a drinker's dream, thanks to Bavarian technology.

HP, Kodak team on photo processing

Eastman Kodak, the photography company, and Hewlett-Packard, known for its computer printers, confirmed Friday (AEST) a venture to develop and manufacture inkjet digital photo-processing machines.

NSW schools e-mail project delayed and under fire

The New South Wales Department of Education's (DET) new system to provide Web and email facilities to 1.3 million users in the state's educational institutions is to undergo an additional testing that could leave the project late and over budget.

HP targets 3,000 managerial jobs

Blaming a "rapid deterioration" in consumer IT spending, Hewlett-Packard plans to lay off up to 3,000 people in management positions as part broader cost-cutting moves.

Does the world really need two wireless networking technologies?

Bluetooth and WiFi (aka 802.11b) have both been much in the news lately, and while WiFi got the fastest start, Bluetooth appears to be gaining traction in the marketplace.

Down and out in Australia

Do Australian companies really need a business continuity plan? ZDNet Australia finds out what all the talk is about in disaster recovery and continuity planning.

SCO puts disputed code in the spotlight

The SCO Group's legal battles against Linux took centre stage at the company's partner and customer conference, as executives displayed the lines of disputed code and vowed to continue the fight.

Bluetooth: the future's bright

All things connected by cables can now be connected without. Bluetooth is being slated as the technology that will propel us into a new dimension of wireless connectivity.

Windows XP to get Bluetooth support

Microsoft has released to manufacturers an update that would add Bluetooth support to Windows XP.

Flaw in Windows worm tips off defenders

The fast-spreading "MSBlast" worm seems to be crashing as many Windows computers as it's infecting, clueing administrators in to the fact that they need to patch their systems, security experts said Monday.

Hacker code could unleash Windows worm

A hacker group released code designed to exploit a widespread Windows flaw, paving the way for a major worm attack, security researchers warned.

Is there a hole in your wireless network?

White-hat hackers are being employed to expose one of the newest and potentially most dangerous security holes in business, in the form of wireless computer networks.

Comdex: Mobile business services creating a buzz

Mobile business services - this year's buzz topic in Las Vegas

National fraud database may be linked to RTA records

Baycorp Advantage claims to be close to linking its national FraudCheck system to the Roads and Traffic Authority's driver's licence database.

Tools keep eye on Linux

Linux distributors are moving beyond simply repackaging the operating system by adding management tools and applications.

Sleuthing

I heard a good story the other day, and I thought you might like to share the fun. There's an MD of an IT company in Australia who has been known for his -liaisons" with members of the opposite sex.

HP, Compaq: two worlds collide

The merging of two of the world's biggest IT companies has sent a clear message to the rest of the technology sector, according to one Australian industry expert who believes the period of further consolidation is on the horizon.

Jini: Sun's incredible disappearing act

Like many circus sideshows, Sun Microsystems Jini has not lived up to its early hype. When Sun unveiled Jini nearly two years ago, the company promised that Jini-enabled devices would plug seamlessly into a network, find each other and use each other's services.

Windows XP still waiting for Bluetooth

As Microsoft forges ahead with USB 2.0 and other advanced connection technologies, Bluetooth is still lagging.

Portable check-in to speed Virgin Blue passengers

Australia's new domestic airline Virgin Blue will be hitting the airwaves to speed up passenger check-in, with handheld PCs to provide tickets and boarding passes before passengers reach the car park.

Gear beyond your means?

While I'm coming up with something controversial to rant about for next month, some housekeeping. For instance, what happened to T&B Cool Gear?

Gaining access

Office equipment is getting easier and easier to use, but just how accessible is it for the wider population?

One.Tel sells off possessions

One.Tel's unsecured creditors may be able to pocket something from the collapsed telco afterall, when fixtures and fittings, including a life-size figure of -The Dude", go under the hammer in Sydney next week.

AOL communities hacked again

AOL's ICQ servers have been hacked for the second time this year.

Gaping holes

We have more information at our fingertips than ever before; unfortunately it's not the information we want.

Lexmark Australia quiet about deceptive advertising claims

Lexmark Australia claims legal advice prohibits it from speaking about the local impact of a deceptive advertising lawsuit brought against its US parent company.

Spammers slipping ads through Windows

Spammers have co-opted an administration feature in Microsoft's Windows operating systems and are using it to bring up intrusive advertisements on Internet-connected computers.

Leasing IT: More or Lease?

Leasing equipment can provide many advantages over owning, from both a management and financial perspective.

Xerox faces race charges

Xerox faces charges of race discrimination in a lawsuit filed by several members of its New York sales staff, in yet another hurdle to clear for the beleaguered office equipment company.

The pragmatic radical

Q&A Michael Dell, the chairman and CEO of namesake computer maker Dell, certainly knows how to fit his image to his company.

Improve your Linux security: Stop unnecessary services

Linux default installation scripts add a vast number of services to your system and can leave ports open to external break-ins. Identify and stop these services to secure your Linux system.

Anti-terror blitz hits privacy worldwide

Two human rights groups have undertaken a comprehensive survey of how privacy rights have been affected in the year since the 11 September attacks.

Dow Corning: Tearing into waste!

To escape from its documentation nightmare, Dow Corning called on an ASP specialising in procurement applications for enterprisewide printing and graphic communications materials.

Mac, Windows updates on the way

Apple Computer and Microsoft have taken steps toward releasing important operating system updates.

Compaq pushes wireless with Australian iPAQ launch

Compaq's new iPAQ Pocket PCs and supporting peripherals made their Australian debut at a company roadshow in Melbourne last night.

Experts: Copyright law changes technology

Attempts to protect copyrighted material have strayed from their original purpose, say lawyers, technologists and academics, but few can agree on the solution.

Archiving: what's in store?

Tape, disk, or optical? We set a budget of AU$20,000 and asked three vendors to come up with a storage solution.

Network autodiscovery tools: weak or costly?

Autodiscovery tools can help uncover hidden or forgotten additions in the network. While many tools are available that claim to do this well, IT professionals have found that they're all either ineffectual or cost-prohibitive.

Your secret weapon in the blade wars

Throw out your servers. Pretty soon, all the research outfits, publications, and vendors will start telling you to throw out those clunky, space taking, power hogging servers--and replace them with blades.

30 years of Ethernet gains

One-on-one with Ethernet inventor Bob Metcalfe.

Non-profit to wire up rural Asian schools

Room to Read, a non-profit start-up dedicated to improving literacy in developing nations, will launch a new division to wire impoverished classrooms in Asia.

CES 2003: Anywhere, anytime technology

Gadgets featured at the Consumer Electronics Show 2003 make technology available anywhere, anytime. ZDNet Australia presents this special coverage of the show.

Intel Australia takes US lead, cuts Pentium prices

Intel Australia has followed the US lead and cut prices on its Pentium 4 and Pentium 3 chips to make way for new processors that will appear over the next few weeks.

Commentary: Filling the gaps in Windows

Microsoft always has grand plans for Windows, but it's the little things that need fixing first.

Australia the bright spark; shame about its IT spend

In describing the current economic malaise as the worst for decades, Gartner CEO Michael Fleisher singled out Australia as a -bright spark" in an otherwise depressed global economy.

Palm plugs and premieres Bluetooth

Palm's drive to make Bluetooth wireless technology ubiquitous shifted into high gear Tuesday with the announcement of a marketing partnership with Sony Ericsson and the release of a Bluetooth add-on card for users of its handheld devices.

Dell rolls out wireless networking kit

Dell Computer Corp. is working to bring high-speed wireless networking to the home

Two more sign on for e-commerce

Both Iomega and Polaroid will open online stores this week, allowing consumers to go straight to the vendor for consumer electronics.

'Celebrating' the PC's one-billionth birthday

Over a billion PCs have been shipped around the world, but is this really a cause for celebration?

Sun on Linux: What, me worry?

Sun Microsystems' Unix has kept on keeping on since 1982, while once-mighty minicomputer makers such as Wang and Data General have been consigned to irrelevance.

Mac vs. PC: Which is better for business?

A friend of mine is starting a new business. I get to choose which computer he's going to use. Question is: Should we go with the PC or the Mac? Here's what I think.

Succeeding in integration: Part two

Nothing succeeds like other people's success if you can learn from their experiences, that is.

Palm calls for a sharper Bluetooth

The handheld maker is releasing new software to spur its field of 180,000 developers to design programs in new areas--and give some bite to its wireless handhelds.

Linux start-up eyes consumer electronics

MontaVista Software is set to unveil a version of the open-source OS for consumer-electronics devices, seeking to have its software used in everything from karaoke wares to high-end TVs.

PC makers slide on weak outlook

Shares of two of the world's top computer hardware makers, Dell Computer and Hewlett-Packard have fallen sharply after both companies said they saw price wars and little relief in sight from slack US demand.

Lab notes

Each night after meeting with vendors for editor's day, our heads were ringing from information overload. Or was that the tequila?

Bluetooth proof that Microsoft can innovate

The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)--which will undoubtedly play a significant role in the Internet's future--is an idea hatched in Microsoft's labs.

Measuring productivitiy post IT boom

It seems that IT is about to change the way Victorian courts operate, with the directive that lawyers can now demand from the other party that documents are delivered in electronic format.

Printing Without a PC

Although the personal computer is far from being obsolete, an increasing number of peripherals let you perform computer-related chores without a PC. One recent example is Lexmark International's $699 Lexmark Photo Jetprinter 5770.

Season of sloth: things to do

'Tis the season -- the last two weeks of the year -- when nothing gets done. People are focused on the holidays and their families, and have to drag themselves in even to jobs they like.

Penguin-powered POS

Introducing a new Linux-based rugged handheld computer, designed to meet the needs of a wide range of commercial mobile computing applications.

Why didn't mobile platforms trip Microsoft up?

In the late 90s, we thought the diversity of mobile platforms would break Microsoft's monopoly. What went wrong?

Computer chip scam smashed

Anti-graft officers are investigating whether Customs officers are linked to a syndicate that allegedly pocketed up to US$2 million (HK$15.58 million) through a fake computer parts scam.

Top Windows security threats

Easily exploited vulnerabilities are a hackers favourite target. Use this updated SANS/FBI list of the top threats to Windows to find out where the hackers may be lurking.

Wireless hits notes in 802.11a, b and g

Just when consumers have learned to use--and pronounce--the wireless networks known as 802.11, along comes a few new versions that threaten to confuse the market.

HP to save US$50 million with e-PCs

Hewlett-Packard has embarked on a company-wide program to replace all 70,000 computers, an effort which could save it millions.

Sales tales from the darkside

His site is called SalesAutopsy.com, and Dan Seidman calls himself "The War Correspondent of Selling."

Industry heavyweights launch Enfrastructure

Microsoft, IBM, Avaya and Arthur Andersen have teamed up to launch a new venture designed to provide new-economy companies with all the business and technology infrastructure components necessary to get to market quickly.

Microsoft , Donnelley sign e-books deal

Microsoft has formed a partnership with large commercial printer R.R. Donnelley that could expand the list of eBooks into the tens of thousands.

Online auctions: Beware the hidden booby prize

The important rule for consumers looking to buy through online auctions? -- Make sure you know the rules before you buy.

UPDATE: Up to 600 HP Australia jobs cut

Hewlett-Packard will shave up to 600 people off its Australian workforce as a result of the recent merger.

Sony becoming a sleeper PC giant

Quick--who's the fastest-growing major PC maker in the world? If you guessed Dell, you're wrong.

Search and deploy

ZDNet Australia looks at software deployment packages designed to help you reduce network administration costs.

Mac OS for x86--hearsay or heresy?

The rumour that Apple is developing a version of Mac OS for the x86 platform is intriguing, but Larry Seltzer thinks it makes little sense for Apple to pursue such a self-defeating strategy.

Hexadecimal Heroes: Part I

The votes are in and the heroes have been proclaimed. ZDNet Australia recognises our readers' Hexadecimal Heroes, Gadget Gurus and Legends of the Code in the history of computing.

Office politics: Microsoft Office XP vs Sun StarOffice 6

Sun would like to think it can succeed where others have failedÃ,­ââ,¬"in breaking Microsoft's stranglehold on the office productivity marketââ,¬"by offering a product that's almost as good as Microsoft Office at a much lower price. Do the sums add up?

Migrate to a new PC with Windows XP

Windows XP drastically improves the migration process, yet there are still a few eccentricities you should be ready for. This article lets you know how to prepare both the old system and the new for migration.

Dell services: Trouble ahead?

The company's focus on corporate services leads to big contracts and growing revenue for both Dell and its services partners. But conflicts with those partners could be looming.

HP, Compaq: Dumb and dumber?

A merger would create a bloated, vulnerable company anchored on the manufacture of commodity products at little or no profit.

Building a security response team

With security an ever-increasing concern, enterprises are building security response teams to combat and solve problems. Learn who you should include on such a team, and some models around which you can structure your task force.

Pirate's heaven in Vietnam

Contrary to popular belief, you can't pick up a pirated DVD of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" on this city's streets within 5 minutes.

Microsoft unplugs Windows XP

Windows XP will support a wireless protocol that allows PCs and laptops to share the same Net connection. It may give the lagging market for home networking the jump-start it needs.

HP to buy Compaq for AU$47.5 billion

In news just in, Hewlett-Packard will acquire Compaq Computer in a stock swap worth about AU$47.5 billion, according to published reports.

OS X may attract enterprises

Apple's long-awaited OS X has finally been launched. With its stability and power, and growing developer support, will the Mac gain more of a foothold in businesses?

Windows XP working its connections

Microsoft next year plans to update Windows XP to support two technologies left out of the new operating system: USB 2.0 and Bluetooth. But customers may not have to wait.

Packard Foundation: No to HP-Compaq

The Packard Foundation, which holds a roughly 10 percent stake in HP, has decided to oppose Hewlett-Packard's proposed US$25 billion takeover of Compaq.

Network traffic cops

Want to improve the performance of your network or work out what's going wrong? ZDNet Australia helps you find the right tool for the job.

PC makers- consolidate or die

A key analyst has recommended massive and immediate consolidation of the major American PC vendors. How will investors react to the new 'manifesto?'

Hewlett family to oppose HP-Compaq deal

Descendents of Hewlett-Packard co-founder William Hewlett said Tuesday that they plan to oppose the company's blockbuster merger with Compaq Computer.

NDS creates 'virtual laptops'

Supercomputing: Virtually fighting disease

A free Internet service provider hopes its Virtual Supercomputer Project will help reverse its cash flow and keep email free, while helping scientists search the human genome for disease-fighting proteins.

Season of sloth

The last two weeks of the year are generally the most unproductive. Here are some suggestions for using this time of the year as a chance to catch up on those number two tasks that never quite make it to priority level.

King Kaz: building an Aussie IT empire

Going against conventional wisdom, Peter Kazacos built Kaz Computer Services on the principal of quietly and strategically taking on markets where the barriers to entry are high. He talks to ZDNet Australia about how his empire was made.

How to get good technical support

Tired of bad computer technical support? Here are some tips and tricks to improve your chances of a successful computer problem resolution.

Power your networks to maximise uptime

Managing power so that your data centre systems can receive a clean and continuous supply of electricity is an absolutely critical part of system administration. Here are some tips on how to power your networks.

Prices sliding for Pentium III PCs

To help proliferate the Pentium 4, Intel is effectively eliminating the Pentium III from the desktop market. As a result, computer manufacturers have begun to reduce already-discounted prices on their existing inventories of these computers.

Intel claims major chip coup

Industry heavyweights launch Enfrastructure

Microsoft, IBM, Avaya and Arthur Andersen have teamed up to launch a new venture designed to provide new-economy companies with all the business and technology infrastructure components necessary to get to market quickly.

BankWest to pilot mobile payments

Mobile payment solutions are entering a strange new world in an initiative currently being piloted by BankWest, EFTPOS provider EftNet and smartcard company Keycorp.

Fatbrain.com Launches Vanity Press

If the previews are any indication, Fatbrain.com may be the Johannes Gutenberg of the digital age.

Send fax by e-mail

Ricoh has announced internet fax capabilities for its FAX4800L, allowing users to fax documents to a recipient's PC as an e-mail message.

Diamond banks on home networks

Multimedia hardware maker Diamond Multimedia Systems has unveiled its second product for networking multiple-PC homes.

The Year Ahead: The year of Bluetooth?

Bluetooth has suffered one of the most drawn-out launches of any technology in history, but with devices now appearing on the shelves, its time just might have come.

Intel scores PC-redesign victory

In a win for Intel, a key industry group has voted in favor of the chipmaker's proposal to rework the innards of computers, and a who's who of industry heavy hitters will promote the technology.

Microsoft, Kodak snap over Win XP

Corporate behemoths Microsoft and Eastman Kodak have exchanged harsh words over the digital photography features that are built into Windows XP, the forthcoming upgrade to Microsoft's ubiquitous operating system.

Keeping PCs out of the junk pile

Smaller IT budgets have caused support pros to require computers to work longer than originally intended. Here are some tips to help you develop a strategy for keeping older PCs in tip-top shape.

Get ready to live in the Digital Biosphere

After scouring the Comdex show floor, Patrick Houston predicts the next big wave of technology. He says soon we'll be living in a Digital Biosphere.

The Linux/Windows combo: Making it work

The Linux open source operating system is one of the solutions being considered by managers, particularly for use on the server side of the IT department. Here are five free resources you can use to learn about and experiment with Linux, all from the privacy of your own PC.

Troubleshooting network problems

Most networks either run the TCP/IP protocol as their primary network or protocol, or, at minimum, their stack contains TCP/IP for Internet connectivity. If this is the case in your IT shop, troubleshooting your network problems using the built-in TCP/IP tool suite can save a lot of timeâ€"if you know the right tools to use.

Novell: Running from behind

Novell is on the cusp of a new stage in its life, hoping to revive its bottom line by diversifying into e-business consulting services through its pending merger with Cambridge Technology Partners.

SNMP flaw: DoS attacks and network instability

The problem with SNMP isn't a single minor bug but a number of important vulnerabilities in several parts of the first version of SNMP. Learn how to protect your data.

Indrema invites gamers to become game developers

The "Fifth Console," an inexpensive Internet, gaming, mp3 and DVD center, is making it easier than ever to author computer games.

The "Dirty Dozen" remembers

Twenty years after helping change the direction of computing, participants in the project to develop the first IBM PC say they were concerned less about making history than about making deadline.

Handicapper's guide to storage

Moore's Law applies to disk drives, too. Every 18 months, the capacity seems to double. So do the choices. Here's a handicapper's guide to today's storage options.

Microsoft: Watch this space

Who wants to be known as the "knowledge worker champion"? Obviously, not Microsoft group vice president Bob Muglia.

Linux: Live in your living room

First it was Linux games. Then it was embedded Linux running on consumer devices. Now Intel is pushing Linux for your home network. The company is releasing a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) development kit for the OS.

Optus@Home readies

The first customers will be connected to Optus@Home before the end of the year, John Garner, the director of marketing, programming and sales for At Home Network Australia, said.
Optus@Home is the long awaited broadband Internet service from Optus, which has formed a joint venture with Excite@Home.

3Com, Microsoft Kick Off Home Ethernet

Pounding home a message of simple networking, 3Com and Microsoft this week will ship the first of their cobranded home networking products.

Diamond launches wireless networking products

Multimedia hardware maker Diamond Multimedia Systems has started shipping its HomeFree wireless networking home-network solution.

IT staff: Supporting the executive team

Executives have little time or patience when it comes to failing computers, conflicting software, and login hurdles--which can create nightmares for the help desk team. However, there are several things they can do to help thwart desktop glitches, avoid network problems, and generally make life easier.

Dell dogs PC market rivals

As top dog in the PC industry, Dell Computer is looking to make its bite as nasty as its bark.

Walking Dead

Technology's a lethal weapon. You may already be a casualty and not even know it.

Spotlight on network servers

It's the heart of your network, so it's essential that you get the best possible performance from your server.

Now is the time for two-factor security

Whether you're a consumer, or a manager who shares the responsibility for protecting your company's digital assets and the privacy of your customers, it's time to get ready for two-factor security. In fact, it's time to start insisting on it.

OS Wars: Microsoft vs Open Source

Can one operating system fit all your needs? Or is it a matter of mixing and matching to the tasks at hand? ZDNet Australia assembled a panel of IT experts to find out which OS fits best.

Windows XP catches the FireWire 'bus'

Microsoft will not support a budding peripheral-connection standard in its forthcoming Windows XP operating system, instead favouring a technology developed by Apple Computer.

Cisco brings management suite to small business

Cisco Systems on Monday extended the reach of its CiscoWorks Windows network management software down to small and midsize businesses with a version that officials say is cheaper and easier to use.

Nicole Manktelow: Haiku for a modern workplace

With the editor off in Japan, soaking up culture and no doubt some superb gadgetry, it's only fitting that the observations made on this page are in a suitable form-Japanese poems of five syllables, then seven, then five.

Sun's Joy rips Windows 2000

SEATTLE -- It was hard to miss the irony: Sun cofounder and chief scientist Bill Joy spoke to a University of Washington computer science class just steps away from the construction site for a building commemorating Bill Gates' mother.

Intel gives a peek at future PC designs

For the computer crowd, Intel's 'fashion show' was the geek chic equivalent of a Vivienne Westwood Spring collection showing.

Jobs gets hero's welcome in Paris

Steve Jobs' Apple Expo 98 keynote address in Paris must have seemed like some kind of a homecoming.

Web sites prey on rivals' stores

A growing number of online companies are ambushing competitors through software that puts ads where marketers want them most--in front of customers visiting rival Web sites.

Behind the refashioning of Sony

Sony Electronics President Fujio Nishida on his plan to remake one of the most recognisable consumer-electronics brand names into a broadband networking company.

Laid-off techies swiping goods on way out

As dot-coms fail and tech giants lay off thousands of workers, employees frequently walk out the door with desktop computers, telephones and handheld devices--even heavy office furniture, copy machines, research devices and sophisticated computer servers.

IBM plots next PowerPC chips

The company's processor releases, scheduled for next quarter, could make their way into a variety of embedded applications as well as the next wave of Apple PowerBooks.

Jini: Sun's incredible disappearing act

Controversy began brewing almost from Jini's inception. IBM refused to license Jini and touted a stealth project in its Almaden lab that competes with Sun's JavaSpaces, a Jini service capable of creating a networked marketplace for Java objects.

The cheque is in the e-mail

Electronic billing is back, and this time, it means business, as many companies and financial institutions roll out electronic bill payment schemes.

Smash Windows bugs

The second service pack for Windows 2000 doesn't offer a lot of new thrills, but it does kill off a few bothersome bugs. Do you need it?

2001 - The year that was in technology

2001 was a blockbuster year for technology releases, with several markets experiencing a glut of new product arrivals. ZDNet Australia takes a look back at the latest offerings in PDAs, mobile phones, chips, software and other hardware.

EU plans to avert tech eco-disaster

The information technology boom and bust of the 1990s is leaving a lot more than worthless shares and frustrated investors in its wake; it is producing a mountain of electronic waste as technological advancements make computers and other devices containing toxic products obsolete at an increasing pace.

ANALYST WATCH: Tech revival comes as no surprise

Not long ago, a column appeared in this spot recommending investors buy proven technology stocks while they were trading at or near 52-week lows, despite their lofty valuations. Just three short months later, it's time to look at the scoreboard.

Net appliances: Oracle's in, Dell's out

While Oracle moves to tap the emerging Internet appliance market, Dell is quietly retreating from the arena, halting production of its WebPC just eight months after its introduction.

iMac buyers special

To date, the Apple iMac has been one of the most successful new consumer computers to hit the market in a long time.

Directory battle decision day

It's decision day in the directory-service market, and an unlikely vendor could cast the swing vote in the looming showdown between Microsoft and Novell. The mystery player is none other than IBM.

Should you set your sights on Windows XP?

Microsoft's Windows XP has received a fair amount of hype in the lead up to its release-Matt Lake and Josh Mehlman assess its usefulness for businesses.

Coming clean: Who pays for PC recycling?

First, there was the cardboard box in the kitchenette for old cans and bottles. Then, the plastic bin under everyone's desk for old print jobs and newspapers. Will the next trend in office recycling be a Dumpster for old computers?

Net vigilance

The days when you might have left your virtual front door unlocked are long gone. More and more organisations are experiencing unauthorised use of computer systems. And, if experts are right, it's only going to get worse! Read ZDNet's comprehensive guide on Net security, and start protecting yourself.

Storage to go

In this roundup we looked at both internal and external storage devices. We got our hands on the all-new Castlewood ORB51100 drive, which uses 5.7GB media. We looked at a variety of solutions including PC Card based solutions and all sorts of different media capacities.

AI gets down to business

Artificial intelligence may inspire some of the scientific community's most succulent discussion fodder, but out there in the real world commercial viability is still number one. Learn how online gaming, e-commerce and online organisations can all benefit from AI.

Y2K-proofing your databases

Tech Analysis: Leap day poses problem at turn of century, PC Week Labs finds

Microsoft: The next quarter century

Twenty-five years gone and Bill G and Steve B remain at the helm. Meet four faces attempting to pilot the software juggernaut into the next millennium.

Will 'Dot Coms' Face Revenge Of Dinosaurs?

To hear them tell it, the "dot com" companies of the world hold all the cards against big business. They're nimble and quick-footed, have the youngest and brightest talent, aren't bogged down by corporate bureaucracy and truly understand the Internet. Why don't the corporate dinosaurs just roll over and die? Those statements may have held up a year ago, and may still ring true in some sectors today, but by and large the Fortune 500 are beginning to roar back against their "dot com" competitors. In fact, a reverse school of thought is beginning to emerge that in the long run, the corporate giants will have the staying power and financial resources to crush the upstarts. Get ready for the revenge of the dinosaurs.

HP and Compaq: A study in contrasts

HP and Compaq, like their first-year CEOs, are traveling divergent paths: Fiorina's flash gave jump-start to HP; Capellas' low-key style maps Compaq's slow rebound. What a difference a year makes.

Did Windows 2000 miss the revolution?

While Windows 2000 gestated for the past five years, the world of operating systems changed. The notion of one OS that can fit all devices may be as antiquated as the idea that mainframe computers can handle all computing tasks.

HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format Printer Spells Success at School

Hannah's English School of Excellence is a private weekend institution that teaches English to students age five to 14 in Rizhao, China. At first, Paul Hogan used his personal HP Deskjet Printer, but at seven years old the device was...

Predictive Service Excellence for Printers: An Overview of Remote Service Platforms for Printer and Copier Devices

Many organisations are shifting towards a more responsive IT environment that is at the same time more self-reliant. Manufacturers are striving to enhance customer satisfaction through improved service availability whilst enterprises want to shift the service responsibility away from their...

Dell - Saving Money on Printing and Imaging Solutions

Purchasing a new printer is often an intimidating process due to the number of options now available on the market. In this TechRepublic Resource Guide on printing and imaging solutions, learn about the most critical features and benefits that...

Upper Chesapeake Health Saves Five Figures Per Month With Printing Solution From Dell

Upper Chesapeake Health needed to upgrade and simplify its aged fleet of printers with a solution that included responsive service and cost-effective supplies for improved printer availability and lower cost per page. The healthcare system chose Dell to replace all...

Using Proactive Alerts in HP Web Jetadmin

HP Web Jetadmin has the ability to send e-mail messages, or alerts, whenever events occur on printers. For example, error or warning conditions on printers, such as paper out or toner low, can trigger e-mail messages to be sent by...

Debugging Printer Drivers

This paper provides information about debugging user-mode printer drivers developed for Windows Vista. This paper also applies to Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. It provides guidelines for printer driver developers and testers to obtain more detailed information...

Creating Reports and Exporting Data in HP Web Jetadmin 10.2

HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 provides advanced reporting and data exporting capabilities for printers it manages. Collecting, extracting, and then analyzing usage data in printing environment can help bring about a balanced deployment, increased productivity, and cost savings. The Reporting feature...

The Episcopal Academy: School Designs New Print Environment With HP Products

At The Episcopal Academy in suburban Philadelphia, aging facilities were threatening to hold the school back. Buildings were in need of renovation. A hodgepodge of unreliable printers left students and teachers frustrated. Episcopal Academy created a new print environment that...

TechNet Webcast: Using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Migration Tools (Level 300)

The presenter explores the features, installation, and use of Windows Server 2008 R2 Migration Tools in this webcast. The presenter guides the attendee through an Active Directory and infrastructure server migration, which include IP, Domain Name System (DNS), and Dynamic...

Professional Quality, Low Cost With HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless AiO

Herron launched her company, MiddlEdge Inc., seven years ago, leveraging the business experience gained over a 20-year career in large companies. MiddlEdge, Inc. wanted to provide professional output capabilities for a home-based consultancy business. MiddlEdge Inc. owner Sandra Herron replaced...

Discovering Devices: Using HP Web Jetadmin 10.2

Discovery features enable HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 to find both network-connected and PC-connected printers and Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs) and then add them to the HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 All Devices list. In many cases, the administrator may have information about...

What Is Printer Lifecycle Management?

Most solutions look at a snapshot in time to track, optimize & identify cost savings. To do this, Guesstimate and approximations for costs are used. To fully determine printing costs, as a minimum, one needs to understand the user printing...

Leeds Metropolitan University Predicts a £200,000 Annual Saving With Consolidated HP Print Solution

Leeds Metropolitan University wanted to replace its fragmented technology mix of printers and copiers with a consolidated and unified print solution that would reduce costs, improve services and better meet the needs of both students and staff. Leeds Met entered...

802.1X Implementation: Choosing the Best Supplicant for Your Network Access Solution

802.1X allows for a network end station such as a desktop, laptop, printer, or IP phone, to provide a network device (switch or access point) the credentials to identify itself and request access to the network. It is an industry...

Alternative Computing Options for an Alternative Energy Company

InsynQ services combine computing resources in the data center, increasing the processing power for the clients while using less equipment for the task. And InsynQ services promote the use of thin client technologies, scaling down the equipment requirements for clients...

Smart Printing Landscape Safeguards New Insurance Business

Exeter Friendly Society wanted to replace its ageing printing and imaging fleet with reliable, high-speed devices to support its new business. The solution had to ensure consumable supplies via a trustworthy partner. Exeter Friendly Society signed an HP Smart Printing...