MaximumPC 2004 12

L

ove it or hate it, the Windows OS is, has been, and,

barring an almost unimaginable turn of events, will

be the foundation of PCs for years to come.

But for Microsoft, the desktop is just the beginning.

A big part of the company’s DNA is embodied by the

phrase, “Windows Everywhere.” This is the notion that

the Windows OS can and should migrate to all aspects

of our lives.

Insert your own joke about crash bugs and blue

screens here, but I don’t think anyone would argue

with the underlying assump-

tions fueling Microsoft’s con-

viction. Barring a catastrophe

that sets society back a few

hundred years, technology will

eventually saturate 99.9 per-

cent of our lives. A tremendous

capacity for improving efficien-

cy, increasing comfort of living,

and increasing safety makes

this an evolutionary certainty.

So off we go. First comes the

move into the living room, via

the Media Center. It’s not per-

fect, but, with the exception of

one hyper-critical flaw—regu-

lar crashes—my tests with

the WinXP Media Center OS

revealed considerably more potential for managing our

media-oriented lifestyles than Tivo possesses.

Apparently, the next foray is the automobile. As we

went to press, Microsoft made waves with the debut of

Windows Automotive. Based on Windows CE, the OS

was installed in a Hummer H2 at a Detroit auto show

named Convergence 2004.

Hidden under the back seat of the Hummer was

a 400MHz PC with 32MB of RAM and 32MB of flash

memory, outfitted with GPS and Bluetooth. The initial

idea is that you’ll be able to use this setup to get driv-

ing directions and connect to the Internet via wireless

providers. Not surprisingly, another intended use is tak-

ing your home entertainment on the road. In time, I’m

sure we’ll all think of many more potential uses.

In an attempt to assuage fears that a Windows crash

in an automobile could be dangerous, Microsoft went

out of its way to say that the car area network concept

in Windows Automotive in no way affects low-level

functions like braking.

Again with the crashes. If I were ever to get five min-

utes with Bill Gates, I’d beg and plead that Microsoft

commit itself to eliminating crash bugs for good.

Rebooting a desktop PC sucks. Rebooting your home

theater system, auto network, kitchen, or otherwise

falls into the realm of ridiculous. Before Windows goes

everywhere, it has to work all the time.

—GEORGE JONES

[email protected]

Release

Notes

Contents 1 2.

REGULARS

Windows in a Car?
8 In/Out
You write, we respond

14 Quick Start

PC previews, news, and factoids

22 Head2Head

This month: Hot rod CPUs

26 WatchDog

Maximum PC takes a bite out of bad gear

66 Ask the Doctor

Symptom, diagnosis, cure

73 How To...

This month: Take better digital pictures

82 In the Lab

A behind-the-scenes look at product testing

136 Rig of the Month

It’s amazing what a person can do with a PC!

REVIEWS

GAMES

107 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

108 Rome: Total War

108 Evil Genius

109 Call of Duty: United Offensive

109 Star Wars: Battlefront

DECEMBER 2004 MAXIMUMPC 5

Which CPU

rules?

Page 22

Goodbye,

Go-L

Computers

Page 26

84 Desktop PC: Digital Storm Twister

86 Desktop PC: ZT Group Pro Gaming PC

88 MP3 player: Rio Carbon 5GB

88 Speakers: Sicuro 5.1 Gaming Speakers

90 PC cases: Viper Extreme Gamer ;

Devanni Nitrous 7105 Silver

91 Portable video player: Apex MP-

92 Notebook PC: Averatec 6200

94 PDAs: HP iPaq rx3715 Mobile Media Companion;

HP iPaq hx

96 Soundcard: Philips Ultimate Edge PSC

97 PC keyboards: Saitek Gaming Keyboard;

Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth

98 LCD displays: Sony SDM-P234; HP f

100 Digital camera: Canon EOS 20D

102 Double-layer DVD burner: Pioneer DVR-A

102 External backup drive: Maxtor One Touch II

104 KVM: OmniView Dual Head

104 Portable hard drive: LaCie 100GB

106 Digital media player: Omnifi DMP-

110 Disc mastering suite: Nero 6.6 Ultra Edition

THE EIC’S PICKS

IN THE LAB: Technical

Editor Will Smith tests

nVidia’s dual GeForce

6800s in an SLI configura-

tion. The results are

mesmerizing. Page 82

PHOTO HOW-TO:

Maximum PC does

cameras—our expert

tips will help you unlock

your camera’s advanced

features. Page 73

MAXIMUM PC GIFT

GUIDE: Hey, anytime

you can get your IT guys

into elf costumes, every-

one wins. Page 45

HP iPaq rx3715 Mobile Media Companion;