Computers & Gaming

Computer hardware, software and games providers listed below. Remember, broader shopping sites such as Amazon can help you here as well.

PC Pitstop	www.pcpitstop.com   Rating: 4 Stars
PC Pitstop review: Online PC configuration checking. Includes tools to analyse your PC remotely, fix problems, and make recommendations for improvements.
Boomtown	www.boomtown.net   Rating: 5 Stars
Boomtown review: Good-looking games review site with few of the annoying pop-up adverts which seem so prevalent on other sites. Free registration required for downloads.
Donate A PC	www.donateapc.org.uk   Rating: 4 Stars
Donate A PC review: Got old PC equipment which you no longer want? Most of the 'big' recycling companies will only listen if you have at least 20 PC's to get rid of. You probably just have that old monitor which is now cluttering the corner of your study. DonateAPC seeks to bring together donors and groups such as youth clubs who are after this sort of thing. PC equipment is full of manky stuff like lead, and to make from new costs energy and resources, so if you've got serviceable equipment please don't just throw it out. Advertise it here and someone will take it off your hands.
MicroDirect	www.microdirect.co.uk   Rating: 4 Stars
MicroDirect review: It seems rare these days that online retailers are sufficient confident to provide a telephone number. We have had too many experiences of getting unhelpful automated emails back from customer service departments. Yes, with a telephone number you can be in a queue, but at least you can wait - emails don't allow that, and are too easy to ping back or not answer at all. MicroDirect have been in business a few years (since 1993) and have a smart website. We're so fed up with some of the other big names in PC components, but confident that MicroDirect are different.
Dell	www.dell.co.uk   Rating: 5 Stars
Dell review: UKHelpdesk is built using Dell Computers and we would thoroughly recommend them. Configure and order yours online today.
CNET Downloads	www.downloads.com   Rating: 4 Stars
CNET Downloads review: Huge range of downloads: freeware, shareware and demos. Many with online reviews.
Romulus 2	www.romulus2.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Romulus 2 review: Covering basic hardware and software, this site provides easy-to-understand guides and reviews of core hardware and software. The forums appear busy, with well-informed opinion and suggestions. But potentially the most valuable resource is the Feedback Arena, where users submit reviews of hardware, software and service suppliers - particularly strong on PC retailer reviews. Effectively run by a group of volunteers - exactly the sort of site we like to see on the web.
Games Street	www.gamesstreet.co.uk   Rating: 4 Stars
Games Street review: Streets Online are making a name for themselves with an attractive and wide-ranging site covering games, books, music and DVDs. Games Street is the games section, covering PC, Playstation, Nintendo, Dreamcast and Gameboy.
PC Format	www.pcformat.co.uk   Rating: 2 Stars
PC Format review: The online version of PC Format magazine, sadly only containing encouragement to subscribe, a few forums, and numerous pop-ups. Disappointing.
Dabs	www.dabs.com   Rating: 2 Stars
Dabs review: We used to think... Reliable provider of a whole range of computer and technology products. Generally cheap and provides good stock visibility. But Dabs have really gone down hill over the past couple of years. They don't provide a telephone number, they give automated responses to emails, and even the postal address is hidden away. They have served us well in the past, and we've got some positive votes for them as well, so not on the Grim List yet, but very disappointed in the way they are going.
PC Advisor	www.pcadvisor.co.uk   Rating: 3 Stars
PC Advisor review: Online version of the beginners PC magazine. Limited news and reviews from the magazone are available. The remainder of the site is dedicated to a series of forums (free registration required).
PC Plus	www.pcplus.co.uk   Rating: 5 Stars
PC Plus review: Online version of the magazine. Well-organised reviews and helpdesk (advice and tips). Focused download sections, and plenty of editorial comment.
Jungle	www.jungle.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Jungle review: For music, video and games there are better sites, but the much hyped Jungle does provide a wide range of computer bits and bobs. With their 'jewels' loyalty points scheme you save more as you buy more. Update Oct 01: Recent problems with delivery times - check carefully before ordering.
Measurement Systems Ltd	www.measurementsystems.co.uk   Rating: 3 Stars
Measurement Systems Ltd review: This company provide data acquisition systems for applications such as continous monitoring of vibrations in structures, flow in pipes, or engine performance. Well presented, with some good case studies, so if you're in need of some real time measurement system, why not give them a try?
Expansys	www.expansys.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Expansys review: The best prices around for palmtops and digital cameras - promptly and safely delivered.
Message Labs	www.messagelabs.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Message Labs review: Scanning site which provides latest information on virus threats. Click 'Threats & Analysis' for information on the latest virus and spam. Provides realtime views of threats, and details on the most critical viruses right now.
Shields Up!	https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh...   Rating: 4 Stars
Shields Up! review: Steve Gibson's site has been providing security checks for years. It's when the site greets you by name that the worry's really start. Run the tests and follow the advice - you should be able to beef up your defence against hackers.
Gamespot UK	www.gamespot.co.uk   Rating: 4 Stars
Gamespot UK review: Providing reviews of all the latest games as well as extensive archives. Extensive strategy guides give the low-down on how to get the better of opponents.
Tucows	www.tucows.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Tucows review: With reviewed and rated downloads of demos, shareware and freeware, we have found Tucows the easiest site to use. Other sites may provide a greater range, but the clarity and quality of Tucows takes a lot of beating. This link will take you to the UK mirror site, improving download speeds.
Games Domain	www.gamesdomain.co.uk   Rating: 3 Stars
Games Domain review: Maybe not the greatest games reviews, but does have a good selection of games demos to download.
Net4Nowt	www.net4nowt.com   Rating: 4 Stars
Net4Nowt review: ISP Directory listing all the major internet service providers, including narrowband (dial-up modem) and broadband (DSL/cable) providers. Includes customer reviews.
FILExt	www.filext.com   Rating: 4 Stars
FILExt review: Looking for information on file extensions? Found a file on your computer which you cannot open? This site is the place to resolve these problems. Around 8000 file extensions are included, from obscure FORTRAN code modules (.BSC) to Half-Life saved games (.RES). Good web content - simple, focused and with valuable information.
Annoyances.org	www.annoyances.org   Rating: 3 Stars
Annoyances.org review: Fed up with some feature of Windows? This site collects together all those things which really annoy and provides solutions. Warning: some of the solutions involve digging around in the depths of Windows - backup beforehand, and if unsure then don't do it.
Mozilla	www.mozilla.org   Rating: 3 Stars
Mozilla review: Mozilla is an open source internet browser developed by thousands across the world. From this site you can help take on the might of Microsoft by helping to identify bugs or even get involved in the programming. Note: some of the pre-release versions of Mozilla will inevitably contain numerous bugs, so take care when running them on mission-critical PC's.
PC Pro	www.pcpro.co.uk   Rating: 4 Stars
PC Pro review: PC Pro Magazine, online version. Most pages require you to login - a brief registration is required. Good back catalogue of reviews, and the very best products are included on the 'A-List'. Also latest news and lab tests.
VNU Net	www.vnunet.com   Rating: 3 Stars
VNU Net review: Technology news and reviews from VNU (publishers of PCW and WhatPC?). Plenty of content, but not particularly accessible - ill-presented front pages, and you seem to be forced into searching very quickly. Expected something better.
ZD Net	www.zdnet.co.uk   Rating: 3 Stars
ZD Net review: Most of these online technology magazine are getting bogged down with adverts, some partially disguised as editorial, as they seek to achieve advertising income to offset the print circulation decreases. Nevertheless, this site does provide a good selection of news and reviews.