Windows shopping

Your supplement with the February issue gives the NZ prices for the four versions of Vista. Last week I received an email from Amazon.com giving the US prices of Vista. I changed the US prices to NZ dollars using a conversion rate of 0.7, and on average the NZ prices were almost double the US pricing. Isn’t Microsoft New Zealand being too greedy?
Frank Coulter
Pauanui Beach

Frank wins a set of mm32 Portable Speakers from Logitech for letter of the month. A Microsoft spokesperson replies: Microsoft New Zealand only provides guidance on the recommended retail price (RRP) for its products. It is up to individual retailers to decide on the final selling price. The RRP varies around the world depending on a number of factors, like the distribution strategy in the country and the size of the potential market, which can determine the margin retailers expect to make on each product sale. Windows Vista offers more features than previous versions of Windows, but is in fact cheaper than Windows XP was in New Zealand. We believe Windows Vista offers the best value ever of any version of Windows.

Flattery + good timing =
I’d just like to say that I love your magazine because it’s really interesting. I buy it whenever I can because I can’t afford to subscribe. I’m 14 and I have a free, second-hand Windows 95 computer. I would like to buy a new computer but I can’t afford it and neither can my parents. I have bought six new games but none work on my budget computer. I would love a new computer because I’m a serious gamer and need more power. Once I’m older I hope to be an editor for a computing magazine. Please help me out!
Adam McKenzie
Oamaru

PC World editor Chris Keall replies: Adam, we are sending you a free, second-hand Dell Dimension 4100 running Windows 2000. We’re not sure it will help you with your gaming, but it’s a step up. We have also granted you a free subscription to PC World – but only until you turn 16, at which time you must find gainful employment and buy your own. Sorry, everybody else out there, Adam just scored our one-and-only charity PC. We have now returned to our usual cynical, jaded, vaguely paranoid selves.

I’m a believer
When I changed to Telecom’s Go Large broadband plan I thought both my computer and I were getting too old, as it was faster and cheaper on dial-up. But it was Telecom that had bungled. I could not believe that people who knew very little or could not handle things could draw a salary in the millions. Now I am a believer. Unleashed looks like it’s a word that isn’t in Theresa Gattung’s vocabulary. Paul Brooks of Australian consultancy Layer Ten says it’s surprising a carrier of Telecom’s size hasn’t referenced any previous engineering standards or guides. Telecom does not have a spectrum management plan for its DSL network, which was deployed in 1999. Finally, ADSL2+ has been delayed again, despite the promises of Theresa Gattung that it would come online in June this year.
Hilton Marshall
Waiheke Island

We want a resurrection
I’ve been reading and enjoying PC World for too many years to remember. I subscribe, so I always look forward to getting my copy in the mail. I wholeheartedly agree with Alex Burgess’s letter (April) asking for the resurrection of Dumb Terminal. I too am used to the ritual of turning to the back page for the funny stuff. I know you have moved it online, but for someone who spends a long time on the computer it’s great to sit back with some glossy paper in my hands and enjoy Dumb Terminal.
Our industry already has a reputation for being nerdy and serious, please don’t take away the few laughs we get. Reading it online is just not the same as it being right there at the back of my magazine.
Barry Dodge
Christchurch

PC World editor Chris Keall replies: I do sort of like the title Dumb Terminal: Resurrection.

CORRECTION
In March’s “2007’s top 20 innovations” article, an incorrect -image was run alongside the Blackbox noise-cancelling headphones (page 71). Phitek’s innovative Blackbox headphones actually look like this.
COMPETITION WINNERS
The lucky 100 winners of February’s Windows Vista Ultimate and Office Professional 2007 giveaway are: Amit Govind, Andrew Fraser, Andy Hutchinson, Arnold Otten, Ben Ouano, Bernice Drummond, Bill Walter, Noel Bush, Adrian Soundy, Adrienne Smith, Brett Dalton, Brett Thom, Brian Knott, Bronwyn Dargaville, Cameron McLean, Cath Watson, Cecil Wong, Cheng Qu, Chris Clent, Craig Jones, Danny Chan, Daryn August, David Bishop, David Pardoe, David Wharekura, Derral Barnes, Dyan Vickery, Emily Vickery, Fflur Phillips, Glenn Adrian, Graeme Mackay, Graham Rickman, Greg Perrott, Grey Ghost, Hamish Gould, Henri Labuschagne, Henry Butt, James Keene, Jamie Hendry, Janine Cox, Jason Billing, Jeffrey Burke, Jennifer Castle, Jim Blackman, Jody McMurdo, John Karl, John McIntyre, John Rasmussen, Jonathan Durand, Jordan Martin, Joy Mortlock, Kaye Day, Keith Millman, Kenny Tran, Kevin Chong, Kyle Henderson, Les McKendry, Lucas Hutchinson, Mandeep Singh Sangha, Marcus Gibbs, Mark Spence, Martin Kane, Matthew Packard, Michael Wong, Mike Wahlers, Milton Hartley, Murray McFarlane, Nicholas Latham, Nicole de Wever, Nigel Ferguson, Noeline Murray, Paul Johnson, Peter Cleland, Peter Harland, Peter Pritchard, Philip Blagdon, Philip Lie, Ray Anderson, Reg Feuz, Rick Brown, Robert Chidlow, Robert Nairn, Robert Rogers, Robin Carter, Roger Sillars, Ross Hopkins, Russell Donn, Ryan Powell, Sam Stewart, Scott Brightling, Sharyn Fleming, Simeon Copsey, Spencer Roberts, Stewart Allen, Tim Brennan, Tim Chan, Vidushi Mann, Vincent Da Col, Willem Vonder, Yugaraja Sinnaiah.

COMING UP
Next month in the May PC World (on sale 30 April).
• The ultimate wireless home and office
• Group test: Ultraportable PCs

WRITE TO US AND WIN!
Send correspondence to: mailbox@fairfaxbm.co.nz. Letters should be no longer than 150 words and may be edited for reasons of clarity or space. Include your full name, address and daytime telephone number. May’s letter of the month will win a Premium Notebook Headset from Logitech worth $129.99.

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