Elias Plastiras

While the easiest way to install Windows 7 on a netbook is by booting from an external DVD drive, it’s probably not worth spending $100 on a drive that you won’t use more than a few times. It’s much more economical to use a 4GB USB key, which will only set you back $10-15. And it will also be quicker and more convenient!

But installing Windows 7 via a USB key isn’t as straightforward as it seems. You can’t just copy the contents of your Windows 7 DVD onto the USB key and then boot from it. Before you even think about copying Windows 7 to the USB key, you must give it an active partition it and make it bootable. As many of you will be upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP, we will go through the steps required to prepare a USB key on a Windows XP-equipped computer.

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Get the Right Camera

Faster, Bigger, Prettier, Stronger, Pricier!

The Panasonic TZ series will welcome two new models in April, the Lumix DMC-TZ7 and the Lumix DMC-TZ6 - also known as 'travel zoom' cameras. The 12.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-TZ7, equipped with a 10-element LEICA DC 25mm lens, will be a hybrid camera capable of taking 720p-resolution videos using the AVCHD Lite codec, and will feature a 12x optical zoom capable of reaching up to 300mm.

Panasonic has launched its latest range of Lumix cameras in Singapore this week. The new Lumix camera range will be roll out in stores from March, and will include the new FS series and TZ series cameras, as well as a brand new ruggedised camera called the LUMIX DMC-FT1.

The 12.1-megapixel DMC-FT1, which will be released in April, will be the company's first rugged digital still camera and will be aimed at active users including beach-goers, bush walkers, divers, who want a camera that can take high definition video in addition to still shots.

In case you didn't know, iiNet is being sued for not doing anything to stop its users from downloading stuff off the Internet. It's a case that could change the landscape of the Internet industry in this country if iiNet loses, as Roadshow, Universal, Paramount, Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. and Columbia, as well as Channel Seven, seek unspecified damages.

It's heartening to know that iiNet will be taking the fight to these seven greedy film studios and the Seven network, because iiNet has done nothing wrong! (Seven itself should be taken to court for exposing us to tripe such as Dancing with the Z-grade Stars and Sunrise!)