epinions

“Other forms of PC get coverage in the mag already, it would be good if some page space is put aside for the humble desktop PC”

WHERE KODI GOES I refer to APC magazine December 2018 Issue 460, and the Kodi Setup Guide on page 50.

In section 14 The Perfect Startup on page 52 the advice from the magazine is to copy the Kodi.exe file into the Startup folder. Doing that is setting the system up for a possible future bug. The problem is that you now have two copies of Kodi.exe. If Kodi gets an update you can bet that the Kodi.exe in the Startup folder is still at the old level. It would be better practice to instead create a shortcut to Kodi.exe and put that in the Startup folder. Bob Denton INTERNET PHONES I have just joined Aussie Broadband. The Aussie “Australia Tech Help Dept.” tell me that my VOIP phone connection will only work when I am switched on to them. When I close my computer’s internet connection then I have no telephone connection. The phone will only work when my computer is switched on and connected to ‘Aussie’ This sounds pretty crazy and a needless addition to my electricity account. Do all ISP companies have this system? Carol Ben Mansill replies: Hi Carol, and thanks for writing in. Some good news – you do not need to have your computer on to use VOIP. As long as your modem is on and connected to the internet that’s all you need. The VOIP handset will be connected to the modem, likely via a provided adaptor. So, when you turn your computer off just make sure you leave the modem on. The downside to VOIP is that, obviously, you do need to be online, so if there’s an interuption to your internet service then the phone won’t work. So, always have your mobile handy if you need to make urgent or emergency calls when this happens.

MORE PC IN APC

I have subscribed to PC&TA for some time after joining from PC World years ago. I have read many of your publications over the years from the local library.

I would like the continuation of the Market Watch segment from PC&TA and even any expansion. I have always been a desktop fan and would like this section to be wholly dedicated to this segment. Other forms of PC get coverage in the mag already, it would be good if some page space is put asside for the humble desktop PC. Also please look at pricing the PCs to the average user and have sections around $1,000, $1,000-1,500 and $1,500-2,500. I feel showing sytems of $3,000-6,000 would be a small percentage of the market. Jason Ben Mansill replies: Happy to oblige, Jason! If you look to page 76 there’s our new Blueprint section, and it does just what you’re looking for. The price bands aren’t exactly the same as your request, but we certainly cover the low and medium range comprehensively with our builds and coverage. And yes, there’s also an extreme high-end build, but we couldn’t help ourselves.