Computersight -

There are a number of valuable sources available for technical advice regarding computer gear. Be it as a gift, or whatever, the range of technical advice available to assist you with your purchases can be very helpful.

Computer magazines, available in stores, offer great variety and many focus on providing product reviews of hardware and software alike. PC magazine, for example, is especially good for this and gives comprehensive reviews of PCs, graphic cards, sound cards, peripherals etc. PC Pro is also a big magazine that gives comprehensive advice on just about all computer-related products. Computer Active is another magazine that is worth a look for technical advice, and provides jargon glossaries, which explain some of the more technical terms.

The product reviews included within such magazines will usually run-through the technical aspects of the hardware or software for you, and then give them an overall rating. For example, with regard to a graphic card, PC Pro will talk about how good the card’s technical specifications are and then relate that to the overall value it offers. Performance will be measured, and possibly compared to the top rated products in the category.

Of course, the magazines are not available free. If you want free technical advice, then you could just bypass the magazines via their web-sites! PC Pro has a very good web-site that more than complements its magazine. Visit www.pcpro.co.uk, and you will find that it includes an archive of its reviews, which can easily be viewed. These give the technical specifications of the product, review it, and then provide a rating out of six. With such sites, you can match the reviews to your gift requirements.

CNET.com is also a good site, but does not have an equivalent magazine. This site also provides balanced reviews, with recommendations and general technical advice regarding such gear.

At any rate, although the reviews provided are comprehensive, you might still have further queries regarding the product in question. Further technical advice can be provided from customer service, in places like PC World. They will likely be able to provide an answer to any further queries you might have, regarding the gift you are interested in. For example compatibility issues etc, or whether you have enough hardware resources to run a particular software application.

Computer magazines, the net and IT professionals (usually via customer service) can all provide useful technical advice regarding computer gear. Only you will be aware of your gift requirements, seek out the reviews and advice available and you will be able to break through the technical jargon, which can sometimes confuse.