Nero 9 Reloaded ($99.99 list, or a $79.99 download) suite’s incredibly long installation time, and the frequent associated error messages, have been reduced also claims this version uses 40 percent less disk space.

Part of this savings comes from the elimination of one very problematic part of the suite: the Nero Live TV watching and recording software.

Other changes include Windows 7 certification, the ability to import PowerPoint presentations, and the inclusion of Nero BackItUp & Burn. But this doesn’t add up to the overhaul that Nero needed to keep last year’s score, as competitors Roxio and Cyberlink forge ahead.

1. You don’t really need to burn a DVD. Use MagicIso’s DiscMaker or any virtual CD drive software instead.
2. Its best to create a partition specifically for Windows 7 which gives you the option to work with either your existing OS or Windows 7.
3. Have your Beta Activation key.

You can find instructions all over the net to install Windows 7 on netbooks, Macs..

Windows 7 Usability + User Interface is Excellent. The task bar really rocks. There’s loads of small little things that make using it easier and contrary to some negative reviews.

Surprisingly, this is much quicker it is to use Windows, the easier switching between windows, being able to preview windows without switching to them, and much more.

Firefox browser packs top–notch features and blazing speed into a tidy, intuitive interface that will help you navigate the web the way you want to.

These features include tabbed browsing, an integrated search engine and many add–ons of all types. This high-performance browser also has a massive selection of great customization features and tools to help you personalize your Web experience.

Firefox Features:

• Open Video and Audio
• Private Browser Mode
• Built-in Spell Checker
• Smart Location Bar
• Instant Web Site ID
• Customization

The new Spec Ops mode which gives Modern Warfare 2 an edge over most other titles this year though, allowing players to team up to try and tackle some difficult co-op challenges. Our personal favourite is still the Overwatch mission, which puts one player on foot behind enemy lines in a mad rush to the finish while the other player mans an AC130 and provides covering fire.

Modern Warfare 2 has had on the games industry this year either. The launch of the game was one of the most publicised events of the year for more than just the usual specialist media, with even the normally games-indifferent publications breaking cover to report on the game and the host of celebrities attached to it.

dSLRs have bigger sensors that produce better picture quality, they have more advanced controls, and they’re more flexible than compacts, because you can use interchangeable lenses and accessories such as filters and powerful external flash guns.

dSLRs have fully automatic modes for the less experienced, and the least expensive models are designed specifically for people moving up from a compact.

Many dSLRs now have a ‘live view’ mode in which you can frame your shots with the LCD display on the back, just as you can with a compact, and this is a feature worth looking out for.

The autofocus tends to be slightly slower, but it makes it easier to shoot at different angles, and it’s a more familiar way of working if you’re used to a compact.

Some dSLRs now have high-definition movie modes, too. In fact, professional film makers and photographers are very interested in these cameras because of the results they can deliver and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

Basic digital SLR will have a 10-megapixel sensor capable of producing super-sharp blow-ups, and, while more expensive models may have 12-, 14- or 15-megapixel sensors, the gains in definition can be quite slight.

Selecting a brand is more important, because this could be a long-term decision. You can buy extra lenses for any camera, but they will only work on a particular make. Currently Canon and Nikon have the widest lens ranges, although other companies are catching up.

Kit lenses vary in quality, but they’re an important part of the camera package, so check our reviews section before making any decisions.