Get yourself a new Office on the cheap

Not everybody needs to drop €150 on a copy of Microsoft Office. In fact, it's debatable whether many home users need Office at all. After all, you can download free "viewers" from Microsoft for Word, PowerPoint and Excel which enable you to open such files sent to you.

But if you want to create or edit such files occasionally, consider a cheaper suite such as StarOffice 8 - as little as €67. Read the full review in today's paper.

In games, Ridge Racer 6 (Xbox 360) is pulling the same moves as the original PlayStation and arcade versions from 10 years ago but the addition of nitrous (turbo-boosting) and multiplayer over Xbox Live make it worthy of your cash. King Kong's porting to the PSP shows that mammoth gorillas don't fit on such tiny handhelds. And The Sims 2 (PSP) is practically ruined by constant loading from the disc.

N is for ... Multimedia?

Nokia created a new brand in the N-series to emphasise just how clever its new phones would be. You've got the forthcoming N91, a wannabe iPod killer handset with a hard drive for music playback, and the also-forthcoming N90, which has a high-quality lens to go with its two-megapixel camera.

Then there's the now-available N70, somewhat the runt of the N-series but still a classy successor to the excellent 6680, but this time with a 2MP camera. At €550 without contract (contract version coming soon), it's not cheap but it's a fine premium phone. See today's paper for the full review.

In games, Battlefield 2: Special Forces (PC) shifts the shooter further away from vehicular mayhem and more towards Rainbow Six-style close-quarters squad combat. Lord of the Rings: Tactics ekes more mileage out of the Tolkien franchise, bringing enjoyable turn-based combat to the PSP. And Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (PS2) wheels out the skating schtick one more time - veterans will get bored quickly but noobs should love it.

D'telly on the d'PC

Apologies to D'Unbelievables for the title but it sums up what Microsoft is trying to achieve with its Windows Media Center software (WMC or MCE). It's been around for a couple of years outside Ireland but until late last year MS hadn't tied up a TV listings deal for this country to enable MCE to do Sky+-style recording.

The other functions of MCE - photos/music/DVD playback - are of course easily enough done with any PC or Mac but it's the remote control plus the TV recording features which set it apart. Curiously, the picture quality isn't brilliant and using it with a set-top box such as Sky or NTL is fraught with pitfalls.

Read the full review of Windows Media Center 2005 (running on a Dell Dimension 5150) in today's paper.

In games, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 is the latest EA sports epic to get the 360 treatment - but it's the same old story. Tarted-up graphics can't mask the fact that a lot of content (read: courses) is missing compared with other console versions. Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil (Xbox) does a fine job of transcending expansion-pack status, introducing enough variety to appease fans. And Pursuit Force (PSP) is that novel concept, a PSP game which isn't just a port from PS2. Unfortunately, it's also a bit all over the place but its driving/shooting mix is a good rental.

Another slice of Razr

Motorola has milked the Razr V3 for all it's worth in the past year but never gave the technology inside the upgrade it needed, until now. The V3x has put on a bit of weight but with a two-megapixel camera, even crisper colour screen and solid 3G performance, it's a winner. The phone is available through Three and Vodafone. It's cheaper with Three but the misers don't include a memory card, whereas Voda does. Get the full picture in today's paper.

In games, Madden NFL 06 on Xbox 360 was rewritten from scratch for the new console. The effort is there but some of the familiar features are not. Looks great and still plays well though. NBA Live 06's transition to 360 is much less successful - wait for 07. Finally, Go! Sudoku brings the logic puzzle to the PSP - no more, no less. At least it's cheap.

TV on demand

With standard broadband speeds in Ireland now comfortably able to accommodate fast downloads, video/TV on demand will become a reality. Sky has jumped in with the launch of its Sky By Broadband offering, which enables existing subscribers to download movies and sports highlights for viewing on a PC.

The selection is limited and the teething troubles mean downloads can take an age (TWO days for one movie, huh?). Check out the full review in today's paper.

Log On also takes a look at Creative's Webcam Live! Motion - which promises to use face-tracking technology to keep your mug in the frame even if you move around in front of your PC. Trouble is, it doesn't always work flawlessly and likes to focus on other stuff around you.

In games, SoulCalibur III (PS2) plays as well as ever, even if the core is largely the same as part two. Jak X (PS2) spins out the buggy-driving from Jak 2 into a whole game, not unsuccessfully. The Movies (PC) can be summarised as The Sims Do Hollywood - enjoyably loopy. Finally, Namco Museum Battle Collection (PSP) assembles some of coin-op's greatest hits (Pac Man, Rolling Thunder) - along with some relics which have not stood the test of time.