My dad was a dentist. Whenever I had a dental question, I'd call and ask for his advice, even though I lived at the other end of the country. In the same vein, I'm an editor at a tech magazine and Web site. And whenever my father had a problem with his computer, he'd call me for help. The only catch: I had tooth problems every few years. He, my mom, my inlaws, and the entire extended family seemed to have PC problems constantly. So I was always on call. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, make sure to read Rick Broida's "How to Fix Your Family's PC Problems." Though Rick's article won't decrease the number of times you get tapped by your loved ones, it will help you to be more efficient when they call.
--Editorial Director Steve Fox

Top Stories

How to Fix Your Family's PC Problems
Are you the first line of tech support for your friends and family? Here's everything you need to troubleshoot for the not so tech-savvy.

PCWorld's Giant Cable Guide
Our complete guide to the bizarre world of plugs and cables will teach you how to identify every important audio, video, PC, peripheral, and networking cable.

Boost Weak Cell Service at Home: Your Options
Even the best wireless networks often can't deliver a consistent signal inside your house. Femtocells and repeaters will usually help, but they'll cost you.

For more phone how-tos and news, visit PCWorld.com.

News

Report: Chinese Teens Face Brutal Treatment Building Microsoft Products
China has become known as the world's sweatshop, and now Microsoft appears to tainted by the sometimes brutal working conditions there.

Battle Back Against Poison Facebook, iPhone Apps
A new wiki called 'WhatApp?' lets you post reviews of privacy killing, vulnerability riddled apps. It's an idea whose time has come.

Nokia Launches Its Cheapest QWERTY Phone Yet
Nokia has launched three new phones that all come with a physical QWERTY keyboard, including its cheapest QWERTY phone yet.

For the latest reports, visit our News page .

PCW Business Center

Put Cloud CRM to Work
Customer relationship management is essential to any small business. Here's how to select and get started with the best service for your company.

Visit the PCW Business Center.

Blogs

The Google Android Tablet: Coming Soon?
Watch out, iPad: Google is reportedly working on its own Android tablet. Here's a look at what we know and what a Google Android tablet might be able to do.

Apple's New MacBook Pros Not for Serious Gamers
Apple's belated MacBook Pro series updates offer only a modest graphics processor refresh.

Collateral Damage: iPhone OS 4 Developer Agreement Fallout
Introduced just before releasing iPhone OS 4 beta, Apple's new Developer Agreement bans third party iPhone compilers. It was more than likely a jab targeted at Adobe, but the question is, will other third party SDK's be taken as collateral damage?

For the latest news and opinion, visit our Blogs page .

Reviews

Photoshop CS5 Beta: Lots of Refinements to Solid Program
Photoshop CS5 adds enhancements for smoother workflow and greater creativity.

Top 10 Ultraportable Laptops
Ideal for the consumer that values portability while demanding more performance than you'd get from a netbook, these notebooks stand out for their low weight and small footprint.

Compare prices on laptops.

For more reviews, visit PCWorld.com.

How-To

How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi makes it easier for you to work on the go--and easier for other people to sneak a peek at your data. We'll show you how to remain secure on public wireless networks.

Twitter Like a Pro: Get Started, Find Deals, Manage Groups
Here's how to get started with Twitter, use it for bargain hunting and group communication, and access it on the go.

For more tips, visit PCWorld.com.

Videos

How to Master Your Digital Camera's Flash
For some reason, the flash seems to be the most mysterious part of any digital camera: Using the flash, it seems, isn't particularly intuitive. Let's take a look at the modern digital camera's flash and see how it works.

For more videos, visit PCWorld.com.

Downloads

Photo Pos Pro
Edit photos without having to learn a complex interface.

For more free and trial software, visit PCWorld.com.

PC World Community

Laptop for the Clueless?
Join the discussion.

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