Bought a 42in plasma display and still craving more space on the Windows desktop? Well, you could always install an additional monitor or two - or nine.

Later versions of Windows (98 onwards) include support for outputting the display to multiple monitors, with Windows XP able to control up to 10 screens.

You'll need to fit an additional graphics card for each monitor you wish to set up, or install a graphics card with built-in multi-monitor support.

For example, the new Millennium P750 card (£173 ex VAT from Matrox, 01753 665 544; www.shopmatrox.com), has the ability to split its graphical goodness between up to three monitors at once (or two monitors and a TV).

Silent running
As computer processors get quicker they generate more heat that needs to be dissipated. The industry's main response to this problem is to equip computer chips and cases with fans: lots of big, noisy fans.

Couple the whirring of these coolers with the clicks and clatters emitted by a PC's hard disk and other drives and it adds up to a cacophony.

If this din is driving you to distraction, then it's time to look for a silencing solution, like the Hush Kit from noise-reduction specialist Quiet PC (0870 321 4620; www.quietpc.com).

The £128.08 inc VAT AMD/PIII package comprises five components specifically designed to dampen the din coming from within and includes a whisper-quiet 300w replacement power supply unit and Silentdrive, an acoustic enclosure for the hard disk.

The same firm also sells the £116.33 inc VAT Acousticase, a PC case constructed with noise-attenuating foam and steel.

Phone home.com
During the heady days of the dotcom boom there was a lot of hype about 'internet telephony': essentially, employing the infrastructure of the web as a low-cost transport for voice calls, with computers acting as transceivers.

Several years on you'd be forgiven for thinking that hype was all it ever was. However, not only is the idea of using a PC to make telephone calls alive and kicking, it's thriving. Net2phone was a pioneer of the technology and the company's PC2phone software remains one of the simplest Internet telephony applications around.

If your computer is equipped with speakers, microphone and a speedy net connection then download the program from www.net2phone.com and start saving money on international phone calls.

Get the message
The use of instant messaging applications is fast growing among the online community, but few users explore or appreciate the more advanced aspects of the technology.

Microsoft's Messenger client, for example, can be used for a whole lot more than simple text chat: open the Actions menu and select Start Application Sharing, and you'll be able to work collaboratively using your favourite software programs.

Alternatively, use the Whiteboard function to draw silly pictures that'll appear instantaneously on your Messenger-using mate's machine.

To leave a message, left-click once
Far be it from us to promote the proliferation of those infuriating automated telephone switchboards but, if you run a small enterprise, a program like EZVoice ($18.50 from www.internetsoftsolution.com) could help you maintain a professional front on demanding days.

Essentially a high-tech answer phone, EZVoice uses a PC's hard disk to record incoming calls that you're unable, or unwilling, to answer. The voice mailbox feature can be used to direct calls to any one of up to 10 slots.

Your PC will need to be equipped with a voice modem in order to make use of the program.

People power
Carry out a time-and-motion study on your computer use and, chances are, you'll discover that your PC spends much of its life idle.

The simple fact is that most of the time a PC is switched on, it uses only a fraction of its computing potential, because common tasks, such as word-processing and internet activities, are not processor-intensive operations.

This processing surplus can be put to good use by joining a so-called distributed computing effort, such as the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence's seti@home project.

Download the seti@home program from http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu and your home PC can lend a helping hand in the hunt for life beyond our planet.

If you'd prefer more down-to-earth use of distributed computing power, perhaps even exploiting idle time on your office network for other business purposes, then visit the United Devices home page (www.ud.com) for more information.

Remote control
Owners of Windows XP PCs can use the operating system's Remote Assistance feature to grab the reins of another XP user's computer. This can be useful for problem solving at a distance, or simply for a bit of fun.

While the function works best over a broadband connection, even dial-up modem users can take control of a friend or colleague's machine.

To begin, open the Windows XP Help and Support Center (by clicking Help and Support within the Start menu) and then choose the 'Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance' option. Now follow the operating system's prompts to get connected to the remote machine.

(Note that in order to make use of Remote Assistance, both parties must have Microsoft's Windows Messenger program installed or be using a Mapi-compliant email system, such as Outlook.)

Once the marriage is made, click Take Control to assume charge of the distant user's computer. An image of their Windows XP desktop will be displayed on your local machine.

Every action you make with the mouse and/or keyboard will be carried out in real time on the remote PC.

Karaoke craziness
Ever felt the need to sing Feelings or Rhinestone Cowboy out loud and out of tune but couldn't remember all the words? Now, with a few clicks of your mouse, you can become a karaoke king or queen using your computer.

Chances are, you already own all the hardware and software you need. Visit the Computer Karaoke homepage (www.computer-karaoke.com) for the full lowdown and prepare to sing and dance every night with the hula melody.

Radio Ga-Ga
When Guglielmo Marconi conducted his first experiments with wireless telegraphy, he could have had scarce idea what impact his findings would have more than a century later.

In this era of digital audio broadcasting (Dab), radio listeners can tune into any one of dozens of nationally available channels using a dedicated Dab receiver or via a cable/satellite set-top box.

Alternatively, you might decide to tune a virtual dial by using your web browser to listen to the latest digital radio stations.

Visit the Digital Radio Now website at www.digitalradionow.com to check the current line-up of Dab stations, along with links to the relevant broadcast web pages.

Those with an urge to drive a desk might want to consider setting up a radio station of their own. Surf on over to www.live365.com and click the Broadcast tab, followed by the Personal Services icon.

The Live365's net radio broadcast service is free to try for 14 days, following which a monthly subscription of $4.95 is payable for continued use of the basic broadcasting features.

CD or DVD: You decide
While the DVD format is busy conquering the world of home entertainment, many computer users dream of being able to create DVD movie discs.

Sadly though, at the moment, cost probably conspires against the desire, with prices for even the cheapest DVD writer drives hovering around the £150-200 mark - and that's before you've bought any media.

The good news is that if your PC is kitted out with a CD-writer drive, as most are these days, you can use it to burn discs that can be played in standard DVD players.

Most CD-burning software programs are tooled up to make Video CD (VCD) discs - literally, compact discs that contain video files rather than audio - and this is a format that is acceptable to most modern domestic DVD players.

However, there are a couple of downsides. First, playback of VCD-format video is not on a par with that of DVD, as files are encoded in mpeg1, not mpeg2 (think VHS quality rather than the refined images usually associated with digital video discs).

Second, a CD has space enough to store little over 70 minutes of video: a lot less than a DVD disc.

A more advanced version of Video CD - Super VCD, or SVCD - relies on mpeg2 encoding, addressing the quality issue, but this reduces recording time by around a half.

So, if you fancy using cheap CD media to make DVD-playable discs, fire up your burning software.

We're not about to teach you how to suck eggs but, in case you were unaware of the VCD function, in Nero Burning Rom the option resides within the 'Other CD formats' section, while in Easy CD Creator the 'Make a photo or Video CD' button leads the way.

20 amazing new PC uses - Part 1