PS3 edges Xbox in Grand Theft Auto IV shootout

Q: My 16-year-old son wants a video game console for his birthday, so he can play Grand Theft Auto IV. We're trying to decide between the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360. Which do you think would be better?

A: Before we get to that, you need to decide whether your son is ready for GTA IV. Yes, it's a fantastic game. I haven't played it, but I've watched it being played on a big-screen TV, and the scenery, lighting and action are astounding. However, it is rated for mature audiences, and in fact may be the most "adults only" video game yet. The rating label on the package says you can expect "partial nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs and alcohol, blood, and intense violence."

OK, you've been warned. Now for the console comparison. Early reviews suggest that GTA IV plays about equally well on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Both consoles can display the game in full 1080p on an HDTV with that resolution. Both allow online gaming via a Wi-Fi network: Microsoft's Xbox Live service is more robust than Sony's PlayStation Network, but Microsoft charges a fee, while the Sony service is free.

Microsoft has an exclusive arrangement for additional GTA IV content that users will be able to download later this year. On the other hand, the PlayStation 3 has a built-in Blu-ray disc player, which means you can use it to watch high-definition DVD movies.

Bottom line: If you were planning to get a Blu-ray disc player, go for the PlayStation. Otherwise, it's a tossup.

MBA BY THE BAY: See how an MBA could change your life with SFGATE's interactive directory of Bay Area programs.

Q:I want to create a company letterhead in Microsoft Word. My problem is that after I insert our logo, I can't move it into the proper position next to the company name and address. Every time I try to drag it to the correct spot, it pushes the text to a different line. Is there a way to configure images so they can be moved freely within a Word document?

A: Of course there's a way. By default, images inserted into a Word document are "in-line" graphics meant to have text above and below them. But that's easy to change. In Microsoft Word 2007, right-click the image that you've placed in the document (via the Insert menu), then point to Text Wrapping in the context menu that appears. You'll see a number of options for displaying graphics and text together. The one you want is "Through," which will let you position your logo anywhere in relation to the company name.

In earlier versions of Word, the process is basically the same. Right-click the image, choose Format Picture, then tab over to Layout to see the options.

Q:Our home computer runs slower than I do, and that is not a good thing. I'm not sure if it is the games our boys have loaded onto it, or old programs taking up space. The computer is a 2-year-old Dell running Windows XP with 512 MB of memory. Any ideas?

A: Regardless of what's causing the slowdown, you probably could speed things up by adding more memory. The stuff's cheap, so I'd increase the total to 2 GB. You can buy memory chips and install them yourself, or take the computer to a computer superstore to have it done.

As for the slowdown, it could be caused by a number of things. Programs that launch automatically at startup and sit in the background can gobble system resources. Spyware can slow down your computer. So can a badly fragmented hard drive. And sluggishness also can be caused by too much extraneous code in the Windows registry from programs you've installed and deleted over time.

A good first step is to tidy up your hard disk with Windows' disk defragmenter tool (you can find it by going to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools). To give your system a tuneup, use a registry cleaner/system optimizer program. Two good ones that happen to be free are Advanced WindowsCare Personal from Iobit.com and CCleaner (ccleaner.com). If they don't satisfy, you can try a well-regarded commercial program such as Registry Mechanic (pctools.com) or AusLogics BoostSpeed (auslogics.com) They're each $29.95.

Tip of the Week

Check out the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, where Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2, one of the earliest designs for an automatic computing engine, is on display for the first time in the United States. Designed in the middle of the 19th century, the engine consists of 8,000 parts of bronze, cast iron and steel. At the exhibit you can see and hear the engine working. And no, it can't play Grand Theft Auto. For more info, go to computerhistory.org.