Holiday Gift Guide

Sony VAIO TZ150N (black)

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:48:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Extremely slim and light; head-turning design, excellent battery life; includes integrated WWAN; manages to squeeze in DVD burner.

The bad: Slow performance; expensive; limited configuration options; bloatware clutters the hard drive.

The bottom line: Only the high price and sluggish performance detract from Sony's inch-thick flagship laptop, the VAIO TZ, which impresses with smart design and fantastic battery life.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.06 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 2.6 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,696.34 - $2,175.26

Dell XPS M1330

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:16:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Thin, sexy design; strong performance; backlit-LED display; included media remote control.

The bad: Small touchpad; some options (SSD hard drives, Blu-ray) not available yet; not as many color options as Dell's new Inspiron line.

The bottom line: Dell has finally put design first with the head-turning XPS M1330 laptop, emphasizing both the "thin" and "light" aspects of the thin-and-light category without sacrificing features or performance.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 4 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,299.00

Samsung LN-T4665F

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:15:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Flat-panel LCD HDTV produces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; accurate color after adjustment; clean image; solid off-angle viewing for an LCD; numerous picture controls; beautiful styling.

The bad: Shiny screen collects excessive ambient light; edges slightly brighter than the middle in dark areas.

The bottom line: Despite a shiny, reflective screen, the picture quality of the Samsung LN-T4665F makes it a top choice overall.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 46 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 550 cd/m2 See full specs >>

Price range: $1,497.00 - $2,799.99

Sony KDL-46XBR4

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:54:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Excellent black-level performance for an LCD; accurate color; 120Hz processing smooths judder in motion; fine screen uniformity and off-angle viewing for an LCD; numerous picture controls; solid connectivity with three HDMI inputs and one PC input; distinctive "floating glass" design; interchangeable bezel color option.

The bad: Expensive; benefits of 120Hz blur-reduction hard to discern; smooth motion seems unnatural for film-based material and introduces some artifacts; main menu system kludgy to operate; many picture adjustments seem unnecessary and/or harmful.

The bottom line: Although not quite as impressive as the best plasmas, the 46-inch Sony KDL-46XBR4 outperforms any flat-panel LCD we've tested so far.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 46 in; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 18000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $2,257.00 - $3,299.99

Panasonic TH-42PZ700U

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:15:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Produces a deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise or false contouring; solid, standard-def picture quality.

The bad: Expensive; too small to exhibit benefits of 1080p; slightly inaccurate color temperature; primary color of green skewed toward yellow.

The bottom line: For those who can spare no expense, the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U plasma offers the best picture quality in its size class.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Image contrast ratio: 5000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $1,343.00 - $1,799.99

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:56:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: This 50-inch plasma TV displays an exceedingly deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise; "smooth" video-processing mode removes most judder; excellent antireflective screen; sleek, minimalist styling; removable speaker; superb connectivity with four HDMI inputs and one PC input; CableCard compatible with TV Guide EPG.

The bad: Expensive; inaccurate primary color of green; no user-menu fine color temperature controls.

The bottom line: The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black--and thus one of the best pictures--we've ever tested.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 50 in; Resolution: 1365 x 768 See full specs >>

Price range: $2,297.00 - $3,499.99

HP Pavilion m8120n Media Center TV

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:15:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Quad-core CPU and reasonable price mean great price-performance ratio; lots of audio and video connections, including TV inputs; quiet operation; Personal Media Drive slot for easy expansion or backup via external hard drive; built-in Wi-Fi adapter; quiet operation.

The bad: No next-gen optical drive on this retail model; little room for future expansion; shovelware offender--annoying trial offers clutter desktop and hard drive; no mouse control on wireless keyboard.

The bottom line: The HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n boasts a quad-core Intel processor and outstanding overall performance, particularly for the price. Media consumers and creators alike will love its speed and AV connections but may rue the lack of a next-gen optical drive.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4 GHz); RAM installed: 3 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 320 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $944.98

Sony Handycam HDR-HC7

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:45:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Excellent video and performance; satisfying photo quality; a decent set of manual controls for the target audience; bundled FireWire cable.

The bad: Annoying touch screen interface.

The bottom line: A great HD camcorder for deep-pocketed leisure shooters, as long as you like the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7's touch screen interface.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Optical zoom: 10 x; Media type: Mini DV (HDV) See full specs >>

Price range: $900.00 - $1,399.98

Sony Handycam HDR-SR7

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:44:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Excellent video and performance; satisfying photo quality; a decent set of manual controls for the target audience; bundled dock.

The bad: No wind filter; no USB port on camcorder, just on bundled dock; annoying touch screen interface; cables not ubiquitous yet for mini-HDMI connector.

The bottom line: The hard-drive-based analog of the HDR-HC7, the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 finally delivers a cutting-edge HD video experience, complete with great video and compatibility frustrations.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Optical zoom: 10 x; Media type: Hard disk drive See full specs >>

Price range: $1,010.00 - $1,399.99

Canon HG10

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:41:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The Canon HG10 camcorder has excellent image stabilization and generally great video quality.

The bad: Poor audio control; smallish EVF; some annoying ergonomics; no manual focus dial.

The bottom line: A solid hard-drive based HD camcorder, the Canon HG10 nevertheless has its share of annoying quirks.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Effective sensor resolution: 2.07 megapixels; Optical zoom: 10 x See full specs >>

Price range: $675.00 - $1,099.99

Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:39:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U combines fast navigation with a user-friendly touch screen interface and high-quality video playback.

The bad: Despite its built-in hard drive, the Strada CN-NVD905U has no ability to rip music files into its memory. Lack of text-to-voice technology for the navigation system is also disappointing.

The bottom line: The Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U is a stylish, user-friendly entrant to the in-dash navigation market. It delivers decent GPS navigation and media playback, but doesn't raise the bar in either department.

Specs: Product Type:Form Factor: In-dash; Monitor:Type: LCD monitor; Product Type:Type: Navigation system with HDD, DVD player, LCD, radio See full specs >>

Price range: $599.97 - $1,298.00

2008 Volvo C30

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:37:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The Version 2.0 trim level of the 2008 Volvo C30 comes with a premium audio system that puts out superb surround sound. The car has an exceptional design, both inside and out, and decent handling.

The bad: The optional automatic transmission is slow to shift even in manual selection mode. Fuel economy could be better in such a small car. Torque steer is a factor under hard acceleration.

The bottom line: The 2008 Volvo C30 makes for a fun and sporty little car that will stand out in a crowd. It can be optioned up with the full range of tech, though its stereo interface leaves something to be desired. Leave out the automatic transmission option in favor of the manual.

Specs: Body style: Hatchback; Trim levels: T5 Version 2.0; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $25,700.00

2008 Saturn Vue XR

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:40:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The 2008 Saturn Vue XR delivers BMW X3-beating performance and Lexus-standard cabin tech, all for around $30K.

The bad: The Vue XR suffers from slight torque steer off the line and lets in too much road noise in freeway driving. Bluetooth hands-free calling is not available on the model.

The bottom line: The 2008 Saturn Vue XR is a stylish performer with some advanced optional cabin technology, including an intuitive touch-screen navigation and music system.

Specs: Body style: SUV; Trim levels: XR; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $26,325.00

Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.4GHz, 1GB RAM)

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:36:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Along with its best-in-class design and solid-feeling, thin keyboard, the new Apple iMac desktop offers more performance and features than many Windows-based PCs; robust iLife '08 digital media suite.

The bad: No word on means of upgrading to Apple's new Leopard OS when it's released; anemic phone support.

The bottom line: With its super-elegant new design and a strong configuration, Apple's new iMac competes with the PC desktop market better than perhaps any previous Mac to date. Unless you're a gamer or an upgrade enthusiast, we can think of very few reasons not to make an iMac your next desktop.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 320 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $1,475.00 - $1,606.99

Sony VAIO LT19U

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:33:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Only all-in-one PC with Blu-ray (or any HD) player; VESA-mount compatible; removable media and mobile expansion card inputs; can accept a second internal hard drive; better deal than competing HD-capable laptops.

The bad: Can't compete with the iMac as a day-to-day computer; only OK performance; no Bluetooth; offensive level of adware; clunky mouse and keyboard.

The bottom line: We don't recommend Sony's new VAIO LT19U as an all-in-one PC for everyday computing, but if you're shopping for a flexible, self-contained, HD-capable digital entertainment center, look no further. It has its flaws, and it's not cheap, but this new VAIO makes up for its shortcomings with sheer capability.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 500 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $2,749.99 - $2,899.99

Sony VAIO XL3

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:30:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Sleek, quiet home theater PC; wide variety of input and output options; smooth Blu-ray playback; well-thought-out remote control

The bad: Questionable bang for the buck from the core hardware; single CableCard tuner means reduced PVR capability; wireless keyboard needs some refining.

The bottom line: If you're inclined to spend a lot for silence and slim design, Sony's new XL3 Digital Living System delivers better than any other full-size home theater PC we've seen. If you're looking for customizability and the most bang for your buck, other vendors have this system beat.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 250 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $2,385.00 - $3,299.99

2008 Scion xB

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:20:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The 2008 Scion xB is a tech-laden bargain wagon with a nice standard iPod interface among its many cabin electronics, plenty of space inside, and an easy-to-drive nature.

The bad: Bluetooth cell phone integration is glaringly absent, and overall the new xB is bigger and less stylish than its urban-chic predecessor.

The bottom line: The new Scion xB has lost its bold exterior creases and some of its character, but has also grown up a bit and now represents one of the best tech values we've seen in a new car.

Specs: Body style: Wagon; Trim levels: Base; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $16,600.00

Alienware Area-51 m9750

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:45:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Massive resolution display; twin SLI video cards offer unparalleled 3D performance for a laptop; DVI and surround sound outputs; matte finish on case repels fingerprints.

The bad: No HDMI; requires Windows XP for optimum performance; reasonable starting price disappears quickly with upgrades; battery life weak, even for a desktop replacement.

The bottom line: Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 8.6 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,699.00

Samsung LN-T3253H

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:15:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The Samsung LN-T3253H HDTV produces relatively deep blacks with fine shadow detail; accurate color; slick styling; scads of picture controls; superb connectivity with one PC and three HDMI inputs.

The bad: Expensive compared to bargain models; grayscale tends toward blue in darker areas.

The bottom line: Great style, oodles of features, and a solid picture combine to make the Samsung LN-T3253H one of the best LCD TVs available at its size.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 8000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $739.95 - $1,099.99

HP Pavilion dv2500t (Core 2 Duo 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD)

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:13:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Strong set of specs for the price; performance almost matches that of more expensive laptops; attractive 14.1-inch display; dual headphone jacks and fingerprint reader; includes most of the ports and connections home users need.

The bad: Average battery life with the standard six-cell battery; opting for an HDMI port means sacrificing a USB port.

The bottom line: The HP Pavilion dv2500t delivers an eye-catching case, a strong set of features, and solid performance at a lower price than competing systems. We recommend it for home or school use.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 5.5 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $899.99

Vizio VP42HDTV

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:11:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Inexpensive; relatively accurate color; solid standard-def performance; clean image with little false contouring; user-menu fine color temperature controls; connectivity includes two HDMI and one PC input; unobtrusive two-tone styling.

The bad: Below-average shadow detail; color tends toward red in darker areas; nondefeatable edge enhancement; emits faint buzzing sound.

The bottom line: The low-buck, high-value Vizio VP42HDTV deftly avoids most of the picture-quality pitfalls of inexpensive plasmas.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 480 cd/m2 See full specs >>

Price range: $999.99

Vizio VX32L

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:09:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Inexpensive for a 32-inch LCD; produces a relatively deep shade of black; accurate color; usermenu color temperature adjustments; ample connectivity including two HDMI inputs and a PC input.

The bad: Poor off-angle viewing characteristics; some lack of shadow detail; funky white/black/silver styling.

The bottom line: The decent picture quality and excellent feature set of the VX32L HDTV make good on Vizio's bang-for-the-buck promise.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 500 See full specs >>

Price range: $529.00 - $729.99

Onkyo TX-SR605 (black)

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:03:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Two HDMI 1.3 inputs; converts analog video sources to HDMI; onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; XM- and Sirius- ready; automatic speaker calibration; switches as many as five high-definition video sources.

The bad: Downconverts 1080i component video signals to 720p when outputting over HDMI; HDMI video quality converted from analog sources may not satisfy videophiles; Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding cannot be used with current crop of high-definition video players.

The bottom line: The Onkyo TX-SR605 raises the bar for AV receivers by delivering an amazing number of next-generation audio and video features at an unbeatably low price.

Specs: Product type: AV receiver; Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Amplifier total output power: 630 Watt See full specs >>

Price range: $429.99 - $499.00

Sharp LC-32D43U

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:57:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: The Sharp LC-32D43U reproduces a deep shade of black; relatively accurate color temperature preset; decent backlight uniformity and off-angle viewing; sleek styling; ample connectivity with two HDMI and one PC input.

The bad: Expensive compared to bargain models; subpar standard-def video processing; fewer picture adjustments than many LCDs; can't change aspect ratios with HD sources.

The bottom line: Although it has a couple of weaknesses, the overall picture quality of the Sharp LC-32D43U puts it among the best LCDs of its size.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 450 See full specs >>

Price range: $649.99 - $1,099.99

Sonos Digital Music System (Bundle 130)

noreply@blogger.com (Parmo Rani) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:55:00 +0000

Product summary

The good: Two-room wireless digital audio system, expandable to as many as 32 rooms; wireless color-screen remote utilizes iPod-style scrollwheel; easy setup and installation; includes audio inputs for accessing third-party audio sources; streams the same audio to all rooms or different music to each room; excellent compatibility includes lossless file formats, Sirius, Rhapsody and Pandora premium streaming services, music purchased from PlaysForSure and Zune music stores, and free Internet radio stations.

The bad: Can't stream copy-protected music purchased from the iTunes Store; remote's rechargeable battery isn't removable; while the Sonos components are all wireless, one base station is required to have a wired network connection.

The bottom line: Recent firmware and feature upgrades cement the Sonos Digital Music System's position as the best multiroom streaming audio solution available.

Specs: Product type: Network audio player; Sound output mode: Stereo; Network player: Network audio player - AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA See full specs >>

Price range: $999.00 - $999.99