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Desktops



good

10/31/2009

Averatec All-in-One

Price: $599.00 - $599.00
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 (2.4 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Personal computer

The Bottom Line
Like other Windows-based all-in-ones, Averatec's All-in-One can't compete with the iMac for sheer power. The Averatec's larger screen and few features it has that Apple doesn't might be enough to sell you, but the iMac remains the all-in-one to beat.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





ok

10/30/2009

HP Pavilion Elite m9402f

Price: $469.97 - $469.97
Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9650 (2.3 GHz), 7 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 640 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

The Bottom Line
HP's Pavilion Elite m9402f continues to frustrate us in its core design. This off-the-shelf Best Buy system is also overpriced compared with faster, more feature-rich PCs from its competition. With little to recommend this desktop, we suggest you keep shopping.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Digital cameras



very good

10/20/2009

Olympus E-P1 (white, with silver 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens)

Price: $799.00 - $799.99
Specs: 12.3 megapixels, 3 x, 3 in LCD display

The Bottom Line
The Olympus E-P1 is an otherwise excellent enthusiast compact camera hampered by some performance problems and the lack of a viewfinder and built-in flash.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





very good

9/16/2009

Nikon Coolpix S570 (pink)

Price: $173.99 - $199.95
Specs: Ultracompact, 12, 5 x, 2.7 in LCD display

The Bottom Line
The Nikon Coolpix S570 is a respectable ultracompact camera, despite average point-and-shoot performance and some high-ISO overpromising.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Laptops



very good

11/6/2009

Dell Studio 15 Laptop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T5850, 320GB HDD, 3GB)

Price: $599.00 - $599.00
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.16 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, 6 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix

The Bottom Line
Dell's first release from its new Studio line, the Studio 15, sits between the Inspiron and XPS lines and offers a good mix of features for the price, but we'd be tempted to save up a few extra dollars for a thinner, lighter XPS.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





ok

11/3/2009

HP Pavilion dv5-1004nr

Price: $579.96 - $579.96
Specs: AMD Turion X2 Ultra mobile technology (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix

The Bottom Line
At its current discounted price, we'd be willing to overlook the HP Pavilion dv5-1004nr's below-average performance if the battery life wasn't so bad.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


External Hard Drives



very good

10/24/2009

Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 (4TB)

Price: $699.99 - $699.99
Specs: Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 4 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





very good

10/24/2009

Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 (1TB)

Price: $269.99 - $269.99
Specs: Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 1 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


PDAs



very good

11/26/2008

Dell Axim X51v

Price: $599.99 - $599.99
Specs: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, 64 MB, Intel 624 MHzXscale, IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, 2.9 in x 0.7 in x 4.7 in, Stylus, Touch-screen, 5-way navigation button

The Bottom Line
The Dell Axim X51 series offers a nice combination of features, but we were disappointed by the subpar battery life.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





excellent

11/20/2008

HP iPaq Pocket PC H4350

Price: $549.99 - $549.99
Specs: Microsoft Pocket PC 2003, 64 MB, Intel 400 MHzPXA255, IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, 3 in x 0.6 in x 5.5 in, Stylus, Keyboard, Touch-screen, 5-way navigation button

The Bottom Line
It's longer than your average Pocket PC, but its integrated keyboard and higher-capacity battery make the H4350 a top choice for heavy Wi-Fi users.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Keyboards





10/26/2009

Adesso WKB-3100UB wireless keyboard with trackball

Price: $61.24 - $78.80
Specs: 11.7 in x 5.9 in x 1.1 in, External, PC, AA type, USB, 4 pin USB Type A, Keyboard, Wireless, Optical, Trackball

The Bottom Line
For $79.99, you're better off buying a cheaper wireless keyboard than the Adesso WKB-3100UB--one that uses encryption and has a longer battery life for your sofa Web-surfing and portable-typing needs.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Mice



good

10/20/2009

Apple Magic Mouse

Price: $68.00 - $69.99
Specs: Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later, External, Mac, AA type, Mouse, Mouse, Wireless, Laser, Bluetooth

The Bottom Line
Apple's new wireless Magic Mouse gets a sleek makeover and even has multitouch controls, but it's better as a portable laptop companion rather than a full-size desktop accessory. The swiping gestures add interactivity to Web browsing and media, but the awkwardly narrow single button design leaves us reaching for better mice from Logitech and others.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


MP3 players



ok

11/2/2009

Haier America Video MP3 Player (4GB)

Price: $43.24 - $47.79
Specs: Flash player, 4 GB, Lithium polymer

The Bottom Line
The Haier America Video MP3 Player is nothing special, but the shuffle works a treat.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Headphones



very good

10/30/2009

AKG K 518 LE headphones (red)

Price: $139.95 - $139.95

The Bottom Line
The AKG K 315 headphones are a good value for eclectic listeners who want a portable earphone that needn't be stuck into the ear.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


Multifunction Devices



good

10/12/2009

Kodak 5250

Price: $122.21 - $159.99
Specs: Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 1200 dpi

The Bottom Line
Kodak's ESP 5250 multifunction printer isn't marred by the errors of its predecessors, but it still needs improvement before it can keep up with the competition. Right now, its pleasing photo quality and satisfactory output speed don't justify the $170 price tag and lack of features.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





very good

9/9/2009

HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web

Price: $299.00 - $452.14
Specs: Thermal inkjet, Fax / copier / printer / scanner, Mac, PC, 1 year warranty

The Bottom Line
Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


External Hard Drives



very good

10/24/2009

Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 (4TB)

Price: $699.99 - $699.99
Specs: Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 4 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.





very good

10/24/2009

Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 (1TB)

Price: $269.99 - $269.99
Specs: Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 1 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.



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