Sharp LC-37D90U
At 37 inches, the LC-37D90U may not be the biggest LCD television on the market, but it’s large enough to natively display 1080p high-definition (HD) signals. It features dual High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports and a detachable speaker, and it provides some of the deepest black levels available from an LCD. If you don’t want to pay the premium for
1080p, however, Sharp’s $2,999 LC-37D40U is a fine same-size alternative.
BEST PLASMA HDTV
Pioneer PDP-5060HD
(replaced by the PDP-5070HD)
We were impressed with the 50-inch PDP-5060HD’s excellent picture quality, great style, and
superior features. Connectivity includes two HDMI inputs and three component-video inputs.
You also get a pair of detachable speakers. Black levels are deep, inky, and blissfully free of most
false-contouring artifacts and low-level noise. Since we reviewed the PDP-5060HD, however,
the set has been succeeded by the PDP-5070HD, which features a redesigned panel with integrated speakers below the screen.
BEST PORTABLE HARD DRIVE
Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Edition
The Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Edition isn’t the smallest portable hard drive we’ve seen, but it’s definitely tiny enough to slip into your bag. The USB 2.0 drive features fast performance
and a large capacity (60GB or 100GB). Maxtor bundles backup and encryption software.
BEST DIGITAL PHOTO ORGANIZER
Picasa 2.2
Considering it’s a free application, Picasa provides a ton of utilities for digital-photo fanatics. A gorgeous interface makes it simple to find, tag, organize, rate, and even password-protect images. Add to that fast and direct ways to print, share, back up, and edit your collection, and,well, you get the picture.
BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Trend Micro - PC-cillin Internet Security 2006
On the whole, PC-cillin is an excellent suite of security apps, but its antivirus protection is what really hooked us, offering solid protection at an affordable price. Plus, unlike other antivirus apps we’ve tested, it didn’t cramp our PC’s performance, even with every security tool activated.
BEST INTERNET SECURITY SOFTWARE
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6.5
Zone Labs upped the ante on Internet security suites this year by adding offline identity-theft
protection to its already strong lineup of utilities. While apps like the legendary ZoneAlarm firewall protect you online, Zone Labs’ partnership with identityprotection specialist Intersections handles offline tasks such as stopping preapproved creditcard offers from reaching your physical mailbox.
BEST MEDIA PLAYER
Windows Media Player 11
The latest version of Windows Media Player has a redesigned look that you’ll like immediately. You’ll find better, faster access to settings, easy access to MTV Networks’ Urge music service, highly adjustable CDburning and -ripping features, and some nice organizational tools, making it easy to access all your digital entertainment with just a few clicks.
BEST DISC-BURNING SOFTWARE
Easy Media Creator 9 Suite
This Swiss-Army-knife digital-media app supports all the latest formats, including Blu-ray DVD. (HD DVD support is on the way.) From one tidy interface, you can edit, organize, and back up your media; create ringtones; convert audio and video to different formats; capture streaming audio; and even create studio-quality DVDs.
BEST CONSUMER IMAGE-EDITING SOFTWARE
Adobe Photoshop Elements 4
Version 4 of this popular app adds even more functionality to an already first-rate image editor and organizer. The clean, attractive interface makes for simple navigation, and its automatic image-enhancements and smart selection tools give it an edge over the competition. You even get a generous amount of sharing and project options.
BEST BROWSER
FireFox 1.5
FireFox continues to leap past Internet Explorer, and version 1.5 puts it further ahead of Microsoft’s browser. Features such as drag-and-drop tab reordering and the ability to wipe out your surf history with the press of a hotkey add to the already great options that make this responsive, efficient browser the clear leader.
BEST RSS READER
FeedDemon 2.0
This well-crafted stand-alone newsreader is an ideal choice for novices who have never heard of an RSS feed. A setup wizard allows you to subscribe to an unlimited number of popular feeds by simply checking boxes. The program also provides links to several other RSS directories.
BEST GAME
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Oblivion is an incredible roleplaying game based on the familiar swords/dragons/magic/ dungeons formula. But what makes the game transcend the genre is that it’s playable in a never-ending array of ways. Oblivion challenges you with a central goal, but it also provides
an open-ended world to explore, letting you lose yourself in a character of your own creation.
0 comments:
Post a Comment