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Sunday, May 27, 2012
TECH BUYING GUIDE
Introduction

WIRELESS
Handhelds
Cell Phones
Cell-Phone Extras

COMPUTERS
Laptops
Desktops
Flat Screens
Micro Storage
Lindows

THE DIGITAL HOME
Wired Home
Personal Firewalls
Online Games
Digital Photography




DESKTOPS




Falcon Northwest Mach V
EDITORS' CHOICE
CNET RATING: 9
GOOD: Totally customizable; fast; great peripherals.

BAD: Irritating front door doesn't allow for front-mounted I/O ports or Audigy Platinum; loud fans and DVD-ROM drive; a little geometric distortion on monitor.

BOTTOMLINE: The Mach V is the ultimate PC for users who need a high-performance system for work and play.



Dell Dimension 4550 series
CNET RATING: 8.2
DESCRIPTION: Pentium 4, 2.66 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB hard disk, 15 in display, Microsoft Windows XP, 3 year limited warranty

GOOD: Lots of configuration options; strong application and 3D graphics performance; six USB 2.0 ports; sharp, bright 15-inch LCD; easy-to-access, tool-free chassis.

BAD: Standard warranty covers only one year; case opens awkwardly.

BOTTOMLINE: Whether you are trying to cut costs or stay on the cutting edge, odds are that Dell has a PC in its Dimension 4550 series that will suit your needs.



Gateway 700XL
CNET RATING: 8
GOOD: Fast; digital-video-oriented configuration includes DVD-RAM drive and 120GB hard drive.

BAD: Expensive.

BOTTOMLINE: The Gateway 700XL showcases a new CPU with plenty of power and features to match, but the high price will scare off some users.



Apple Flat-Panel iMac
CNET RATING: 7.8
DESCRIPTION: PowerPC G4, 800 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard disk, 17 display, Mac OS, 1 year warranty

GOOD: Sharp, bright, wide-screen LCD; easy to set up and use; good performance; attractive design; small footprint.

BAD: No expansion slot; no extra internal drive slots; average warranty.

BOTTOMLINE: The new 17-inch, top-of-the-line iMac matches the 15-inch version as one of the best consumer Macs ever.



DELL DIMENSION 2300
CNET RATING: 7.4
GOOD: Small case is easy to open; plentiful configuration options; two USB ports and a headphone jack on front panel for easy access.

BAD: Skimpy 133MHz system memory slows performance; built-in graphics capabilities too slim for gaming; no add-on graphics card slot.

BOTTOMLINE: The Dell Dimension 2300 is a bargain for basic computing, but look elsewhere for higher performance.



iBuyPower Value XP PC
EDITORS' CHOICE
CNET RATING: 7.1
DESCRIPTION: Pentium 4, 2.26 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk, 17 in display, Microsoft Windows XP, 3 year limited warranty

GOOD: Plenty of room for expansion; online configuration options are clear and wide-ranging; Pentium 4 processing in value PC; cool silver case.

BAD: USB 2.0 and FireWire support are added-cost options; standard speakers, keyboard, and mouse are low quality; no system manual or quick-setup guide.

BOTTOMLINE: With a powerful P4 processor and a low price, the stylish iBuyPower Value XP PC is--true to its name--an excellent value.



 Reviews Provided by: CNET.com

DESKTOPS

NOTEBOOKS

HANDHELD/PHONE

PERSONAL FIREWALLS

CAMERAS

DIGITAL HOME

FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS


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