Review Roundup -- Engadget

review roundup posts

Pentax K-7 review roundup

by Vladislav Savov, posted Jul 1st 2009 at 12:27AM

We've been nothing if not comprehensive in our coverage of this new Pentax shooter, and early reviews are showing why. Photography Blog praised the K-7 for its weatherproofing and for having "one of the best LCD screens" they've ever seen on a DSLR, while ePHOTOzine were impressed by the image quality and Wired found the package of features and specs exceedingly robust given the $1,300 asking price. Some shortcomings were found, such as the slightly unintuitive interface and noise levels at higher ISO settings, but impressions were overwhelmingly positive. If you've been looking for a solid alternative to Canon's 50D or Nikon's D300, check out all the thoroughly detailed analysis in the read links below.

Read - Photography Blog
Read - Wired
Read - ePHOTOzine

Acer Aspire Timeline review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 5th 2009 at 4:20PM

Acer's range of CULV-based Timeline machines should be trickling out to US stores any moment now, and if you're wondering if any of these are right for you, we've rounded up a trio of reviews that are guaranteed to be relevant to your interests. If you're looking to get the long and short of it, here it is: those seeking great battery life in a relatively affordable package need look no further, but performance junkies should definitely hunt elsewhere. All told, Acer managed to concoct a few machines that'll go eight hours or so under the right conditions, but none of 'em will set any records in the benchmarking department. It's called compromise people -- are you willing to make it? Check the links below to help answer that.

Read - PCPro ("Nondescript looks and plodding performance are elevated by absolutely stunning battery life")
Read - Laptop ("Lightweight design. Eight hours of battery life. Good-enough performance")
Read - ComputerShopper ("Delivers great battery life in a lightweight chassis; however, comes up short in terms of features and performance")

Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 review roundup

by Ross Miller, posted May 21st 2009 at 7:47PM

We expected these to launch sometime in late March or early April, but it looks like Lenovo's IdeaCentre A600 is just now started to roll out, and along with it a handful of reviews. There seems to be a consensus that this all-in-one's a really good bang for the buck, especially with the TV tuner and somewhat useful remote / gyroscope controller / VoIP handset. Performance-wise, the Intel Core 2 Duo / ATI Mobility Radio HD3650 powered device is good but nothing worth writing home about. Boing Boing Gadgets suggests it won't match the latest iMac at gaming. While the body's well built and sturdy, the jury's still out on the glossy screen and that front "bump" of sorts -- you should also be warned that there's a rather hefty power brick that comes along with the PC. As with all AIO's, if a 21.5-inch screen isn't large enough, there isn't much you can do about it. If, however, the specs and features are just what you're looking for, you'll be happy to hear the company's turned those bullet points into a well-oiled machine. But don't take our word for it, hit up the read links below for more in-depth critiques.

Read - Computer Shopper
Read - Boing Boing Gadgets
Read - Desktop Review

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA 'Seashell' review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted May 14th 2009 at 10:59AM

For those near and dear to ASUS' Eee PC netbook line, the 1008HA 'Seashell' is definitely a breath of fresh air. It doesn't look like an Eee, it doesn't feel like an Eee and it doesn't boast a replaceable battery like an Eee; needless to say, only two of those three facts were lauded by reviewers across the web. Much like Apple's MacBook Air, the battery in this here machine is not user-serviceable, and while tests proved that it could last well over three hours with "normal" use, ASUS has yet to make clear what plans it has for offering replacements. In any case, most everything else about the machine was found to be on par or above, with performance being satisfactory for basic tasks and the keyboard / trackpad being exceptionally yummy. Still, it feels as if ASUS is charging a bit much for a familiar lineup of internals, but those willing to pay for style should definitely take a closer look.

Read - Trusted Reviews ("a very refined and classy netbook")
Read - T3 ("a good all-round package")
Read - CNET UK ("great styling and a relatively light chassis")
Read - Bit-Tech ("definitely worth considering, but looks come at a cost")
Read - WhatLaptop ("a compelling proposition")
Read - PCPro ("If you don't mind paying a premium for fine design, then the Seashell is a tantalizing prospect")

Zotac Ion-based IONITX-A SFF motherboard review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted May 13th 2009 at 8:57AM

Jonesing for a new small form factor PC, are you? Not so keen on selecting a pre-fabricated unit? If you definitely fit the bill here, it's worth taking a gander at Zotac's recently released IONITX-A motherboard. As the first of its breed to actually ship, a whole lot is riding on its solder points, and according to reviews found 'round the web, it's done a satisfactory job of living up to expectations. The test bench-abusin' kids over at Hot Hardware found that Zotac's board (and the included dual-core Atom 330 CPU) performed "as expected," notching results that were "significantly better than any of the single core Atom 230-based systems." The unique DC power input was also lauded, and the silent nature made this a perfect candidate for a low-power, highly-capable carputer building block. All in all, this here mobo won't transform your life, but it's certainly a welcome extra in the all-too-stale DIY SFF market. Check the links below for all the bar charts you can handle.

Read - Hot Hardware ("most appealing of the Ion-based products")
Read - PC Perspective ("an impressive motherboard for its size")
Read - The Tech Report ("as good as the Ion platform gets")
Read - Tom's Hardware ("it's most promising destination is in the HTPC space")

AMD's $69 2.8GHz Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition CPU launched, reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 29th 2009 at 12:18PM

AMD already showed us yesterday what kind of graphical prowess could be crammed into a sub-$100 GPU, and today it's attempting to pull the same kind of stunt on the CPU front. The Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition -- a 2.8GHz chip with 2MB of L3 cache and loads of overclocking potential -- has just been loosed, and with a downright stunning $69 MSRP, we'd say it'll have budget gamers across the nation paying attention. Reviewers across the web voiced their appreciation for the low price, and while the processor didn't burn any barns down along the way, it did manage to garner a sufficient amount of praise while on the bench. NeoSeeker seemed to capture the general consensus with this: "the Athlon X2 7850 is a decent processor that is able to power even the latest games." 'Course, the performance-per-watt was a bit lacking given the 65nm manufacturing process, but it's not like you can have your cake and eat it too.

Read - NeoSeeker ("a decent processor")
Read - HiTechLegion ("performed very well")
Read - Guru3D ("packs decent muscle and has reasonable overclock potential")
Read - Bit-tech ("unsurprisingly underwhelming compared to the 7750 Black Edition")
Read - Overclocker's Club ("impressed with the increased performance")
Read - Benchmark Reviews ("an incredible value")
Read - Detailed specifications
Read - AMD press release

ATI Radeon HD 4770 GPU review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 28th 2009 at 2:02PM

We like how you're thinking, AMD, and we don't say that everyday -- or ever, really. During a time when even hardcore gamers are having to rethink whether or not that next-gen GPU is a necessity, AMD has pushed out a remarkably potent new graphics card for under a Benjamin, and the whole world has joined in to review it. The ATI Radeon HD 4770, which was outed just over a week ago, has been officially introduced for the low, low price of just $99 (including rebates, which should surface soon). Aside from being the company's first mainstream desktop GPU manufactured using a 40nm process, this little gem was a real powerhouse when put to the test. In fact, critics at HotHardware exclaimed that this card "offers performance in the same range as cards that were launched at the $299 to $349 price point only a year ago." The bottom line? It's "one of the best buys" out in its price range, and even with all that belt tightening you've been doing, surely you can spare a C-note, yeah?

Read - HotHardware ("Recommended; one of the best buys at its price point")
Read - XBit Labs ("the best budget graphics accelerator [out there]")
Read - LegitReviews ("great performance, low power consumption and low noise")
Read - PCStats ("strikes a balance between performance and price")
Read - TechSpot ("an outstanding choice in the $100 graphics market")
Read - NeoSeeker ("a good value")
Read - PCPerspective ("impressive")

Acer Aspire 3935 review roundup: sleek and affordable, but lacking gaming cred

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 22nd 2009 at 8:02PM

If you're in the market for a new laptop / netbook, you might want to add Acer's just-released Aspire 3935-6504 to the list of potentials. The early reviews are in, and it looks like Acer's got an aggressively-priced winner on its hands. Laptop Magazine calls it "one heck of a bargain," noting particularly its sleek and sturdy design, backup and power saver buttons, full-sized keyboard, and the appealing $900 price tag. PC Magazine went so far as to give it the Editor's Choice award for budget laptops, lauding also its eco-friendly credentials and impressive battery life (4 hours and 50 minutes, by its metric). Both sites bemoaned, however, the lack of HDMI and eSATA ports and its inability to run games as well as competitors like the Dell Studio XPS 13 or HP Pavilion dv3z. Providing a less enthusiastic tone is Computer Shopper, who seems to take more of an issue with its gaming deficiencies than the other two reviewers. Still, the site recommends it for those consider style, portability, and price tag the main selling points. Check out the read links below for more thorough dissection.

Read - Laptop Magazine
Read - PC Magazine
Read - Computer Shopper

HP Pavilion dv2 review roundup

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 8th 2009 at 2:58AM

We figure the design just to the left of the touchpad is more than enough to convince you to impulse-buy the $750 HP Pavilion dv2, but just in case you hesitated, the reviews are in and it's not all sunshine for the AMD Neo-powered non-netbook. Laptop Magazine notes it handles HD video pretty well, but it suffers from a cramped keyboard, above average heat, and a less than stellar battery life. Instead, they suggest a Samsung NC20 as a ligher, cheaper alternative. CNET said it got beat performance-wise by Intel Core 2 Duo laptops of comparable price range, and although it bested Atom in most tests, the two processors tied when multitasking. As for PC World, like Laptop, they did give kudos for better graphics performance, but added the caveat that the NC20 and upcoming MSI X-Slim X320 would give it a run for its money. For all the nitty-gritty details, browse through the reviews below.

Read - Laptop Magazine
Read - PC Magazine
Read - CNET

NVIDIA GTX 275 / ATI Radeon HD 4890 review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 11:26AM

Unless you've started your weekend early, you have probably realized that both NVIDIA and AMD announced new GPUs this morning. Coincidental timing aside, it sure makes things easy for the consumer to eye the respective benchmarks and plan out their next mid-range GPU purchase accordingly. A whole bevy of reviews, tests, graphs and bar charts have hit the web this morning extolling and panning the pros and cons, but without getting too deep in the nitty-gritty, we can sum things up pretty easily with this. NVIDIA's GTX 275 showed performance that placed it perfectly between the GTX 285 and GTX 260, and in all but a few off-the-wall tests, it outpaced the ATI Radeon HD 4890 (albeit slightly). Granted, the HD 4890 was called the "fastest, single-GPU powered graphics card AMD has ever produced" by HotHardware, though apparently even that wasn't enough to help it snag the gold across the board. If you're hungry for more (and you are, trust us), take the rest of the day off and dig in below.

Read - HotHardware GeForce GTX 275 review
Read - HotHardware Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - ExtremeTech GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - DailyTech GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - X-bit Labs ATI Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - ComputerShopper ATI Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - Guru 3D GeForce GTX 275 review
Read - Guru 3D ATI Radeon HD 4890 review
Read - PCPerspective ATI Radeon HD 4890 review

Asus Eee PC 1000HE review roundup

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Feb 9th 2009 at 1:53PM

Well, kids, it looks like the Asus Eee PC 1000HE has started making the rounds and so far the reviews have been rather favorable. PC Review was so taken by the machine, in fact, that they declared it the "best one yet... dethron[ing] the MSI Wind as the leader of the pack." Their enthusiasm is stoked by the fact that the machine's been designed around its new six-cell battery (making for something less bulky than, say, the 10-inch Aspire One or the NC10-14GB). Also in the win column are the obvious design improvements over its predecessor, and its hard to beat $400 street price. That said, it is a netbook: the new Intel Atom N280 processor offers "no real performance benefits" over the N270, the features are pretty standard for a machine of its class (160GB HDD, three USB ports, a webcam, VGA out, 4-in-1 card reader and the usual ethernet and WiFi connectivity) and testing failed to find "any performance differences between the 1000HE and systems like the Wind, the Aspire One (10-inch), and the HP 2140." Also according to the magazine, the new software-based overclocking feature is no great shakes. Laptop Magazine feels pretty much the same way, loving the new keyboard, the new battery, and the fact the easy-access panel (for HDD and RAM upgrades and the like) is still intact. On the other hand, they point out that the thing's a little heavy (3.2 pounds) -- but what do you expect from a machine that boasts over 7 hours battery life? Notebook Review singles the thing out for its design: "Build quality," it says "is very good with strong, durable plastics used throughout the body," and the new keyboard and gloss black paint "really adds another level of class and style to this netbook." But don't take our word for it -- hit the read links for the full reviews, and be sure to check out the gallery below.

Gallery: ASUS EeePC 1000HE review roundup

Read - PC Review
Read - Laptop Magazine
Read - Notebook Review

NVIDIA Ion platform review roundup

by Ross Miller, posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 2:27PM

A handful of sites have managed to get their mitts on a miniature test PC equipped with NVIDIA's Ion platform, and it looks like the line between netbook and laptop just got a whole lot blurrier. According to the testers, the setup delivers smooth HD video playback and could be a boon for the Home Theater PC market. It won't play Crysis, but the DirectX 10-compatible chipset should do World of Warcraft and Left 4 Dead justice. Though the company claims it'll only use 12% more power than comparative Intel 945GM/E-based solutions, PC Perspective found the test units to consume twice the wattage -- of course, it might be a different story when Ion-equipped PCs hit retail channels. NVIDIA says the platform will tack on about $50 to $100 compared to similarly-spec'd 945GM/E models, and the first two computers to use it -- one desktop and one netbook -- should be out early summer.

Read - PC Perspective
Read - Laptop Magazine
Read - Hot Hardware

Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green review roundup

by Ross Miller, posted Jan 30th 2009 at 3:21AM

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag on Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green HDD, hardware fanatics have had a chance to take the 3.5-inch drive for a spin. While its performance leaves something to be desired -- transferring files took longer than the 1TB Caviar Black or 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda -- instead we've got low heat and noise. Of course, the biggest boon is a ginormous storage capacity for just three Benjamins, the same price as some 128GB SSDs. Solid state be damned, rotating disks aren't going away anytime soon.

Read - Register Hardware
Read - Trusted Reviews
Read - Extreme Tech

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 / 295 review roundup

by Ross Miller, posted Jan 15th 2009 at 6:23PM

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 295 is only a week old at retail, but that hasn't stopped the company from turning around and releasing yet another card -- the GTX 285 -- today. The reviews for both are in and from what we've read, the GTX 295 seems to match or outshine its AMD Radeon HD 4870 X2 counterpart in most performance tests. As for the GTX 285, the general consensus is that it's the fastest single-GPU graphics card on the market right now. It's only slightly better-performing than the GTX 280, however, so if you've already got that, it's probably not worth the upgrade. We're not gonna pretend to understand every benchmark result, but we'll gladly point you in the right direction.

GTX 285
Read - TweakTown
Read - PC Perspective
Read - HotHardware

GTX 295
Read - TweakTown
Read - PC Perspective
Read - HotHardware

Canon EOS 5D Mark II review roundup

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 20th 2008 at 1:32PM

This one's been a long time coming, but we wanted to make absolutely sure you had quite enough reading material to make the most informed decision on this incredibly expensive (albeit quite valuable, as you'll soon find out) DSLR. Reviews the web over shout practically the same thing: the EOS 5D Mark II is astounding. In most every important area, the device simply excelled. Image quality was remarkable, the 1080p video capture was stellar (though the lack of Auto Focus was a legitimate knock against it) and low-light performance was simply awesome. Hailed as a respectable upgrade from the original 5D, it was found to strike "a great balance between resolution, quality and performance," and most outlets found it worthwhile even if you're not interested in capturing video. Frankly, we can't even begin to scratch the surface of all the nuances here, but we'll certainly point you in the right directions to get all the knowledge you need.

Read - PhotographyBLOG (5 out of 5)
Read - PopPhoto ("lives up to the hype")
Read - ArtByPhil ("an amazing deal")
Read - Digital Journalist ("a superb still camera, at a reasonable price")
Read - CameraLabs ("one of Canon's most powerful DSLRs to date")
Read - CameraTown ("a revolutionary camera")