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Canon Rebel XSi review roundup
We've already seen it unboxed, but if you've been waiting for a slightly more thorough look at Canon's new Rebel XSi DSLR (otherwise known as the EOS 450D) before you drop $800+ on it, you can now get your fix thanks to a steady stream of reviews that are now pouring in. Among the earliest to get its hands on a unit was Digital Photography Review, which reserved final judgment because it only did a preview but nonetheless provided one of the most exhaustive looks at the camera, complete with comparisons to its predecessor and its nearest competitors. Offering more opinions was Camera Labs, which found the XSi to be a "worthy successor" to the XTi, although it warns that new buyers should consider whether the upgrades are really worth the extra cost. The folks at LetsGoDigital were a bit more enthusiastic, calling the XSi a "perfect camera for everybody," although they were slightly disappointed by the camera's plastic casing. That also proved to be sticking point for Digital Camera Review, which went as far as to call the camera "cheap looking" and "less refined" than those with a lightly textured finish. On the upside, it says that the camera's low-noise sensor "raises the bar for entry-level DSLRs," with its extensive customization options, and Canon's expectedly strong AF system also winning it some high marks. If you're still not swayed one way other the other, you find plenty more details by diving into the links below.Read - Digital Photography Review (preview)Read - Camera Labs (88%)Read - LetsGoDigital (82%)Read - Digital Camera Review ("a fairly conservative upgrade")
AMD triple-core Phenom X3 review roundup
For the indecisive among us who need a bit more than two but just can't wrap their wallets around four, AMD's out to show you exactly what three cores of computing magic can do. Make no mistake, we've been waiting quite some time for these buggers to ship, but they've finally made it into the capable hands of reviewers web-wide. The general consensus seems to be that the tri-core processors offer no real surprises: it performs better than a dual-core AMD CPU, yet worse than a quad-core AMD CPU. Needless to say, it tends to lag even further behind an Intel quad-core. Still, the Phenom X3 wouldn't be a terrible option if quad-core Intel chips were still as pricey as ever, but with it slashing prices a few weeks back, the X3 seems to lack the value AMD was hoping we'd see. Still, don't take our word for it -- there's lots and lots of words on the matter right down there.Read - HotHardware (...the X3 8750 should also appeal to modders on a budget.)Read - MaximumPC (Basically, it's a quad core with one core turned off.)Read - TweakTown (...a perfect choice to replace Athlon 64 X2s...)Read - PCPerspective (...isn't a slam dunk in performance or value...)Read - Bit-Tech (...Phenom X3 8750 is a good processor in isolation...)Read - Computer Shopper (...a worthy choice for Athlon X2 owners on a tight budget...)
ASUS Eee PC 900 review roundup
It's like this: if you found yourself all giddy playing with the Eee PC 701, you'll be absolutely enthralled when handling the 900. At least, that's the verdict being blasted out from reviewers web-wide. More specifically, CNET found the 9-inch subnote to be superior in quite a few ways to the 701, and felt particularly impressed with the ability to run multiple applications more easily due to more screen real estate and the included 1GB of RAM. However, they were none too thrilled with the keyboard (still), and echoed Trusted Reviews gripes of lackluster battery life. Yeah, that last dig could be fairly substantial if you're looking to stay untethered completely for hours on end, but if you're confident you can locate an AC outlet when necessary (and can't afford to wait for an Atom-based version of the machine), it seems the 9-inch Eee is well worth a look.Read - CNET review (8.7 out of 10)Read - Trusted Reviews review (...the Eee PC 900 still represents staggering value for money.)Read - Stuff.tv's video review
Projector Reviews breaks down the best 1080p projectors
We know, trying to digest all of the 1080p projectors out at the moment is a fairly daunting task, but thankfully, the hard-working folks over at Projector Reviews took on the challenge for you. In its latest roundup of "best 1080p projectors," the Panasonic PT-AE2000U, Epson Home Cinema 1080p UB and JVC DLA-RS2 took home the gold in the entry-level, mid-range and high-end categories (respectively). Still, quite a few other beamers came exceptionally close to winning it all, so be sure and hit the read link below to figure out which one is right for you (and your budget).[Via AboutProjectors]
Sony Alpha A200 DSLR review roundup
Although the A200 has been on store shelves for a tick since its US debut at CES, we wouldn't blame you for clutching that $700 / $900 tight until a handful of reviews hit the 'net. Thankfully, that time has come, and here's what we're hearing. Overall, the highly anticipated successor to the A100 was deemed a "solid entry-level DSLR that doesn't really stand out in its very competitive field," but that's not to say it's not worth checking out. When viewed in isolation, most reviewers found the build quality, built-in image stabilization, battery life, dust reduction system and respectable image quality to be above average, but those already slinging an A100 will find very few reasons to upgrade. Still, critics on the whole found more to love than despise about Sony's A200, so be sure and give those eyes a workout on the review links below if you've been fiddling with the idea of picking one up.Read - PhotographyBLOG (4.5 out of 5; Highly Recommended)Read - Steve's Digicams ("...a worthy competitor in the entry-level market...")Read - CNET (7.0 out of 10; Very Good)Read - Digital Camera Resource Page ("...reminded me a lot of my experiences with the Pentax K10D...")
Lenovo X300 review roundup
Just in case you feared that Walt Mossberg was out on some sort of limb when he proclaimed that the X300 would satisfy road warriors everywhere, we've sourced some other reviews from across the intarwebz to ease your mind. Lenovo's über-stealthy ultraportable, which officially went on sale today, managed to impress one critic after another, with the biggest complaints coming from the high starting price tag, omission of a DVI port and somewhat sluggish performance -- which are pretty much expected given the form factor. Outside of that, everyone was practically in love, with praises addressing the delightful keyboard, integrated WWAN and overall usability of such a minuscule machine. But hey, don't take our word for it -- check out the reviews below in full before you cough up your $2,500 (or more), cool?Read - PCPro (5 out of 6 shiny stars)Read - CNET (8.5 out of 10 golden trinkets)Read - Notebook Review ("big thumbs up")
MacBook Air reviews in from Apple's starting lineup
We're still on waiting for the official 20,000 word review from John Mayer before we make our final decision, but tech journo heavyweights from USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Newsweek (with Pogue of the New York Times notably absent) have had their MacBook Airs for about a week now, and true to form are espousing some opinion on the slab of metal. Turns out there are few surprises, and you could probably draw the same conclusions from reading the spec sheets and drooling over the press shots like the rest of us losers. Battery life could be the biggest trouble point, with a couple guys rating it around 3.5 hours with heavy use, and even less when watching a movie on iTunes -- Apple's five hour prediction seems a bit optimistic. Nobody's thrilled about the stuff Apple cut out to get the size down, but it's hard for these guys to poo poo Apple's decisions outright (Levy's comparison to circumcision is downright uncomfortable, to say the least) since there's an undeniable sexiness to holding and using the Air. One nice perk of the underwhelming power is that the laptop doesn't run as hot as Apple's other portables, making it a winner in the "laptop" department. Oh, and 3G? Edward Baig says he asked Jobs about the much-rumored feature, and the idea was apparently tossed around, but eventually dropped due to the desire to give consumers a choice and to keep things slim. 160GB HDD? Again with the slimness. So if you need the sexiest and slimmest thing going, there's no question the MacBook Air fits the bill, but it certainly looks like Apple excluded a lot of potential customers with the compromises made.Read - Edward Baig "Given the compromises, I don't expect anyone to use Air as their only computer."Read - Steven Levy "The things that Apple left on were the ingredients for a quality computer."Read - Walt Mossberg "If you rely on spare batteries, expect the usual array of ports, or like to play DVDs on planes, this isn't the computer to buy."
Dell 3008WFP 30-inch monitor review roundup
The 3008WFP widescreen LCD, everyone's favorite, 30-inch, DisplayPort-rocking Dell monitor is up for review, and we've got a roundup to prove it. If you'll recall, the behemoth is the first Dell monitor to sport the emerging DisplayPort technology, and it also offers a fairly impressive set of other connectivity options, including dual DVI ports, HDMI, VGA, S-Video, component, and composite. The folks at Hot Hardware weren't totally stoked on the setup process, but loved the screen's performance and flexibility. The cats at Computer Shopper seemed pleased as well, though not head-over-heels in love, particularly with the high price tag and color / grayscale "weakness." CNET Australia had similarly high marks, praising the number of inputs, super-high resolution, and sheer size, though they took issue with the screen's reflectiveness, the need for a high-end graphics card, and gradient handling. Still, none of the minuses stopped them (and Hot Hardware) from bestowing their "Editor's Choice" award on the monitor. Don't take our word for it, though -- hit the links and see for yourself.Read - Hot Hardware (Editor's Choice)Read - Computer Shopper (8.0 out of 10)Read - CNET Australia (8.9 out of 10)
Dell Inspiron 1525 review roundup
This laptop wasn't much of a secret as it was, and it turns out reviewers got an early shot at it as well. The Inspiron 1525 from Dell is about as cheap as standard-size laptops go, with a starting price of $500, but Dell has made surprising gains in the looks and size department -- the major complaints levied towards the 1520. Dell shaved 25% off the size, 30% off the thickness and half a pound off the weight in building this new model, and while it might not exactly have the looks of the m1330, it's certainly not the eyesore the 1520 was. Reviewers got to play around with a $999 configuration, and found performance to be just fine for standard applications, but the lack of a dedicated graphics option makes this one a non-starter for gamers. Perks like HDMI out and solid battery life for this price range are icing on the cake, and there are multiple color options and patterns you can trick out your 1525 with, but for the most part this is a simple but nice budget laptop, so we're guessing you've already got a decent idea if it's what you're looking for.[Thanks to everyone who sent these in; image courtesy of NotebookReview]Read - Laptop Magazine (4.5 out of 5: "Our favorite mainstream budget notebook.")Read - NotebookReview - ("The Inspiron 1525 is exactly the notebook that the Inspiron 1520 should have been in the first place.")Read - PC Mag - (3.5 out of 5: "Unfortunately, the slimmer design also means that it had to forgo an option for dedicated graphics.")
Leopard reviews coming in, usual suspects agree: it's all gravy
It's not like we really expected scathing, Apple-coring criticism from the likes of the same motley crew Apple supplied pre-release iPhones to (namely: Walt Mossberg of WSJ, David Pogue of NYT, and Ed Baig of USA Today, but where's Steven Levy?), but there's little doubt that if you don't have a distaste for all things Apple you're probably interested, if not pretty stoked about Leopard. (As it turns out, the landslide majority of Engadget readers are right in tune with that sentiment.) The gentleman's club agrees on a few key positives (Time Machine is like, zomg, so rad; Quick View and Spaces are great, and it's nice not to have to upgrade hardware to make the most of the new OS) and negatives (the new translucent menu bar disappoints, the four month delay in shipping Leopard was a bummer), and, of course, the bottom line that Leopard seems to be Apple's strongest OS to date -- and why shouldn't it be? This stuff isn't supposed to get worse with time, remember? Read - Mossberg (thumbs up): it is an evolutionary, not a revolutionary, release, I believe it builds on Apple's quality advantage over Windows.Read - Pogue (thumbs up): Leopard is powerful, polished and carefully conceived. Happy surprises, and very few disappointments, lie around every corner.Read - Ed Baig (thumbs up): These and other features should satisfy new and old Mac fans. Leopard is one cool cat.Read - Technology Review (thumbs up, kinda): "... people who are thriftier than I would probably do better to hold off on this update."
Canon's 12-megapixel SD950 IS review roundup
You've had a moment to ponder over that SD870 purchase, so how's about yet another option, cool? On the docket today is Canon's SD950 IS (IXUS 960 IS elsewhere in the world), which packs an awful lot of megapixels into a pocket-friendly shell. As expected from Canon's SD lineup, this one fared pretty well throughout, garnering praise for its sleek design, superb image quality, effective optical image stabilization / face detection and sturdy feel. The only real knocks came from the less-than-perfect noise performance, slower than expected startup / image capture and the admittedly lofty pricetag. Granted, this one should be close to ideal for poster printers needing a camera minuscule enough to reside in a rear pocket, but for the rest of us, one of Canon's "lower" models should fit the bill (and our budgets) a bit better.Read - CNET (7.8 out of 10)Read - PhotographyBLOG (4 out of 5; Recommended)Read - Good Gear Guide (4.25 out of 5)
Apple 24-inch aluminum iMac review roundup
Now that you've had time to watch us fool around with Apple's latest iMac and even chew on a few benchmarks, it's about time the aluminum-clad machine suffered through its own gauntlet of reviews. Overall, the response to the new 2.4GHz 24-inch iMac has been mildly positive, and while it was noted that the update is far from revolutionary, the aesthetics are undeniably sexy. Interestingly, the glossy display didn't prove to be the disaster that some folks expected, and MacWorld even stated that it was "really more of a personal preference than a design flaw." Performance wise, the hardware updates provided respectable -- albeit not life-changing -- increases, and yes, the keyboard was well regarded whilst the white Mighty Mouse now seems so "out of place." So if you've been lured into thinking that the iMac may be right as your next machine, it doesn't sound like you'll be disappointed, but do yourself the favor of peeping one up close before pulling the trigger.Read - MacWorld (4.5 out of 5)Read - AppleInsider (3.5 out of 5)Read - PCWorld ("Svelte and appealing, but wait for Leopard to come bundled in")Read - CNET (8.2 out of 10)Read - PCMag (4.5 out of 5)
TiVo HD review roundup
A critical eye is peering in on TiVo's personal-flotation-device known as the TiVo HD, a $300 entry-level option into the company's DVR world, and we've got the roundup to prove it. The box, which TiVo hopes will attract thriftier (read, any) users to the previously pricey platform, features HDMI and component outs up to 1080i, dual CableCARD and M-Card compatibility, and Series3-style ATSC and NTSC tuners. It appears that the general feeling on the little black box is positive, with almost everyone loving the price-point, the CableCARD functionality, and all the standard TiVo amenities, though we wouldn't go so far to say that everyone is a 100% pleased. Most of the reviews take issue with the device's sluggish UI, lack of TiVo ToGo, and the tempting, yet inactive eSATA port (which the company says it's planning to activate down the road). Browse on over to the read links for the full reviews. Read -- PC Magazine (4.5 out of 5) Read -- CNET (7.7 out of 10) Read -- PC World (88 out of 100)Read -- TiVo Lovers (Megazone's massive unboxing and review)
Cowon iAudio 7 review roundup
The Cowon iAudio 7, a topic of a good deal of gear-lust, has safely found its way into the eager hands of a number of reviewers, thus warranting the patent-pending Engadget review roundup. The 4GB or 8GB PMP seems to have received fairly high marks from most of the critics, though a few take issue with the "swing touch" interface used to control the player, which they say can be too sensitive and confusing, and the device's lack of AAC playback, which might put on a hurting on the iAudio's appeal as an iPod alternative. On the flip side, there's a lot of praise for its FLAC and OGG support, long battery life, and sound quality, which is regarded as excellent -- or as CNET bluntly puts it, "better than the iPod." So, minor potshots notwithstanding, almost all of the critics give it high marks -- but don't take our word for it, hit the links.Read -- CNET (8.3 out of 10, Editors' Choice)Read -- TrustedReviews (8 out of 10)Read -- Gadgetaholic ("If you are looking for an audiophile-quality audio player in a small package, stop looking...")
BlackBerry Curve review roundup
Craving a BlackBerry 8300 "Curve" review with a little more journalistic juice to it than, say, John Mayer's? Look no further, friends; we've got you covered with a three-pack of previews for the device. Sentiment for Waterloo's latest QWERTY handset is overwhelmingly positive, focusing on a few key points: great keyboard, great media support (a 3.5mm jack sure doesn't hurt there), and surprisingly good battery life. The camera seems to be decent -- all 2 megapixels of it, anyway -- and none of the lucky previewers seemed too bummed about the EDGE-only data speeds. Throw in what might be the most attractive case on a RIM phone to date, and it seems the Curve might do the seemingly impossible by filling both Pearl and 8800 owners with envy when it launches on AT&T in the not-too-distant future.Read - LAPTOP Magazine (4 / 5 stars, "...this is the best BlackBerry...")Read - PC Magazine ("...an extremely promising BlackBerry for folks who want a fun device with a full keyboard")Read - Airtime Manager ("...we're convinced that the new BlackBerry 8300 will have been worth the wait")
Canon SD1000 Digital ELPH review roundup
So, you've seen our impressions: Canon's new PowerShot SD1000 Digital ELPH (aka Digital IXUS 70 in Europe) is undeniably hot. But can it hold up under pressure? Apparently so. Nobody in our roundup seemed blown away by the camera, image quality could be a teensy bit better, and ISO is higher than previous ELPH cams, but the camera's quality and classic ELPH charm seems to have won over even the most hardened of camera reviewers, who were all in agreement that this thing is much more than a fashioncam.Read - DigiCamReview (8/10)Read - PhotographyBLOG (4.1/5)Read - Steves DigicamsRead - DPExpert (Highly recommended)
Apple TV early review roundup
It's still a bit early yet for all the reviews to hit the internets, but peeps fortunate enough to have snagged an Apple TV early -- namely the WSJ, PC Mag, and The NY Times -- have already passed judgment. What do they think? Well, no one was without their niggles regarding the unit: as we know, Walt seemed bummed about the lack of photo streaming, Pogue chides Apple for not supporting HD downloads or TVs without high def inputs, and PC Mag had some problems playing iTunes video content back (although it was home video footage). The Xbox 360 receives frequent mention as the Apple TV's one true competitor right now, but the differences in the products and approaches still cause a rift, and it's hard to keep the parallels going for too long. But the one thing they can all agree on is their appreciation for the unit's simplicity, design, and ample ability to tackle digital video in the living room. (Yeah, watch out for our own Apple TV review shortly, we know you're all frothing at the mouth to learn the Engadget take.) Read - NYT (Pogue thumbs up, way up) Read - WSJ ("It has some notable limitations, but we really liked it. It is classic Apple: simple and elegant.") Read - PC Mag (4/5, "I think Apple TV is a fantastic product-but I won't be buying one...")
Windows Vista review roundup
The time has come, friend, to grab that plastic box, curse a few times while you try to figure out how to open up the dang thing, and then finally fire up that historic DVD: Windows Vista. What was that? Waiting around for the pundits to have their say? Well, we suppose that wouldn't hurt -- if you want to be all namby pamby about it. The overall verdict right now seems quite lacking in enthusiasm. Sure, it won't bust up your box or anything, hardware support is mostly alright, and improvements to stability and eye candy are commendable, but Vista just doesn't seem to have a whole lot of must-need features to make it a must-have for most users. David Pogue, in his December review, calls it "Looks, Locks, Lacks." Things are much easier to use in general, but inconsistencies are often jarring, and certain added features don't seem entirely fleshed out, making the OS -- which was five years in development -- feel rushed and in noticeable need of that SP1 update. There's also a penchant for preferential treatment of Microsoft stuff, such as IE RSS feeds, which some Mac users might find disappointingly familiar. On the numbers side of things, bit-tech has discovered a 10 percent performance hit in most operations in comparison to XP, which isn't noticeable on high-end PCs, but might be enough of a reason for low-end users to hold off for the moment. Walt Mossberg found that, at times, "Vista could be maddeningly slow even on new, well-configured computers." Conclusions definitely varied, though most reviewers do agree on one point: the number of different versions is way too confusing, and the full versions of the OS are too expensive. Most still agree that Vista is the best version of Windows yet, but it looks like you'll still have to figure out if it's the best for you.Read - CNET (7.0 HB, 7.4 HP, 7.4 B, 7.8 U)Read - Walt MossbergRead - David PogueRead - PC Mag (3.5/5)Read - bit-tech (9)Read - Technology Review (switching to Mac)
Sony Reader review roundup
Alright, you've already heard our take on the thing, but we've got a few more reviews for you from some old school tech journos. The general consensus isn't great. Sure, the Sony Reader packs a quite exciting new display technology, allowing for long usage times and easy-on-the-eyes viewing, but so do paper books. The main actual benefit the Sony Reader offers you over traditional pulp is that you can store books aplenty in a quite small amount of flash memory, and you can buy the titles online at your leisure. Otherwise, the Sony Reader seems to take quite a few steps back, offering awkward controls, a hard to use online store and a few other baffling functional limitations. Online prices aren't great (luckily, Sony will be including a $50 gift certificate if you buy a Reader before the end of the year), despite the virtually complete elimination of production and distribution costs, and while the Sony Connect app works well enough with pushing around RSS, TXT, RTF, DOC and PDF files, traditional 8.5 x 11 PDF files are pretty much unreadable on the Sony Reader's low-res 6-inch screen. Other funkiness includes the 10 percent skipping buttons -- there's no way to go directly to a page number or search a book text -- and an annoying 1 second refresh between each page turn. It looks like the final word on the Reader is that you should probably hold onto those dead tree editions of your favorite novels at least until some 2nd generation eBooks start popping up.Read - APRead - Walt MossbergRead - David Pogue
Sony Ericsson P990i review roundup
Impressive -- just six short months have elapsed from our initial hands-on of Sony Ericsson's latest superphone to the first set of honest-to-goodness reviews rolling in. Obviously, we kid; most every UIQ fan east of the Atlantic has been clamoring for this thing for a while now, but only recently have production units begun finding their way into loving homes. Delays aside, All About Symbian and phoneArena were more than happy to take delivery of the shiny new handsets in the name of putting them through their proper paces. All About Symbian seems to have come away with the more positive impression of the two, suggesting that the device is among the best PDA / phone combos currently on the market; phoneArena liked the keyboard and camera less, but thanks to freezes and crashes aplenty, both sites agreed that the P990 could've used a couple extra firmware revisions before getting pushed out the door.Read - All About SymbianRead - phoneArena
