Inside CNET Labs Podcast

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review: Dual-core in a quad-core world

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one of the premier Android tablets when it launched in 2011, with specs that, at the very least, matched top tier Android tablets of the time.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 feels almost like a disappointing prequel, rather than a full-fledged "we've improved on every feature!" sequel.

I mean, when a premium tablet gets a follow-up, it's not a crazy thing to expect a lot from said follow-up; however, Samsung went the "budget" route with the Tab 2 10.1, limiting its advances. The problem is, since the Tab

D-Link DIR-605L Cloud Router review: Quite down-to-earth

How far can the term "cloud" be stretched? Here's the latest: the DIR-605L Cloud Router from D-Link.

In this case, "cloud" means that the router can be associated with a Mydlink account and hence be easily accessible via the Internet, either with a browser or a mobile app.more

Thinnest (and lightest) 10-inch tablets

Even if your tablet appreciation never deviates from pragmatic, functionality concerns, you'll at least have to admit that a thin tablet has its advantages. Thin tablets are usually sleeker, sexier, and easier to handle. And lately, they've begun to include more features like microSD, Micro-HDMI, and even ridiculously crazy high-resolution screens.

By their nature of being so thin, all tablets on this list are the lightest 10-inch tablets you've even seen. However, today we'll be focusing only on the girth of the tablets.

Since it's no longer Apple's flagship tablet, I decided not to include the iPad 2 in the official list, but it's included in this handy chart for comparison's sake.

HP 2311gt review: 3D on the (relative) cheap side

Not going to beat around the bush here: the HP 2311gt offers passive 3D for only $260 (at the time of this review). From my experience, that's a pretty good price for a 3D monitor.

Sure, the 3D effect requires that you sit at least 2.5 feet away from the screen, but when it works, it's actually surprisingly convincing.

The question is: is it worth it?

Samsung SyncMaster S27B970 First Take: Beautiful and thoughtless

Thanks to the fine folks over at Samsung, this week I got the chance to check out the Samsung SyncMaster S27B970 in pre-production form.

As you can see from the picture above, the monitor is quite striking in looks and while this is a preproduction model, performance (aside from a few bugs) is also really impressive.

Acer's 24-inch IPS monitor gets a release date of now

I don't get nearly enough press releases detailing the announcement of a new In-Plane Switching (IPS) monitor. All else being the same, IPS monitors are so much more satisfying and exciting to write about than their Twisted Nematic (TN) counterparts.

Much to my relative pleasure (IPS monitors are more exciting, but come on, they're still monitors), today Acer announced the release of its new IPS monitor, the Acer B243PWL.

The monitor is available now, starting at $329 and comes with Acer's standard three-year warranty.

The 24-inch monitor has a native screen resolution of 1,920x1,200 pixels,

Cheap monitors are easy to find. Go to most computer hardware outlets and you'll see plenty of off-brand, "get the job done" monitors (and by "job" I mean delivering images to your optics) awaiting your dollar.

However, just because you're paying $150 or less for a monitor doesn't mean you're necessarily getting a great deal. Paying $150 for a monitor with a paltry feature set, thoughtless design, or lackluster performance could induce an annoying and probably unexpected sense of buyer's remorse. Despite how little you paid.

Luckily, there are plenty of monitors that pay off with excellent performance, practical design, and plentiful features. You'll have to pay more for them, but in the long term you're getting more for your money.

Now, if you simply want a device that translates ones and zeros into images your eyes can decipher, then stick with the cheap monitors; however, if you're looking for an actual monitor deal, keep reading.

Monitors in the list below top out at $500 in price. The reason being that most consumers have a difficult time paying more than $500 for a monitor while still considering it a "value."

Acer Iconia Tab A510 review: Is Tegra 3 enough?

The first quad-core tablet, the Asus Transformer Prime, launched in December 2011, but the adoption rate of quad-core on tablets since then has been disappointingly slow.

The new Acer Iconia Tab A510 marks only the third tablet to use a full quad-core CPU and is actually the first made by a company other than Asus.

But with the Transformer Pad TF300 also using Tegra 3 and currently priced $50 cheaper than the Acer, is there any reason to even consider the A510?

It's an intriguing question -- one that I attempt to answer in the full review of the Acer Iconia Tab A510.

Which Transformer tablet is right for you?

Yesterday Asus launched its third tablet in a year with the name "Transformer" in it: the Asus Transformer Pad TF300. In April 2011, the Transformer TF101 was released and was followed by the much more powerful Transformer Prime TF201 last December.

With three tablets with the Transformer name out there in the wild, this is a great opportunity to illustrate their differences in a concise manner. Tables help with that, but if you're not a table person and prefer wordy prose, I've got that too.

According to Asus, the new $380 (for 16GB) Transformer Pad TF300 now replaces the TF101 as Asus' "low-end" full-size tablet. The TF101 will officially be available through the second quarter of 2012, and Asus claims it will continue to offer software updates and tech support.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 review: A cheaper Prime?

The Asus Transformer Prime was the great silver hope for Android fans -- and by "silver" I mean "champagne gold" or "amethyst gray" or whatever awkward-sounding color combo Asus assigns to its tablet.

Arguably, the Prime marked the first time Android fans could hold up a tablet to their iPad-owning frenemies and say, "Now I own the most powerful -- on paper at least -- tablet in the universe!" Or something like that.

Aside from some GPS and Wi-Fi issues, the Prime was a robust and powerful tablet, but was probably too expensive for most wallets. Enter: the Transformer Pad TF300.more