Inside CNET Labs Podcast

(Credit: Josh P. Miller/CNET)

Price can be a huge determining factor when purchasing an electronics product. Nearly every week, I get blasted with e-mails asking, "What's the best sub-$100 monitor?" I rarely answer this question because, well, frankly, most monitors at that price are ones I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say when purchasing a new monitor, the majority of consumers are more concerned with the price than the performance. As I see it, most consumers just want their monitor to fulfill very basic functions. Does it turn on? Yes. Does it show a picture? Yes. Does the picture look like what I'd reasonably expect? Yes. Sold!

Obviously, there are those who require something more high end. For those people I point you in the direction of the Dell UltraSharp U2410.

For all of you "I just want it to work and not break the bank" people, check out the full review of the Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW.

Also, be sure to keep your eye on CNET for the latest monitor reviews.

Three brave batteries answered the call!

(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Even in the days of nickel cadmium and lithium ion batteries being used in most laptops, phones, and MP3 players, some of us still need traditional alkaline batteries.

Recently, I was forced by my superiors as if my life depended upon my cooperation I was politely asked if I could conduct some battery performance tests on a few regular, everyday, over-the-counter batteries. I, of course, responded: "Yes! Especially since you asked so nicely, I'd be happy to do it!"

I chose what I thought were two of the most popular batteries on the market, and one not so popular battery. The goal being to determine which battery would last longer under controlled conditions.

We looked at the following batteries: Energizer, Duracell Ultra Advanced, and Fuji Enviro Max. All batteries were of the AA variety with a 1.5-volt charge.

We used three identical Mini Maglite flashlights that require two AA batteries each.

We set up a Webcam, placed the flashlights in front of the lens, and started recording. When we returned a few hours later, all three flashlights were off and didn't turn on when we attempted to do so.

We then skipped through the recorded video file to determine exactly when each flashlight died. Using the video duration counter, we determined the following results:

I was not surprised that the purported "Eco-friendly" Fuji Enviro Max came in last place, but I was taken aback that a normal Energizer battery beat something called the Duracell Ultra Advanced.

Note that all batteries were brand-new and only used for the first time with each test run. Also, our goal was to determine which battery lasted longest. Sometimes, even after a device dies, batteries will still have a charge and knocking the device around or taking the battery out and putting it back in will give you more juice. We didn't do that here. The test was one run, repeating the test twice (three times total). The number you see above is an average of the three tests for each brand of battery.

Let us know in the comment section if you think we've missed something, or if you would like to request a different battery to test.

The lack of access to Facebook has created a lot of anguish among young Vietnamese.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

HANOI, Vietnam--Vietnam's access to Facebook has been intermittent at best for about a month. However, after two weeks here in Hanoi, I haven't been able to get an official answer as to whether the popular social-networking Web site is being blocked here.

Internet service providers in Vietnam blame the spotty access on "technical issues," without offering an estimate for when the problems will be resolved. A representative from Viettel, a DSL and cell phone service provider, told me "there might be something wrong with Facebook."

None of the government personnel I was able to talk to during a recent trip back to my homeland would give me an answer, either. Some seemed to be unaware of the outage. However, during a media briefing on December 3, Nguyen Phuong Nga, a representative of Vietnam's Foreign Ministry, affirmed that agencies have been evaluating the contents of certain social Web sites because "many people in Vietnam have been upset that a number of social Web sites have been misused," basically posting information of an undisclosed nature that is deemed inappropriate.

I'm unaware of any misuse, but the upset seems much louder from the other side. With more than a million users and counting, the limited access to Facebook has created a lot of anguish. Lan Nguyen, a 23-year-old English student in Hanoi said, "I use Facebook daily. Now, it feels like something just got stolen from me." She uses FPT Telecom, one of the biggest DSL providers in Vietnam.

Ha Do of Ho Chi Minh city, another mid-20s, self-proclaimed Facebook addict who has some 1,800 friends, put it simply: "This sucks big time!" She revealed, however, that she still could access the site from some cafes, though definitely not from home. Upset and disappointment are common feelings among those I talked to about the matter.

This also affects a lot of small businesses in Vietnam, especially bars, restaurants, and tourism agencies that use Facebook to promote themselves to the outside world.

A curious silence
The week before I arrived in Vietnam, I was wondering why most of my Facebook friends in the country completely ignored my poking and never updated their pages. I'm afraid things won't get any better.

(Credit: CNET)

Apple "announced" upgrades to both their Time Capsule and Airport Extreme Base Station in October. After much ado, attempting to get the new revisions and the old ones in-house to test, we've finally completed testing and have updated the reviews.

The thing about network testing is that because so many factors can potentially affect wireless network traffic, results can be quite unpredictable. This is especially true in an office environment like CNET's San Francisco office, where everyone and their mother seems to own an iPhone or BlackBerry.

While we attempt to minimize interference by analyzing the spectrum and choosing the best wireless band, we can't stop random devices using the band and cluttering the network. The mothers are usually the worst offenders.

So we test in an environment that, while not 100 percent clean, is 100 percent real-world. Check out the review updates for the Apple Time Capsule and Apple Airport Extreme Base Station, to see how these two fared in a real environment.

The robotic penguin called Pingo

(Credit: arimaz.com)

Have hundreds of Facebook friends and still feel lonely and bored? Well, that's not new. What is new is the fact I probably have just what you want. It's a robotic penguin which, apart from being cute, can bring Facebook connections to life, quite literally.

About the size of a small chicken egg and taking the shape a penguin, the new device is called Pingo. It's an interactive electronic playmate that can move around your desk, express moods, respond to voice commands, sing songs, and read aloud e-mail messages, headlines, stock quotes, and weather.

Despite its little shape, Pingo comes packed with technology. It has two proximity sensors on the front, three ground sensors on the bottom, and two powered wheels. It also has built-in speakers, a microphone, and eyes that can change colors.

The device integrates into its owner's Facebook account via a Facebook application called MyDeskFriend. With this application, you can give Pingo a new name and customize its personality. After that it can be programed to read RSS newsfeeds or follow your voice command to send pokes, messages, or Facebook gifts, and so on. It can also follow your fingers around on a desk and is smart enough not to fall off.

Pingo the robotic penguin (photos)

Pingo is compatible with both Windows (XP/Vista and 7) and Mac OS (10.5 or later). It comes with a docking station that connects to your computer via a USB port. Unfortunately, it isn't cheap and costs around $150. If you want to get it as a Christmas present, you'll need to order it before December 14.

For the record, I think most cats are just lazy, not depressed.

We talk games. Yay! My favorite subject! Dong and I (well mostly me) talk about the games we've been playing and our impressions. We also discuss that whole Modern Warfare 2 controversy from a couple weeks back. I know, I know, we're late to the party, but at least we brought a huge case of beer!

Also, Dong continues his tales from Azeroth. He joins a new guild that sounds more like a cult, does horrible DPS, and realizes he has no tanking or healing skills. This was my interpretation at least.

Finally, what we're watching, what we can't watch, and we'd like to be watching. Yeah, we had very little to talk about this week, but that actually worked in our favor...I think, you be the judge.

To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the podcast link on the right. Don't forget to leave us voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

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The frog returns in his LED splendor.

(Credit: NEC)

LED is definitely the new black in the world of computer monitors. Most vendors have gotten behind the technology and many more are beginning to announce LED-based products. Check out my list of the five best LED monitors, and see what the current top-rated models are.

NEC is the latest vendor to drop its hat into the mix. On Wednesday, it announced the MultiSync EA222WMe, the company's first LED monitor.

Aesthetically, judging just by the picture, the monitor resembles the previously reviewed NEC MultiSync EA221WM.

Like the EA221WM, the EA222WMe has a 16:10 aspect ratio screen, 1,680x1,050 resolution, and a four-way ergonomic stand. In addition, the LED-based monitor includes a 250 cd/m2 brightness, 30,000 dynamic contrast ratio, VGA, DVI, USB, and DisplayPort inputs, and built-in speakers.

The monitor includes an Eco mode that caps the brightness, a carbon meter, and a cost meter. According to NEC, it also uses less packing materials than the company's non-LED monitors.

The MultiSync EA222WMe comes with a three-year, parts-and-labor limited warranty and is now available at an estimated street price of $339.

Of course I'm good at counting. I learned from the best.

(Credit: Sesame Workshop)

We return to the current Facebook debacle in Vietnam. Allegedly, accounts are being closed or locked thanks to a lone Vietnamese princess and her inability to secure her password--or so says Dong, of course.

Then Dong talks at length about the very expensive Imation wireless USB hard drive as I remain unconvinced of its worth.

Finally, we delve into a discussion about the audio-Nazi, aka iTunes. iTunes obviously doesn't want Dong to workout in a timely manner and it's communicating this quite effectively.

To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the podcast link on the right. Don't forget to leave us voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)

Just thought I'd show something different to illustrate how the XL2370 takes advantage of its technology.

(Credit: Josh P. Miller/CNET)

Over the last few months I've seen a flood of LED-based monitors released, and by "flood" I mean like four. Thing is, four is a huge improvement over the first half of the year where we saw fewer than half that number of LED-backlit monitors come through these offices.

While I'm as excited as the next person about the prospects of LED-based displays, not all of them live up to their promise of brighter screens, thinner panels, and more accurate colors.

There are a few that do and a couple others that come close. I've compiled a short list of my current favorites.