budget

It looks like D-Link wants to offer a competitor to Cisco's new Linksys E1500 budget router

According to D-Link, this new single-band router features multiple intelligent antennas, and supports Intelligent Quality of Service, which aids in optimizing Internet traffic for services such as VoIP or gaming.

Most significant, however, is the fact that D-Link's new router supports Gigabit Ethernet, which the E1500 doesn't. This means wired clients can enjoy network speeds of up to 1000Mbps, and those with a home server can enjoy media streaming to multiple devices without worrying about clogging their networks.

Like most wireless routers, the DIR-651 comes with four LAN ports and one WAN port. For security, the router also supports all variations of WPA and WPA2 standards. In addition, it supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), so you can add WPS-enabled clients to the network with the push of a button.

The DIR-651 Wireless N 300 Gigabit Router is slated to be available next month for an estimated price of $90, about the same as that of the Linksys E1500.… Read more

If you're upgrading your headphones and don't want to spend a lot, the MEElectronics HT-21 over ear headphones are a competent balance of comfort and quality. Best of all, they'll only set you back $50.

Visually, the HT-21s don't stand out from other brands that favor loud colors and trendy prints. Instead, they're simply designed with an all-black exterior and black faux-leather earpads to withstand the test of time without making a fashion statement.

The thick plastic lining the silver metal headband also gives the HT-21s extra durability, and they're comfortable to wear for … Read more

In the early 1980s the Boston Acoustics A 40 and A 60 were the go-to speakers for audiophiles on a tight budget. They were hugely popular, and there are still vast numbers of them in circulation.

Well, the smart folks at Boston Acoustics have brought the A Series back, but the new speakers don't share any technology with the original models. The engineers have learned a lot over the decades, and that was immediately obvious when I heard some of the new A Series speakers earlier this week.

The little bookshelf model, the A 26 ($200 each), was sounding a lot bigger than I would have thought possible. For a speaker that measures just 13 inches by 8.25 inches by 10.5 inches, bass was punchy and deep, dynamics were wide open, and the treble was clear. Female vocals sounded especially natural.

These speakers don't need the assistance of a subwoofer to sound full and rich, so they would be a great fit for two-channel home theaters or hi-fi use. I also heard the A 360 towers ($400 each), which produced more and deeper bass, and played louder, but the same sound signature was evident over both speakers. … Read more

I know, I know, a lot of you don't want to spend a whole lot on an iPod/iPhone speaker system--because you've told me. But you do want something that sounds half decent and has a nice design (you've also told me that). Which is why I've gone ahead and put together this little roundup. These compact systems may not offer the best sound in the world--after all, you shouldn't expect too much from a budget iPod speaker--but they do have some nice qualities. Better yet, a couple can even be had for less than $50.

Note: While we couldn't include our Editors' Choice Logitech S715i as part this roundup, it's worth noting that it only costs about $120. So, if you're willing to stretch a little, check out that model as well.

Click below to see the full comparison chart with prices:

Best iPod/iPhone speakers for under $100 … Read more

Budget-priced subwoofers make bass, but they rarely make truly deep, room-shaking bass. The new Outlaw Audio's M8 is in the latter category. This 8-inch, 125-watt sub made a profoundly palpable impression on me. It rocks!

Stylewise, there's not much to report. The M8 ($249) is a plain black box, its textured vinyl covered cabinet measures 14.5 inches by 10.9 inches by 14.1 inches, and the sub weighs 28 pounds. That's a lot heavier than average for a budget model, and the cabinet feels nice and solid.

Connectivity covers every hookup contingency, you get stereo line-level and speaker level inputs. The heavy-duty 8-inch driver and port are located on the sub's bottom panel. The M8's internal crossover network can be bypassed with the flick of a switch, which is the preferred way to go if you're using the M8 with a receiver.

While most budget subs use cheaper Class D amplifiers, the M8 boasts a higher-quality 125-watt (200-watt peak) Class AB amp.… Read more

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a few details on the State Department's plans to ensure a global freedom for the Internet

The Obama administration's proposed 2012 budget would increase budget for national cybersecurity and research

LeapFrog unveils the LeapPad Explorer, a tablet for children, due out this summer

Apple announces its subscription policies for its App Store

A new report from KSE Partners shows that taxes on wireless services are higher than ever and vary quite a bit state to state

Logitech updates its LifeSize Video Center program … Read more

It's a frequent question from readers and co-workers, as well as friends and relatives: "What's the best laptop I can get for around $500?" A crisp William McKinley seems to be a psychological line in the sand for many: it will buy a reasonable set of components, but is still easy enough on the wallet to not be a life-changing decision.

In previous years, we haven't been particularly happy with the choices available around $500. Most were either dumbed-down midsize systems that were going to feel out-of-date before the box was even opened, and others … Read more

Faced with reduced funding and an uncertain outlook, NASA's $18.7 billion fiscal 2012 budget prioritizes the Obama administration's major goals and objectives, focusing on maintaining the International Space Station, retiring the shuttle and ramping up efforts to spur development of commercial manned spacecraft.

The budget also reflects the administration's commitment to building a new heavy-lift rocket and a crew capsule that could be used for deep-space exploration.

But the budget follows the administration's proposal to freeze federal funding at 2010 levels for the next five years, resulting in a $276 million decrease for NASA compared … Read more

President Barack Obama today proposed boosting funds for clean-energy research and deployment in his 2012 budget by slashing subsidies for fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal.

The budget would provide the Department of Energy with $29.5 billion for fiscal year 2012, up 4.2 percent from the proposed 2011 budget, and up 12 percent from the enacted 2010 budget. Some $8 billion would support research in clean energy like wind, solar, and advanced batteries.

"Whomever leads in the global, clean-energy economy will also take the lead in creating high-paying, highly skilled jobs for its people," … Read more