Product Reviews
Showing
1-20
of 45 results found
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Reviewed on July 31, 2009
Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.
TAGS:
Windows 7, 64-bit system, Microsoft Windows Vista, Redmond, DirectX, taskbar, 32-bit, clean install, 64-bit, Microsoft Corp., Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, hard drive, Microsoft Windows XP, operating system
CNET review:
9.0
Spectacular
Check prices$172.56-$315.08
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Reviewed on July 10, 2009
Gateway's SX2800-01 offers a strong combination of performance and features all wrapped up in a design that fully embraces the merits of a slim tower PC. We recommend this system to anyone looking for a fast, affordable desktop for the home office, the living room, or anywhere in between.
TAGS:
HP Pavilion SlimLine, Gateway Inc., Dell Inspiron, clock speed, HP Pavilion, Dell, 64-bit, Intel, HP, PC, video
CNET review:
7.9
Very good
Check prices$438.99-$448.53
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Reviewed on September 10, 2009
Velocity Micro's Edge Z30 is the best deal going right now for midlevel gaming PCs featuring Intel's new Core i7 chips. The overclocked Core i7 860, a fast Nvidia graphics card, and a solid selection of features all around make it easy for us to recommend this system to anyone looking for a capable gaming desktop.
TAGS:
Velocity Micro, Intel Core Microarchitecture, Blu-ray drive, Intel, optical drive, 64-bit, Dell, video card, Blu-ray, motherboard, chipset, CPU, games, PC
CNET review:
8.9
Excellent
Pricing not available
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Reviewed on July 31, 2009
Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.
TAGS:
Windows 7, 64-bit system, Microsoft Windows Vista, Redmond, DirectX, 64-bit, 32-bit, clean install, taskbar, Microsoft Corp., Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, operating system, hard drive
CNET review:
9.0
Spectacular
Check prices$122.95-$199.99
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Reviewed on July 31, 2009
Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.
TAGS:
Windows 7, 64-bit system, Microsoft Windows Vista, Redmond, DirectX, clean install, 64-bit, taskbar, 32-bit, Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, hard drive, operating system
CNET review:
9.0
Spectacular
Check prices$171.66-$354.01
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Reviewed on July 16, 2009
With more aggressive competition on retail shelves, the HP Pavilion p6130y isn't a particularly compelling desktop computer thanks to underwhelming features and poor performance. We only recommend this system if you truly need the hand-holding that comes with the support of a major U.S. PC vendor.
TAGS:
HP Pavilion, ASUS, Dell Inspiron, quad-core, digital audio, Ethernet, HP, FireWire, 64-bit, Gateway Inc., Dell, AMD, PC, games
Check prices$652.95
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Reviewed on August 26, 2009
Intel Mac users will like Snow Leopard's smartly designed interface enhancements, and its Exchange support is a must-have (especially with Outlook for Mac on the way). With a ton of technological improvements, Snow Leopard is worth the $29 upgrade fee.
TAGS:
OS X Snow Leopard, multi-core processor, Microsoft Exchange Server, Apple Computer, IBM PowerPC, clean install, Apple Mac OS, Apple Mac OS X, 64-bit, Apple Macintosh, operating system, Intel, Microsoft Corp.
CNET review:
8.2
Excellent
Check prices$24.98-$34.88
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Reviewed on January 27, 2009
Maingear's Ephex is the fastest PC we've reviewed, and also the most expensive. You can find better service policies from other boutique PC vendors, but the Ephex's overall speed and build quality are enough for us to recommend it to those in the market for the best desktop they can find.
TAGS:
Maingear, Intel Core Microarchitecture, LightScribe, Blu-ray, 64-bit, video card, PC, Intel, games, hard drive
CNET review:
8.9
Excellent
Pricing not available
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Reviewed on November 20, 2009
Gateway's affordable One ZX4800-02 all-in-one isn't the most feature-rich desktop at this price, but it's fast and capable enough that it will handle most basic consumer tasks with aplomb. Don't get too excited about its touch screen, but there's enough to like about this system that we can recommend it as an everyday PC.
TAGS:
Gateway Inc., IEEE 802.11n, Acer Aspire, touch screen, Acer Inc., CPU, 64-bit, networking, Intel, Intel Pentium, PC, hard drive, HP, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows
CNET review:
7.2
Very good
Check prices$649.99
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Reviewed on August 10, 2009
The Dell Studio XPS 435 successfully overcomes our bias against desktops that claim to be experts at everything through charming case design and a strong configuration at a relatively fair price. It misses greatness because of a handful of minor missteps, but if you need a do-it-all mainstream tower system, this Dell more or less covers all the bases.
TAGS:
Dell Studio, Blu-ray drive, Blu-ray, Dell, ASUS, design, 64-bit, video card
CNET review:
7.5
Very good
Check prices$1,479.00
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Reviewed on November 10, 2009
The Dell Studio XPS 8000 offers a strong combination of midrange performance parts that should satisfy anyone looking for a midtower desktop for general productivity, digital media editing, or gaming. It lacks a few performance-oriented extras, but it makes up for any deficiencies with its attractive looks.
TAGS:
Velocity Micro, Dell Studio, Dell, motherboard, 64-bit, CPU, configuration, Nvidia GeForce, Intel, NVidia, Microsoft Windows Vista, PC, Microsoft Windows
CNET review:
7.3
Very good
Check prices$1,029.00
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Reviewed on February 4, 2009
The Acer X1700-U3700A is slightly slower than the competition, but it gives you almost every component you need in either a basic desktop or a light-duty home theater PC. If you prefer functionality to performance, we recommend this model out of the three systems in the current lineup.
TAGS:
Acer Aspire, Acer Inc., graphics chip, burner, optical drive, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 64-bit, networking, Dell, Wi-Fi, video card, Microsoft Windows Vista, video, PC, Intel, hard drive
CNET review:
7.0
Very good
Check prices$329.95
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Reviewed on July 29, 2009
Dell seems to have missed a beat in this year's round of back-to-school retail desktops, and the Inspiron 545 is no exception. Its competition has too much to offer in the way of performance and features, leaving Dell with little but its established online support resources to give it an advantage.
TAGS:
Dell Inspiron, back-to-school, Dell, ASUS, Gateway Inc., 64-bit, networking, PC
Pricing not available
-
Reviewed on August 25, 2009
Acer's Aspire M5800-U5802A could use some visual polish, but get past its appearance and you'll find a fast, affordable computer that will handle any task you care to throw at it. It's even a decent low-end gaming box. We'd only recommend against this desktop if you demand a computer's appearance match its capabilities.
TAGS:
Acer Aspire, HP Pavilion Elite, Acer Inc., cover, Gateway Inc., HP Pavilion, 64-bit, ASUS, NVidia, Intel, HP
CNET review:
7.3
Very good
Pricing not available
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Reviewed on November 19, 2009
At a glance, the Asus Essentio CM5570-AP003 offers adequate performance compared to other midtower budget desktops, but an older Gateway outshines Asus with faster performance and more versatility for a little more, leaving us unenthusiastic about this system.
TAGS:
graphics chip, ASUS, Gateway Inc., Gigabit Ethernet, Intel, Ethernet, Dell Inspiron, 64-bit, Intel Pentium, CPU, Dell
Check prices$449.99
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Reviewed on August 4, 2009
Asus crafted the Essentio CG5290-BP007 to serve as a no-frills gaming desktop for just more than $1,000. And while the boutique PC vendors have a bit more polish for not too much more money, Asus can at least claim that this PC is one of the fastest on the retail shelves. You might have a hard time arguing the necessity of such a fast gaming box for back-to-school, but we can at least recommend this system as a speedy bargain.
TAGS:
back-to-school, ASUS, retailer, 64-bit, customer service, games, Nvidia GeForce, NVidia, video card, PC
CNET review:
7.6
Very good
Pricing not available
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Reviewed on October 7, 2009
The $799 ZT Affinity 7334Ma's stellar performance benchmarks, Blu-ray drive, and plenty of room for expansion give it a step up from the competition. ZT still needs help in the external design department, but this system certainly earns our recommendation as a workhorse do-it-all system.
TAGS:
HP Pavilion Elite, Blu-ray drive, HP Pavilion, Blu-ray, ATI Radeon, AMD, 64-bit, HP, ATI Technologies, PC
CNET review:
7.4
Very good
Check prices$799.99
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Reviewed on July 6, 2009
You might find a better deal from Dell if you configure an Inspiron 537s online, but this retail only model has little to recommend it. From slow performance to a weak feature-set, this budget slimtower is outclassed by too many other retail desktops.
TAGS:
HP Pavilion SlimLine, Gateway Inc., Dell Inspiron, HP Pavilion, Dell, ASUS, 64-bit, Intel, CPU, HP, video
Check prices$249.00
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Reviewed on July 31, 2009
Don't let the overlarge case get you too excited, but Asus has put together a compelling budget gaming PC with the Essentio CG5270-BP003. With fast gaming and general application performance, as well as a competitive price, this desktop will satisfy any aspiring PC gamer looking to save a buck.
TAGS:
chassis, ASUS, gamer, 64-bit, video card, games, PC
CNET review:
7.1
Very good
Pricing not available
-
Reviewed on July 28, 2008
If you're considering all of the computers in the $700 to $1,000 price range, the Dell Studio Hybrid is not very compelling. However, if you limit yourself to the very specific niche of small PCs, you'll appreciate this system's clever design and its relatively powerful hardware.
TAGS:
Dell Studio, stand, wireless networking, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Dell, Intel Core 2 Duo, optical drive, 64-bit, Gateway Inc., Microsoft Windows Vista, Intel, PC, hard drive, Microsoft Windows
Check prices$499.00
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