Photos: Top-rated reviews of the week
Here are a few of CNET Reviews' favorite items from the past week, including the TomTom GO 740 Live, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and the LG BD390 Blu-ray player.
Asus Eee PC 1008HA
Here's our weekly roundup of the new products CNET reviewers liked best.
Asus Eee PC 1008HA
Editors' rating: 4
The good: New slim design; clever hidden ports and connections; thin LED screen.
The bad: Near the upper end of the Netbook price scale; hidden ports and VGA dongle can take a little effort to access.
The bottom line: Asus reinvents its iconic Netbook with the slim, attractive Eee PC 1008HA, a bold experiment that largely works.
be.ez LAbesace Lime Drop
be.ez LAbesace Lime Drop
Editors' rating: 4
The good: Waterproof nylon; reinforced shell; very stylish design.
The bad: A little hard to handle; doesn't rest flat; minimalism might put off hardcore gear-luggers.
The bottom line: With a look as streamlined as the MacBook it's designed to carry, the Lime Drop's got city cool down pat, but don't expect it to do much more than carry your laptop and a few extra iGadgets.
Read CNET's full review
Price: $89
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
Editors' rating: 4
The good: With excellent handling and a powerful, efficient engine, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track thrills while coming in at a very affordable price. IPod connectivity is standard, and the Infinity audio system sounds incredible.
The bad: Navigation isn't currently available for the Genesis Coupe, although Hyundai might make it available later this year. The iPod interface is difficult to use.
The bottom line: You would be hard-pressed to find a better everyday sports car at the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track's price. Excellent audio features are just icing on the cake.
Read CNET's full review
Price range: $29,500 - $30,375
LG BD390
LG BD390
Editors' rating: 4
The good: Excellent image quality on Blu-ray movies; integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi; Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow streaming; superfast disc loading; plays music, videos, and pictures off a connected USB drive or over network; Profile 2.0 compatible; onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; 7.1 analog outputs; 1GB onboard memory.
The bad: Costs as much as a PS3; CinemaNow doesn't stack up to Amazon Video On Demand.
The bottom line: The LG BD390's combination of excellent image quality, superfast loading times, and its currently unbeatable feature set make it our top choice among premium standalone Blu-ray players.
MediaSmart Server LX195
MediaSmart Server LX195
Editors' rating: 4
The good: The HP LX195 has fast throughput performance, powerful server software, and excellent backup for both PCs and Macs, as well as easily upgradable storage capacity. Also, it's aesthetically pleasing and quiet.
The bad: The HP LX195 has no RAID, IP camera, or printer support. Also, it has no support for a simultaneous backup/restore function, and its TOZ remote connection incurs an annual cost after the first free year.
The bottom line: The HP MediaSmart Server LX195 is a great network storage and backup device for home users. The device offers stellar performance, and great backup and remote access options for a reasonable price.
TomTom GO 740 Live
TomTom GO 740 Live
Editors' rating: 4
The good: The TomTom GO 740 Live is the manufacturer's first connected-GPS device, offering up-to-the-minute traffic data, weather forecasts, fuel prices, and Local Search powered by Google. Map Share and IQ Routes technologies allow map data to be updated more frequently. Bluetooth hands-free calling and voice command help the driver to keep both hands on the wheel.
The bad: Route calculations are slow, particularly from a moving vehicle. High entry cost only includes three months of service.
The bottom line: The TomTom GO 740 Live puts a tremendous amount of information at your fingertips and makes it easy to access and process it all from the driver's seat.
HP Mini 1151nr
HP Mini 1151nr
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: HP's already excellent Netbook adds 3G; subsidized Verizon price.
The bad: Expensive total cost of ownership with two-year data contract; fewer ports and connections than other Netbooks.
The bottom line: The HP Mini 1151NR's marriage of 3G with a Netbook feels like an obvious mashup of two useful technologies, but the overall package ends up being somewhat expensive.
JBL On Stage 400P speaker dock
JBL On Stage 400P speaker dock
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: The JBL On Stage 400P offers clear, detailed audio and an impressive low-end response for its size. It's compatible with all docking iPods and is magnetically shielded against iPhone interference. There's an auxiliary line input for using the speaker with the Shuffle and any other MP3 player. A useful remote is included.
The bad: The JBL On Stage 400P doesn't have many extra features, such as an FM tuner or alarm clock. It does not offer a battery power option.
The bottom line: A full $50 cheaper than the Bose SoundDock, the JBL On Stage 400P offers a solid alternative for iPod owners who want clear audio and present bass from a reasonably compact speaker.
Livio Radio
Livio Radio
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: Wi-Fi radio optimized for listening to Pandora without a PC; provides access to thousands of Internet radio stations; stylish exterior design; supports 802.11g Wi-Fi with both WEP and WPA security; hiccup-free wireless connectivity for Internet radio; headphone jack on front panel; auxiliary input for connecting an iPod.
The bad: Average sound quality; doesn't support podcasts or stream music from a PC.
The bottom line: Despite some missing features and average sonics, the Livio Radio's beautiful design, simple controls, and affordable price make it an excellent Wi-Fi radio for Pandora fans.
Read CNET's full review
Price: $150
Olympus E-620 (body)
Olympus E-620 (body)
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: High-quality photos; solid performance; articulated LCD; some nice features, including savable custom settings, in-body image stabilization, Art Filters, and a wireless flash controller.
The bad: No video capture; more complex to operate than is necessary.
The bottom line: While it's a solid budget dSLR with good photo quality and a host of advanced features, the Olympus E-620 still falls behind the competition on most counts.
Samsung Jack (AT&T)
Samsung Jack (AT&T)
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: The Samsung Jack brings a fresh, updated look over its predecessor and includes a faster processor and better camera. Call quality is excellent, and the Windows Mobile smartphone offers 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.
The bad: The Jack uses Samsung's proprietary ports, so you can't use a standard USB cable or headset. The phone feels slippery.
The bottom line: As the successor to the BlackJack series, the Samsung Jack brings a fresh look and some nice feature upgrades to make it one of AT&T's more solid and affordable messaging smartphones. However, we tend to favor the Nokia E71x's design.
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