Culture

Spring preview: Computers and components

The desktops, laptops, monitors, and components we're looking forward to seeing this spring.

Dan Ackerman

Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" (Hachette/PublicAffairs), a non-fiction gaming and business history book that has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, Fortune, LA Review of Books, and many other publications. "Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth... the story shines." -- The New York Times

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Rich Brown Former Senior Editorial Director - Home and Wellness

Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.

Expertise Smart home, Windows PCs, cooking (sometimes), woodworking tools (getting there...)

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Dan Ackerman

Rich Brown

March 24, 2009 2:31 p.m. PT

1 of 10 CBS Interactive

Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz)

Price: $1,199

Availability: Now

The outlook:The 20-inch iMac is our favorite of Apple's new round of desktops, mostly due to its outstanding performance.

Read our review of the 20-inch iMac.

2 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell Adamo

Price: Starts at $1,999

Availability: Shipping by late April

The outlook: Dell's attempt at an upscale luxury brand could appeal to design-conscious consumers who, for one reason or another, won't switch to a MacBook.

Read our hands-on preview of the Dell Adamo.

3 of 10 D-Link

D-Link DIR-685

Price: Around $300

Availability: Q2 2009

The outlook: It's a NAS drive, it's a Wi-Fi router, it's a digital photo frame...

4 of 10 Dell

Dell Mini 10

Price: Starts at $399

Availability: Mid-April

The outlook: A long-overdue 10-inch version of Dell's popular 9-inch Netbook.

D-Link DNS-726-4 NVR Pro

Price: $699.99

Availability: Q2 2009

The outlook: D-Link DNS-726-4 NVR Pro is a surveillance-oriented NAS with multichannel digital video camera support and sophisticated management software.