Top-rated reviews of the week (photos)
Here are a few of CNET Reviews' favorite items from the past week, including the Canon Vixia HF S21 camcorder, the Apple MacBook spring 2010, and the 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S.
Canon Vixia HF S21
Canon Vixia HF S21
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: Excellent set of manual features; dual SDHC slots; generally well-designed interface.
The bad: Poorly designed touch-screen menu system; short battery life; defaults to low-quality video mode; doesn't support SDXC; relatively expensive.
The bottom line: While they're an excellent trio of camcorders, the Vixia HF S21, HF S20, and HF S200 are significantly more expensive than their respective competitors, especially since the S20 and S200 lack electronic viewfinders. If you can forego some of the subtleties of its manual controls, you can probably get what you need with a cheaper camcorder.
Apple MacBook spring 2010 (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD)
Apple MacBook spring 2010 (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD)
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: Faster processor; improved graphics; better battery life.
The bad: Still no SD card slot; might be time for Apple to switch to 16:9 aspect ratio displays.
The bottom line: Apple slightly revamps its basic MacBook with improvements under the hood, but keeps the design and price the same, which makes the new MacBook tough to beat as a back-to-school laptop.
Yamaha YSP-5100
Yamaha YSP-5100
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: Sound bar home theater system (no AV receiver required); best-in-class virtual surround processing and overall excellent sound quality ; four HDMI inputs; three digital audio inputs; analog video upconversion; wireless music streaming from an iPod with included adapter; wireless subwoofer kit included; Sirius-ready; FM tuner; automatic speaker calibration.
The bad: Very expensive; doesn't sound appreciably better than step-down YSP-4100; doesn't support 3D video pass-through; no subwoofer included; much larger than many competing models; a true 5.1 home theater system sounds better.
The bottom line:The Yamaha YSP-5100 sound bar has an outstanding assortment of features and best-in-class virtual surround, but it's very expensive and doesn't sound much better than the step-down YSP-4100.
STM Bags Scout Laptop Shoulder Bag (extra small, olive)
STM Bags Scout Laptop Shoulder Bag (extra small, olive)
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: Perfect fit for both Netbooks and iPads; plenty of pockets.
The bad: Boxy look; no pockets on the front flap.
The bottom line: STM's extra-small version of its Scout Laptop Shoulder Bag is meant for Netbooks, but also works great as an iPad case.
2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: The dual-clutch transmission in the 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S works beautifully, contributing to driving dynamics and fuel economy, while the dynamic suspension leads to impressive cornering. Navigation includes 3D maps, and the Bose stereo produces a nicely refined sound.
The bad: Shifter buttons on the steering wheel are poorly placed. Driver aid features, such as blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control, are not available.
The bottom line: The 2010 Porsche Panamera delivers a spectacular driving experience in a surprisingly practical car, while modern cabin tech satisfies navigation and entertainment.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 (black)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 (black)
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: Simple to use; nice design; very good features.
The bad: AVCHD Lite video and 14-megapixel resolution seems unnecessary; no controls for aperture or shutter speed.
The bottom line: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 has a flexible lens in a compact body and produces reliably good automatic shooting results.
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) - black (unlocked)
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) - black (unlocked)
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: The Sony Ericsson Satio rocks a 12.1-megapixel camera with advanced editing options and video recording. The Symbian-based phone offers 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and full e-mail support. The Walkman-style music player is also a nice bonus.
The bad: The Satio uses Sony Ericsson's proprietary port for the USB connector and headset. The Web browser is a little clunky to navigate, and the Symbian user interface has some inconsistencies.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson Satio packs in a lot of multimedia power, particularly in the camera department, but it also has a number of annoyances. You can get a better overall experience with other handsets and for a lot less.
TrendNet TEW-673GRU
TrendNet TEW-673GRU
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: The Trendnet TEW-673GRU supports true dual-band and has consistently high throughput speed at close range. It offers signal stability and comes with a well-organized, responsive Web interface. It also has two USB ports that support external hard drives and printers.
The bad: The Trendnet TEW-673GRU range 2.4Ghz throughput speeds could be better. Its USB ports require software installed on a computer to work and can only work with one computer at a time. The router lacks support for guest networking.
The bottom line: The Trendnet TEW-673GRU is a fast and full featured high-end wireless router, but its USB-related features might fall short of your expectations.
Dell Vostro 3300 Laptop Computer (Intel CORE I3 350M 250GB/2GB)
Dell Vostro 3300 Laptop Computer (Intel CORE I3 350M 250GB/2GB)
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: Reasonable price; compact, attractive design; antiglare screen.
The bad: Battery life with the included 4-cell battery is disappointing.
The bottom line: The small-business-targeted Dell Vostro 3300 is a compact, stylish-looking laptop selling at a price that's reasonable. If it had a more robust battery, this would be an excellent travel companion.
2010 BMW 750i xDrive
2010 BMW 750i xDrive
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: The 2010 BMW 750i xDrive provides an extremely comfortable ride, along with first-rate navigation, phone, and audio systems. The head-up display shows detailed route guidance information.
The bad: The six-speed transmission doesn't seem up to this car's caliber, and the fuel economy earns it a gas guzzler tax. Music selection onscreen interface is confusing.
The bottom line: A big, luxury cruiser, the 2010 BMW 750i xDrive won't satisfy sport urges, but will get you home in comfort.
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