Top-rated reviews of the week (photos)
Here are a few of CNET Reviews' favorite items from the past week, including the HTC Nexus One, Dell UltraSharp U2711, and the Westone 2 True-Fit Earphone.
Dell UltraSharp U2711
Dell UltraSharp U2711
Editors' rating: 4.5 out of 5
The good: The Dell UltraSharp U2711 has a super high-resolution screen that shows images in a fidelity we've not seen on a 27-inch display before. Also, the monitor exhibits deep blacks while watching movies, vibrant color in games, has a robust onscreen display, and has a plethora of connection options.
The bad: The Dell UltraSharp U2711 is missing the pivot option that the U2410 had. Also, buyers may find its price prohibitive.
The bottom line: The Dell UltraSharp U2711 is a feature-rich monitor with incredible performance that earns its high price.
Read CNET's full review
Price range: $1,049.00
Nikon CoolPix S1000pj
Nikon CoolPix S1000pj
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good:Compact, attractive body with a projector built into the front for instant slideshows up to 40 inches in size.
The bad: Photo quality, shooting performance, and features are all that of a less expensive camera.
The bottom line: The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is all about the built-in projector; if you don't need it, you don't need this camera.
HTC Nexus One (T-Mobile)
HTC Nexus One (T-Mobile)
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: The Nexus One has a gorgeous display, a lightning-fast processor, and a loaded feature set. The enhanced voice capabilities worked flawlessly, and the phone delivers solid performance.
The bad: Like other Android phones, the Nexus One forces you to store apps on the internal memory. The media player remains average, and it's missing some wanted features like multitouch support, dual-mode capability for GSM and CDMA networks, and hands-free Bluetooth dialing. Currently, Outlook calendar syncing is not available.
The bottom line: It doesn't have all the features we'd like, but the Nexus One greatly enhances the Google Android family with a fast processor, good call quality, and improved voice control features. What's more, we love that all versions of the phone will be unlocked.
Read CNET's full review
Price range: $179.00
Powermat Portable Mat
Powermat Portable Mat
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: The Powermat successfully charges your phone without a wired connection.
The bad: The Powermat won't work with every handset, and you'll need to pay extra to charge more than one device simultaneously.
The bottom line: The Powermat isn't entirely free of wires, but it succeeds at being different and at powering your phone. On the other hand, we don't see it fulfilling a need.
LG Expo (AT&T)
LG Expo (AT&T)
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: The LG Expo is well designed and boasts a sharp display and excellent QWERTY keyboard. The Windows Mobile 6.5 device also offers Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, and GPS. Its call quality was excellent and the smartphone's general performance was quite snappy.
The bad: The smartphone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. There's no dedicated Start menu button, often requiring you to use the stylus. We also wish the Expo had a built-in stylus holder.
The bottom line: Offering both power and style, the LG Expo is one of the best smartphones for business users on the market today.
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 - black (Sprint)
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 - black (Sprint)
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 offers ease of use and a compact design. Its features include Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 2-megapixel camera.
The bad: The smartphone feels a bit cheap and it has a low-resolution screen. Its call quality could be better.
The bottom line: Some design issues aside, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 is a great value for Sprint customers looking for an entry-level smartphone.
Westone 2 True-Fit Earphone
Westone 2 True-Fit Earphone
Editors' rating: 4 out of 5
The good: The Westone 2 True-Fit Earphones offer fantastic sound quality, useful accessories, and a durable design.
The bad: The Westone 2 earphones are expensive, and the earpieces may not be comfortable for everyone.
The bottom line: The Westone 2 True-Fit Earphones offer great sound and features for the money; those who find triple-driver earbuds too large for their ears should take heed.
Read CNET's full review
Price range: $249.00
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge (13-inch)
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge (13-inch)
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: Excellent keyboard and touch pad; compact body; bright display.
The bad: The chassis could easily have held an optical drive, but doesn't; better configurations drive up the price significantly.
The bottom line: With a relatively affordable starting price and a new design, the ThinkPad Edge loosens up the ThinkPad look--but losing an optical drive keeps it a yard short of being a top-choice compact business laptop.
Dell Inspiron Zino HD
Dell Inspiron Zino HD
Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good: Living-room-friendly design; better-than-Nettop performance thanks to AMD CPU; 802.11n networking rare at this price; easy to hook up to your TV via HDMI port.
The bad: Integrated graphics chip chokes on HD and some standard-def video sources; Blu-ray option currently unavailable.
The bottom line: In the right configuration, Dell's Inspiron Zino HD will fit seamlessly into your living room as a PC-based video source. Due to its uneven handling of even standard-def video, this $468 build isn't quite up to the task. Fortunately, Dell offers the right upgrades to get you to the hallowed ground of PC-based video content--just be prepared to spend a little bit more to get there.
Read CNET's full review
Price range: $468