Top-rated reviews of the week (pictures)

Well, here it is, the first full week of November; CNET editors kicked off the month with an array of neat stuff (if you'll pardon the technical term). In this week's roundup, there's a practical laptop for gamers, the standard-bearer for media consumption tablets, and "the best budget streaming-media device." I hope you can read while you're teetering on the edge of your seat, cats and kittens (and wombats), because here we go.

Roku LT (2013)

The Roku LT is the best budget streaming-media device, easily topping the $35 Chromecast. Read the review.

2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon

OK, in its base configuration, the 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon doesn't justify its price, but its option sheet includes an abundance of performance and cabin technologies. Read the review.

Alienware 17

It's not as much of a conversation piece as the tanklike Alienware 18, but the slimmer, lighter Alienware 17 is arguably more practical for serious gamers with realistic budgets. Read the review.

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9

With everything that was great about the HDX 7 and more, the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 isn't just a great value, it sets the standard for a media consumption tablet. Read the review.

Nook GlowLight e-ink e-reader

While it doesn't necessarily beat the Kindle Paperwhite, the $119 Nook GlowLight is an excellent e-reader that's strongly worth considering if you don't want to buy into the Amazon ecosystem. Read the review.

Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb

For basic needs, the Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb might make sense, but consider waiting to see if the app improves, and to see what the competition will bring to the table. For more advanced control of your lights, a Philips Hue setup is probably worth the extra cash. Read the review.

Sony BDP-S5100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Super Wi-Fi

The Sony BDP-S5100 3D Blu-ray player offers a wealth of services and very good image quality for the money. Read the review.

Pages for iOS

With more templates and a streamlined interface, the latest version of Pages for iOS is an improvement, but the Mac version is going to need time to catch up. Read the review.

OCZ Vector 150

With fast performance and a good warranty, the OCZ Vector 150 is a great SSD for first-time adopters. Read the review.

GE Profile Series 2.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven

We've seen other high-power, high-capacity cookers that cost a lot less than the GE Profile Series Countertop Microwave Oven. Still, reheating almost anything at the touch of a button is a tempting feature. Read the review.