Sony VAIO TZ150N (black)

Product summary

The good: Extremely slim and light; head-turning design, excellent battery life; includes integrated WWAN; manages to squeeze in DVD burner.

The bad: Slow performance; expensive; limited configuration options; bloatware clutters the hard drive.

The bottom line: Only the high price and sluggish performance detract from Sony's inch-thick flagship laptop, the VAIO TZ, which impresses with smart design and fantastic battery life.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.06 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 2.6 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,696.34 - $2,175.26

Dell XPS M1330

Product summary

The good: Thin, sexy design; strong performance; backlit-LED display; included media remote control.

The bad: Small touchpad; some options (SSD hard drives, Blu-ray) not available yet; not as many color options as Dell's new Inspiron line.

The bottom line: Dell has finally put design first with the head-turning XPS M1330 laptop, emphasizing both the "thin" and "light" aspects of the thin-and-light category without sacrificing features or performance.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 4 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,299.00

Samsung LN-T4665F

Product summary

The good: Flat-panel LCD HDTV produces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; accurate color after adjustment; clean image; solid off-angle viewing for an LCD; numerous picture controls; beautiful styling.

The bad: Shiny screen collects excessive ambient light; edges slightly brighter than the middle in dark areas.

The bottom line: Despite a shiny, reflective screen, the picture quality of the Samsung LN-T4665F makes it a top choice overall.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 46 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 550 cd/m2 See full specs >>

Price range: $1,497.00 - $2,799.99

Sony KDL-46XBR4

Product summary

The good: Excellent black-level performance for an LCD; accurate color; 120Hz processing smooths judder in motion; fine screen uniformity and off-angle viewing for an LCD; numerous picture controls; solid connectivity with three HDMI inputs and one PC input; distinctive "floating glass" design; interchangeable bezel color option.

The bad: Expensive; benefits of 120Hz blur-reduction hard to discern; smooth motion seems unnatural for film-based material and introduces some artifacts; main menu system kludgy to operate; many picture adjustments seem unnecessary and/or harmful.

The bottom line: Although not quite as impressive as the best plasmas, the 46-inch Sony KDL-46XBR4 outperforms any flat-panel LCD we've tested so far.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 46 in; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 18000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $2,257.00 - $3,299.99

Panasonic TH-42PZ700U

Product summary

The good: Produces a deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise or false contouring; solid, standard-def picture quality.

The bad: Expensive; too small to exhibit benefits of 1080p; slightly inaccurate color temperature; primary color of green skewed toward yellow.

The bottom line: For those who can spare no expense, the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U plasma offers the best picture quality in its size class.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Image contrast ratio: 5000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $1,343.00 - $1,799.99

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD

Product summary

The good: This 50-inch plasma TV displays an exceedingly deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise; "smooth" video-processing mode removes most judder; excellent antireflective screen; sleek, minimalist styling; removable speaker; superb connectivity with four HDMI inputs and one PC input; CableCard compatible with TV Guide EPG.

The bad: Expensive; inaccurate primary color of green; no user-menu fine color temperature controls.

The bottom line: The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black--and thus one of the best pictures--we've ever tested.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 50 in; Resolution: 1365 x 768 See full specs >>

Price range: $2,297.00 - $3,499.99

HP Pavilion m8120n Media Center TV

Product summary

The good: Quad-core CPU and reasonable price mean great price-performance ratio; lots of audio and video connections, including TV inputs; quiet operation; Personal Media Drive slot for easy expansion or backup via external hard drive; built-in Wi-Fi adapter; quiet operation.

The bad: No next-gen optical drive on this retail model; little room for future expansion; shovelware offender--annoying trial offers clutter desktop and hard drive; no mouse control on wireless keyboard.

The bottom line: The HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n boasts a quad-core Intel processor and outstanding overall performance, particularly for the price. Media consumers and creators alike will love its speed and AV connections but may rue the lack of a next-gen optical drive.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4 GHz); RAM installed: 3 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 320 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $944.98

Sony Handycam HDR-HC7

Product summary

The good: Excellent video and performance; satisfying photo quality; a decent set of manual controls for the target audience; bundled FireWire cable.

The bad: Annoying touch screen interface.

The bottom line: A great HD camcorder for deep-pocketed leisure shooters, as long as you like the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7's touch screen interface.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Optical zoom: 10 x; Media type: Mini DV (HDV) See full specs >>

Price range: $900.00 - $1,399.98

Sony Handycam HDR-SR7

Product summary

The good: Excellent video and performance; satisfying photo quality; a decent set of manual controls for the target audience; bundled dock.

The bad: No wind filter; no USB port on camcorder, just on bundled dock; annoying touch screen interface; cables not ubiquitous yet for mini-HDMI connector.

The bottom line: The hard-drive-based analog of the HDR-HC7, the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 finally delivers a cutting-edge HD video experience, complete with great video and compatibility frustrations.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Optical zoom: 10 x; Media type: Hard disk drive See full specs >>

Price range: $1,010.00 - $1,399.99

Canon HG10

Product summary

The good: The Canon HG10 camcorder has excellent image stabilization and generally great video quality.

The bad: Poor audio control; smallish EVF; some annoying ergonomics; no manual focus dial.

The bottom line: A solid hard-drive based HD camcorder, the Canon HG10 nevertheless has its share of annoying quirks.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Effective sensor resolution: 2.07 megapixels; Optical zoom: 10 x See full specs >>

Price range: $675.00 - $1,099.99

Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U

Product summary

The good: The Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U combines fast navigation with a user-friendly touch screen interface and high-quality video playback.

The bad: Despite its built-in hard drive, the Strada CN-NVD905U has no ability to rip music files into its memory. Lack of text-to-voice technology for the navigation system is also disappointing.

The bottom line: The Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U is a stylish, user-friendly entrant to the in-dash navigation market. It delivers decent GPS navigation and media playback, but doesn't raise the bar in either department.

Specs: Product Type:Form Factor: In-dash; Monitor:Type: LCD monitor; Product Type:Type: Navigation system with HDD, DVD player, LCD, radio See full specs >>

Price range: $599.97 - $1,298.00

2008 Volvo C30

Product summary

The good: The Version 2.0 trim level of the 2008 Volvo C30 comes with a premium audio system that puts out superb surround sound. The car has an exceptional design, both inside and out, and decent handling.

The bad: The optional automatic transmission is slow to shift even in manual selection mode. Fuel economy could be better in such a small car. Torque steer is a factor under hard acceleration.

The bottom line: The 2008 Volvo C30 makes for a fun and sporty little car that will stand out in a crowd. It can be optioned up with the full range of tech, though its stereo interface leaves something to be desired. Leave out the automatic transmission option in favor of the manual.

Specs: Body style: Hatchback; Trim levels: T5 Version 2.0; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $25,700.00

2008 Saturn Vue XR

Product summary

The good: The 2008 Saturn Vue XR delivers BMW X3-beating performance and Lexus-standard cabin tech, all for around $30K.

The bad: The Vue XR suffers from slight torque steer off the line and lets in too much road noise in freeway driving. Bluetooth hands-free calling is not available on the model.

The bottom line: The 2008 Saturn Vue XR is a stylish performer with some advanced optional cabin technology, including an intuitive touch-screen navigation and music system.

Specs: Body style: SUV; Trim levels: XR; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $26,325.00

Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.4GHz, 1GB RAM)

Product summary

The good: Along with its best-in-class design and solid-feeling, thin keyboard, the new Apple iMac desktop offers more performance and features than many Windows-based PCs; robust iLife '08 digital media suite.

The bad: No word on means of upgrading to Apple's new Leopard OS when it's released; anemic phone support.

The bottom line: With its super-elegant new design and a strong configuration, Apple's new iMac competes with the PC desktop market better than perhaps any previous Mac to date. Unless you're a gamer or an upgrade enthusiast, we can think of very few reasons not to make an iMac your next desktop.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 320 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $1,475.00 - $1,606.99

Sony VAIO LT19U

Product summary

The good: Only all-in-one PC with Blu-ray (or any HD) player; VESA-mount compatible; removable media and mobile expansion card inputs; can accept a second internal hard drive; better deal than competing HD-capable laptops.

The bad: Can't compete with the iMac as a day-to-day computer; only OK performance; no Bluetooth; offensive level of adware; clunky mouse and keyboard.

The bottom line: We don't recommend Sony's new VAIO LT19U as an all-in-one PC for everyday computing, but if you're shopping for a flexible, self-contained, HD-capable digital entertainment center, look no further. It has its flaws, and it's not cheap, but this new VAIO makes up for its shortcomings with sheer capability.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 500 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $2,749.99 - $2,899.99

Sony VAIO XL3

Product summary

The good: Sleek, quiet home theater PC; wide variety of input and output options; smooth Blu-ray playback; well-thought-out remote control

The bad: Questionable bang for the buck from the core hardware; single CableCard tuner means reduced PVR capability; wireless keyboard needs some refining.

The bottom line: If you're inclined to spend a lot for silence and slim design, Sony's new XL3 Digital Living System delivers better than any other full-size home theater PC we've seen. If you're looking for customizability and the most bang for your buck, other vendors have this system beat.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Hard drive: 250 GB Standard See full specs >>

Price range: $2,385.00 - $3,299.99

2008 Scion xB

Product summary

The good: The 2008 Scion xB is a tech-laden bargain wagon with a nice standard iPod interface among its many cabin electronics, plenty of space inside, and an easy-to-drive nature.

The bad: Bluetooth cell phone integration is glaringly absent, and overall the new xB is bigger and less stylish than its urban-chic predecessor.

The bottom line: The new Scion xB has lost its bold exterior creases and some of its character, but has also grown up a bit and now represents one of the best tech values we've seen in a new car.

Specs: Body style: Wagon; Trim levels: Base; Available Engine: Gas See full specs >>

Price range: $16,600.00

Alienware Area-51 m9750

Product summary

The good: Massive resolution display; twin SLI video cards offer unparalleled 3D performance for a laptop; DVI and surround sound outputs; matte finish on case repels fingerprints.

The bad: No HDMI; requires Windows XP for optimum performance; reasonable starting price disappears quickly with upgrades; battery life weak, even for a desktop replacement.

The bottom line: Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz); RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 8.6 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $1,699.00

Samsung LN-T3253H

Product summary

The good: The Samsung LN-T3253H HDTV produces relatively deep blacks with fine shadow detail; accurate color; slick styling; scads of picture controls; superb connectivity with one PC and three HDMI inputs.

The bad: Expensive compared to bargain models; grayscale tends toward blue in darker areas.

The bottom line: Great style, oodles of features, and a solid picture combine to make the Samsung LN-T3253H one of the best LCD TVs available at its size.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 8000:1 See full specs >>

Price range: $739.95 - $1,099.99

HP Pavilion dv2500t (Core 2 Duo 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD)

Product summary

The good: Strong set of specs for the price; performance almost matches that of more expensive laptops; attractive 14.1-inch display; dual headphone jacks and fingerprint reader; includes most of the ports and connections home users need.

The bad: Average battery life with the standard six-cell battery; opting for an HDMI port means sacrificing a USB port.

The bottom line: The HP Pavilion dv2500t delivers an eye-catching case, a strong set of features, and solid performance at a lower price than competing systems. We recommend it for home or school use.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz); RAM installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 5.5 lbs See full specs >>

Price range: $899.99

Vizio VP42HDTV

Product summary

The good: Inexpensive; relatively accurate color; solid standard-def performance; clean image with little false contouring; user-menu fine color temperature controls; connectivity includes two HDMI and one PC input; unobtrusive two-tone styling.

The bad: Below-average shadow detail; color tends toward red in darker areas; nondefeatable edge enhancement; emits faint buzzing sound.

The bottom line: The low-buck, high-value Vizio VP42HDTV deftly avoids most of the picture-quality pitfalls of inexpensive plasmas.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 480 cd/m2 See full specs >>

Price range: $999.99

Vizio VX32L

Product summary

The good: Inexpensive for a 32-inch LCD; produces a relatively deep shade of black; accurate color; usermenu color temperature adjustments; ample connectivity including two HDMI inputs and a PC input.

The bad: Poor off-angle viewing characteristics; some lack of shadow detail; funky white/black/silver styling.

The bottom line: The decent picture quality and excellent feature set of the VX32L HDTV make good on Vizio's bang-for-the-buck promise.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 500 See full specs >>

Price range: $529.00 - $729.99

Onkyo TX-SR605 (black)

Product summary

The good: Two HDMI 1.3 inputs; converts analog video sources to HDMI; onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; XM- and Sirius- ready; automatic speaker calibration; switches as many as five high-definition video sources.

The bad: Downconverts 1080i component video signals to 720p when outputting over HDMI; HDMI video quality converted from analog sources may not satisfy videophiles; Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding cannot be used with current crop of high-definition video players.

The bottom line: The Onkyo TX-SR605 raises the bar for AV receivers by delivering an amazing number of next-generation audio and video features at an unbeatably low price.

Specs: Product type: AV receiver; Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Amplifier total output power: 630 Watt See full specs >>

Price range: $429.99 - $499.00

Sharp LC-32D43U

Product summary

The good: The Sharp LC-32D43U reproduces a deep shade of black; relatively accurate color temperature preset; decent backlight uniformity and off-angle viewing; sleek styling; ample connectivity with two HDMI and one PC input.

The bad: Expensive compared to bargain models; subpar standard-def video processing; fewer picture adjustments than many LCDs; can't change aspect ratios with HD sources.

The bottom line: Although it has a couple of weaknesses, the overall picture quality of the Sharp LC-32D43U puts it among the best LCDs of its size.

Specs: Product type: LCD TV; Diagonal size: 32 in; Brightness (cd/m2): 450 See full specs >>

Price range: $649.99 - $1,099.99

Sonos Digital Music System (Bundle 130)

Product summary

The good: Two-room wireless digital audio system, expandable to as many as 32 rooms; wireless color-screen remote utilizes iPod-style scrollwheel; easy setup and installation; includes audio inputs for accessing third-party audio sources; streams the same audio to all rooms or different music to each room; excellent compatibility includes lossless file formats, Sirius, Rhapsody and Pandora premium streaming services, music purchased from PlaysForSure and Zune music stores, and free Internet radio stations.

The bad: Can't stream copy-protected music purchased from the iTunes Store; remote's rechargeable battery isn't removable; while the Sonos components are all wireless, one base station is required to have a wired network connection.

The bottom line: Recent firmware and feature upgrades cement the Sonos Digital Music System's position as the best multiroom streaming audio solution available.

Specs: Product type: Network audio player; Sound output mode: Stereo; Network player: Network audio player - AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA See full specs >>

Price range: $999.00 - $999.99

Garmin Zumo 550

Product summary

The good: The Garmin Zumo 550 provides text- and voice-guided directions to motorcyclists and comes with an easy-to-install mounting kit for a motorcycle or a car. All maps are preloaded on the device, and the unit has a built-in MP3 player and integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling.

The bad: The Garmin Zumo 550's points of interest database is outdated and occasionally gave us wrong street names or no street at all for some side streets. Also, automatic route recalculation is a bit on the slow side. The compass only works in off-road mode, and there's no Mac support yet for Garmin's MapSource software.

The bottom line: Despite some very slight performance glitches, the Garmin Zumo 550 is a fantastic navigation system for motorcyclists (and cars), with good Bluetooth integration.

Specs: Product type: GPS receiver; Destination: Motorcycle; Weight: 10.6 oz See full specs >>

Price range: $625.49 - $1,099.99

Philips SoundBar HTS8100

Product summary

The good: Stylish, minimalist design; built-in DVD player concealed behind motorized door; very good video quality on DVDs; four total audio inputs; iPod dock included.

The bad: No video inputs; sounds better with movies than with music.

The bottom line: The exceedingly stylish Philips HTS8100 SoundBar packs the home theater experience--including a DVD player--into one slim package plus a sub.

Specs: Product type: DVD surround system; DVD type: DVD player; Media Format: CD ( PAL), DVD ( NTSC), CD-R), SVCD), CD-RW), DVD+R), DVD-R), DVD+RW), DVD-RW), Video CD) See full specs >>

Price range: $554.97 - $799.99

JVC KD-NX5000

Product summary

The good: The JVC KD-NX5000 combines a usable, traffic data-equipped navigation system with a plethora of audio and video capabilities in a compact package.

The bad: Its irregular size, complex menus, and rough navigation maps leave something to be desired.

The bottom line: Aside from some usability niggles resulting from its compact size, the JVC KD-NX5000 offers about as many car tech features per square foot as you can get.

Specs: Product type: GPS receiver; GPS receiver: 15 channel; Destination: Automotive See full specs >>

Price range: $679.99 - $1,001.24

Rand McNally GPS Navigator

Product summary

The good: The Rand McNally GPS Navigator comes with maps preloaded on an SD card and includes preprogrammed trips with staff-recommended attractions. The unit also provides accurate directions and has a built-in MP3 player.

The bad: The 3D map screen and interface can be a bit confusing. The POI database is also slightly outdated.

The bottom line: The Rand McNally GPS Navigator is a nice portable navigation system for those who love road tripping, but its maps and interface could use refinement.

Specs: Product type: GPS receiver; GPS receiver: 20 channel; Destination: Automotive See full specs >>

Price range: $249.99 - $359.99

Philips HTS6500

Product summary

The good: The Philips HTS6500 is a high-style virtual-surround home-theater system that offers upscaling DVD playback via its HDMI output. In addition to DVDs and CDs, it plays a wide variety of file formats including DivX; MPEG-1, -2, and -4; MP3; WMA; and JPEG files. Front-panel USB and mini-jack inputs offer easy hook-ups for portable music players.

The bad: The HTS6500's passive subwoofer lacks precision and punch, and you can't independently control the subwoofer's volume. Sound customization options are very limited. The virtual-surround effect doesn't match the surround-sound capabilities of a true 5.1-channel setup. The remote control can't be programmed to control other devices such as your TV.

The bottom line: The unremarkable sound quality of the Philips HTS6500 is outweighed by its winning combination of slick aesthetics, impressive features, and affordable pricing.

Specs: Product type: Home theater system; Components: DVD player,; Speaker system; DVD type: DVD player See full specs >>

Price range: $249.88 - $345.99

JVC TH-L1 - home theater speaker system

Product summary

The good: Tiny bookshelf-size home theater in a box; numerous connectivity options including two HDMI inputs that support up to 1080p; USB port for digital media; iPod audio and video playback; attractive price point.

The bad: No built-in DVD player; small speakers and relatively low wattage limit power and sound quality; supports only three concurrent AV sources; no HDMI up-conversion for analog video sources; USB mode requires you to select the type of media before you play it; new iPods will only be able to play audio through the unit.

The bottom line: While the sound isn't overpowering, the wealth of connectivity options and features bundled into the JVC TH-L1 home theater in a box makes it well worth the inexpensive price tag.

Specs: Product type: Speakers; Speaker system output power: 40 Watt,; 100 Watt; Remote control type: Remote control (Infrared) See full specs >>

Price range: $269.95 - $299.99

TiVo HD (20 HD hours)

Product summary

The good: Includes nearly all the features of previous Series3 model at a lower price; can record two HD programs simultaneously while playing back a third, previously recorded one; accepts cable TV and over-the-air signals; 30-second commercial skip; excellent user-friendly interface and remote; impressive Internet and home-networking features, including downloadable Amazon Unbox and TiVoCast videos, Rhapsody subscription music service, online scheduling, photo and music streaming; recent firmware update adds cool TiVo To Go and Multi-Room Viewing features; TiVo To Go transfers recordings to PCs and portable devices; able to download and view most standard digital video file formats from networked PCs (with premium Desktop Plus PC software).

The bad: Requires monthly fee in addition to cable bill; sluggish transitions between menu screens; does not work with video-on-demand and switched digital video services; must program 30-second skip; no picture-in-picture; TiVo To Go requires long, slow transfer and transcoding times; some premium features (Unbox, Rhapsody, Desktop Plus, Wi-Fi adapter, expandable storage) require additional one-time expenses or subscription fees.

The bottom line: While it's not compatible with your cable company's interactive and video-on-demand services, the TiVo HD's excellent onscreen interface and long list of network and Internet features puts it in a class above the generic high-def DVRs offered by most cable providers.

Specs: Remote control type: Remote control; See full specs >>

Price range: $249.99 - $299.99

Apple TV (40GB)

Product summary

The good: Sleek external design and elegant user interface; simple, streamlined setup; streams music and video files purchased from the iTunes Store and free videos from YouTube; capable of HD video output; includes state-of-the-art 802.11n wireless networking while maintaining backwards compatibility with older Wi-Fi and wired networks; smooth, hiccup-free streaming.

The bad: Only streams iTunes and YouTube content; current crop of iTunes movies and TV shows look much worse on a big-screen TV; no HD content on iTunes Store; no support for surround sound audio tracks; can't connect to older non-wide-screen TVs; oversimplified remote can't control other devices; no ability to purchase iTunes Store content directly through Apple TV; no A/V cables included; no Internet radio support.

The bottom line: Although the current lack of high-quality video at the iTunes Store is a major shortcoming, the Apple TV delivers a simple and elegant streaming media solution.

Specs: Remote control type: Remote control (Infrared); Weight: 2.3 lbs; See full specs >>

Price range: $229.00 - $409.99

Samsung HT-X70

Product summary

The good: Home theater in a box with integrated AV receiver/five-disc DVD changer; HDMI output with upscaling to up to 1080i; single HDMI input to connect a high-def source; stylish design with small speakers; XM-ready.

The bad: Sounds better with movies than with music; no automatic speaker calibration; can't browse iPod with onscreen menus; no analog video inputs

The bottom line: The Samsung HT-X70 is stylish and has a great feature set for the price, but it sounds better on movies than with music.

Specs: Product type: Home theater system; Components: Speaker system,; DVD changer / AV receiver; DVD type: DVD changer See full specs >>

Price range: $319.99 - $399.99