Computer Reviews

The EnGenius Wireless ESR9855G 300Mbps gaming router makes a great home router, but its random wireless signal resets might steer away online gamers.

Samsung's solid N150 Netbook feels very roadworthy, but other Netbooks have a longer battery life.

An impressively designed surprise, the Samsung Q430-11 is a feature-packed, fast laptop that looks more expensive than it is.

The entry-level Toshiba Satellite C665-S5049 won't turn any heads with its plain looks and modest features, but it avoids any serious misstep, a statement not every ultra-affordable laptop can make.

The Toshiba Satellite A665-S6050 is a smart choice for home use thanks to its outstanding audio output, Intel Wireless Display, and roomy 16-inch display.

The Trendnet TEW 655BR3G makes a decent companion for those who need to share an Internet connection or create a mobile wireless network on the go.

The HP Pavilion p6510y midtower desktop is a solid computer that makes quick work in a multitasking environment thanks to its quad-core AMD CPU, and the external connections give video editors the upper hand in terms of speed and versatility. The p6510y deserves our recommendation, but if Photoshop and Dreamweaver aren't part of your daily routine, you can trade the HP's multicore speed for extra hard-drive space and save a couple bucks with a competing Asus system.

The basic-as-it-gets MSI Wind U160-007US is a leader in battery life, but shouldn't cost $80 more than comparable systems.

The HP Pavilion dv5-2045dx is a respectable mainstream laptop, but it's only a good deal if you need Microsoft Office and antivirus software.

Toshiba's Portege R series has always impressed, and the new 13-inch Portege R705 is close to a perfect balance of design, price, and performance.

With Windows 7 Professional and built-in WiMax, the Dell i14R-2265MRB is a retail laptop angling for the professional market, and as such might be a good option for a budget small-business machine.

Belkin's AV360 iMac adapter edges out the competition by making it easier to connect HDMI-based video components to your iMac's Mini DisplayPort. We'd prefer that Apple had gone with HDMI in the iMac to begin with, but until it makes that switch, this is the adapter we'd pick.

Touting the Asus Eee PC 1201PN as the first next-gen Nvidia Ion Netbook is a bit misleading, since it offers single-core Atom performance, with no automatic graphics switching in an expensive package that underperforms its predecessor.

Velocity Micro's Edge Z30 offers a speedy, spare take on Intel's new overclockable K-Series CPUs. We noticed some unfortunate reductions to Velocity's support and it feels about time for a case refresh, but for the most part we can recommend the Edge Z30 to gamers looking for a lean and mean desktop.

HP's latest multimedia system, the Pavilion dm4, is a powerful, slick-looking package--but some competitors in the same price range offer more features for less.

With more USB ports and a few new features, the new Pogoplug remains a unique and relatively easy way to share files online. Its media-streaming features, however, leave something to be desired.

We'd like the attractive and affordable Dell Inspiron iM501R-1212PBL more if it wasn't so slow and squeaky.

Though it's not flawless, the Idapt i3 Universal Charging Dock does a good job at simultaneously powering up to three devices, but a few annoyances keep it from being a must-buy.

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.

The Dell Studio s1558-5691MSL offers a little more for your money than competing laptops, though it's a bit bulky and short on battery life for a day in a backpack.

The Gateway One ZX6900-01e is a great deal thanks to its 23-inch display, Blu-ray drive, and speedy performance. It has a few annoying shortcomings. A lack of an HDMI-input, in particular, keeps it from greatness, but overall we'd recommend this desktop to anyone in the market for a well-rounded all-in-one PC.

On first inspection the HP TouchSmart 300-1120 seems like a capable enough all-in-one, but it loses a lot of appeal once you compare it with others on the market. If you want an all-in-one PC for the kitchen counter, this system may work for you. For general computing or home entertainment needs, you can find several other all-in-ones with better features for the price.

Toshiba's 16-inch Satellite A665-S6070 desktop replacement offers plenty of performance for just under $1,000, unfortunately wrapped in a dull plastic case.

Dell configured the all-AMD Studio XPS 7100 squarely at gamers, throwing in a powerful 3D card to offset the slow six-core AMD CPU. The result is a fast gaming PC with well-rounded features for an affordable price thanks to a two-month-long special offer. Get it while you can and enjoy fast PC gaming at a great price.

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.