Sony PlayStation 3 (80GB)

Product summary

The good:Swanky design with quiet operation; all games in high-definition; PSP-like, easy-to-use interface; plays Profile 2.0 high-definition Blu-ray movies in addition to upscaling standard DVDs; built-in Wi-Fi; 80GB hard drive; HDMI output with 1080p support; no external power supply; free online gaming service.

The bad:Lacks full backward support for PS2 games; only comes with two USB ports; no infrared port means non-Bluetooth universal remotes aren't compatible; no flash card or memory reader; glossy black finish is a fingerprint magnet; online gaming, media, and commerce options not nearly as developed as Xbox Live.

The bottom line:Even though PS2 backward compatibility has been dropped from this version, the 80GB PS3 is still a superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console.

Specifications:Product Description: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console ; Media Type: BD-ROM , CD-ROM , DVD-ROM ; Processor: Cell Broadband Engine ; See full specs

Price range: $339.95 - $399.99

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Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)

Product summary

Specifications:License qty: 1 PC ; License type: Complete package ; Min hard drive space: 16 GB ; ; See full specs

Price range: $299.99

The best thing to happen to Microsoft's public relations in years, Windows 7 is more than just spin. The public testing process, involving one limited-availability beta and one release candidate, too, constitutes what some are calling the largest shareware trial period ever.

Although the look of Windows 7 may seem to be nothing more than some polish applied liberally to the Vista Aero theme, make no mistake: this is a full replacement operating system, and more than just "Vista done right." From driver support to multitouch groundwork for the future, from better battery management to the most user-friendly interface Microsoft has ever had, Windows 7 is hardly half-baked.

The first thing that should stand out is the new taskbar. This is one of the best improvements Microsoft has made--third-party program dock makers are going to have to do some serious innovation when Windows 7 goes public. Besides incorporating the translucent style of Aero, the new taskbar is arguably even better than the Mac OS X dock. It features pinned programs using large, easy-to-see icons; mouse over one and all windows associated with that program appear in preview; mouse over one of those preview panes to reveal an X to close the window; and hover over the preview to show a full-size preview of the program, or click on the window to bring it to the front. When multiple windows from a pinned program are open, a thin line will appear next to the icon, giving users an elegant yet simple way to let them know they've got more than one window in play.

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RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Verizon Wireless)

Product summary

The good:The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 offers world-roaming capabilities as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone offers a great design that combines a sharp display and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard in a fairly compact size.

The bad:The smartphone lacks Wi-Fi. The Web browser falls short of the competition, and there's a bit of shutter lag on the camera. You can't save applications to a media card.

The bottom line:With a winning design and fast performance, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is one of Verizon Wireless' top smartphones for both business users and messaging fanatics.

Specifications:Band/mode: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / UMTS 2100 / CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 ; OS provided: BlackBerry Handheld Software ; Talk time: 300 min

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