Samsung Focus 2 - pure white (AT&T)

Samsung Focus 2 - pure white (AT&T)

Posted: 18 May 2012 01:56 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: AT&T's Samsung Focus 2 has an attractive design, a nice screen, a solid 5-megapixel camera, and 4G LTE speeds.
Bad: Memory and battery life are in shorter supply on the Samsung Focus 2, and the glossy body likes to play slip-and-slide.
Bottom Line: A generously low $50 price tag pumps up the value on the Samsung Focus 2, which has a satisfying range of features and support for LTE speeds. [Read more]

2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:10 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster looks like a million bucks and snakes through corners with near-perfect manners. The midlevel audio system option sounds excellent, and there is an even better audio system available.
Bad: The automated manual transmission option produces huge power dips at each gear change. There is little integration between the few cabin tech features, with different screens for navigation and stereo.
Bottom Line: The 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster serves as a fine showpiece, but a balky transmission and poor cabin electronics hurt its everyday drivability. [Read more]

RunCore Pro V 2.5" 7mm Ultra SSD (480GB)

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:05 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The SATA 3 (6Gbps) 2.5-inch RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD is a fast and relatively affordable solid-state drive that is one of a few that supports ultrabooks. The drive also works with regular notebook and desktop computers.
Bad: The Core Pro V doesn't come with extra padding to fit well in a regular laptop computer's standard 9.5mm drive bay.
Bottom Line: The RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD makes an excellent replacement drive for ultra portable laptop or a desktop computer. For a regular laptop, its new thinness might be its own drawback [Read more]

RunCore Pro V 2.5" 7mm Ultra SSD (120GB)

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:05 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The SATA 3 (6Gbps) 2.5-inch RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD is a fast and relatively affordable solid-state drive that is one of a few that supports ultrabooks. The drive also works with regular notebook and desktop computers.
Bad: The Core Pro V doesn't come with extra padding to fit well in a regular laptop computer's standard 9.5mm drive bay.
Bottom Line: The RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD makes an excellent replacement drive for ultra portable laptop or a desktop computer. For a regular laptop, its new thinness might be its own drawback [Read more]

RunCore Pro V 2.5" 7mm Ultra SSD (240GB)

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:05 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The SATA 3 (6Gbps) 2.5-inch RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD is a fast and relatively affordable solid-state drive that is one of a few that supports ultrabooks. The drive also works with regular notebook and desktop computers.
Bad: The Core Pro V doesn't come with extra padding to fit well in a regular laptop computer's standard 9.5mm drive bay.
Bottom Line: The RunCore Pro V 7mm Ultra SSD makes an excellent replacement drive for ultra portable laptop or a desktop computer. For a regular laptop, its new thinness might be its own drawback [Read more]

Maingear EX-L 15

Posted: 17 May 2012 09:39 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Maingear EX-L 15 is a hugely powerful, and hugely customizable, 15-inch laptop with the latest Intel and Nvidia parts.
Bad: The painfully generic off-the-shelf body will irritate anyone spending $2,000 or more on what should look like a premium product.
Bottom Line: With desktop-replacement power in a midsize package, the 15-inch Maingear EX-L 15 is a niche product, but one that largely delivers. [Read more]

LG Optimus M+ (MetroPCS)

Posted: 17 May 2012 06:53 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The LG Optimus M+'s design has an attractive look, with its convex edges and slim build. Outdoor photo quality and speakerphone output quality are both decent.
Bad: The Optimus M+'s data connection is inordinately slow and spotty. Call quality is disappointing.
Bottom Line: The design and specs of the affordable LG Optimus M+ surpass its predecessor's, but its data connection is poor even for MetroPCS. [Read more]

Samsung Refined Sound EHS71

Posted: 17 May 2012 06:32 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung Refined Sound EHS71 earphones have an attractive, compact design rarely seen in stereo earbuds.
Bad: For its price, the Samsung EHS71 earbuds' audio quality should be better. Samsung only includes two pairs of silicone tips for the earbuds.
Bottom Line: Samsung's Refined Sound EHS71 stereo headset is elegantly crafted but lacks the audio chops to match its $129 asking price. [Read more]

Asus VG278H

Posted: 17 May 2012 05:49 PM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Asus VG278H delivers great 3D performance, a superfast refresh rate, and useful ergonomic options.
Bad: The monitor is expensive, given what it offers. Also, accessing the connections can be maddening, there is significant backlight bleeding, and the OSD navigation is clunky and obtrusive.
Bottom Line: The Asus VG278H has great 3D performance and a fast refresh rate, but is just a bit too expensive for what it offers. [Read more]

Port Royale 3: Pirates and Merchants (PC)

Posted: 17 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: Multifaceted gameplay
Extensive tutorials and in-game guidance

Bad: Gameplay is meandering and boring
Trading mechanic is poorly conceived
Various gameplay elements feel disconnected from each other

Bottom Line: There's plenty to do in Port Royale 3, but little of it is fun. [Read more]

TERA (PC)

Posted: 17 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: Terrific combat that connects you to the onscreen action
Exciting encounters against big monsters
Great instanced dungeons
Diverse, attractive world invites you to explore it

Bad: Bland, generic questing
No player-versus-player battlegrounds
Boring early hours

Bottom Line: Tera's fun combat has an immediacy that keeps you hooked for a good long while in spite of the game's bland questing. [Read more]

Sony Alpha SLT-A37 (with 18-55mm lens)

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Sony Alpha SLT-A37 offers some class-leading performance, along with a solid set of features and respectable photo quality.
Bad: The EVF looks dim and the LCD is on the small side.
Bottom Line: A good option if you're looking for something fast with a viewfinder and tilting LCD, the Sony Alpha SLT-A37 is a solid but not outstanding sub-$800 dSLR-style camera. [Read more]

Sony Alpha SLT-A37 (with 18-135mm lens)

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Sony Alpha SLT-A37 offers some class-leading performance, along with a solid set of features and respectable photo quality.
Bad: The EVF looks dim and the LCD is on the small side.
Bottom Line: A good option if you're looking for something fast with a viewfinder and tilting LCD, the Sony Alpha SLT-A37 is a solid but not outstanding sub-$800 dSLR-style camera. [Read more]

Sony Alpha NEX-F3 (with 18-55mm lens, Silver)

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Sony Alpha NEX-F3 produces very nice low- to midrange sensitivity pictures, plus you can configure it for streamlined shooting, and delivers solid overall performance. The new automated self-portrait is also a boon for people who like to put themselves in the picture.
Bad: The LCD can be difficult to view in bright light and the SD card slot is in a bad spot for tripod users.
Bottom Line: Though it doesn't wow us for any particular aspect, the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 is a nice overall package for photographers looking for something with better photo quality and more flexible than a point-and-shoot. [Read more]

Sony Alpha NEX-F3 (with 18-55mm lens, Black)

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Sony Alpha NEX-F3 produces very nice low- to midrange sensitivity pictures, plus you can configure it for streamlined shooting, and delivers solid overall performance. The new automated self-portrait is also a boon for people who like to put themselves in the picture.
Bad: The LCD can be difficult to view in bright light and the SD card slot is in a bad spot for tripod users.
Bottom Line: Though it doesn't wow us for any particular aspect, the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 is a nice overall package for photographers looking for something with better photo quality and more flexible than a point-and-shoot. [Read more]

Sony Alpha NEX-F3 (with 18-55mm lens, White)

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Editor's Rating:

User Rating:
Good: The Sony Alpha NEX-F3 produces very nice low- to midrange sensitivity pictures, plus you can configure it for streamlined shooting, and delivers solid overall performance. The new automated self-portrait is also a boon for people who like to put themselves in the picture.
Bad: The LCD can be difficult to view in bright light and the SD card slot is in a bad spot for tripod users.
Bottom Line: Though it doesn't wow us for any particular aspect, the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 is a nice overall package for photographers looking for something with better photo quality and more flexible than a point-and-shoot. [Read more]