User Rating:
Good: The 2012 Nissan Leaf offers better-than-expected acceleration from its electric power train. Range estimates are accurate and adequate for city driving and suburban commutes. It's well-equipped with standard cabin tech and telematics at even the entry level.
Bad: The navigation system's destination search is clunky and its POI database is limited. Audio quality from the single-option stereo is unimpressive.
Bottom Line: The 2012 Nissan Leaf offers a good blend of affordability and all-around performance for city dwellers and suburbanites looking to go zero-emission, but its cruising range limits its appeal for long hauls. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The entry-level Amazon Kindle is a compact, lightweight, and ultra-affordable e-book reader with a crisp e-ink screen and Wi-Fi. It offers access to a massive catalog of books, magazines, and newspapers via Amazon.com's familiar online store, plus online loaners from your local library. The Kindle can hold hundreds of books and the battery lasts for weeks.
Bad: Lacks the touch screen and self-illumination found on more expensive e-readers. All accessories -- including an AC charger -- cost extra.
Bottom Line: The $69 Amazon Kindle is an excellent no-frills e-book reader for anyone who's willing to forgo a built-in light or a touch screen. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The entry-level Amazon Kindle is a compact, lightweight, and ultra-affordable e-book reader with a crisp e-ink screen and Wi-Fi. It offers access to a massive catalog of books, magazines, and newspapers via Amazon.com's familiar online store, plus online loaners from your local library. The Kindle can hold hundreds of books and the battery lasts for weeks.
Bad: Lacks the touch screen and self-illumination found on more expensive e-readers. All accessories -- including an AC charger -- cost extra.
Bottom Line: The $69 Amazon Kindle is an excellent no-frills e-book reader for anyone who's willing to forgo a built-in light or a touch screen. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung 840 series solid-state drive (SSD) is affordable, good-looking, and offers very good performance.
Bad: The Samsung 840 comes with just three, not five years of warranty coverage and is likely to have shorter lifespan than others of the same capacity.
Bottom Line: The Samsung 840 series is an excellent entry-level solid-state drive for budget and general users, but not really a good buy for advanced or professional users. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung 840 series solid-state drive (SSD) is affordable, good-looking, and offers very good performance.
Bad: The Samsung 840 comes with just three, not five years of warranty coverage and is likely to have shorter lifespan than others of the same capacity.
Bottom Line: The Samsung 840 series is an excellent entry-level solid-state drive for budget and general users, but not really a good buy for advanced or professional users. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung 840 series solid-state drive (SSD) is affordable, good-looking, and offers very good performance.
Bad: The Samsung 840 comes with just three, not five years of warranty coverage and is likely to have shorter lifespan than others of the same capacity.
Bottom Line: The Samsung 840 series is an excellent entry-level solid-state drive for budget and general users, but not really a good buy for advanced or professional users. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung 840 series solid-state drive (SSD) is affordable, good-looking, and offers very good performance.
Bad: The Samsung 840 comes with just three, not five years of warranty coverage and is likely to have shorter lifespan than others of the same capacity.
Bottom Line: The Samsung 840 series is an excellent entry-level solid-state drive for budget and general users, but not really a good buy for advanced or professional users. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung 840 series solid-state drive (SSD) is affordable, good-looking, and offers very good performance.
Bad: The Samsung 840 comes with just three, not five years of warranty coverage and is likely to have shorter lifespan than others of the same capacity.
Bottom Line: The Samsung 840 series is an excellent entry-level solid-state drive for budget and general users, but not really a good buy for advanced or professional users. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung Array has a simple user-friendly design with a spacious and comfortable keyboard. Call quality is top-notch.
Bad: The Array's display has a low resolution. Media and Web features deliver a poor experience.
Bottom Line: The Samsung Array excels at communication, but anyone wanting more out of a phone should look elsewhere. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung HMX-QF20 is a small, lightweight, shoot-and-share camcorder with a 20x optical zoom and built-in Wi-Fi for backups and direct uploads to YouTube, Facebook, and Picasa.
Bad: The QF20's video isn't really HD-quality and it's only good for viewing at small sizes. HD recordings cannot be uploaded wirelessly and Wi-Fi back up is Windows only.
Bottom Line: For good-enough video for Web sharing and a 20x zoom lens, the Samsung HMX-QF20 gets the job done. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Nexus 7 features a sharp screen, a comfortable design, and great battery life at a low starting price. Android 4.2 adds some welcome and useful features.
Bad: Android still needs more tablet-optimized apps, newer games have frame rate issues, and HSPA+ speeds seem particularly location-dependent.
Bottom Line: With its excellent design, useful software features, and low starting price, the Nexus 7 is the cheapest way to experience the best that the Android OS has to offer. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Nexus 7 features a sharp screen, a comfortable design, and great battery life at a low starting price. Android 4.2 adds some welcome and useful features.
Bad: Android still needs more tablet-optimized apps, newer games have frame rate issues, and HSPA+ speeds seem particularly location-dependent.
Bottom Line: With its excellent design, useful software features, and low starting price, the Nexus 7 is the cheapest way to experience the best that the Android OS has to offer. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Nexus 7 features a sharp screen, a comfortable design, and great battery life at a low starting price. Android 4.2 adds some welcome and useful features.
Bad: Android still needs more tablet-optimized apps, newer games have frame rate issues, and HSPA+ speeds seem particularly location-dependent.
Bottom Line: With its excellent design, useful software features, and low starting price, the Nexus 7 is the cheapest way to experience the best that the Android OS has to offer. [Read more]