User Rating:
Good: We enjoyed the 2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD's sporty steering, planted handling, and grippy all-wheel-drive system. Variable displacement V-6 engine boasts a good balance of performance and efficiency. Driver assistance systems, while taking some getting used to, boost vehicle safety.
Bad: Acura forces Advanced buyers into choosing its rear entertainment option with its packaging. Voice command system is far more laborious than competing models. And the two-screen infotainment system is more complex.
Bottom Line: Turn off 2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD Advance's advanced and off-putting driver aid systems and you're left with a competent and sporty, high-tech SUV. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Roku 2 has nearly all of the important functionality of the Roku 3 for $20 less. More than 750 channels are supported, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, MLB.TV, Amazon Cloud Player, and Vudu. It also has cross-platform search that scours several major TV and movie services to find content. And the Roku 2's nifty remote has a built-in headphone jack that lets you listen without disturbing others.
Bad: There's still no official YouTube channel. Some services, including Netflix, have an outdated interface compared with what's on other streamers. The Apple TV still works better within Apple ecosystem. And the Roku 2 is slightly slower than the Roku 3.
Bottom Line: The Roku 2 offers tons of content sources and an innovative remote with built-in headphone jack for just $80, but the Roku 3 is still our favorite pick. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The second generation of Apple's Retina-screen MacBook Pro adds internal upgrades to its Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt, SSD, graphics card, and CPU. The result is a faster laptop with better battery life and a lower starting price.
Bad: The changes are internal-only, and not significant enough to upgrade if you have last year's version. At $1,999 to start, this is still a very expensive laptop. Both the 13-inch MacBook Air and Pro have much better battery life.
Bottom Line: The slimmer body and higher-res screen of the original Retina MacBook Pro was a revolutionary leap. This revamp adds modest internal upgrades for modest improvements, but price cuts to both the 13-inch and 15-inch models sweeten the deal. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender can blend the basics with relative ease. In some cases, you might not even notice the slight performance differences between this $40 model and blenders that cost $200 or more.
Bad: Most of the more expensive models tested outperformed the Hamilton Beach blender. It just isn't as powerful as some of its blender-food processor hybrid peers.
Bottom Line: This blender is a great budget option that will make smoothies and other simple snacks without complaint. Just don't expect anything extraordinary from it and you won't be disappointed. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Breville Hemisphere Control Blender boasts strong performance that also multitasks and could, for certain jobs, remove the need to use your mixer or food processor.
Bad: There are models that, while not as versatile, still complete basic blender functions that cost far less money.
Bottom Line: If you want a high-end blender that can multitask for you, the Breville may be worth the cost. If you're looking for a basic blender, there are solid options out there for less money. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: With 1,000 watts of power, die-cast metal construction, and a 64-oz. jar, the $199 Cuisinart PowerEdge 1000 Watt Blender has a high-end feel at a midrange price. For basic blending needs, it does the job.
Bad: The competition does the job better, for the same price or less.
Bottom Line: With superior options available at the same midrange price point, this blender is just too average for us to recommend. [Read more]