TESTS REVEAL THE
BEST
&WORST
AUDIO & VIDEO GEAR CELL PHONES DIGITAL CAMERAS GPS NAVIGATORS MP3 PLAYERS
BRAND-NAME PRODUCTS RATED
HDTV
PLASMA
OR
LCD?
* WHAT rs ~~
AVAILABLE ~-IIiiii;;;;;;;~ * FEATURES THAT COUNT
*HOW TO C OOSE
Senior Director of Testing Managers Program Leaders Senior Project Leaders Project Leaders Assistant Project Leaders Technicians
Evon Beckford Gerard Catapano, James Langehennig Dean Gallea, Richard Sulin KerryAllen,Claudio Ciacci, Richard Fisco, Joseph Lazzaro, Maurice Wynn CharlesDavidman,Ernst St. Louis, Chris Lam,Th Elias Arias, Susan Daino, Artur Pietruch Chris Andrade, Antonette Asedillo, Isabella Bu Matt Ferretti, Larry Greene, Maria Grimaldi, R Miguel Rivera, Patrick Severin, Caroline Som William South, Rachelle Stern, David Toner
CONSUMER REPORTS NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER Sen ior Director Norman Leonarc zyk Director Mark Kotkin Manager Donato Vaccaro Program Leaders Jacqueline Bruskin, Stewart Stover Sen ior Research Associates David Gopoian, Rosalind Tordesillas Research Associates Kiran Bhart hapudi , Meredith Bachman Research Coordinator John McCowen
Consumer Reports Editorial Division Deputy Editorial Director, Editor-in -Chief, CR Director, Editorial and Production Operations Director, Design, Cons umers Union Executi ve Editor, Franchises Creative Dire ctor Edi tor-in-C hief, Online Media Executive Editor, Online Media
Kimberly KJeman David Fox George Art hur Greg Daughert y Timo thy LaPalme Giselle Benatar Marc Perton
Consumer Reports/Consumers Union President Senior Vice President for Information Products Vice President and Editorial Director Vice President and Techni cal Director Vice President for Extern al Affairs and Information Services Vice President for Publishing
James Guest John J. Sateja Kevin McKean Jeffrey A. Asher Chris Meyer Jerr y Steinbr ink
First pr inting, August 2007 Co pyr ight © 2007 by Consum ers Union of United States, In c.,Yonkers, New York 10703. Pu blished by Consu mers Union of United States, Inc., Yonkers, New York 10703. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. ISBN-IO: 1-933524-10-3 ISBN-13: 978-1-933524-10-8 ISSN: 1530-3713 Man ufactur ed in the United States of America.
I
Toda'['s
Best Buys in ...
TELEVI IONS LAPTOP & DESKTOP COMPUTERS . AUDIO & VIDEO GEAR DIGITAL CAMERAS & CAMCORDERS CELL PHONES & MORE
THE EDITORS OF CO NSUMER REPORTS Published by Consumer Reports
0
A Division of Consumers Union
0
Yonkers, NY
TELEVISIONS 24 HD is now the TV choice 29 As LCD prices go down, site and qualify go up , 33 Big, bright plasma TVs offer greater value 37 Rear-projection TVs get slimmer & better' 39 Front-projector TVs fill movie -sized niche 4~ Classic picture tubes hang in HDTV era ' 44 Gett ing your TV home and setting it up 46 How to find the best TV programming service 49 Easing the cut -off from analog t o digital
on
CHAPTER 03 1 LAPTOP & DESKTOP COMPUTERS 52 55
Laptops are becoming the primary computer
61
Tech support can come from many sources
65 67
Monitor prices drop & screens get bigger Inkjet printers rule, but consider lasers
71
Freeware: No cost, but worth plenty?
75
Internet service gains an even faster option Save your computer from online attack
79
Desktop computers: Powerful & cheap
Televisions, p, 23
Laptops, p. 52
118
Digital cameras gain speed and convenience
125
Photo software eases editing &storingpics
127
You have many options for printing your pics
130
Digital camcorders dominate the market
CHA PTER 06 1 CELL PHONES & CARRIERS 134 Your guide to finding the right phone deal 14 0
Cell phones focus on more than just talk
14 5
Smart phones become simpler and slimmer
14 7
Cordless phones make home calls convenient
Camcorders, p. 130
Cell phones, p. 140
RATINGS
& REFERENCE
15 1
Ratings
18 4
Brand Locator
186
Glossary
208
Index
Smart phones, p. 145
v
consideration s into Wh at's Available, Features That Count, and How to Choose sections. Brief sidebars WIyou in o n important purchase and usage tips. Th en turn to the ba ck of the boo k for th e Ratin gs, charts, an d summ aries of CONSUMERREpORTS' product testing. And before your next electro nics
ConsumerReport s.orq
bought at retail, just as a con sumer would acquire th em. Our sho ppers buy specific models based on which are top sellers or innovative design s. CONSUMER REpORTS' tests are rigorous an d objec tive, using const antly refined procedures. In the case of home comp uters, for example, benchm arks are used
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
electronics qear can be dauntinq when you consider the available features and options. You'll know just what to look for after readlnq this quide's expert buyinq advice and Ratinqs.
ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 2008
5
in pr inter image
quality and assess
computer perfo rmance .
All electron ics
testing is done at the
Consumer Reports
National Testing and
Research Center
in Yonkers , N.Y.
r rITI fJll
6
CONSUMER REPORT S 0
ELECTRO NICS BU Y ING GUIDE 2 0 08
Expert · Independ
buy from an online store.
REpORTS readers who had purchased an electron ics product in th e previous 16 months.
and walk-in pre sen ce, such as Circuit City, th e Web site invariably did better. ~ Among the walk-in retailers, local ind ependent stores had a decid ed edge over m ost of the chain s for th eir selection, pro du ct qual ity, and service.
HOW TO CHOOSE In addition to surveying our readers, we cons ulted CONSUMER REpORTS'pro fes sional shoppers, the m en and wom en who buy about $850,000 worth of elec tron ic products every year for testing in our labs. Based on thei r advice and th at of readers, her e are some tips: Decide between price and service. Th at's the biggest trade-off shoppers face today, and whi ch of the two is your top pr iority might vary by pr odu ct. If you kn ow wh at you want, buy ing at one of ou r highly rated onli n e reta ilers will probably be faster and less expensive. However, if you n eed some time with a kn owledgeable salesperson (or would just like to see, hear, and touch th e mer chandise), one of the top-rated walk-in stores could be a better choice. In the case of a TV set, for instance, you m ight want to look at the pictur e and gauge th e set's size in relation to your living room. With au dio products, sound qu ality is largely in the ear of the listener, so in-store dem o facilities can
8
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 0 B
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
independent, Ritz, or Tweeter, all of which earned high er mar ks overall in our surve y and were rated bett er for getting customers out the door and on their way. Take a hybrid approach. Our shopping pros often find the most efficient tactic is to buy a product online for pickup at the nearest store. That way you might receivethe pro duct sooner as well as avoid shipping charges. You can also check a particular stor e's inventor y on line in many cases, bu t don't assume it's 100 percen t accurat e. Instead, call ahead to verify that the item is actually on hand and ask that it be set aside for you. In some cases, the store might have on ly one of a par ticular item , which
could be a display mo del, so be sure to ask about that , too . Get a lower price after you buy. Most price guarantees say that if th e price of your item is reduced within a specified period of time, typic ally 30 days, the store will refund the difference. Some retailers also promise to match a competitor's lower price during that sam e time period, or to beat it by
You might prefer to buy from a local store with savv y sales help and a pric ing polic y to match t he best adver t i sed deal.
- - - - - - - - - --'--._ - -_
._ ----,
Happiness is buying online As this t able shows , our survey respondent s who bought elect ronics onli ne were more satisfied overall than those who bought at stores. A score of 100 would mean that all respondents were complete ly sat isfied with the shoppin g experience; 80. very sat isf ied; and 60. fairly well satisfied.
PRODUCT
ONLINE SATISFACTION
IN-STORE SATISFACTION
Digital cameras
91
83
Audio equipment (receivers. speakers, etc.)
89
79
Camcorders
89
78
Hard-disk recorder or digital video recorder
89
78
TV (rear projection)
89
85
DVD player/recorder
88
79
TV (flat-panel LCD or plasma)
87
84
TV (conventio nal picture tu be)
85
80
PDA (handhe ld)
84
76
Overall
89
81
ConsumerReports.org
CO NSUME R REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUYING GUIDE 200 8 9
bett er on price. Among t he walk-in stores, th e Ratings found several winne rs for selection and service.
and Amazon.co m are also low-price standouts, alt hough BuyDig's return policy is a drawback.
product select ion: 12 Rit z Camera 13 Tweeter 14 Ult imat e Electronics
For th e best online select ion: 1 3 4 5 6
QUICK PICKS For rock-bottom prices: 2 Costco.com 3 BuyDig.com 4 Amazon.com 5 Buy.com 11 Cost co 16 BJ 's Wholesale
Crutchfield.com BuyDig.com Amazon.com Buy.com JR.com
These were best in th eir class for selecti on and amo ng th e best for service. Readers liked the demo faciliti es at Tweeter and Ultimate; Tweeter's installati on service also added to satisfaction, Ritz and Tweeter had knowledgeable salespeople. Local indepen dents did well on select ion and service,
Crutchfield 's site earned top marks except for price, where it was average. The ot hers
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Guide to the Ratings Based on 29,891 elect ronics purchases made by 19 ,319 readers from January 20 05 t hrough June 2006. Reader score refers to how respon dents rated their overall sat isfactio n with the ir shopping experience and is not limited to t he fac to rs listed under survey results . A score of 100 would mean that all respondents were com plete ly satisfied; 80 wou ld mean very satisfied; 60, fairly well satisfie d. Differences
Consum erReports.org
of fewer tha n 4 points are not mea ningf ul. The
scores shown under survey results refle ct t he
percentage of respondents who rated the retailer
as excellent or very good on each item . Highe r
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compared wit h th e mean score; lower scores mean
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONI CS BUYiNG GUIDE 200B 11
similar to an extended warranty.
It has become something of a ritual : Just as you're about to head over to the check out line, the nice salesperson who just sold you that high-ticket gizmo tries to persuade you to take out some extra insurance in the form of an extended warranty. What should you do?
to the cost of a repa ir, which you might never need. Electronics products are reliable. Only a small percentage ever need to be repaired in the first three years. Possible exceptions are microdisplay rear-projection TVs. Our data on sets bought new in 2005 or 2006 show that
warranty," page 32 . Before you cons ider paying for an ex tended warranty, check to see whether your credit card provides extra coverage. Such plans, most often found on gold and platinum cards, typically lengthe n the original manufacturer's coverage by up to one year.
PROTECT YOURSEL WHEN
UYIN N TEl TERN T
Simple precautions can save money and protect your identity
O
nline merchants offering extremel y low prices on brand-name TVs, cameras , and other goods are trolling for bargain hunters on the Internet. But if you bite, you might be bitt en back. A too-good to-be-true deal could be a scam that will leave you empty-ha nded, with no recourse-even on a reputable site that offers a bu yer-protection plan . Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from fraud . When a deal sounds too good t o be true, assume it's bogus. Be suspicious when sellers
offer new mer chandise at pr ices much lower th an those of familiar retailers. High-definition TVs and expensive camera equ ipment are favorite targets of con artists. Consider comp arison shopping at sites such as Google Product Search (formerly
12
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
Froogle), PriceGrabb er, or Yahoo Shopping to get
an idea of baseline prices from legitimate retailers.
(ConsumerReports.org subscribers have access to
a customized version of Yahoo Shopping's service
for selected products.)
Watch out for refurbished merchand ise.
Especially when it comes to electronic s, man y sites
offering bar gains sell used, reconditioned products.
Be sure to read all of the fine print in the descrip
tion to determine whether your product is new or refurbi shed . If it is refurbished, ask if it comes with a manufacturer's warranty. Beware of "gray market" goods. Those are branded products diverted from approved distribu tion channels. The y're not illegal, are usually just as good as authorized versions, and can som etimes
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
return an d other policies could b e different from
Let a 'bot' help you shop Online shopping bots can connect you to dozens of retailers selling the product you seek , somet imes at significantly differe nt prices. Among the better-known bots are BizRate, Buy.com, DealTime. Google Product Search (formerly Froogle), MySimon , Shopping.com, Shopzilla, and Ya hoo. BizRate and Shopzilla are affiliated, as are Shopping.com and DealTime, and you'll generally get t he same results in each of th ose pairs. (ConsumerReports.org offers a Shop Online tool with Yahoo, but neither it nor Consumers Union, its nonprofit publisher, receives any revenue from merchants or from Yahoo.) We haven't formally rated bats, but our reporter did take
10 of them for a spin recently, shopping at each for th e same
digital camera and plasma TV. We found you'l l have a more
successfu l bot experience if you follow the se steps:
Once you decide to buy from a listed retailer, t he deal is between the two of you. One site that promises the lowest price is Buy.com, but Its guarantee IS limited to a few specific vendors. 4. Know what you're buying. Read th e listing carefull y to see whether you'll be gett ing new or refurbished merchandise. If one retailer's price is muc h lower t han everybody else's, odds are it' s selling refurbs. Also check whether the item carries t he full manufacturer's warranty. Some gray-market electronics , not intended for sale in th e U.S., will lack one.
g-Shopping.com
1. Try more than one. Different bots scan different sets of retailers,
which will somet imes overlap. If you use t wo or three of th e bette r bats. you'll find results f rom dozens of merchants .
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2. Sort by price. Bats often make th eir money by charging the stores they search a per-click fee, and some put retailers t hat pay
a premium at the top of th e results list, whether or not they have the best deaIs. So check whethe r the bot lets you sort by price.
3. Get the real deal. Shipping and taxes can add substantially to your bill, especially on items such as TV sets. And not all retailers calculate shipping the same way. To compare what you'll really pay, use bats, such as MySimon and Shopping.com, that calculate bot h based on your ZIP code and then let you re-sort by total price. Also check on guarantees. Most bots make no guarantees regarding price, product quality, or even the reliability of t he merchants .
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200 B 13
buyers, all the services are free. Beyond that, each one works a little differently. Here are some basic types: Auction payment services. To pay for auction winnings or to deal with a small retailer, most likely you'll use PayPal, BidPay, or a similar payment service. PayPal bills your credit card or withdraws the money from your bank or out of your PayPal cash accou nt. Checkout services. Google Checkout is the newest, but individual retailers like Amazon have long offered express check-out. When you click on an icon, your purchase is billed to your credit card. Google search results now show a shopping cart under a company 's name if the retailer participates. Credit accounts. Bill Me Later instantly checks your creditworthiness after request
ing the last four digits of your Social
Security number, your address, and birth date . The service sends the fi rst bill by
mail, but you can pay subsequent bills electronically. As with credit cards, you're subject to late fees and interest charges, currently 18 percent.
BUYER BEWARE If you use a credit card for purchases
through any of the payment services, you get the same protections as if you paid with your card directly.
Using a bank or cash account for online purchases is risk ier. Federal law entitles you to a credit for returns, damaged goods, and missing shipments bought with a credit card. It also limits your liability for
ment to pay $1.7 million to 28 states.
It also announced a separate proposed
settlement for $3 .5 million in a class
action that found the company hadn 't adequately disclosed its policies to customers. One problem: Customers with more than one account on file didn't always realize their bank account rather than their credit card would be tapped first for purchases. Now PayPal must conspicuously disclose that policy.) Before signing up for any of the ser vices, heed this advice : ~ Use a credit card to make payments to the services. You'll have more protection. ~ Never click on links in e-mail that appear to be from payment services, especially if they ask for confidential information.
And don't reply. If you do, you might become a victim of phishing, a scam designed to cull sensitive personal data . ~ Look for a lock icon at the bottom of a company 's Web site page, indicating that it has been encrypted. ~ With the Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode programs, you can skip the payment services and use your credit card online with an added pass word protection. (See their Web sites for details.)
You can go cardless
Online shoppers have many electroni c options for paying. The services below are three of the larger players. PayPal and Coogle require you to sign up at their Web sites . You can register at Bill Me Later when you're ready to make your purchase. All have been vetted for credibility and trust by Consume r WebWatch, a proje ct of Consumers Union, nonprofit publ isher of this buying guide.
SERVICE
MAJOR ONLINE MERCHANT PARTNERS
Bill Me Later blll-me-later.com
Wal-Mart, eCost, Dick's Sporting Goods, Bluefly, Overstock,
KB Toys, Cabela's, Tlgerlrirect. American Girl, Shoes.com
Google Checkout
checkout.google.eorn
uBid, Buy.com, Bluefly, eCost, Ritz-Camera, Starbucks, Dick's Sporting Goods, Timberland
PayPal paypal.com
eBay, Dell, Buy.com, Hotwire, iTunes, TigerDirect, Starbucks, Skype, Ritz Camera, H&R Block, Cooking.corn
14 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
Check return policies. Some sites cha rge re stocking fees as high as 25 percent and others don 't accept returns of op ened merchandise. And if you return items that came with free shipping, chances are you'll have to pick up the cost for the return trip. Some sites might deduct the original free-shipping charges from your refund or charge a return fee. Some retailers might make you pay shippin g costs even if a product is defective. Take precaut ions when you pay. Ca n artists often ask buyers to bypass the usual online shop ping cart. Instead, they want you to wire th em money via Western Union, arrange a bank-to-bank wire transfer, or depo sit money into a fraudul ent escrow account. Stick with the usual payment methods recom mended by reputable Web sites. Using a credit card will limit your liability if probl ems develop. Keep track of any rebates. Although mail-in rebate offers are usually straightforward, they can be easy to overlook. Also keep an eye out for rebate checks in the mail ; many arrive in nondescript envelopes that can be mistaken for junk mail.
mer chant, includ ing e-mail in wh ich you give notification of product defects, and the merchant's responses. Also make sure that all of tho se browser-page printout items are dated. If you susp ect fraudulent activity online or worse , if you have fallen victim to a con artist, alert the shopping site and any organization involved in the tran saction , such as PayPal. You shou ld also notify th e Internet Crime Com plaint Center ( www.ic3.gov). a part nership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Also cont act the attorn ey general in the state where the merchant operates.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Even after you've unpacked and used your electronic device, hold on to all your receipts and proofs of purchase. If it doesn't work as advertised , promptly return it and ask for a full refund or replacem ent . If you are still dissatisfied, contact the merchant and manufacturer in writing. Effective com plainin g requires knowing your rights. If you need to call the retailer or manufac
ConsumerReports.orq
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 15
the sam e store, the levels of service might differ in a good-better-best scena rio. The differenc es among levels involve such variables as th e number of speak ers installed, wheth er speaker wires are concealed, and the degree of component integration pro vided. Clearly, it's worthwhile to do some homewor k when considerin g installation packages. Be sur e you understand the differences amo ng vendo rs as well as the differences in service levels available from each vendor. Electronics makers might claim that installation is easy, but you can avoid any hassle by hiring a pro to do it.
16
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
TYPES OF STORES If you' re planning to purchase installation service for th e equipment you bu y, a decision you'll face
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
to overlook a key link. Local chains are an othe r alternative. Fry's is well-known along the West Coast, and MyerEmco is p opul ar in the Washington, D.C., area. One advantage of doing bu siness with a small local chain is th at if th ere's a pr oblem, you'll prob ably have an easier time contacting the store's owners or some one who can make a decision on th e spot, even if it would cost th e store m on ey.You can' t count on such access, of course, but a few visits to a local electronics chain will quickl y let you know whether managers are available or not. Single-storefront op erations can mak e it even easier to reach the owner or man ager. Getting refer ences should also be easy if the store has a good trac k record. Th en there's online purchasing. If you 're buyi ng from a site such as Am azon .com, you'll find links to suppliers of plasma-TV m ounting bracket s and even independent installation services (www.instollplasma .com). However, most online retailers shy away from offering installation to customers who are scattered all over th e map. Overall, if you lack the wi.rin g or carpe ntry skills require d to install your home-ente rtainment or computer system, your best bet is to hire a profes sional to do the job . Before you sign on th e dott ed line , however, be sur e to ask for and check the installer's references. For details on hirin g an installer for specific types of electronic s gear, you'll find mor e information in later chapters of th is book. Installing a television is discussed on page 44. Installing home-theater systems is covered on page 97.
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
you might be able to avoid pro du cts th at are more likely to de velop problems or to go before th eir time. We've included from our surveys some brands th at have been reliable as well as th ose th at have been more rep air-p ron e. Other findin gs: ~ Certain br ands, such as Sony for electronics, have tended to be reliable across product catego ries. Some brands are more of a mixed bag, and othe rs tend to be consistentl y problematic. ~ Some entire pr oduct categories tend to need more repairs th an others . For example, when we looked at repair rate s for three- and four-year-old products, laptop and deskt op com puters tended to need more fixes. By contrast , picture-tube TVs and digital cam eras gave cons umers relati vely few headaches during
th at time frame. Of course , a product's performance mi ght change wh en its design or manufacturing process is altered, and m odels within a brand may vary in reliability. But we have found th at choosing a brand with a con sistently good histo ry improves your cha nces of getting a reliable model.
Aging computer gear might not be worth repairing
given failing prices
and Increased performance of new models.
Four and out? When to replace broken electronics Our guidelines for product replacement are based on informa tion from CONSUMER REPORTS' Annual Product Rel iability Survey. We take into account a product's age. typical repair a nd replace ment costs , and improvements in new mode ls. Gene rally, if a product costs less tha n $15 0 to replace, or if repairs would cost more than half the price of a new model. it's s ma rte r to repla ce it.
ConsumerReport s.org
4 years
Digital cameras 32-inch picture-tube TVs
5 years
Camcorde rs 36-inch picture-tube TVs Compute rs
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 200B 17
Reliable: Panasonic and Sony (see table at left for formats) Most repai r-prone: Canon, NC , and Samsung MiniDV mode ls
Digital cameras SELECTED
PRODUCT
DETAILS
among the most reliable products in our surveys, regardless of brand.)
(Years covered: 2003 to 2006) .:
Most repair-prone: Olyrripusfor SLRs
CAMCORDERS
% repaired
Reliable: None stood out. (In general, digital cameras have been
~, ~
Amongthe more repair-prone: Vivitar for point-and-shoots
Sony (DVD-RW/-R)
3
Panason lc (Min iDV) Sony (08) Sony (MiniDV)
4
Picture-tube TVs
4
Picture-tube TVs have generally been reliabl e. Our repair data for two of the larger sizes
appear in the table at left.
JVC (Min iDV) Samsung (MiniDV) Canon (MiniDV)
4 9 10 10
Years covered: 2003 to 2006. Differen ces of less than 5 points not meaningful .
PICTURE-TUBE TVs (3 0 t o 3 6 inches)
Big-screenTVs It' s too early to know which brands are likely to be more reliable for these newer types : of TVsets'-But based on data forsets bought new in 2005 and 2006, here is what . . we're seeing:
LCD TVs Promising reliability: NC , Magnavox, Panasonic, Philips, .
Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba ' 30- TO 32'INC H JVC Sharp Sanyo Toshiba Sony
3 3 3 3
4
Samsung
6 7
RCA
8
Philips
34 - TO 36-INCH Toshiba
4
Sony
5
.Ptasme set s Promising reliablli~: Fujitsu, Hitachi,
Panasonic, Pioneer,
Sony; and Toshiba ' . More repairs than average: Philips and Vizio
Microdisplay projection
.
Promising reliability: Panasonic (LCD), Sony (LCD and
Years covered: 2001to 2006. Differ ences of less tha n 3 points not meaningful.
18
More repairs th an avera ge: Dell
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
LCoS)
.
.
More repairs than average: RCA (DLP),
JVC(LCoSjD-ILA) _
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
.
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keep out dust and moisture. To avoid damage to your cam corder's sensor, never aim the lens or eyepiece directly at the sun . Don't use your fingers to clean the lens; use a clean , soft cloth or special lens t issue instead . When loading, press the door gent ly. Don't interfere with automatic loading and unload ing processes. Remove the cassett e from the cam corder before stor ing it fo r a lengthy period. CD and DVD players. Operate
a soft brush attachment. Remove the ball in t he mouse or the trackball and wipe it with some alcohol (be sure to clean out the ball compartment as well). Make sure the parts are thoroughly dry before using. With an opt ical mouse, there is no ball. Dust off the bot tom ; adhesive can pull off any deposits. Inkjet printers. Keep them
covered between uses to
keep out dust and dirt. Try
to use at least once a week
Plasma nis. Avoid the high est sett ings for brightness and contr ast to reduce t he possi bility of "burn-in," a permanent disfiguring of areas of the screen. Enable "Image Shift " or "Screen Saver" featu res if the TV has them. Projection TVs. With CRT- . based projection televis ion sets , you must align the three small CRTs for best picture perfo rmance . Newer micro displays (LCD, DLP, and LCoS) don 't have thos e issues.
VCRs. Keep the VCR and tapes away from heat, direct sunlight, and dust when not in use. Be sure tapes are free of peeling labels arid sti cky residue, which can clog a VCR's gears and loading mechan ism. Periodically clean the tape heads with a head cleaning tape.
KG EEN: EC C E OLD ELECTRONICS States and companies offer more options for consumers
C
onsum ers' healthy demand for new electronic products com es with an unh ealthy side effect: mountains of toxic e-waste. For example, the cathode ray tub e (CRT ) in every old- style TV or com puter monitor ripe for replacement contains 4 to 8 pounds ofl ead, which can cause health prob lems. Even small electronic products, such as cell pho nes, personal stereos, and cam corders, pose big hazards. From the mercury in th eir batteries and the cadm ium in their displays, to th e arseni c in their circuit bo ard s
ConsumerReports.orq
an d th e brominated flam e retard ants (BFR) in their housings, trashed electronics con stitute a serious environmental threat when buried in landfills, leach ing carcino gens and other harmful substances into gro undwater. The federal Environmental Protection Agency says it is safe to discard TVs in a pro perly manag ed landfill, alth ough it strongly recommends recycling to promote resource conservati on . In the absen ce of a nation al recycling program, many states and
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 19
Discarded phones at a recycling event show how national and local groups are raising awareness of the need to think green about old gear.
municipalities have banned CRTsfrom landfills to reduce th e high costs and health risks associated with handling such materials. With an estimated 20 to 24 million un used TYs and computers already gathering du st in homes and offices across the country, more municipal initiatives, state and local laws, an d p rivate programs run by manufacturers and retailers are aimed at keeping e-waste out of landfills by enabling or in some cases requiring equ ipm ent recycling.
NEW RECYCLING LAWS Among the recent legislat ive approaches are laws passed in four states: California, Maine, Mar yland , and Washington. Under a first-of-its-kind statute implem ented in 2004 in Maine, manufacturers are directly billed for the cost of recycling based on the proporti on of waste generat ed by their pro ducts. It's a step recy cling proponents think might provide an incentive for manufacturers to design lon ger-lasting equipment or products th at are more easily recycled. Consum ers pay a sma ll fee when dropping off TV sets or com puter monitors at centralized locati ons. The state estimates th at its 1.28 million residents recycle 60,000 to 100,000 TVs and computer m onitors ann ually,according to Carole Cifrin o, coordinator for product m anagement prog rams in Main e's Department of Environme ntal Prot ection division of solid-waste managem ent. As of July 2006, a provision too k effect requi rin g municipalities to take responsibility for providing
20
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE Z008
they pass on to consumers. Maryland took a different approach with a five year pilot program that currently appl ies to com pu ter m onitors only but could be expan ded to include TVs. Compa nies th at manufacture mo re than 1,000 PCs per year doing bu siness in the state must pay a $5,000 registration fee each year, which counties and municipalities will use to promote recycling. If the manufacturer starts a take-bac k pro gram, the fee for subsequent years is reduc ed to $500. In California, buyers of TYs and computer monitors pay a fee of $6 to $ I0 at the point of sale. Th e state then funn els the money into a collection and recycling system. Althou gh th e regulation promotes recycling, it creates no incentive for the electronics industry to design longer-lasting products, reuse old compo nents, or make equipmen t easier to recycle, recycling proponents say. Californ ia also set new waste-disposal rul es in Febru ary 2006 th at make it illegal for residen ts to dispose of most electronic items--including pr inters, fax machin es, computer monitors, cell ph on es, and batteries-in the tra sh. California is the only state so far to legislate cell-phone recycling.Since July 2006, cell-phone retailers have been required to take back phones from customers for recycling at no fee. Oth er states have sim ilar rul es. Massachu setts, Minnesota, and New Hampshire all have either im plemented or passed regulations banning the dis pos al of CRTsfrom incinerators, landfills, or b oth. Meanwhile, in Oregon , state lawm akers will be m aking a second attemp t to pass elect roni cs recycling legislation . The state grappl ed with a propos al for ha ndling e-waste in 2005 but was
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ron mental advocacy group in a Washington , D.C., 98 percent of th e 130 million cell ph ones discard ed in the U.S. each year are no t being recycled. Th is is especially unnecessary as most cellular-service pro viders have recycling pro grams in place, and will accept their equi pm ent for recycling and reuse in EPR or take-back programs.
recycling of batteries from laptops, cell phon es, and digital cameras . Other electronics m anufacturers, including Panasonic , Sharp, and Sony, sponso r recycling pro grams as part of the "Electronics Recycling Shared Responsibility Program :' Member companies fun d the recycling of their old products, which are gathe red at collection sites.
MANUFACTURERS' RECYCLING PROGRAMS
CONSIDER DONATING
Several com puter ma nufacturers, includ ing Apple, Dell, and HP, also prov ide computer recycling and donation services. Apple offers customers purchasing new Macint osh systems free shipping and dom estic recycling of thei r old com puter systems . The company also op erates a recycling collection facility at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., which is run as a free service for the city's resident s. Apple has partnered with Metech Int ern ation al to let consumers and bu sinesses recycle systems weighing up to 60 pounds for a flat fee of $30 (including shipping). Apple also provides no- fee iPod recycling services to its U.S. customers throu gh its stores. Custome rs returning any iPod , iPod Min i, or iPod Photo will receive a 10 percent discoun t toward the same-day p urchase of a new iPod. Dell began offering free computer-recyclingservices to bu yers of new Dim ension and Inspiron computer systems in 2004. Th e company has since becom e one of the industry's leading recycling propon ents and now offers free recycling of any Dell-brande d prod uct. Customers purchasing new Dell desktop or no tebook PCs can recycle their obsolete PC equip ment free of charge. Dell also arranges for donations of old working
If you have an obsolete bu t working com puter, digital cam era, or cell phone, why not donate it to a local or nation al charity or othe r nonprofit organization? In m any cases, you'll be able to deduct the cont ribution on your tax return. A good place to start is with local schools and community centers, and charities such as Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army.Yo u might also try a nonprofit or ganization such as Recycle for Breast Cancer (www.recycleforbreastcancer.org), which accepts a wid e range of working and nonworking electro nic item s, and even m ails prepaid postage labels for mos t pro ducts. Sites such as TechSoup (www.techsoup.org), Earth 911 (www.earth91I.org), and CONSUMER REpORTS' Greener Cho ices (www .GreenerChoices.org) can p rovide you with lists of no np rofit choices. Another site, Freecycle (www .jreecycle.org), Jets you find a local gro up that will help you find a n ew h om e for your unwanted electronic item s. Before you recycle or donate an old com puter, be sure to reformat all hard drives or use a dedicated pro gram designed to erase personal data. You sho uld also delete stored numbers and person al information
Consumer Repo r t s.or q
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRO NICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
21
Old-style CRT TVs and PC monitors, thrown out in favor of thinner models, will overload our landfills unless properly recycled.
from any cell phones you donate or recycle,and mak e sure your service has been deactivated .
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO Wh ether the law m andates th at m anufacturers pay for recycling, or whether con sumers pay a recycling fee when making a purchase, con sumers ultimately foot the bill. Voluntary recycling programs might help pre vent costly legislative ma ndates. Here are
sponsors collection days for TVs and other electronics, or has a drop-off point for electronics waste, click on the m ap supplied by the Electronic Industries Alliance (www.eiae.org).You can also find recyclers and recy cling events in your area, and locate energy-efficient or environmentally friendlier "green" electronics, by visiting MyGreenElectronics (www. mygreenelectronics .com), sponsored by the Consum er Electronics Asso ciation (CEA). Consider a private recycling firm. You can also take your electronics to a priv ate recycling company. But some disreputable recyclers simply ship waste overseas instead of recycling it, according to Richard Goss, director of environmental affairs for th e EIA. In response to this concern, a coalit ion of environ mental groups recently establ ished a volu nt ary program known as the Electron ics Recycler's Pledge of True Steward ship. Companies signing the pledg e agree to pr event the export of h azard ou s comp uter components to develop ing countries, the dispos al of wast e equipment in municipal landfills and incinerators not equipped to handle it, and the use of prison labor. To locate a recycler in your area that has signed the pledge, go to the Com p uter TakeBack Cam paign Web site (www.computertakeback.comlthcsolutions
Irecyclers_map. cftn).
~:. ConsumerReports.org I PRODUCT RECALLS
Despite all your care and res ea rch in making decisions about buying electronics , a product you've purchased can turn out to be faulty due to poor design or manufacture. Tofind
22
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONiCS BUYING GUIDE 2006
out if one has been reca lled by its maker, you can check among .the selected recalls listed at . www.ConsumerReports.org. When you get to the s ite, just click on the Recalls link.
. CONSUMER REPORTS provides these r ecall notices online as a service to consumers so that . potentially hazardous products can be removed from homes and from the marketplace .
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Plasma TV Good choice if you want a thi n, lightweight set that com es in a wide range of sizes. Typical prices About $1,000 for a 3 2 inch model, about $1, 20 0 for a 37-inch model , and $ 1,500 to $3,00 0 for a 4Q-to 46 -inch mode l. Points to consider LCDflat panels are th e lightest TVs available. Most sets weigh less than 50 pounds, so they're good for wall-mounting. The best LCDTVs disp lay excelle nt, bright HD images. Reflection s and glare are much less of an issue than with plasma screens, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lit rooms. But LCDTVs haven't caught up wit h plasma TVs for viewing angl e, color accuracy, and th e ability to disp lay th e deepest blacks. Some sets have diffi culty dis playing the gradations of subtle shad ing sm oot hly. At th is point, a plasma TV st ill offe rs more for t he money in 4 2-inc h and larger sizes. If a 32 - or 4Q-inch screen would do, an LCD is a good choice for a main TV. Small er LCDTVs would be best as second sets or in small rooms. If low price matte rs most , consid er some of the bargain -priced LCD TVs being sold at such chain s as Costco, Wal-Mar t , Best Buy, and Circuit City. We tested a half-dozen low-priced bra nds and recommend several of them. However t he newer brands don't have any tr ack record at t his point. We have reliab ility data for some established brands for the first few years of use, showing no repair concerns, t hough we have no long-term data, as yet.
24 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 20 08
Good choice if you want a thin TV with
a screen 42-inches or larger.
Common screen sizes 4 2 to 50 inches,
more 55- to 65-i nch models arriving.
Typical prices $1,200 to $1,800 for
a 42-inch set , $1,800 to $3,0 0 0 for
a SQ-inch model.
Points to con sider It's hard to beat t he best plasma TV sets for
accurate colors, deep blacks, and great cont rast. The virtua lly unli mited viewing angle of a plasma TV means no one in t he room has a bad view. For screens 50 inches and bigger, plasma TVs cost less th an simi larly sized LCD models. But while plasma sets are less tha n 6 inches th in, no matter how large the screen , t hey're fairly heavy. Some 42-inch sets weigh about 100 pounds, th ough othe rs are 20 or 3 0 pounds lighter. The reflections from a plasm a TV's shiny screen can be annoying in a bright room, but an ant iref lective coating can minimize t he issue. Stat ic images displayed for a long time- such as stoc k tickers or video games-can burn in perma nentl y. (Screensaver-type featu res on many new mod els offer some protection.) Less-fami liar brands of plasma TVs being sold at suc h chai ns as Costco, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City cost much less than major brands. But some of those we've tested have been mediocre, so you'll trad e quality for price. Ot hers have done bett er. As with LCD TVs, we have reliability data for some established brands for their first few years of use, showi ng no repair concerns, but we don 't yet have long-term reliab ility informatio n.
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to fall," says Tam aryn Pratt, principa l analyst at
it's a great time to bu y. And if yo u're in no hurry,
Quixel Research.Shesees the m ost aggr essive pricing
you'll probably seelower prices in a few months. Bu y
for LCDs.
wh en the price hits a point you deem reasonabl e.
-~ea r-prOject lon TV Good choice if you want a big-screen TV that costs less than a plasma set. Common screen sizes 50 to 65 inches. i Typical pric es $1 ,500 .1 to $2,500 for a 50-inch set, $ 1,800 to $3,000 for a 56-inch model. Points to consider They're the lowest-cost big-screen HDTVs. Many DLP, LCD, and LCoS microd isplays have 55 to 62-inch screens and are thinner than older, CRT-based sets-about 16 to 19 inches deep compared with 24 inches deep for CRT-based models. Still, they are much bulkier than plasma TVs. The top models offer exceptionally good picture quality with fine resolution, but the best viewing is limited to a "sweet spot " that can be fairly narrow, although some newer sets have a wider viewing angle. With most DLP sets, ther e's the risk that you might be bothe red by the "rainbow effect"-a flash of color some viewers see when moving th eir eyes across the edges of bright objects on a dark background . Bulbs used in microdisplays require periodic replace ment. Claimed life for bulbs is about 5,000 hours, and they cost $200 or more. Reliability is a concern. Our surveys show microdisplays need more repairs than flat panels in th e first few years.
ConsumerReports.orq
m
Front -projector TV
Good choice If you want t he largest possible image and can handle a potentially compl ex setup. Common screen sizes The screen, bought separately, is typically 70 to 200 inches. The projector has a 9x12 -inch footprint or larger. Typical prices $1,000 and up for an HD projector. Several hundred dollars for the projection screen. Points to consider A front projector comes closest to giving you a theate rlike exper ience, wit h images up to 200 inches diagon ally. Proj ectors and screens can be stor ed when not in use. Top mod els prod uce excellent images but are best used in a dar k room and are not ideal for daytime viewing. Finding the best position can be tricky, especially if you mount th e projector and screen. Most DLP units are subject to the " rainbow eff ect "-a perceived flash of color some viewers see when th eir eyes move along the edges of bright objects on a dar k background. Bulbs have a claimed life of about 2,000 to 3,000 hours, and cost $350 or more. We have no dat a on reliability.
definition. But In Just a couple of years , every program will be shown In clearer digital format.
Pict ure-tu be (CRT) TV
Good choice if you want a low-priced, midsized set, even tho ugh it's bulky. Common screen sizes 26 to 34 inches. Typical prices $600 to $800 for a 30-inch HDTV, $400 to $600 for a 3 2-inch SDTV. Points to consider Tube TVs are heavy and bulky. The maxi mum screen size now available is 34 inches. However, accord ing to many years of reliability data, most picture-tube TVs have had a very low rate of repairs. Digital standard definition tube TVs off er very good picture quality at a mod est price. Most HD sets tested recently had lower picture quality than in years past.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE ZOOB 25
Did you know? Some high definition channels often show standard definition programs.
Cable and sat ellit e get competit ion. For years, ther e ha s been a Hertz-and -Avis rivalry betw een cable, th e leader in hou sehold s served, an d the we-try- harder satellite 1V services. Now the pho ne companies want in on the actio n. Verizon and AT&T are rolling out fiber-optic-based digital1V services. So far, th ose services are available only in select markets, but they're likely to bran ch out over time. The prospect of m ore competit ion could light a fire under cable and satellite companies. You might even be able to haggle for a lower price. One-st op shopping. Yo u can also save m on ey
HD counterpa rts. Look for more choice as cable and satellite com panies ado pt a better video com pression format tha t might dou ble their HD offerings. Watch when you want . It's now easy to view prog ram ming whenever you choose . Cable com pan ies offer extensive video-on-deman d content, including some H D programs. Set-top boxes with buil t-in digital video recorders (DVRs) from the cable, satellite, and ph one companies let you p ause or rewin d an d th en fast-forwar d live prog ramming just as you would a DVD. HD- capable DVRs also offer th e easiest way to record HD 1V progra m m ing.
Deciphering l080p & other HD formats The numbers game in HDTV is getting ever more challenging for consumers. As if "1080i" and "720 p" weren't confus ing enough, along comes "1080p," this year's advert ising term of choice. Here's a relatively simple guide to t hese terms, which refer to different HD formats. The numbers Indicate lines of data; the letters, how the data are delivered. The 1080 and 720 refer to the num ber of horizontal lines (rows) of video data in an HD signal. (A sta ndard-def init ion signal, by cont rast, has 480 lines of horizontal data.) "P" refers to progressive-scan; all pixels in a frame of video are sent in one sweep. "I" sta nds for interlaced; a fi eld wit h half th e rows of pixels arrives fir st,
26
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
followed by anot her wit h t he rest of the pixels a f raction of a second later. A viewer perceives th em as one f rame. Progressive images should look smoother. Because an interlaced signal conta ins two fields of video captur ed at different time s, some TVs will display "jaggies" on t he edges of moving objects . A progressive signal should look smoother because all pixels in a f rame were capt ured at the same ti me and sent consecutively. Incoming HD signals are often converted to match a TV's native resolution. Flat panel TVs have a set number of pixels. A TV with a native resoluti on of 1366x768 can 't display anythin g wit h more t han
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
768 lines (the second number is the key). When such a TV receives 1080i signals. th e display must downconvert , or scale, t he incoming 108 0 lines so th ey can fit into fewer lines on screen. 1080p TVs can display more detail, but some can't accept a 1080p signal. Only TVs wit h 192 0xl080 resolut ion have enough pixels to display every detai l in a 1080i signal or t he nigh-def DVD out put from a Blu-ray or HD DVD player. Oddly, some 1080 p TVs can't accept 1080p signals from high-def players. But that's not a big concern. A player can output 108 0i signals, which th e TV will convert to 1080p. If it's done properly, the results can be almost like t rue 1080p.
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price alerts via e-ma il. Indicate your ta rget price or ra nge for a model, and the site wille-mail you when it finds a store selling at that price. Retailers such as Crutchfield.com will send alerts too. If you're not in a hurry, just s it back and see if the TV ever reaches your price. Try negotiating. You might be able to
talk your way to a better price, especially
for a rear-projector TV. See" Most TV
buyers should skip an extended warranty"
on page 32.
Of course, reliability can vary by brand
and might differ by model within brands.
If you' re considering a lesser-known
brand , note that serv ice can be ha rd to
come by if the company doesn 't have
extensive parts-and-service organizations
behind it.
GET THE BEST PICTURE Alm ost a decad e after th e first high-definition televi sions appeared, performance still vari es greatly, even within some br ands. O ur TV Ratings (available at www.Consumer Reports.orgto sub scribers, or with th e free trial offer on the inside front cover of th is bo ok ) make that clear. HD picture quality goes from fair to excellent. Wh y such var iation? HDTVs are complex devices that are still evolving. They have to accept different typ es of digital and an alog signals, and adapt th em to the display.Also, manufacturers keep cutting costs to com pete. Whatever the reasons, the wide quality ran ge mak es an HDTV a chall enging purchase. Though so me costly models are top-scoring, high price doesn't guarante e top performan ce. Nor does a familiar br and name. And n o display technology is consistently th e best choice. Put picture qualit y first. When you're buying a TV, nothing m att ers more th an pi cture quality. That's wh y it's by far the biggest contributor to the overall score in our HDTV Ratings. Hate th e set's
ConsumerReports.org
onscreen m enu s?You pr obabl y won't use th em very ofte n . Need better sound than the TV 's sp eakers pro vide?Then ho ok up a receiver and speakers. But you can do little to improve a mediocre picture. We expect better pict ure qua lity from HD TVs than from standa rd-definition sets because HDTV screens have a high er nat ive resolution. An HDTV has many more pixels (the picture clements making up ima ges) than a regul ar TV, so it has the potenti al to d isplay much finer detail. The best HDTVs display almost lifelike textures. Some of th e top TVs in our Ratings have a reso lution of l0 80p, with 1,920 pixels from side to side and 1,080 from top to bottom. Th at enables them to display more of the det ail in HD signals than sets with l3 66x768 or lower resolution (often labeled as n op sets in stores). The differences are m ost obvious on screens 50 inches and larger and in close viewing. Resolution alone doesn't determine picture quality. Contrast, black level, b rightness, and colo r accuracy are also important. A n ap set that does everything well can have excellent picture qu ality. A TV wit h excellent HD picture qu ality sh ould
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
27
display a nat ural-looking im age with dee p black, bright white, and accura te colors. Precise, clear detail is a must. Ideally, we'd recommend that everyone settle for nothing less than excellent picture qu ality. If you're a true videop hile an d dem and the best, it's worth seeking out a top-rated set. But a TV with a score of "very good " for picture qu ality is nothing to dismi ss. Wh ile the im ages fall short of perfection, th e differences can be subtle, and they mig ht show up only with very deman ding video content. Indeed, it can be a challenge for a
DVD and standard-definition, b ut there are exceptions . We judged a n umber of sets fair for DVD, regular TV, or both. (Becau se we judge H D pe rfor ma nce using a higher stan dard, regular TV an d DVD scores can't be di rectly compared with HD scores. In ot her word s, excellent stand ard definition content won't look as good as an excellent HD picture.) We strongly recom mend th at you choose a TV that was judged at least very good for both HD and DVD and good for stand ard defin ition picture qu ality. Even the best TV can't make mediocre content look great . If you feed your TV poor qu ality signals (say, an old standard- defini tio n TV program or a VCR recordin g) the pictu re might
Survey data on iust-year reliability ofTY types It's too early to have long-term relia bilit y data on newer TV technolo gies such as LCD. plasm a, and rear-project ion micro displ ay. But t he Consum er Reports Nati onal Resear ch Cente r has enou gh survey dat a to indic ate how different type s and
bran ds have fared in th e first few years of use. The data are based on set s bought in 20 05 and 2006. We didn't expect many repairs during th at ti me. and for many brand s, th at was the case. For others, th ere were more repairs.
I
3
LCD
%
1
Plasma
3
1 %
I
Rear-projectio n 110% microdisplays
I
JVC, Magnavox, Panasoni c, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, Toshib a
Fujitsu, Hitachi, Panasoni c, Pioneer, Sony, Tosh iba Panasoni c (LCD), Sony (LCD and LCoS)
28 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 2008
I Dell
I
IP~i1iPS ,
Vizio
II
RCA (DLP),
JVC (LCoS)
I
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AS CD PRICES GO DOWN
SIZE A Q ~LIT GO P
Slim sets with big screens challenge the plasma TV market
O
nce available only with small screens, LCD (liqu id-crystal disp lay) TVs now come with bigger screens suit able for use as a ho m e's primary set. In fact, the int rodu ction of37 - to 52-inch sets has position ed LCD TVs as a stro ng com petitor to flat-pan el plasm a sets. Illustrating th e growing imp ortance of th is category, some manufacturers most notably Sony- have stoppe d offering plasm a TVs for th e consumer market to focus mo re on LCDs. LCD television s still cost more than mo st compara bly sized plasma sets, but th e gap is narrow ing, particul arly in th e 40- to 42-inch category. Though LCDs and plasma sets look similar on th e outside, they use different display techn ologies. LCD TVs have thousands of pixels (the tiny elem ents th at make up an image) that ope n to let light throu gh or close to block it, somewha t like tiny shutters. Some light tends to leak th rough even when th e "shutters" are closed, one reason LCDs have had trouble display ing deep black levels. Some new sets have addressed this and othe r weakn esses. Th ey are now able to pro duce dee per blacks, along with more accura te colors, and th ey have improved the LCD's ability to
ConsumerReports.org
display fast-moving scenes with ou t blurring. Th e growi ng number of LCD sets with 10SOp resolutio n - the high est currentl y available--has also raised the bar for picture qu ality. Regardless of screen size, LCD TVs are on ly a few in ches thi ck, giving them a very sm all footprint.
LCD TVs with screens measuring 40 Inches, like this one, are now widely available, and larger sizes are qrowlnq In number.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 29
The y're also relatively lightw eight---40 pounds or less for mid sized 32-inch model s, 75 pounds or so for big-screen 46-inch sets-so th ey're easily moved or wall-mounted. But LCD techn ology,like plasma tech nology, is fairly new, so long -term reliability is still a que stion . But sur vey dat a we have collected regarding the first few years of use show few repair problems for most leadin g br and s.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
So far, so good: Survey data on LCD TVs show few repair problems for most leading brands in the first
few years of use.
30
Top-selling br ands include LG, Philip s, Sam sun g, Shar p, Sony,Vizio, and Westingho use. Prices have been dropping steadily,du e in part to the arrival of low-pric ed brands from China and Taiwan, and store br and s from major retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart, am ong others. Most LCD TVs with screens larger than 26 inches or so are high-definition (H D) m odels. HDTVs can display the sharpest, most detailed images. On most high-de f sets, the resolution is 1024x768 or 1366x768. Over the past year, a growing number of 1080p HDTVs have arrived, m ost with screen sizes 40 inche s and larger. These 1080p TVs are th e first con sumer models with the potential to display all 1,080 lines in th e m ost com mo n high-definition form at, called 1080i. The improvement is most noticeable on large screens, say, 50 inches and up. In smaller sizes- screens of 20 inches or less enhan ced-definition LCD TVs are also available. ED sets, which are digital, have a picture qual ity that's slightly better th an stand ard definiti on but not as good as HD ; th ey can accept 480p sign als such as tho se from a pr ogressive-scan DVD player.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
FEATURES THAT COUNT LCD HDTVs typ ically h ave all the featur es you expect on a higher-pr iced television. Most LCD sets with screens 26 inches and above have 16:9 wide screens. Because some TV content is still formatted for the more squarish 4:3 screen, wide-screen sets have stretch and zoom modes th at expa nd or com pr ess an image to better fill the screen . This help s to reduce the dark band s th at can appe ar on the sides or top and bottom of images if you watch content th at isn't formatt ed for a wide screen. (The picture might be distorted or cut off a bit in the pro cess of stretching or zoomi ng.) A film -mode feature improves th e appe arance of movies converted from film to video, including the majority of cinematic mov ies on DVD and some m ovies bro adcast on cable, on satellite, or over the air. This feature is also called 3:2 pull- down, motion compensation , or brand-specific nam es such as CineMotion and Film Mode. It helps com pensate for the differen ce in frame rates between film (24 frames per second) and video (30 frame s per second) , so mov ing images look less jerky and jagged around the edges. Pro gressive-scan DVD players have thi s feature as well. When watchin g DVDs, try enabling the feature first on th e DVD player and then on the TV, using the settin gs for each device, and use whichever makes th e images look smoother. AIlTVs have menus with settings th at enabl e you to adjust the video, audio,and more. With more sources for video available all the tim e, it's handy to have a feature th at allows you to customize settings for each input, such as the on e you routinely use for your cable bo x or th e DVD
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Picture-in-picture (PIP) lets you watch two chan nels at on ce, one in a sm all box, the other a full-screen image. It's useful if you want to browse th e onscreen guide while keeping an eye on the pro gram you're watch ing , or keep track of a sports event whil e an oth er program is playing. A single-tuner TV requires ano ther device with a tuner, such as a VCR or cable box, to display two programs at on ce; dual-tuner models can display two program s sim ultaneo usly on thei r own. Don't ru le out a TV set solely because it lacks PIP. If you have a digital video recorder with a PIP fun ction, you can have pictur e-in- picture even if the TV lacks this feature. On e of the most important poin ts to con sider with any TV is th e number and typ e of inputs it has. Ther e are several types th at can handle high-defin ition signals: HDMI, DVI, component-video, and RF (an ten na/cable). HD MI and DVI inp uts p rovide a digital connection to devices such as DVD players, digital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers. HD MI carri es audio an d video on one cable. DVI carries on ly video and must be used with separate audio cables; th ey are much less common than H DMl. The digital-to-digital connection mi ght enhance picture quality, th ou gh that hasn't always been the case in our tests so far. Compon ent-video inp uts are analog; they use red, green, and blu e RCA jacks to carry the video an d m ust be used with separa te aud io cables. Many new TVs have two component-video and two HDMI inputs; some have th ree or four. The RF input can be used to get digital signals, including HD, from an off-air ant enna. Oth er analog inpu ts on new TVs include composite-video and S-video, used mostly for equipment such as VCRs. Inputs on the
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speakers are on both sides of th e screen; on others, they're below it. Th at affects th e width of th e set and could determ ine wh eth er it will fit into a nich e in an entertainment center, for exam ple. On so me LCD TVs, speakers are detachable . Tha t can be a plus if you want to fit the TV into a particular space or posi tion th e speake rs away from the screen. A pan el's ability to tilt an d swivel also varies, so see wheth er a given m odel can be adjusted as m uch as you'd like. The Viewing surface
HOW TO CHOOSE Consider what level of pict ure quality you're willing to pay for. Th e best LCD TVs are capable of excellent HD picture quality, although blacks
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
of an LCD screen is not shiny like the surface of many plasma TVs, so annoying reflections are less of an issue.
ELECTRONI CSBUYING GUIDE 200B 31
seem like much when you're spending a few thousand on a TV. But survey dat a ' from the Consumer Reports National Research Center, covering rellab lllty and repairs to TVs of all types, reinforce why most HDTVbuyers should keep that money in thei r pocket.
expectan cy of about 5,000 hours. You'll hit that point in about four years if you watch the set for four hours a day, two years if your TV is on for eight hours a day or more. Most TVs covered in
LCD AND PLASMA TVS: NO In our survey, flat-panel TVs bought new in 2005 and 2006 were just as rellabl e in thei r first two years as conventional direct-view TVs-which is to say, very reli able , indeed. Even when plasmas and LCDs fail , th e overwhelming major ity of repairs cost less tha n $200; an extended warranty can easily cost more than th at. The low chances of fa ilu re, the low cost of the typica l repair, and the high cost of warrant ies make them a poor investm ent for flat- panel TVs. But even if you buy a less-reliabl e brand, or one whose reliab illty is unknown , an extended warranty might not be worth it. Buy extra coverage only if you can get it at a very low price, or if you're willing to pay dear ly for peace of mind against the unlikely possibility of a very expensive repair.
REAR-PROJECTION TVS: MAYBE Our data on rear-proj ect ion sets bought new in 2005 or 20 06 show that about 10 percent needed repair, thre e tim es the ' rate of pictu re-tube and flat -panel TVs. A common problem (but not th e only one) is bulb fallure .isornet imes premature. The medi an cost paid by survey respondents
Rear-projection microdlsplay bulbs must be replaced periodically, at $200 or more each.
our survey were one or two years old, and many of those that needed a new bulb du ring that time were wat ched for no more tha n fou r hours a day. The mat h suggests th ose bulbs fail ed premature ly. When a bulb burns out you won't see any pictu re, so you have to buy a replace ment, which costs abo ut $20 0 to $400. If a bulb fails during the stand ard warranty period, you'll probably be mailed a new one and dire cted to the manua l for inst allation instr uct ions. Replacement is fairl y simpl e,
32 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BU YI NG GUIDE 20 08
Most extended warranti es cover bulbs , along with in-home service for bulb replacement and most other problems. Warranties typically cover one bulb replaceme nt during the cont ract , in addition to what the standard warranty covers. Sears has no limit on parts or labor du ring its th ree- or f ive-year contracts, but its plans cost more than most. Most extended warranties run concurrent ly with standard coverage, so a "t hree-year" policy actually offers only two more years of coverage. ' Our advice: Consider a warranty for a microdisplay set. Although our survey data suggest that the vast majority are likely to be trouble-free in their early years, an extended warranty might make sense if: ~ A bulb replacement is likely during th e warranty period. Estimate how long it will take you to reach 5,000 hours, the claimed tlfe of many bulbs. If the time is with in th e period covered by an extended warranty, it might be worth buying a service plan, assuming th e price is right. A service plan will also protect you against the possiblllty of premature bulb fa ilure after the standa rd warranty expires. ~ The cost is reasonable. We suggest paying no more than t he cost of one bulb (about $200 to $400) or 15 percent of the TV's price, whi chever is less. See whether you can bargain for a lower price on the war rant y. Extended warranties usually have very high profit margins, so the price might be negotiable.
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environments , not hom e viewing. Consider reliabilit y. Our user surveys have found few repa ir pro blems during the first few years of use for LCD sets from }VC,Magnavox, Panason ic, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Samsung, Sony,and Toshiba. Dell LCDs have been more repa ir-prone. Look for easy-to-use inputs. On many LCD
and sou nd system-gets trickier, so you might con sider pro fessional installation at some po int. Ask the retailer to recommend an installer or contact the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (800-669-5329 or www.cedia.net) to find one in your area. Plan on paying from $300 to $ I,000 for labor, plus $100 to $250 for mo un ting brackets.
BIG, BRIGHT PLASMA TVs OFFER GREATER VALUE More-and bigger-screens are adding variety to the category
Plasma TVs can provide larqe screens with vibrant. accurate colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast.
P
lasma TVs ma ke a blockbu ster first impression. A scan t 6 inches th ick or less, th ese sleek, flat panels display bright imag es on screens measuring about 3 to 5 feet diagonally.With more models 50 inche s an d larger now available, plasma TVs have becom e a viable altern ative to rear- projec tion sets for anyone seeking a jumbo screen. A plasma screen is made up of th ou sands of pixels conta ining gas th at's converted into "plasm a" (ionized gas) by an elect rical charge. The plasma em its ultraviolet light m at causes ph osphors to glow red, green, or blue, as dictated by a video sign al. Due to improvements in plasma technology, th e best sets have excellent picture qu ality. They also offer a wid er viewing angle th an most LCD TVs an d rear projection sets, with deeper black s and smoother
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 33
tuner of any type. Th ese require a cable box or satellite receiver, or set-top box and antenna, to receive any pr ogramming, n ot just HD content.
Did you know? A plasma screen uses gas converted to an ionized state, the same physics principle that lights the sun.
moti on th an you typically get with LCD sets. But the picture isn't all rosy. Th e shiny screen of a plasm a TV can produce an noyi ng reflection s, especially in bright rooms. Many plasma sets look best in low light. Like projection TVs using CRT (cath ode-ray tube) technology, plasma sets are vuln erable to screen burn-in, although new screen saving techn ologies minimize the risk. There are few plasma TVs with 1080p resolution s, and those are pri cey-thou gh Pan ason ic has a 50-inch, 1080p plasm a set expected to sell for less th an $3,500 and a 42- inch m od el likely to go for less th an $2,500. Because pla sma sets are relatively ne w, their long term reliability is still a qu estion . Survey dat a we have collected regarding th e first few years of use show few repair problem s for m ost lead ing b rand s.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Amon g th e leadin g brands in the plasma TV cate gory are Pan asonic, Hitachi, Ph ilips, Pioneer, an d Sams ung. Sony was a leading m anufacturer but it has stopped ma king plasma TVs to con centrate on LCD sets. Pri ces have dropped sharply over th e past year or two. HD m od els with 42- to 44- inch screens, th e best-selling size, start aro und $1,200. TVs wit h screens 50 inches or larger star t at less than $1,800, especially from some em erging bra nds, such as O levia and Vizio. Look for pri ces to fall further as the techno logy matures and plasma faces increasing price pressure from LCD HDTVs.
34 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
FEATURES THAT COUNT Plasma TVs have all th e usual feature s you expect on a highe r-pri ced television. Like mo st new H DTVs, plasma sets have 16:9 wide screens. Because som e TV content is still form atte d for the more squ arish 4:3 screen, HDTV sets have stretch and zoom modes tha t expand or com press an im age to better fill the screen. This helps to reduce th e dark band s that can ap pear on th e sides or top an d bottom of im ages if you watch conten t that isn't formatt ed for a wide screen. (The picture migh t be distorted or cut off a b it in th e process of stretc hing or zoo mi ng.) A film-mode feature improve s the appearance of m ovies conve rted from film to video, including th e majority of cinematic movies on DVD and some mov ies broadcast on cable, on satellite, or over th e air. Th is feature is also called 3:2 p ull-dow n, mo tion com pensation, or brand -specific names such as CineMo tion and Film Mode. It helps com pensate for th e difference in frame rates between film (24 fram es per second) and video (30 fram es per second), so moving im ages look less jerky and jagged aro und th e edges. Progressive-scan DVD players have th is feature as well. Wh en watching DVDs, try enabling that feature first on the DVD player and then on th e TV, using the settings for each device, and use whichever makes the images look smoother. All TVs have me nu s with settings th at enable you to adjust th e video, audio, an d more. With more so ur ces for video available all th e time , it's h andy to
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a bu ilt -in progra m guide, such as TV Guide On Screen, which displays eight days of program ming in a searchable, interactive format. Picture-in -picture (PIP) lets you watch two chan nels at once, one in a small box, the other a full-screen image. It's useful if you want to browse the onscreen guide while you're watching a program, or keep track of a sports event while another program is playing. A single-tuner TV requires another device with a tuner, such as a VCR or cable box, to display two programs at once; dual-tuner mode ls can display two pro grams simultaneously. Don't rule out a TV set solely because it lacks PIP. If you have a digital video recorder with a PIP func tion, you can have picture -in-picture even if the TV lacks this feature. One of the most impo rtant points to consider with any TV is the numbe r and type of inputs it has. Th ere are several types that can ha ndle high -definition signa ls: HDMI, DVI, com pon en t-video, and RF (antenna/cable). HOMI and DVI inputs provi de a digita l connection to devices such as DVO players, digita l-cable boxes, and satellite receivers. H OMI carries au dio and video on one cable. OVI carries on ly video and mus t be used with separate audio cables; they are much less com mon than HDM!. The digital- to- digital connection might enha nce picture quality, though tha t hasn't always been the case in our tests so far. Component-video inpu ts are analog; they use red , green , and blu e RCA jacks to carry the video and m ust be used with sepa rate aud io cables. Many new TVs have two com po nent video and two HOM l inpu ts; some have th ree. The RF input can be used to get digital signals, including H O, from an off-air anten na. Other analog inputs on new TVs include composite
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type of TV.For examp le, some sets have screensaver type features to prevent burn-in from static ima ges. On some models, the speakers are on both sides of the screen ; on others, they're below the screen, or they can be remove d and placed elsewhere . That affects the width of th e set and could determine whether it will fit into an entertainmen t center.A few models have no speakers; they would have to be used with an audio system to get sound.
l--J
4 .625"
l.-J
4.75"
10.7"
Side views of LCD, plasma, and rear-projection models (from left) show how slimmed-down TVs have become . The rear-projection set, among the thinnest of Its type, Is half the depth of a set made a few years ago.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONIC S BUYING GUIDE 200B 35
burn-in, but don't push your luck by leaving images onscreen for prolon ged periods. You m ay have seen reports suggest ing that plasma TVs might not last as lon g as other TV typ es. Ignore them, as there is no evidence to that effect. Consider reliability. Ou r sur veys have found few repair problem s during the first few years of use for plasm a sets from Fujitsu, Hitachi, Panasonic,
the tuner for all programmin g. Oth erwise, you'll need a set-top box to work with an antenna. If the plasma TV has no speakers, you'll have to bu y them separately unless you plan to connect the set to your existing sound system. Think about the logist ics. You might want to consider having your plasma TV delivered, espe cially if it's one of the larger sets. Th e cart on s can be heavy and awkward to carr y. You might be able to han dle a basic hooku p of a cable box or satellite receiver and a DVD player on your own. If you'll I .. ,J. be connec ting mor e devices-a DVR, DVD recorder, VCR, and digital receiver and so und system-it gets tr ickier, so you might want to conside r profession al installati on at some point. Th ou gh ads for plasm a TVs often show no cables or wires, the y are a factor in installation. You can t uck wires beh ind the TV if you place it on a stand. With wall-mounting, you can run the wires behind the wall or through conduits, a task that might be best handled by a professional (wires run in walls and ceilings require a different UL rating). Many plasma TVs weigh 100 pounds or more, so they need adequate support. They also require good ventilation because of the heat they generate. Ask the retailer to recommend an ins taller or contact the Custom Electro nic Design & Installation Associati on (800- 669 5329 or www.cedia.net) to find one in your are a.
I'
36 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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m icrodisplay types.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Major br an ds incl ude Hitachi , JVC, M itsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, RCA, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba . Th e sma llest sets meas ure abo ut 42 inches diagon ally, but most are 50 inches and larger; models with 50- to 59-inch screens are the best sellers. The largest TVs have screens measur ing 71 inches or more. Virtually all rear-projection TVs no w on th e ma rket are d igital HD sets with a n ative screen resolution of at least 1280xno (n Op). One of th e mos t no tewor thy developments in this category has been the intro d uction of many 1080p m od els. These screens have a resolut ion of 1920x l080 pixels, giving th em the pot ential to display all 1,080 lin es in the most commo n high -d efinit ion form at, called 1080i. The impr oveme nt is mo st noticeable on screens 50 inches and up, which includes most rear- projection TVs. Mo re LCoS mo dels are arriving on the market; at the same time , we're starti ng to see fewer rear projection LCD models. CRT-based sets, which are almost gon e from the ma rket, are floor-standing models with deep cabinets mounted on casters. Som e take up as much space as a love seat or sofa. Most micro displays are less ob trusive. Most are 15 to 20 inches deep, and some "slim- line" mo dels are now just 10 to 12 inches deep. A stand for a m icrodisplay television is recom me nded; a mat ching stand , sold sepa rately, is usually availabl e.
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FEATURES THAT COUNT Most projectio n TVs have the features that are now standard on higher-priced TVs. Like most new HDTVs, rear-projection sets have 16:9 wide screens. Because som e TV content is still for matted for the more squaris h 4:3 screen, HDTV sets have stretch an d zoo m modes that expand or compress an image to better fill the screen. Th is help s to reduce the dark band s that can app ear on the sides or top and bot tom of images not forma tted for a wide screen. (The picture might be distorted or cut off in the pr ocess.) A film -m ode feature im proves the appearance of mo vies converted from film to video, including the majority of cinema tic movies on DVD and some movies broadcast on cable, on satellite, or over the air. Th is feature is also called 3:2 pull -down, m otion compensatio n, or brand-specific names such as CineMotion an d Film Mode. It helps compensate for the difference in frame rates between film (24 frames per second) and video (30 frames per second), so mo ving images look less jerky and jagged aro und the edges. When watching DVDs on a prog ressive scan player, try enabling that feature first on the DVD player and then on the TV, and use whichever makes the images look smoother. All TVs have menu s with settings tha t enable you to adjust the video , audio, and more. With m or e sources for video available all the time, it's handy to have a feature that allows you to customize settings
A rear -projection TV offers a big screen tha t costs less than a plasma TV.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 37
improve th e look of standar d-definition pro grams com ing in th rough the component-video input. CableCard slots on HDTVs let you use a card , provided by the cable company for a small rental fee, instead of a cable box, When the card is inserted, th e TV can receive scrambled digit al-cable con tent , including high-definition pro grammi ng. Th is elim inates th e need for an extra piece of equ ipment and cables, but there is a downside: Current CableCard s are one- way, so th ey don 't provide an int eracti ve program guide, video on dem and, or pay-per-view ordering via the rem ote control. But so me TVs have a built-in program guide, such as TV Guide On Screen, which dis plays eight days of programming in a searchable, interactive for mat. Picture-in-picture (PIP) lets you watch two chann els at once, one in a small box, the other a full-screen ima ge. It's useful if you want to browse the onscreen guide while keeping an eye on the program you're watchin g, or keep track of a sports event while a program is playing. A single-tuner TV requires another device with a tuner, such as a VCR or cable box, to display two programs at onc e; dual-tuner models can display two programs sim ultaneously on their own. If you have a digital video recorder with a PIP function , you can have picture -in -pictu re even if the TV lacks this feature. On e of the mos t important points to conside r with any TV is the number and type of inputs it has. Th ere are several typ es that can handle high definition signals: HDMI, DVI, component-video, and RF (antenna/cable). HDMI inputs provide a digital connection to devices such as DVD players,
38
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
or IEEE 1394/Firewire input. A VGA input lets a TV accept sign als from virtually any computer; DVI inputs are compatible mostl y with newer mid range computers. A headphone jack is handy if you want to listen to TV without disturbing others. An illuminated remote-either backlit or with glow-in the-dark keys-is hand y in a dim setting. On CRT-based projection TVs, auto convergence provides a one-touch adjustment to align the three CRT images to form an accurate picture. It's mu ch more convenient than manual convergence, which can require tim e-consuming adjustments but allows finer control. Th e best bet is a set th at has both manu al and automatic convergence. (Convergence is not necessary on LCD, DLP, or LCoS model s.) On CRT-based sets (but not LCD, LCoS, or DLP models), static images left on th e screen for a long time can cause "burn in"-ghosted images on th e screen.
HOW TO CHOOSE Consider space before settling on screen size. You might be tempted by the biggest screens, which can span as mu ch as 7] inches or more, but take a breath-and som e measurements-first. Figure ou t how much floor space you can actually spare, and plan to view the TV from abo ut 7 to 9 feet away for optimal picture quality. Consider reliability. Ou r surveys have shown that rear-pro jection TVs using CRT techn ology have been much more repair-prone than convent ional picture tub e TVs. Any pattern left on a CRT screen for long periods-such as a stock ticker or video game-ean bu rn in to th e tubes of a CRT-based model,
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been amo ng our top- rated performers. Check the viewing angle. Some new mod els do a better job than older sets at maintaining their image qu ality when viewed from off-center- a must if th e TV will be watched by several people at once. Before buying one, see how the picture looks if you step off
Replac ement bulbs cost fro m $200 to $400. Replacem ent isn't that difficult-much like replac ing a car's headlight- so you can do it yourse lf as long as you're comfortable wielding a screwdriver.You can also pay for pro fessional installation , which can add another $200 or so to the cost of replacement.
FRONT-PROJECTOR TVs
FILL MOVIE-SIZED NICHE
But they're probably not the best choice for everyday use
F
or a truly theaterlike experience, you can't beat a front projector paired with a screen that stretches 100 inches or more diagon ally-about twice the size of most plasma and LCD HDTVs. Image quality is just as good and prices are no w com parable, even when you add in the cost of a screen. Recentl y, prices ofHD models designed for hom e theater use have drop ped shar ply. But fro nt projectors look best in a dark room, so th ey aren't the best choice for typical, everyday viewing. Wh en you project an image onto a screen or a white wall, any light that falls on the screen redu ces contrast and washes out the picture. Your best bet is a room with blackout window shades. Even at night , you have to keep light from nearby lamp s from hitting the display surface. Also, the need to add a screen, speakers, and a TV tu ner increases the cost an d comp lexity of set up. In additio n, a projector 's bulb typically needs
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replacement every 2,000 to 3,000 hours or so, abo ut half the life of bulbs used in rear-projection TVs.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE In years past, the on ly real cho ice for a big-screen hom e th eater was a bul ky CRT-based projec to r that cost tens of th ousand s of dollars. Most new projec tors are compact units using LCD, DLP, or LCoS technology- the same display technologies used in
Most front projectors lack built-in audio capability, so you have to connect them to external speakers.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 39
In a dark room, the best front projection TVs prov ide a top-notch picture on a j umbo screen.
generally not of the highest quality, so you'd probably want to use a sound syste m anyw ay. Several com pan ies, including Epson, Hewlett Packard, and Op torna, offer all-in-one home-th eater projector packages wit h eithe r an integrated or outboard DVD player and built-in speakers , plus a screen. These are designed to be used with sta ndard DVDs, so they don't offer HD resolut ion. They cost less than typical front projec tors and are somewhat easier to set up an d use. Front projectors can be placed on a table or other flat surface and stored when not in use. Most can also be mo unted to the ceiling. If you mou nt the proj ector, be sure to place it at the distance recom mended by the manu factur er, angled to prevent the rectan gular shape of the image from being distorted (called keystoning). A projector with vertical and horizontal lens shift will allow you to get a stra ight,
40 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
stretch ) and color controls.
FEATURES THAT COUNT Maximum image size. Manufacturer specs indicate
th e largest image you can get from a given model. To achieve th e maximum size, you have to move the projec to r farther back from the screen. But as the image gets larger, it also gets dim mer. In our tests, we foun d an image size of about 110 inches (measured diagonally,for a 16:9 widescreen display) to be the sweet spot for impac t and bright ness. Distance to screen. To fill a l lO-inch screen, you'd typically place a projector 10 to 15 feet away. For a 50-in ch image, about half tha t distan ce would do. Recommended placement varies by mo del; see what the specs indicate. Keystoning. If you tilt the projecto r up or down to raise or lower the projec ted image, the sides of the image will star t to an gle away from 90 degrees. Th at turns what should be a rectangular shape into a trapezoid. A keystoning con tro l feature com pen sates for this, but resolutio n can suffer depe nding on the amount of correc tio n applied to the image . Lens-shift mechanism. Some projector s have this feature, which lets you move the image hori zon tally or vertically witho ut tilting the projector. This allows you to avoid the shortcom ings of the keyston e adjustments. The electro nic shift adjust me nt on some projectors tends to have a very limited ran ge. Wh en exceeded, images could be cropped. Dynamic/manual iris. A manual or dynam ic iris acts as a brightness adj ustme nt by varying (typ ically reducing) the amount of light sent to the lens, effec tively boosting contras t. Whil e a manual iris lets you
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inputs, and many have a computer input.
HOW TO CHOOSE First m ake sur e th at a front pro jector is the right choice for your viewing needs. If you can deal with th e logistics, you can enjoy a high-quality, theater like experience at a reason able cost. Here's what to con sider in choosing am ong model s: Go for HD. If you're going to th e effort of setting up a front-proj ection system, we highly recommend an HD model. Rapidly falling price s have made them much more afford able, and the higher qu ality will be clearly visible on th e larger screens. If cost is para mount, consider an enhanced-d efinition projector. A low-cost everything-is-included model would be suitable for casual mo vie viewing. Weigh the prosand consof LCD, LCoS, and DLP projectors. In general, proj ector s usin g LCD technology haven't been as good as DLP models at rep roducing true black, but recent improvements have enabled some LCD projectors to do quite well. LCoS projectors, from companies such as Sony and JVC, are becoming m or e common as pr ices fall, and some are outstanding. Wh en watching a DLP front proj ector (or rear projection set as well), you may experience a "rainbow effect."This is a flash of color some viewers notice m ainl y when the y m ove their eyes across bri ght objects on a dark background. Th e rainbow effect isn't obvious, but once noticed, it can be annoying. Many newer DLP projectors now use faster-spinning color wheels, which can reduce the effect Take a video with high-contrast scenes to the store so th at you can see whether it's a problem. All DLP projectors
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dimensions and anticipated seating positions will largely determine what screen sizes are practical. Some pro jectors give you more flexibility in where you can place the projector to get a certain im age size;see what th e manufacturer recomm ends. Models with "short-throw" lenses can be placed closer to the projector, wh ile "long-th row" lenses allow th e projector to be placed farther away. The larger th e ima ge you want, the more distanc e needed between th e projector and screen, though the projector's zoom feature will provide some flexibility here . Keep in mind th at as the image from a projector gets larger, it also gets dimmer, with poorer contrast between light and dark areas. Also consider wh ere you'll sit to watch the TV. With a l l O-inch screen and an HD im age, the optimal viewing distance is about 14 feet. Checkthe inputs. Consider where you'll place and connect the cable or satellite box that will serve as the TV tuner, a soun d system, and probably a DVD player or recorder. All the tested models have at least one HDMI input and one component-video input, but you may need more if you won't be using a receiver to switch between signal sour ces. If yo u want to use th e projector for playing game s, make sure it has a computer input. Think about the screen. In our tests, we used a lIO-inch screen that cost $400. It had a m atte-white viewing surfa ce 4Xfeet high by 8 feet wide. There are screens with more reflective finishes (called gain ) designed to enh an ce brightness, but th ey may have a narrower viewin g angle than a matt e screen. Other so-called dark screen s are designed to en hance con trast by imp roving black-level perform an ce, but th ey do take a sm all hit on overall br ightness.
Image sizes up to 200
inches are possible with some front-projection models, but as the image gets larger, it also gets dimmer.
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Low cost and proven reliability are hallmarks of picture-tube TVs.
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rise to a new type of tu be TV: a digital standard definition set. While these models are indeed digital, they are not high-definition TVs. They can display only standard- definition picture quality, though the digital picture qual ity might be a little better th an that of an anal og set. Th ese digital TVs will be able to receive digital over-th e-air broadcasts when analog broadcasting ceases. That's now scheduled to happen in February 2009. Analog sets will require an external digital tuner.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2006
newer rivals.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE A number of manufacturers have stopped making tu be TVs altogether or pared the ir lines sharpl y. Amon g the manufacturers who no longer make tub e TVs are JVC, Magnavox, Sony, and Toshib a. Most digit al TVs can display HD signals with a resolution of 1080i (1,080 lines using an interlaced scan) or nop (720 lin es scan ned progre ssively, in one sweep). These high-definition images are much sharpe r and m ore detailed th an standard definition. Most picture-tube TVs have screen s th at measure 13 to 34 inches diagonally. HD sets generally have screens 26 inche s or larger. The larger picture tube TVs are getting harder to find, possibly becau se LCD TVs have become so numerou s in those sizes. On standard-definition tub e sets, screens are usually squarish, with an aspect ratio of 4:3, meaning they're four units wide for every three units high. Some HD sets have a 4:3 screen, but most are 16:9 wide-screen displays, as the 16:9 movielike format is the usual aspect ratio for HD bro adcasts. One of the downsides to picture-tube sets is that the y're relatively bulky and heavy-about 2 feet deep and up to 200 pounds or more for larger sizes. A few slimmed-down sets are available, though they're no lighter than others, For exam ple, Samsung offers a 30-inch wide-screen SlimFit HDTV (about $700) that's just 16 inches deep. Digit al SD sets with 27-inch screens start at less than $250. Prices star t aro u nd $600 for HDTVs with 30-inch screens, but th ose models are few and far between.
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dir ectly to the TV if it h as a USB or IEEE 1394/ Firewire input. Stereo sound is standard on sets 27 inches or larger, but you'll generally h ear little stereo separation from a TV's built-in speakers. Ambient so und is often termed "surroun d sound" or "virtual surro und sound:' This is a selectable feature foun d o n mos t sets. It isn't comparable to a m ultispeaker hom e-theater system, tho ugh. It's an effect created by special audio p rocessing to wid en th e so un dstage. You can usu ally tu rn off the processing if you don't like it. For a bett er stereo effect or true surround sound, ro ute the signals to a sound system. An au tomatic volume leveler com pensa tes for the volu m e jum ps th at often accom pany com m ercials or changes in channe l. Pricier HD sets might have a film-mode feature, sometimes referr ed to as 3:2 pu ll-down compen sation or by bran d names such as Cine Motion . It h elps comp ensate for th e differen ce in fram e rates between film (24 fram es per second) an d vid eo (30 frames per second), so moving images look less jerky and jagge d aro u nd the edges . On 16:9 sets, stretch and zoom modes will expand o r compress an image to fill the scree n shape bett er. T his he lps to red uce the dark ban ds th at can ap pe ar on th e sides or top and bottom of images if yo u wa tch con tent formatte d for a screen sh ap e other th an 16:9.
HOW TO CHOOSE Televisions usin g th e familiar pictur e-t ube technology are the least-expensive op tion, an d some offer fin e pict ure quality.
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Decide on a screen size. TVs with small screens (less than 27 inches) are likely to have fewer bells and whistles than larger sets. With tub e sets, the larger the screen , the deepe r and heavier th e set, in most cases. (That's not true of flat-p anel LCD and plasma sets, though.) Allow eno ugh viewing distance so th at you don't see the lines that m ake up the imag es. Consider screen shape. Most H DTVs have a 16:9 w ide screen, but you mi ght find a few with the squarish 4:3 aspec t ratio. Most SDTVs have a 4:3 screen, thou gh th ere are some wide scree ns available. Content formatt ed fo r one screen shape m ust be modified to fit the other, so you mi ght see bars on two sides or above and below the im age. Mos t DVD mov ies and a grow ing number of HDTV program s are formatted for wide screen , and we think a wide -screen TV will give yo u a better HD exper ience now and be preferable for all viewi ng in a few years . Consider reliabili t y. As one of th e most widely used consumer technologies for over 50 years, CRT TVs have com piled a track record for reliability. Data on brands with a goo d repair histor y, available at www.Consumerkeports.org.csn improve your odds of gett ing a reliable set. Don't rule out standar d- definition sets. If you mostly watch regular TV programming, consider buying a digital stan dard-definition set. Those TVs cost less than HDTVs, and they can do a better job with regular content. In our most recent tests, ma ny of the standard-d efinition sets did a better job displaying regular TV programming than the HDTVs.
Big-screen, traditional picture-tube TVs are disappearing from store shelves but might be worth seeking out for your particu lar needs.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 43
carr ying those signals. Mos t HD cable and satellite
TV (if it has a buil t-in digital tuner) or to an external tuner con nected to an HD-ready TV. In the latter case, you th en connect the extern al tu ner to the set via the com ponent-video or HDMI input. For $100 and up, many retailers will deliver your TV, place it on a stand, and conn ect it to a cable or satellite box an d VCR or DVD player. For a few hundred do llars, they'll also connect a sound system . Fees can hit $1,000 to wall-mount a TV, hide wires in walls, optimize settings, and hook up surroun d sound. If you want to hide th e power cable, have an electricia n install a recessed or "clock" outlet before hand. If you're no t wall-mounting, assemb le the stand in adva nce. You can pay a pro $80 to do it. Must-have extras. You'll have to buy mo unting brackets and cables separately. Brackets cost a few hundred dollars . There's little or no advantage to cables tha t cost hundreds of dollars. Shield ed generic cables from Best Buy, Radio Shack, or ot her retailers should be fine and will cost mu ch less. Avoid shoddy, flimsy cables,tho ugh. A 6-foot length sho uld suit most setups. Be sure cables for in-wall use are certified by UL for tha t purpose. Control issues. For $100 to $300, you can have a pro program a un iversal remote for all your gear. The remo te can cost anywher e from $80 to $350. O therwise, program your cable or satellite remote to control the TV by keying in th e code for the TV brand, as directed in your cable or satellite m an ual.
TIPS ON TWEAKING When you get your new TV h om e, do n't expect picture-perfec t images right out of th e box. Th e
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image containing peo ple and a mix of dark and light areas. See how it looks in various mod es, in the room lighting you use most often. Personal taste is a factor; have family members help you choose . Th e mod e that's best for HD might not be best for DVDs and
If you're a video enthusiast, you might want to buy or rent a DVD to help you fine-tune the picture. Joe Kane's "Video Essentials" and Ovation Software's ''AVIA" are two programs with test patterns and tips on calibrating a TV picture.
home viewing conditions.
How to judge image quality CONTRAST There should be the widest possible difference between the darkest and lightest areas, with subtle gradations in between, so that details stand out clear ly. FINE DETAILS The best high-defTVs make fine points, such as the textu re of th is guitar strap, appear real. On mediocre TVs, details are often lost, especially during fast motion. ACCURATE COLORS They should be rich but not oversaturated. Skin tones should look natural and smooth, not blotchy or overly reddish or greenish.
BLACK LEVELS Deep black adds richness and depth to an image. .Lesser TVs sometimes can't display it. LCDs haven't done well with black , but some are doing better. .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - ----'--- ----' ConsumerReports.org
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An onscreen schedule available at the touch of a remote-control button is one of the many advantages of a TV programming service.
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service to o. Over the past year, Verizon and AT&T began slowly rollin g out fiber-optic networks that can handle TV services along with voice calls and Int ern et access. Verizon's service is called FiOS, and AT&T's is Uvverse. You migh t see such services referred to generically as fiber to the home, or FTTH. Verizon and AT&T are now selling TV service in lim ited areas; it's unclear whether they'll ultimately offer it in all th e market s where they sell ph one service. Still, th e prospect of more choice for viewers, plus more com petition for cable and satellite providers, is a plus for consumers. Many cable custom ers might welcom e ano the r altern ative, given th eir gripes over rising rates. In a recent survey of almost 3,000
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
according to th e Federal Comm un ications Com m is sion . Increases were lowest in th e few markets with more than one cable comp any.
COMPARE PRICE & PROGRAMMING It can be hard to compa re pricing plan s from differ ent providers because of th e variations in chan nel lineups, surcharges for premium cha nn els, add -on fees, and more. Even th e packages and pr ices from a single com pany vary from market to ma rket. Limited- time promotions and bu ndl es add yet anoth er variable. Generally, pri ces for an expa nded basic package with HD seem to be in the sam e ballpark. Early in 2007, we checked rates for thr ee cable comp anies (Com cast, Cox, and Time Warner), the satellite providers DirecTV and Dish Network, and AT&T and Verizon. All had a m idrange HD package th at cost about $50 pe r month. (Hardware costs and othe r fees can jack up the total.) One sur prising way to keep costs down is to ask for a lower price. With com peti tion rising, your current provider mi ght be willing to negotiate if you seem ready to jump ship. Price isn't the on ly bon e of contention for con sum ers. Despite th e steady increase in H D availability, the re still isn' t en ou gh progra mming for HDTV own ers. Nearly 70 percent of the cable and satellite subscribers we surveyed cha racterized availability of HD content as average or poo r, and only 7 percent said it was excellent. By contrast, th e vast majori ty of respond ents were very satisfied with the quality of HD pro gram m ing th ey get via cable or satellite. Th ose
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Penn sylvania , Texas, and Virginia. AT&T 's U-verse serv ice was available in 21 metropolitan areas in California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, and Wiscon sin . The latest programming services' expansion is bein g slowed by the need to build the costly infra structure for the fiber-optic service. Also, like the cable companies, they must apply for a fran chise in each m arket. But th at's starting to change. Several states have
ming cha rge. Most DVRs record about 30 hours or so of HD (more of sta ndard-definition) on a hard dri ve. You can pau se and rewind, th en fast- forwa rd live TV or p revio usly recorded shows. DVRs have been run away hits, especially with HDTV owners. In our sur vey, 43 percent of cable and satellite users had on e. Renting gear rather than buying eliminates up front costs and fears that hardware you spen t hundreds on will soon be obsolete. But rental costs
First Thing ~ First
Choosing a TV service Find out which types of service are availa ble in your area, then make your choice.
Cable Pros No up-front costs. Basic digital cable can be the least expensive way (other than an antenna) to get HD. More options for bundling with Internet and phone service. Video on demand.
Cons Customers complain more about price hikes and
changes in channel lineup than satellite users. Only one provider in most markets. Bundled rates may require service commitment.
Sate llit e Pros Choice of two companies: Dish Network has most HD
Cons You might have to pay for hardware or instailation.
(30 channe ls ); DirecTV promises lOO-plus HD channels later this year. Higher customer satisfaction than with cable.
Requires a service commitment. Local channel s still not offered in a ll areas. No true video on dem and yet. The dish must have a n unobstructed viewto receive signals.
Fiber-opt ic (phone) TV Pros The biggest "pipe " into the home , with the potential to carry many HD channels. No up-front costs. Video on demand.
ConsumerReporls.org
Cons Available only in select markets , and expansion likely to be slow. Newcomer to the TV market; we have little data yet from users.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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up-front fee, typically $50 to $300, depending on the length of your commitment. (You might get it free as part of a prom ot ion .) That fee covers the receiver, dish, and installation. In some cases, there's a monthly cha rge for equipme nt, and you mu st return it at the end of your contract. You can also lease equipment from the phone com pani es. Verizo n charges $10 a mon th for an HD box an d $13 for one with a DVR. With AT&T, there's no separ ate hardware charge; it's bu ndled with service. Prog ram mi ng packages includ e one to th ree receivers. HD lineups. Cable an d satellite are about tied; satellite is coming on stro ng. Cha nne ls such as Discovery, ESPN, TN T, Universal, HD -only H DNet, and premium movie chan nels are offered by all th ree services. Man y cable companies also carry INH D, ano ther all-H D chan nel. Alm ost all cable com panies an d th e phone com pa nies pass along th e majo r-n etwo rk broadcasts that or iginat e in HD. Satellite offers local channel s to many but not all markets. Go to the satellite companies' Web sites and enter your ZIP code to see whethe r you can get local chan nels. Cable is still the on ly way to get local-access and com m un ity stations. Th at could be a cons idera tion if you enjoy watching schoo l sports, for examp le. Many m ajor cable compan ies offer up to 20 or 25 HD channels, including network channels, varying by m arket. Dish Network has mo re than 30 HD chan nels, includ ing niche HD cha nnels acquired from Voom . DirecTY has about 15 H D channels, includ ing the broadcast networks. At press time, the company an nounced it would have lOO-plus HD
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a month for local chan nels. Verizon's offerings include a 200-chan nel FiOS TV Prem ier package with almost 20 H D chan nels for $43 (plus $10 for the box, as no ted earlier). AT&T offers V-fami ly,with 50 family-or iented cha nnels plus seven H D channels for $44 a mon th, plus $10 a mo nt h for H D. Service bundles. Most digital-cable services offer "triple-plays" combi ning digital TV, digital pho ne, and broadb and Int erne t access at discounted rates. Most bundl es cost abo ut $100, usually for a one- year promo tio nal pe riod; pr ices rise after that. Besides getting a discount, you consolidate dealings and bills with one company. DirecTV and Dish Network don't have their own Interne t or ph on e service. Both of the satellite com panies have deals with EarthLin k and various phone compa nies to offer DSL Intern et access in certain areas.AT&T and Verizon are offering discoun ts when you sign up for some com bina tion ofTY, phone, an d Internet services. Sport s in HD. Satellite has the ultima te football fix. On e of the main reasons consumers go for big screens and H D is the desire for a virtua l front-row seat at sporting events. Cable, satellite, and pho ne com pan ies all offer regional spor ts channel s and spo rts packages, some in H D. Many football fans get DirecTV because it has NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan, with 150 HD game s a season for abo ut $350. Video on demand. Digital cable offers true video on dem and , includ ing H D, th rou gh digita l-cable boxes (bu t not CableCards). Yo u can ord er movies, spo rts events, an d shows from pre m ium cha nn els, suc h as HBO and Sho wtime, and wat ch th em
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ASING THE UT-OFF FROM A ALOG DIGI1 LTV The end of TV as we know it could be bumpy for traditional viewers - - - --
---- -- _._
he broadcast techn olo gy that carried America from "The Original Am ateur Hour" to "Ameri can Idol" is slated to disappear soon. In February, 2009, broadcasters must sh ut down thei r analog systems and transmit only digital TV signals to com ply with the Digital Television Trans ition and Public Safety ActOf2005. While this may sound cataclysmic, the end of analog broadcasts won't affect you in any way if yo u have a digital TV, either a hi gh-definition or standa rd-de finition m od el. You'll continue to get TV programming as yo u always have. Even if yo u have an olde r TV that's an ana log model, you sho uld n' t be affected if th e set is con nected to cable , satellite, o r telephone company TV service. Servic e providers are expected to support analog sets for some tim e after the transition. You will be affected if you have an analog TV th at gets over -the-air signal s via antenna. Your set will literall y go dark th e day analog signals cease. An estimated 20 million households get TV via antenna onl y, as d o millio ns more cable and satel lite subscribers wh o have secondary sets tha t rely on an antenna. To con tin ue using such TVs after Feb. 17,2009, you 'll ne ed to connect them to a set-top convert er box tha t will convert di git al signals received by th e an ten na into an anal og
T
.f
ConsumerReport s.org
form compatible wi th your older television. Digital converters are expec ted to cost about $60 wh en th ey hit th e m arket soo n, alth ough th e pr ice could drop as dem and inc reases closer to th e 2009 deadline. Uncle Sam will foo t part of the bill for the pur chase. Federal legislation allocates up to $1.5 billion to a program that will allow consumers two $40 coupons to buy converter boxes (the two coupon s cannot be combined to p urc hase one box ). While the initially allocated $990 mill ion is be ing used, all U.S. h ou seh old s are eligible for co u po ns. But eligibili ty narrows to o nly over-the-air hou se holds if the remaini ng $5 10 mi llion allocat ed is needed. Consumers m ust req uest the coup ons fro m Jan. 1,2008 throu gh March 31, 2009; coupons will expire three months after they're issued. Consumers Un ion , th e nonprofit publish er of CONSUMERREpORTS,find s little to applaud in th e cou pon progr am , which senior poli cy an alyst Jeannine Kenney describes as "underfunded:' She adds, "Unless Co ngress revisits the struc ture and fund ing of th e coupo n program, the digital tran si tion will be not jus t an annoyance to consumers, it will be a finan cial burden as well, undermin ing the likelihood that th e 2009 transition deadlin e will be met."
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The end is near, but only analog TVs connected to off-air antennas will be cut off from programs.
ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 2008
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built in to th e TV or atta ched to it externally. All new TVs now being sold contain this type of tuner; m ost are high-definitio n sets, but th ere are also some stand ard-definition digital TVs in th e picture-tube category. OlderTVs mayor may no t con tain a digital tuner. With tho se TVs, you'd need to run the an tenna feed through a digital converter box before connect ing it to your TV. Th at would enable you to receive digital bro adcasts, but th ey will be converted to th e lower-q uality analog signals your TV can process . Even with a box, your analog set won't display HDTV. If you have an an alog TV tha t's connected to cable, satellite, or fiber-optic TV service from th e ph one company, you should see no change in your reception. Check out reception. Th e number of statio ns you can receive digitally where you live, and how well th ey come in, will obviously figure heavily in your decision. To find ou t about digital TV sta tions in your area, visit www.jcc.govlmblvideolfi1esldtvonair .html. You'll have th e best shot at receiving digital tr an sm issions if the re's a clear p ath to a station's
.,1':..
direct.comlantenna_resellers.html. The do -it-yourselfer can download a useful guid e on installing an outdoor TV antenna from www .solidsignal.com ImanualslAntlnstallGuide.pdj You m ay also find a professional an tenna inst aller in your area on th e H om eblue Contractor Network site: www. home blue.comlelectrical-l-a ntenna.htm. or on your local Craigslist. Goonline for more digital TV transition information. Othe r useful onlin e resources that can help you m ake th e tran sition from an alog to di gital TV include th e Digital TV Tran sition Coalit ion , a diverse gro up of TV and cons ume r electronics industry associations dedicated to educating consu mers (www.dtvtransition.org), and the FCC's DTV Home page (www.dtv.gov). You can phone in questions about digital TV to th e FCC's toll-free Consu mer Center at 888-CALL FCC (888-225-5322) .
sumerReports.arg I THE LATEST TV RATINGS ONLINE
This year's newest TV models ' were introduced too late for us to test in time for publication of this buying guide. You'll find up-to-date Ratings and recommendations for LCD, plasma, rear-projection, front projector, and picture-tube TVs at wWw.ConsumerReports.org.
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to learn more abo ut anten na installation services. Antenn as Direct provides a listing of resellers and installers aro un d the countr y at its site: www.antennas
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
Television-model Ratings can be accessed from the main Electronics & Computers page by clicking on the TVtype you're conside ring in the TV Decisions Guide listings, and se lecting Ratings on the TV tech nology's ' home page. Online Ratings are usually
available onlyto subscribers , but readers of t his book ca n obtain a 3Q-dayfree sub scr ip tion to the entire CONSUMER REPORTS Web s ite. Look on the ins ide front cover of th is guide for details on how you can take advan . tage of this offer.
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Laptop portability and wireless connectivity let you take computing power wherever you go.
And a growing interest in wireless computing plays to the laptop's main strength: its portability. A laptop is the most convenient way to take full advantage of th e growing availability of high speed, wireless Internet access at airpo rts, schools, hotels, restaura nts, and coffee sho ps. Most lapt ops now have wireless networkin g capab ility built in and deliver com me ndably long battery life. Th e thinnest laptops on the mar ket are less than an inch thick and weigh just 3 to 5 pounds. But to get th ese light , sleek models , you'll have to pay a p remium and make some sacrifices in performance, screen size, and feature s. A deskt op computer typically costs less for
Toshiba are th e leadin g Wind ows laptop brands. Apple makes Mac OS MacBook and MacBook Pro models. Laptop s can be grou ped int o several basic configura tions: Budget models. These have slower pro cessors and fewer features than oth ers but are suitable for ro utine office work and hom e software. Price: $1,000 or less. Workhorse models. These have faster processors and more bu ilt-in devices, so there 's less need for externa l attachments. Th ey also have larger screens and enhanced sound and video com pon ents for home-entertainment uses. Th ey're not lightweight or battery-efficient eno ugh for frequ ent travelers. Price: $ 1,000 and up. Slim-and-Iiqht models. These are for travelers. The y are about an inch thick and weigh abou t 3 to 4 pou nd s. Som e require an external drive to read DVDs or burn CDs. Price: $1,000 and up. Tablet-style. These sit in your hand like a clip board and have handw ritin g-recognition software. Some convert to a "no rmal" laptop with a keyboard. Price: $1,300 and up .
FEATURES THAT COUNT Laptops generally com e with a single- or dual -core processor. Cheape r lapt ops come with a single-core processor such as the Intel Celeron or AMD Sernpron, which are fine for basic Web browsing and e-mai l. For those with greater needs, dual -core proc essors such as the Int el Core Duo and AMD Turion 64 X2 are recommend ed. Laptops com e with a 40- to 250-gigabyte hard
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pare them down), but they might not feel as solid. Some laptops haveextra button s to expedite your accessto e-mail or a Web browser, or to control DVD playback. You can attach a USB keyboard, which you might find easier to use. A 14- to IS-inch display, measured diagonally, should suit most people. Displays that are 17 inches are becoming more common. A resolution of 1,280x800 (WXGA) pixels (picture elements) or more is better than 1,024x768 (XGA) for viewing the fine detail in photographs or video, but it might shrink objects on the screen.You can usc settings in Windows to make them larger. Many models are now offered with a display that has a glossysurface instead of a matte one. Those look better in bright,
n
connect an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, network, and power in one step. Most laptops let you attach those devices anyway, without the docking station. At least two USB ports, for easyhookup of, say, a printer,digital camera, or scanner, is standard. A wired network (Ethernet) port is common, as is a FireWire port for digital video transfer.An internal wireless-network(Wi-Fi) adapter isstandard.Another option is an internal Bluetooth wireless adapter to link to a cell phone or another laptop. For backing up files or transferring them to other computers,you can use a USB memory drive (about $20 and up), which fits on a keychain and holds as much data as a CD- R, or savefiles on a writeable CD
Which is right for you-a laptop or desktop? Laptop computers
Pros Laptops can do anyth ing that desktops can do, plus they can be carried anywhere and easily tucked away when not in use. According to our reliability surveys, laptops are about as repai r-prone as desktops.
Cons Laptops' cost more than comparab ly
equipped desktop models. Many components
and add-ons are costly to repai r. They're easy to
steal and at greate r risk of damage.
Price $500 to $3,0 00 plus.
Desktop computers Pros They start at a lower price. Dollar for dollar, they generally offer more than laptop s in terms of hard-drive capacity and sound quality. They also have more option s for expansion and
are less costly to repair. They allow for a more
ergonomically correct work environmen t.
ConsumerReports.orq
Cons They take up a lot of desk space,
even with a thi n LCD monito r.
Price $400 to $3.000 plus.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 53
ware but financial data, medical records, even your ident ity. More dist urbing still, wit h wireless connections, your dat a can be compromised even if your laptop never leaves your hands. Here are a few soluti ons to consider:
PHYSICAL SECURITY Invest In a lock. Industry standard locking cables tet her your computer to a desk or othe r stationa ry object. Most cost about $20 to $ 70 and use thr ee- or four-digit comb ination dials or hard to-crack cylindrical key locks. More-expensive models might add feat ures such as an audible alarm. Register your notebook. If you fill out the warranty card, the manufa cturer will have a record of ownersh ip. Consider registeri ng with property-p rotection programs, typi cal ly offered by university polic e, insu rance agenc ies, and credit-card companies. Install tracking software. A few companies offer un erasable programs that will secretly send a coded signal wit h location informati on to a cent ral computer when the laptop connects to th e Internet. Service sta rts at about $50 per year. Note
54
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
DATA SECURITY Lock down boot-up. You can set your laptop to prompt for a password before loading the operat ing system (generally by hittin g F2 when you see the brand logo at sta rt-up or by using Windows' configuration util ity). Choose a "st rong" password made up of letters , numb ers, and symbols. Use encryption software. This type of program scrambles data on your hard drive. To access files , you must enter a password or plug in a "token," a device that decrypts files. Consider biometrics. Bio met ric security devices such as fin gerprint scanner s allow only aut horized users (those with fingerprint patterns regis tered in the system 's memo ry) to use the computer. Some laptops have built-in scanners. External fin gerprint scanners, which often include built-in stor age, plug into a USB port on any laptop . WIRELESS SECURITY Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connections can be hijacked by passersby who want entry into your laptop or network for nefarious purposes. To protect yourself: Enable encryption on your router. Turning on t he "Wi-F!
ELECTRONI CS BUYING GUIDE 20 0 8
soft ware "key" to connect to your wireless home network and compute rs on it. Change the default pass wor d and router names. Manuf actur ers set a defa ult password and router nam e. Change both to protect your network from being hijacked. Turn on your router's MAC filtering. Every computer on a network has a unique Media Access Control (MAC)address. By sett ing t he router to allow connections only from your own MAC addresses, you block entry to your networ k and Internet connect ion. Use a firewall program. In addition to using your router's protection, it's wise to use soft ware th at will monitor data t raff ic and detect suspicious act ivity, Mac OS X has a basic one-way firewall built in. That protects you from incoming threats but won't monitor out bound traffi c. So if the re's malware on your system, th at fi rewall won't stop it from send ing out your keystrokes or data. Windows Vista has a two-way firewall, but we didn 't fin d it very effect ive out of the box. Third-party programs, some f ree, offer added layers of pro tection, with two-way security. Be wary of Wi-Fi hot spots. Clever data thieves can create
clones of legiti mate, for-pay Wi-Fi services to grab your credit card info when you try to log in at a public spot. If you must use a public Wi-Fi hot spot, you might want to avoid logging in to sensit ive sites your company's network, say and limit connection ti me to a min imum . Turn off transm itters when you're not using Wi-Fi. You'll conserve battery power. Present a "peerless" PC. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be used in peer-to-peer modes th at allow anoth er computer to connect to yours on a one to-one basis. Consult your operatin g system 's manuals on how to disable ad-hoc netwo rking. If your laptop has Bluetooth , t he manual should tell you how to modify automatic pairing, discovery, and visibility settings.
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Readers report
on about 50,100
laptop computers
This graph shows the percentage of the following brands
of com puters bought between 2002 and 2006 that
have been repai red or had a serious problem. Differ
ences of less than 3 points are not meaningful for
laptops. Models within a brand might vary, and changes in design or manufactu re might affect reliability. Still, choosing a brand wit h a good repair history can improve your odds.
20%
25%
Data are based on more than 50,10 0 responses to
our Annual Product Reliability Survey, conduct ed
by the Consumer Reports Nat ional Resear ch Center.
Dat a have been adjust ed t o eli minate diff erences
solely linked to t he age and use of the product.
DESKTOP COMPUTERS: POWERFUL & CHEAP Tech support, reliability can help you decide which model to choose
T
he desktop comp uter has become just another applianceyou use every day. Replacement sales -not first-time purchases-now drive the com puter market. Fullyloaded desktops sellingfor less than $700 are comm on, even among established brands. When choosing a model, it's hard to go too far wrong; the performanc e of today's computers is routinely quite high across brands. With perform ance so consistently high among all types of compute rs, differencesin manufacturers' technical support matt er more than ever.Repair
ConsumerReports.org
rates for computers are higher than for most prod ucts we track, according to CONSUMERREpORTS' Annual Questionnaire. Technicalsupport might be a deciding factor in which manufacturer gets your business. It remains a hot-button issue,judging from our latest subscriber survey of computer users.Apple has kept its lead (though it offers telephone support free for only 90 days after purchase), while other brands continue to show only so-so performance and face some chronic support woes.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONI CS BUYIN G GUIDE 2008
55
No matter what the price, the basics remain the same for a new desktop syst em: computer tower, keyboard , mouse, monitor, and speakers.
Our subscribe rs still say that tech suppor t is dis mal. The m ost serious com plaint from ou r An nual Qu estionnaire was that the support peop le sim ply coul dn 't solve pro blems. Major com plain ts abo ut ph one support included being kept on hold too long , being bou nced around am on g sup port staff, and com mu nication problems. Sup port via e-mail or the manufacturer's Web site was also lacking. Live chat online sup por t was problematic, too. In fact, your best bet might be to pay for in depe n dent tech support, as our latest sur vey discovered (see "Tech supp ort can come from many so urces;' page 61.)
WHAT'S AVAILABLE There are eight major b rands of desktop s to choose from . Com puters from Dell, Compa q, eMachines, Gateway (which owns eMachines), HP (which own s Compaq), Lenovo (for me rly bra nd ed as IBM), and Sony all use Microsoft's Windows operating system . Dell owns the high -end gaming brand Alienware, and H P owns Voodo opc. Apple is the sole maker of Macinto sh models. Newer Macs are able to run Windows as well as Apple's own as X. Many small mail- order an d store br and s also cater to bu dget min ded bu yers. Price: $400 to $3,000.
FEATURES THAT COUNT The processor houses the "brains" of a com puter. Its clock speed, measur ed in gigahe rtz (GHz), and th e chip's design, termed "architecture;' deter mine how fast it can proc ess information. Within a processor
56
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRON ICS BUYINGGUIDE 200B
memory, the memory the computer uses while in op eration. Mem ory upgrades are not expensive. CONSUMER REPORTS recom m ends at least 1 gigabyte (a GB equals l,024MB ) for anyon e using Microsoft's recently int roduced Windows Vista operat ing system. (We also recommend 1GB of RAM for Mac as x users.) Vista is available in several versions with different hard ware req uireme nts. Vista Basic leaves out several features we liked in this software. Vista Ultimate is costlier, with more feat ures tha n most hom e users need. We recommend Home Premium as the right Vista version for most home uses. Video RAM, also meas ure d in meg abytes, is secondary RAM that works with the graphics processor to provide smoo th video imagin g and gam e play. Garners might want a dedicated grap hics processor with 128M B or 256M B of me mor y. The hard drive is your computer's lon g-term dat a storage system. Given the disk-space require me nts of today's games, digital ph otos, and video files, bigger is better. Sizes com monly ran ge from 120GB to 750GB. For removable sto rage, standa rd gear is the DVD writer, which also lets you transfer home-video foota ge to a DVD disc, or store as much data as six CDs. Budget desktop mod els might have a CD- RW (CD-rewriteable)IDVD combo drive that lets you create backup files or make music com pilations on a com pact disc, as well as play but not record DVDs. The newest options are high-definition disc drives, capable of playing either Blu-ray or HD DVD discs. There are three comp eting, incompatible DVD formats-DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM as well as drives that can create du al-layer OVOs that
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spyware, hackers, and spam , Vista has several new security features. Windows Defender is an antispyware application. There's a two-way fi rewall, although we found its outbound blocking to be not very effective out of the box. And there's User Account Control . (UAC), which tries to prevent rogue soft ware from seizing your computer by asking you-via a pop-up window-to approve all actions it deems insecu re. This feat ure has some drawbacks , though. If you find the UAC pop-ups too frequent and annoy ing (Apple has released a TV commercial mocking them), you might turn them off , thereby defeating their purpose. And, since it's all too tempting to give your approval habitually, you might find yourself allow ing an action that you would have wanted to block. To address the popularity of digital photography, audio, and video, Vista has lots of new options for creating and organ izing music, photos, and video. Windows Photo Gallery, fo r example , lets you sort pictures by date taken , by ratings you give the photos , or by categories such as landscape or ocean. You can now edit and burn DVDs with Windows Movie Maker and DVD Maker. The recently overhauled Windows Media Center (which you can download free if you' re still using Windows XP) has more features than Apple's Front Row but isn't compat ible with iTunes. Vista has a new feature to speed up performan ce called ReadyBoost. You can
ConsumerReporl s.orq
to a faster processor, more memory, or other hardware improvements over your old computer. Some garners, though , may be dis appointed to learn t hat 3D games like Quake4 ran noticeabl y slower with Vista than with XP.
PC BUYING TIPS If you buy a budget compute r with less than 1GB of RAM, you should probably add more memo ry. The lowest-priced budget PCs come equipped with Vista Basic (which is fully fun ctional, but lacks a few of the bells and whistles of Vista Home Premium and costs about $40 less), but only 512MB of RAM. Vista runs slower on systems with so little RAM. Our informal tests showed that upping the memory on such a computer to 1GB (Which costs about $50) , applications loaded twice as quickly. The initial speed of a PCwith 512MB might improve slightly over time, as Vista optimizes the way it moves often-used applications into memory. But you're bette r off adding the extra memory and doing away with the . problem altogethe r. For your computer to have enough horsepower to last three or four years, get a dual-core processor, such as Intel's Pentium 0 and Core Duo, or AMD's Athlon 64 X2. You might also consider Intel's newest du al-core processor, the Core 2 Duo. (Most current processors-including the older single-core AMD Athlon 64 , Turion 64 , and Sempron, as well as the Intel Celeron
typical home-eomputing tasks , but a few years from now, they might feel wimpy, as your needs and those of newer soft ware grow.) If you're especially power hungry, look for quad-eore processors, which are also beginning to show up in systems. Few applications take advantage of those yet. If you're a 3D gaming fan , look for a system with a dedicated graphics card. In our tests , desktops with the alternative, integrated graphics , were only fa ir at run ning games such as Call of Duty 2 and Quake 4. Integrated graphics do, however, have sufficient power to run Aero, the 3D interface in Vista Premium and Ultimate. If you use security applications, such as ant ivirus and antispyware, you might need to upgrade them to Vista-eompatible versions. Some publishers will upgrade you for free if you're a current subscriber. In addition, many older programs could require you to download a patch in order to run on Vista. For gaming, we found minimal com patibility problems on the eight popular games we played on Vista systems . Seven of the eight, including Call of Duty 2, Halo, Madden 07, and Quake 4 , ran normally, but Civilization IV experienced compatibility issues. Before buying a Vista PC, make sure drivers for your printe r, scanner, and othe r periphe rals are Vista-compatible, or that Vista-compatibl e drivers are available online . Otherwise, you might not be able to use the device with your new compute r.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 57
On your next desktop computer, look for front connectors for photo memory, audio, and video Input s.
58
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
store twice as mu ch. Some drives can write in mor e than one form at, but all can create a disc that will play on stand-alone DVD players. Now arri ving: DVD burners designed for high-d efinition video, which will allow storing 15GB or more on a disc. We recom mend waitin g until th e two competing version s-Blu-rayand HD DVD-sort out their differences. Many PCs now come with a memory-card reader that can also serve for file transfer. You can also get external drives or use a USB memory key to copy files from the hard dri ve. Th e computer's flat-p anel liquid-crystal display (LCD) or increasingly rar e cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor contains the display screen and rend ers the images sent from the graphics proc essor-internal circuitry that creates the images. Monitors come in sizes (measured diagon ally) ran ging from 15 to 21 inch es and larger. Sevente en- and 19-inch LCD monitors are common. LCD displays are now the mo st popular, taking up less space and using less power than CRTs. Better LCD displays can use a Digital Video Interface (DVl) connection, foun d on newer PCs. You might obtain a deep discount on an LCD monitor by bu ying it bundled with a new computer at a manufacturer's Web site.Apple's iMac comes with a built-in monitor, while its Mac Mini doesn't have one . All computers have a graphics adapter, which is inte grated on the motherboard or on a separate, internal plug-in card. In addition to feeding the
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
on top of or under a desk. More expensive machines have a mid tower, which has extra room for upgrades such as addit ional hard drives. A microtower is a space-saving alternative but has less room inside for upgrading. AlI-in-one computers, such as the Apple iMac, have no tower ; everyt hing but the keyboard and mouse is built into the monitor. Apple's Mac Pro line of computers has a tower.Apple's desktop model, the Mac Mini , has a space-saving design that puts everything but the mon itor, keyboard, and mouse in a case about the size of a hardcover book. Some Macs includ e a built -in video cam era. An "entertainment PC"--one with a TV tuner built in-comes in a case that is more like an audio or video component, made to fit in with other home-entertainment hardware. It usually includes a rem ote control. A mouse, a small device that fits under your hand and has a "tail" of wire that connects to the computer)moves the cursor (the pointer on the screen) via a rolling ball or a light sensor on its underside. Altern ative input devices include a trackball) which is rolled with the fingers in the direction you want the cursor to go; a pad , which lets you move the cursor by sliding a finger; a tablet, which uses a penlike stylus for input; and a game pad, used to play computer games. Most com puters come with a standard keyboard, alth ough you can also bu y one separa tely. Some keyboards have CD (or DVD) controls to pause, play back, cha nge track s, and so on. Some also have additional keys to facilitate gettin g online) startin g a search, launching pro grams, or retrieving e-mail. There are also wireless keyboards and mice that give
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or IEEE 1394 ports are used to capture vid eo fro m digital camcorder s and connect to oth er periph eral devices. An S-video or HDMI ou tp ut jack lets you run a video cable from th e computer to a television , so you can use th e computer's DVD d rive to view a movie on a TV instead of on the com puter mon itor. Media-center PCs (eq uipped with TV tu ners) can also captu re video from a VCR and copy tapes to DVDs.
word processing, and Web surfin g. You can also do photo editing. Workhorse computers cost a few hundred dollars more but are faster and mo re versatile. They can run complex 3D games and edit video. Upgra dab ility is another reason to opt for a workhorse com puter. If you down load or record music or video regularly and don't copy it to CDs, DVDs, or a portable device, you'll eventually fill a budget mo del's modest hard drive.All-in-one
Extending your home network: Wall socket heats Wi-Fi If your wireless home network has t rouble reaching far-flung parts of t he house, you might want to upgrade to one of t he new routers that use a wireless protocol known as 802.11n (they're somet imes labeled "draft n compliant "). Makers of th ose routers claim they will cover an area of your house four to 10 ti mes larger than those that use the older standard, 802 .11g. They also claim that the new routers are 12 to 15 t imes faster, a capability that would be important only to the relatively small number of home network users who routin ely beam audio, video, or large fil es from room to room. When we tested several new routers, we found t hey didn't live up to eith er of t he manufact urers' claims, delivering only a few more feet of coverage than older models and beaming data just two to three t imes faster. Stil l, that's enough speed to move media and large files from one
Consum erRep orls.org
computer to anot her if you need to. Fort unately, we found an alternative t hat's cheaper and will extend your network to any room with a power out let. Known as a power-line adapter, wit h the new, faster capabilities called HomePlug AV, it uses your home's elec t rical lines to transfer data from room to room. Three of the four adapters we tested were faster tha n 802.11n products. The downside: They're not as mobile as wireless networks. Despite not living up to manufacturers' claims, 802 .11 n networks are better th an t he older sta ndard for tasks t hat require more spe ed, such as beam ing
movies to a set-top box or moving large
fi les aro und. If you're already in th e
market for a new wireless router,
consider bulking up for those applications
with one th at confo rms to 802.1 1n. One
of these plus a wire less card (you need
a card for all compu ters afte r th e f irst one) can run $225 to $25 0 , compa red with $80 to $110 for si milar products based on th e old sta nda rd. The best per former in t he group we tested was the Net gear WNR8 34B Range-Max Next Wireless N Router and WN511b PC Card. Its spee d was very good , and t he router/ card combo was well-priced, at $225 . If you need speed and a wider range for your netw ork, powerline adapte rs are th e better choice, and t hey cost less at $160 to $200.
A 802.11n
wireless router.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRO NICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 59
antispyware software th at will work (and can be updated) for at least a year.When comp aring computer pr ices, consider any other necessary software as addi ng to true cost, though you might A camera for find that m ost of your needs are served by free video phoninq software (see "Freeware: No cost, but worth (atop the screen); plenty?" on page 71). Apple adds yet another built-In Consider security. Security might not be fore feature to desktop mos t in your mind when you're shop ping for a computers. computer, bu t it should play a part in you r decision . Your choice of hardwar e and software can affect your ability to deflect intruders and defend your data. Viruses and spyware are far m ore likely to tar get Windows PCs than Macs. The new Win dows Vista has tighter securit y th an XP, but it's too new to kno w how mu ch less vuln er able it will ult imately be. If you opt for a Windows PC, you should use antivirus , firewall, and (for Win dows ) antispyware programs. Man y computers DESKTOP COMPUTERS include software such as Norton Intern et Fewer More Secur ity or McAfee Security Center, but
repa irs __1 - - - - repairs thos e are often limited to 30 to 90 days
Apple of use. Upgrade and update those starter Sony Dell packages as nec essary or replac e them to This graph shows t he percent age of the maintain protection over the long haul.
Compaq
following brand s of computers bought Skip the extended warranty. A sub eMachines bet ween 2002 and 2006 t hat have scriber survey found that the cost of a
HP been repaired or had a serious probl em .
service contract was not much less than Gateway Differe nces of less than 4 point s are not the average repair cost. That mean s you 0% 5% 10% 1 5% 20% 25% meaningful for desktops. Mod els within
might be better off paying for repairs out a brand might vary, and cha nges in
Data are based on more tha n 77,70 0 responses to of your own pocket. design or manufacture might affect relia our Annual Product Reliability Surv ey, conducted bility. Still , choosing a brand with a good by the Consumer Reports Nati onal Research Cent er. For Apple computers sold with a short Dat a have been adju st ed to elimi nate differ ences repair histo ry can improve your odds. solely linked t o th e age and use of t he product. phone-tech-support limit, you might want to con sider an extend ed service plan. th e crowd. And some bran ds are generally mo re expensive than others. Those factors could help you decide which of two similarly equipped computers is the better buy. Choose between preconfigured and custom built. You can bu y a PC off the shelf in a sto re or via the Web confi gured with features and optio ns the m anufacturer pitches to average con sumers. But you might also consider purchasing a desktop th at you confi gur e to ord er, either onl ine or in a store. Wh en you configure a comp uter to order online, onscreen menus typically show you the op tio ns and let you see how a change in one affects the over all price. Be sur e to review your cho ices before ord ering and look for un wanted item s that
Readers report on about 7T,700 desktop computers
60
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
We d rew those co nclusio ns from our first sur vey to rate both ind ependent and manufacturer tech suppo rt, in which the Consume r Reports Natio nal Research Cen ter surveyed more th an 23,000 users. Independ ent services trounced all Windows PC manufacturers, who solved a meas ly 59 percent of probl ems. Free ma nufacture r suppo rt was often abysmal, succeed ing only 53 percent of the tim e. Extra-cos t extended warra nties had a slightly higher success rate, 62 percent , but no fewer hassles. By contrast, indep end ent tech-support services affiliated with major retail chai ns, such as Best Buy's Geek Squad and Circuit City's Firedog, solved 84 percent of users' problems with Windows-based PCs. Other third part ies offering in-home and ph on e support (and som etimes online aid) solved fully 93 percent of probl ems. Independents also had more knowledgeable staff and better phone respon siveness than computer makers did. Good help can cost a pretty penny, th ough. More than half the survey respondent s who used indepen dent services spent S100 or more. If th e situat ion isn't urgent, you might as well try free manu factur er support for computers still und er warranty. (See "Manufacturer support: Worth a try?" on page 62.) Th at's especially true for two manufacturers that stood head and sho ulders above the rest: Apple and Lenovo. Both solved 80 percent of problems, comparing favorably with independents. Even if your warra nty has expired, you might be able to get help from Web sites that offer free advice and tools. See"Help yourself to free tech supp ort," on page 64.
Consum erjeepcrts.orq
WHEN TO HIRE A PRO Of users who contacted any type of inde pendent su ppor t, 69 per cent were highl y satisfied vs. 42 percent of those who used manu facturer sup port. Satisfactio n rates reflect cost and promptness as well as problem-s olving skills. Consider the followin g: The source of t he problem isn't obvious. Most manufacturers look only at the preinstalled hardware and software covered by the original warranty. Inde pend ent s go beyond that, evaluatin g your whole setup, includ ing peripherals, networks, applications, and the software drivers on your system . If the prob lem doesn 't clearly lie with the original setup, an independent is more likely to solve it.
Computer fix: Independent tech support might be your best bet, although it might cost you more.
A virus or spyware might be t o blam e. If
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 61
to get results from t hose computer makers for whom we had
suffi cient data. (Comments apply to desktop and laptop supp ort
unles s noted.)
APPLE
I Any means. Users were equally satisfied with phone, Web site, e-mail, or chat for I contact ing the company, I
I and problems were solved about
18 hO pehrcent of the timhe no matte r ow t ey got in touc .
Apple is miserly; phone support is free only for 90 days. Because of that, consider buying a thre e-year AppleCare plan ($169 for iMacs; $249 to $349 for laptop support). If there 's an Apple store nearby, you can get free support at its Genius Bar. Apple also offers phone help at $49 per incident.
I COMPAQ/HP
I I
Online chat for both brands-whi ch share ownership and tech-support agents and policies. HP says it trie s to respond to chat messages insta ntly.
Offers a remote-access su pport program called Instant Care (f ree with all warrantie s). If your PC is out of warranty, you can buy SmartFriend minutes-$60 for 45 minutes, $100 for 75 minutes-for hardware and software phone help. Minutes expire in six months. New laptops and desktops include HP Total Care Advisor, softw are t hat tra cks your syste m's heait h.
Phone or online chat.
Recentl y simplified hardwa re-warranty phone suppo rt. Now the re's a number for high-end XPS systems, and another for other systems . Web-based support pages, including forums , have been organized by system, and a remot e-access assis tance program has been launched .
I
I
DELL
GATEWAY
Callin g is better th an conta ctin g
I throu gh the Web site .
All support has been based in North America since June 2006. More parts are now user-replaceable .
iBM/LENOVO
I I
Phone.
Consider buying an extended warranty on a Lenovo laptop. Survey respondents who had purchased an extended warranty had an overall satisfact ion score of 67 (out of 100), and thei r problems were solved 80 percent of the t ime. That makes Lenovo a viable alternative to thi rd-party support.
Calling is better than contacting through t he Web site.
Service on the products under warranty is free. Other services Include a $20 memory upgrade and "system boost" for $40.
SONY
I
62 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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a probl em if someone removes a virus or adds a softwa re firewall. Call the com puter company if you're un sure.
nationwide. Most location s charge flat rates, from $99 for home service includ ing diagnostics and 15 minutes of repairs.
Tech support:Who helps best The Consumer Reports Nati onal Research Center surveyed CONSUMER REPORTS subscribers on the ir most recent experienc es with technical support from independent services and computer manufa ct urers. The survey covered Sept ember 2005 through J anuary 2007. In th e charts below th e reader score would be 100 if everyone was satis fied ; 8 0 would mean respondents were very sati sfied, on average; 60, fairl y well sat isf ied. Diff erences of fewer than 6 point s
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are not meaningful. Solved problem indic at es how many peo ple said t he manu facturer solved t heir problem. Waiting on phone refers to ti me waiting and other phone-system problem s. Support staff is primarily based on how know ledgeable phone represen tatives seemed and wheth er th ey commu nicat ed clear ly. Because of difference s in meth odol ogy, the two char ts are not dir ectly com parable.
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ConsumerReports.orq
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 63
remove virus es an d spyware, $80 to get a wireless network running, and $50 for PC setu p.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Walk-In service at a nearby retailer can be convenient. The Geek Squad technicians at Best Buy stores also make house calls.
Firedog (wwwfiredog.com). Circu it City's service offers in-horne, in- store, phone, and remote-access support. House calls cost $160 an hour. You can also pay per incident for services such as data m igra tion (moving data from on e computer to ano the r) , dri ve installation, PC setup, and wireless-n etwork setu p. Prices ran ge from $15 for an in -store PC du st rem oval to 5230 for in- ho rne data m igration ,
If your com puter starts actin g up, try th ese steps to get it back in business: Consider free support first. It's possible that free tech suppo rt from the m anufacturer can solve your problem with out costing you a cent. Th ere's no harm trying that first if your system is still un der warr anty and the problem do esn't seem too complex. Check the reputation. If free sup p ort isn' t an op tion you can or want to use, then it's time to pay for assistance. Be choosy abo ut lettin g strangers tinker with your computer. Before allowing anyo ne into your hom e or giving anyone rem ote access to your computer, make sur e th e provider is reputable. Consult the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Also see whether the company
Help yourself to free tech support Here's how to ta ke advantage of free online support: Try the mother ship. For Windows-related problems , subs cribe bye-mail to th e msn ews.microsoft. com newsgroup, or check Microsoft's Knowledge Base at support.microsoft.com. Apple's list of user discussions can be found at discussions. apple. com. Check out user groups. You'll f ind thousand s of groups for Mac and Windows users at groups.yahoo.com and at gro ups.goog/e.com . Look for groups with fr eque nt post ln gs. Don 't worry abo ut the number of membe rs. Windo ws
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users can try WUGNET (Windows Users Group Network), at ww w.w ugne t.com. Download free tools. Free analyzers at www.pcpitstop.com test your hard drive, rate your PC's performance, and look for spyware. If the analysis turns up problems you can't fix on your own, you can pay to have t hem corrected. If your system is loaded with unused and temporary files, CCleaner (www.cc/eaner. com) will clean them up.
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Third party
93%
Retailer
84
Manufacturer
59
you p urchase. PC Pinpoint guarantees work done under its single-use services for seven days and und er an nual subscrip tions for 30 days. PlumChoi ce guar antees its work for five days, and 1 800 905 Geek for 10 days.
MO ITOR PRICES DROP
& SCREENS GET BIGGER
LCDs are most popular, but CRT monito rs may offer advantages
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n computer monitors, as in TVs, models using LCD technology are becoming bigger, cheaper, and more dominant in the marketp lace. Industry watchers repo rt that the vast m ajority of monitors sold in the past year were lightweight , flat-panel LCD d isplays. Th ey're largely replacing heavy, tubby CRT displays, which take up much mo re desk space. Alon g with the trend toward thin displays, the re's a move to bigger screen s. You 'll find more LCD models with 19-inch and larger screen s. Most of th ese larger LCD displays have the wide-screen shape that 's in creasingly fami liar from high -defin ition TVs. Th e extra real estate offered by a large wid e screen is hand y for many uses, including watching DVD m ovies, viewing and editing pho tos, runni ng multiple programs, surfing the Web, an d playing video games.
Con sumerReports.orq
Prices continue to fall, even on LCDs with bigger screens. If you're buyin g a moni tor bundled with a new computer, as many consumers do, you can often up grade from the standard display to a bigger one for a mod est amount-$50 to $150 or so.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Apple, Dell, eMachines (which merge d with Gate way in 2004), Gateway, H P (which merged with Compaq in 2002), Lenovo, and Sony all m arket their own monitors for their comp uters. Ot her brands of mon itors, such as Acer, Envision , KDS, LG, NEC, Samsung, ViewSonic, and Westingho use, are sold separately. Many of these companies don't make their own monitors but buy them from outside sources an d put th eir own brand label on them.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
Did you know? Flat-panel displays use less power and emit less heat than old-style CRT monitors.
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With an LCD mon itor, the nominal image size an d th e viewable-im age size (VIS) are the same. That sets th em apa rt from CRT mo nito rs, which offer a bit less screen space than the size suggests. Desktop LCDs that measure 17 or 19 inches diagon ally weigh aro und 15 pounds, com pared with 30 to 50 po unds for a CRT. LCD s with a screen 20 inch es or larger are increas ingly available. Wide-screen LCDs, specially designed for watching wide-fo rmat videos, are also available. Thes e screens have an aspect ratio of 16:9, such as those found on mo st digital TVs. Flat-pan el displays deliver a very clear im age, bu t they have some quirks. Their range of color is a bit narr ower th an a CRT's. Also, you have to view a flat pane l screen str aight on to get op tim al im age quality. The pictur e can lose con trast as yo u m ove off-center, and fine lines mig ht appear gra iny.That's an issue m ainly if several people will be lookin g at th e screen sim ultaneo usly. It's not a big con cern if one user is sitting directly in front of th e display. Most LCD mo nito rs in our recent tests had a wider viewing angle th an we've seen in th e past. Price: $150 and up for 17-inch; $200 and up for 19-inch ; $250 and up for 20-inch ; and $300 an d up for 22-inch. Th ere are fewer CRTs available, m ost m easuring 17 to 22 inches. But that's the diagonal measurem ent of the picture tube; viewable-im age size is usually an inch sm aller. Thus a 17-inc h CRT has a 16-inch VIS. As a result of a class-action lawsuit, ads m ust state a CRT's VIS as well as its nominal im age, but yo u m ight have to squ in t at the fine print to find it. Gen erally, th e bigger the screen, the more roo m a CRT takes up on your desk, with depth rou ghly matching
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1400x l 050, 1440x900, or 1680x1050 wide-screen resoluti on for a 17-, 19-, 20-, or 22-inch model. On both types of monitor, the higher the resolution , the sm aller the text and ima ges, so mo re conten t fits on th e screen. Dot pitch , mea sur ed in m illime ters, is th e spacing between a CRT's pixels. If all else is equal, a smaller do t pitch produces a more detailed image, though it's no guarantee of an excellent picture. In general, avoid m odels with a dot pitch larger than 0.28 mm. A CRT requires a h igh re fresh rate (the number of tim es per second an image is redr awn on the screen) to avoid annoying ima ge flicker. In gen eral, you'll be more comfo rtable with a 17-inch m onitor with a refresh rate of at least 75 hertz (Hz ) at th e resolution you wan t. For a 19-inch monitor, you might need an 85Hz rate to avoid eyestr ain, especially at higher resolutions. Th e refresh rate isn't an issue with flat pan el displays. Instead, you will see specs for response time, whi ch ind icates how well the screen can handle fast motion . Mo nitors have controls for b rig htn ess and con trast. Most of th em also have con trols for color balance (usually called color temperature) , distor tion , an d such. Buttons activate on screen controls and menus. Some mo nitors include a m icroph on e, USB por t, integrated or separate speakers, or S-video and com pon ent in puts for viewing the ou tpu t of a VCR o r camcorder. You might also see LCD disp lays with m em ory -card read ers, so you can display photos on screen, and iPod docks enabling yo u to view images or play mus ic through the m onitor. Plug-and-play capability ma kes it fairly simple to add a new m onitor to an existing computer.
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That's especially true if you work with photo enlarge ments or regularly display m ultiple windows on the screen. Wid e screens are also a plus for many applications . Consider helpful feat ures. A feature th at allows you to adjust an LCD displ ay's height to suit your
compute r use generally have a higher resolution than a TV with the same screen size and thus can disp lay computer cont ent more clearly. Computer monitors with built-in TV tuners cost $100 to $200 more than those without and can't decode digital broadcasts.
Economical all-ln-one models can scan and copy, and some even fax
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nkjet printers have becom e the stand ard for home computer use. They can turn out color photos nearly ind istinguishab le from lab-processed photos, along with banners, stickers, transparenci es, T-shirt tra nsfers, and greeting cards. Man y produce excellent black-and-white text. With some very good models selling for less than $200, it's no surprise that inkjets account for the vast majority of printers sold for home use. Laser printers still have their place in home offices. If you print reams of black-and-white text documents, you probably need the qu ality, speed, and low per copy cost of a laser printer. Printers use a computer's m icroprocessor and memory to process data. The latest inkjets and lasers are so fast partly because computers have becom e more powerful and contain much more m emory th an before.
ConsumerReports.org
WHAT'S AVAILABLE The printer ma rket is dominated by a handful of well-establishe d br ands. Hewlett-Packard is the market leader. Other
Inkj ets are your best all-around choice for print in g photos , t ext, and color graph ics.
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So fine, and yet: Resolution, expressed in dots per inch (dpi), is not t he only gauge of printer quality.
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cyan and magenta inks, or gray ink. Most inkjet prin ters outp ut black-and-white text at a speed of 2 to 9 pages per minute (ppm ) but are much slower for color ph otos. Various models we tested took 2 to 12 minutes to print a single 8x lO, dep end ing on the com plexity of th e image. The cost of pr inting a black-an d-white text page with an inkjet var ies considerably from mod el to mod el, from 2 to 12 cents. The cost of pri nting a color 8xI0 photo can range from 85 cen ts to $1.40.Printer price: $60 to $700. You can also get them with scanning, copying, and sometimes fax capab ility.Those all in-one models typically cost more than stand-alone inkjets. Price: $80 and up. Specialty snapshot printers. For printing photos at hom e, a speedy snapsho t p rinter can be more convenient than a full-sized model. Most are limited to 4x6-inch snapshots, but a few models can also print on 5x7 pa per.The se models use either inkjet or dye-sublimation techn ology. Like mo st full-sized inkjet p rin ters, mos t of these models can hoo k up directl y via cable to a digital camera th ro ugh the PictBridge connection, so you can print witho ut using a computer. This is the simpl est an d qu ickest way to print at hom e, pro vided you don 't want to edit the photos. Price: $90 to $240. Laser printers. These work mu ch like plain pap er copiers, formin g images by tran sferring ton er (powdered ink) to pape r passing over an electrically char ged drum. Th e process yields sharp black-and white text. Laser printers usually outrun inkjets, cran king out black-and- white text at a rate of 9 to 24 ppm. Black-and-white laser printers generally cost abo ut as mu ch as mid priced inkjets, but they're cheaper to operate. Laser cartridges, about $50 to
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driver, also count. At their default settings -where they're usually expected to run-inkjets currently on the market typically have a resolution of 600x600 dpi. The dpi can be increased for color ph otos. Some printers go up to 5760x 1440 dpi. Laser pr inters for home use typically offer 600 or 1200 dp i. Printing color inkjet photos on photo paper at a higher dp i setting can produce smoother shading of colors but can slow pr inting significantly. Most inkjet pri nters have an ink monito r to warn when you're running low, but they vary in accuracy. For double-sided printing, you can p rint the odd numbered pages of a docu ment first, then flip th ose pages over to print the even- numbered pages on a second pass. A few printers can automatically pr int on both sides, but it slows down printing.
HOW TO CHOOSE Be skept ical about advertised speeds. Print speed vari es depending on what you're printing and at wha t quality, but th e speeds you see in ads are generally higher tha n you're likely to achieve in normal use. You can't reliably compare speeds for differen t brands because each company uses its own methods to measure speed. We ru n the sam e tests on all m od els, printing text pages and ph oto s that are sim ilar to wh at you might print. As a result , o ur pri nt times are realistic and can be com pared across br and s. Don't get hung up on resolution. A printer's resolution, expressed in dots per inch, is ano ther pot ential source of confusion. All things being equal, the more ink dot s a printer put s on tl1e paper, the more deta iled the image. But dot size, shape,
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quickly and cheaply than most inkjets. Lasers are often quiete r than inkjets, too. Cons While tops for text, lasers aren't as versatile as inkjets and they're not suited for print ing photos. Even models that can print in color aren't intended for use with glossy photo stock or other
. Multif unction models start at $200, color ones
around $300.
The bottom line A laser printer will be your
best choice for fast , low-cost, top-quality black
and-white text.Bu t you'll still need an inkjet or
snapshot model if you plan to print photos.
Text plus color photos & graphics Your best choice A regular inkjet printer. Pros Many offer excellent print quality for both
photos and text , and will accept a variety of paper types and sizes. Most can print photos directly f rom a digital camera. Cons Supply costs can be high. Inkjet speeds
can also be slow, from 1.5 to 12 minutes for an
8x10-inch photo.
Price $60 and up.
The bottom line Inkj ets remain your best all
around choice for print ing photos, text. and color
graphics, such as greet ing cards and Web pages.
. - Text, photos & graphics plus copying & scanning
~ Your best choice An all-in-one inkjet printer. Pros It combines printing , scanning, and
copying in one unit and can be cheaper than buying several separate devices. The best of t hem can produce excellent color photos and text , and most will print photos without a PC. A few can also fax. Cons They mighthave fewer features than stand-alone printers. As with other electroni c
devices designed to do more tha n one j ob, you'll have to repair or replace th e entire unit if one part breaks down. Price $100 and up. The bottom line Check out all-in-one machin es if you need a printer, scanner, and copier but lack the space for separate units.
Snapshots only Your best choice A snapshot printer. Pros Snapshot printers are sma ll and fast.
with spee ds as quick as a min ute per 4x6 photo. Some have handles and run on batteries, handy for use on t he road. All can print photos from a digit al camera with out requirin g a computer. Many models use dye-sublimation (dye-sub) tec hnology to make prints t hat are more wate r-resista nt tha n th ose fr om inkje ts.
Consu merRepo rts.org
Cons Snapshot printers can print only small
photos, and th ey are not intended for printing
text or graphics. In our tests, most didn't provide
the photo quality of the best regular inkjets,
and they tend to cost the same as a full sized printe r.
Price $80 to $30 0.
The bottom line Snapshot photo printers are
speedy and convenient, but you'll sacrifice
f lexibility.
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panies, includ ing Microtek and Visioneer, that made their name in scanning tech nology. Other brands include computer makers and photo specialists such as Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, and Nikon. Which type of scanner you should con sider-flatbed, sheet-fed, or film-depends largely on how you will use it. Flatbed scanners. More than 90 percent of the scanners on the market are flatbeds. They work well for text, graphics, photos , and anything else that is flat , including a kindergartner's latest drawing. Flatbeds include optical-character-recognltlon (OCR) software, which converts words on a printed page into a word-processing file in your computer. They also include basic image editing software. A key specification for a scanner is its maximum opt ical resolution, measured in dots per inch (dpi). You'll pay more for greater resolution. Price range: less than $100 for 600x1,200 dpi; $100 to $500 for models with greater resolution. Film scanners. Serious photographers may want a film-only scanner that scans directly from an original slide (transpa r ency) or negative . Some can accept small prints as well. Price range: $400 to $800.
a scan onscreen and crop it or adjust contrast and brightness. Once you're satisfied with the edited image, you can perform a final scan and pass the image to a running program or save it on your computer. You can make more extensive changes to an image with specialized image editing software. And to scan text fr om a book or letter into a word-processing file in your computer, you run OCR software. Many documents combine text with graphic elements, such as photogr aphs and drawings. A handy software feature that's found on many scanners , called multiple-scan mode, lets you break down such hybrids into different sect ions that can be processed separately in a singl e scan. You can designate, for example, that the sections of a magazine article that are pure text go to the OCR software indepen dently of the article's graphi c elements. Other scanners would require a separate scan for each section of the document. Some flatbed models come with film adapters designed to scan film or slides, but if you need to scan from film or slides often , you' re better off gett ing a separate film scanner.
IMPORTANT FEATURES While the quality of images a scanner produces depends in part on the soft ware included with it, there are several hardware featu res to consider. You sta rt scanning by running driver software that comes with the scanner or by pressing a preprogrammed button . Models with buttons automate routi ne
Consider how much resolution you need.
If you want to scan only printed originals, you can buy a basic scanner wit h 12 00-dpi resolution for less t han $100 . That 's all you need for most sa me-size scans of photos, graphics, and text. If there's any chanc e you might want to scan transparent material or blow up portions of an image, you're bett er off
HOW TO CHOOSE
70 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
originals . The higher resol utio n allows you to captu re more detail when enlarging a 35-mm original or zoomi ng in on a port ion of an image. When compar ing specs, focus on nat ive optical resolut ion. "Inte rpolated" or "enh anced" resolution come s in handy for scanning line art. Consider color-bit depth for film. For enlarging prints or scanning negat ives or slides, the greate r th e color-bit depth, th e bette r the scanner can differentiate among subtl e gradat ions of shading: 24-bit (8 bits per color channel) is basic; 48-bit (16 bits per channel) is better. Consider a multifun ct ion unit. If you won't make heavy demands on a scanner (for instance, you cannot scan film or slides ) and you need a general-use printer, especially for a tight space, a multifunc tion printer/scanner/copier may serve. Choose quality and speed that suit your needs. Most of the tested scanners did very well at reproducing a color photo at 300 dpi. Those judged good produced less crisp scans, with less accurat e colors. Fewer models did well wit h fil m. Speed matters if you expect to be scan ning regularly. In our recent tests, t he fastest to ok about 11 second s to sca n an 8x10-in ch photo at 3 00 dpi, while the slowest took about 3 0 seconds. Don't sweat the software. All th e scanners we tested came wit h software for scann ing, image editin g, and opti cal character recognition for scanning text into a word-processing program. Some have soft ware for makin g digital photo albums or other projects. Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
might be higher than combining a few images on 8Yvd I-inch paper. With some models, if you want to use the photo inks to get the best picture quality, you have to remove the black-ink cartridge and replace it with the photo-ink cartridge. Then, to print text or graphics, you have to swap the black cartridge back in. This process can get tedious. Models that hold all the ink tanks simultaneously eliminate that hassle. Consider connections. Printers with USB 2.0 ports are common now. But they don't enable much faster print speeds than plain USB.All new computers have USB 2.0 ports, which are compatible with plain USB. Computers more than eight years old might have only a parallel port.
With Bluetooth connectivity, an Inkjet can print photos wirelessly from a Bluetooth
enabled phone.
Decide whether you need scanning and copying. All-in-one units provide scanning and color copying (and often faxing) while saving space. But scanners in all-in-one units might be slower than stand-alone scanners. Stand-alones are best for negatives and slides, although some all-in-one units now include a light in the lid and a holder to keep negatives and slides in place. And if one part of the unit breaks, the whole unit must be repaired or replaced.
EWA E: NO CO t
T ORTH PLENTY.
Unleashing your PC's f ull potential-at an unbeatable price - - -.. _
T
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he software bundled with many new computers should let you write a note, surf the Web, and perform other basic operations, but it probably won't do everything you want. Before you go shopping for additional software, it might be worth seeing whether freeware can do the job. Though the definition of freeware is still debated, we're focusing on software that you can download from the Web at no cost. These aren't limited versions of commercial programs or shareware packages that
ConsumerReports.org
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you must pay for after a short trial period. They're yours to keep and use. Nor are these illegal copies of commercial programs or virus-, spyware-, or advertising-laden "freebies." You'llfind thousands of freeware programs online -mainstream applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, photo-editing, antispyware, and anti virus programs, along with specialized software to create a personal weather station or create 3D home designs, among many other applications. There are
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Free software extends the use of your computer system at a cost that can't be beat.
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and it's growing." Freeware comes from many different sources ind ividuals out to show off their pro gramming skills or assess an application's com mercial viability,or from companies trying to attract customers to their pay programs. Some applications come from well-known software developers, includ ing Apple, Microsoft, and Google. And many titles are developed by programmers world wide who enjoy develop ing and improving software that peopl e can use without charge . In fact,
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 20 0 8
LEGITIMATE SITES Wh ile m uch freeware is on the up and up, deal only with reputable sources to avoid probl ems. Also, make sure you have up-t o-d ate ant iviru s and anti spyware programs installed on your com puter before you start surfing, whether or not you plan to download any freeware. A goo d place to star t is one of many rep utab le freeware sites (see "Where to look for freeware," on page 75) . Those sites evaluat e and some times rate the p rogram, and say th ey will rem ove appli cati on s if visitors report problems, such as hidden viruses or spyware. The most useful or gan ize progr am s in to categories. Th at enables yo u to search th rou gh spec ific types of applications with out having to wade th rough potentially tho usands of unr elated program s. Many have user ra tings and forums, where you can read about problems or get help. Ano ther good resou rce is the Usenet newsgroup, alt.compJreeware. Parti cipants discuss and som e times debate the merits of free program s, and each year they select the very best, a list of which appears at www.pricelesswarehome.org. You can get to th is newsgro up th rough http.i/groups.google .com or through a newsreader such as Windows' Outlook Express. Check with your Intern et service pro vider for more inform ation about accessing its "news server." Before downloading a free pr ogram, carefully evaluate its capabilities, system requirements, and license agreeme nt. Some applications are free on ly for personal use; othe rs allow edu cation al, nonp rofit, or even bu siness use. If possible, visit th e developer's site dir ectly. See whether you need
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built-in "migration tools," which should come in handy when Apple releases its new operating system later this year.) If you're looking to move just data files-word-processing documents, photos, music, financial records, and other items -and not the actual applications themselves, you can simply
browser history, and program settings. But if you need to move programs, too, you can try either PCmover ($50, $60 with cable) or Easy Transfer Companion (free). Here's what we found during our initial look at both programs.
EASY TRANSFER COMPANION
LAPLINK PCMOVER
HIGHS
HIGHS
It' s free. You can get the beta from Microsoft at www.microsoft
Makes your move in one step. PCmover transfers everything, files and applications alike, in a single operation. (Before you start your transfer, follow the program's advice to update to a new version if necessary.)You can customize the list of programs you want to move. A variety of trans fer method s are available. You can use the cable Laplink sells, a network connection, removable media, or a second hard drive. It works well. PCmovermade the proper transfer of Outlook from the old PCwith a previous version of Office 2003, even though a newer version of Office was on the new PC. You can back out. As with Easy Transfer Companion, you can undo the move.
.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade /easytransfer.mspx. It works wel l. Easy Transfer Companion had no problems mov ing e-mail messages. If you're moving to a Vista PC, it skips programs that won't run on that operating system . (It did have one mishap with a Microsoft applica tion. It didn't move Office 2003, which has the Outlook e-mail program , to the new PC, which had a newer but basic Office 2007.that lacked Outlook.) You can customi ze the list of programs you want to move. You can undo th e whole process. You can reverse the .transfe r - just make sure you do so with in three days. LOWS Transfer options are limit ed. The Companion can move appli cations only via the special EasyTransfer cable or over a network. You can 't use a removable media drive, as you can with Easy Transfer and PCmover. It 's a mult i-st ep process. You have to perform two separate transfers-one for the applications and one for the files.
LOWS You can only use PCmover once. $50 is a lot of money for software that's valid only for a single use. (You can purchase licenses for additional migrations at a 25 percent discount, provided you buy them when you buy the software.) It has tr ouble moving e-mail. We couldn't transfer messages from Outlook Express on our XP machine to Windows Mail on the Vista PC. (Address-book contacts did make it successfully to the new system.)
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----_.._-- - _.. THE BOTTOM LINE If you don't want to spend a dime, don't mind a two-step process, and have a home network (so you don't have to buy a cable), use Microsoft's free programs. Vista's built-in Easy Transfer will move your files and you can transfer your applications with
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little effort using the beta Companion program. If you need a cable because you don't have a network, or if you want to move applications using removable media, PCmover works just as well. But keep in mind that you will probably lose messages saved in Outlook Express.
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GENERAL PROGRAMS Audacity http:// audacity.sou rcefo rge.net (Also run s on Mac OS X)
Mu lti tracking a udio recorder a nd ed it or. Also use to d igit ize t a pes , MiniDisc, a nd vinyl record reco rdings.
Envisioneer Express www.envisioneerexpress.com
Create your own 3 D home designs. Large dow nload . Expanded pay version available.
EssentialP IM www.esse nt ialpim. com
Person al information ma nager t hat lets you import data fro m many different sources.
G1 M P (GNU Image Manipulation Program) www.gimp.org (Also runs on Mac OS X)
A re placem ent for Ado be Photosh op . Somewhat d ifficu lt to learn but f ull-feat ured. Check the download ins tructions carefu lly.
DSpeech http:/ /dimi o.altervista.org/ eng
Have your com puter read text a lou d. Also saves spo ken text to M P3 or WAY f ile. Check t he develope r's page for free com pone nts you might need to download.
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GreatNews http:/ /curiostudio.com
RSS feed reader th at offers different view styles, including newspaper-style page layout.
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IrfanView www.ir fanview.com
Hand y image-viewing program . Also download a nd insta ll the package of ad d-ons.
Money M anager Ex www.thezeal.com/ software
Money-mana gement soft wa re that handles banking , invest me nt , a nd budget ing.
Mozllla Firefox www.mozi lla .com (Also run s on Mac OS X)
Popular Web browser t hat you can customize wit h many free downloadabl e extensions.
OpenOffice.org www.ope noffice .org (Also runs on Mac OS X)
Comp lete off ice suite, including wo rd processor and spreadsheet , com patible wit h Microsoft Office fo rmats. Large download .
Plcasa http:/ /picasa. google.com
Google's photo-orga nizing a nd bas ic ed iti ng too l fo r t hose who don 't need f ull feat ured edi t ing softwa re suc h as t he comme rcial Photoshop or f ree GIMP.
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W.bloggar http://wbloggar.c om
Slogging software th at lets you publi sh on most blo gs, Han dles multipl e acco unts . Inclu des a spelli ng checker.
Weat her Wat cher www.snapfiles.com/review / weather_watcher/ weather watcher.html
Turn your co mputer deskto p int o a personal weather st at io n for more th an 77,000 cities worl dwide .
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UTILITIES Gadwln Printscreen www.gadwin.com
Expa nd your computer's screen cap t ure abi lity to ent ire screen , a se lected a rea , a nd more. Print cap t ured area , copy to Windows clipboard, sen d bye-ma il or save.
Google Toolbar http:/ /toolbar.googl e.com
Let s you cond uct a wide range of searches fro m Int ernet Explorer an d Firefox.
Mj M Free Photo Recovery Software www.mj m.co. uk/ freephotorecoverysoftware.html
Recover deleted .j pg im ages f rom many types of d igit a l-camera medi a card s. Also recovers images from refo rma tted ca rds.
Rename Master http:/ / j oej oesoft. com
Ren am e f iles in bu lk with ma ny opt ions to a utomat ical ly insert or de lete ch a racters.
Yankee Clipper 3 wwwintelexuet.com/prooucts
Expands Wind ows clipb oard by auto matica lly saving anything you cut o r copy. Also stores signatures a nd informat ion that you can paste into ma ny a pplica tions.
74 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 20 0 8
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Once you've downloaded some programs, be sure to check the developer's Web site for updates. Often you'll find fixes and improvements. Usually you can find the developer's Web site by clicking on the "About" section in the "Help" menu item. Some programs can be set to update themselves.
uncover problems with an application, have suggested improvements or simply want to send your thanks. Some developers have "tip jars" where you can make a monetary expression of your appreciation. Many sites accept donations by PayPal or other online secure payment services.
Where available, fiber-optic challenges cable, DSL, and satellite
C
able Internet service has met its match. In our latest survey of more than 34,000 CONSUMER REpORTS subscribers-our first to assess the new kid on the block, fiber-optic broadband-readers gave Verizon's fiber-based FiOS service top marks across the board. FiOS users were more satisfied with the service's speed than were users of cable, which received top marks for speed in our survey a year ago. And they were more satisfied with FiOS's cost than were users of DSL, which remains the least-expensive type of broadband. FiOS also got higher marks for both reli ability and technical support than did cable or DSL. That's the good news. The bad news is that your chances of getting this promising service are slim. Verizon's FiOS currently is being offered to about 6 million homes in roughly one third of the states.
ConsumerReports.org
FEW CHOICES STILL The consumer broadband market has been a seller's market, often limited to a single provider. Our survey underscored the lack of choice: Of readers who used any type of broadband service, 22 percent said they had chosen their type because it was the only broad band option available. In some parts of the country, that sole option is satellite. But our readers gave some of the lowest satisfaction scores to a major satellite provider in our Ratings. Even where phone companies offer DSL or fiber, the number of broadband providers is often limited to two players: the cable and telephone companies. "Two is better than one. But a duopoly is not a fully competitive marketplace;' says Chris Putala, executive vice president, public policy, for EarthLink, one of the few providers that offer competitive broadband
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 75
The qlowlnq promise of fiber-optic cable broadband service is available In only a limited number of communities now.
76
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
original Intern et techn ology, with at least six national providers. But slightly less th an 10 per cent of our readers were willing to put up with dial-up's painfully slow speeds, despite its low cost. For everyone else, choosi ng broadband Internet service m eans making the best of a nonc om petit ive market. Given th at, th e inc reasing availability of
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
even new subscribe rs to Verizon's TV service have seen pric e hikes.
HOW TO CHOOSE Even if fiber is available to you right now, there's no need to switch services if you're happ y with your current pro vider. About half of our readers said they were highly satisfied, though the y were more pleased with reliability, speed, an d techni cal suppo rt th an th ey were with cost. Onl y 20 percent of the respon dent s said they were highly satisfied with cost. If you do sign up with a new broadba nd pro vider, you'll prob ably need to change your e-m ail add ress in the process. Here's more advice on h ow to cho ose a new pr ovider : Learn about yourchoices. Find out what services and pro viders are available in your area. You can find local providers at www.dsireports.com/prequal. Chances are you'll have just one DSL provider available-you r ph on e company-and just one cable Int ern et pro vider. But there are exceptions: EarthLink offers a competing Intern et service over cable in Time Warner Cable's 40 ma rkets nationwide; that service was one of the better-r ated cable services among our readers. EarthLink is also available on th e Comcas t cable system in Boston and Seattl e. Ot h er hi gh ly ranked cable com p an ies that have bu ilt th eir own cable facilities to com pe te with existing providers are WOW, serving part s ofIllinois,Michigan, and Ohi o; and RCN, serving Boston, Chicago. Phil adelphia , New Yor k City, and Wash ington, D.C. Th ere are also two na tional satellite-based Internet services, but their cost is very high. Weigh speed vs. cost. For m any user s, DSL
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3
EarthLink :r
45
0
e
4
RCN ·
41
0
0
0
.7 .Optimum Online
44
e 0 e
e 0 e e e 0
8
Cable One
39
0
0
9
Mediacom
45
0
0
10 Insight · ·
42
11 Comcast
46
12 Charter
41
13 Adelphia
44
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0
0
5
Cox
38
6
Road Runner It.
44
DSL BROADBAND PROVIDERS
14 Verizon
29
15 Owest
34
16 BellSouth
38 26
17 SBC
18 EarthLink.
44
00
19 AT&T
30
0 0
Windstream 20 .(Alltel) 13.
32
21 Embarq (Sprint)ll
39
·
..
Guide to the Ratings
SATELLITE BROADBAND PROVIDER
HughesNet 22 (DirecWay) 13
~
59 ~ .
I •
DIAL-UP PROVIDERS 24 AT&T
8 ,:: 17 •
o o
25
22 • •0
o
23 .Juno EarthLink
26 PeoplePC ·
27
NetZero
28 MSN 29 America Online
12 ~:: 12 ~ 0 '
23 . 25
mil
•
0
•-•-- •-
Warner cablesystem. ~ On theTime Warner or BrightHouse Networks cablesystems. [3 Parenthesesdenote providers previous name.
Ii On theTime
ConsumerReports.org
th at become available on fiber. Opting for Verizon fiber may well me an that your phon e service will be converted to fiber as well. Like
cable VoIP phon e service, such systems requ ire a
battery backup to opera te du rin g a power outage. Verizon supplies a backup system that provides about fou r hours of talk time; th e custom er is responsible for replacing it th ereafter. For installation, even if it involves digging or tunneling on your pro perty,
Verizon char ges $70 but waives the fee if you sign
a one -year contract.
The blazingly fast fiber service that is often heralded as vanquishing cable offers dow nloa d speeds of up to 50 Mbps. But such high er speeds can come at qu ite a premium . For exam ple, Verizon recently char ged as m uch as $200 mo nthly,depen ding on where you live, for one of its h ighest-speed serv ices. And m ost Intern et user s don't yet need tha t kin d of speed. For
Ratings are based on 34 ,521 responses from CONSUMER REPORTS subscribers
wit h a home Internet accou nt who com pleted the 2006 Annual Questionnaire
online; they might not be representative of the u.s. populati on. Price is the
median monthl y fee for service, as reported by respondents, which might include bundles or special discounts . Prices varied . Reader score reflects overall satis faction with the ISP and is not limited to factors listed under Survey result s. If everyone were completely satisfi ed with their service, t he reader score would be 100; 80 would mean respondents were very satisfied , on average; 60, fairly
well satisfied. Differences of less than 5 points betwee n scores aren't mean ing f ul. The foll owing scores are relat ive and indicate satisfaction with each ISP comp ared wit h the average: Speed refl ects sat isf act ion with connection speed (dial-up ISPs weren't included as they were uniformly lower-rated t han broadband ISPs). Reliabilit y reflects satisfaction wit h th e ISP's ability to maint ain stable, uninterrupted serv ice. Technical support reflects respondents ' satisfaction
wit h the ISP's response to se rvice problems. A dash (-) indicates that there was insuffici ent data to provide a score.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
77
must also use it for phone service.
and other factors. Inq uire about whether th ere is anything you can do to speed up your conn ection. Ask neighbo rs who subscribe to the same service about th eir experience. Once you have service, you can compare the speeds you're actually getting wit h the adverti sed speed by testing it free at
www.dslreports.com/speedtest. At th e oth er extreme, if you're using the Internet only for e-mail or basic Web browsing, dial- up ser vice might be eno ugh. Expect to pay aro und $10 to $20 a mo nt h. Consider your othe r services. Th ere's a good chanc e you can save by sub scribing to more than one service from the same provider. Cable com panies typically offer do uble- and triple-play packages tha t include television, and either Internet or teleph one
to change your ph one service later on. And bu ying a bu ndle might make it more d ifficult for you to change providers for any indi vidual service if you're tied into a lon g-term contract for all of the m. Look for feat ures. Consider whether a service offers multiple e-mail accounts, spam and spyware blockin g, parental contro ls, and a pe rsonal Web page. If you tra vel ofte n , look for a broadband servic e, su ch as Earth Link 's or BeltSouth's, th at incl udes dial-up access. Also look for Web mail, which lets you access e-mail from any In tern et enabled com puter. Test -drive it. Once yo u have a new service, if th ere's a tria l period, test the features before it expires. If possible, maintain your old acco unt during that pe riod in case you want to go back .
How much speed do you need?
Cable, OSL, fiber, and satellite all offer two types of speed, usu ally measured in Mbps (megabits , or millions of bits, per second): Download speed is th e highest possib le rate at which data can be sent to you. Upload speed, the highest possible rate at which
you can send data, is usually slower than download . Many factors can affect your actual speed, including your computer and router, home wiring, and Internet congestion . The download tim es shown below have been adjusted to take t hose facto rs into account.
DOWNLOAD TIMES FOR COMMON APPLICATIONS
78
1.5 MBPS
5 MBPS
50 MBPS
One 5MB MP3 file
33 seconds
10 secon ds
1 second
50MB worth of digita l photos
5.5 minutes
1.7 minutes
10 secon ds
125MB video-game demo
14 minutes
4 min utes
25 seconds
5 GB high-definltion movie
9 hou rs
2.8 hours
17 min utes
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 2008
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
viruses, spyware, or phi sh ing e- mail scams. In fact, according to the survey, your od ds of becoming a cybervictim are about I in 4. O ur survey and investigation fou nd a decline in spyware infections since the previo us year, but not in viru ses and both remai n epidemic. Unt il th ings im prove, every onli ne consu mer m ust th ink like a secur ity expert. "It's up to you to be sure all your software is up to da te, with automatic scan ning fun ction s tu rn ed o n;' says Kath ryn Sederquist of Best Buy's Geek Squad techni cal support service in Riverhea d, N.Y. She recently rem oved a virus th at had replicated itself 40,000 tim es on a customer's home Pc. Here are som e of the most noteworth y findin gs from o ur investigation: ~ In a nationally rep resentative sample of m ore tha n 2,000 household s with Intern et access, 23 percent said a virus, spyware, or ph ishing scam cau sed seri ou s com puter problems and/or fin ancial losses in th e past two years. Based on projections from o ur survey, viru s infections prompted an estim ated 1.8 million ho useho lds to repl ace their comp ute rs in th e past two years an d spyware infections pr om pte d 850,000 in the past six m onths. ~ Too m any con sumers' defenses are down : 17 per cen t of the ho useholds surveyed didn't have antivirus software in stalled, and 33 perc ent didn't use soft ware to block o r remove spywa re. And con sumers in ro ughly 660,000 households continue d to b uy products advertised thro ugh spam. Most ho mes had a firewall installed to block ha ckers. Still, based on our findings, we project tha t abo ut 3.7 m illion U.S. ho usehol ds with bro adba nd, who are hackers' pri me targets, rem ain unprotected by a firewall.
ConsumerReporls.org
Here's the latest news abo ut maj or online thre ats an d what you can do to com bat them : Viruses (m alicious programs that infect com pu ters an d use th em to prop agate) and worms (self replicating programs th at bog down computers and networks) are still a ma jor scourge. In our survey, 38 perc ent of resp ondents reported an infection in the past two years. O f those, 28 perce nt had to
Spyware infections may have caused 850,000 households to replace the ir computers over a six-month period.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
79
survey registered a decline in th e number of recent spyware infections, bu t new source s of threats con tin ue to arise. Even Intern et search engines can be sources of infection . A study of five major search engines, co-written by Ben Edelma n, a spyware
An tiSpyware ($30; an nu al fee $30) to offer inex pens ive, excellent feature- rich anti spyware. For a free com plement to your main antispyware, we recommend Microsoft Windows Defender or Spybot Search & Destroy.
Where to report online crime Wit h Jail time or stiff fi nes now a real possibility for cyber crimina ls, consumers subj ected to online th reats should document and report them to legal authorities. Because of ju risdictiona l overlap you might need to fi le several reports : ~ Report cyberfraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov). a part nership between t he Federal Bureau of Investigat ion and t he National White Collar Crime Center. A four-page onlin e comp laint form filed here is circulated to Federal, sta te, and local aut horities. ~ To complain about companies spewing spam or spyware, go to t he Federal Trade Comm ission's Consumer Complaint Form (www.ftc.gov/ftc/complain t.htm). If you th ink you've been t he victi m of identity th eft , you'll want to file a comp laint with th e agency by fill ing out an online ID Theft Complaint Input Form (https:llm.ftc.govlpls/dodlwidtpubl$ .star tup?Z_ ORG_ CODE =PU03). Even if t he FTC can 't act on a case, it makes the infor mat ion available to civil and crimina l law-enforcement agencies worldwide. ~ If you or your Internet attacker is in a state covered by cyber legislation, you'll want to inform the Off ice of t he Attorney General. The Nati onal Association of Atto rneys General maintains a Computer Crime Point -of-Contact List (www.naag.orgl issues 1 2001 0 724 -cc_lisCbg.php ) wit h inf ormati on on computer savvy stat e and local prosecutors. Many sta te AG's offices also
have online cybercomplaint forms on the ir own Web sites.
80
CONSUMER REPORTS .
ELECTRONICS BU YIN G GUIDE 2008
~ Any online exploitation of children should be reported to the CyberTipline (www.cybertipline.com).ma inta ined by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children wit h t he FBI and other governmen t enforcement agencies.
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Use a firewall. A hardware or software fir ewall is essential if you're using a high speed (broadband) Internet connection. Use the built-in firewall protection found in Windows or Mac OS, but you can also upgrade to a stand-alone package. There are a few good software firewalls available free of charge, such as SpyBot Search & Destroy, although most cost $30 to $40. The firewall should provide both incoming and outgoing protect ion. If you have a home network, your router probably has a built-in hardware firewall. Change its default user name and pass word and disable "remote admin istration" to prevent hackers from seizing control of your network. Adjust your browser's security set tings. If you use Internet Explorer, keep its security level at medium or higher to block Web sites from downloading programs without your authorization or automatically running Windows ActiveX scripts. Internet Explorer 7 has improved security features, so consider upgrading . Use a different browser. Since most types of Viruses, worms, arid spyware applications are specifically written for Internet Explorer, you can cut some of the potential risks by surfing with a non Microsoft browser, such as Firefox or Opera (both are available free). Attacks on Firefox are on the increase, however. Consider an ISP or e-mail provider that offers security. AOL, EarthLink, MSN, and Yahoo offer spam filtering and virus scanning for e-mail at no extra charge for their subscribers. Use them as one layer
ConsumerReporls,org
to new spyware definitions current and regularly update the def initions.
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Soft ware included wit h a comput er Is the first step In guarding your flies and Information.
Regularly back up personal flies. This safeguards your data in case of a security problem. Consider using a plug-in external hard drive as your storage, so that if the computer becomes disabled, you'll already have your files off the machine. exercise caution when downloading. Download only from online sources you trust. Be wary of ad-sponsored or "free" screen savers, games, videos, tool bars, music and movie file-sharing programs, and othe r purported giveaways. They probably include spyware that might damage your PC if it gets through your security . Children who share and download files should do so on a PC that doesn 't contain confidential information or valu able data, such as financial records. Avoid short passwords. To foil password-eracking software, use pass words that are at least eight char acters long, including at least one numeral and
Never respond to e-mail asking for ' personal information, and don't reply to spam or click on its "unsubscribe" link; that tell s thesender that your e-mail addre ss is valid. Forward fraudulent spam to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at
[email protected]. Use more than one e-mail address. Use one e-mail address for fam ily and friends, another for everyone else. You can get a free address from Hotmail , Yahoo, or a disposable-forward ing address service such as SpamMotel. Many ISPs, including Verlzon and EarthLin k, also let you set up multiple e-mail accounts. When an address attr acts too much spam, drop it. Instead of an e-mail add ress like janedoe@isp .com, select one with embedded digits, such as
[email protected] . Report spam to your ISP to improve its filtering. Don't buy anything promoted in a spam message. Even If the offer isn't a scam, your patronage can help finance and encourage spam . Look for secure Web sites. To check whether a site is secure with most brows ers, look for an icon of an unbroken key or a lock that's closed, golden, or glowing. It will be in your browser's window (usually at the bottom ), not wit hin the Web page itself. Double-elick on the lock to dis play the sit e's certificate, and be sure it matches the company you think you're connected to. Also, make sure that "https:" is at the beginning of the site's add ress.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
81
Online precaut ions can lower the r isk that your identIty will be stolen.
P h is h inq e- rna ils, which appe ar to come fro m a fam iliar financial institution , reque st person al info rma tion such as a password or PIN cod e. Click ing on a link con nec ts you to a bogu s loo k-alike Web site, wh ere you ar e conned into divulging information. In May of 2006, th e An ti-Ph ishi ng Working Group, an industry associ ation, detected 12,000 unique sites, a 32 p ercent leap fro m just three m onths earli er. New variants on phi shing have em erged. "Ph arrn ing" infects a computer so that even if you typ e in a legitim ate Web address yourself, you're redirec ted to a fraud ulent site. "Spear phi shin g" targets e-m ail addresses stolen from a com pa ny or organiza tion with a spoofed
on e of th e few peopl e charged under Can-S parn plead ed guilty to three felony counts in federal cour t in Ann Arbor, Mich. Two weeks later, ano ther guilty plea was entered in a Can -Spam crimi nal prosecu tion in Phoe nix. Th e FTC has invoked the Can Spam Act to impose fines in several high-p rofile civil settlem ents, including a $26,000 pen alty for the Kodak Imaging Netwo rk, which e-rnailed custom ers with no opt-out option. Despite th ese successes, scores of heavy spam mer s contin ue evading the law by opera ting offshore. In addition to increased spain -blocki ng efforts by many Intern et service provide rs, you sho uld consider antispa m mea sur es in softwa re runni ng on your comp uter. We've foun d Micro soft Windows Junk Mail Filter and Apple Mail to effectively detect spa m. O ur top-rated add-on software package is Trend Micro PC-cillin Interne t Securi ty ($50; annual fee $50), which works with any e-ma il program.
Fe:. Consumer Reports.org I SEE COMPUTER RATINGS ONLINE The latest computer models arrived on the market too late for us to test them in t ime for th is edition of the Electronics BuyingGuide. You'll find up-to-date Rat ings and recomme ndations for laptop, desktop and gaming compute r models online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
Computer Ratings can be
82
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 20 0 8
acce ssed from the main Elec tronics & Compute rs page by clicking on the Laptop and Desktop Computers link be low the Computers Decision Guide. an d then sel ecting the Ratings you want under La ptops , Desk tops , or Gaming Compute rs on the following page. Onli ne Ratings are usua iiy available only to su bscribers,
but readers of this book who have not been Web subscribers before can sign up for a 30-day free SUbscription to the enti re CONSUMER REPORTS Web site. For deta ils on how you can ta ke advanta ge of th is offer, turn to the inside front cover of this book. (You will be asked for a credit ca rd to secure your subscript lon.)
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to let you schedule TV
Did you know?
Apple's iPod
family accounts
for more than three out of four MP3 players sold.
84
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
As digital players morph, one thing remains constant: the brand nam e that's on most of th em. Apple's iPod players still account for more tha n th ree of four MP3 players sold. Hardware alone doesn't explain Apple's dominance. Wh ile iPods score well in our tests, so do players from other m anufacturers, many of which offer capabilities and features th at iPods lack. Apple's success rests in part on its creation of a self-contained digita l-en tertainment system. Its content-m anagement softwa re, i'Iunes, works seamlessly-onlywith iPods. Its online iTunes sto re offers by far the largest library of on line video con ten t, sup plementing its dominance over onl ine m usic sales. Its conten t in clud es m any exclusives and also offers comprehensive access to podcasts, th e (mos tly free) online downloads of everything from Nationa l Public Radio broad casts to weekly self-help recordings. iTunes has begun offering songs from its EM! cat alog with out any copy protection . Th e un p rot ected songs cost 30 cents more th an th e 99-cent protected versions, but they're recorded at a higher bit rate for pot enti ally better sound . More im portantl y, th ese songs are the first iTunes cons umers can share with anyon e they like, includi ng those with with any MP3 players that aren't iPods (if the players support the AAC audio file forma t used by iTunes). Not all innovative content comes from Apple. Other legal online content sources include BuyMusic, Nap ster, Real, Sony, URGE, Wal-Mart , and Yahoo . Unlike i'Iunes , some of thos e sites also offer subscription based services that let you fill your PC or player with
ELECTRONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 200B
rented music for a flat $15 per mo nth (the mus ic stops playing if you don't periodicall y dock your player to an Intern et-con nected PC to confirm your account is in good standing). Downloaded songs from con temp orary artists typ ically cost less than $1 per song, or $10 for an entire album; music videos, hit TV-sho w episodes, an d short films cost $2 each. Players that sup port the copy-protected WMA formats, such as those from Arche s, Creative, RCA, and Samsung, allow access to the greatest number of online stores, and because of the competition, cheaper mu sic.Another W MA-store benefit: BuyMusic, MusicMatch, Real, an d othe r sites offer songs at a higher bit rate than the standard 128 kbs, which has the potent ial to soun d bett er when heard throu gh high -fidelity headphones or soun d systems. Free online music-sharing, still the most popul ar way for acquiring MP3 m usic, has been driven under ground by a flurry of recor d- industry lawsuits and a 2005 U.S. Supreme Co urt ruling. (The justices unanimously ru led that the po pular music-sharing
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have to seek help from the player manufacturer.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Major brands of MP 3 players include Apple, Archos, Cowon, Creative Labs, iRiver,Philips, RCA,Samsun g, SanDi sk, Sony, and Toshiba. Brand s fro m smaller
Some flash-memory players also have expansion slots to add more memory via card slots on the player. Common expansion-memory form ats include Compact Flash, MultiMedia, Secure Digital, and SmartMedia. Sony players might use a MemoryStick Pro, a copyright-protected version of Son y's older MemoryStick media. Memory-card capacities range
The big Apple vs. the rest of the players iPods
Ot her digital music players
Leaders in ease of. use, styling, size, and choice of. accessories
Stronger on extras such as a radio and voice recorder; prices for flash models can be lower than for iPods
Pros Easy to use, thanks to seamless-integration of iTunes software. Latest lineup of models fu rther sharpens iPods' edge in size and weight. iTunes Store offers largest selection of online content, including major TV shows (and movies, too). More custom ized accessories than other brands .
Pros Many model s have FM
radios and voice recorders.
Work easily with more online
music stores than iPods.
Some flash-memory players
cost less than same-capacity
iPods; many also use standard
AA or AAA batt eries . Some
model s allow drag-and-drop
via Windows Explorer for music transfer to the player without opening any software.
Apple's IPods dominate the MP3'player market.
Cons Flash models can cost more than other brands with comparable capacity. Even the new models lack extras such as a radio or recording capability. Charger or power adapter is $30 or $40 extra (a proprietary cord to charge from a computer's USB port is supplied). Some unusual limitations, such as the inability to easily transfer music from your iPod to any othe r device. Past models have had battery problems . . Can't use AA or AAA batteries.
ConsumerReports.org
Other brands of music players might satisfy your needs better.
Cons Music-management software is not as good as iTunes. Some models will work with iTunes music-management software but won't work with music downloaded from iTunes. Some brands are not Mac-compatible.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 85
Music players at high volume can cause hearing loss Portable music players can dam age your hearing, recent research suggests. Many
players can reach potentially dama ging volume s, and many users might oft en be cranking the sound up th at high. In a study published in December 2004, Brian J. Fligor, Sc.D., and L. Clarke Cox, Ph.D., at Boston University measured the volume levels of six portable CD players, through both the original headsets, if any, and five others pu rchased sep arately. At their highest settings, most of th e 35 possible player-headset combination s were loud enough to cause irreversible noise induced hearing loss if used regularly for as little as a few minutes per day. The measurem ents were done shortly before iPods became popular. Fligor, now director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston, said preliminary results indicate that the volumes produced by iPods and other MP3 players are "in the same ballpark" as CD players'. In a separate st udy published in April 2005, Warwick Williams of Australi a's Nationa l Acoustic Laboratories measured the noise emana ting f rom the personal music players of 55 passers-by in two busy city intersections. The volume averaged about 86 decibel s-a bit too high, say CONSUMER REPORTS' noise experts, for extended daily listening. Some players were turne d up much higher th an that. At maximum volume with the included
86
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
headphones, nearly all the MP3 players we rated exceeded 85 decibels in our tests at an external lab, and som e exceeded 100, a level th at can damage hearing even aft er shor t periods of t ime. To avoid hearing loss, our experts say you should
Don't play It loud ! Experts say keeping music volume low can help preserve your hearing.
never set your music player's volum e higher than 85 decibels, about the same level as a vacuum cleaner or a noisy restaura nt. Be sure to ju dge the volume conservat ively: Music you like tends to
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
sound softer than an annoying sound with th e sam e decibel level. Also, your ears can become desensitized after contin uous listening and you might underestimate th e loudness. Many players have built-i n volume limite rs that ta ke the guesswork out of safe listen ing. Some models have a preset safety level, which can be activated via the player's menu or an on/off switch. All iPods and some Creative models allow you to custom-set the volum e limit. as well as protect the settin g wit h a pass code-a nice touch for concerned parents. We recommend sett ing the maximum volume between '(, and % of the volume bar's full setting. But be aware that th e loudn ess of ind ividual songs can vary significantly, dependin g upon genre, equalizer setting, and how the song was recorded. Our experts say that people whose living and working environments are otherwise quiet can safely listen to 85 decibel musi c for several hours a day. But if you're regularl y exposed to ot her loud sound-whether from machinery, transportation, or live mus ic-you should wear hearing protect ion at thos e time s if you want to enjoy music from your port able player at other t imes. That's because dama ge from noise exposure is cumula tive. If you have any concerns about hearin g loss, see an audiologist .
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Player upgradability. On most models, the firm ware-the built-in operating instru ctions--can be upgrad ed so the player does not become obsolete. Upgra des can add or enhance features, fix bugs, and add support for other audio and video form ats and ope rating systems. This is important for models with video playback because of the evolving nat ure of video form ats. Display. Most M P3 players have a display screen tha t allows you to view the son g title, track number, amount of memory remaining, battery- life indi cator, an d ot her fun ctions. Screens can be mon ochrome or color. Models with color displays also let you store and view pictures taken with your digital cam era, and in some cases, video clips. Some displays present a list of tracks from which you can easily make a selectio n; others show only one track at a time, requiri ng you to advance thro ugh ind ividual tra cks to find the desired one. On some models you can access the player's function con trols by a wired or infrared remo te control. Most players have built-in managem ent of songs th at can be accessed via album , artist, or genre . Individual play lists of song s are usually created on a computer and transferred to the player, though many let you manage th e music on the player, allowing you to edit playlists and delete files. Photo playback. Virtually all players with color screens can display JPEGs, the default photo format of mos t digital cameras. Som e can handle TIFFs, BMPs, and lesser-known for mats as well. Many let you view your pho tos in slideshow fashion , complete with fade-o uts, scrolls, an d other tra nsitions, aswell as with mu sic.
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optional accessories. As for th e viewing experience itself, MP3- player screens are relatively tiny-even whe n compared with portable DVD players-and are d ifficult to see in outdoo r light. Players with the largest screens, up to 3 inche s wide , are easier to watch for longer periods and some come with built -in speakers . But they can weigh abo ut a half-pound and are often too bu lky to stuff into a shirt pocket. Sound enhancement. Expect some type of equal izer,which allows you to adjust the tone in various ways.A custo m setting through separa te bass and treble contro ls or adjustab le equalizers gives you the mos t con trol over the tone. Some play ers have presets, such as "rock" or "jazz;' as well as chan nel balance control. Playback con trols. Volume , track play/pau se, and for ward /reverse controls are standard. Most portable MP3 players let you set a
Diqital mus ic players come In many shapes and sizes. includlnq cell phones that can play MP3 files.
CONSUMER REpORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 87
tuner, a built-in microphone or line input for record ing, and adapters or a line output for patching the player into your car's audio system . Some players let you wirelessly swap music, photos and oth er files with other players of th e sam e model. Some can also patch into wireless home networks to connect with a PC. or access the Web on a limited basis.
HOW TO CHOOSE New models with more features and greater capa bilities are continually coming out. Decide how much you're willing to spend on a unit you might want to replace in a year or two. Here are some other considerations before yo u buy : Decide whet her t o get an iPod. With Apple's famil y of players so ub iquitous and so similar in many ways, it's worth consider ing the advant ages and shortcomings of iPods befor e going further with your bu ying decision . iPods are easy to use, thanks to superb integration of the players and th e com pany's iTunes software. The iTunes Store offers the largest selection of legal digital content on the Web, including virtually all the available downloads of major TV shows. iPods also have many acces sories to extend th eir use, from boom boxes and clock radios with iPod slots to iPod cases that com e in many colors and fabrics. Few other brands of players have custom after ma rket equ ipment (although generic gear will, for example, allow you to pip e any player into a component sound system or a car ster eo). As for drawbac ks, iPods typically cost a little more than non-Apple players with comparable capacity. They also lack some of the features and accessories that come with many other players, such as an FM radio, voice recorder, and an AC charger. Equipping
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
to keep with you, a hard-disk player might mak e more sense. Players with an 80GB capacity can hold about 20,000 songs and could seren ade you for months without repeating a tu ne. But a hard-disk player can be more complicated to mana ge than a flash-memory player. For some, navigating through the menu s or directori es (folders) of songs might also take longe r. Hard-d isk players vary in size, generally in step with capacity. Microdrive players are about the size of a credit card, and a 6GB model can hold about 1,500 songs, whereas mod els with 30GB hard disks are abou t the size of a de ck of cards and can hold about 7,500 son gs. Consider download choices. Be aware that on line mu sic copy-protected sources are limited with some mo dels. For example, Sony players work only with o ne o nline music sto re, an d iPod s are compatible with iTunes and Real. Players that support the copy-protected W MA formats, suc h as those from Archos, Creative, RCA, and Sam sung, allow access to th e greatest number of online store s, and becau se of th e compe t ition, cheaper musi c. Another WMA-sto re ben efit: BuyMusic, MusicMatch, Real, and other sites offer songs at a higher bit rate than the standa rd 128 kbs, which has th e potential to sound better. Some players won't play music pur chased from any online stor e. Downlo adin g "free" mus ic from such online sources as peer-to-peer Web sites is another option. But you risk a copyright-infringeme nt lawsuit by the music industr y. You'll also increase your exposure to nasty viruses and spyware pro grams tha t tend to hitch rid es on songs swapped on those sites. Also, not e that with most players, you have choices when it comes to software for recording (ripping)
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Many of t he latest co lo r-displ ay MP3 players can now show
downloaded music vid eos, movi es, and TV programs. Some
can even record directly from a TV, cable box, or digital video
recorder (DVR), eit her on the fly or on a schedule. Some come
equ ippe d wit h built-in spea kers. If you like th e idea of totally
portabl e enterta inment and don't mind a little squinting at a
small ish screen, you might want to chec k out one of the follow
ing models.
These players offer good to very good video performance,
intuitive cont rols, and othe r conveniences. The iRiver, Appl e,
and Creativ e Zen Vision M models primarily play back video fed
to them fro m a PC. The Cowon, and Archos 604 Wi-Fi and 504
also have th eir own recorders for capt uring content directly from a cabl e box, digita l video recorder (DVR), and other devices. Here are details to bear in mind before you buy a player: You'll need a fast Internet connection. Video downloads take much longer th an music, so you'll need a broadband connection that can deliver download speed s of 1 megabit per second or faster. Even th en, a one-hour show can take up to an hour to downloa d. Copying your own movies fro m, say, a TV, camcorder, or digital camera is much faster.
Larger screens are easier to watch for longer periods, and some models have a built-In speaker.
The tiny screen takes some getting used to. Screens are typically between 1 and 3 inches-much smaller than those on other video-ready devices such as portable DVD players and laptop computers. Watching videos at off-angles or unde r direct sunlight could also be challenging. And you might be disappo inted with t he sha rpness and resolut ion.
You'll need to recharge frequently. Watching videos can slash playback t ime dramatically. On the 30GB iPod we tested , for exampl e, video playback time was only 3.5 hours. But when only playing music, the same iPod ran for 16 hours before needing a recharge.
You'll need a bigger pocket. Small as the ir screens might be, most video-enabled hard-disk players are bulkier and heavie r than current nonvideo models. The heaviest can weigh more tha n half a pound .
Not all content works on every player. Content sources for video players currently include CinemaNow.com and iTunes.com. Prices range from nothin g to $1 5 per download, depend ing on site, content , and whether you rent or buy. While t heir offerings are growing, iTunes cont ent works only with iPods (for portable applications), and Cinema Now only for players that can handle copy-protected Windows for mats. Some players block copy protected video files from playing on external displays.
You'll need a deeper pocket. Though some models are designed to connect wit h other devices, such as a TV, the cables and accessories t hat help them do it might cost extra. Whichever player you choose, look for one with firmware that can be upgraded for adding or enhancing player features, as well as accommodat ing newer encoding schemes or variations of compression. This is particularly important for mode ls with video playback because of th e evolving nat ure of video formats.
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
69
They're analog remnants in a digital .world: the LPs and cassettes you accum
ulated during the last century. You cherish
them , even if you don't play them anymore.
You can turn analog recordings into easier
to-use digital ones while the originals are
in good shape-and while you still have
the gear to play them into a digital recorder.
Don't expect great ly enhanced quality. Record pops and tape hiss will be faithfully
reproduced. And forget lOx or 20x burn
speeds; 50 hours of analog music will
take at least 50 hours to copy, since it
must play at regular speed .
Besides testing products and services
ourselves, we asked readers to share rec
ommendations on our Electronics blog (at
btogs. ConsumerReports. otg/electrotiics) and in the Electronics & Computers forums at www.ConsumerReports.org.
DO IT YOURSELF' WITH A COMPUTER This is your best choice if you're tech-savvy,
want to transfer lots of songs to your MP3
player and CDs, and are willing to learn
how to use sound -record ing software.
You'll need a computer with a stereo audio
"line" input that can accept analog signals
from an audio receiver, cassette deck , or
pre-amplified turntable. Most compute rs
new enough to use Windows XP, Vista,
or Mac OS X have the required input. You
will also need:
~ A low-noise sound card. If you hear
buzzing or garbling in even the quietest
parts of your recordings, you might need
a better card, either internal or external;
figure on spending up to $100.
Audio-Technica LP2Da
Sound-editing software
90 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
acity 1.2.6 or Audio Recorder for Free 5.6, are available for download at no charge. More advanced programs cost $30 to $80. ~ Playback gear. Cassette decks can be piped directly into a computer. Traditiona l turntables can't; they have to be routed through a pre-amplifier. Some new turn tables can be connected directly to a computer because a pre-amp is built-in. Keep in mind that YOU 'll have to physically connect the computer and entertainment gear with a cable. Very long cable runs can degrade sound quality, so you might have to move the equipment closer together. Pros: Inexpensive, especially if you don't have to buy a new sound card. Allows max imum control over editing and organizing music and labeling discs. Software (espe cially commercial titles) often allows you to "clean up" record scratches and tape hiss. If you own an MP3 player, you can use the better. for-pay software to convert the analog signals directly to MP3 files, saving a step. Cons: If you're not computer-savvy, this can be more daunting than using a dedicated CD recorder. We assessed two computer-compatible turntables, the $100 Audio-Technica LP2Da and $140 Ion iTIUSB. Both produced ade quate sound, but you'd get better results with a higher-quality conventional turntable and pre-amplifier. The Ion is easy to connect to your PCvia the USB 2.0 port, and it allows conversion of 33- , 45-, and 78-rpm disks. But the software that comes with the Audio Technica. called Pyro, is simpler to use, and unlike the len's, it converts files into MP3
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Xitel INPort Deluxe ($80). We found the Roxio full-featured and easy to use. The Xitel, which includes an external sound card and a 30-foot audio cable, had sound quality that was good. Though the software for removing pops and other LP imperfec tions worked well, the editing software was very basic and couldn't burn to CDs. You can use Windows Media Player to do that. Among the products used by readers were Sony Sound ForgeAudio Studio ($50), Roxio CD Spin Doctor ($40), Acoustica Spin It Again ($35), and GoldWave ($55), which is free to try for 30 days. All work only on Windows-based PCs, but at least one of our Mac users had good results with the Griffin iMic ($40), an external sound card that comes with software called FinalVinyl.
USE A CONVERSION SERVICE Best choice if you don't have a decent turntable or cassette deck, and if you have few LPs or tapes to convert. Conversion ser vices digitize your LPs and cassettes using their equipment. If you can't find a local service, search online for "LPs convert CDs." Expect to pay $6 to $12 per album or audiocassette converted to audio CD. Services will also provide your music as MP3 files for $3 to $6 more per disc, but you can convert to MP3 yourself once the music is on CD. You usually get discs within 5 to 10 business days after ship ping your LPs or tapes. Faster shipping is available but might double your costs. Pros: Less effort than the DIY options. Cons: You'll have to wait days or weeks for your discs. Your records or tapes could be
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also sound better. Based on our limited tests , you might not get the sound quality or attention to detail-such as labeling or proper breaks between tracks-that you'd get by doing the job yourself. Some services keep a 3D-day backup and will redo your recordings if you're unhappy, but asking for a revision will prolong the process.
DO IT YOURSELF WITH A CD RECORDER Best choice if you want to play your music only on CD and don't want to use a com
puter to do the conversion. You'll need
a CD recorder. Like a CD player, these
devices connect directly to your audio
system and can record from any source
connected to the receiver. We also tried
a combination turntable/CD recorder, a
freestanding component that can convert
records to CD witho ut connecting to your
entertainment system. For playback, a
working cassette deck or turntable to
connect to your entertainment system is
a must. To connect a turntable, you need a
receiver with "phono" inputs-a rarity on
today's receivers-or a "phono" pre-amp to
connect to the recorder ($40 and up).
. Pros: Easy to set up and use. You don't
need a computer. The CD recorder can
double as your CD player.
Cons: Pricey. Recorders cost $300 to
$500. Few or no options for cleaning up
pops and hiss on source material. Might
require attention during recording to set
up tracks. Audio or "music" CD-Rs cost
25 cents and up, twice as much as the
data CD-Rs you can use with computers.
a dedicated recorder with two CD decks ,
and the $400 TEAC GF-350, whi ch com
bines a CD player/recorder with a built-in
turntable, a simp le AM/FM radio, and
speakers . .
We recommend the Sony. Connected to
a high-quality turntable, it produced CDs
with fine sound quality, especially when we
switched on the Super Bit Mapping (SBM)
feature. By contrast, the LPswe dubbed onto
disc using the TEAC combo unit sounded
tinny and lacked bass.
SONY RCD-W500C
I TEAC GF-350
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE Z008 91
~."II!IIIJI•••!!_~~!!'!lIl'!:
A pluq-and-play satellite radio lets you shuttle easily between car and home Iisteninq.
A handheld satelllte radio receiver can play recorded broadcasts when reception is poor.
92
satellite radio is heard. Overall, 71 per cent said they were highly satisfied with their service. That's comparable to the satisfaction levels that satellite-TV subscribers recently reported to us, and ranks high among all services we have rated. They also gave satellite radio high marks for ease of setup and use. But that was before the announcement that the two providers, Sirius and XM, were seeking to merge. For more on the uncertainty resulting from this announcement, see "The satellite-radio merger: What consumers should know;' page 93. If you're considering satellite radio before the merger's outcome is decided, weigh these points: Expect to discover new conten t . Half of the survey respondents said that satellite had made them more likely to listen to musical genres they had not listened to before, especially country, rock, and jazz. Satellite's hundreds of channels are remarkably diverse, exploring many subgenres. For example, XM's country music channels include traditional, bluegrass, and progressive. With that many choices, it's hard not to stumble on unfamiliar tunes, and it's easy to find some that stick with you. You'll hear fewer commercials. While all the music channels are commercial-free, most other satellite-radio channels aren't. Sports is a main attraction. Sports was a major draw for 10 percent of survey respondents. Both Sirius and XM provide play-by-play coverage of all games for the professional sports they cover.Thirty-three percent
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
at home. There are several ways to do this. Sirius and XM let subscribers listen to broadcasts on their Web sites using any Internet-enabled computer. There are also home satellite receivers, plug-and play models that you can shuttle between car and home, and handheld portables that let you listen virtually anywhere you can receive a strong signal. Portables for either Sirius or XM have powerful and controversial new recording features. You can record content, save individual songs, schedule show recordings, pause, rewind, fast-forward live programs, and create the type of mixes that have helped popularize Apple's iPod. Satellite-radio services and manufacturers view those functions as perfectly legal time-shifting. The recording industry defines it as illegal downloading and has filed lawsuits to curb such use. For now at least, consider satellite radio mostly if you want a lot of diversity plus static-free sound. Serious music and sports fans are most likely to appreciate the investment.
HOW TO CHOOSE Select a provider. While Sirius and XM both fared
well in overall satisfaction, respondents reported some differences. They rated XM's sound quality and signal availability more highly and rated Sirius a slightly better value. Both Sirius and XM offer scores of music channels, several news outlets, plus traffic and weather reports for 20 metropolitan areas. But each features exclusive content, too. A dual XM and Sirius unit could be available as early as this year from Interoperable
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ming is simila r, too, save for pro sport s and celebriti es. The companies say t hat the merger will allow sports fans, for exam ple, to avoid having to choose between major-league base ball (available only on XM) and NFL games (only on Sirius) or between Howard Stern (on Sirius) and Bob Dylan (on XM).
A sat ell ite-radio merge r could mean more choices for car listening.
The announc ement that XM and Sirius, t he two satellite radio providers, are trying to merge was hardly a jaw dropping shock to indust ry watchers. Both services have been losing hundreds of mil lions a year, and the merger had been rumored for months. As we went to press, a lot was still unknown abo ut the deal and its effe ct on sub scribers. But here's our best advice on what satellite-radio custom ers need to know; The merger Is far from a done deal. And it won't hap pen immediately. The compa nies may want to merge but t he Federal Communications Commission still needs to sign off on the deal. And its approval is far from assured,
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according to telecommunica tions experts at Consumers Union, t he nonprof it publisher of CONSUMER REPORTS (CU maintains HearUsNow.org, a Web site on communica tions issues). There are rules on t he books t hat prohibit a single sate llite radio company from holding all the licenses in this product market. The FCC could change its rules, our experts say, but it would need sufficient j ust if ica t ion t hat th e merger would pro duce a net consumer benefit. Any FCC decision will take time , of course , and the com pani es have said they don 't expect the merger to be com plete unt il the end of 2007. Don't expect huge changes to programming. This is hardly
How long current equipment can be used Is a question. It 's sti ll unclear wheth er cur rent subscr ibers might eventually need new radios , or wheth er t he company will cover t he cost. There could be changes to the cost of your subscription. The companies claim t hat competition from other types of content providers, from Intern et radio to cell-phone music services, gives them powerful incentive not to raise rates. They're also saying that t he merged company will offer "consumers the ability to pick and choose the channels and content they want on a more la carte basis," rather than using t he current approach of havlng one rate for all pro gram ming, ($12.95 a mont h for eith er service). CU's comm unications
a
from non-satellite services
would be enough of a factor
to keep prices down.
If you're th inking about
subscribing to satellite radio,
here are a few additional
considerations during the
period the merger is pending:
Ask about protection before
you buy. Ask t he seller
equipment is sold by the
prov iders th emselves as
well as by auto makers and
elect ronics retail ers- what
protection you have in t he
event that the merger renders
your equip ment obsolete . Ask
for any assurances in writ ing
before you buy.
Don't worry too much about whether the satellite service you're considering Is compat Ible with a new car. A growing number of new cars come equipped with radios tha t are compati ble with one or the othe r sate llite service. Given current satellite radio
uncertainti es, future com pati
bility should not be a fa ctor
when selecting the car you
want. Also, ask for written
assura nce against obsoles
cence if you plan to buy a
sate llite radio as an extra
cost option wit h your new car.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 93
cheap . HD-compatible aftermarket radios for th e car are on sale from Alpine , NC , Kenwood , and others, typically with prices of $170 and up. Adapters th at enable factory -installed car radios to receive HD Radio cost $200 or so. Some automakers are installing HD Radio produ cts into their models. BMW already has them available across its ent ire line. Ten other car manufacturers are expected to offer them on mor e than 50 models over the next two to . th ree years. Table models and a few audio compo nent tune rs for the home , from Boston Acoustics, Cambr idge Soundworks, Radiosophy, Sangean , and Sony, start at $120.
WHAT IT OFFERS At this t ime , more than 1,300 stations across the U.S. are broadca sting digital signals, with another 700 expected to be doing so by the end of 2007. By then , according to iBiquity Digital, the comp any that developed the technology, HD Radio will be available to about 90 percent of U.S. listeners. Stations supporting HD Radio simu lta neously broadcast both analog and digital programs over th e same frequency. With a regula r radio, you'll hear the analog pro gramming. With an HD-compatible radio, th e radio t unes in digital programming on HD stations when the signal is strong enough , and tunes in analog program ming for non-HD stations or when signals are too weak for HD reception .
AM stations resemble tho se of analog FM. Programming is more varied. More than 600 stations that have converted to HD Radio have added a second (and some even a th ird) FM channel with diffe rent programming. The main service is tun ed in at th e usual frequency. You tun e the subchannels with a tap of a toggle or a turn of the tuning knob ; they appear in the display with a designation such as "FM2" and are not accessible when an HD radio is in analog mode. . The subchannels typically carry pro gramming of a different music genre than the main service. For example, Chicago based WVAZ (10 2.7 FM) offers R&B music on its HD1 broadcasts and gospel on its HD2 subchannel. WKTU, a New York stat ion that plays hip-hop and rap on its main channel, uses its HD2 service to play country music-a genre that's all but absent from th e New York radio land scape. (For a full list of HD Radio stations and the ir formats, visit www.hdradio.com .) In many cit ies, the subchannels are bringing welcome diversity to the air waves. Still, don't expect anywhere near the variety you get with satellite radio . Sirius carries 125 stations, while XM has 165, mostly comm ercial free. Most HD Radio stations will carry no commercials on subchannels, at least until late 2007, but th e main channels will carry the usual commercials. You get more information. As with satellite radio, HD Radio st ations can broadcast the song title , artist, and other data, which appear on a display on the .
94 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
York-area HD Radio stations. With some, however, we could receive the analog signal but not the digital one. When the digital signal for the main (HD1) service wasn 't strong enough , the radio efficiently switched to the analog broadcast. When the digital signal s falte red for an HD2 sub channel, however, programming simply stopped , resulting in an on/off pattern of interrupt ions. By contrast, satellite radio broadcasts are available virtually anywhere in the U,S. and Canada, and recept ion problems are infr equent , according to a survey of satel lite-radio by th e Consumer Reports National Researc h Center.
THE BOTTOM LINE We have high hopes for HD Radio. It has the poten tial to improve sound quality and listening choices beyond what traditiona l AM/FM radio currently offers. That said, most people will want to wait before investing in HD-Radio equipment. At this stage, prices are high. More and cheaper HD-Radio compatible gear is coming soon , and analog radio isn't likely to become obsolete withi n the lifetime of a new radio, receiver, or even a car. Exceptions may apply if you'r e now in the market for a new luxury car or high end aud io receiver. With thos e purchases, the incremental cost of adding HD-Radio capability might be relatively small. Before spend ing any extra for HD-Radio compati bility, check the station list at www.hdradio .com to find out which stations, if any, are broadcasting digitally where you live.
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bines a receiver with a set of matched speakers, wiring, and often a DVD player. Th e package will cost less than building your own system from scra tch . Still, unles s you're a serio us m usic listener, you'll probably find the func tionality and sound qu ality to be just fine. But these systems typi cally have less power and fewer features than separate components and usually don't let you add or replace speakers.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Home-theater packages includ e a receiver that can decode dig ital-aud io soundtracks, five or more com pact speakers-two front , one center, two to four sur round speakers for the rear- and a sub woofer that have been matched for sou nd. Some systems have wireless sur round speakers or speakers with flat styling to comp lement a flat-panel TV. You get all the cables and wirin g you need , usually color-coded or labeled for easy setup. Most systems include a progressive-scan DVD player, either bui lt into the _~ _
nent s and turn on the whole system with one button. Th e receivers have abou t 20 or more presets you can use for AM and FM stations. Most receivers also offer a sleep timer, which turns them on or off at a preset time. Rem ote controls are mo st useful when th ey have clear labels and different-shaped, color-coded buttons grou ped by function. A un iversal remo te can control a number of devices. An H DMI or component-video output on th e receiver that can connect to the TV allows for HD signals if you switch video signals through your receiver. For standa rd defini tion, you can also use an S-video output, or a com pos ite-video connection. Th ese connections let you pipe signals from an external DVD player,camcorder, or cable or satellite boxes th rough the sys tem. Any player that you m ight want to connec t will need th e same digital-audio conn ections, either optical or coaxial, as those of the included receiver. And if you wan t to make occasional con nections-
Only the most discerning audiophiles would f ind fault with the sound quality of a good home-theater package.
receiver or as a separ ate componen t, and a powered subwoofer. A few bundJe in a VCR as well. Price: $50 to $1,500 for typical systems, and $2,000 or more for systems aimed at audio philes. Panasonic and Sony are among the best-selling br ands in th e mark et.
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ELECTRONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 2008
95
and output connections for all your components.
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
Decide whet her you want a DVD player. If not, you could save money by buying a system witho ut one. If you want a DVD player in the bu ndle, con sider whether you need a m ultidisc mo del that will
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
such as a VCR, cable or sate llite box , and DVR. Consider wh ich devices you'll want to cha nne l through the home-theate r unit and which you can hook up directly to the TV. Be sur e you have enough
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audio/video needs. Does a home t heater in a box merit professional installation? Not really. You could probably get the retailer to sell you a basic installati on package, but unless you are very uncomfortable with technology, chances are you won't need it. Setup is a matter of plugging in t he speakers and th e power cord. Many systems use color-coding and clear labeling to simplify the process. On the other hand, a high-end system consisti ng of many separate components often requires professional help.
make sure you ask what happens if th e insta llation runs longer t han expected. Do you t hen pay more? .The key issues: Who pays if t he project take s longer tha n est imated, and what kind of fees apply if t he insta ller comes out and cannot complete the installation - for whatever reason. Once th e installers begin t heir work, unant icipated issues might come up, and it's best to underst and your option s ahead of t ime. For examp le, an insta ller might say: "This speaker can't be hidden because
SHOP FOR SERVICE Most retailers sell home-theater installa t ion and set up services. Given the range of opt ions, it's no surprise that several off er various levels of service to cover t heir custome rs' needs. Best Buy and Circuit City, for e xam ~ pie, have variati ons on basic, deluxe, and premium packages. Packages are similar in scope, althoug h Best Buy lists each servi ce as a flat rate, while Circuit City provides a price range for most of its services. Wit h Best Buy's $2 00 Home Theater insta llatio n package, for instance, the insta ller hooks up everything, sets up components and up to seven speakers, and explains how the system works. Circuit City's Deluxe Home Theater package, ranging from $2 99 to $399 , includes installation, programming th e remote, and wall-mounti ng with wire
Unless you're very uneasy .about technology, you should be able to set up a home-theater syst em yourself.
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of feet over, where the drywall and studs perm it me to hide it." If you want to say no to t hose opti ons, you need to under sta nd t hat the insta llers might refuse to do the jo b your way and bill you for t he visit anyway, or t hat it might cost more to do it your way. Wherever possib le, check t he fi ne print on your purchase agreeme nt for details like th ose. At the very least , asking some basic worst-ease-scenario questions before you leave th e store can help avoid any majo r surpri ses later on.
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 08 97
OF HOME ENTERTAI ME
The receiver plays a pivotal role in any home-theater system.
In addition to accommodating new audio sources, today's
receivers connect to your television and DVD player/recorder
he receiveris the heart of a contemporary home theater system. It connects video sources such as a TV, DVD player, VCR, and cable or extra satel lite box, as wellas audio componen ts such as speakers, a CD player, cassette deck, and turntable. Receivers started out as audio equipment, providing AM and FM radio tuners, stereo sound, and switch ing capabil ities. But as they have taken on a pivotal role in hom e entertainment , they've lost some aud io related features that were common in the past, such as tape monitors and phono inputs. Manufacturers say the y mus t eliminate tho se less-u sed features to make room for others. Even so, a stand-a lone receiver generally pro vides more functionality th an one bundled with speakers as a home-theater-in a-box system.
T
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Sony is by far the biggest-selling brand of receivers. Other top sellers include Denon, Harman Kardon, lVe, Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha. Most receivers sold today are capable of handling the multichannel audio in DVDs and some TV pro gramming, but stereo receivers are still available. Here are the different types you'll find: stereo. Basic receivers accept ana log stereo
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channel, which is typically sent to a separate, pow ered subwoofer. Dolby Digital is used on DVDs and digital TV programming. A rival format, DTS, also offers 5.1 channe ls. DTS is used on some DVD movies and often on record ings of studio and live perform ances. Dolby Digital EX and DTS-EX are newer formats that add one or two rear chan nels to th e 5.1 setup, for a total of 6.1 or 7.1 chan nels. Any receiver with 6.1 or 7.1 channels can also support 5.1 as well as audio formats with fewer channels. Most new receivers also have som e type of digital soun d processing th at synthesizes multichannel aud io from two-chann el sour ce ma terial. To take advan tage of t rue surround sound capability, you need the appropriate num ber of speakers in a setup capable of reprodu cing full-spectrum soun d. Some receivers support Dolby Headphone decod ing, which provi des a surround-sound experience with standard headp ho nes. Power outp ut for mult ichann el receivers is typically 75 to 150 watts per channel. Price: $200 to $500 or more. THX-cer t ified. Some high-priced multi channel receivers have been cert ified to meet TH X sta ndards. Thi s indi cates that they can replicate theaterl ike sound in a home enviro nme nt. Th e higher cost of these receivers generally isn't worth it unless you want especially high- fidelity movie sound from your hom e theater. Power for THX models is typically 100 to 170 watts per channe l. Price: $500 to $2,500 and up.
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models can route video and still images stored on a com puter or on a memory card inser ted into a slot on th e receiver to a TV. Another examp le of versatility is the ability to play mu sic in more th an one roo m . Many receivers have a B-speaker connection that lets you power a remote pair of stereo speakers so you can listen to the same source in a few location s. A step up from that is multizone cap ability. That ena bles you to utilize different inp ut sources in different rooms- say, listen to th e radio in the bedroom (Zon e 2) while another fam ily me mber watches a DVD movie in the living room (the main zone) . A few high-priced models have three-zone capab ility. Some receivers prov ide power for the additional speakers; with others, you might need a separate power amp lifier. Connections matter more on a receiver than on any other ho me-theater component . A stereo receiver will give you analog-audio inputs and outputs; man y will have ana log-video inputs and o utputs, too. Multicha nne l receivers add digital audio inp uts and outputs and analog-video connec tions, such as composite-video and
,
To ensure that your receiver has enough oomph to prov ide adequate volume, plan on at least 50 watts per channel for a typical 12x20-foot liv ing room.
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you sat isfy your personal preferences. A gr aphic equalizer brea ks the so und sp ect rum in to th ree or more sections, giving you m or e control over the audio spectru m. Instead of ton e con trols, some receivers come with ton e prese ts su ch as "jazz" o r "rock;' each accen tuating a different frequency patt ern . O ften you can also craft your own styles. DSP (digital-signal processor) modes use a com puter chip to d upli cate the so und ch aracteristics of a concer t hall an d other listen ing environ m ents. A
mo dels. More mo dels also have onscreen setup to sim plify th e process. A tape monitor lets you listen to a reco rding as it's bein g m ad e, or patch in signa l-processing equipment such as an ou tbo ard gra phic equalizer. Automatic or seek-radio tunin g searches for the next in- ran ge station at th e touc h of a bu tton . Most mo dels have a station -preset feature th at lets you store 20 to 40 of your favorite statio ns for easy recall. To catch stations too weak for the seek mo de,
Don't waste your money on high-end cables Ca bles are a n esse nt ial part of a ny audio/video s yste m. They're need ed to connect the components in your ste reo syste m, a nd your TVto your ca ble or satellite box, DVD player, an d othe r A/V gea r. Audio a nd video ca bles are made differently, with video being more particular. But both have the requ ired electrical sh ielding inside t heir jacket. The a udio/video ca ble ma rketplace is populated with ma nufacturers that try to cap italize on the mystiqu e of cab les. For example, they might use s ilver or exotic mate rials for a n infinitesimal reduction in s ignal deg radation. Retailers mark up accessory
prices su bsta ntia lly, a nd sa les reps ofte n steer customers to purchase these premium-priced , high-end ca bles, which can cost $ 10 0 or more. But a re they reallyworth the money? In most cases, they're not. While you shou ld avoid fli msy, thin cables with chea p construction a nd low-quality connectors, most name-bra nd ca bles so ld in e lectron ics stores s hould be fine for sh ort runs of up to 10 feet-and the y'll save you a bundle. Choose ca bles with connectors that have a la rge e nough grip to allow you to hold it comforta blyas you plug or unplug it from your device. The connectors s hould fits nugly when inse rted into the mating connector. Always disconnect a ca ble from your TV or ste reo device by holding the connector, never by pulling on the wire.
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But there are situations where high-end cables might make sense. Consider a premium brand If: • you need a long cab le (over 100 feet); • you are picking up inte rfe re nce and need ca bles with better s hielding; • you'll be repeatedly disconnect ing and recon necting a nd need more-rugged connectors . Gold plating might also be a good choice in urban environments with polluted air or oceanfront homes with salty air. For digital signa ls, the dec ision is very simple. Use the chea pest vide o ca ble of reasona ble cons truction you can get. For DVI or HDMI, any ca ble that's des igned to handle those s ignals sh ouldw ork fine. One ca ut ion: The signa l might degrade too much when these ca bles are extended wit h ada pters to long lengths (greater than 35 feet).
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in playing music or in an easy upgrade to your TV soun d, a stereo receiver m ight be all you need. How manydevices doyou wantto connect? Even basic multichannel receivers generallyhave enoug h AN inputs for a CD or DVD player, a VCR, and a cable box or satellite receiver. Mid- and high priced mo dels usually have more inputs, so you can connect additional devices, such as a camcord er or a digital-video recorder such as TiVo,or a game system. Th e nu mbe r of connec tio ns isn't the only issue; the type also matters. Composite-v ideo inputs, the m ost basic type, can be used with everything from an older VCR to a new DVD player. S-video and com po nent-video inputs are used mostly by devices that provi de better picture qual ity, such as DVD players, digital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers. To get high- definit ion TV programming or en hanced definit ion output from a prog ressive-scan DVD player, you mus t use a compo nent-video input or an HDMI input. If you have or plan to buy an HDTV and an HD DVD or Blu- ray Disc player, look for an H DMI input. On a receiver, all video inp uts except HDMI requ ire a comp anion audio in put. Th e basic left/ right audio inputs can be used with alm ost any device to provide stereo sound . To connect a turntable without th e need for a separate ph ono amplifier, you need a ph ono input. To route multichannel sound from DVD players, d igital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers, you generally use a digital-aud io input. With this input, digitally enco ded mu ltichannel sound is relayed on one cable to th e receiver, which decod es it into separate channels. The inp ut on the receiver mus t be the same type-eith er optical (th e more
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lower-priced cables. (See "Don't waste your m oney on high -end cables," page 100.) What kind of music do you like? Any receiver can reprod uce stereo sound. Most mu ltichannel m odels have digita l-signal pr ocessing (DSP) modes tha t process two channels to sim ulate a sound environm ent, such as a con cert hall. For multichannel mus ic from SACD or DVD-Audio disc player, get a receiver with 5.1 ana log inputs. How big is your room? Make sure a receiver has th e oo mph to provide adequate volume : at least 50 watts per channel in a typicaI 12x20-foot living room, or 85 watts for a 15x25-foot space. More power is needed for a huge room, plush furn ishings, inefficient loudspeakers, or high volume levels. Is the receiver compat ible with your speak ers? If you like to blast mu sic for hour s on end, get a receiver rated to handle your speaker s' im ped ance. Most receivers are rated for 6-o hm and 8 ohm speakers. If used with 4-ohm speakers , such a receiver coul d overhe at and its prot ection circuitry would shut it down . Is it easy to use? Look for legible displays and well-labeled function butto ns. Some receivers add an onscreen menu, which displays settin gs on your TV screen . An aut o-calibration feature adjusts speaker sound levels and balance to im prove the surr ound effect. Model s with a test- tone func tion help you balance the sound yourself. Wh en decid ing where to place your receiver, allow 4 inches or so of space behind it for cables an d at least 2 inches on top for venting to prevent overheating. And if setti ng up a home th eater is a bigger proj ect than you want to tackle, cons ider professional installation .
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II
BE SURE TO BUDGET
FOR GOOD SPEAKERS
A sound long-term invest ment, loudspeakers last for years
A
ny home-entert ainment system will sound only as good as its speakers. Good speakers don 't have to cost a lot, though an audiophile might spend well into five figur es. Speakers generally last a lon g tim e and are less likely to become outmoded than other home-theater gear. For your system , you can sta rt with two or thr ee speakers and add others as need dictate s and bud get allows.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
It's easy to adjust speaker sound levels to suit any listening environment.
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Among the hu ndr eds of speaker brands available, the major names include Acoustic Research, Bose, Boston Acoustics,Infinity, JBL, KLH, and Polk Audio. Speakers are sold through mas s merchandisers, audio/video stor es, and "boutique" retailers. You can also buy speakers online, but shipping costs are often high $100 or more-if the speakers are heavy. Speakers are sold as pairs for traditional stereo setups, and singly or in sets of thre e to eight for equipping a home theater. To keep a balanced
system, bu y left and right speakers in pairs rath er than indi viduall y. Th e center-cha n nel speaker should be son ically matched to th e front speakers. Rear speakers should also sound sim ilar to front speakers. Each type of speaker servesa different purpose. The front speakers are used for stereo mus ic playback; in a home-th eater set up, they provide front left and right sounds. A center-channel speaker delivers movie dialog and is usually placed atop or beneath th e TV in a home theater. Rear speakers, som etimes called sur round speakers, deliver rear ambien t effects such as crowd noise. A subwoofer carri es the lowest ton es, such as action -m ovie explosions. Bookshelf speakers. Th ese are among the smaller speakers, but at 12 to 18 inch es tall, many are still too big for most shelves, despite their name. A pair of book shelf speakers can serve as the sole speakers in a stereo system or as the front or rear duo in a hom e theater. Small speakers such as these have mad e strides in their ability to handle deep bass without buzzing or distortion . Any bass-handling limitations woul d
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S-video, and component-video. Newer models might have HDMI connections, im portant if you are planning to use HD video sources, such as a H D DVD or Blu- ray player. All th ese video jacks let you route vid eo signals through th e receiver to th e TV. Some m ultichan nel receivers convert com pos ite-video or S-video input to compo nent video or HDMI output (still sta nda rd -definition) . You can select th e sou rce on th e receiver without having to change inputs on the TV as well. Multichannel receivers might also have an alog 5.1 or 7.1 audio inputs. These accept input from a DVD player with its own built-in digital-audio decoder, an outboard decoder, or othe r compo
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loudness switch amplifies the highest and deep est soun ds to produce rich er sound when th e volume is set low, and in midnight mod e reduces loud sounds and am plifies quiet ones in Dolby Digital encoded soundtracks. A settings memory, som etim es called "one tou ch," lets you store settings for each source to minimize differen ces in volume, tone, and other sett ings when switchin g between sources. A similar feature, loudness memory, is limi ted to volume sett ings alone. Onscreen display lets you view the receiver's m enus on a TV screen, a squint-free alternative to using th e receiver's LED or LCD display. Switched .4.r ' ...._~4-1
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Rear-surround speakers. Rear speakers in a multi channel setup carry mostly background sound, such as crowd noise. Multichannel formats such as Dolby Digital, DTS, DVD-Audio, and SACD make fuller use of these speakers than earlier formats did. Rear speakers tend to be small and light (often 5 to 10 inches high and 3 to 6 pounds), so they can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf. Price: $50 to more than $500. Three-piece sets. Meant as a stand-alone system or to be used with other speakers, these sets combine two bookshelf or small satellite speakers for midrange and higher tones with either a center-channel speaker or a subwoofer for bass. Price: $100 to $800. Six- to eight-piece sets. An easy route to a surround-sound system, these matched sets have small bookshelf or satellite speakers for both front and rear pairs, a center-channel speaker, and a subwoofer. The front pair are sometimes floor-standing speakers. Six- or eight-piece sets take the guesswork out of matching speakers, which can be daunting. Price: $400 to more than $1,000.
your room size, shape, and furnishings, so see if the retailer will allow a home trial or ask about the return policy. If you're torn between two choices, buy the cheaper. Stores might be more open to a return if you want to trade up to a pricier set. Check impedance. If you like to play music loudly, make sure your receiver is rated to handle the impedance (generally from 4 to 8 ohms) of the front speaker pair. The lower the impedance, the more difficult it is for the amplifiers in the receiver to drive them, and the greater the chance that the receiver can be damaged. Power range refers to the power-handling capability of a speaker, often expressed in RMS (average power) and peak power (maximum surge power). Speakers placed by a picture-tube TV set should have magnetic shielding to avoid interfering with the picture. (This is not an issue with LCD and plasma sets, or with rear projec tion TVs using DLP, LCoS, or LCD technology.)
HOW TO CHOOSE Consider size. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, so see how they'll fit in your room. Floor-standing speakers might overwhelm smaller spaces. Bookshelf speakers are often a better fit, but some are quite large, so make sure the model you choose will fit the shelf or niche you've earmarked for it. And don't worry that you're giving up quality for compactness. Many small speakers do a
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Tryon headphones before buying to [udqe comfort and sound quality.
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W
heth er you want to listen to m usic or movies without disturbing others at home, get the best out of your MP3 player, or drown out distra ction s in noisy enviro nme nts, there's a set of headphones that's just right for you. For at-home listenin g, almost any decent head phones will do . They can help keep the peace, enablin g on e child to listen to mu sic while another watches TV, or allowing you to enjoy a late-night movie without disturb ing your sleeping spouse. Portable headphon es let you take the sho w on the road. If you'll be using an iPod or portable DVD player in a crowded plane, you might want to consider headphones that can help dim in ish unwanted ambie nt noise. Some m od els, such as
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Kess, Panason ic, !VC, and Philips. Most mo dels cost anywhere from $20 to more than $500. Home/studio headphones generally look like ear mu ffs, with earpieces on a headband. Most are corded, with wiring anywhere from 3 feet to 8 feet long for hooking up your receiver, DVD player, or TV. Wireless m odels are increasing in nu mb er. Th ese headphones have a batt ery-powered headset and an AC-powered tr ansmitter that connects to your audio or video gear. They transmit via radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth technology, or infrared. RF can transmit th rough walls and floors. enabling you to use the headphones in other rooms or even outside. Portab le Bluetooth transm itt er types use a rechargeable internal batt ery. The ir ra nge is less -around 30 feet. The down side is interference between devices on the same frequency.A cordl ess phon e cou ld cause static and clickin g on your headphones and vice versa. Because you wouldn't know this until you tried the head phones at home, we recommend tha t you buy wireless sets only if they can be returned for a refun d. Models that transmit via infra red, m uch like a TV remote, require a line of sight between the headphones and the base. Home/studio headphones come in a few basic designs: Closed, over-the-ears models (also called circum aural) cup your ears, sealing in sound and helping to muftl e amb ient noise. But they might also muffle some things th at you want to hea r, such as a doorbell. Open over-th e-ear models do n't press as firmly on the sides of your head and are usually lighter. They let more sound in and out, so late-n igh t listen in g
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help keep out extraneous sounds. Active noise-reduc tion headph ones are designed to block out ambient noise. They come with all types of ear covers: closed, open, in-ear, and buds. They often cost a bit more than models without this feature.
HOW TO CHOOSE Evaluate sound quality. Headphones should feed you clear, accurate sound with sufficient volume. Models with lower sensitivity might not do well with all portable devices, which produce less power. Like speakers, headphones might emphasize various parts of the audio spectrum. With any headphones, sound quality can vary greatly, so it's recommended that you try them before buying; online shoppers should check out return policies. Forthe best sound, stick with corded models. Most corded models and some wireless sets are fine for use with a TV or, if you're not too critical, for listening to music. Over-the-ear corded headphones are often the best choice for serious music listening at home. While wireless headphones can be conven ient, many have background hissing and/or dynamic range compression that flattens the sound to some extent. We've found that digital wireless models can provide better performance than analog, and 2.5GHz models often beat 900 MHz headphones. But all wireless headphones are susceptible to interference from other devices, such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, and computer hard drives that operate in the same frequencies. Look for head phones with multiple channels so you can switch to
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over-the-ear models are great for listening at home but could be too large to be easilystowed when you're traveling. Portable models might sacrifice some sound quality for small size, but they are handy. Ear buds and insert models are great for listening to music during on-the-go activities. If you'll be doing a lot of flying, or listening in a noisy environment, consider headphones with active noise-canceling technology. Additionally, the over-the-ear and insert types can block ambient noise. With any headphones, be careful that you don't crank the volume so high that you could damage your hearing. See "Music players at high volume can cause hearing loss,"page 86.
The Grado SR-60 model (below, left) is a throwback to traditional-looking headphones. Sennheiser PXC 250 headphones (right) offer active nolse reduction technology, an Increasingly popular feature.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE2008 105
market, and prices are starting to fall. Mea nwh ile, conventional DV Ds mi ght hav e reached th eir peak of popularity.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE Magnavox, Panasonic , Philips, Sony, and Toshiba are among the biggest-selling brand s ofDVD players. Virtu ally all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. When used with a conventi onal TV, th ose players p rovide the usual high DVD picture qu ality. With a TV tha t can display high-definition images, image quality is slightly better. (Th at's because HD sets support the player's progressive-scan 480p mode,
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output. Price: abo ut $25 to more than $300. Mult idisc consoles. Like CD changers, these players accom moda te more than one disc at a time, typically five. DVD jukeboxes hold hundreds of discs. Price: $100 to more th an $400. Port ables. Th ese DVD players generally come with a small, wide-screen- forma t LCD screen and batteries th at claim to pr ovide three or more hours of playback. Som e low-priced models don 't come with a screen; they're inte nded for users who plan to connect the device to a television . You pay ext ra for portability either way. Price: star ting at less th an $100. (See "DVD video for travel or tigh t spaces:' page 110.)
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Consider video and audio play functions Decide whet her you ju st want to play one DVD at a tim e or multiple CDs as well. Also consider whether you sti ll need videocassette playing capab ilit y. To save money and avoid unnecessary feat ures, go wit h t he simplest type of machine that will meet your needs.
Single-disc DVD player $25 and up
DVD changer
$100 to $400
Best for people who simply want an inexpensive machin e for watching DVDs.
Best for people who also want to play mult iple CDs. But thes e units are larger and more expensive.
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capab ility givesyou that opportunity to see certain action scenes from differen t angles. This feature and some others work only with certain discs. A DVD player enables you to navigate the disc in a number of ways. Unlike a VHS tape, most DVDs are sectioned. Chapter p review lets you scan th e opening secon ds of each section or chapter until you find what you want. A related feature, cha p ter gallery, shows thu m bnails of section or chap ter opening scenes. Go-to by time lets you enter how man y hours and minu tes into the disc yo u'd like to skip to. Marker functions allow easy indexing of speci fic sections. To get the most from a DVD player, you need to hook it up to th e TV with the best available connection. A composite-video connection can produce a very good picture, but the re will be some loss of detail and som e color artifa cts such as adja cent colors bleedin g into each other.
DVD pia er/VCR $90 to 140 Best for people who wa nt both mac hines but have room for only one.But combination mode ls often have fewer functions tha n se parate units.
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Using th e TV's S-video input can improve picture quality. It keeps the black-and -white and the color portions of the signal separ ated, producing more picture detail and fewer color defects. Com ponent-vid eo, sometimes not provi ded on the lowest-end models, improves on S-vi deo by splitting th e color signal, resulting in a wider ran ge of color. A co mponent-video o utpu t will also support 480p video in progressive-scan players and nop and 1080i on HD players. If you con nec t a DVD player via an S-video or compone nt con nec tion, don 't be surprised if you have to adjust th e television-picture setup when you switch to a picture comi ng from an an ten na, a VCR, or a cable box that uses a radi o-frequen cy (RF, also called antenna) connection or a composite-video connection . Two newer outp uts foun d on some players, Dig ital Vide o In ter face (DVI) and High-Definition Multimedi a Inter face (HDMI), are intende d for use
buy or rent is the main job of DVD players, but most can also play mus ic on CDs.
High-definition DVD player $300 to $1,200 For those who want the very best picture quality. Incompatible rival disc formats make this an iffy purchase at the moment. A multistandard playe r is available but costly: $1 ,200 .
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The transition from standard DVDs t o high-deflnition Blu-ray and HD DVD discs is in its early stages, so it's no surprise that prices for the new players are high. What you might not expect is the turmoil surrounding this long-awaited technology. These two formats are incompatible, meaning that a Blu-ray disc won't play on an HD DVD player and vice versa. This raises the possibility that consumers who buy one of these devices could discover that their expensive hardware is obsolete if the rival format becomes the industry standard. To address that concern, LG Electronics has introduced the industry's first "hybrid " player capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs , the BH100. Tackling the issue from the other end, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has come out with "Total HD," a hybrid disc format that can conta in movies in both formats on a singl e disc. Given the current state of high-definitlon DVDs, it' s tough to recommend purchasing a player now. For one th ing, we expect prices to fall later in the year as the market for high-def DVD expands. While Toshiba is currently the only company selling HD DVD players, several Chinese manufactur ers have said they'll have lower-priced HD DVD players in the U.S. by year's end. We also hope to see more dual-format players capable of playing both types of discs soon. But we don 't expect this format war to be fully resolved for at least another year.
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WHAT'S AVAILABLE As mentioned, Toshiba currently has the only HD DVD players on the market (RCA offered a model early on but has exited the business). Onkyo is expected to sell an HD DVD player later this year. Blu-ray enjoys broader hardware support from companies including LG Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, sarnsung, and Sony, among others. You can play Blu-ray discs on Sony's PlayStation 3 (two versions, priced at $500 and $600), which has an integrated drive, and HD DVD discs on Microsoft's Xbox 360, but YOU'll need a $200 external drive. There are a growing number of note book and desktop computers that either come with Blu-ray or HD DVD drives or that can accept add-on/external drives. All of the current hlgh-def DVD players we've tested can output video signals with a maximum resolution of 1080p except the low-priced Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player. It's limited to a maximum video resolution of 10801. And while the LG can ' provide 1080p video, it will not do so with all HDTVs that can accept 1080p inputs. All will play standard DVDs and can up convert them. Essentially, they scale the pixel count of the DVD's video to match the HDTV's native resolution; the picture quality will depend on the quality of the scaler, but even at its best, it won't be the same as video that originated in high definition. '
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
play audio CDs. All current high-def DVD players are single-disc players. There are no changers available , and th ere aren't yet any port able high-def DVD players. Nor are th ere any stand-alone Blu-ray or HD DVD record ers, though we could see the first later this year. There are a handful of expen sive notebook computers with Blu-ray recordable drives. Blu-ray and HD DVD drives for install ing into a desktop PCare available. Typically, HD DVD players sell for $300 to $1 ,000. Current Blu-ray players are pricier, ranging from $600 to more than $1,200. LG's dual-format player sells for $1,200. We expect prices to fall significantly closer to the holiday shopping season.
FEATURES THAT COUNT
All high-
or all of the features you get on a regular
DVD player, enabling you to pause, fast
forward , rewind, and search th e discs.
In addition, all the units have a front
panel display that provides information
about the player's operations.
Timers let you know how much tim e has elapsed and how much time is remaining on the disc, and an onscreen setup menu will allow you to adjust various settings . Examples include picture (such as select ing a widescreen 16:9 or standard 4:3 image to match your TV screen), sound (stereo or multichannel surround sound) , and language preference . Most high-
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compute r on a TV or sound system as approp riate. The Toshiba HD DVD models have an EtherneVLAN port for connecting the player to the Internet, enabli ng int er active feat ures such as suppiementa l movie conte nt (such as acto r's commen taries and links to locations ), games , and even online shopping. In addition to the HDMI and component video connections needed for high-def video display on an HDTV, many players includ e S-video and composite-video outputs. All we've seen have an optical digital audio output; most also include 5.1-channel analog audio outputs, for con necting the player to a Dolby Digital or DTS surround-sound receiver with multichannel analog audio inputs .
HOW TO CHOOSE Walt If you can. Given the cur rent high prices and th e incompatibility between the two rival formats, we th ink it' s wise to wait unt il things shakeout before committing to a purchase. At the least, waiting a few months could save you money. If you prefer to jump in soon er but are concerned about one format disappearing, consider a combination player. But they're pricey. Don't settle for less than exce ll ent HD picture quali ty . You shouldn 't have to comprom ise on HD quality ; the models we've tested have all been capable of
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For more cho ice in movie s, get a Blu ray player. There are a growing numb er of high-oaf DVDt itles, as many Hollywood studios are now releasing high-def versions of their movies at the same t ime as stan dard DVD releases, albeit at a higher ($25 to $35) price. At this stage, you'll find more movies available in the Blu-ray form at, which has the backing of seven of th e eight major studios. Five of those
High-del DVD play er s promi se the best Images Irom a consumer video device.
studio s-Disney, Lion's Gate, MGM, Sony Pictures, and Twentieth Centur y Fox-are issuing th eir movies only in the Blu-ray for mat. Only Universal is supporti ng HD DVD exclusively. Warner Bros. and Paramount are releasing movies in bot h form ats . . Video giant Blockbuster carries only Blu-ray discs. Consider which, if any, special play bac k formats matter. All high-def DVD players can play pre-recorded DVDs. Some, but not all , Blu-ray players will play com mercially released CDs, plus CDs burned with MP3 f iles. So fa r, all Toshiba HD DVD players will play standard audio CDs but not CDs burned with MP3 files. LG's BH100
view high-definition pictures on an HDTV. While most players can output 1080p signals from a high-def disc, they will trans mit it only via the HDMI input; none allow t he component outp uts to provide video resolutions above 10801. In addit ion, movie studios reserve the right to "downconvert " HD signals sent through component-video connections (which lack copy protection), although so far none has act ivated th is feature . None of the tested mod els will allow viewing of upconverted regular DVDs unless an HDMI connect ion is used. And if you want to use digital-aud io connections from t he DVD player to a receiver, make sure theDVD player's digital-audi o out puts are the same type as th e inputs on your receiver- opt ical, coaxial, or HDM!. Check on surround sound capabili ty. When used with hlgh-def discs, most models will support at least 5.1-channel sound via the digital and analog audio outp uts. The Panasonic can provide up to 7.1 analog chann els with Btu-ray discs but offers only 5.1-channel sound when used with regular DVDs. The Philips and Samsung can provide 5.1-c hannel analog sound from Btu-ray discs but only stereo sound from regular DVDs. While the low cost Toshiba model provides multichannel digita l audio, its analog audio output is stereo only.
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ELECTRO NICS BU YING GUIDE 200B
109
m ain music pl ayer, consider a multidisc pla yer.
called "5.1 analog-audio outputs."
DVD video for travel or tight spaces .
Port able DVD playe rs give new meaning to the phrase "Taking the show on the road." These enterta inment devices can be a godsend on long trips or layovers, as anyone with kids can attest. They also fit well in dorm rooms and children's rooms. Prices have come down considerably. Models with 7-lnch screens (measured diagonally) typically range f rom about $140 to $180, but you could see players sale-priced at less than $100. You can expect to pay more for a model with a 9-inch or 1Q-inch screen. Many'portable players resem ble a small laptop computer, minus the keyboard, with fl ip-up screens. Some models use a tablet style (similar to a Palm Pilot). Some models featu re displays that fold back so the player can be converted from a laptop to a tablet. Units designed prima rily for use in th e car also use tabletli ke dis plays, featur ing open screens with no clamshell cover. Those often include head-restraint
mount ing straps, a car power adapte r, and a small remote control. Almost all portable DVD players have built-in speakers, and outputs for connecting headphones.
HOW TO CHOOSE Don't skimp on the screen. It might be tempting to save money by choosing a DVD player with a small screen. We cautio n against buying a player with a screen smalle r tha n 7 inches. You won't save that much money, and view ing images can be difficult or uncomfortable, part icularly if two people will be watching. . Go for a good display. Screens that can be t ilted or swiveled can help you find th e best viewing angle , particularly in brightly light ed environments. Most models now have wide-screen dis plays t hat mirror th e 16:9 format of movies. Listen to t he sound quality . If possible , listen to the player in the store through the built-in
110 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 2008
speakers and through head
phones. For improved sound ,
consid er purchasing better
quality headphones separ
ately. If you won't be able
to test out the model
before buying,
strongly consider
a retailer with a no
questions-asked 3Q..day
return/exchange policy.
Get adequa t e battery life and accessories. Many mov ies run about two hours, so choose a player that won't run out of jui ce before that. Most models claim near three hour battery life from t heir built-in rechargeable batteries, and those we've tested have generally delivered on that claim. If the player will be used in a car, make sure it . comes with-or at least can be used with-a car adapter. If you plan to use a port able DVD player in a car, be sure to buy a mount ($20 to $40) to secure the player. (Some come with mounting stra ps.) That will keep the DVD
You can take It with you: A li ght , portable OVO player lets you ta ke a mini at ure mov ie theater on the road or In the air.
player f rom flying around the vehicle if you stop short or are involved in even a minor accident. Most models include an AC adapte r, and some also have a car adapter. Consider construction and warranty. Beware of fl imsy const ruction, which can be problematic with a device you tote around. Check out t he player's warranty. Warrant ies are usually 12 mont hs on parts, 3 month s on labor, but less-expensive models might offer only 3-month coverage for part s.
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removable DVDs (See "DVRs use a hard drive to let you schedule TV;' page 115.) At the highest-qu ality settin g, the quality of most DVD video recordings is better th an th at of a VCR. DVD recorders also offer more ways to navigat e recordings than a VCR, with no need to rewind or fast-forward.W ith certai n disc types, some DVD recorde rs can perform functi on s that no VCR can ma tch, such as letting you start watching a prog ram from the beginning while you'r e still recording th e end. They also offer a way to copy camcorder tapes or homemade VCR recordings to a DVD. DVD record ers are a maturing produ ct category, and pri ces for machines and for blank storage media may not drop mu ch fur ther.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE DVD recorders are available from ma ny of the sam e manufacturers that make DVD players. Cyberhome, Panaso nic, Philips, Sony, and Toshiba are amo ng the biggest brands. Some DVD recorders store content on ly on DVDs. O thers can also record onto VH S tapes, hard drives, or both. Price: DVD-only record ers, abo ut $120 and up. (Recorders with only an alog tuners can no lon ger be sold. New mod els can have a digital tun er- enablin g them to receive off-air digital signals -or no tuner at all.)
FEATURES THAT COUNT A record er's storage capacity varies in actual usage. DVD recorders store content at different compression
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settings and th us at different quality levels. For the best image quality, you have to record programming at the device's lowest comp ression, yielding as little as one hour of recording per disc. To get the maxim um capacity advertised- typically six or eight hou rs you have to use the highest level of compression, which gives the lowest qu ality. All rewriteable DVD forma ts let you edit, to vary ing extents, what you've recorded. DVD-RW in VR mode an d DVD- RAM recorders let you edit more extensively than DVD+ RW or DVD- RW in video mod e. Besides letting you watch one program while recor ding another, recorders with DVD- RAM capa bility and some with DVD- RW in VR mode let you watch an earlier sectio n of a pr ogram while you're still recording it. Like VCRs, DVD recorders m ight use VCR Plus to ease th e setup of tim e-sh ift recordings. Some come with TV Guide On Screen, a free interactive program guide that gets several days of listings at a time from your bro ad cast TV signal and many cable services. It offers point-and-click setup of recording events.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
A visual Index of scenes lets you quickly access the content you've burned onto a disc with your DVD recorder.
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111
ever wanted to see certain action scenes from dif ferent angles, m ultiangle capability gives you th at opp ortunity. Note that this feature and some others work only with certain discs. A DVD record er, like a DVD player, enables you to navigate the disc in a n umber of ways. Unli ke a VHS tape , mo st DVDs are sectione d. Ch apter
record ings to be saved indefinitely.But if neither of those attri but es is imp ortant to you, consider a hard drive-based DVR instead. If you've decided on DVD recordin g, here's what you should consider in select inga unit : Choose between a DVD-only recorder or a combo unit . DVD-onl y model s can cost about half
Decide on the digital video recording gear for you
DVD recorder
Best for those satisfied with VCR-like capability on a digital
platfor m. .
Pros Least-expensive way to record standard-definition TV
programs on DVDs. Doubles as a DVD player. No extra
monthly fees.
Cons No current models have the ability to record HD content.
Not as easy as recording on a VCR.
Expect to pay $120 to $300 for most.
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
DVD recorder with
built-in VCR
Best for peopie who want one device that uses bot h tap es
and discs.
Pros Versati le. Handy for transferring content from VHS tap e
to DVD and vice versa. Simplifies tr ansfer of home videos on
VHS to DVD.
Cons Loss of pict ure quality if you copy a DVD to tape . You
can't transfer most commercial, prerecorded tapes and DVDs.
Expect to pay $2 00 to $400 for most.
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can resume viewing where you left off. Most time slip models also let you view a previously recorded program while recording another. A feature of all hard-drive-equipped recorders, time slip is also available on most stand-alone DVD recorders that record to DVD- RAM discs, one of five disc types recorders use. (All models use at least one write-once and one rewriteable disc type; DVD- RAM discs are rewriteable.) But DVD-RAM discs can be played on fewer recorders or players than discs using formats that are more widely compatible.
without setting the box to the correct channel before each recording. DVD/hard-drive recorders designed to work with TiVo, the subscription programming service, also offer automatic recording of your favor ite shows (or performers) whenever or wherever they're on. But that added functionality has a cost: a monthly fee of about $13 (rates for longer terms may save you money). TV Guide On Screen is a free interactive program guide available on some models that works with broadcast TV and many cable services. While not as versatile as the TiVo
Digital-video.. recorder, hard-drive based
Best for those who are interested in recording only from a TV (not a camcorder, for instance) and those who record often. Pros Easiest TV-recording option. No need to buy blank discs. Some models can record HD broadcasts. Cons For archiving, you need a VCR or DVD recorder. Most models require a monthly rental or programming fee and a phone connection to update the program guide (except for cable-box models). You can't edit recordings.
Expect to pay Up to $200 plus programm ing fees for a TiVo
box, $800 and up for HD models . About $5 to $10 a month
to rent cable-box versions.
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DVD/hard-drive recorder
Best for people who often want to archive TV recordings
to DVD.
Pros Can hold many hours of video. Combines ease of
recording to hard drive with ability to archive to DVD.
Cons Expensive. Lower-priced models will probably be
available soon.
Expect to pay $300 to $800 for most.
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113
of-a-kind wedding-day video or childhood super-8 movie to DVDs, today's preserva tion medium of choice? Do It yourself with a DVD recorder. Best choice if you have a lot of video to convert and plan to do litt le or no editing. You'll need a component DVD recorder or combination DVD recorderjVCR (handy if you' ll be copying VHS tapes or VHS-C camcorder tapes). A model with RCA-type input s on the front panel is most conven ient. You'll also need playback gear. If you're using a stand -alone DVD recorder, you'll need a VCR or an anal og camcor der that uses the same form at as your old tapes. You plug the camcorder into the recorder, which you load with a blank disc (25 cents and up apiece). Pros: Relatively fast and easy to set up and use. You don 't need a computer. A DVD recorder can double as your TV recorder and main DVD player. Cons: DVD recorders cost $1 20 and up. You can't copy commercial tapes (such as movies); all of those have coding that stops the recorder. You can, however. convert homemade recordings from TV broadcasts. Use a video transfer service. Best choice if you have only a few tapes worth convert ing and don't have th e equi pment or time to do it yourself. You can send your tapes, of almost any common format, to a service for conversion to DVD. Services that con vert videotapes are more widely available, especially locally, tha n t hose that digitize
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
days later , typically, you wil l receive clearly labeled DVDs. For an extra fee, some ser vices will add menus and chapters to th e recording. Cons: High cost-$ 15 to $2 5 for the first tape . Longer waits t han doing it yourself. Extra charges might apply for additional ta pes or if the overall order must be split across mult iple DVDs (PCscan't burn t wo layers of playable video on a dual layer disc). Use a home-movie transfer service. If you own home movies shot before the 1980s, they're almost certai nly on Super 8 reels. Digitizing these yourself is usually imprac t ical, especially if you want to preserve or enhance their quality. Most readers who responded to our online inqui ries about movie conversion used a service. as we recommend . Chain stores such as Wal greens and Ritz Camera and local video specialists offer film-to-DVD conversion. There are also Web-based services . When we searched online using term s such as "home movie to DVD conversion or transfer" we found dozens of services, with a wide range of prices and opt ions. We tri ed several online services. The pict ure quality from all was sat isfactory, but some services did a better j ob at clea ning the film before scanning it. One service cropped th e picture edges. None of th em did muc h to correct for unnatu ral color or to adju st the light ing in unde r- or overexposed scenes.
EL ECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2 0 0 8
A DVD bur ner off ers the easi est way to t ransfer VHS recor dings t o discs and keep old home vid eos playa ble.
Costs vary wide ly. Walgreens and Ritz Camera bot h charge $50 for th e f irst 25 0 feet of film (equivalent to about 15 to 20 minutes of playing t im e) and 10 cents per foot thereafter . The online Home Movie Depot charges $6 per 50 foot reel; MyMovieTransfer.com charges $20 per 50 -foot reel. plus $10 for a DVD; YesVideo.com (which also services Walgre ens and Ritz Camera) charges $50 for th e f irst 25 0 feet and 10 cents per additional foot. All the onlin e ser vices charge an additional $6 to $ 10 for shipping. If you ship. use a box, bubble wrap, and a ship per that lets you track your package. Ship at least four weeks before you want the DVD back and indica te t he order in whic h you'd like the reels to appea r on the DVD. Ask whethe r the service can transfer sound for your type of film ; most don't do it for regular 8 mm. If you have a way to connect a MiniDV camcor der to your PC, order a copy on MiniDV tape ($1 0 to $35). Compared wit h the video on t he DVD we received, video from the Mini DV tape looked noticeably sharper. The tape you get back can serve as your own digital maste r copy.
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usually hold about 30 hours ofHD content. You can get a stand-alone DVR or one that's inte grate d into a digital-cable box, satellite-TV receiver, or OVD player/recorder. Depending on which type you choose, you mig ht pay for the service as well as th e equ ip ment- eith er a one-time charge or a mo nthly fee on top of your cable or satellite-TV bill. Because they can record and play at the same time, DVRs allow you to pause (the n rewind or fast forwa rd) the cur rent show you're watching, then pick up where you left off. If you pause a one-hour show for 15 min utes at the beginning, you can skip the commercials and catch up to the "live" bro ad cast by the end of the show. Dual-tuner models can record one show as you watch another or record two programs as you're watching a third previously recorded program . Man y d igital video recorders offer recor ding capability with the convenience of a TV program guide customized for th e broadcast cha nnels in your area or the cable or satellite service you have. A DVR does not replace your usual programming source. You m ust still get program ming via cable, satellite service, or anten na.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE If you get your DVR fun ctio nality in a digital-cable box leased from your cable company, you're typically lim ited to th e cable operator's choice of hardware. For hard-drive recor ding in a satellite receiver, yo u mig ht be able to bu y or lease the hardware from the Dish Netwo rk or DirecTV, or bu y it from a retailer. With eithe r cable or satellite, you can opt for a standard- def or high -def recorder.
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For stand-alone DVRs, TiVo is the m ain service provider. Hardware prices depen d mostly on whether it's an H D or SO un it and how man y hours of programming you can store; service charges vary. You can buy TiVo equipmen t directly from TiVo or from electronics retailers. TiVo functio nality was incorporated into DVRs from Sony, Toshiba, Pioneer, and Humax. Basic TiVo service was included with some of those products at no additional cha rge, but TiVo's regular subscription rates applied for fuJJ functionality. Price: abo ut $50 to more than $500 for a player tha t also incorpor ates a DVO player and VCR. Some TiVo un its are free when you sign up for service at $13 per mo nth ; longer term s might be available. Most combination DVO recorder/OVR models lack an onscreen program guide. But a few man ufacturers, includi ng Panasonic, Pioneer, and Toshiba, offer some comb inatio n DVD recorderlDVR mode ls tha t use a free program guide service, such as TV Guid e On Screen, that works with broadcast TV and many cable services.
CONSUMER REPORTS
You can easily record programs from an onscreen guide with a few button presses on the remote.
Systems such as TIVo can quickly show you what programs it recorded.
0 ELECTR ONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 2 0 0B 115
varies in actual usage. Like digital cam eras, many DVRs record at different compression settings and thus at different quality levels. For the best image quality, you have to record programming at the DVR's lowest level of compression . To get the ma ximum capacity advertised, you have to use the highest level of comp ression, which gives the lowest quality. For example , a model that advertises a 30-hour maximum capacity will fit only abo ut 9 hours at its best-quality settin g. The progr am gu id e is an int eractive list of TV programs that can be recorded by the DVR for the next 3 to 14 days, depending on the guide.You can select a program to watch or record or search by title, ar tist, or show type for automa tic recording. Custom channels, available with some models, are individualized groupings of pro grams th at interest you . Th e feature allows you to set up your own "chan nel" of favorites, such as app ear anc es by
another box, deal with another remo te, and possibly pay ano ther monthly fee. Would you prefer to have fewer boxes and ser viceproviders to contend with? Inquire whether a cable box equipped with DVR functionality is available. If satellite service is an option, consider getting a receiver that includ es a DVR. Keep in mind that you might have to pay a sepa rate fee for th e DVR service. And some satellite and cable DVRs work only with the service provider's programming and won't record from other sources, such as an antenna. Doyou want to edit recordings or store cam corder video? Then you need a DVD recorder or DVD recorder/hard-drive combo. Doyou want to record H0 content? Your options right now are an HD-capable DVR th at's incorpo rated into your cable box or satellite receiver, or a TiVo HDDVR.
;:.:. ConsumerReports.org I SHOP FROM THE CR WEB SITE The Ratings in the back of t his book tell you about the best products to buy, but you're on your own when it comes to fi nding the best deal. That 's why CONSUMER REPORTS has provided a way to shop for the best prices from reputable retailers online. ConsumerReports.org's Shop Online tool offers members easy access to retailers of a variety of
116 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIOE
2008
products-including video and audio gear. Just click on the icon in the Ratings online for the product that interests you; you will leave ConsumerReports .org and be linked directly to Yahoo Shopping. CONSUMER REPORTS has asked Yahoo to sort online retailers by price, lowest to highest, to help you choose. Additionally, to help protect
your purchase, only those onl ine retailers tha t qualify for inClusion in Yahoo's Buyer Protection Plan are listed. If you are not already a . subscriber, you can take advantage of the Shop Online service by activating the 30-day free SUbscription to Consume rReports .org offered on the inside front cover of this guide.
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Finding the best
digital camera Is hardly
child's play. You'll want
to explore the quality
imaging options
available In a variety of
convenient models.
consumption. SLRs, the digital descendants of single-lens-reflex film cameras, avoid those and other problems. But don't join the SLRstampede too quickly. There's no escaping the convenience of pocket-sized sub compacts, the sports cars of cameras, or the value and versatility you'll find in mid sized compacts akin to the family sedans of photography. If you already know the features you're looking for, you may want to skip ahead to our Ratings on Page 157. If this is your first digital camera or you just want a refresher on what to look for, read the buying advice that follows.
small enough for most handbags and glove boxes. The ones we tested recently weigh 7 to 14 ounces. Price: $150 to $300. More serious cameras have the versatility and power to capture fast action or create photographic art under the most demanding light conditions. SLRs (single-lens reflex),the largest and heaviest type, offer the most versatility and power, including interchangeable lenses. Price: $600 to $1,700 for consumer models; professional models can cost thousands of dollars. SLR-like is what we term a growing category of cameras offering many of an SLR'sbenefits for a lot less money. They feature a more versatile lens than other point-and shoots, although it's built-in, rather than interchangeable. Most SLR-likecameras lack some SLR features, such as large image sensors and an optical through the-lens finder, and aren't as fast off-the-mark when the shutter is pressed. Price: $250 to $600.
FEATURES THAT COUNT Digital cameras are distinguished by their resolution-how many pixels, or picture elements, the image sensor contains. One mega pixel equals 1 million picture elements. A 5-megapixel camera can make
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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types of memory cards used by cameras include Memo ry Stick Du o and xD. '10 save images, you transfer them to a computer,
are now as large as 3.5 inches.) Moni tors are accu rate in framing the act ual image you get-better than most optical viewfinders-but they might be
- - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - --1
Match the camera type to your needs Excellent came ras come in several types. To narrow your sea rch, decide whic h factors are most importa nt to you. Then find t he best model by checking the cameras in the Ratings on page 157.
Compact cameras Best for everyday use, fam ily gath erings. Pros Sim ple to use.
Cons Limited man ual controls for exposure
and composition.
Expect to spend $150 to $300.
Subcompact cameras Best for carryin g everywhere.
Pros Sma ll and light.
Cons Limited manua l control s. Small size
and controls might make it awkward to operate .
Expect to spend $200 to $350.
SLR-like cameras Best for photo buff s with moderate budgets.
Pros Versatile built-in lens, good battery life,
bette r pict ure quality th an most smaller cameras .
Cons Not as capable as SLR at high-ISO sett ings,
doesn 't always respond as quickly
Expect to spend Expect to Spend $250 to $600
SLR cameras Best for all subjects and artistic photography. Pros Instant startup, minimal shutter lag, inter changeable lenses, large image sensor, fast, con tinuou s shooti ng, RAW images, excellent battery life.
ConsumerReports.orq
Cons Large, heavy, and expensive.
Expect to spend $6 0 0 to $1 ,700.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRO NICS BUYIN GGUIDE 200 8 119
How much memory does your cam.era need?
~
:
SONY
:
MEMORySmKPROOuo
\
..1GB
:
:
--=
MACilc GAT E
The paltry memory cards supplied with new digital cameras-typically enough to hold fewer than 20 still shots-are more inadequate than ever now that resolution of 6-plus megapixels is becoming com mon and more cameras can take storage-hogging video clips. Here's a guide to buying (and wisely using) supplemental storage with your new camera: Buy at least 256 megabytes of storage. For most cameras, don't consider a card smaller than 256MB, which can hold 100 to 200 JPEG images, depending on image content and camera settings. (Although memory cards come in different shapes and sizes for different cameras, such as Compact Flash, xD, SD, and Memory Stick Pro, the type of card doesn't affect how many images it holds.) Allow more storage for more demanding uses. For a 6-megapixel camera shooting at maximum resolution and the highest quality level, consider a 1-gigabyte card, which costs about $55 and can hold a few hundred JPEG images. Also factor in the demands of any video you might shoot. Allow roughly 1GB of storage for each hour of MPEG-4, 30-frames per-second, 640x480 video, if the scene isn't very dynamic, or 1GB for each half-hour for a rapidly changing scene, such as a basketball game. Don't pay more for high speed. High-speed cards touted by some manufacturers are overkill for most point-and-shoot cameras, which can't take advan tage of them. They aren't worth buying for video, either. But they are worth considering for some new SLRs, There might be one reason to think about those higher-end cards: Some of them come bundled
~
~
Be sure you know your camera's memory type; media come In several incompatible shapes and sizes.
120 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
with software for recovering corrupted image files. So if, for example, you corrupted files by opening your camera's battery compartment while the camera was turned on or, worse, while it was saving an image to the memory card, the software should be able to get those photos back for you. (It's especially risky to open the compartment if you're using AA batteries, since they shut off immediately.) Vary resolut ion and compression to suit your needs. It's all too easy to leave a camera on the default storage settings, which might sometimes be more than you really need. Lowering a camera's resolution setting or increasing its compression, even temporarily, increases the number of images that fit on a card. Most ca meras let you set resoluti on and compression. For example, if you set a camera to its highest resolution, you might also be able to select from among two or even three levels of compression. For pictures to e-mail or post online, quality is less of an issue. Choose the lowest resolution your camera allows, combined with maximum compres sion (usually indicated by a quality measure such as Fine, HQ, etc.). Some new cameras let you choose a preset option tailor-made for e-mailing or for post ing on the Internet. For 4x6 snapshots, where detail matters more, use 5 mega pixels and midlevel compression. For 8x10 or larger prints, or smaller prints made from heavily cropped images, use the highest resolution possible and the least compression,
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Tips: Auto-focusing is a major contributor to shutter lag. Focus on your subject by holding the shutter release halfway down; when the de sired moment arrives, press the release the rest of the way. Try to shoot in bright light and focus on a subject with crisp edges. Avoid shooting in an uncompressed format such as RAW, which produces a large file whose size can add to next-shot delay. 2. Distant subjects are very dark, even with the flash. While some cameras claim flash ranges of 20 feet or more, 12 or so feet is a more dependable maximum range for well-lighted fiash shots . But the range for decent flash shots or low-light shots will be longer if the camera has high sensitivity, reflected in ISO settings above 400. But
"hot shoe " mount. 3. Shots are blurry when I use maximum zoom. The limited light sensitivity of many small cameras often results in slow shutter speed. That can lead to camera shake, especially at maximum magni fication. More than half the cameras we tested now offer image stabilization, which compensates for a modest amount of shake. Some cameras offer less-effective simulated stabilization, which uses software , higher sensi tivity, or faster shutter speed to reduce blur. (Our Ratings charts identify only models that have true stabilization.) Tips: Use a tripod or steady surface when you can. Con sider using the flash or zooming out the lens, both of which increase the light reaching the camera's sensor.
subject just before the main flash. (A camera whose flash unit is farther from the lens reduces the risk of red eye. Computer editing of the image might also correct red eye.) With automatic flash mode, the camera fires the flash when ever the light entering the camera registers as insufficient. A few new cam eras have built-in red-eye correction. More and more cameras, including many with powerful telephoto lenses, now come with some
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If your camera has manual controls, use them to open the aperture to its widest set ting which does pose a risk of overexposure), increase shutter speed (which risks underexposure), or boost sensitivity by selecting an ISO level above 400.
Tips: Turn off the feature that displays every shot and use the one that shuts off the camera when you don't shoot for a while. If you take shots more often than every few minutes, it's more power efficient to leave the camera on than to power it on and off.
4. The batteries die too quickly. Battery life is better overall than it was a year ago, with all point-and-shoot models in our tests scoring at least good. (It isn't a problem with SLRs.) Cameras from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Olympus were especially good, our Ratings show. We've found no difference in battery life between cameras that use proprietary batter ies, as do most subcompacts, and those that use AAs.
5. I can't read the LCD screen In bright sunlight. As manufacturers make cameras with larger LCOs, there's less room for the venerable viewfinder, still handy for composing shots in the sun. Canon is one man ufacturer that's bucking the trend. Models with viewfinders are noted in the Quick Picks. Tips: Shade the LCD with your hand or hat. Or buy an LCD hood ($10 to $50 at a specialty camera store, Amazon.com, or Hoodmanusa.com) .
form of image stabilizer. (Optical-image stabilizers are the best type; some cameras use simulated stabil ization to try to achieve the same effect.) Stabilizers compensate for handheld camera shake, letting you use a slower shutter speed than you otherwise could for followingmovement But an image stabilizerwon't compensate for the motion of subjects. Most new 6- to lO-megapixel cameras come with full manual controls, including independent controls
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 121
Based on the frames we tested, we'd recommend a large-display model for better picture quality and Its ability to handle higher-resolution Images. But If overall size and low price are paramount, select one with a small display screen.
so you can ret urn the memory card to your camera. Some can stor e and play digital music to accompany photos; ot hers can play short digital video clips ' but wit ho ut audio. Frames range in size from about 6x7 to l Ox12 inches. What's more impor t ant is the display area within the frame. Small er frames fit well on a desk but usually provide too little resolution to do ju st ice t o shots made with newer cam eras. Larger picture f rames have higher resolution, but occupy more real estate on your desk. The digital frame is a relat ively new produ ct and our tests showed that a number of models have some glitch es . that affect setu p a nd use. Though t hose ca n be overcome wit h a little effo rt. a f ram e isn 't a good cho ice fo r someo ne who 's averse to technical trou bleshooting.
12 2
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
packed deta il in a high-resolution image. In our tests, all the 8- and 10-inch displays were judged good to very good in overall picture qual ity. The smaller frames, on the other han d, scored no bett er than fair. That' s due in large part to t he respec tive difference in thei r display resolution, as expressed in pixels. The big frames display 800x600 or 640x480; the smaller ones only 320x234. Obviously, bigger frames take up more room and cost more, so you might want to consider wheth er it' s worth sacrifi cing pictu re qual ity to save space or mon ey. Connections count. Most models can accept the most common types of memory card, such as SO, Compa ct Flash, or Memory Stick. Make sure t he f ram e can use the same type as your camer a. Some f rames have built- in flash memo ry t hat can store images. That is mor e conven ient than having to leave your came ra's
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
and transitions or control brigh tn ess. On th e fr ames we 've see n, such con trols are on the back or side, whi ch keeps the m out of sig ht but ma kes the m more difficu lt to reach. A wireless remote, included with some, is easier to use. Some frames shut off automat ically, whil e others recommend that they be turned off daily, which can be enou gh of a nuisan ce that you might simply wan t to leave a f rame on. Consider versatility. Most frames can be pla ced in either th e wider "landscape" mod e or taller " port rait" mode. But some on the mar ket don 't allow that versatility. So if having bot h disp lay options is importan t to you , mak e sure any f rame you buy has t hem . Some frames can be hun g on walls , but since all require AC power you'll have to contend with a power cord. Those are best suited for use on a des k or credenza. A frame with a remov ab le outside border ca n be cust omize d to mat ch th e room's decor. We also found th at some models will simply ski p over incompatible picture typ es, such as TIFF and RAW, but oth ers wil l display an err or message, whi ch can be an noying. Audio and video extras. Some mod els give you t he option of accompanying slideshows with music or narration. It's fairly sim ple with some frames, a bit more involved wit h ot hers, but it is a nice touch. Some models can play AVI Moti on JPEG vide o without sou nd, and a few can also play MPEGl and MPEG4 digital video formats.
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HP offers such innovative features as in -camera reto uching and a "pet-eye" fix that removes the glow from a flash. Casio specializes in u1traslim mo dels; Samsung offers cam eras with high styling and multi med ia features. Panason ic uses image stabi lizers throughout its line and Leica lenses. Sony uses Zeiss lenses, a br an d well known in the came ra worl d . We have found big differences among brands in the caliber of software you get with the cam era . For details, see "Photo software eases editing & storing pies" page 125. Beware the megapixel wars. Despite the increasing prevalence of 7- ,8- , and lO-m egapixel cameras, a model with 6 mega pixels will give most people all the image resolution they need . Higher resolution doe sn't necessarily pro duce bett er prin ts. Lenses and other design factors are important, too. In our mo st recent tests, several mo dels with 4 or 5 megapixels had excellent pr int qua lity, while several with 7 to 10 megapixels had fair or good qua lity. How much control do you want over exposure and composition? Cam eras meant for automatic
point-and-shoot photos, with a 3x zoom lens, will serve casual shooters as well as dedica ted hobbyists much of the tim e. Th e full-featured cam eras in th e SLR-like category offer capabilities tha t the more dedica ted photographer will want to have. Two of the more imp ortant capa bilities are an optical zoom ran ge of 5x to lax or more, wh ich lets you bring distant outdoor sub jects close and also lets you shoot can did portraits without getting right in your subject's face, and a full complement of man ual controls th at let you determine the shu tter sp eed and lens opening. Once you've established the performance priorities
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these convenience facto rs: Size and weight. The smallest, lightest m odels aren't necessarily inex pensive 5-mega pi.xel cameras. And th e biggest an d heaviest aren't necessaril y found at th e high end. If possible, try cameras at the store befor e you buy. Th at way,you'll know which one fits your hand best and which can be securel y gripped. In ou r tests, we found that some of the smallest don' t leave m uch room even for small fingers. Bat t ery t ype and life. All digital cam eras run on rechargeable ba tter ies, eith er an expen sive battery pack or a set of AAs. In our tests, neither type had a clear per formance advant age. The best-performing cam eras offer at least 250 shots on a charge, while th e worst manage less than 100. We think it's more convenient to own a cam era that accepts AA batteries . You can buy economical, rechargeabl e cells (plu s a charger) and drop in a set of disposable lithium or alkaline bat teri es if the rechargeables ru n down in the middle of shooting. Camera speed. With point-and-shoot cam eras like the ones we tested, you must wait after each shot as the cam era process es the im age. Most m odels let you shoot an image every few seconds, bu t a few make you wait 5 seconds or more. They might frustrate you whe n you're taking ph otos of a subject that is very active, such as a child or pet. Your ot her cameras. If you own a film cam era with interchangeab le lenses, you can probably use the lenses on digital SLRs of the same brand. Some new Olympus digital SLRs requ ire a special $100 adapter to use film lenses, but you'll on ly be able to focus th ose lenses m anually.
An Image st abili zer, Included in the Lum ix models DMC-LX2 (top ) and DMC-FX3 (above), compensat es for camera shake, resulting In sharper spur-of-the-moment " gr ab" shot s.
CONSUMER REPO RTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 123
THE HOLIDAY-LIGHTS SHOT Simple solution. For indoor and outdoo r shots of holiday lights, use th e preset mode for night scenes, which lengthens the exposure and does not use a flash. If there are people in the picture , set the mode on night portrait to add a flash. Outdoor shots should be ta ken at twi light , when it's dar k enough to see your light disp lay but enough natural light remains to illuminate your su r roundin gs. Use a t ripod in all t hese cases to keep the picture from smudg ing or blurring. If your camera allows it, set the ISO to 100 to avoid graininess. Serious solut ion. Set your shutter speed to 1/15 or 1/30. That will keep t he blinki ng lights from showing up as sparks instead of full-blown lights. If you're photographing both light s and people, turn on the flash. The flash lights up the person and freezes any movement. For photos without people, there's no need for a flash . In both cases, use a tr ipod. Outdoor shots work best at twil ight; use a t ripod or rest the camera on a sta ble surface. To shoot candles. which are much brighter th an lights , experiment with various shutter speeds.
want to wait a long t ime for the came ra to focus. Auto-focus works best in well illuminated spaces, so t urn on all available lights. Make sure the main subje ct is well lighted or the auto-focus will tend to zero in on brighter objects in the scene. Since you're using the flash, you need not rely on shutter speed to stop action. A flash is actua lly faster than the fastest shutter speed and will freeze all move ment. Make sure you get close enough to your subjec t. Shooting from too far could cause the camera to overcompensate for distan ce with a higher ISO and result in a grainy photo . Serious solut ion. Use manu al focus , and preset the focus before shooting. That will save the t ime it ta kes t he camera to auta-focus.
THE FAMILY SHOT Simple solut ion. It's not easy to squeeze all your friends and extended famil y into one holiday-gathering shot. If your lens includes a wide-angle sett ing, use it now. A setting equivalent to 28-mm . is minimally suffici ent ,
12 4 CONS UMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
depth of f ield (foc us range). Experiment with slower shutte r speeds to allow more background light into the pictur e. but st ill use th e flash.
THE WINTER SPORTS SHOT Simple solution. Shootin g winter sports outdoors is like tak ing pictures at the beach. You're dealing wit h a lot of sun, as well as light bounci ng off the snow. Use th e beach sett ing on your camera for th ese shots. or t he snow mode, if your camera has one. Serious solut ion. To make snow look whiter and avoid a gray tin ge, overexpose by raising th e EV (exposure values) sett ing by a half-step or one step. The high shutter speed you're using to freeze t he action will compensate for th e ext ra light. You also need to increase the shutte r speed if you're using zoom. Indoor spo rts shots are often taken under poor light ing condit ions. Set the shutt er to t he highest possible speed . tncreas mg th e ISO to 800 or higher will also help freeze the actio n when t he light ing is less t han ideal. But make sure that your camera can take good quality pictures at high ISO. Many point-and-shoot models take "noisy"- or grainy- pict ures at those sett ings.
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commercial pro gram. Still, m ore advan ced photographers will probably want to use other software, including pro grams that com e with computer op erating systems or can be downloaded free of charge, Th e programs with cam eras tend to em phasize editin g or organ izing, bu t not both. You sho uldn't select a camera for its software. Pentax digital cameras, for example, generally haven't don e well in our tests.
those of Photo Gallery. Apple provides a variety of opti ons for shar ing photos once th ey're edited, such as creating greeting cards, calendars, Web pages, and even hardcover book s. Check out online offerings. All three freeware pr ograms we tested perform ed similarly overall but had different strengths. Picasa, available from Co ogle, received high scores for correcting cont rast and color, for example. while
Easily editing Images onscreen Is one more plus for dig ital phot ography.
HOW TO CHOOSE Assess your camera's software. Because it's pro pri etary, you may not be able to use all features with images th at origin ate from cam eras of othe r brands. If you're sat isfied with th e comp uter program you now use, you'll most likely want to stick with it, at least for some tasks. Consider yourcomputer's program. Apple and Microsoft are building more and m ore ph oto-editing and organizing features into the ir operating systems. Apple offers iPhoto as part of the iLife package with OS X, and Microsoft includ es Wind ows Photo Gallery with Vista. Although Photo Gallery provides som e basic edit ing abilities, it's more geared toward organ izing your ph otos. As soon as you save a pictu re, for example, Pho to Gallery asks you to rate th e photo and add a tag (or tags) to th e image, making it easy to locate pictures by subject later. You can remove red-eye in Photo Gallery, as well as crop, flip, and rotate pictures. Slider controls let you adjust bright ness, contrast, color tempera ture, tint, and saturation. (Microsoft Office Picture
ConsumerReport s.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BU YIN G GUIDE 2008
125
Services listed In performance order. Magenta key numbers Indicate Quick
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Overall score is based main iy on 8x10 print quality, with album man agement and editing also cons idered. Pr int qualit y assess es color balance, sharpn ess, and other
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fac tors for nine glossy photos purchas ed and home-delivered in a f ive-week perio d. Managing albums reflects capability of arranging images onl ine. Editing includes the numb er of basic tools, such as red-eye removal and cropping. Free downloads allow visitors to oniine albums to copy images at no charge. All allow batch uploads f rom pes and slngle-image uploads from Macs; we show thos e th at allow batch uploads f rom Macs. The dat e st amp provides informati on abo ut th e print. Price is approximate retail. Shipping is the cost of sta ndard delivery (four to seven days) for 25 4x6 prints.
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYINGGUIDE 2008 129
YOU HAVE MANY OPTIONS
FOR PRINTING YOUR Pies
Online and in-store photofinishers supplement home printing
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hotographers take more dig ital images to ph ot ofin ish ers th an th ey pri nt t hemselves. Using such serv ices can be cheaper than pri nt ing at ho me, and it spares you paper jams , depleted ink car tr idges, and other ann oyan ces. With online serv ices, you upload your ph otos to a Web site where you, or anyo ne you cho ose, can view them and or der p rin ts. (In some cases, visitors can even download your im ages.) With in -store processing, you use a terminal or kiosk to or der (and even edit) pr ints store d on a mem ory card. If the term inals in timi date you, yo u can usually hand th e memory card to a clerk, just as you do wit h film canis ters . Pho tofinis hers can be a major time-save r if you have large batches o f pho tog rap hs. They can also pri nt on items that wou ld be challenging on a home pr int er (calendars, pho to albu ms) or downr ight imposs ible (p uzzles, m ugs, custom postage stam ps). Based on our 2006 tests of 12 online services and in-sto re services at eight retail chains, you're more assured of getting high-quality prints online. But features for sharing and ma naging your images vary by site. Al so, in our experience, if your images look "too profession al:' online services might make you
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GU IDE 2008 127
photos using dial-up access. If sharing is a priority for you, look for sites that make it easy to store images and organize them into virtual albums or even slideshows, complete with captions and colorful borders. But there are other services, such as Flickr.com, that offer more sophisticated sharing than the photofinishers. Not all sites allow your visitors to download your images to their computers for home printing, especially free. For speed and price, go to a store. In our tests using standard delivery,prints ordered online
128
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
tested weren't. Major retailers are supplied with minilab equip ment by Fujifilm or Kodak. You can expect prints that are at least very good if you use a minilab with Fujifilrn equipment. In our tests, minilabs with Kodak equipment were more uneven, with the worst prints having such flaws as washed out colors, out-of-focus images, and orange-tinted flesh tones. For speed (and speed alone), use a kiosk. Kiosks are essentially stand alone terminals that deliver prints like ATMs dispense money. In our tests, they typi cally delivered prints in 15 minutes or less. But quality is generally lower (and costs are higher) than with other options, and you might have to wait for your photos or fish awkwardly for them-while the next customer uses the machine.
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But you may want to buy the full vers ion to handle all
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Guide to the Ratings Overall score is based mostly on ed it ing a nd shar i ng performance , w ith ve rsa tility and ease of use a lso co nsi der ed. Editing r efl ect s effec t i veness in tasks su ch as r ed- ey e co r' , r ect i o n, adju sting co nt r ast and br ig ht ness, and res iz inq. Printing in clu des th e se lect io n of ava i la bl e print and paper siz es and cus tom pho to layouts. Sharing re f lect s e-ma i l shar ing, Web i nt eg r at i o n, and photo tran sfers to mobile dev ices. Versatility i ndi cates handling of vi deo. bac kup to blank m edia . integration with o nline photo ser vices . as well as c rea ti ve opt ions suc h as c rea t i ng slid es how s, storyboa rds, a nd photo album s. Some o f t hos e op tio ns are also de ta i led in features. Ease of use is based o n th e e rgo nom ics o f r eg ul ar t asks suc h as i mp ortin g and expo r t i ng im ages as we ll as th e q ua lity o f I t he use r m a nua ls. p rog ram hel p, a nd o t he r adv ice , Price of so f tware f or pu rcha se is L ! ,p. pr o xi m at e retail,
126
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ELECTRONICS BUYINGGUIDE 2008
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frame a shot from any
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130 CONSUMER REPORTS 0
photos with most digital camcorders. Analog camcorders, now a small part of the
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
and DVD+ RW formats. Newer models record to flash memory or a hard drive. Some digital models weigh as little as 1 pound. Mini DV. Don't let the small size deceive you. Although some models can be slipped into a large pocket, MiniDV camcorders can record very high quality images. They use a unique tape cassette, and the typical recording time is 60 minutes at standard play (SP) speed. Expect to pay $3-$5 for a 60-minute tape. You must use the camcorder for playback-it converts its recording to an analog signal that can be played clirectlyinto a TV or VCR. If the TV or VCR has an S-video input jack, use it to get a high-quality picture. Price: $260 to more than $1,000. Disc-based. Capitalizing on the popularity and capabilities of DVD movie discs, these formats offer benefits that tape can't provide: long-term durability, compactness, and random access to scenes as with a DVD. The 3X-inch discs record standard MPEG-2 video, the same format used in commercial DVD videos. The amount of recording time varies accord ing to the quality level you select, from 20 minutes per side at the highest-quality setting for DVD-RAM to about 60 minutes per side at the lowest setting. DVD-RAM discs are not compatible with most DVD players, but the discs can be reused. DVD-R is supposed to be compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD drives, but the discs are not rewriteable. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are reusable, rewriteable disc formats. (Disc prices range from about $4 to $20.) Price: $400 to $1,000. Most analog camcorders now use the HiS format; VHS-C and Super VHS-C are fading from the market.
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batteries faster than an eyepiece viewfinder does, you do n't have as m uch recording time when the LCD is in use. An image stabilizer automatically reduces most of the shaking tha t occurs from holding the camcorder as you reco rd a scene. Most stabilizers are electronic; a few are optical. Either type can be effective,though mounting the camcorder on a tripod is the surest way to get steady images. If you're not using a tripod, try holding the cam corder with both hands and bracing both elbows against your chest. Full auto switch essentiallylets you point and shoot. The camc order automatically adjusts the color bal ance, shutter speed, focus, and aperture (also called the "i ris" or "f-stop" with cam corders). Autofocus adjusts for maximum sharpness; man ual focu s override m ight be needed for problem situatio ns, such as low light. (With some camcorders, you might have to tap buttons repeatedl y to get the focus jus t right.) With many models , you can also contro l exposure, shutter speed, and white balance. Th e zoom is typically a finger control-press one way to zoom in, the oth er to widen the view.The rate at which th e zoom changes depends on how hard you press th e switch. Typical optical zoom ratios range from 10:1 to 40:1. The zoom relies on optical lenses, just like a film camera (hence the term "optical zoom"). Many camcorders offer a digital zoom to extend the range to 400:1 or more, but at a lower picture qu ality. For tape-based forma ts, analog or digital, every camco rder displays tape speeds th e same way a VCR do es. Every mod el, for exam ple, includes a highest qual ity mode such as SP for standard speed. Digi tals have a slower LP (lo ng play) speed that adds
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a variety of modes that trade off recording time for image qu ality. Quick review lets you view the last few second s of a scene witho ut having to press a lot of buttons. For special lighting situations, preset auto-exposure settin gs can be helpful. A "snow and sand" setting, for exampl e, adjusts shutter speed or aperture to accom modate high reflectivity. A light provides some illumination for close shots when the im age would other wise be too dark. Back light compensation increases th e exposure slightly when your subject is light ed from behind and silho uetted. An infrared-sensitive recording mode (also kn own as night vision, zero lux, or MagicVu) allows sh ooting in ver y dim or dark situa tions, using infrared em itters. You can use it for nighttime shots, alth ou gh colors won 't register accurately in this mod e. Audio/video inputs let you record material from anoth er camcorder or from a VCR, useful for copying part of ano ther video onto your own. (A digital cam corder mu st have such an in put jack if you want to record analog material digitally.) Unlike a built -in microphone, an extern al microphone that is plu gged into a microphone jack won't pick up noises from the camc ord er itself, and it typically improves audio performance. A cam corder with digital still capability lets you take sna psho ts, which can be downloaded to your computer. Th e pho to quality is generally inferior to that of a good still came ra, although highe r-cost camc ord ers typically offer better photo quality than lower-cost ones . Features that might help editing include a built-in title generator, a time-and-date stamp, and a time
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how much you'll be spending for tapes, discs, or mem or y, but also how mu ch record ing tim e you'll get. Th e tap e-based digital formats are superior in picture qu ality to analog tape-based forma ts. With digit al formats that use Min iDV, Digital 8, or MicroMV tapes, you can get at least 60 minutes of recording on a standar d cassette. MiniDV and D8 cassettes are least expensive an d most easily fou nd. Digital DVD camco rde rs from Pan asonic and Hitachi can accommodate DVD-RAM discs, which can be reus ed but aren't compatible with all DVD players. All brand s also use DVD -R, one-use discs th at work in most DVD players. The standa rd setting yields 60 minutes of recording; the "fine" setting, 20 to 30 m inut es. With digital forma ts using m em ory cards, the am ount of video you can record at the highest quality level can vary fro m 15 minutes to 1 hour on 256MB to 2GB cards . (To get a mo re prec ise estimate, check a camera 's specifications.) Hard
to zoom in and out, th e record butto n, and the button for still ph otos-are readily at hand . Make sure that th e contro ls are conven ient and th at you can change the tape, DVD, or m emory card and rem ove the batt ery easily. Check the flip-out LCD viewer. Mo st meas ure 2.5 inches on the diagon al, bu t some are larger, ad d ing about $100 to th e price . If th e viewer seems small an d difficult to use or suffers from too much glare, consider trading up to a similar model or a different brand to get a better screen . Think about t he lighting. A camcorder isn't always used outdoors or in a bri ghtl y light ed room. You can shoo t video in di m light, but d on 't expect miracles. In our tests, usin g th e default mo de, mos t camcorders produ ced on ly fair or poor im ages in very low light. Many camcorders have settings tha t can improve perform an ce but might not ren der the des ired result, su ffer fro m m otion bl ur, or are monochro ma tic.
~... Consumer Repar ts.arg I DISCUSS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
You can consult CONSUMER
REPORTS su bscribers online about choosing a digital cam era, photo-editing software, or camcorders. Exchanging views is the goal of the digital photograp hy discussio n groups at www.ConsumerRepor ts.org. You can access these groups
132 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
from the s ite's Electronics & Computers page by clicking on th e li nk for "Discuss Electronics" under "Highlights:' then clicking on "Digita l cameras & photogra phy" under "Open Discussions " on the Discuss ions page. Thes e topics are among t he dozens of electronics a reas in
Discuss ions, where members . s hare insights as th ey become bette r-informed cons umers. If you are not a member, you can gain entry to Discuss ions by activat ing the 30-day free ConsumerReports.org s ubscrip tion included with this guide (see inside front cover).
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on whether you're still under a contract, as well as wh eth er you' re repl acing your pho ne, carrier, or both . Here's advice for each situatio n:
WHEN YOUR CONTRACT IS UP
Look for cell-phone coverage that fits your calling habits.
If youjust want a new phone. Check to see which ph on es will work with your carrier. Unless you're already familiar with the model you're consid ering, there's no substitute for visitin g a walk-in sto re and assessing the feel of it in your ha nd. Judging by our readers' experiences, however, you m ight be happ ier if you head ho m e and go on line to complete th e tran saction. For example, in a recent survey of [8, 000
134 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
survey, nearly a qua rter of the read ers surveyed said the y switched carri ers during the past three years, largely because of poor service. If that rin gs a bell, start your hunt for a new carrier here. Note that even if you're content with your current phone, chances are you won't be able to use it with a ne w carrie r. That's not only because provider s some tim es use incom patible networks , but also because they "lock" their ph on es electronically to discourage custom ers from going elsewhere. A recent federal ruling allows consu mers to unlock th eir phones; this can be don e easily with only a few models. If you have a phon e th at works on the GSM net wor k, used by T-M ob ile and AT&T (form erly Cingular), ask the new provider wheth er you can keep using it. Even if you can, thou gh, you might
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tolerable, try riding out the contract. Th ese ideas mig ht help, too: Changing your plan. If cost is the issue, you can usually move to one of your current carrier's other plans witho ut penalty. But be aware that switch ing
SWITCHING CARRIERS In our fifth annual survey of cell-phone users,Verizon came out at or near the top in the 20 metropolitan areas we surveyed, as it has in years past. But Alltel, a relatively small carri er that primarily serves the
Consider your phone network choices Wireless Also known as cellui ar or mob ile. Uses a network of radio towe rs to conI nect your call to the wired network. Pros Mob ility . Offe rs many add ition al services, including text and pictu re messaging, music streaming, games, e-mail access, and TV snippets, depending on your service carrier and your phone's capabilities. Cons Incomplete coverage and incom pat ible network technologies among service providers create "dead zones" where service is unavailable. Your phone might work in a local elect rical power outage but not in a widespread outage. 911 location capability isn't full y implement ed yet. Voice quality isn't as good as you're likely to get on a wired network.
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m
Internet
Wired
Also known as a landline. The famili ar phone line system uses cables runn ing unde r or above the ground. Pros Best voice qua lity. Fewer problems making and keeping a connect ion t han with wire less. Most reliable of t he th ree types and most likely to work in a power outage. Well-established 911 service provides a voice connection and reports your iocation to emergency responders. A single, unified system connects wired phones in th e U.S. Cons Wires can be dama ged by weat her and oth er forces , disru pt ing service . Add-on features, taxes, and fees can boost your bill substantia lly. Even cordless phones are portable only with in a limited range.
Also known as Voice over Internet Pro toco l, or VolP. Your digital tele phone hooks up to the Internet using a broad band connection. Pros Relatively inexpensive, especially
for long-Distance calls. Some services,
such as cailer ID and call waiting,
might be free of charge. You can use
your pho ne anywhere a broadban d
Internet connectio n is available.
Cons Might not work in an electr ical
power outage . Reliability depends on
your Internet se rvice provider. Voice
quality might not be as good as a
wired service's. Providers are required
to forward 911 calls to t he proper
operators , along wit h your locat ion,
but how well t hat works depends
on several facto rs.
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135
Verizon Wirele ss
verizonwireless
How good Consist ently a top perf or mer in th is year' s surv ey and in our earlier ones. Also among t he bett er nat ional car r iers in it s responsiveness to custo mer questions and compla int s.
Net works CDMA and analog. But Veri zon offe rs analog access on few of its new phones, which could mean less coverage in some ru ral areas.
Alltel How good Consistently a to p perfo rmer in all th ree of t he metro areas where we had sufficient survey data to rate it. Notab ly good fo r bot h connect ivity and customer
servi ce, includ ing helpfu lness in responding to questi ons or complaints. Net works CDMA and analog.
T-Mobile
~
- -Mobile
How good A solid perfor mer in almost all of the met ro areas wher e we had suffic ient surv ey data to rate it, but marr ed by lack of service in some places. Also ranked among
the better providers in responsiveness to custo mer questi ons and comp laints. Network GSM only. Most of its phones can be used out side th e U.S.
AT&T (formerly Cingular)
~ at&t
How good Middl ing to low levels of consumer sat isfact ion. Static and busy circu its were wide spread problems, as they have been in our previous surveys. The company got relat ively low marks for helpf ulness in handling customer
questi ons and complaints. Ne t work s Primarily GSM, some TDMA and analog. Most GSM phones can also be used overseas.
Sprint How good One of t he poorer perfor mers in term s of overall sat isfact ion. Had more dropped calls than other carriers. Spri nt merg ed wit h Nextel in 20 05, and our results do not include for mer Nextel
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYIN G GUIDE 2008
custome rs or th ose who receive Next el service from Sprint because their phones operate on a different network. Net works Sprint uses CDMA but can roam using analog.
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their lan dlines and go wireless all the time. Someday that might happ en, but probably not un til cell-service quality imp roves and its 911 issues are more fully resolved. In our survey 5 pe rcent of respon den ts told us that they cur rentl y have a cell phone but no landline at home. If you 're ready to switch your cell service here's how to find a carrier more likely to meet your needs: 1. st art at t he top. If you live in or near one of the 20 metro areas covered by our survey, focus your search on the carriers at the top of that list. (It's available to subscribers to ConsumerReports.org; from the Computers & Electronics home page, click on th e link for Cell service and from there on Ratings. For a free 3D-day trial subscription, including access to cell-service Ratings, see the inside front cover of this guide.) Carr iers that scored within five points of num ber on e are also worth considering, because they' re statistically about the same. In most of the 20 areas we covered, you'll have up to three carriers from wh ich to choose. To choose amo ng the top carriers, check their on line coverage maps, paying special attention to where you live, work, and travel. Because thos e map s can vary widely in detail and accura cy, however, go a step furth er and ask people you know who travel the same streets or make calJsfrom the same buildin gs whether their carr ier provides con sistentl y good service. If you often use your phone in rural areas or out side th e U.S., you'll also want to consid er wh ich networ k the carrier ope rates on. The major digit al network s are CDMA (code division multiple access) and GSM (global system for mobil e). The advant age of th e former is that man y CDMA phones incorpo-
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rate analog backup for roaming in areas where a digital signal is un available. But many GSM ph on es provide coverage in oth er countries, a plus for the globetrotters among us. Once you choose a carrie r, be sure to take advan tage of whatever tri al period it offers. If you find that service is poor or non existent in places where you need it, canc el th e con tract and tr y ano ther high-rated carrier from our list. 2. Pick a plan. If you've alread y settled on a carrier, you can go directly to its Web site and com pare its plans. But you might have to poke aro und a little to find the cheapest plan the carr ier offers, or else call the carri er and ask. Compar ing plans from di fferent carr iers is relatively simpl e at Web sites such as LetsTalk.com (click on Service Plan s, then Compa re Plan s). If p rice is your pr imary concern, the easiest way to compare is on a per-minute basis. For example, when we recently checked rates for Tam pa, Fla., Sprint and Verizon were both offerin g 450-min ute plans for $39.99 a month, or abo ut 9 cents a minute. T-Mobile offered 600 minutes for the same $39.99, or abo ut 7 cents a minute. If you make few cell-phone calJs or want the pho ne prim arily in case of a roa dside eme rgency, consider a prepaid or "pay as you go" plan. In comparing prepaid plans, pay parti cular atten tion to wha t they charge per mi nu te, how soon minutes expire, and whet her your minut es can be rolled over. Altho ugh
Choosing your provider will narrow the range of cell-phone models to consider.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B 137
get a new cell phone. CR's advice: Never switch anything wit h out asking t he carrier whether there 's a catch. Chances are, t here is. 3. I downloaded a new ring to ne, and now I'm being charged a monthly fee. When you download special feat ures, such as a ring tone or wallpaper, you might find yourse lf enrolled in a monthly plan. CR's advice: Look for any check boxes when you down load a feature online, and be sure to uncheck th em if they' re committing you to ongoing service you don't want. Also read t he terms carefu lly. Be especially wary when downloading anything f rom th ird parties . 4. My bill is a lot higher than I expected. The prices you see in TV and print ads don't include all the taxes, surcharges, and fees that the provider will probably pile on. CR's advice: Expect to pay up to 30 per cent more than t he advertised price and compare plans on t hat basis. Before you commit, have the carrier list all the extra charges and explain how they will be calculated. 5. I never got the rebates I was prom ised. Judging by our survey, t hat seems to be a particular problem for people who buy phones from independent Web sites. In June 2006, the Washington, D.C., attorney genera l sued InPhonic, which operates sites inclu din g Wiref ly.com, alleging th at it "im poses rest rictive con ditions on the rebates that prevent many consumers from receiving the promised
138
they do their vanishing act. If you also have landline long-distance service, make th ose calls on your cell instead if you'd otherwise lose t he minutes. 7. I plan to travel to Europ e, and frie nds tell me I'll be charged exorbi ta nt inter national rates or my phone won't even work. Most of Europe and much of the rest of t he world is on GSM networks, the type used by AT&T and T-Mobile. But even if you have a GSM phone, it might not work overseas unless it's using the proper band. What' s more, if your phone
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 200B
your kids' cal ls. CR's advice: Consider putting children on a prepaid plan, which limits available minutes to the number you've purchased . That will not only cont rol costs but might even teach your kids to be responsible with t heir airtime (alth ough we're not making any promises). 9. I canceled my service during the trial period , but I'm still getting bills. If you cancel dur ing the tri ai period (usually 15 to 30 days), you shouldn't have to pay an early-termination fee, but you'll still be on the hook for suc h things as act ivation fees, access charges, equipment-restocking fees, taxes, and airt ime. CR's advice: Don't rely on t he t rial period as a way to choose carriers but only as an opportunity to bail out if you've made a bad mistake. 10. My pr ovider is alrea dy nagging me to sign up f or another two years. Carriers wil l do alm ost anyth ing to keep you in their contractua l grip, whet her that's offering disco unted or free phones or giving you add itional airtime for t he same price . CR's advice: Don't be pressure d. Usually you can continu e with your current plan on a month-to-m onth basis, which gives you the f reedom to switch carriers or upgrade equipment whenever you decide to. If you do decide to renew, don't hesitate to tr y negotiat ing for bett er ter ms. This might be the only point in the process when you, not the provider, hold the upper hand. Enjoy it.
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BEYOND THE CALL As cell-phone makers load ever more features on to their mo dels, carriers are launching new fee-based services to cash in on th em. Here are some of the services you're likely to encounter the next tim e you go shopping for a new ph one or carr ier. Pricing varies beca use many services come as part of a bundle Alm ost all require that you subscri be to an extra -cost "data plan;' wh ich includes Web access, in addition to your basic ph on e service. GPS-b ased location serv ices. Currently available on ly on certain advanced m od els, these serv ices use a homing dev ice to track th e phone's wherea bo uts, allowing a parent, for example, to keep tabs on a child . The location is shown on th e "parental" phone or a Web site in the form of a map. Co st : These services add $5 to $20 a m on th to th e cost of a plan and are available mostly from CDMA carriers, such as Sprint (Family Locator); Disn ey Mobile which uses Sprint's networ k; and Verizon (Chaperone). Navi gation by phone offers an alternative to car GPS naviga tio n uni ts. (See "G PS navigation: cell phone or stand-alo ne?" page 144.) Text me ssaging (also called SMS, or short message service) . This has becom e by far th e most-used cell phone feature outside of voice communication. You peck out a message on the phone's keypad an d send it to another cell phone. Cost: abo ut 10 cents a mes sage,$5 a m onth for a basic plan, or up to $20 a month for unlimited text messages, dependin g on the plan and the provider. Best deal: Sprint and T-Mobile both offer un limited text me ssaging for $15 per month. Multimedia messaging (also called photo and video messaging) . You can em bellish text messages
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songs from your MP3 collection. Songs download to the phones quickly, typically in abo ut a minute under no rmal conditions. Ho wever, selections are lim ited and songs sto red on you phone can't easily be sha red with your PC or MP3 player (you'll need to do separate downloads). Cost: $1 to $4 per song. A Web browser Is now standard on most cell phones.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYINGGU IDE 2008 139
the BlackBerry Pearl, the Motorola Q, and others, has em erged for the rest of us who want simp ler access to th ose useful featur es. Smart phones differ eno ugh from plain ph one s that we've created a separate report (see "Smart phones become simpler and slimm er," page 145). The camera phone retrenches. Cameras are a ubiquitous feature on pho nes, but with the exception of a few models, they still lack the mult iple megapixels to make th em true came ra replace me n ts. Also, in a September 2006 Consumer Rep orts Nat ional Research Ce nter survey of almos t 43,000 of o ur onl ine sub scribers in 20 cities, only 22 per cen t had sen t or received ph ot os with their ph one. If peo ple use their ph o ne cam era at all, it's most likely for impromptu snaps of family and friend s.
140 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
plug them in.) Multimedia st alls. Cell-pho ne carr iers (Sprint and Verizon, in particular) continue to promote ph on es with m ultimedia capabilities. But these func tions aren't gain ing mu ch traction, especially amo ng CONSUMER REpORTSread ers. In our recent survey of online subscribers, only 4 percent reported that they download music to their cell phones, watch TV, or use GPS navigation services.
HOW TO CHOOSE Because your cho ice of ph ones will be lim ited by your serv ice provider, decide whether to stay with your curre nt provider or select a new on e before shopping for a ph one.
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FirstThings First
Narrow your choice of phones
1
Basic phone Choose for voice and te xt messages only. Pros Inexpensive or free with a contract.
Simple keypad, easy to operate. Usually compact. Adequate capabilities; for example, all allow you to store frequently used numbers and send and receive text messages. Some models have basic cameras, bright screens, and multimedia capabilities.
Cons Might not have Bluetooth , which
allows you to use wireless headsets. Usually won't support advanced services (video and music). Expect to spend no more than about $100. Some basic phones are available for as little as $20 or even free after rebates.
Advanced phone Choose for advanced voice features such
as Bluetooth and built-in hardware such as a one-megapixel camera, a music player, and broadband data capab ility. Pros Capabiliti es that might include the ability to access music and video services , and memory-card storage for music and pictures. More options fo r custom ring tones,
games, and other services. Some can connect directly to a printer to print photographs. Cons Can be larger and more expensive tha n a basic model. Extra feat ures can make the phone more difficult to use for the basics. Expect to spend up to $500, dependin g on featu res and rebates.
Smart phone Choose if you want a top-of-the-tine, advanced
cell phone with a built-in personal digital assistant (PDA). Pros Simple solution if you rely on a PDA and cell phone. Most versatile access to e-mail. Easily tracks appointments and addresses . Synchronizes with a PC. A touch screen and keypad help in entering
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text and navigating applications.
Cons Usually bulky and expensive.
Hardware can't be upgraded. If
a carrier upgrades its network,
you'll need a new phone to use it.
Some carrier plans are confusing
or expensive.
Expect to spend $200 and up.
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 141
are more difficult to use than tho se with keys th at give tactile feedback. Check the dis play. Most color screens are fine in dim and normal light, but some are difficult to see in daylight or under bright light. In our tests, ph one s that displayed incoming and outgo ing numbers in large black type against a wh ite background were the easiest to read under mo st conditions . Check to see whether battery-life, signal, and oth er indicators are legible. Look for usefu l features . Am ong the most
Voice command. Follows you r com ma n ds right out of the box, without the usual training, and lets you dial numbers by pronouncing the digits. Some Sprint an d Verizon phones go a step better by liter ally allowin g you to call up and run applications without having to sift through menus m anually. Preset text messages. Besid es providing a quiet m ean s of com m unication, text m essages have b een known to get th rough even when networks are over loaded. Most ph ones come w ith p reset mes sages, such as "ru nning late" or "call hom e:'
Bluetooth headsets get smaller and fit more securely
Bluetoot h te chnology allows cell phones to be used with
wireless headsets, eliminates fumblingfor your ringing phone, and is more convenient than being tethered to (and tangled up in) a wired headset. When paired with a cell phone that has voice activation (likevirtu a lly ali Bluetooth models), the earpiece has allthe functionality needed to ma ke or ta ke calls. The phone itself ca n be as far as 30 feet away. Three Bluetooth headsets we've tested are smaller and fit your ear more se curelythan older models. The Samsung WEP200,
The Samsung WEP200 (left), $70; Nokia BH-800 (middle), $130; and Motorola HS850 (right), $70, are among the new compact Bluetooth headsets.
$70, is the top choice overall, with very good voice quality for both talking and listen ing. The lightest and most compact of the three , it fits in your ear and has easy-to-reach volume controls.
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The Nokia BH-800, $130, is pricey but is the easiest of the three to pair with phones. It comes with a car rying strap so that you don 't have to keep the headset in your ear. The Motorola HS850, $70,
has a handy feature: Its hinged boom mike puts the headset into standby automatically when closed; it reconnects to the phone when opened. But it's the bulkiest of the th ree models.
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You can send images wirelessly from a phone to other devices. Models like the Sony Ericsson K790a also allow you to remove Images stored on tiny memory cards that use an adapter for standard card readers .
No camera phone we've seen has th e photo quality. hardware, soft ware, and cont rols of a digital camera of comparab le resolut ion. Camera phones are much slower, with next-shot delays of up to several seconds and onscreen prompts required to save t he photo afte r every shot. The flash range of most camera phones is a fracti on of that on most stan d-alone digital cameras . Those gaps could narrow
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soon, when the Internation al Imaging Industr y Associati on, a group that sets photo indus tr y standa rds, releases th e first cam era-phone standards. Those will establish guidelines for measuring image quality and mandate disclosure of th e types of sensors, lenses, and other elements that go into camera phones. In the mean t ime. here's what you need to know about your phone's camera : Consider the setting. Many camera phones with at least a megapixel of resolution can take decent snapshots when t he subjec t is statio nary and outdoors, and the background isn't too busy. But if your magic moment fi nds you in, say, a dark restaurant , your best bet is to steady the camera using both hands or a tabl etop for support. Keep subjects within 2 to 3 feet. Most camera phones have very slow shutters,
increasing the chance of blurry images, So you and your sub j ect should remain st ill for several seconds after you press the shutter. You can tweak color and brightness later on your PC, but you can't do much to fix a blurr y shot. Know the ways to share. With many camera phones, you can send pictur es using e-mail or messaging. You can also pop out a memory card on some models and insert it into a computer or printer using an adapter (see photo above). You can upload your pictures to a retailer's site for home delivery or in-store pick up. Watch for new models. Three newly-releaseo phones expand the camera's per form ance: t he 3.2-megapixel Samsung SCH-a99 0 ($270 with a two-year Verizon con tract); the 3.2-megapixel Sony Ericsson K790a ($40 0 from
SonyStyle withou t a cont ract); and t he 5-megapixel Nokia N95 ($750 from Nokia witho ut a contract). All have better lenses, autofocus, and color-balance settin gs for fluo rescent lighting and for overcast days. The s arnsung also has
selectable ISO setti ngs. The
Nokia has man ual exposure
compensat ion settings to
avoid unde rexposure due to
a very bright subject or over
exposure due to a very dark
one. And the Sony Ericsson
has scene modes sim ilar
to th ose on point-and-shoot
cameras.
Prelim inary image-quality
tests on t hese phones foun d
they yielded bett er pictures
under a wide range of condi
tions th an any ot her cell
phones we've teste d, but
they st ill fall sho rt in sharp
ness and other attributes
when compared with a typical
digital came ra.
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143
might want to consider a stand-alone GPS car navigator.
DASHBOARD NAVIGATOR A portable car navigation system could be just the thing if you often travel to new places , have map-reading issues, or simply hate to ask for directions. After you input a destination using buttons or onscreen sele ct ions, the system will plot out a route, deliver spoken directions, and display each turn as you drive. Most let you request the shortest or fastest route , or even a toll-free route. A system 's database also includes such "points of interest" as restaurants, gas stations, and ATMs. Although not as integrated as the built-in systems that are optional with many new cars (and cost up to $2 ,000), portable sys tem s do have advantages: ~
You can easily move the device from car
to car. ~
They're generally lightweight-anywhere
from a few ounces to a couple of pounds and will easily fit inside luggage. ~
Priced from about $200 to $700, port
able units are much less expensive than integrated systems . eR 's take: None of th e navigation systems we tested is perfect. They don 't substitute for local knowledge , and all data bases had minor errors. But a portable system will usually get you there, providing peace of mind when trav eling to unfamil iar areas . The highest rated model s provide portability, ease-of
144
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
Nuvi 35 0 can speak street names. and commercial purposes. To get a two-dimensional fix on your location and track movement, cities can quickly render maps outdated. a navigation system triangulates signals Generally, updated maps are made avail from at least three satellites at once. able for future purchase and installation. While built-in systems use an external antenna to receive GPS signals, portable GETTING THERE units have an integrated antenna. Programming a portable navigation sys Once a navigation system has deter tem is quite involved . The better systems mined your long itude and lat itude, it ma ke the process intuitive. The worst indicates your location on a map retrieved ones suffer from an excess of onscreen from its database. Typically, the car's menus and forms. position and direction of travel is indicated Most touch-screen systems automatically by a large arrowhead-shaped icon . display an onscreen keyboard th at lets you Manufacturers of navlgatlon systems enter the destination with a fingertip. Others buy their map data from specialty map require using a stytus, All have "dynamic" making companies, such as NavTeQ address searching: As you enter letters, and Tele Atlas. These outfits create the the system whittles down the possibilities map database through their own real so that you can find the correct address world survey ing, as well as by aggregating with the fewest keyst rokes. Some also gray roadway and point-of-interest data from out the letters as they are entered . government sources, municipal agencies, You can hear audible directions through and satellite imagery. built-in speakers as you drive . ("Turn right No map databases are perfe ctly accu in two-tenths of a mile, " for instance.) Most rate or completely up to date because let you hear a repeat of an instruction. If on any given day, new roads are opened you find the voice unnecessary or annoy and old roads or parts of roads are closed. ing, you can turn it off. Only the top-rated And gas stations and ATMs come and go. models pronounce proper street nam es Sometimes the map itself isn't accurate, like "Bedford Road." This is called "text so you appear to be driving across a river to-speech ." rat her than across the bridge nearb y. And Some systems also provide a close-up it is possible that a perfectly serviceable diagram of the next intersection, with road just isn 't on the map you're using. a large route arrow that shows your rec But map-making companies strive to ommended path through it. This is easier regularly update the maps they produce. to view while driving than a map of th e The map flaws we've found are quite minor surrounding area. For mor e on portable and easy to tole rate, but th e problems can GPS navigat ors, see the Ratings on vary by region. For example, develop ing page 162.
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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adds easier-to-use Web, audio, and video functions to the capabilities of today's smart phones .
L
ong used by corp ora te travelers to keep up with e-mail and appointm ents, smart phones are now catching on with consumers. Some want to tap ou t text messages on a QW ERTY-style keyboard rather than the tiny keypad of a cell phone. Othe rs see no reason to tote both a PDA and a cell phone when a smart ph one can do th e job of bo th. Changing the equation is Apple's pri cey iPhone, wh ich stylishly augments some very sma rt cell phone features like e-m ail-style voice-ma il ma nage men t with a full-function ing iPod, a sop histicated Web bro wser, and the mos t innovative touch-screen and navigation we've seen on any phone (see sideba r on page 146).
HOW TO CHOOSE Decide how " smart " a phone you want . Th e iPhone aside, the world of sma rt phones divides into two IQ categories. Wha t we call advanced sma rt pho nes offer lapt op like capabilities in a palm -fitting package. Th ey allow you to create and edit spreadsheets and text docu ments, and they usually come with Microsoft Outlook, Palm Desktop, or oth er person al inform atio n man agement (PIM) software for your Pc. Most have touch screens for accessing the phone's many featur es. Th ey also let you load data onto the pho ne using
ConsumerReport s.org
standard-sized SD (Secure Digital) cards rather th an "micro" versions found on basic models. Basic sm art pho nes resemble regular pho nes and have fewer features than advanced models.They often lack touc h screens, for exam ple, and don't allow you to create or edit documents and spreadsheets. They're fine for reading e-mail messages, bu t com posin g and sending the m is more cumbersom e. The iPhon e straddles both worlds. Its touch screen, Web browsing, m ultimedia capa bility, an d e-mail features are among the best we've seen on any phone. Yet,as with som e other basic sm art phones, its PDA functions are on the light side. Consider the network. CDMA-based advan ced smart ph ones are best if you frequ ent ly down load data -h eavy attachme nts because such models use the high-speed EV-DO network from Sprint Nextel or Verizon. The slower, GSM-based EDGE network used by T-MobiJe and AT&T (for th e iPhone, among other m od els) is best suited for e-mail with small attachm ents or light -duty Web surfing. AT&T (forme rly Cingular) is de ploying a higher-speed data network called HSDPA. Consider th e operating syst em. Smart phon es run on various op erat ing systems, each with its own character: ~ Windows Mobile. Synchronizes easily with Micro soft Ou tlook on a desktop PC but is incompati ble
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYIN G GUIDE 2008 145
Palm Treo 700P
a time (the as gets in the way of multitasking). ~ Black Berr y. One of the simplest for e-mail, with easy setup of e-mail accounts, especially from T-Mobile. Push capability automatically sends e-mail to the phone so that you don 't have to check it manually. ~ Danger. Used on the Sidekick. Relatively simple interface, geared toward text messaging. But some features, including dialing , are not always intuitive. ~ Symbian or Series 60. Found primarily on Nokia phones. Basic version is difficult to use, especially for setting up and using e-mail. Tough to navigate
bined start at $45 to $80 a month with a two-year contract. But you can easily spend more than $200 a month as you add minutes, text messages, and other services. If you already have a "family" plan, you might have to move your sm art phone's number to a new account, as we had to with Verizon and T-Mobile. Price and flexibility make Sprint's smart-phone plans the best overall. T-Mobile's are also relatively inexpensive . AT&T's cheapest plans have a megabyte limit, above which you pay a higher rate . Verizon's plans are the most expensive and the least flexible.
The iPhone: What to consider before buying
With the Init ial clamor about Apple's first cell contra ct holders ' termination fee will be forgiven.) phone now over, non-Apple aficionados can ponder As an MP3 player: The iPhone excels, with the whether to pony up $499 or $599 for the device, best player built into a phone we've ever tested and which combines a phone with an MP3 player, Web a new, appealing interface. Capacity is 4 gigabytes browser, camera, and PDAfunctions. about 1,000 songs-for the $499 iPhone, 8GB for Our early tests of the iPhone as this guide went the $599 model. to press revealed a few shortcomings, including a As a text-messaging devIce: The iPhone's text battery you can't replace yourself. But we also found entry interface is fine and easy enough to learn . But groundbreaking features. Most notably, the iPhone using it is very different from sending text messages offers superb multimedia functionality via its unique on the QWERTY keyboard found on most smart touchscreen, from which you access almost all the phones. Speed texte rs on that type of keyboard device's controls and can move and enlarge photos might want to stick with it. and Web pages with your fingertips. Here are issues As a PDA: The iPhone has drawba cks. Although to consider if you're still on the iFence. you can view documents, you can't edit or create As a phone: The device is so-so in voice quality them , and entering calendar appointments is not The IPhone's expense and as easy as with Palm Treos and most BlackBerrys. and lacks some common phone features, such as a few limitations raise voice activation and easy access to a directory of Setting up e-mail, however, is a breeze. recent calls. AT&T, the Phone's exclusive carrier, has questions for consumers eR's t ake: The iPhone is at least competent at all been low to middling in satisfaction in our recent surveys. The key tasks, and its software and intera ctive screen integrate those iPhone uses AT&T's Edge network, which is slow for Web surfing. functions in a seamless and largely successful way. Buy it now (Surfing is much faster with the phone's Wi-Fi connection.) and YOU'll get a versatile, innovative device with a high price and If your current phone is under contract, you'll need to pay a few warts. Future versions may well address some of those
that out or pay a termination fee of up to $200. (Current AT&T shortcomings and cost less, too.
146 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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An untethered telephone adds freedom of movement to home conversations.
ordless pho nes are changing to m aint ain their usefulness in a world going cellular at a rapid clip. A handful of models are adapting by letting you make and take calls on your cell-phone account, while others tr y to avoid the interference caused by home networks and oth er wireless devices. These new pho nes have just begun to trickle into th e marketplace an d repres ent on ly a few of the models in o ur Ratin gs. If you are looking to bu y a phone no w, the y may not be at the top of yo ur list, given the spa rse selection and com par atively high prices. Ho wever, here's a brief look at what you're likely to see in the future. Bluetooth phones. Some cordl ess models can tap into cell-ph on e service usin g wireless Bluetooth technology, allowing you to make and take calls over eith er service. log-gigahertz phones. Th e transm ission of cord less phones, ho me networks, and other wireless devices can interfere with each other because they can share th e sam e frequency band. New models called DECT phones, for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications, address th e problem by using the 1.9-GI-Iz band, recently reserved by the Federal Communications Com mission exclusively for voice only appl ications. If you 're just looking for a conven tional cordless
C
ConsumerReports.org
phone for your home, ther e's a bit of good news to report about tho se, as well. Prices have fallen about 10 percent since last year, with the biggest price drops amo ng digital models.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT&T, GE, Panaso nic, Uniden, and VTech account for most of the mar ket. VTech owns the AT&T Consumer Produ cts Division and now makes phones un der the AT&T brand as well as its own nam e. The cur rent trends include phones that support two or more handsets with one base, less expensi ve 2.4 and 5.8-GHz analog ph on es, and full-featured 2.4 and 5.8-GHz digital phones. Many of the mult iple han dset-capable phones now include an addi tional handset with a charging cradle. More tha n a third of the cordless ph ones sold includ e a digital answering machine. Price ran ge: $15 and up for single-ha ndset ph ones, $50 and up with built-in answerin g machine; $25 and up for multiple-h and set phones, $80 and up with built-in answerin g machine.
FEATURES THAT COUNT Stan dard features on most cordless phones include handset earpiece volume control, handset ringer,
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
147
Don't discard
your corded
phone. It may
be the only one that works during a power outage.
148
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
A pho ne that supports two lines can receive calls for two ph one numbers- useful if you have, say, a business line and a perso nal line that you'd like to use from a single phone . Some of th e phones have two ringers, each with a distinctive pitch to let you kn ow which line is ringing. The two-line feature also facilitates confere ncing two callers in th ree-way con nections. Some two- line pho nes have an auxili ary jack data port to plug in a fax, modem, or other ph on e device that can also be useful. A spe aker ph one offers a hands-free way to con verse or wait on hold and lets othe rs chime in as well. A base speaker pho ne lets you answer a call witho ut th e handset; a ha ndset speaker p hone lets you chat hands-free anywhere in the hou se as long as you stay within a few feet of th e ha ndset. A base keypad sup pleme nt s the keypad on the hands et. It's handy for navigatin g men u-driven systems, since you don't have to take the ph one away from your ear to punch the keys. Some phones have a ligh ted keyp ad that either glows in the dark or ligh ts up when you press a key, or when the phone rings. Th is makes th e phone easier to use in low light conditions . All ph ones have a h andset r in ger , and ma ny phones have a base r in ger. Some let you tu rn them on or off, adjust the volum e, or change the auditory ton e. Many cordless phones have a heads et ja ck on the handset and include a beltclip for carrying the phone. Th is allows hands-free conver sat ion anywhere in th e ho use. Some ph ones have a head-se t jack on the base, which allows hands-free conversation with ou t any drain on th e ha ndse t battery. Headsets are usually sold separately for about $20.
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 08
handset but not to use the ha ndsets to con ference with an outside caller. Still oth er ph ones allow dir ect com m unica tion betwee n handsets, so you can take them with you to use like walkie-talkies. Some phones can register up to eight handsets, for instance, but th at doesn't mean you can use all eight at once. You might be able to use two for handset-to- hand set intercom, while two others conference with an ou t side party. With some models, it's possible to bu y a replacement hand set and charging cradle in case one b reaks. With others, you'll have to purch ase an entirely new system to keep that extension. Some phone s have caller ID aler ts. A phone with distinctive rin g capability allows you to hear who is calling by associating the calling nu m ber with a specific ring tone. Some are visua l, so you can tell who's calling by the hand set display or th e anten na flashing a partic ular color. Phon es with talking caller ID, or also referred to as caller ID an no unce, speak the name of the caller, useful since you don't have to view the display to kno w who's calling. Most phone- answerers have one mailbox. Some answerers have several mailboxes whe re a caller can direct a voice m essage to an individ ual family member, or to separate bu sin ess and personal calls, for instance. Th is allows the convenien ce oflistening to messages meant just for you. Most answere rs can skip to the next message, skip back to a previo us message, and repeat a m essage. Some also have advan ced playba ck controls such as fast playback (to listen to messages more quickly), slow playback (to slow down a part of the message, say to und erstand a phone number), and rewind (to go back to a certain part of a m essage).
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digital models , though their range is somewhat shorter. The y are also unlikely to cause interference with other wireless products. But analog transmission isn't very secure; anyone with an RF scanner or comparable wireless device might be able to listen in. Analog phones are also more likely than digital phone s to suffer occasional static and RF interference from other wireless prod ucts. Also, multiple-handset capable phones can't conference handsets with an outside party,and the number of handsets that can be supported by the base unit is typically limit ed to two. Digital phones pr ovide an added measure of security and more immunity to RF interference. Their range may be slightly better than that of analog phones. Note that some phones-usually the 2.4-GHz or the multiple-handset capable phones with handset to-handset talk capabilities-use such a wide swath of the spectrum even in standby mode that they may interfere with baby monitors and other wireless products operating in the same frequency band. The latest phones use a technology called Digital Enhan ced Cordl ess Telecommunication (DECT) , which addresses the interference problem by using the 1.9-GHz frequency band th at was recently reserved by the FCC for voice-only applications. Some digital models support lip to 10 handsets from one base and allow conferencing of handsets. To be sure you're actually getting a digital model, check the packaging carefully. Look for wording such as "digital phone;' "digital spread spectru m (DSS)," "frequency-hopping spread spectru m (FHSS);' or digitally enhanced cordless telecommunication or telephone (DECT) . Phras es such as "phone with dig ital security code;' "phone with all-digital answerer;'
ConsumerReports.org
or "spread spectr um technology" (not digital spread spectrum ) all denote phones that are less secure. Phon es that use dual-band transmission m ay indicate th e higher frequency in a larger print on th e packag ing. If you want a true 5.8- or 2.4-GH z phone, check the fine print. If only the frequency is pr ominently shown on the package, it's probably analog . Pick a Frequency. Cordless phones use one or two of the four available frequen cy bands: 5.8 GHz, 2.4 GH z, 1.9 GH z, and 900 MHz. Most phones are dual-band, which means they transmit between base and hand set in one frequency band and receive in an other; you can't switch to or choo se one band or ano ther. Most phones use the 5.8- and 2.4-GHz frequ ency bands. Since 1.9-GHz phones are fairly new, expect only the major manufacturers to offer them. A few manufacturers still make inexpensive, 900-MHz ph on es, usually analog. They are fine for many households, but they are dwindling. This band is now mainly used along with 5.8- or 2.4-GHz analog transmission dual-band phones. Phones that use the 2.4-GH z band, unfortunately, share their frequency with man y other wireless pro ducts, including baby monitors, wireless Internet networks , home security monitors, wireless speakers, and microwaves ovens. Analog phones that use the 2.4-GHz band are inherently susceptible to RF interference from these devices, while their digital counterparts may actually interfere with them. Some digital phones use portions of the 2.4-GHz band that are less likely to interfere or be interfered with by wireless home networks. These are billed as "wireless network friendly " or "802.1l-friendly" Decide on number of extensions. A single handset ph on e is best suited for smaller hom es where
and an answerer, this model from Unlden Includes a corded handset that works during power outages.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 149
phones have very good overall voice qu ality. Some are excellent, approaching the voice quality of the best corded ph ones. In our latest tests, most fully charged batteries p rovided an ample eight hours or more of contin uous conversatio n before they needed recharg ing. Most manu facturers claim that a fully charged batte ry will hold its char ge at least a week in standby mode.Wh en the battery can no longer hold a charge, a replacement battery, usually pro prietary, costs about $10 to $25. Some pho nes use less-expensive AA or AAArechargeable batteries. (To find stores that recycle used cordless ph on e batteries, call 800-822-8837 or go to the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Cor p.s site at www.rbrc.org. O ur Web site Greener Choices.org also has advice on this topic.) Decide whether you want an answerer. Many people still do, despit e the ub iqu ity of cell ph on es with voice-mail capability. Both single- and multiple hand set ph on es come in versions with a b uilt-in answerer. Such phones often cost little more than
indicates the nu mber of messages received, and a visual indicator that lets you kn ow when you have new messages. Du ring a mo me ntary power outage, m ost will retain messages and the greeting. Other, less-un iversal features you may want to consider are described in Features That Co unt. Tryout th e handset if possible. In the store, ho ld the handset to see whether it fits the conto urs of your face. The earpiece should have ro unded edges an d a recessed center that fits nicely over the m iddle of your ear. Ch eck the butto ns and controls to make sur e the y're reasona bly sized and legible. Don't discard your corded phones. It's a good idea to keep at least on e corded ph one with tradi tionallandl ine service in your home, if only for emergencies. Cordless phones- and even corded mod els connected to VoIP services or fiber-op tic netwo rks-may no t work if you lose electr ical power. Neither will a cell phone if you can't get a signal or the circuits are full.
~~ ConsumerReparls.org I COMPARE PHONE PLANS ONLINE
Because cell-phone service . proViders and plans vary from .. area to area , we can 't include all your options in this guide. If you live in one of the top 70 U.S. ma rkets you can compare available cellu lar plans by going
to www.ConsumerReports.org. . The cellular-plan selector is powered by Telebright , an
150
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
indepe ndent provider of such information. The interactive onli ne resource provides plan list ings by ZIP code. To access th is hel pful cell plan selector, go to the Elec tron ics & Compute rs page and click on "Cell Phones Decision Guide," then "Cell-plan selector (powered by Telebrtght.corn)"
under "Choosing a Cell Phone Plan." As a buyer of th is guid e, you are ent itled to a f ree one-month subscript ion to ConsumerReports.o rg, allow - .. lng you to use the paid as well as f ree areas of our site (see t he insid e fron t cover of th is guide for deta ils).
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
164 Headphones 166 Monitors 168 MP3 players 176
178 178 179
180 18 1 182
183
BRAND LOCATOR 18 4
GLOSSARY 186
INDEX 20 8
ConsumerReports.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GU IDE 200B 151
hold steady t han a heavy one. Fortunately, most did an excellent job of minimizing t he shakes. Analog camc orders are a dying breed. Only one model, th e Sony CCD-TRV13 8, $235, remains in the Ratin gs, and it's not in the same league as t he digital s. The Ratings rank models st rictly on performance. Quick Picks considers ot her factors such as feat ures, reliability, and value.
QUICK PICKS Best values in digital tape: 1
Canon Elura 85, $465
20 Sony OCR-TRV280, $275, CR Best Buy
OZGX3200A, $4 30 13 Canon OC100, $370 19 Sony OCR-OV0 10 5, $4 35 These reasonably priced models have a very good picture and image stabilization (Excellent for the Hitachi DZGX3200A). The Hitachis are the easiest to use, particularly whe n it comes to insertin g and removing discs and batt eries. The Canon has t he best sound; the Hitachi DZGX3200A and Sony DCR-DVD105 had noticeable (t hough not ruinous) background noise. Sony's DVD units have been amon g the most reli abl e cam corder brands; we do n't have enough data to j udge t he reliability of ot her DVD camcorders.
disk camcorde rs com e with a US and soft ware for easy download in edit ing of recordings on a compu where you will, of course, need am storage space for the videos. The GSC·R60 and Toshiba GSC-R30 r 13.5 hours and 6.7 hours respec of very good video to th e drive (bu quality was only fair). Images fro m JVC Everio G Series GZ-MG77 we litti e worse in quality than t he Tos merely good-but th e JVC's audio littl e better and the unit has an e image stabilizer.
Guide to the Ratings Overall score mainly reflects pictur e quality and ease of use. Picture quality is based on the jud gments of tr ained panelists who viewed recorded video images shot in good light at t he highest quality sett ing available. Ease of use takes into account ergonom ics, weight, how accurate ly the viewers reflected t he scene being shot , and LCDcontrast. Image sta bilizer ref lects how weil th e model reduces the shakes in a scene. Most stab ilizers are elect ronic, and some of th ose are digital (digita l stabilizati on is used on bot h ana log and digital camcorders). Some camcorde rs have opti cal stabilization. All t hree types can be effective , though using a tripod is the surest way to get a steady image. "NA" indicates th e model lacks th is featu re. Audio quality represents accuracy using th e built-in micro phone, plus free dom from noise and f lutter. Format is based
152 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
on the type of recordi ng tape or disc that a camcorder us Key differe nces among th e formats include pict ure quali of camcorder, and compat ibility with a VCR or DVD. Weig measured in pounds and includes th e batt ery and tap e ( Opt ical zoom all ows the cam corder to fill the frame wit away objects at t he touch of a butt on. An optical zoom ra 16x means the camcorder can magnify t he image up to 1 th e normal size. LCD size measured diagonally in inch typically ranges from 2 to 4 inches. Batt ery life is t he m t urer's stateme nt of how long th e camcorder can continu record images wit h the LCD viewer in use. " Not state d" in th e manufactu rer's specification for battery life was not a Price is appro ximate retail. Based on testing posted o
ConsumerReports.org in March 20 0 7.
Expert· Independen
10 Sony DC R-HC26
11 Sony DCR -H C36
335
12 Sony O CR ~H C 9 6
630
13 Canon DC100
370
14
jvc EverioGSeries .' GZ-MG505U
1S Sony OCR -OV0505
16 Sony OCR-SR100
o o o o
320
1265 1_ _""-'"
o
750
o
960
r.;.o.~w
17 Toshiba GSC·R60GSC-R30 $500 660
a
18 Hitachi UllraVision OZGX 3100A
455
19 Sony DCR -DV01 05
435
20 Sony OCR -T RV280
275
21 Sony HDR-HC3.
11 60 • •~
22 Hitachi Ultravision OZMV730A
370 23 JVC Compact SeriesGR 0270 315 llll ravisionDZMV750A5430
,I
~
o e o o o
o
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, 1.0
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20 ; 2.5
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20
85
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25
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1.4
10
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10 . ' 2.7
10 1 Hard Disk OVO-RAM, OVO-RW, '. 1.115 OVO -R, OVO+RW OVO-R, OVO-RW, ,. . OVO+RW 1.0 ' 20
50
110 '
2.7
65
2.5
100,
2
20
2.5
80 , ·
MiniOV
1.3
10
2.7115
OVO-RAM, DVD-R .
1.1
16 ' ' 2.5 ','; 70
32 JVC EverioGSeries GZ-MG77
715
33 JVC GR;0650
340
o e
MiniOV
1.1
GR'D370 $290. GR'D3965335
330
~
o
MiniOV
1.2
32
2.5
3S Panasonic PV-GSI80
430
o
~
1.1
10
2.5
70
36 Panasonic PV-GS500
705
~
o
1.5
12
2.7
130 .
24 Sony OCR -O V0405
630
2S Sanyo Xacti C6
495
26 Panasonic PV-GS31 ,
290
2 7 Sony OCR-HC46 '
405
28 Panasonic VDR-0200 VOR-OIOO $410
470
29 Sony OC R-OV 07
465
30 Canon Elura100
350
Canon ZR700 31
ZR500 5Z80. ZR600 5300
335
JVC GR-D395
34
,.
08
MiniOV OVO-R, OVO'RW, DVD+RW
" . 1.1
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25
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.,
. • (continued)
ConsumerReports.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUYINGGUIDE 2008 15
4 6 Samsung SC-DCl64
400
~
0
~
~
4 7 Samsung SC-D365 SC-D363 $270 300
~
0
•
~
·10
0
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e
.
ANALOG MODEL
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235
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115
CAMCORDERS More
Readers report on some 38,060 cam.corders The graph shows th e percentage of the following brands of digital camcorders bought between 2003 and 2006 that have been repaired or had
a serious problem. All three formats of Sony and
Panasonic (Mini DV) are more reliable than the
MiniDVformats of JVC, Canon, and Samsung. Dif
ferences of less than 5 points are not meaningful.
Models wit hin a brand might vary, and changes in
design or manufacture might affect reliability. Still. choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable brand.
154 CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200 8
repairs
Sony (DVD-RW!' R) Panasonic (Mini OV) Sony(08) Sony(Mi ni OV) Sam sung Mini JVC ((M ini O OV V)) Canon (MinrDV)
l;i;EL-l-J 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Data are based on 38, 060 reader responses about diqit al
camcorders to the Annual Product Reliability Survey con
duct ed by t he Consumer Report s Nat ional Research Center.
Data are adju sted to elim inate diff erences linke d solely to
age and use of t he product .
Expert· Independe
battery life, a hallmark of the GSM-network. On t he other hand, Verizon and Sprint Nextel phones , which run on a CDMA network, tend to have better voice qual ity.
Best choices for Sprint Nextel: 1S Sprint PCS CDM-120, $0 16 Sanyo Katana, $80 19 LG LX350, $0 20 LG Fusic, $15 0 21 Motorola ic502, $60 The Sprint PCS is a solid , no-frills folding phone with keypad and display that's easy
to see under most lighting conditions. It also has analog backup for roaming in rural areas. But the display is relatively small. Though it's pricey for a basic phone, the Sanyo stylishly integrates a strong phone performance with effic ient and comfortable controls, plus a music player. The LG LX350 is anothe r fine performi ng basic phone with a 1.2-megapixel
QUICK PICKS Best choices for Ver i zon: 2 Samsung SCH-a930, $50 4 LG VX8300, $50 8 Motor ola W315, $30 9 Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type V, $100 10 LG VX3450, $20 The Motoro la and LG VX34 50 are simple, yet highly compete nt performers. Both have analog backup-a rare feat ure among Verizon phones-that improves coverage in remote regions. The LG VX3450, in particu lar, fits comfortab ly in the palm, making the
Ratings In performance order, within categories.
iii _ _ Performance e '0 u '" "§..
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with advanced aspirations. Wit hin its stylishly thin case Oust 0.4 inches) lies support for Bluetooth voice and data and T-Mobile's high speed EDGE data network. The Samsung t629 is a sleek slider that nicely integrates a 1.3-megapixel camera with an easy-to-use music player. But it has no flash.
Best choices for AT&T:
disp lay is relatively large and easy to read.
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32 Samsung Sync, $50
The Samsung is a well-rounded phone that deftly integrat es a relatively large, easy-to read display with a 1.9-megapixel camera and a top-notch music player. It works with stereo wireless Bluetoot h headsets. It is also compatible with AT&T's high-speed HSDPA data network , which is purportedly as fast as EV-DO. But it has no f lash. Excellenl Very good Good
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VERIZON CELL PHONES 1
~oto ro la
E815
$80
2
Samsung SCH-a930
50
3
Nokia 6315i
50
0 0 0
4
LG VX8300
50
Q
. S . Verizon Wireless
50
0
6
Samsung SCH-a990
350
7
Motorola KRZR kim
100
150
8
Motorola W315
30
10
9
Verizon Wireless G'zone 100 Type V
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
e
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
e
0
0
0 0
Advanced
Folding
1.3
4
.Advanced
Foldimj
1.2 EV-DO
33/4
e
Advanced
Folding
1.2
None
4 ill
1.2
EV-DO
Advanced
31/2
0 0 0
Advanced
eFoiding . 3.1
EV-DO
41/4
e
Advanced
. Folding
1.3
EV-DO
e
Baslc
Folding
NA
None
0
Advanced
Folding
1.9 EV-DO
41/4
33/4
.3
Advanced '
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(continued) ConsumerReports.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRO NICS BUYING GUIDE 200 8
20 21 22 23 24 25
150
1.2
EY-DO
. _. . .
Samsung MM-A900 .
60
NA
None
10
1.2
EY-DO
Samsung A420 Samsung M610 MotoroIa C290 .
0
NA
None
180
1.9
EY-DO
0
NA
None
30
NA
None
·
·
T-MOBILE CELL PHONES
26 Motorola Y195 . 27 Sa:msung 15.09 28 . Nokia 6103 ~ 29 30 31
20
OJ EDGE
50
OJ EDGE
100
1.3
EDGE
100
1.3
EDGE
150
0.3 EDGE
·
·
AT&T (FORMERLY CINGULAR) CELL PHONES
32 Samsung Sync .
50
e
Advanced ·
Folding
33 LG CU50a.
80
e.
Advanced·
Folding
34 Sony Ericsson W8lDi 35 Motorola SLYR L7 36 '37 38
75 150
HSDPA.
UMTS EDGE.
1.2 HSDPA.
UMTS 1.9
2 Advanced
EDGE
OJ None
20
OJ
EDGE
20
0.3
None
NA
None
0
Basic
·
·
·
·
Guide to the Ratings Overall score is based mainly on voice quality, ease of use, and talk time . Results might vary fro m past Ratings due to test upgrades. In voice quality, listening reflects what you hear; talking, what's heard by oth er phones. Ease of use conside rs the display and keypad, and sending/rec eiving text messages. etc. Talk t ime is an average from tests with strong and weak network signals; t ime might vary with data applica tions. Sensitivity reflects voice quality when receiving a weak signal. The scores are relative among th e phones only withi n the carrier group, not between differe nt carriers. Type indicates whether the phone is Basic or Advanced. Basic cell phones are
156
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 2 00 B
generally free or inexpensive with a 2-year contract, an no-frills telephony via simple keypads and controls. Ad phones typically add music players, rnult irnegapixel ca access to a wireless data network such as EV-DO or HS memory-card slots for expanding fil e storage. Tests we ducted in noisy and quiet environments using live pho indicated by carrier used. Price is based on a two-year in early March 2007 from th e indicated carriers, incl rebates, or unlocked manufacturer's price, as in th e cas Nokia N80. The Motorola E815 and LG Ax490 were pu from Alltel and are not available f rom Verizon.
Expert· Independen
shot delay, and has 5 megapi xels, lOx opt ical zoom, an image stabilizer, and manual focus. It can save images as RAW files but has a sma ll 1.8-inch LCD and is heavier tha n the ot hers. The Canon PowerShot A7101 S has very good pict ure quality, excellent next-shot delay, 7 mega pixels, 6x optica l zoom, an opt ical view f inder, an image stab ilizer, and manua l focus . Its brandmate, t he Canon Power Shot A630, offers slightly better (excellent) pict ures and slightly greater reso lut ion (8 megapixels), 4x optical zoom, an opt ical viewfin der, and manual focus, but only fai r shutt er lag. The Kodak EasyShare Z612 is excellent in pictu re qua lity and next shot delay, and has 12x zoom that can zoom while recording video, an image stabilizer, and MPEG4 video.
For more flexibilit y to edit or enlarge: 6 Panasonlc Lumlx OMC-LX2, $40 0 12 Canon PowerShot G7, $500 These 10-megapixel compacts have an image stabilizer, manu al controls, and manu al focus . The Panaso nic Lumix DMC-LX2 has excellent pict ure qua lity, 4x optical zoom, very good battery life, and wide-angle zoom. It can save images as RAW files but has only fair shutter lag. The pricier Canon PowerShot G7 has very good picture quality , excellent next-shot de lay, 6x opti cal zoom, good battery life, optic al viewf inder, and fac e detect ion.
For a camera that fits In a pocket: 25 Sony Cyber-shot 0 5C-N2, $350
ConsumerReport s.org
Optio M20 has 7 megapixels, an image stab ilizer and manual focus but only fai r shutter lag (also available: the newer M30 , 200). The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 has 6 rnegapixels, an optical viewfinder, manual cont rols, and MPEGl video (also available: its newer, 7-megapixel sibling, the DSC-W55, $200).
If a long zoom is a priorit y: 8 Canon PowerShot 53 IS, $3 50 9 Olympus Stylus 5P-51 0 UZ, $3 0 0 Both have very good pictur e qua lity, excel lent battery life, excellent next-shot delay, an image stabil izer, manual controls , and manual focus, and are fair ly heavy. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS has 6 megapixels, 12x opt ical zoom and can zoom while recording video (also available: the newer, 8-megapixei S5 IS, $500). The Olympus Stylus SP-510 UZ has 7 mega pixels, lOx optica l zoom but only fair shutter lag.
Among 5LR -like models, capability at a modest price: 60 Fujlfilm FinePix 56000fd, $340 63 Fujlfilm FlnePix 59100, $400 Bot h have very good battery life, 10 .7x optica l zoom, image stab ilizer, wide-angle zoom, manua l controls, can zoom while recording video, and are fairly heavy. The Fuj ifil m FinePix S60 00fd has excellent picture quality, 6 mega pixels, very good sh utt er lag, and excellent next-shot delay. It's also sensitive enough to minimize t he need for f lash in low-light conditions. If high resolution tru mps spee d, try t he newer, high-resolution (9 mega pixel)
Fujifilm Finepix F31fd.
Models with an optical viewfinder, which let s you avoid having to use th e LCO:
Canon PowerShot A640, Canon Power5hot A71015, Canon PowerSh A630, Canon PowerShot G7, Canon PowerShot 50430, Canon PowerSh S0 8 0 0 lS ELPH and Canon PowerShot S0900, plus Fujifilm Fineplx E90 0 and Fujlfilm Flnepix A500, Casio Exillm EX-Z850, and Sony Cyber-shot 05C -W50. For an easy-to-use SLR: Nikon 040, $560
This camera is compact and lightwe igh for an SLR, very easy to use, with very good image quali ty and excellent batt e life. It has 6 mega pixels, can shoot 2.5 f rames per second conti nuous ly for up 100 JPEG images, and includes in-cam image correcti on, such as cropp ing and filter effects, plus soft wa re-based dust removal. It also features a 2.5 percent spot meter and uses the same meterin system as it s pric ier sibling, the Nikon D8 0 , a fine and rugged 10-megapixel model that accepts a wide variety of lenses. Other 10-megapi xel, pricier alte natives : the Nikon D40x, a newer sib lin th at we haven't yet test ed, and t he Can Digita l Rebel Xt i, t he latest in the Digita Rebel line and a fine performer, despi te its lack of spot metering.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUYINGGU IDE 20
12,' Canon PowerShot G7 :
500
13 Fujifilm FinePix F31fd
350
.14 , K,odak EasyShare2612
230
15 Panasonic Lumix OMC-TZ1
250
16 Kodak EasyShare One
200
e e e e e 0 e 0 0 e e e e e
17 Kodak EasySharenio
230
18 Hewlett-Packard ' PhotoSmart R927
19 'samsumj NV7 OPS
350
0
2 0 Fujifilm FinePix A500
100
e
180
0
Hewl et t ~ Packard
2 2 PhotoSmart M627
170
'il
23 Olympus Stylus1000
270
'il
· 21
Olym~us
Styius FE-200
·24 Hewlett -Packard.
PhotoSmart M527 '
240
130
0
10
13
III
220
0.6
6
63
7
21.3
580
0.7
3
6.1
12
15.4
262
0.4
12
5
9
12.1
250
1.3
10
4
9
10.5
150
0.6
3
7.1
12
16.1
240
0.6
10
15.6
200
19
150
6
13
7
10.2 400
3
1.1
.3
5
8.1
0 0
7.2
10
5.1
6
e e e
6
10
6
0
0.4
8.2
290
1.3
12.5
375
0.6
17.1
250
12.5
205
. : ..
4
1.1
2.1
SUBCOMPACT MODELS
25 .Sony Cyber'shot OSC-N2
350
26 Canon PowerShot S0430
440
27 . So~y CyberShot OSC-T50
450
28 Canon Powe[Shot S0800 ELPH . 29 . Caslo ExilimEX-2850
400
.!S
280
e e
e e e e e e 0 0
10
6
15.7
300
03
5
5
11.5
500
0.8
7.2
6
11.2
400
OJ
7.1
111
270
0.4
8.1
14.1
440
0.6
. 3.8
- - - --- -- - -- - - -- - - - --- - -
Guide to the Ratings
Ov er a ll score is based largely on picture quality and conven ience factors. Print quality is based on pane lists' j udgments of glossy 8xl0-inch photos made on a high-quality inkj et printer. Ease of use is our measure of how convenient it is to use the cam era's esse ntials features. Megapixels shows how many mil lion pixels t he image sensor has. As a rule, wit h more mega pixels, you can make larger prints or enlarge parts of an image without losing deta il or image quality. Weig ht (in ounc es) includes batt ery and me mory card . Flas h range (in feet) is t he maximu m cla imed range for a well-lighted photo . Ba t t er y life (shots) reflects the number of high-resol ution photos we cou ld ta ke wit h a fresh set of alkaline batteries (or, if included , with rechargeables that were fu lly charged). The LCD image display was t urned off (if possible), t he flash was used for half of the shots, and th e zoom lens was
racked in and out. Ne x t - sh ot de lay (in seconds) is the time cam era needs to ready itself for the next sh ot. Shutter lag (in onds) is t he time fro m wh en you press the shutter to th e mo the camera takes the pict ure. (aft er auto focusing and mete for expos ure). Opt ic a l zoom magnif ies t he image using a re mu lt ifocal-Iength lens, whereas a digital zoom uses electron i enlarge the center portion of the image using interpolati on . cameras have bot h optical and digita l zoom. The optica l-zoom is what really matters; image quality dec reases the further on goes into the digital-zoom range . The magnification ratio ava for opt ical zoom is expressed by a value such as 2x or 3x. A optical zoom with a minimum focal length of 7 mm wou ld ha maxim um focal length of 14 mrn, Price is app roximate retail.
on tests posted on ConsumerReports.org in January 200
(co 158
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
Expert · Independent ·
41 Sony Cyber ~shoIOSC-W50
180
390
350
e e e 0
13.8
42 Kodak EasyShareV705
7.1
5
7.2
150
2
0.6
3
4 3 Nikon Coolpix L6
150
e
e
6
5
16.4
540
2
0.7
3
44 Nikon CooipixS7c
350
4 5 Olympus Slylus 710
220
46 .' Canon Power?hol S030
260
e e e e
e e e e e e
4 7 '. Panasonic Lumix OMC-FX01 230 4 8 Pentax Oplio A20
270
0 0 0
49 Canon PowerShot SD40 ELPH 300 50 Casio Exilim EX-llOOO
270
51 Pentax Optio A10 .
220
52 Samsung NV3
250
53 Olympus Slylus720SW
240
5 4 Kodak EasyShare v6io
280
55 Olympus SlylusFE-180
160
56 Canon PowerShol S0630
260
e e
e e e e e
OA
3
7.1
6
24.6 200
3
0.8
3
7.1
4
13.1
180
3
0.8
3
5
4
6.6
160
2
0.7
2A
6
6
13.1
320
3
1.1
3.6
10
5
23J
150
3
1.3
3
7.1
4
6.6
190
2
0.5
2A
10.1
6
11.8
360
3
OJ
3
8
5
16A
150
6
1.6
3
7.2
6
11.2
200
4
1.1
3
7.1
6
12.5
180
3
1
3
9
0 0 0
0
6
6
11.2
135
3
0.5
6
6
8.9
500
2
0.8
6
6
11.5
160
2
.3
6
6
8.5
200
2
5
12.5 200
2
0.8 3
0.8 . 5
14.8
130
57 Nikon CooipixS6
220
e e r.- e
5 8 Olympus Stylus740
260
r.-
e
7.1
59 Pentax OptioT10
260
0
e
6
6
60 Fujifilm FinePixS6000fd
340
0
e
6J
24
27.2
61 Lelca V-LUX 1
850
e
26
62 .Fujifilm FinePixS9000
380
0
9
27
18A
63 Fujifilm FinePix S9100
400
e
0 0 0
10.1
.. ·._.
... · •.
:
.
_.
'. . .
3
1.3
3
400
0.5
10.7
24.3 360
0.8
12
340
1.1
10.7
320
0.9 : 10.7
..
'
SLR-L1KE MODELS
.•
"
9
26
18A
·
. ·
.'
.
· · .
· ·
.
• ••
Compact models 1 Ca n on Pow er 5hot 52 15 Excell ent overall. Excellent batt ery life . Has mu lt iple special scene modes. 2 5 0ny Cyber - sh ot D5C-H2 Excellent overal l. Excellent battery life and versat ility. Has an optical image stabi lizer and man ual focus . Can zoom optically wh ile record ing
ConsumerRe port s.org
video . Also has high ISO settings of 800 and 1000. Less noisy t han ot her cameras at 800 ISO, but pictures at 10 00 ISO are noisy.
viewf inder. LCD is movable. Has panorami stitc h assist.
all. 10 x optical zoom. Excellent battery life . Light weight for its class.
5 Canon Power5hot A 71015 Very good overa ll. Has ma nua l focus an optica l view finder, pa noramic st itch assist, large LCD, an d opti cal image st abilizer.
4 Can on Power5hot A64 0 Very good overall. Has manual fo cus. Has an opt ical
6 Pana son ic Lumix DMC-LX2 Very goo overall. Has man ual focus. Has a large LCD
3 Fujifilm FinePix 55200 Very good over-
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
4x opt ical zoom. Excellent battery life. Excellent dynam ic range. Lens has excel lent sha rpness.
11 Nikon Cool pix 510 Very good overall. LCD is movable. Has panoramic stitch assist, large LCD, mechanica l image sta bilizer, and face detection.
12 Canon PowerShot G7 Very good over all. Has manual focus, an optical viewfinder, pano ramic stitch assist, optical image sta bilizer, and face detection.
13 Fujlfllm FlnePix F31fd Very good overall. Has simulated image stabilizer and face detection.
14 Kodak EasyShare Z612 Excellent
M627 Good overall . Has a large LCD. In-camera slimming feat ure (done in post processing). Exposure compensation in half ste ps only.
33 Penta x Optio W20 Very g
23 Olympus St ylus 1000 Good overall.
34 Sony Cyber-shot OSC-TlO
Has panoram ic stit ch assist. Has a large LCD. Has simulated image stabi lizer. Long next shot delay. Long shutter lag. Pictur e quality not as good as that of other cam eras in its class.
overall. Has sim ulated image s Can zoom optica lly when record
24 Hewlett -Packard PhotoSmart M527 Good overall. Ease of use is good. Has a long shutter lag.
Subcompact models 25 Sony Cyber-shot OSC-N2 Very good
15 Panasonic Lumlx OMC-TZl Very
26 Canon PowerShot 50430 Very good
good overall. Excellent batte ry life. Foldin g optics tec hnology allows for compact size for a Super Zoom . Has an optica l image stabi lizer and high ISO setting of 800, but pictures at t his settin g are noisy. Stand out video quality. Can zoom opt ically while recordin g video . Has a long sh utt er lag.
overall. One of t he few subcompacts with an opt ical viewf inder. Has pano ramic stitc h assist mode, Wi Fi, and PC remote control shooting.
overall. Has large LCD with touch screen, Wi Fi for uploading images via network, external Wi Fi antenna , and good batt ery life. Comes with two batteries.
17 Kodak EasyShare Z710 Very good overall. Has MPEG4 video recording.
18 Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart R927 Very good overall. Very good image quali ty. Has manua l controls and can zoom optically 160 CONSUMER REPORTS 0
35 Caslo Exllim Card EX-S6
good overall. Excellent batter y simu lated image stab ilizer, man and MPEG-4 video recording. L shot delay. Has high ISO setti ng but pictu res at this setti ng are
36 Casio Exllim Card EX-S7
overall. Excellent battery life. Has optical image stabil izer and can zoom opt ical ly when recordi ng video in MPEG-4 form at.
16 Kodak EasyShare One Very good
all. Has manual focus and simu stabi lizer. Can zoom optically w ing videos .
overall. One of th e few subcompacts wit h manual controls. Has a large LCD.
27 Sony CyberShot OSC-T50 Very good overall. Has a large LCD and opt ical image stabilizer. Can zoom optica lly when record ing videos. 28 Canon PowerShot 50800 IS ELPH Very good overall. Has an optical viewf inder, panoramic st itch assist, optical image stabi lizer, an d wide angle lens.
29 Casio Exilim EX-Z850 Excellent overa ll. Excell ent battery life. Very good image qua lity. Has simu lated image stab i lizer, man ual contro ls, opti cal viewfinder, MPEG-4 video recording and spec ial scene
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
good overall. Has manual focus MPEG4 video recording, and s image stab ilizer.
37 Kodak EasyShare V570
overall. Has good batte ry life, tw system , ultr a wide angle lens, a LCD monitor.
38 Pent ax Optlo M20 Very g Has manual focus and simulat stabili zer.
39 Fujlfilm FinePix Vl0 Very
all. Very good image quality. Ha monitor and in-camera, arcadegame s which can also be disp an extern al monit or via the ca outputs. Has high ISO sett ings and 1600. Less noisy than othe at 800 ISO, but pict ures at 16 are noisy.
40 Samsunq NV10 Very good One of the few sub compacts w contro ls. MPEG4 video recordi
Expert· Independ
detecti on.
45 Olympus Stylus 710 Very good over all. Weat herproof. Has a simulated image sta bilizer and special scene mode for opti mizing pictu res for auction Web sites. High ISO setti ngs of 800 and 1600, but pictur es at t hese settings are noisy. A shooting guide offers suggestions on how to sho ot com mon scenarios and can adj ust camera to suggested settings. 46 Canon PowerShot S030 Good overall. Has 2.4x zoom , small stylish form , and sm all LCD monitor.
47 Panasonic Lumix OMC-FXOl Very good overall. Excellent battery life. Has Optical image sta bilizer and wide angle. Has high sensiti vity mod e, but pictures at t his setti ng are noisy. Has long shutter lag.
48 Pentax Optio A20 Very good overall. One of th e few subcompacts wit h ma nual contro ls. Has ma nual focus. MPEG4 video recordi ng. Has simulated image sta bilizer. Long shutter lag.
49 Canon PowerShot S040 ELPH Very good overall. Has panoramic stitch assist.
50 Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 Very good overall. Has manual focus. Has a large LCD. Has Sim ulated (Sensitiv ity) Image sta bilizer.
51 Pent ax Optio Al0 Very good overall. Very good image quality. Has a mech anical image stabi lizer, manual foc us and MPEG-4 video recording. Has a long next-shot delay and shutt er lag.
Consu m erR epo rt s.org
overall. Excellent versatility. Has large LCD mo nitor and high ISO sett ing of 80 0 , but pict ures at t his setting are noisy. Has a long shutt er lag.
57 Nikon Cool pix S6 Good overall. Has a large LCD monitor and wireless WiFi con nections . Can recognize faces placed in a guide box and auto mat ically lock focus on
. . . . ....
image stabilizer for video s. LCD monitor tilts out. Has multiple special scene mode
63 Fujifilm FinePix S9100 Very good overall . LCD is movable. Has sim ulated image stabil izer and wide angle lens. Can zoom opti cally when recording videos.
DIGITAL CAMERAS
Readers report on some 238,290 digital cameras The graph shows t he percent age of th e followin g brands of digital came ras bought between 2003 and 2006 that have been repaired or had a serious problem. Vivita r has been am ong the more repair prone brand s of point-and-shoots , Olymp us amon g th e more repai r prone brands of SLRs. Differences of less than 4 points are not mean ingful. Model s withi n a brand might vary, and changes in design or man ufactu re might affec t reliability. Still , choosing a brand with a good repair history can imp rove your odds of getting a reliable model.
__----..._
More repairs
Fuji/Fujifil m Nikon Canon Olympus • •10 Sony Pana sonic Olympus Canon Kodak Sam su ng Nikon Fuji/Fujifilm Penta x Ca sio HP(Hewlett-Packard) Minolla/Konica Minoll a Vivitar
~~~~l--l----J 0%
_ _
5%
10%
15%
20%
SLRMODELS POINT-AND-SHOOT MOOElS
Data are based on 238,290 reader responses about digital cameras t o the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Report s Nati onal Research Cente r. Data are adjusted to eiimin at e diffe rences linked soiely to t he age and use of t he product.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200
New models coming soon The expert s at CONSUMER REPORTS were t esting new mod els of GPS navigato rs as this book went to press. Here's a sneak preview of what we've found so far. Result s will be published In th e Oct ober issue of CONSUMER REPORTS. Garmin Nuvl 660 4.5-in ch diagonal screen. Traff ic information avai lable with included FM receiver and subscription serv ice. Text-to-speech. MP3 player. Bluetoot h hands-free calling. Sleek, portable desig n.
Garmin streetPilot cSSO 3.5-inch diagonal screen. Traffic information available with included FM receiver and subscription serv ice (thro ugh MSN Direct which includes gas prices, weather, movie times). Text-to-speech. MP3 player. Bluetoot h hands- free calling.
Garmln street Pilot c330 3.5-inch diagonal scree n. No bells and whistles-stri ct ly
Magellan Roadmate 2000 3 .5-inch diago nal scree n. No bells and whistles-strictly Map is only cont inental U.S.
Harman Kardon GPS-SOO
4-inch diagona l screen. MP3 player. Video player. Crisp d Sleek portable design . User interface not as easy to use best-rated mod els.
Lowrance IWay 600c 5-inch diagonal screen . Very large unit (obstructs view). batt ery. MP3 player. Photo viewer.
Magellan Crossover GPS
Delphi Nav200
3 .5-inch diagona l screen . Traffic information available with addi tiona l purchase of FM receiver and subscript ion service . Text-to speech . MP3 player.
3 .5-inch diagonal screen . Traffic information available w tio nal purc hase of FM receiver and subscription se rvice. Player. Photo viewer. Video player. User interface not as use as the best-rated mode ls. Processing is slow.
TomTom Go 910 4-inc h diagona l screen. Traffic information available with subscrip tion service (throug h compa tib le Bluetoot h phone only). Text-to speech . MP3 player. Bluetooth hands-free call ing. iPod interface. Includes preloaded European maps. Large internal hard drive .
162 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Rand McNally GPS Navigator
3.5-inch diagona l screen. MP3 player. User interface not to use as the best-rated mode ls. Processing is slow.
Expert· Independen
Ent eri ng dest ination is base d on th e logic and ease of programming an address or point of interest into t he system . Inclu des whether databa se allows dyna mic sea rching for addresses, if letters are grayed out, ease of accessing naviga tion system upon start-up, and ease of fi nding closest point of interest. Also include s whet her full U.S. dat abase is preloaded . Control use is based on the design of the physical interface with the system . Includes size of on-screen icons, presence of hard keys, need to use a stylus instead of a f ingertip, and ease of adjusti ng com mon functions like volume , bright ness . and map zoom setti ng. Info for driver is based on t he on-screen and audib le inform at ion given to the user during navigat ion. Include s type and font size of on-screen informat ion, ability to speak proper st reet names (text-to-speech), languages sup ported, and am ount of audib le informat ion given includi ng
Consum erR eports.org
descriptions of the next maneuver. Route options is the number of options fo r fine-tuning the route plotted by the system. Includes shortest distance/ quickest route, avoid toll roads, and RV/truck use, as well as the availab ility of real-time traffic info rmat ion. Also includes availa bility of foreign map databases. Portability is based on th e size and weight of th e unit and the presence of an intern al batt ery, as well the size of the moun t and t he ability to eas ily det ach t he mou nt for packing. Display is based on display size, brightness , contrast, and glare/reflectio ns in bright sun light. Routi ng t ime measures calculation tim e for plott ing various trips with GPS recepti on act ive. Also includes slow sys tem response during data entry menus. Mount design is th e ability to adj ust mount to move unit closer to operato r, as well as lack of shaking or ratt ling during vehicle mot ion and f lexibility of locati on in th e vehicle.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 20 0 8
16
based on such factors as value and capabilities.
QUICK PICKS Best for music, especially at home: 2 Grado SR-a O, $9 5 9 Grado SR-60, $7 0 , CR Best Buy
buds are a CR Best Buy. A sma ll exterior "cap" on the earbuds helps form a seal to keep sound in and noises out. When not in use, t he earphones can be stored in a compact carrying pouch. The insert style Sennheis ers have very good soun d quality and come wit h three sets of
164 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
phones are a bit larger and heavi the Sennheisers, the noise-reduc circuits are built into the headph itsel f . But un like the Sennh eisers Bose mode ls can't be used as re headphones if the batteries die .
Exper t· Independ
ConsumerReports.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRON ICS BUY ING GUIDE 2008 1
Guide to the Ratings Overall score is based on display quality, viewing angle, ease of use, and fea t ures. Display quality reflects image clarity, color accurac y, and contrast as j udged by panelists who viewed text and photos, and on lab measurements. Viewing angle indicates how well screens can be viewed f rom posit ions at least 4 5 degrees off the cente rline, most important if several users view t he screen at once . Ease of use indicates readability of controls on display and in onscreen menus, and th e ability to t ilt the monitor on its base. Price is approximate reta il. All except t he Apple have a detachab le video cable. Based on tests published in Consumer Repor ts in June 2007.
166 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Expert · Independen
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250
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230
21 Benq FP92W
220
22 , NEC1940WCXM-
275
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20-INCH DISPLAYS All testedmodels have1680xlO50 resolution.
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380
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400
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 200 8
16
f lash player. But they're also bulkier. They generally have a shorter battery life per charge, even though t imes have improved, especially for most of the iPods. All players accep t mu sic you already own on CD, which you convert into digital music files and t ransfer to the player using software such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, and ot her programs. And all except t he $31 5 Cowon iAudio A2 (30GB) can play copyright-protected music dow nloaded from online stores . Non-iPods can play songs downloaded from a variety of online stores; iPods work main ly with iTunes, but you can also download songs from Real and Rhapsody. All players work with Windows PCs, but only some are Mac compatible. Many play ers can also handle video, but only som e have displays large enough to make th at experience wort hwhile. The Ratings rank models withi n types in perfor mance order. Quick Picks lists models you might consider based on such factors as value and capabi lit ies.
QUICK PICKS
For maximum capacit y in a flash
memory player:
3 Apple iPod Nano (8G B), $250
7 SanDisk Sansa e2 8 0 (8GB), $210
In their 8GB versions, t hese players are the
largest-capacity flash models , wit h double th e storage of ot her flash players. The Sansa allows you to add even more capacity (a 1GB card can add about 250 so ngs) using a microSD card slot. It also has a volume limiter to protect hearing,
6 Creative Zen V (4GB), $15 0 These players are worthy choices t hat offer some advantages over the 4GB versions of the Sansa and Nano. The iRiver plays videos and displays phot os, and its 1.8x1.3 -inch color disp lay is the largest of any flash-memory player we've tested. It also has an FM radio from which you can record as well as a built-in microphone for personal memos. The sim ilarly equipped Samsung adds a volume lim iter to protect hearing and has 29-hour audi o playback time, though its display is sma ller. The iRiver and Samsung are also available in 2 GB versions for $160 and $15 0, respectively. The Creat ive Zen V and Zen V Plus also have volume limiters, and add a line input for recording audio from an external source. But only th e V Plus model has video play back and an FM radio. Bot h are availab le in 2 GB and 1GB versions. The 2GB Zen V costs $120; t he 1GB version costs $85. The 2GB and 1GB Zen V Plus models cost $135 and $ 100, respectively. One caveat to all of these models: Not one works with Mac intos h comp uters .
For the best balance of high capacit y and portability in a hard-disk player: 28 Apple iPod (80GB), $350 The most capacious iPod is t he smallest 80GB player on th e market , being only slightly larger than th e 60GB iPod it replaced (and its 30 GB sibling; see below). Batt ery life is 21 hours for audio playback, 7 hours for video . And since it costs only a littl e more th an some rival players with
168 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 0 B
and is one of th e slimmes t and expensive hard-disk players on th The 30 GB Creative and its slightl heavier 60GB twin have a radio a ing capabilities, while looking un similar to th e iPods. They're even the same height, widt h, and dis p Both Creatives have slight ly bette life-at about 19 and 5 hours fo and video , respectively, compare 16 and 3 'jz hours for th e iPod. B Creat ives are about t wice as thi c thicker t han the 80GB iPod. And t compatib le with Macintosh comp
If screen size and video reco top priorities:
37 Archos 604 WiFI (30GB)
38 Cowan iAudio A2 (3 0 GB) 41 Archos 5 0 4 (16 0 GB), $5
43 RCA Lyra X3030 (30G B
Though t hey're heavier and prici most other hard-disk players, thes unc ommonly large disp lays mak ideal for viewing videos and pho can record from external sources, TV, cable, or a DVD player-allow to fair ly easily take your favorite m TV shows wit h you. You can also p content on a TV set using an adap all have bui lt-in speakers, which fo r watc hing with a fri end or whe tethe red to a headphone is inco The Arches players have one largest displays at 2.1x3.7 inches fort able viewing. The 160GB 50 dou ble th e capacity of t he next player-enough room for 40, 0 00
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2 00
20 SanDisk Sansa el40 (1GBl
85
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100
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MICRODRIVE HARD-DISK MP3 PLAYERS (4GB TO 8GB)
23 Cowon iAudio 6(4GB)
190
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HARD-DISK MP3 PLAYERS (20GB TO 160GB)
28 AppleiPod (80GBl
350
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 08
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Guide to the Ratings The MP3 player ma rket is dominated by t hree types of players: flash-memory, micro drive, an d hard disk. Flash-memory players are the smallest and lightest of th e group, They're no bigger than a pack of gum and weigh no more t han th ree ounces . They're solid-state, meaning they have no moving parts, and their storage capacities range from 512 mega bytes up to 8 gigabytes (about 120 to 2,000 songs) . Palm-sized microdrive players have t iny hard drives with a storage capacity of 4GB to 8GB (about 1,000 to 2,000 songs). They weigh abo ut a quarte r-pound, Hard-disk players are abo ut the size of a deck of cards and have a storage cap acity of 20G B to 160GB (about 5,000 to 40 ,00 0 son gs), They're about t he size of a deck of cards and typically weigh less than a half-pound, Some hard-disk players with video capabili ty have relatively larger displays, and as a result , tend to be the bulkiest players. You can expect a player to hold about 25 0 songs per gigabyte of memo ry. Overall score, as MP3 players, is based prim arily on ease of use, headphone quality, audio quality, damage resistance, and audio playback tim e. Video and picture quality is rated but not included in the overall score, Ease of use mainly covers player characte rist ics tha t aid in convenience, versat ility, and port ability, These prima rily inclu de navigatio n and scrolling featu res; the accessibility and readab ility of t he cont rols; and the readabil ity and breadt h of the infor mation in the display (such as music track dat a and battery-life indicator); size and weight ; and ease of use while walking or jogging, Some feature s and capabilities considered include t he presence of an FM radio, built-in mic ro phone, upgradeab le firmware, equalizer, data storage, softwa re assessment, and the player's ability to be recognized as a hard driv e by the computer witho ut the inst allat ion of ad dit ional
c onsumer aeports.oro
drivers. Headphone quality reflects judg ments from a listening pan el com paring th e player and its su pplied headph one to a t est aud io CD and a high-fidelity headphone, All uncompressed (audio CD or WAY) test mus ic sources were ripped (encoded) to MP3 format (128 , 19 2, and 256 kbps CBR rate) using a high-quality encod er, Audi o qualit y reflects jud gment s from a liste ning panel comparing the player to a test audio CD, using th e high-fidelity headphones for both , All uncom pressed (audio CD or WAY)test music sources were ripped (encoded) to MP3 format (128, 192, and 256 kbps CBR rate) using a high-quality encoder. Damage resistance mainly ref lect s drop-test results; scratch- and wipe-resistance results were also considered. Pict ure qualit y reflects j udgments based main ly on viewing angle, display size, and clarity and color in differen t lighting conditions, using the JPEG form at. Audio play back time reflects lab measure ments of cont inuous playback tim e to th e nearest hour, using a select ion of music tracks encoded to MP3 form at at a 128 kbps
CBR rate; full y charged rechargeable batteries; backlight at t he
min imum setti ng; with included headphone; and volume set
at a reasonable level. For players that can use stan dard batter
ies such as alkaline, expect a bit longer playback t ime , Our
measurements should not be compa red with those stated by
th e manufact urer, whic h might use diff erent testi ng methods
and criteria, All dimensions are measu red to the nearest tenth
of an inch, and listed the way the player would be oriented if
you were viewing th e screen , Weight is how muc h t he player
weighs in ounces, including batteries but not including acces
sories. For models wit h no internal memory, the memory card
is included, Based on tests posted on ConsumerRepor ts.org
in July 2007.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
EL ECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 20 0
radio and recording from FM radio. Very good sound qua lity reco rding f rom built in micropho ne. Color disp lay meas ured 1.4x1.1 inches. Has slidesho w with simultaneous mus ic . Has custom and presets equal izer, volume limiter, A-B repeat, text viewer, games, and multilin gual menu s. Can edit playlist and delete files on player. MTP compatible. No Mac sup port. Includes earbud-type headphone. Has nonrem ovable batt ery. AC adapter not included. USB2 inte rface . Similar mode l: YP-T9 (2GB).
3 Apple iPod Nano (8GB) Very good overall. Color display measured 0.9x1.1 inches. Has slideshow with simultaneo us music. Has presets equa lizer, a volume limiter that can be pass-code protected, contacts and calendar appointment appli cat ion, text viewer, games, stop watch, and multil ingual menus. Can edit playlist (but can't delete files) on player. Includes earbud-type headp hone. Has nonremov abl e battery. AC ad apter not included. USB2 interface. iTunes software not included; must download from Apple Web site. Simi lar mod els: IPod Nano (2GB), iPod Nano (4GB).
4 Cowon iAudio T2 (2 GB) Very good overa ll. Color OLED disp lay measured 0.5xO.8 inches. Has custom and presets equalizer, A-B repeat , chan nel balance, fade-in audio playback, alarm clock, and mult ilingual menus . Can edit playlist and delete files on player. Includes earbud -type
capable via line input. Good sound qual ity recordi ng from bui lt-in mic rophon e. Color display meas ured 1.0x1.1 inches. Has sli deshow with sim ulta neous music. Has custo m and presets equalizer. a volume limiter t hat can be pass-code protected , contacts and calendar appoin tment appli cation, alarm clock, and multilingual menus. Can edit playlist and delete fil es on player. MTP compa tible. No Mac support. Includes earbud-type headphon e. Has nonre mov able battery. AC adapte r not included. USB2 Interface. Similar models: Zen V (1GB), Zen V (2GB).
7 San Disk Sansa e280 (8GB) Very good overall. Good sound quality from FM radio, and recording from FM radio and built-in microphone. Color display measured 1.3x1.1 inches. Has video playback, and slideshow with simulta neous music. Has presets equa lizer, volume limiter, and multilingual menus. Can edit playlist (but can't delete files) on player. MTP compat ible. No Mac support. Includes earbud-type headph one. Has removable rechargeable battery. AC adapter not included. USB2 interface . "R" appended to model designat ion has built-in Rhapsody; availab le at Best Buy for about $2 0 extra. Similar models: Sansa e250 (2GB), Sansa e260 (4GB), Sansa e270 (6GB). 8 Philips GoGear SA9200 (2GB) Very good overall. Color display measured 1.3xl.0 inches. Has slides how wit h simultaneous music. Has custom and
172 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 08
overall. Color display measured inches . Has slideshow with simu music. Has presets equalizer, an lingual menus. Can't edit playlist files on player. MTP compati ble. sup port. Includes earbud-type he Has nonremovable battery. AC ad included . USB2 interface. Similar YP-Z5 (2GB), YP-Z5Z (1GB).
11 San Disk Sansa elSO (2GB) overall. Good sound quality recor built-In micro phone. Color display 0 .5x1.0 inches. Has slideshow w taneous music . Has custom and equalizer, and multilingual menu playlist (but can't delete fi les) o MTP compatib le. No Mac suppor earbud-type headphone. Uses o batt ery. USB2 interf ace. Sim ilar Sansa c14 0 (1GB).
12 Samsung VP-KS (4GB) Ve
overall. Good sound quality f rom and built-in speakers. Color disp ured 1.3 xO.9 inches. Has slidesh simultan eous music. Has presets volume limiter, alarm clock , and lingual menu s. Can't edit playlist files on player. MTP compatible. support. Includes earplug-type h Has nonremovable batte ry. AC ad included . USB2 interface. Simila YP-K5 (1GB), YP-K5 (2GB).
13 Sam sung VP-U2JQB (2GB
overall. Very good sound qua lity
Exper t· Independe
reco rding f rom built-in mi croph one. Fair sound qua lity reco rdi ng fro m lin e inpu t. Two-color OLEO display measured O.5xO.9 inches. Has custom and presets equa lizer, A-B repeat , text viewer, stopw atch, alarm clock, and mu lti lingual menu s. Can edit playlist and delete files on player. Doesn't list tracks. Includes earbud-type headphone. Has nonrem ovable batte ry. AC ada pter not included. USB2 interface. Simi lar models: i.Beat organlx w/FM (1GB), i.Beat organlx w/FM (512 MB).
16 SanDisk Sansa m260 (4GB) Very good overall. Fair sound quality recording f rom built-in microphon e. Monoch rome display measu red O.5x1. 1 inches. Has custom and presets equalizer, A-B repeat, stopw atch, and mult ilingual menus . Can edit playlist (but can 't delete file s) on player. No Mac sup port. Includes earb ud-type headphone. Uses one AAA battery. USB2 interface. Simi lar mode l: Sansa m230 (51 2M B), Sansa m2 40 (1GB), Sansa m250 (2GB).
earplug-type head pho ne. Uses one AAA battery. USB2 inte rfa ce.
21 Klegg Mini (1GB) Good overall. Very good soun d quality recording from built in mic ropho ne. Color display measur ed O.7xO. 6 inches. Has slidesh ow wit hout si mult aneous music. Has presets equal izer, and A-B repeat . Can de lete f iles (but can 't edit playlist) on player. Doesn 't list tracks, and lacks lock control. No Mac support. Includes earb ud-type headphone. Has nonremovab le battery. AC ad apter not inclu ded . USB2 interface. Simi lar model: Mi ni (512 MB). 22 TrekSt or i.Beat mood FM (1GB) Good overall. Good sound quality from FM radio. Fair soun d quality recording fro m built-in microphone . Two-color OLEO display measu red O.5xO.9 inches. Has presets equalizer, A-B repeat, and mult i lingual me nus. Can delete fil es (but can 't edit playlist) on player. Doesn't list tracks. No Mac support. Inclu des earb ud-type headphone. Uses one AAA batt ery. USB2 interface .
17 Sony NW-S205F (2GB) Very good overall. Fair sound quality from FM radio. One-color OLEO meas ured O.2xO.9 inches. Has custom and presets equa lizer, volume limiter, volume leveling, pedom eter, and stopwa tc h. Can't edit playlist or de lete files on player. No Mac support. Includes earbu d-type headphone wit h earhooks. Has nonremovable battery. AC adapter not included . USB2 inte rfa ce. Simil ar mode l: NW-S20 3F (1GB).
ConsumerRep ort s.or g
Micro drive hard-disk MP3 players (4GB to 8GB) 23 Cowon iAudio 6 (4GB) Very good overall. Excellent so und quality from FM rad io. Good soun d qua lity recording from line input and FM radio. Color displ ay measured i .OxO.8 inches. Has slideshow with sim ult ane ous m us ic. Has custom and presets equal izer, A-B repeat, channel
si m ulta neous music. Has custo m and presets equ ali zer, cha nne l ba lance , virtua l keyboard, and multilingual menus . Can edit playlist and delet e fil es on player. MTP compat ible. Includes earbud-type headph one wit h volume cont rol. Has nonremovable battery . AC adap ter not included. USB2 interface. Similar model: 104 (4GB).
26 Sony Hard Drive Walkman NW A1200 (8GB) Very good overail. One-colo
OLEO display measured 1.0x1.0 inches. Ha line out put , custom and presets equal izer volume limiter, calendar appoin tm ent app cation, and multilingual menus. Can edit playlist and delete file s on player. No Mac support. Includes earbu d-type headphone Has nonremovable battery. AC adapte r includ ed. USB2 interface.
27 Creat ive Zen Micro (6GB) Good overall. Fair sound qua lity fro m FM rad io and recording from FM radio. Good sound quality recording from built-in microphone Monochrome display measured O.9x1.3 inches. Has custom and presets equalize volume leveling, cont acts and calendar appointm ent app licat ion, alarm clock , and mu ltilingua l menus. Can edit playlist and delete file s on player. No Mac suppor Includes ea rb ud-ty pe headphon e. Has removable rechargeable batte ry. AC adapt not included. USB2 inte rface.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200
playback time measured fi ve hours. Very good sound quality recording from FM radio. Good so und quality recording f rom built-in mic rophone . Color display measure d 1.5x2 .0 inches. Can view video or images on a TV. Has slideshow with simu lta neous music. Has line out put, custom and presets equalizer, volume leveling, contacts and calendar appo intment app lication, alarm clock, and m ult ilingual me nus. MTP com pat ible. Can edit playlist and delete fi les on player. No Mac s upport. Includes earbud type headphone. Has nonremovable battery. AC adapter included. USB2 interface.
30 Apple iPod (30 GB) Very good over all. Very good video quality. Video playback t ime measured 3 .5 hours . Color display measure d 1.5x2.0 inches. Has sl ideshow wit h sim ulta neo us mu sic. Has presets equalizer, a volum e lim iter th at ca n be pass-code protected, contacts and calen dar appo intment app lication, text viewer, alarm, stopwatc h, gam es, and mult ilingua l me nus. Can edit playlist (but can 't delete files) on player. Includes ear bud-type head phon e. Has nonr emo vable batt ery. AC adap te r not includ ed. USB2 interface. Can view video or images on a TV wit h optio na l accessory. iTunes softwa re not incl uded ; mus t download from Apple web site.
3 1 Creative Zen Sleek Photo (20 GB) Very good overall. Color dis play meas ured 1.0xl.4 inches. Good sound quality record ing f rom FM radio or bui lt-in microp hone. Has slides how wit hout sim ultaneous music. Has custo m and presets equalizer, cont acts and calendar appo intment app lication, alarm clock, and mu ltilingual me nus. Can edit play
174
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
3 3 Toshiba MEV30K V Series (30 GB) Very good overa ll. Good video quality. Video playback tim e meas ured eight hours. Fair sound quality from built-in speaker. Color display meas ured 2.0x2 .8 inches. Can view video or images on a TV. Has slideshow with simul ta neous music . Has presets equa lizer, line out put, USB host mode, and mu ltilin gua l menus. Can ed it playlist (but ca n't delete files) on player. Firmware not upgrade able . MTP compati ble. No Mac sup port . Includes earbud-type headp hone. Has nonremovable battery. AC adapter included . USB2 interface .
34 Creat ive Zen Vision W (30G B) Very good overall. Very good video quality. Video playback t ime measu red five hours . Good sound quality from FM radio and recording fro m built-in mic rophone. Fair sou nd quality fro m built-in speaker. Color display meas ured 2.1x3 .8 inches. Has slide show with simu ltaneous music. Has custom and pre sets equalizer, line outp ut, volume limiter, volume leveling, contacts and calendar appoi ntment app licat ion, and mu lti lingual menus. Can copy f iles directl y from a Compact Flash card though can't play music fi les from th e card. Can edit playlist and delete files on player. MTP com pat ible . No Mac su pport. Includes earbu d-type head phone. Has removable rechargeable battery. AC adapter included. USB2 interface. A larger sized 60GB version available for $400. 3S Toshiba gigabeat MES30 VS (30 GB) Very good overall. Good video qua lity. Video playback time measured 2 .5 hours. Fai r
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2 0 08
delete fil es on player. MTP com Includes earb ud-type headp ho volum e control. Has remov abl e ab le battery. AC adap ter not in USB2 interface. Can sc hedule, record video at OVO quality, and or images on a TV, with opt iona
37 Archos 604 Wi-Fi (30 GB) overall. Very good video quality. back time measured 4.5 hours. G qua lity reco rding from built- in m Fair so und qua lity from buil t-in Color touch-screen display measu inches. Has Wi-Fi capability th at to patc h into your wireless hom e synch with a PC, or access the W limited basis. Has slideshow with eous music. Has custom and pr izer, channel balance, text view keyboard, and multilingual men playlist and delete files on playe patible. Includes earbud-type hea volume control. Has removable re battery. AC adapter not included face. Can schedu le, and also rec DVO quality, and view video or i TV, with optional accessory.
38 Cowon iAudio A2 (30G B)
overall. Excellent sound qua lity radio, and recording f rom builtphone. Very good sound qua lity fro m FM radio. Color OLEO disp ured 0 .5xO.8 inch es. Has cust presets eq ualizer, A-B repeat, bal an ce, fa de-in au d io playbac clock, and mu lti lingua l menu s. playlist and de lete file s on play
Expert · Independe
and presets equalizer, channel balance, text viewer, virtual keyboa rd, and multilingual me nus . Can edit playlist and delete files on player. MTP compatible. Includes earbud type headphone with volume control. Has nonrem ovable batt ery. AC adapter not in cluded. USB2 interface. Can schedule , and also record video at DVD qua lity, and view video or images on a TV, wit h optiona l accessory.
41 Archos 504 (160GB) Very good over ail. Very good video quality. Video playback
Consu merRepor t s.org
music, and presets equalizer. Can edit play list (but can 't delete files) on player. No data storage for documents, spreads heets , and other types of files . No Mac support. Includes earbud -type headphone. Has non removable battery. AC adapter not includ ed. USB2 interface. WMA-DRM only from Zune Marketp lace.
43 RCA Lyra X3030 (30GB) Very good overall. Good video quality. Video playback time measured three hours. Very good so und quality recording from line input.
bu ilt-in spea ker, line output, custom and presets equalizer, volume leveling, contac and calendar appointment app licatio n, te viewer, alarm clock, and mult ilingual menu Can copy files direct ly fro m a CompactFla card thou gh can't play music files from th card . Can edit playlist and delete fi les on player. No Mac support. Includes earbud type headphone. Has removable recharg ab le batt ery. AC adapter included. USB2 interfa ce.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYIN G GUIDE Z00
versatil ity, top print quality , and low-cost enlargements. They can print almost any thing, including photos 8x10 inches or larger, text, and graphics such as greeting cards. You can use various types and sizes of paper, from business cards to banne rs. Quality is another plus. The photos from the best inkjets are as good as t hose you get from a photofinisher. Larger prints also typically cost less t han you'd pay a photo finisher-about $1 to $1 .50 for an 8x10 inch photo, com pared wit h $2 to $4 for professional processing. But inkjets aren't renowned for speed , so it could tak e a
1 Canon Pixma MP8 10, $3 0 0 2 Canon Pixma MP830, $280 3 Canon Plxma MP600, $18 0 All th ree were excellent for photos and text and were among th e fastest models tested. Copy and scan quality were all very good. Photo print ing costs a bit more wit h th e MP60 0 , but it' s lower priced t han t he other two; optional Bluetooth is availab le. The MP830 has a doc ument feeder, a fax modem, and 2.5-inch LCDviewer. The MP810 doesn 't have a document feede r or fax modem, but it has a 3-inch LCD
for text printing.
Best regular Inkjet for photo 22 Epson R3 8 0 , $129
This was th e fastest printer for 4 It prints excellent phot os and ve text, and includes extra feat ures graphers such as a memory-card and an LCD viewer.
Guide to the Ratings Photo qualit y is our assessment of the appearance of each photo. Models with higher scores produce more natu ral-looking photos, with smoother changes in shading and fewer problems with banding. 4 x6 photo time, to th e nearest half minute, is our measurement of how long it took each snaps hot printer to out put a 4x6 borderless photo di rect ly from a digital camera. 4x6 photo cost is t he estimated cost of th e color ink or ribbon (for dye-sublimation mode ls) and glossy photo paper needed to produce a 4x6 photo. 8 xl 0 phot o time, to the nearest half minute, is our measureme nt of how long it took each full-sized printer to output an 8x10 color print, at the printer's best setti ng, using a 2.8GHz PC with 496 megabytes of RAM. 8xl 0 photo cost is the estimated cost of the colo r ink and glossy photo
176
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
paper needed to produce an 8x10 photo. Text quality how crisply and clearly a printer produced black text in of faces, sizes, and sty les. Models with higher scores p more uniform type, with sharper edges and smoother cur speed is our calcu lation of the printe r's typical out put i per minute (ppm) for a th ree-page docume nt. Speeds ge range from 2 to 9 ppm. Text cost is the est imated cost ink and paper to produce a single text page. Graphics q is our assessment of the appearance of color graphics p by the printer. Models wit h higher sco res produce gra whose colors are brighter, more uniform, and less prone or bleed into one another on the page. Based on tests
on ConsumerReport s.org in April 2007.
Expert· Independ
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONI CS BUYING GUIDE 2008
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sharper edges and smoother curves. speed is our calcu lation of the print typical output in pages per minute (p a three-page document. Speeds ge range from 2 to 9 ppm. Text cost i esti mated cost of blac k ink and pap produce a sing le text page. Graphics is our assessment of the appearance graphics produ ced by the printer. Mo with higher scores produce graphics colors are brighter. more uniform, and prone to band or bleed into one anot on the page. Based on test s pos ted ConsumerReports .org in Apri/2007.
PRINTERS, COLOR LASER Color laser printers The Ratings rank mode ls by performance. The Quick Picks highlights one you might consider first based on how they scored and on other factors,
such as price and features.
QUICK PICK 1 Dell 3010cn, $380 With excellent text and very good color graphics quality, the Dell was one of t he fastest color lasers with the lowest text-printing costs. It also has an Ethernet connection .
178
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYIN G GUIDE 2008
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consumerReports.org
printer to out put a 4x6 borderless phot o dire ct ly from a digita l camer a. 4x6 photo cost is t he estimated cost, in dollars, of the colo r ink or ribbon (for dye-sublimat ion models) and glossy photo paper needed to produce a 4x6 photo. Price is approximate retail. Based on tests pos ted
on ConsumerReports .org in April 2007.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONI CS BUYINGGUIDE 200 B 179
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Guide to the Ratings Overall score is based prim arily on t he ability to recognize valid e-mail and spam. Filtering accuracy indicates how well each product correctly identified spam withou t inadvertently tagging good e-mail as spam. We used 1,000 act ual spam messages capt ured from e-mail and 333 nonspam messages to test each program' s ability to weed out spam withou t also removing legit i mate messages . A product tha t integ rates wit h mailer blends its own cont rols wit h tho se of th e e-mail program. One that learns from mail identifies patte rns in your e-mail if you tell th e sof t ware which messages are spam and which are not. With online 180 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BU YING GUIDE 20 08
collaboratio n, a product checks each message against online database of reported spam messages to improve Uses rules indicates detection of known att ributes, such a it contain s a suspicious [ink . A[i products let you add "fr ie "unfriendly" senders to t he filter (either automa ti cally or Price is for the download boxed version of the sta nd-alon with a free t rial period of at least 15 days. Some products able in boxed version for about $10 extra. (Most will mail a few doll ars.) Based on tests published in Consumer R September 2 007.
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Guide to the Ratings Product shows t he name of the sta nd-alone product and, in parent heses, th e name of t he security suite that conta ins the same program, if available. The stand-alone and suite versions should be equally effective. Overall score combines detect ion, feat ures, and ease of use. Detection ind icates how well th e product was able to detect and block installat ion of spyware. We used spyware determined to be "badware" by StopBadware.org, an organization of which CU is a member. We also created vari ants of t he actual spyware and tested for detect ion of thos e. We fir st allowed the programs to scan fo r the spyware, then we tri ed to insta ll the spyware to see whether it could block t he installa tion. Because of the advance in methodo logy,the scores t his year
ConsumerRepor ts .orq
are not comparable to those fro m earlier years. Features and ease of use indicates how intu it ive th e interface is and how easy it is to perform commo n f unctions. Prevent s changes means spyware is prevented from actions such as changing you home page and redirecting Web searches. Prevent s st art-up indicates detection and stopp ing of spyware from starting auto matica llyat boot-up. Spyware deta ils indicates extra guidance to help decide whethe r to remove a detected item . Price is fo the retail, down load version of the stand-alone produc t; boxed versions are usually available for about $10 extra. Based on tes
published in Consumer Reports in September 2007.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2D
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50
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40
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50
35
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50
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66
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182
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200B
Scheduled scan mean s you can set Up automat ic scans shows wh eth er the product scans inst ant messages. R detec t ion means t hat th e prod uct claims to loo k for m that shields itself from Window s. Firewall indic ates whe are feat ures to block hacke rs. Price is fo r th e retail, do ve rsion of th e stand-alon e produ ct ; boxed ver sion s ar availa ble fo r a bout $10 or $ 15 ext ra. Coverage is for after t he first year. Based on tests publi shed in Con
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Expert· Independ
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Overall score is based on t he ability to detect and isolate virus es, spam, and spyware wit hout falsely flagging nonth reats. Test results reflect the tests desc ribed in t he Rati ngs of software. Completeness rates the coverage of common funct ions and interface featur es, Ad/pop· up blocker suppresses ads and pop ups in your browser. Antiphishing is a browser add-in that checks sites against a fra ud list. Child filter is an optional tool t hat allows parents to block access to certa in Web sites. Privacy
'--------------- Consumerfieports.or q
issues an alert if you or someo ne else sends bye-mail or Web
form personal information that you told th e softw are you didn't
want to send elect ronically. File backUp provides periodic back
up of important fi les to another drive. Wi-Fi monitor lets you
know if some on e is trying to acc ess your wireless netw ork,
Windows cleanup provides a convenient interface to many
Wind ows mai ntenance fu nctio ns, Based on tests published
in Consumer Reports in September 2007 .
. CONSUMER REPORTS 0
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 08
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ArcSoft AT&T
800-222-3111
Audiovox Broth er
800-645 -4994 800-276-774 6
www.att.com
Canon Casio
800-7 0 6-2534
www.casio.com
Cingular
8 0 0-331-05 00
www.cingular.com
Compaq (HP)
8 00 '752-0900
www.com paq.com
Corel
800'772-6735
www.audiovox.com www.brother-usa.com
8 0 0-38 5-2155
www.usa.canon.com
www.corel.com
CTX Dell flisney Interacti ve
80 0-328- 03 68
DirecTV
800-4944388
DirecWay (HughesNet) Dish Networ k EarthLink -_._ - - -'." Emachine:..:s'
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Envision
disney.go.com/d isneyi nt eract ive www.dir ectv.com www.hughesnet.co m www.dishnetwork.com www.eart hlink.net
.
www.E4me.com www.envisionmonitor.com
Epson
888-838-6388 8 0 0-4 63-7766
Ericsson
86 6-766-9374
Fisher Frankl in Fujif ilm
818-998-7322 8 0 0 -266 -5626 80 0-800-3854
www.fisherav.com www.franklin .com
Fujit su. Gateway
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www.gateway.com www.garmi n.com
Garmin Hewlett-Packard Hitachi
8 0 0-800-1020 800-752-0900 8 0 0 -448-2244 800-426-49 68 80 0-275-2410
IBM Inkjet sinc
184
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
www.epson.com www.sonyeri csson.com
www.fujifilm.com
www.hp.com www.hit achLus www.ibm.com www.inkjets inc.com
Expert· Independent· Nonprofit
866-709-9500 80 0-353-2729 Netwo rk Associates (McAfee Vir usScan) NEC
800-338 -8754 800-338-9549
www.mcafee.com www.nec.com
800-639-6 111 _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ __ --'=8:.:0= 0 -645-6689 800-2 55-3700 Nokia
888-665-4228
www.nokiausa.com
Olympus
888-553-4448
www.olympusamerica .com
800-881-7256 800-742-8086 Philips
800-877-0155 888-744-5 477
www.philipsusa.com
SSC Prodigy
866-722-9246
myhome.prodigy.net
ReplayTV
800-843-7422 800-336-1900 254-299-2705
www.replaytv.com
Riverdeep
888-242-6747
www.riverdeep.co m
Samsung
800-726-7864
www.samsung.com
888-777-0211 Sony
31 0 -649 -8 033 877-86 5-7669
Sprint PCS
800-777-4681
www.sprint pcs.com
Symantec (Norto n Ant iVirus)
80 0 -441-7234
www.symantec.co m
www.sonystyle.com
877-367-8486 800-866-2 453 800-631-3811 800-297-1023 800-922-0204 800-688 -6688 925-251-6398
Con sumerReport s.org
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 185
Accessibility The degree to which hardware or software is designed to allow peopl e with disabilities to use a computer. Window-style operatingsystems have many accessibility features, such asthe ability to enlarge fonts, icons, and menus, and to use alternate Human Interface Devices (HIDs). Active-matr ix display A high-quality, flat-panel display in which a separate transistor swi tch is used for each pixel. allowing viewing from wider angles. Most color LCDs are active-matri x dis plays. Commonly listed as"TFT LCD." Add it ional connectors, camcorders All cam corders have audio and composite-video out put. which let you monitor during recording or playback. other connectors includestereo audio, headph on e, and S-video outputs and a microphone input. Edit-control sign al inputs (including LANC, JLIP, and Control-l) are for use with editing equipment or a suitable VCR. AFireWire (IEEE-1394) port lets you connect to a computer or digital camco rder. An d for camcorders that let you capture still imag es, a USB or FireWire port lets you transfer saved images to a computer. Add it ional disc formats In additionto playing DVD-video discs, DVDplayers can handle audio CDs. (Some can alsoplay videoCDs, a format that's popular overseas.)other disc formats that some players support include CD-Rand CD-RW (the audio discs you record yourself, usingother equipment); MP3 on CDs; HDCD; DVD-Audio and Super AudioCD(SACD), two audio-centric formats intended to succeed CD audio; and the DVD-RAM, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RWwriteable formats. Add-on (or add-in) Acomputer com ponent that can be attached to a larger device by a simple process such as plugging it intoa socket.
186
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
Sometimes the user has an opportunity to "opt out" of theadware whilecontinuing to use the desired software.
The smaller the number, thelarger the maximum aperture, an d the less light thecamera requires to take a picture.
AII-in-one Adesktop-computer designwith all required parts built in- display,hard drive, optical drive, and speakers. Apple's iMac is one example. Multifunction printers- which scan, copy, and sometimes fax as well as print-are alsocalled all-in-ones.
Aperture range The minimum and maximum aperture (len s opening) range for wideand telephoto shots.
Analog A representationof a continuous measure mentof some function. Acommon example is the commercial AM/FMradio, where sound is convert ed to a varying voltage that is transmitted via radio waves and converted from voltage to sound ontheother end. Analog input lets a camcorder record analog aud io and video fromother devices, suc h as a VCRor another camcorde r. Thi s feature ca n drive upthe price of a digital camcorder, since a unit must have additional circu itry to convert analog signals to digital. Answerer mailboxes Some answering machines have mailboxes that let you separate business from personal calls or set up boxes for differen t members of the household. Antenna/cable input Al socalled RF or VHF/UHF, themost basic connection through which a TV can receive the signal it displays. It'sthe easiest to use since it's the only connection available on every TVthat carries both sound and picture. Anewer con nection available on many digital (HD/ED/SD) sets, HDMI (see "HDMI") also carries both signals. The other videoinputs-chiefly composite-video, S-video, and component-video accept only the picture, requiring the use of separa te au dio inputs to receive thesound. Those other inputs, however, offer incremental improvements in quality.
ELECTRONICS BUY ING GUIDE 20 0B
Application programs have a particular function. Typica l examples are word processors, spread sheets, andgames. For a PDA (as wit h personal computers), these are the software programs includ ed. Contacts/address book, calendar/date book, to-do list/tasks, and memo pad/notes are standard on every unit. Aspect ratio See "Screen shape." Athlon Afamily of microprocessors from AMD that competes with Intel'sCore 2 Duo and Pentium series with similar performance. ATSC Ad vanced Television Systems Committee, an internation al, nonprofit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. In the United States, digital off-air tuners such as those in HDTVs receive content transmitted in ATSC formats. These formats include 480p, 720p, an d108Di. An ATSCtuner refers to onecapable of acceptingHD (720p, 1080i, or 1080p) and480p signals. Audio dynamic range control This DVD-player feature, use ful for late-night viewing,keeps explosions andother loud sound effects from sounding too loud, whileit makes whispers loud enough to be heard. Audio outputs Audiooutputs, found on many TVs, let you relay theset's audiosignal to a receiver or external.powered speakers-a must if you desire top-quality sound. Fixed-aud io ou tputs, trueto their name, have a fixed output level; you might prefer them if youwill use a receiver to control the TV's volume. With variable-a udio outputs, the
Expert · Independent · Nonprofit
copy-protected. Examples include AACand WMA on songs downloaded fromonline music sites. These may have thesuffix "-DRM," and may be referred to, for instance, as sec ure WMA. Audio tone controls Found onnearly all TVs equipped with built-in speakers, a control for adjusting treble and ba ss. Auto-channel setup Useful when you connect your TV set for thefirst time, thiscommon feature scans all the channels you receiveand sets up theTVto access only the ones with programming,so you don't haveto program the channels yourself. Once they're set up, your remote will skip the blank channels when you scroll upor down channels. Auto·fleshtone correction ATV featu re you can set to adju st color balance automatically to make flesh tones look more natu ral. Auto focus Automatically brings a camera's sub ject into sha rp focus. Some model s offer ma nual focus in add ition to auto focu s. Auto power-off Shuts off a TV after a preset (and often adjustable)period during which the screen image is stationary, intended to prevent screen burn-in. Auto talk Also referred to as auto answer.this cordless-phone feature allows you to lift the handset off its base for an incoming call and starttalkin g without having to press a button. On some phones this is automatic;for others, it is a selectable feature. Auto-volume leveler Found on some TV set s, it compen sates for chang es in theaudio signal that YOU 'd hear as ajump in vo lume. With this somewhat help ful feature, there are fewe r fluc tuations in sound level as you switch between channels and view commercia ls, which are frequently louder than reqular programming.
ConsumerReporls.org
picture-taking, most newPDAs support the use of external memory cards to store music, image, and video files.
B
Back up To copy data or other content onto a computer's removable disk, second hard drive, or other storage medium to prevent loss should the original become damaqed. Backlight APDA feat ure, found in un its with a mon ochrome screen, that lets you viewthe display better under low-light conditions. Using the backlight. however, will cause the unit's ba tteryto rundown more rapidly. Backlight compensation When the light behind a camcorder's subject is brighter than the light on your subject. the subject will ordinarily appear silhouetted. Backlight compensation slightly increases the exposure to make the su bjec t more visible. Backward compatibility The ability of a new computer product to workproperly with other prod ucts that use oldertechnology. Bandwidth Indigital systems, themaximum speed of a data link in bits per second (bps), thousands of bps(kbps), or millions of bits per second (mega bits per second, or rnbps), Ethernet has a band width of 10 to 1,000 mbps; WiFi wirel ess, between 11 an d 54 mbps. Ca ble-modem downloads are 1to 5 mbps, consumer-gradeDSl is768 to 1,500 kbps, and a V.90 or V.92 modem connection has a band width of up to 53.3kbps. Base keypad Also refe rred toas a cordless phone's dual or second keypad, a keypad on the base that supplementsthe one on the handset. It can be handy for navigating menu-driven systems because you don't have to take the phone away from your ear to pu nc h thekeys. When it's used wit h the
Battery backup Protectscordless-phonememory (stored phon e numbers) during power outages or when the phone is unplugged. On an an swerer, this feature can save greetings and messages. Battery holder Acompartment in a cordless phone's base that can ch arge a spare handset battery pack or hold alkaline batteries for power backup. The spare handset battery is usual ly not included. The handset battery pack or alkaline batteries sometimes can be used as the base power backup, enabl ing the phone to work if you lose hou seh old AC power. Battery type Nickel-cadmium(Ni-Cd) is the most common;nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) is a less' preval ent type. Lithiumion (Li-Ion) is used in laptop computers and cell phone s. Most are proprietary. Some hard ware uses ea sier to replace AA or AAA rec hargeable batteries. Bay Apo sition in a computer case to mount a device, such as a hard drive or DVD writer. Bidirectional With computers, capable of trans ferringinformation in both directions. Biometric Rel ating to themeasurementof on e or more properties of thehu man body. Used for authentication in securesystems, a biometric reader may scan the user's fingerprint or ocular iris pattern, or it may measu refacial feat ures or voice characteristics. BIOS Basic Input/Output System, the fundamental instructions by which a computer communicates with variousperipheral devices. The BIOS usually resides in a firmware chip on the motherboard, allowing the computer to boot. A"flash" BIOS can be updated byoverwriting its contents with new instructions from a file. Bit Short for bina ry digit and abb rev iated as "b." it's the smallest piece of data recognizable by a computer.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008 18 7
to a list (called either Bookmarks or Favorites) throu gh a drop-down menu in the browser. Boot To bring a computer into operation. Thi s normally includes loading part or all of the com puter's operatin g system into main memory from a storage device. bpsBits persecond, a measure of data-transfer speed. Rates are usually expressedwith the prefixes k- for kilo-, rn - for rneqa -, or g for giga-. Broadband As comm only used, a connectionto the Internet that has a rece iving bandwidth grea ter than that of dial-Up or ISDNservice, about 128 kbps. (The FCCdefines broadband as "256 kbps in at least one direction.") Common broadb and connections are cable-modem, DSL, and satellite. Broadband makes streaming audio an d video practica l. BufferAcomputer memory area usedto holddata tem porarily while it is being transferred from one locati on or device to another or waiting to be processed. Buffers are essential for the efficient operation of the CPUandareoften used in graphics processors, CD-ROMdrives, printerdrivers, and otherinput/output devices to compensate for differences in processin g speed. Bug An error in a compu ter prog ram that prevents proper operation. Built-in digital tuner, TVs Includes a tuner that can decod e digital TV signals received off-air (ATSC broadcasts) or via cable or satellite. An HDset with such a tuner may berefe rred to asan "integrated HDTV." A TVthat requires you to connect an exter nal tuner(in a cable box, satellite receiver, or set-topbox) is called a TV"monitor"- asin "HDTV monitor"- or labeled withthe word "ready," as in "H D-ready." Built-in fax modem, printers Refers to a multi
188
program content. Also ca lled a CD or DV Dwriter. Burst mode Lets you take multiple, rapid-fire shots with one touch of a camcorder's or digital ca mera's shutter button:usefulwhen you're shooting a sub jectin motion. The number of shots that can be taken in burst mode varies from cam era to camera. Burst modemay not be available in a camera 's highest-resolution mode. Also ca lled "continuous shooting" or "rapid fire shots." Bus A pa thway that connects devices inside a computer, usually the CPUand mem ory, or a periphera l su chasan adapter card. Common busdesignsinclud e PCI and CardBus. Byte The ba siccomputer-sto rageunit, abbrevi atedas "B:' needed to store a singl e character, nomin ally 8 bits.
c
CableCard For digital-cable-ready (O CR) TVs, this credit-ca rd-sized card must be inserted into a slot on the set for you to receive digital-cable programming without the need for a cab le box. (You typically rent the card from yourcable operator for a few dollars a rnonth.) Current OCR TVs areone-way, so theydon'tprovide an interactive prog ram guide, videoon demand, or pay-per-view ordering via the remote control. For those features, you'll still need a cable box. Two-way DCR TVs are expected to be out soon. Cable modem A means of providing high-speed Internet servicethrough a TV cable. Cable/satellite box control A reco rding device's ability to change channe ls automatically on a ca ble boxor satellite receiver. lt's needed to record prog rams from seve ral channels when time-shift record ing from either satellite or ca ble systems that use cable boxes.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYINGGUIDE 2008
Can-Spam Act A law passed in 2003 Congress to curb the proliferati on of by manda ting labeling and opt-out p has failed to accomplish its purpose, because most spammers are outlaws are based offsh ore.
Card An electronic circuit board that particular function, such as memory In a PC. cardsare usually plugg edint connecto r on the motherboard.
Carpal tunnel syndrome Apainful, p bilitating injury that ca n arise from he use. Symptoms may include weaknes tingling, and burning in the hands an
CCD pixels Light from a camcord er's focused by the len s onto a ch arge-co (CCD), a sensor that converts light in blocks of information, called pixels. A sensitive area is typically composed pixels or more. A higher number of a generally means a sharper picture bu tivity to light.
CCD size Acharge-coupled device (CC light into minute blocks of informatio pixels, to form the images stored on a Al most all CCD s measure Y,-inch diag are larger; the additional sizegenera more light sensit ivity. Somehigh-end have more than one CCD.
CD, or compact disc A5-inch, alumi polycarbonate plastic disc with embe data, read by focusing a laser beamo tracks andsensing its reflection. CDs about 650 megabytes (MB) of digital which can be entertainment, such as motion video, or computer data. CD-RCD-Recordable,a disc that can once only, in a CD writer.
Expert· Independe
book or a speed -dial memory location and dial the number while you're on a phone call. This way you ca n make ca lls that require a sequence of separate numbers, such as a calling-card number used for a frequently ca lled long-distance number or, say, an au thorization code. Channel block-out ATV parenta l-control fea ture that can block specific channels altogether, as opposed to the program -specific V-chip, and may also prevent or otherwise limit useof the audio/video inputs to which video-game consoles are conne cted. Channel-guide menu ATVfeature, such as Guide Plus, that displays prog ram listings. The set receives program information while off butstill in "standby." Chapter preview Movies on DVD are divided into "chapters." This feature helps you find the scene youare looking for by playing the first fewseconds of each chapter or-with the related chapter gallery - showing the first scene of each chapter. This, in effect, lets you visually scan the disc. Chip An integrated circuit such as those com monly use d for a PC's microprocessor and memory systems. It is compose d of a small, rectangul ar slice of semicond uctor material, enca sed in a larger rectangular carrier with electrical connec tions. Clock In a PC, a circuit that regu latesall processes by synchronizingthem to a defined frequency. In a TV, its internal time-keeper, primarily for use with the set's alarm C'on") timer. Clock speed The rate at which a computer's CPU clock operates, measured in megahertz (MH z)or gigahertz (GHz). In theory, the faster the clock speed, the faster the CPU will perform its oper ations. Most new PCs now work at clock speeds ranging from about 1GHz to nea rly 4 GHz.
Consum erRepor l s.org
Color display, MP3 players This is typically a ba cklit liquid crysta l display(LCD). Some displays instea d use organiclight-emitting diodes (OLEOs). Virtually all players with a color display can show pictures taken with your digital ca mera. Color display, PDAs PDA screens have either a color displaycapable of asmany as 64,000 colors or a black-and-white display capable of mul tiple shades of gray. Whi le a color screen offers rich detail. it will drain the batteries faster than a mono chrome one. Th e qua lity of a color display (for example, detail and sha rpness)is most affected byits contra st ratio; the greater the ratio, the better the display. Command An instruction, usually entered directly from a computer'skeyboard or a pointing device, that is designed to bringabout an action. Commercial skip Useful to channel surfers and anyone averse to commercials, thecommercial skip function on a DVR lets you jum p temporarily to another channel, in 3D-second increments, for a duration you select. Compact Flash Compa ctFlash (CF) memory cards are about the size of a ma tchbook. Most digital came ras equipped with a type-II CFslot can also accept the high-capacity IBM Microd rive cards. Compatible operat ing system, printers An operatingsystem is the underlying program that manages a computer's applications. Most computers use a version of theWindows or Macintosh operating systems. The type of com puter a printer can serve also depends on its interfaces, or ports. All printers have a universal seria l bus (USB) port. which makes them compa t ible with newer Wi ndows or Macintosh computers. Some have USB2, a higher-speed port found on the latest computers. Some have an IEEE 1284
minimum. Acomposite-video connection b the playback deviceandtheTVprovides a with less detail andmore color artifacts th you're likely to get using an S-video connec Acomponent-video connection is necessar optimal picture quality from a progressiveplayerused with a digital TV.
Computer link for stills For cam corders t have still-image-capture capability, a USBo port is use d to transfer still images to a co
Computer monit or opti on The abili ty of s flat-panel TVs, notably LCD models, to doub a computer monitor, having the required in for a computer connection. Some models, HDsets. may accept computer signals throu Digital Visual Interface (DVI) input if compa Astandard VGA connection.however. is the guarantee of dual-use potential.
Conferencing Also referred to as three-way ferencing . For some sing le-line phones, allo conversation amo ng an outside party, the h and base speakerphone. For some two -line yo u can confere nce twocallers in a threeco nversation.Some two-line phones with a speakerphone ca n support four-wa y confer For phones with multiple han dsets, confere can take place among the handsets and an outside pa rty.
Configuration The way variouscomponen a system(su ch as a computer) are linked. T refers not only to theway the hardware is cally connected but alsoto how the softwa set upto govern the system and its parts. refers to the setup and operating paramete a softwa re program.
Convergence For CRT-based projection se t conve rgence is period ically necessary to a the three CRTs for a sharp, accurate image
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onthe insid e of the screen to form an image. You must periodically align the CRTs, using the TV's controls, to ensure a sharp image. Cryptography The science of encrypting data for transmission sothatan eavesdropper ca nnot discover its content but that theintended recipient can decrypt it using a string of characters called a "key." Thelength of the required key determines how secure themessage is. Cursor A symbol that marks the current position on the screen and moves as the positi on changes. It is most often a sing le underline, a vertical line, or a block thesize of one character. It can be either stea dy or blinkin g. Cursor-control keys Aspecial group of keys on a keyboa rd or keypad (designated byarrows pointingup, down, left. andright) that perform cursor-movement fun ctions. Custom bookmark Should you want to view a DVD scene again later, this featu re letsyou mark a spot on the discto which you can laterreturn. Cyberspace First used byWilliamGibson in the novel "Neuro mancer" to refer to a futuristic computer network Into whi ch people plugged their brains and interacted with it. It has come to refer to the interconnection of computers known as theInternet.
D
D/A convertersampling rate With respect to video, most standard DVD players use a 1O-bil/27-M Hz digital-to-ana log converter. Progres sive-scan DVD players use a 10- or 12-bil/54-MHz digital-to-analog converter.
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optical. or both. Desktop computer APC featuring thetraditional full-sized case, monitor, and keyboard designed to beused in a stationary, "desk-centered" environment. Dialog box Awindow thatappears ona computer's screen to convey a message (such as a warning or error) or request input(such as a choice of alternatives or a confirmation of some action). Dialog enhancer If you're haVi ng trouble hearing dialog in a movie, this feature helps it standout from othernoises in the soundtrack. Dial-up line Acommunications line that connects through the telep honesystem. DigitalCharacterized bythe representation of data as numbers. Computers, for example, are digital. Digital-audio output, TVs ATVwith a built-in digital tuner often comes with either a coaxial or optica l digital-audio outputto let you route the Dolby Digital or DTS multichannel soundtrack to a receiver for decoding. The receiver thus splits apart the sound track for distribution to various speakers in the room. This output must matchthe input of the receiver. Digital-cable-ready(DCR or plug-and-play) TVs are a new typeof integrated HDTV. They can get broadcast HD byantenna and receivedigital-cable programming withoutusinga box. For digitalcable programming, including HD fare, you insert a CableCard into a slot on the set. Many of the integ rated HDTVs coming out now are OCRmodels, and they typically cost more than other HDTVs. In addition, while the first-generation OCR TVs can receive digital-cable signals without a cable box, they 're only one-wa y-you'lllose the twoway featu res: interactive program guide, video
ELECTRON ICS BUYING GUIDE 2 0 08
Digital security Abuilt-in cord less-p feature in wh ichdigital verification base and handset prevents you r dia beingintercepted and used to make
Digital still capable Some camcord take snapshots, much like a digital c (though not necessarily of the same The camcord er can then be plugged computer and the images down loade memory. Using a rem ovable memory as Memory Stick or Compa ctFla sh), transfer stills to a computer without connect theca mcorder, but you nee ca rd-reader hardware.
Digital-video input This input is fou computers and increa singl y on digit TVs. Found in the form of DVI, HDMI, (see "DVI," "HDMI," and "FireWire"), i a high-quality digital connection for potentially allowin g the contentpro control you r ab ility to recordthe co
Digital video recorder (DVR) Anoth a hard-drive recorder, the term orig ago with TiVo and ReplayTV models a video recorder that storesreco rd computer-style hard drive. Standard includepausing a "live" TVprogram is interrupted, and recording one pr playing back an other. Variations inc alon e models designed to work with programmin g service and comb ina that include a DVD recorder. Digital Visual Interface See "DVI."
Digital zoom Magnifies thecentra l a digital camera's or camcorder's im
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equipment); MP3 on CDs; HDCD; DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD(SACD), two auciocentric formats intended to succeed audio CDs; and writeable formats su ch as DVD-R, DVD-R W, and DVD+RW. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another. Diskette Asmall, portable plastic-encased flexible(floppy) disk used as a magnetic data storage medium. Data are recorded asmagnetic signals arranged in a seriesof circular tracks.Most diskettes hold 1.44 megabytes of data, a small capac ity bytodav's standards. Display Any electronic device that visually conveys information or images, usually graphically. Acom puter's display is often ca lled a monitor. Display size A PDA or compu te-sc reen mea surement that is made diagonally, in inches. Display type, MP3 players Most players have a liquid crysta l display (LCD) screen,often backlit, that letsyou view song title. track number, amount of memory remaining, battery life, and other function s. Display size and shape vary, including shap es such as square, rectangular, or oval. Displays are usually liquid crystal display (LCD) monochrome or color.Another type of displ ay uses organic light-emitting diodes (O LEDs). Display type, PDAs Screens come with either color or black-and-white (four shades of gray) screen displays. Color screensoffer more detail but alsotend to drain the batteries more quickly than mon ochrome. DLP Digital light process ing, a form of projecti onTV technology tha t createsimages using a chip with million s of tiny swive lingmirrors. Most rear-projection DLP sets cu rrently employ one chip and a rotatingcolor wheel, wh ichmay cause
Consume rRep orl s.org
have all that equipment, the soundtrack ca n be "downmixed" to two channels with no loss of key audio information. Dolby Pro Logic An anal og audio-encod ing format that, when output bythe DVDplayer and decoded bya sound system, splits the signal into fou r; left and right front, center chan nel (for dialog), and one limited-range surround channel carried bytworear speakers. Audio encoded in this way is found on most recorded VHS movies, all DVDs. many movies on TV, and some TV-show soundtracks. Domain name Astru ctured, alphabetic name, such as ConsumerReports.org,for a location on the Internet.These names are aliases for numeric IP addresses and are leased froman Internet naming authority bythe domai n-name owner. Dongle Asmall hard ware deviceplugged into a computer.It acts as a key, unlockinga copyprotected program soit can run on that system. Double-click Aquick double-press of the left button on a computer mouse (or the typica l Mac mou se's single button) to activate a file or icon. Download To transfer a copyof a file from a host (server) computer to a client compu ter, a term frequently used to describe the process of transferring a file or data from theInternet to a computer's hard drive. The other way, it's an upload. dpi Dots pe r inch,a common measu re of the reso lution of an image file, or the imagehandling capability of a printer, sca nner, or disp lay. Intheory, the higher thedpi, the better the image quality. But the unaided hu man eye cannot distinguish differences beyond about 200 dpi.
for user authentication at the point of con use. Hackers, however. are often able to "c DRMschemes and provide programs over t Internet to allow othe r use rs to circu mven protections. DRMis controversial among p advocates beca use some schem es use ce n manag em en t of rights.
DSL Digital Subscriber Line, whi ch provides high-speed Internet acces s through existing phone lines without affectingnormal phon operation.
DTSaudio Digital Theater Systemsis a multi sound format used in some movies. It allow to hear multichannel sound from virtually any -provided you havethe necessary speaker that the DVD player or connected digital re has a multichannel DTS decoder. Asepa rate decoder can also be con nected between the and the rece iver. Wh ile all DVD players supp Dolby Digital surroundsound,many models support DTS.
Dual antenna inputsWith two antenna inpu ca n easily swi tch between two antenna sig usin g your remote co ntrol. This capabi lity c handy if you use, for example, both a roofa and a cable hookup, or in order to take full tage of dual-tuner picture-in-picture (PIP).
Dual-band Some cordless-phone models hav band transmission. wh ich- between the bas hand set- wirelessly transmitwithin onefre band and receive on theother. Some 2.4-GHz have dual-band (2.4 GHz/900 MHz) transmiss some 5.8-GHz models have dual-band (5.8GHz or 5.8 GHz/900 MHz) transmission.
Dual-core processor See "Multi-core proc Dual-sided printing Th is capability is also
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DVD-R Awrite-once DVD format. Certain camcorders record in this form at onto a disc measuring a lilli e over 3 inches (8cm) in diameter. Discs can be played on most DVD players. DVD-RAM Arewriteab le DVD format supported by some DVD recorders. Certain DVD-RAMcamcorde rs record onto discs measurin g a little over 3 inches (8cm) in diameter in MPEG-2 format. the same technology used for commerc ial DVD. Discs, however, cann ot be played on most DVD players.
changes in a document. A word processor is an advanced type of editor, with special features such as word-wrap, headers/footers, and print attributes (boldface, underline, italics). EfT Electronic fund s tran sfer, a system commonly used by banks and other money handlers that involves secure, computer-controlled money transfers between accou nts. Electronic commerce Shopping through electronic catalogs and making pu rchases using the Internet.
DV input See "FireWire input." DVD recorder Adevice that records video to a DVD. It can bea stand-alone recorder or one integrated with a DVRor VCRin a co mbination model. :WI Digital vis ual interface, a relatively new form of connection standard supported by some set-top boxes, compute rs, computer monitors, an d highdefinition TVs. DVI inputin the displays matches a corresponding output in some computers and digita l TVtune rs. Like HDM I, it potentially allows co ntent providers to co ntrol your abilityto record. Unlike HDMI, DVI requires a separate audio ca ble to ca rry the audio signa ls. DVI output, DVD players Has digital visual interface (DVI) output for direct digital video connection to digital TVs with DVI input. Can output 480p, 720p, and 10BOi video signals,although signals upconverted from 480i or 480p to 720 p, 10801. or W80p donot prod uce a true HDpicture.
E
EBook reader PDA software from Ad obe that. when installed, lets you read electronic books.
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E-mail or email El ectroni c mail lets you send and receive personal messages, including those with attached filessuch as text or graphics, through the Internet. an online service, a BBS, a network, or other system. Encryption Aprocess applied to a da ta file to render its contentsunreadableto a non-authorized user or computer system. Read ing an encrypted file requires a software "key" that is available only to an authenticated user. End userThe person, business, or group making use of a product or service. This is generally you, the con sum er. Energy Star Alabel. on many kinds of appliances, that designates co mpliance with en ergy-efficiency goals developed bythe U.S. Environm ental Protection Agency. In order to qualify for certification, an electronic device must typically power down to no more than about 10 percent of normal power consumption after a periodof inactivity. Entertainment PC, or EPCAform of media-center PC designed to fit into a home entertainment systemas a source co mponent. EPCs have a remote control, a quiet coolingsystem, andone or more
ELECTRONI CS BU YING GUIDE 200 8
computers to each other, or to a route r or other devices on a network. EULA End-user license agree ment. A legal instrument accompanying most software, it states the terms under wh ich the company is allowing use bythe consumer. An EULA is typically written in legal jargon, but must often beag reed to by clickingan on- screen "I Agre e" button before onecan use thesoftwa re. Expansion card, PDAs Most PDAs come with expansion slots for flash mem ory, a modem, or an other device. The most co mmon expansion optionfor PDAs is through a connector that accommodates either a MultiMedia Card (or Secure Digital ca rd), Memory Stick, or CompactFlash card . Expansion memory format, MP3 players Th e format for the removable-memory medium used in a standard-capacity player: Most are external ca rds (som e the size of a matchbook) that install into the player. Amo ng the most com mon are CompactFlash,MultiMedia Card, Secure Digita l, and SmartMedia. in additi on, som e players use a proprietary memory format. such as Sony's MagicGate Memory Stick (a copy-protected ve rsion of Sony'sexisting Memory Stick media). Such formats may wo rk only on products of the brand for which they're designed-a disadvantage if you wa nt to swa p memory media with another brand of handheld device. Some hard-drive players have removable memory media for transferring files; but you ca nnot play music directly from the card. Expansion slot Aposition in a computer for adding an expansion board or card. DesktopPCs usually have at leas t two free expansion slots. Laptops use PCcards for expansion.
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or service understand its feature s and operation, and perform simple troubleshooting. Fatal error The cause of premature term ination of proces sing, often as a cras h. Fatal errors can occur as a result of read/write errors, program bugs, system conflicts, and hardware defects. Some errors crash only one application; others require that you restart the computer. File Acollection of related records. Computerdata and documents are normally stored as files. Fileextension An identifier of thetype or purpose of a file,usually writtenas one to three letters followi ngthe file name and separated from it by a period. For example, the file My Letter.doc might bea text document. while Numbers.datcould be a data file. File name The uniqueiden tificationgiven to a program or data file for storage. File names were once limited to eight characters (plusa threecharacter extension) in older operating systems like DOS. Newer operating systems such asWindows and Mac OS allow much longer file names. File-sharing One of the common uses for a network. Fi les can bedesignated as shared by their owners on one computer and accessed byother authorized users in the same network wo rk group, or over the Internet through peerto-pee r protocols. File-swapping An Internet activity, popularized by free, peer-to-peer services such as BitTo rrent and eDonkey, which allows users to search for files of interest and downlo ad them from designated shared folders on a network of thousands of other computers. File-swapping has been criticized becau se users often trad e files containing copyrighted material.
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ca n add or enhance featu res, fix "bugs," and add support for other audio format s and opera ting systems. Check the Web siteof a ma nufactu rer for upgrades. Flash, cordless phones Abutton to answer call waiting. Flash animation A programm ingplatform commonly used for embedding animation in Web pages. Flash "movies" are relatively small, allowing them to download quickly on slow dialup connections. Playing one requires a plug -in for your browser software. Flash memory A low-cost. high-density, erasable memorychip that holds its data without power. It's used in computers and peripheral devices to hold settingsand allow easy BIOS updating, and is packaged in plug-in cards to act as data storage in small portable devices such as digital cameras. Flash modes, digital cameras li ke film ca meras, most digital ca meras have a built-in flash for shooting indoors or in other low-light conditions. Many cameras have an automatic-flash mode, which automatically fires the flash when more light is needed. The flashes built into most digital cameras havea fairly limited range (up to 10 to 13 feet on most models), compa red with external flash units, which can be much more powerful. Acamera with an external "flash sync" or "hot shoe" will usually have a built-in flash as well. Flat-panel display Athin displayscreen emp loyingone of several tech nologies, usua lly LCD or plasma . Flat-panel displays arecommonly used on portable devices to reduce size and weig ht,and are rapidly increasing in popularity as desktop-monitor replacem ents. They 'realso used in TVs.
Footprint The space ona floor or table oc bya piece of hardware.
Format To initialize a data-storage medium out in a specific pattern, such as a screen o format; or the layout or pattern itself.
Format, camcorders Format is based on t type of recording tape or disc that a camco uses and whether themodel records in ana digital mod e. Currently, there are at least n formats: Hi8, MiniDV, MicroMV, Digital8 (08) VHS-C, S-VHS-C, DVD-RAM, and DVD-R. Key d en ces among them include picturequality, of cam corde r, andcompatibil ity witha VCR DVD player.
Formats supported, MP3 players The for (such as MP3, WMA, and AAC) that the bund music-management softwa re can convert t format compatible with theplayer.
Forum An information exchange. usually fo onthe Internet.that is confined to a single or area of interest. FPS Se e "Frame rate."
Frame advance Allows you to ad vance DVD playback frame-by-frame, instead of at norm play speed.
Frame rate Expressed in FPS (frames-per-se the rate at which a display of moving grap images is updated. Motion-picture film run 24 FPS, theminimum considered to be esse jitter-free. Television in North America opera about 30 FPS. Computer-generated graphics as from games, can run at much higher ra limited bythe graph ics processor. Avid ga look for rates of 50 FPS or higher, produci more-realistic motion.
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE
FTP Fil e Tran sfer Protocol. an Internet proto col that lets you transfer files between your computer and an FTP site. "An onym ous" FTP allows a user to retrieve files without having to establish a user ID and pa ssword. Full auto switch Acamcorder feature that essen tially lets you point and shoot. Th ecamcorder automatically adjusts thecolor balance, shutter speed,focus, and aperture (also called the"iris" or f-stop with camcorders).
G
Game controller Originally limitedto knobs and joysticks, such devices now include driving simula tors. cockpit simulators. movementsensors, and theentire class of human interface devices (HIDs). Game port A15-pin serial port used for attaching joysticks or othergame controllers, alongwith MIDI music devices, to a computer. Game ports can handle a pair of controllers and maycome as part of an original system or be supplied on sound boards. They are becoming less common on new PCs, supplanted by newer interfaces likeUSB. Game timer Aparental-con trol fea ture that limits thenumber of minutes an input will accept signals from a gaming system such as Xbox or Pl ayStation. GB See gigabyte. GIF Graphics Interch ange Format. a lossless, compressed file format for image bitmaps created by the CompuServe online serviceto reduce download time. Gigabyte literally. a billion, 109, or 1,000,000,000 bytes. But most commonly used to mean 1.024xl.024xl.024 bytes. equal to 230. or 1,073,741,824 bytes. Glitch A non rep rodu cible problem in a system.
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on e who tries to gain unlawful access to a computer system or alters progra ms to allow unl icensed usage. Handheld Shorthand for any computing device that is operated while held in the hand. Handset memory dialing locations The num berof phone numbers and names, for phones with an LCD display, thatyoucan program into a handset's memory to make calls with only a f ew button presses. Handset speakerphone Ahan dset speakerphone offers a hands-free way to converse or wait on hold and lets others chime in as well. as long as you stay withina few feet of thehandset. Handset-to-handset talk Most mu ltiple-handset capable phones allow conversation handset-to handset. or am ong handsets for conferenc ing. For some phones, the handsets have to be within ran ge of the ba se. while others allow a direct link among handsets so you can take them wit h you to use like a walkie-talkie. Also referred to as handset-to-handset intercom. Handset volume control Foundon all cordless ph on e handsets. this lets you adjust the volume of thevoice in the handset's earpie ce. Hard disk or hard drive Amagneticdata storage system using one or more rigid platters sealed in dustproof hou sing and spun at several thou' sa ndRPM. Data are recorded as magnetic signals arranged in a pattern of concentric circ les on the surfaces. Typical storage capacities range from abou t 30 to 300 gigabytes. Hard-drive recognition, MP3 players Computers with newer operating systems can recognize an MP3 player as a hard or rem ovable drive when you plug it in. Some players requ ire you to install solt ware before they can be recognized as hard drives. You may also have to upgrade software if your computer
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
cially useful for HD(high-definition) movies. An HD·DVD disclooks similar to a DVD, but can only be rea d by an HD-DVD player or HD-DVD disc driv HD-DVD is currently competing in themarketplac with the Blu-rayformat.
HOMI High-DefinitionMu ltimedia Interface, rela tively new form of digital audio/video input. It matches a co rresponding ou tput in some DVD players an d digital TV tuners. Like DVI andFireWir it potentially allows content providers to control your ability to record the content. Unlike DVI and FireWire, HDMI ca rries aud io, video.andcontrol signa ls on thesa me cable.
HOMI output, DVD players Has High-Definition Multimedi a Interface (HDMI) output for direct digital-au dio an d video connectionto digital TVs with HDMI input. Ca n output 480p. 720p, and1080 video signals, although signals upconverted from 480i or 480p to 720p or 1080i donot producea true HD picture.
HD-ready HD-rea dy TVs, als o known as HDTV monitors. lack a high-definitionreceiver(tuner) and require an externa l device to decode the HD signals displayed on the TV. Sources for HD signals include HD-capable sa tellite receivers, ove the-air digital TV(DTV) receivers, and HD-capable digital-cable boxes. Th ose devices connect to the TV's HD component-video, HDMI. DVI. or FireWire input. An integrated HDTVset has a built-in DTV receiver/decoder andtypically costs more.
HOTV An HDT Vse t is capable of displaying high definition TVsignals and has a built-in receiver (tuner) to decode theHD signalsdisplayed on the TV. Note tha t the included tuner will decode digital TV(DTV) signals from sources suchas off-a (broadcast)signals. cable, or satellite. HDTVs that c decode digital-cable signals are called digital-cabl rea dy. Some HD-capable cable boxes and satellit receivers also include a tuner to decode off-air DT Header Aspecial message or identification that
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High-resolution Showing great detail; the higher the resolutionof a TV, computer monitor or printer, the greater the detail of a drawing or image it is abl e to reproduce. Home page Thepag e of a Web site usually visited first; it contai ns links to other pages on the site or to other sites. The home page is automa tical ly sel ected when yo u type a Web address ending in ".com," ".org," or another domain suffix. Also the page designated to open first when you start you r Web browser. Horizontal resolution Atechnical specification that offers a rough guide to picture qua lity of camcorders and vide o displays. Th is indicates the maximum number of displayed vertical lines that can be counted horizontally across the screen. The closer they can get before blurring, the more lines of horizontal resolution there are. Most analog sets 27 inches an d larger have roughly the same horizontal resolution. Higher horizontal resolution (a higherline count) is said to provide a better picture, but this claim is not necessarily true. Some TVs with a lower line count but higher contrast. for example, can actual ly provide a picture tha t looks sharper. Host computer Acomputer that serves as a source for data and informationretrieval for client computers. usu allynetworked PCs. Hotkey Akeyor combination of keys that. when pressed, take priority in ca using an action to take place. Typical uses for hotkeys includeinitiating menu optionsor interruptingan ongoing process. HTML Hypertext markup language, thestandard language for creating pages onthe World Wide Web. Even if you donot understa nd HTM L. you can create it with Web-pag e authoring programs, popular wo rd-processo rs, or ba sic step-by-step
ConsumerReports.org
Icon Asmall graphical image that appears ona graphicaluser interface such asa computer'sdesktop in a Windows or Mac system. These norma lly representa specific file or program or ca use a desired action to occur when clicked with a mouse. IDE Integrated Drive Electronics, a hard-disk interface tech nology.
Instant messaging, or 1M An onlinesystem usually proprietary, that lets you hold a priv real-time text-based conversation between users. Messagingamong more than two use is usually referred to as chat. Some 1M syste allow voice, image or video messaging.
Instruction In thecomputer wor ld, a comm to the CPU to carry out an operation.
IEEE Astandards organization that publishes computer-Industry-defined standards for hardware, softwa re, and data communications. IEEE 1394is the standard for the FireWire interface, and IEEE 802.11 is the standard for Wi-Fi wireless networking.
Integrated amplifier Afew DVD pla yers ha built-in amplifiers. Conn ected to spe akers, t can amplify signal s from the player and an y othercomponents of a hom e-theater system
Illuminated remote Some remote controls offer illuminated buttons for easier operation in a dimly lighted room.
Integrated camera Some ce ll ph ones and PDAs includ e a camera that lets you take ph for viewing or attaching to e-mail. Resolutio is typically muchlower than tha t of standar digital ca meras.
Image stabilization Afeatu re that automatica lly reduces the shakes in a scene ca used by holding a digital cameraor camcorder. It's also called digital image stabilization (DIS), electronic image stabilization (EIS), picture stabilizer, or steady shot. Using a tripod is thesurest way to get a steadyimage.
Integrated keyboard Afew cell phones and include a sma ll keyboard that you can use i of an onscree n "soft keyboard" representat the PDA's handwriting-recognitionsoftware
Import To transfer data from another file into the onecurrently in use. In-camera editing All but universal, this digitalcamera feature lets you decid e to keepor erase pictures you've taken. You can review the pictures on the LCD display and deletethose you don't wa nt. whichwill free upmemory for more pictures. In-home warranty Awarranty under which a technician comes to your home to eitherretrieve or diag nose and service the device when you have a problem-ofparticular importance with heavy (especia lly projection)or wall-mounted sets.
Integrated receiver Afew DVD players have AM!FM tuners,amplifier, and auxiliary inpu Connected to spea kers, such models can am signals from the player and anyother comp of a hom e-thea ter system.
InteractiveAb le to respond to a user's wish Interactive software usually refers to a multi presentation thatthe user cont rols, moving a speed and in a direction specified bythe
Interactive electronic program guide An on guide for TVprogramming. Using your remo can switchch ann els, select program s to rec models with recordin g ca pability), and-dep on the guide-search for material.
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE
Internal memory Als o called on board or built-in memory, theamount of internalmemory that comes with the devicefor storingmusic. Some devices have additiona l memory slots into which remov able media such asmemory modules or standard CompactFlash, Secure Digital, or SmartMedia card s can be inserted. Internet A"super" network of many commercial, acad emic, and governmental networks throughout the world.Public access to the Internet. now used by million s of people, is obtained throug h a con tract with an Internet service provider (ISP). Internet gateway Adevice or computer that provid es the co nnection and protocols to link a single computer or network to the Internet. Intranet An Internet-like hyperlinked information exchange system established within an organization or institution for its own purposes, protected from unauthorized public access. IPor IPaddress Internet protoco l address, a means of referringto locations on the Internet. Composed of a series offour numbers from 0 through 255, sepa rated by decimal points. Al l machines onthe Internet have one, often assigned by the ISP at connection time. An extended versi on of IP, ca lled IPv6, has more digits, allowing for futu reuse to address many more Internet-connected devices, even down to the level of specific controls on an appliance. IP telephony Use of an Internet conn ection to establish two-way voice communica tions between users, also called VolP (Voice over Internet Protocol). It may use com puter-to-compu ter, computer-to phon e, or phon e-to-phone connections, depending onthe telephony serviceprovider. ISDN Integrated se rvices digital network, a hig h speed telephone line that is a faster butexpensive alternative to traditional dial-up modems, and is
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file) to quite "lossy" (lower quality, small file), to suit different needs. Commonly used on Web pag es or digital-camera files. Justification The alignment of text or images in a document. usually to the left and/or right margins, or cente red.
K
K,or KB Kilobyte, which is exactly 1.024 bytes but is usuallythou ghtof as 1,000 bytes. Sometimes incorrec tly represe nted bya small k, which just represents the prefix kilo. Karaoke available On some DVD players, lets you singalongwith special karaoke DVDs. Discs provi de backing music as thelyrics appear on the screen. Key Abutton on a computer'skeyboard. Al so, in a database, an item- usually a field within a record that is used to identify the record. Keypad Aset of keys grou ped together and per forming a particular function. The most common keypad s on a computer are thenumeric and cursor con trols. Kilo· Aprefix meaning 1,000. Because of the binary nature of compu ters, kilo is also used to referto 1,024. Kilobit or kbLiterally 1.000 bits, but usually used to mean 1,024 bits (2 to the8th power). Kilobyte Literally 1.000 bytes, but usually used to mean 1,024 bytes (2to the Bth power).
L
LAN Local-area network, a system of two or more computers within an area (typicallya build ing)
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 0 8
Layer indicator Certain DVD s have two layers of data for additional capacity: a dual-layer disc can typically hold about four hours of video. All DVD players are designed to play these discs, butnot all have an indicator showing which layer of a disc is playing. Lithium-ion battery The most popular recharge able battery techn ologyused in small, portable devices such as laptop computers, ca meras and music players. Abbreviated as ti -lon. the battery has advantage s over ea rlier type s in power-to-weight ratio and absence of "memory effect." Thedown sides are a poten tial safety hazard if the ba ttery is damaged or has a defect. and a loss of capacity of about 20% per year. LCD, TVs Liquid crystal display.Like plasma TVs, LCD sets are known for their slimness and light weig ht, making sm all mod els good cand idates for wa ll-mounting or hanging below a cabi net. On a stand, they have a compact footprint that fits neatly on a kitchen counter or desk. Picture quality of the best LCDsets, usually high-definition (HD) models, is very good. Better black levels and wid er viewin g angles have ad dressed tradition al co ncernswith these screens. LCD technology is also used in some microdisplay projection TVs, whi ch are slimmer than CRT-ba sed mod els. LCDsize, camcorders Acamcorder's LCDtypically ran ges from 2 to 4 inches, measu red diagonally. LCD size, digital cameras Most digital cameras have a small LCDscreen on the back so you can view images and decide which to kee p. Most LCD screens are too dim for viewing clearly in bright sunlig ht. LCD viewer, printers Some printers have a built-in LCDscreen for viewing and editing images from a memory card. Th e scree n is small. usually only 1 to 2 inches, and editing capability is very limited,
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Link See "hyperlink." Linux Afree downloa dabl e, user-supported, open-source computer operating system, based on Unix. Linux is touted as an alternative to Wi ndows but is more su itedto ce rtain business applications,such as Web servers. List server An Internet-connected computer runningsoftware that offers message-relaying service for members whojoins a "mailing list." When any member send s an e-mail to the address of the list server. it goes to all the other members. Lists tracks On an MP3 player's display, the song s can be shown in the formof a list. Lock control, MP3 players A bu tton, switch, or setting through the player's menu systemthat lets you lockthe controls of the player. Also referred to as "hold." Low-battery indicator Avisua l or auditory sign al that indicates a cordless ph on e's handset battery needs to be recharg ed. Low recycle time, digital cameras Arelatively low period of time thatit takes a camera to process and store animage wh en shooting in normal (non burst) mod e.at the ca mera's lowest-resolution, highest-compressionsetting. Lux rating Supposedly the minimum amount of light needed for a ca mcorder to pro duce a usable picture (the lower, thebetter). Becau se there is no agreed-upon stand ard, however, it's an imprecise way to compare light sensit ivity.
M
Mac as The windowed operating system of the Apple Macintosh computer family. Mac asx (version 10) departs radically from earlier version s.
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mation exc ha nge that operate s throug h e-mail. Most mailing list users refer to theirgroup as "the list" or "listserv Adirectory of over 60,000 public lists is availabl eat www.lsoft.com/catalist.html. Main memory The data-storag e area inside a co mputer that is directly accessible by the processor; alsocalled RAM, for random-access memory. Memory can range from as little as 1 MB to more than 8 GB. Manual aperture Gives the digital-cam era user more control over how much light hits the len s. Manual exposure compensation ca n se rve the same fun ction. Manual controls,camcorders These let you override automatic setti ngs and allowmore control over your recording. May include aperture, color (white)balance. focus.and shutter speed. They're useful for situa tions in which conditions areless than ideal. Manual controls, digital cameras Some cameras allow the userto setthe aperture (t-stop) and/or shutter spee d. Used to override the automa tic expos ure settings when more control is needed. Manual exposure, digital cameras Allows theuser to control both the shutter speed and the aperture settinqs, Most digital cameras offer fully automatic exposure, often with an exposure-compensation option. While these options cove r most situations, directcontrol of the shutter-speed setting is desirable wh en going for more specialized effects, such as a blurred image. Manual exposure compensation Not to be confused with manual exp osure, this allows for minor adjustmentsto a digital camera's automaticexposure setti ngs. Whena scenehas high contrast automatic exposure may not achievethe effect you want. Being able to lighten or darken the scene is an important option.
in the lens that co ntrols how much light hits camera's imag e sensor: maximum aperture r to the wid est it will open. Apertures aresta in t-stop s or f-nurnbe rs (for example, f/2). Th sma ller the t-stop number, the large r the ape and the less light the camera needs to take picture. A maximum aperture of f/2.8 is typi for a digitalca mera.
Maximum focal length (35mm) When setto maximum (lon gest) focal length, a digital cam lens gives its narrowest. most telephoto-like of view. For comparison purposes, it is often in terms of the 35mmcamera lens focal lengt would cover the same an gleof view.
Maximum horizontal pixels The number of p along the longer (horizontal) dimension of th image when a digital ca mera is set to its hig resolution.
Maximum image quality An indication of th color intensityof a digital ca mera's images. T more bits a cam era uses to indicate theinten of the three colors for each pixel. the more p cisely thepixel's color can be specified. Alm all digital cameras have 24-bit colo r depth (8 each for red, gree n, and blue, within each pix and arecapable of reproducing millions of d ent colors.
Maximum shutter speed, camcorders Cam c electronically adjust their light sensitivity in thatmodels a film ca mera's shutter. All camco dothis automaticall y; some alsohave a man override capability. Shutter speed is measure fractions of a secon d.
Maximum shutter speed, digital cameras fastest shutter speed provided, often1/1.00ot a second or faster. Being able to control shu speed lets youdecide if a moving objectwill a sharp or blurred in the image. A faster shutt spee d lets you freeze faster action.
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Media receiver One of a fam ily of devices that linka home-entertainment system(TV and audio) to a PC via a home network. Operated by a remote control and a simple visua l interface, the media receiver accesses multimedia files (music, pictures, and/or video content) stored on the PC and plays them through the entertainment system. Meg Short for megabyte or megahertz. Mega- Aprefix meaning one millionbut. because of computers' binary nature, is used to refer to 1.048,576 (or2 to the20th power). Megabit (Mb) 1,024 kilobits, yielding 1.048,576 bits, usually considered a million. Megabyte (MB) Literally, one million, 106, or 1,000,000 bytes. Alsocommonly used to mean 1,024 megabytes, equal to 220, or 1,048,576 bytes. Megahertz (MHz) 1million hertz. Megapixels (MP) This shows approximately how many mi llion pixels a digital camera's image sensor has. As a rule, wit h more megapixels, you can make largerprints or enlarge parts of an image without losing detail or image quality. Memory, PDAs Th eamount of usable internal memoryavailable for new uses- su chas appointments, addresses, and applications-when the hand held PDAmodel is new. With either PalmOS or Pocket PC, you can't rely on themanufacturer'sad vertised memory capacity to estimate how much room is left for new uses because it generally includes memoryalready in use by theoperating system or included software. Memory cards, printers If a printer has a built-in memory-card reader, this feature lets you print image files from a digital cam era 's memory card wit hout using a computer. You can also download the files to a computer.
for a drop-down menu system. Menu-driven A program or co mputer systemthat uses a series of menus to make it easier to use. Th e user selects the desi red option by clicking on an entry wit hthe mouse, typing the corresponding letter or number, or moving the cursor to the proper selection and hitting the Enter key. The program will then perform thechosen function. MHz Megahertz. Microdisplay An industry term sometimes used to describe rear-projection sets using LCD (liquidcrystal displ ay), DlP (digital light processing), or LCoS(liquid crystal on silicon) chips anda bright lamp to create images. This space-saving "light engine"technology makes microdisplays slimmer and lighter thanCRT-based sets. MicroMV Sony's relatively new ca mcorder-tape format. wh ich uses cassettes smaller than MiniDVs. Micron One-mill ionth of a meter, or one-thou san dth of a millimeter. Microphone input, camcorders Ajack for an external microphone to improve sound quality an d prevent picking upnoise from the camcorder. It's an alternative to using the built-in mike. Microprocessor Th e CPU of a personal computer, such as the Core 2 or Athlo n 64. Microprocessors haveanarithmetic logic unit to perform calculations anda control unit with limited mem ory to hold instructions. MicroSD An especially small, removable memory card format. It is used in mobile phones, handheld GPS devices, portable audio players, and expandable US8 flash memory drives. At15 mm x 11 mmx1mm (about the size of a fingernail) it is currently the smal lestmemory card format commercially available. It is abou t one quarterof the size of a standard
198 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
shutter speed lets you decide if a moving should appear sharp or blurred in the im
MiniSD Avery smal l, rem ovable me mo format. a smaller version of the SOcard Digital) format. It isprimarily used in mob About the size of a stamp, it is oneof th memory card form ats avai lable. It is abo the size of a standard SOca rd but ca n b into an adapter that allows the card to b devices with an SOca rd slot.
Minltower and microtower cases Small of the towe r ca se of some co mputers.
Mode Acondition or set of conditions for Aprinter may have modes for different ities, or a different port for different tra speeds or protocols.
Modem (modulator/demodulator) Used a digital device (computer) to a data com tions channel (telephone line, cableor rad A modem is used to send a fax, to acces and to get onlineto the Internet. A mod intended to work wit h normal dial-up tele lines has a top spe ed of nominally 56 k per secon d (kbps), (DSLand cable model muchhigher speeds.)
Modular bay Ina modular laptop compute that accepts an optica l diskdrive, a disk a second battery, a back-up hard drive, o ory-ca rd reader.
Modular laptopA laptop PC that contai more modular bays allowing variousdri battery to be insertedas desired, or rem save travel weight.
MonitorThe "face" of the computer, mo an LCDsc reen. Monitors are similar to T usually donothave a tuner and so can no receive television broadcast signals.
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that can be easily executedat will.
over how motion is expressed in your pictures.
Lighted keypad Also referred to as backlit key pad. Acordless-phone key pad that either glows in the dark or lights upwhen you press a key, it makes the phone easierto use in low light conditions.
Macro, digital cameras A lens feature that lets you take close-up shots, usua lly within a foot or less. Good fortaking pictures of small obj ects such asa postage stamp or an insect.
Line input. MP3 players Adigital. optical. or analog line input that lets you record from an external audio system to the player.
Macro focus. camcorders This camcorder feature letsyou focus onsmall objects froma close dis tan ce, say, less than 3 feet.
Manual white balance Ina digital camera, this feature corrects for differences in lighting so th white obj ects rema in white and colors appear th same as they dobyeye. Most cameras have aut matic white balance, which works well for mos scenes. Amanualwhile-balance control lets the u set the proper lighting type when theautoma tic system errs.
Lineoutput, MP3 players A lineoutput is in tended to work best when theplayer is con nected to anexterna l audio system.with a fixed-level output and no effect when using the player's volume control.
Mailboxes For cordless phones with an answerer, some models let you assign individual voice mail boxes for business and personal calls. or for ea ch personwhouses thephone.
Matrix An array or an ordered arrangement. For example, 63 dots might be arranged into a rectangular matrix. an array of nine rows and seven columns.
Mailing list Alistof subscribers to a topical infor mation exchange that operates throug h e-mail. Most mailing list users refer to theirgroup as "the list" or "Iistserv." Adirectory of over 60,000 public lists is availableat www.lsoft.comlcatalist.html.
Maximum aperture The aperture is theopening in the lens that controls how much lighthitsa camera's image sensor; maximum aperture refe to the widest it will open. Ape rtures are stated in f-stops or f-numbers (for example, f/2). The smaller the t-stop number. thelarger theapertu and the less light the camera need s to lake a picture. A maximum aperture of f/2.Bis typical for a digital camera.
LinkSee "hvperflnk' Linux Afree downloadable, user-supported, open -source computer operating system. based on Unix. Linux is toutedasan alterna tiveto Windows butis more suitedto certain business applications. such as Web servers. List serverAn Internet-connected computer run ning softwa rethat offers message-relaying service for members who joins a "mailinglist." When any member sends an e-mail to theaddress of thelist server.it goes 10 ali lheothermembers. Lists tracks On an MP3 player's display, the songs can be shown in the form of a list. Lock control, MP3 players Abutton, swi tch, or setting through theplayer's menusystem that lets you lock the controls of the player. Also referred to as "hold." Low-battery indicator Avisual or auditory sign al that indicates a cordless ph one's handset battery need s to be rech arged. Low recycle time, digital cameras A relatively low period of time thatit takes a camera to process andstore an image when shooting in normal (non burst) mode, at the ca mera's lowest-resol ution. highest-compression setting. Lux rating Supposedlythe minimum amount of light needed for a camcorder to produce a usable picture (thelower. the better). Because there is no agreed-upon standa rd. however. it's an imprecise way to compare light sensitivity.
M
Mac OS The windowed operatingsystemof the
Apple Macintosh computer family. Mac OSX
(version 10) departs radically from earlier versions.
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Multihandset capability, cordless phones Multiple han dset-capable phon es support more than one handset with one base, so you ca n have several handsets aroun d the house. each charging in a base. without the need for extra phone jacks. Additional handsets. including lhe chargingcrad le. are usually sold separately. Multilingual menu. TVs Amenu that presents the onscreen TV menu in a choice of languages, usu ally English, Spanish, and French.
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Main memory The data-storage area inside a com puter that is directly accessible bytheprocessor; also called RAM, for random-acces s memory. Mem ory can range fromas little as 1MB to more than BGB. Manual apertureGives the digital-camera user more control over how muchlight hits the lens. Manual exposurecompensation can servethe same funct ion. Manual controls, camcorders These let you over ride automatic settings and allow more control over your recording. May include aperture. color (white) balance. focus. and shutter speed. They're useful for situationsin which conditionsare less than ideal. Manual controls. digital cameras Some cameras allow the user to settheaperture (f-stop) an d/or shutter speed. Used to override theautomatic exposuresettings when more control is needed. Manual exposure, digital cameras Allows the user to control both the shutter speed an d theaperture settings. Most digital cameras offerfully automatic exposure, often with an exposure-compensation option. While these options cover most situations, direct control of theshutter-speed settingis desir able when going for morespecialized effects. such as a blurred image. Manual exposure compensation Not to be confused with manual exposure, thisallows for minor adjustments to a digital camera's automatic exposure settings. When a scene has high con trast. automa tic exposure may not achieve the effect you wa nt. Beingable to lightenor darken the scene is animportant option.
Maximum focal length (35mm) When set to it maximum (longest) foca l length, a digita l ca me lens gives its narrowest. most telephoto-like an of view. For comparison purposes, it is often giv in terms of the 35mm ca mera lens focall englh th would cover the same ang le of view.
Maximum horizontal pixels Th e number of pixe along the longer (horizontal) dimension of the image when a digital camera is setto its highes resolution.
Maximum image quality An indication of the color intensity of a digital camera 'simages. The more bitsa camera uses to indicate the intensity of the three colors for ea ch pixel, the more pre cisely the pixel's color can be specified. Al most all digitalcame ras have 24-bit color depth (B bi each for red. green, and blue. within each pixel) and are capable of reproducing millions of diffe entcolors.
Maximum shutter speed, camcorders Camcorde electron ically adjust their light sensitivity in a w thatmodels a film camera's shutter. All camcorde dothis automatically; some alsohave a manual override ca pability. Shutter speed is measured i fractions of a second.
Maximum shutter speed. digital cameras The fastest shutter speed provi ded. often l/l,OOOth o a second or faster. Being able to control shutter speed lets you decide if a moving object will app sharp or blurred in the image. Afaster shutter speed lets you freeze faster action.
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Noise Unwanted electrical or communication signa ls; interference. Noise filter An electric device designed to redu ce electrical noise on a data or ACline. Noise level Measured in decibels onemeter away (dBA). this tells you how noisya printer is when in use. Atypical noise level for an inkjet printer is 50dBA. As a frame of reference, a softwhi sper is about 20 dBA; a normal conversation, about 60 dBA.
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 0 8
via a modem or the Internet. The various featu include refe rence material (encyclopedias and atla ses), current updates (weather and stocks) and interactive features with otherusers (bulle boards and games). Popular services include America Online and MSN.
Open source Describing a program or systemwh code is freely ava ilable and publicly supported Anyon e can modify open-source prog rams for their own needs, and make those modification
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ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20 0
When choosing your DVD player, consider the models that have theoutputs to match theinputs on your digital rece iver or external, digital decoder. All DVD players have digital audio outputs-co axial, optical, or both, Optical discGenerally refers to any disc read or written to bya laser or other light-emitting/ se nsing device. Optical zoom, digital cameras and camcorders Magnifies the imag e using a real multifocal-length lens, wherea s a digital zoom uses electronics to enlarge the center portionof theimage using interpolation. Some cameras have both optical an d digital zoom. The optical-zoom range is what really matters; image quality decreases the further one goes intothe digital-zoom range. Opt -out Ameansbywhich a consumer can stop receivingsolicitations or content delivery, especia lly via e-ma il. OS Operating System, the software that is neces sary to control the basic operation of a com puter. Examples are Windows, Mac OS. and Linux. Out put s, TVs TVs may have one or more ou t puts. Manymodels have audio outputs. which let you pipethe set's sound to a sound system (to drive unpowered speakers) or directly to powered speakers. Afew models also have a head phone jackin front. Higher-end models may additionally have various vid eo outputs (antenna/cable, composite-video,S-video com ponent.DVI, or HDMI). These are useful if you wantto route theset's video signal to another device. say. for recording.
p Page/ handset locator, cordless phones Also call ed one-way paging, a bu tton on the ba se set you can press to send a beep tone to the handset to find a missing handset.
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The ability to zoomin on details in the picture. Parts/laborwarranty The length of time, ex pressed in months, that a product is covered byits manufactu rer for defects or repairs. Password Aseries of characters used as a cod e to access a system. program. or file. Apassword should be chosen that is hard to guess. PC Personal computer; sometimes used to denote any IBM-standard personal compu ter. Also, a printe d circuit. PC card Acredit-card-sized. pluq-and-plav mod ule com monly use d to attach expan sion devices (such as memory, modems, and drives) to portablecomputers. PC-compatible Used to indicate compatibility with Wi ndows or IBMpes. not App le Macintosh. PCI Peripheral component interconnect. a loca l busdesign. popular on Pentium-based computers. thatprovides high-speed comm unications between various com ponentsand the proce ssor. PDA Personal digital assistant. a handheld com puter that functions as a personal organizer, with a calendar/reminder.to-do list.notepad. and add ress/phonedirectory. Usuallyuses a stylus for input. though some have small keyboards. Some PDAs offeroptional wireless access to such services as e-mail, Internet. or cell-ph one service. Pentium An Intel microprocessor employing a fast. 32-bit architecture(with a 64-bit internal bu s) that makes extensive use of RISC(red uced instruction set computer) technology, employsinternal memory caches. and can execute multiple independent instructionsinthe same clock cycle, giving it higher performance than its predecessors. Peripheral Any hardware attachment to a com puter, such asa keyboard, monitor, disk, or printer. Personal media player Any small, portable device
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
PIM Persona l information manager, a software application that orga nizes information on a day-to-day basis. PIMs routinely include features such as a reminder calendar, notepad, ad dress book, phone dialer. ca lculator.and alarm clock. Pincushion effect Abowing-in on each side of an image on a CRTmonitor, usually corrected with the monitor's controls. For CRT TVs, this requires special service·level adjustments, Fl at-panel moni tors do not have this effect. PIP (picture-in-picture) Afeatu re that lets you watch two images at the same time on one TV screen: thefirst.full-sized: the second. in a small box with in the larger picture. Avaria nt of this is POP (picture-outside-of-picture). where thescreen image is split evenly in two. TVs with dual-tuner PIP or POP can tuneinto two chann els simultane ously without additional equipment. Those with only one tuner require a second. externa l tuner. such as a VCR, in order to use PIP. Some TVs can send the second channel 's audio to a separate audio output.
Pixel. TVs, computer monitors Short for picture element. the smallest individually controllableunit of a visible image on a display. Often erroneou sly used to refer to the triad of dots on a CRTscreen. On flat-panel (LCD, plasma) displays. there isalways one pixel pertriad of stripes, butthere is no such mapping on a CRTmonitor.
Plasma Aplasma screen is made upof thousands of pixels containing gas that's con verted into "plasma" byan electrical cha rge. The pla sma ca uses phosphors to glow red, green, or blue, as dictated bya video signal. Th e result: a col orful display with high brightness and a wide viewing angle. Plasma setsare vulnerable to screen burn-in, but most come with screen sa vers.
Platform The hardware architecture thatsoftware applications run on an d the operating system or
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players with video capability,however, won't play copy-protected video. Plug and play A standard for managing the installation of expansion ca rds and periph erals in modern PC s and ope rating systems. If both a PC and a device are plug-and-play com pati ble, the com puter should handle the installation automatically. Pointing device Ahand-operated deviceused to move a pointer on thescreen of a graphical user interface, selecting program objects, activating controls, or manipulating objects. A mouse is one type of pointin g device. POP, TVs Picture-Ou tside-of-Picture. See "PIP." POP or POP3 Post office protocol. ane-mail sys tem that communicatesbetweenyourprimary mailbox in your own computer and one at your access provider's site. POP mail is the usual protocol for incoming mail. while SMTP is used for outgoing. Pop-up Amessage or window that appears on a computer screen , often in response to a user or prog ram action. Pop-ups are also a common way to prese nt advertisingassocia ted with Web sites. Pop-up adsthat appear when youclose a browser windoware called "pop-under" ads. Port Asocket on a computer that's used to connect a peripheral such as a printer or modem. Port expander or replicator Asmall module wit h con nectors for attachi ng power, network, and several peripheral devices to a laptop com puter via a single connection. Portrait Apage or screen orientation in which information is displayed or printed across the shorter dimension.
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login 10. Processor The "brain" of a com puter or other "smart" device. Productivity softwareAp plications for the office, such as word-processor, spread sheet, and database software. Program A logical sequence of instructions designedto accomplish a specific task, written in such a way that it can beread and exec uted bya computer. Also, to co nstruct a program. Program file Afile that containsa program. Prog ram files may alsobedata files if they serve as the input or output for other programs. Programmed record ing Lets you prog ram a camcorder to start recording at a specific time. Progressive scan Avideo display mode used in computer monitors, DVDs, and DTV in which every scan lineis displ ayed progressively, or in one pass. Comp ared with an interlaced display, a progressive-scan image, such as from a DVDplayer, can provide a smoother, more filmlike picture when used with high-definition TVs. Nowadays, all com puter monitors are progressively scanned. Prompt Acha racter, symbol, sound, or message sent to thescreen to signa l the user that the com puter is ready for input: also, to issue a prompt. Proportional spacing The characteristic of some print fonts (such as this text) in which narrow characters such asI and J use less space than wider ones such asMand W. Proprietary Incompatible with othe rs of the same type. Not adh ering to any specific industry
R
Radio buttons Asetof on -scree n options, only one of which is selectabl e at anyonetime. Once a selec tion is made (usually indicated bya dot or similar sym bol), any previous choice is turned off (thedot is removed). RAM Ra ndom-access memory, a read/write type of memory that permits the user to read the information that is there and write data to it. This is thetype of memory avai lableto the user in most computers. Random play, DVD players Lets you have a DVD unit randomly play different titles or chapters of a DVD (or tracks of a CD). Random/repeat, MP3 players Many players let you seta play mode soyou can repeat on e or all music tracks, or play them in a rando m order, also referred to as "shuffle" mode. Rapid-fire shots Also cal led contin uous shooting or burst mode, this feature lets you take multiple digital-camera shots in quick succession with one touchof the shutter button. Useful when shooting a subject in motion. The number of shots varies byca mera and with resolution setting. RBL Realtime Blackhole List, one of several publicly-accessible lists of Internet se rver ad dresses known to emit spa m. Some e-mail spam-filter programs access RBLs as a way to identify spam messages. RealAudio or RealMedia Popular strea ming audio (ra)and video (.rm)file formats for the Web, Downloading the free RealPlayer plug-in applet turns your We b browser into an Internet radio/television.
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ELECTRONICS BUYIN G GUIDE 200B
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subject's eyes will appear red in flash photos. The camera emits a burstof light justbefore the main flash, causingthepupils to contract. Most cameras with a flash have this feature. Image-editing software often offers red-eye correction as well. Redial button Found on almost all cordlessphone models, this feature lets you automatically dial the last number called. Refresh To continuously renew or update as contents of vol atile memory; to redraw information after alteration, such as a grap hics image that is beingedited. Refresh rate Th e number of times each second that a CRT monitor red raws an image on the screen, A refresh rate below about 72 Hz can appear to "blink" because the image fades between refreshes. Remote control Arem ote control is standard with nearly all TVs. Most domore than turn onthe power andswitch cha nnels. The familiar standard remote controls onlythe TV andcan't operate anyother component. Aunified remote will operate other equipment of thesame brand. The more common universal remote will operate other brands and types of equipment; it requires you to input appropriate cod es for your equipment. Alearning remote can determine thecod es of rem otes belonging to other system s, Reversible charging With thisfeature, a cordlessphone handsetbattery can cha rge in the charging cradl e with the handset face up or down. RGB video Short for red/g ree n/blue, a color description method for video that provides for individual control of the intensity of the three primarycol ors.
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yourself on the LCD monitor. Router Adevice in a network that manages the flow of data packets between the network and the computers connected to therouter's ports. RSI Repetitive strain injury, a disorderof the hands, arm s, back, neck, and even eyes thatcan arise from repetitive motion such as very hea vy computer use. RSS Really Simple Syndication.An Internet protocol for rece ivingup-to-the-minute broadcasts of news and published information of your choice. RSS feeds provide summaries of Web content together with links to the full ve rsion s of the content. Updated feed s are delive red to your PCautomatically as XML files that you view via an RSS"reader" program. Run To execute a program.
5
SAP Secondary audio program ming(SAP) reception, offered on manyTV sets, is va luable for those whowant to tune into thealternate sound versions sometimes available, such as a Spanishlanguage soundtrack or a specially designed audio track for theblind. Scanner Aperipheral device that digitally translates an d then transfers photos, graphics, and/or text onto a computer's hard drive. Screen dimmer or saver, computers An applet that produce s a moving image on a CRTmonitor screen to prevent permanen t ghost images from being burned into the phosphors by lingering, unatten ded displays. Modern monitors are better served byusing the power-saving standby mode.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYI NG GUIDE 2008
sit approxima tely 11 feet from a 36 feet froma 32-inch set, and 8 feet set. For HD (high-definition) sets, can be halved.
Scroll bar Acomputer screen elem of a horizontal and/or vertical bar that moves within the bar, both to ing and to indicate position in a do
Scrolling channel preview On som TVs, provides thumbnail images of channels besides theone you're w
Secure Digital (SO) card A high ly sized flash-memory card thatweigh two grams.
Secure grip, digital cameras Den designed with room for your fing e hold it steady and keep your finger the flash, lens, or auto-focus senso especially importanton the smalle which have little room for a handh
Secure site AWeb site that uses e that cannot be read by unauthoriz including hackers. Many commercia Web sites have secure sections fo personal information with custome
SelectivityYour TV's ability to tune outinterference fromadjacent chan on ly if you use your TV, not a cabl e device, for tuning.
Self-timerAdigital camera's self-t take shots that include yourself. A timer delays the shot by10 second giving you time to ge t within its fie remote control provid es the same out the rush.
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it can display. Shareware User-supported software that is copy righted andtypically available on the Internet. The authorusually requ ests a fee (typically $10 to $50) from those who decideto continue using the program after trying it. Sheet feeder Adevice attached to some com puter scannersthat automatically feeds a stack of sheets, one at a time, through it for scanning,thus elimi nating the need to hand-feed the pag es. Useful for large prin ted docu ments. Shortcut An icon on Microsoft's Windows desktop or program list that launches a program or docu mentwhen activated; there can be many shortcuts to one program. Ash ortcut is eq uivalent to an "alias" in Apple's Mac OS. Shutterrange The minimum and maximum shutter speeds available for a digital camera, Signal-to-noise ratio Abbrevi ated Si Nor SNR, it represents the ratio, expressed in decibels (dB), of an undistorted ma ximum audio signa l and the noise prese nt in the signal. Au dio signals typically contain some noise or background from electronic parts, A system's ma ximum SiNis called the dynamic range. For audio, the higher the number, the cleaner the sound.This number is useful when com paring products. Signal type The typical an alog type of video signal comes out of olderca ble boxes, OVD players, camcorders, and VCRs. It ca n be carried overa composite-video, S-video, or component video connection. Whensuperimposed ona radio frequency, it can be broadcast over theair and picked up via antenna, or sent via cable to the cable box. If it's digitized first. then superimposed on a radio frequency, it can be delivered over the air as OTV (digital television), by OBS(direct
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pictures to be displayed in slideshow fashion, complete with fade-outs and other transitions. Some players let you adju st how long each pictureis displayed. Slim-and-light laptopA laptop PCthat contains only the components need ed to run installed applications, operate on stored documents and files, and communicate with externa l devices. Removable-diskdrives are connected externally when needed, as the focus of thedesign is on reducing travel size and weight. Slot Si milar to a port in a co mputer, but usually used for internal expansion s, such as memory, graphics, and so forth, bytheaddition of boards. Smart card Aplastic card, containing memory and a processor, that communicates with a com puter through a reader into which it is inserted. The data on thecard mayauthenticatea user, and/or provide personal or financial information enabling a transaction. Th e mem ory on smart cardscan be updated by the systemas partof the tran saction. Smart phone Acombination of a ce ll phone with a personal digital assistant that has e-mail and file management tools. SMTP Sim ple Mail Tran sfer Protocol, the usual protocol for outgoing Internet e-mail. SMTP is not a secure protocol in that it allows spammers to use it while remaining anonymous. Software The programs thatare run ona computer for variouspurposes. Sound, TVs Three differen t types of sound system areavailable. Some small TVs have mono sound, meaning that all theaudio is processed through a single channel.The next step upis stereo sound, which splits theaudio between two cha nnels for
Spam Besides thetrademarkedluncheon mea from Harmel Food s, a slang term for unsolicite commercia l e-mail-thou ght to come from a s bythe Monty Python comedy troupe in which word spam was repeated over and over until i became annoying. Spam is the Internet's equi lent of junk mail and proliferates despite man efforts to reduce it.
Spam filter Afeature built into e-mail program or installed as an add-on that attempts to ide spam messages and rem ove them from your m inbox. Spam filters onindividual PCs have mix success. Some ISPs also offera spam-filter op
Speaker wattage, TVs The audio-output pow expressed in watts, ranging from less than 1w to as much as 7 watts. Higher wattage, offered many TV sets, may provide a louder sound bu not necessaryimprove overall audio quality.
Speakerphone Aspeakerph on e feature on aco less ph on e offers a hands-free wayto convers or wait on hold and lets others chime in. A ba speaker letsyou an swer a call without the han sel; a handset speaker lets you chat hands-fre conveniently anywhere in the house.
Speech synthesizer Acompu ter output devi that simulates human speech using phonetic ru When used with the appropriate software, a sp synthesizer can "speak" the words tha t are di played on the monitor scree n,
Spreadsheet Asoftware package, such as Mic soft Excel, that lets the user enter into "cells" numbers and equations that the program auto ma tically caiculates. Spread sheet software eas thedevel opment of finan cial applications.
Spyware Undesirable software that often ride on a seemi ng ly usefu l program, butruns in th
CONSUMER REPORTS .
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 200
or bottom of a window. that provides information on lhe current operation of the software in use. Still-lmage file formats, digital cameras The file output. indicated in the image's filen ame extension, that the camera generates. TIFF, JPEG an d RAW are the most common. Still-image resolution settings, digital cameras The number of levels, or modes, of resolution the ca meraoffers. Storage Any disk (fixed or removabl e), tape, CD, or online service that stores data. storagesize Digital cameras store images as data files, such asthose on the hard drive of a computer. The more storage space available, the more images thecameracan store. Most came ras accept removable memory ca rds or othe r med ia that can store as much as several gigabytes (GB).
S-video input, TVs Al so known as S-VHS connection or VIC. An S-video connection splits the video signal into two parts, color andluma. Ingeneral, an S-video input will provide better picture quality than eitheran antenna/cable or composite-video input. Th ese areoften used with digital-cable boxes, satellite receive rs, and DVD players. Many sets have front-panel S-video input, which lets you make temporary connections to certain camcorders,game systems, and other devices with S-video output. S-video output, camcorders S-video is a higherquality vid eo connectionthan a standard compositevide o hookup. Both of these output types are used to connect the camcorder to a television or VCR to watch and/or record information saved on a camcorder's tape or disc.
streaming Pl aying an audio or video presentation directly from an Internet Web site without your first having to download it. Streaming requires cooperation between the Web server and a "media player" applet onthe user's PC.
S-video output, DVD players An S-video connection from a DVDplayer's S-video output to the TV provides a picture with more detail and fewer color artifacts than you can get using the TV's compositevideo or antenna/cabl e (RF) co nnection. S-vid eo output is also used to connect a camcorder to a television or VCR to watchand/or recordinformation saved ona ca mcorder's tape (or disc).
Stretchand zoom modes, TVs On wid escreen16:9 sets, such displ ay modes will expand or compress an image to bette r fill the screen shape. Th is helps to reduce the dark bands that can appe ar above, below, or on the sides of theimag e if you watch content formatted for onescreen shape on a TV that has theother shape. The picture, however, may be distorted or cut off a bit in the process of stretching and zooming.
Swap blackfor photo ink, printers The photo ink for some printers comes in an extra cartridge. To use these photo inks, you must rem ove the black-ink cartridge and replace it with the photoinkcartridge. To goback to printing text or graphics, the photo-ink cartridge must be removed and replaced by the black-inkca rtridge. This can get tedious. Models that hold all the inks simultaneously minimizethe hassle.
String On a co mpu ter, a set of characters treated as a unit.
SXGA Super XGA. a very high-resolution (1280x1024 pixels) compute r-grap hics display mode. SXGA+ provides 1400xl050 pixels.
Subdirectory or subfolder A directory that is
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CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Tabletop/console Most TVs are placed o insidea piece of furniture (say, an enter center), but some TVs areconsoles, mea have theirown cabinetry and can stand the floor. Rear-projecti on TVs in particula co nsoles, although newer "microdisplay typically require a stand.
Tape. computers Amagnetic data stora backup medium on which files are store predetermined andrigid sequence. Upd a tape usually requires making a new co the entiretape.
Task Any process currently running on a An application may have several tasks ru simultaneously.
Task bar On theMicrosoft Wi ndows des bar with icons and window titles that is launch programs, switch between runnin and displaythe statu s of programs runn the background.
TCP!IP Transmission control protocol/in protocol.a shorthand name for the "lan of Internet commu nication.
Telecommunications Comm unications devices that are not located near each must make use of a data communicatio This occurs when PCs link to a host com an exchangeof data.
Template Adocument guide on a compu to a paper form, that permits the user to in the blanks to create a new document.
1080i A com mon type of HD(high- defin digital television signal format. Each fra of video lasts for about 1!30th of a seco
Expert· Independen
tionsuch as song tities on CDs. Text file Afile that usually contains on ly ASCII characte rs, readabl e by practically anyprogram tha t uses text. TFT LCDThin film tran sistor liquid-crystal display, an LCDdisplay of the type most common ly used on laptop PCscreens, flat-panel desktopdispl ays, and portable prod uctswith color displays. Also referred to as an active -m atrix LCD. 35mm-equivalent zoom ratio Di gital came ra manufacturers publish this "35mm-equivalent" focal len gth because people can use it to com pa re images produced bysa y, a traditional 28mm wide-angle or 50mm normal lens. 3:2-pulldown compensation A feature on most digital TVs that canenable things in motion to look less jagged around the ed ges. It affects onl y movies converted from film to video-the majority of cinematic movies on OVD. This feature is sometimes referred to as film mode.cinema mode, movie mode, or by brand-specific nam es such as CineMotio n. Progressive-scan DVOplayers have this feat ure as well. Thumb drive A USBmem ory drive, soca lled because it is about thesize of a thumb. Thumbnail Aminiature reproduction of an image, usually for display. THX-certified. DVD players, digital receivers TH Xis anenhancement to Dolby Digital (DTS) soun d processing thatfurther processes the multichannel sound to simulate theaco ustics of a movietheater. To hear the benefit, you must use the certified DVD playerwith a receiver and speakers that are also THX-certified. Time and date stamp Acamcorde r featu re with
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tridge, that is used in copy machines and laser printers. Toner particles becomeelectrically charged an d adhere to the pattern of animage defined by charges on a plate or drum. Touch-sensitive Any devicethat res ponds to light contact with a finger, stylus, or both. Some displays. such as those on a PDA or Table t PC, use a touch-sensitive screen to inputdata or control thedevice.
Two-way intercom, cordless phones For mo with a base speakerphone, it allows for conv tion between the handset and the base spea phone. For multiple-handset-capable models, allows for conversationbetween one handset another. Also referred to as two-way paging.
u
UI see "User interface." Tower case Acomputer ca se design that employs an upright (sta cked) arran gement of drives. Tower cases can sit on a tabletop, but more frequently they are placed onthefloor or a low stand adjacent to thework area. The term is often prefixed by full, rnid-, mini-, or rnicro-, indicating the ca se's relative size and expansion spa ce. Trackball Acomputer pointing device similar to a mou se; it uses a ball mounted on a fixed ba se to control onscreen cu rsor movement. You roll the ball withyou r finge rs or thumb in the directionyou want the onscreen pointer to go. Transfer rate An estimate of howquickly an MP3 file can be transferred froma computer to the player. Transfer rate is usually measu red in kilobytesor megabytes per second and ca n vary depending on the player, the interface type, the computer platform, operating system, configuration requ irements, file size, and other factors. Trojan or Trojan horse Ageneral class of computer programs that gain system entry byriding in on legitimate-appearing program s or e-mail attachments. Th e best-known examplesare malicious prog rams that provide hackers remote access to infected systems. TV type As digital televi sion has grown, the choice of TV types has expanded. Standard or conventional se ts receive only traditional analog TVsignals.
Ultra DMA or UDMA Afurther enhancement the EIDE computer disk-driveinterface that c tran sferdata as fast as 133 MB per second in bursts. Acompatible drive is required. Uninterruptiblepower supplySee "UPS."
Universal remote Controls not only your DV player, for exampl e, but also other componen such as ma ny different brandsof TVs.
;!nix Apopular butnot user-friendly operatin tem that run s on many pla tforms from mainf to microcomputer. It employs cryptic but pow commands, sh ells, and pipes, and has TCP/ IP cols built in; good for use in Internet servers
Update or upgrade The process of changin softwa re or hardware to a newer, more powe or possibly less-buggy version.
Upgradable Asystem whose components ar designed to beea sily upg raded to newer one usually bysimply unplugging the old one and insertingthe new one.
Upgrade path Refers to themeans for acom hardwa re component.or software applicatio be cha ng ed to a more powerful or newer ver without adversely affecting the remainder o system or any pertinent files.
CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTR ONICS BUYING GUIDE 20
infrared link. USB memory drive A key-chain-sized module witha USB plug at one end, containing a sizable amount of rewriteable flash memory, that serves as a portable data-storage unit. USB2 Most Windows and Macintosh computers purchased since the fall of 2002 have universal serial bus 2.0 ports (USB2). They can be used with printers that have either USB2 or USB connections. The speed for transmitting data with L1SB2 can be upto 40 times faster than with USB. Check which connections your computer has before purchasing a printer. Usenet Alarge butinformal collection of Internet servers that host groups of users known as newsgroups to exchange news and information on specific topics. User interface Any device, either hardware or software, that provides a bridge between the computer and the user. Examples include the keyboard, mouse, and menu programs. User-replaceable lamp Rear-projection TVs using LCD, DLP, or LCoS technology, called microdisplay sets (see "Microdisplay"), have a lamp rated to last2,000 to 6,000 hours. A user-replaceable lamp can be replaced if you're handy with a screwdriver and closely follow the instructions. The bulb costs $200 to $400. Aservice call, if necessary, typically costs an additional $200.
sive and widely available. The tape can beplayed back in a VHS VCR, using the supplied adapter, or in the camcorder. Video D/A conversion, DVD players Most standard DVD players use a 1O-bit/27-MHz digital-to-analog converter. Progressive-scan models use a 10- or 12-bit/54-MHz digital-to-analog converter. Video inputs, TVs Video inputs provide a better picture than the antenna/cable input (which combines audio and video), and most TVs are equipped withat least one video input. There are generally three types. Composite-video inputs, the most common, provide minor improvement over antenna/ cable. S-video input, at least one of which is found on most sets 27 inches or larger, is a further improvement. And component-video input separates the video signal intothree component parts to offerthe potential for even finer picture quality; they are useful mostly with a DVD player or other equipment that has component-video output. Digital video inputs-HDMI, DVI. FireWire-are typically found on HD and ED TVs. Front-panel inputs permit easy connection of an external device, such as a camcorder or game system, to the TV. Video-noise reduction setting May reduce the effects of noise due to poor reception, although this feature may sacrifice some picture detail. Video out,digital cameras Lets you connect a digital camera directly to aTV or VCR and view your images onthe TV screen or record your images onto a videotape.
User-supported software See "shareware."
v
VCR capability Some hybrid DVD players have a built-in VCR that letsyou play and record videotapes as well as play DVDs. Note that such models
206
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
Video output, DVD players The type of video output you use with your DVD player depends on the type of inputs on your TV or receiver. DVD players come withat least composite and S-video outputs. Both S-video and componentvideo outputs, however, provide an increase in picture quality.
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 2008
Voice-mail indicator Avisual indicator o less phone's handset or base that notifie that you have new messages onyour tel company's message-waiting service.
Voice recognition The abilityof a comp accept inputcommands or data using th word. Voice-recognition technology has greatly and is likely to become a common tive to keyboard control and data entry.
Voice recording An MP3 player feature microphone that's useful for recording i lectures, etc.
Voice synthesizer See "Speech synthes
Voltage spike Asudden jump in electric These can bevery dangerous to data an enough, to computer hardware as well.
w
Wall-mountable Some TVs, particularly sets, can be mounted on a wall. althoug recommend you hirea professional beca sets need adequate support and ventilat TVs are also wall-mountable, though mo makes sense mostly for larger models.
Water resistance A printer's abilityto p output that will not run or smear if it ge Water-resistance for a printer's ink (or d thecase of a dye-sublimation photo print apply to black, color, or both.
WAV Also known as a wave file, this is a f for storing uncompressed digital audio.
Webcam Asmall camera connected to a for capturing still images or video to send over the Internet.
Expert· Independent
tem commands.
trum (DSS) technology.
Window Aportion of a computer screen setaside for a speci fic display or purpose.
Wizard Acomputer program that takes you one step at a time throu gh a complex process. such as setting up a home network, asking simplequestions to setupconfigurationoptions.
Windows A multitasking, grap hical user interface developed byMicrosoft for IBM-compatible system s. The program gets its name from using movabl e and resizable windows in which applicationsare displ ayed. Windows supports multimedia, common printer management. TrueType fonts, and copy and paste between Wi ndows applications. Windows Vista The newest-gen eration family of Microsoft Windows. It includes visual enhance ments, a more-accessible and robu st file system. and improvements in stability and security. Vista is available in several versions to satisfy differing needs, including VistaHome Basic, Vista Hom e Premium, and Vista Ultimate. Windows XP(Home and Professional) Th e most used family of Windows opera ting systems.
Con sum erR eporls.or q
(20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm in size), developed jo byFuji Photo Film and Ol ympus Optical.
Word processor Asoftware appli cation,such as Corel WordPerfect or Microsoft Word, that is designedto accept and process normal text (words) as data. Word processors rang e from simple program sthat are little more than screen typewriters to those with complex screen han dling. editing. and assistance features. Also refers to a stand-alone machine dedicated to word processing.
XOS Extend ed Data Services. Some broadcast nals include additional information about TV grams. such as thechann el label, program tit program length, and ela psed time, but the se is not available everywhere. This feature lets TV display this information when it is transm
XGA IBM's eXtended Graphics Array. ahigh-resol 1024x768-pixel col or graphics mode that is ve simila r to SVGA.
XML Exten sible markup languag e. a "superse HTML that allows Web page designers to inco rate new, interactive objects intotheir pages.
Workgroup A named group of computers connected as a peer-to-peer network. World Wide Web (WWW or W3 ) A global. multi medi a portion of the Internet featuring text. audio, graphics. and moving imag e files. The
CONSUMER REPORTS 0
ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE 20
•
Cables, 100 Camco rders, 130 Rating s & recomm endati ons, 152 repair history, 154 Cameras, digital, 118 see also Cellular teleph ones Ratings & recommendations, 157 repair history, 161 Care, basic, 19 Cellular te leph ones, 134 , 140 Bluet ooth headsets, 142 cameras, 143 car riers, 136 rlp-otts. 138 GPS (see GPS navigators) Ratin gs & recommendation s, 155 smart phones, 145 Computers & computer equipment desktop computers, 55 repair history, 60 home networks, 59 Inte rne t ser vice provi ders (ISPs) (see Internet serv ice pr oviders) lapt op computers, 52 repair history, 55 monit ors, 65 Rat ings & recommendation s, 166 printers, 67 Ratings & recommendations, 176 scanners, 70 secur ity (see Security) softwa re fr ee, 71 photo , 125 Rating s, 126 security, 79 Ratin gs & recommend at ions, 18 0
see Television Digital video recorders (DVRs), 115 DVD players, 106 high definition, 108 portable, 110 DVD recorders, 111
F
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Online crime , see also Security reporting, 80 Online security, see Security Online shopping, see Shopping
Front-projection TVs, see Television sets
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Photo pro cessing, 127 Ratings, 129 Phot ograph y sof tware (see Comp ute rs & compu te r equipment, soft ware) t ips, 121, 124 Picture frames, digital, 122 Picture tube TVs, see Television sets Plasma TVs, see Television set s Pr inte rs, see Computers & compute r equip ment Projecti on TVs, see Television sets
GPS navigator s, 144 Rating s & reco mmendations, 162
H
Headphones, see Audio equipment High-definition DVDs, see DVD players High-defin it ion te levision, see Television Home net work s, see Computers & computer equipment Home t heater syst ems, 9 5 install at ion (see Installation)
I Install ation, 16 home theater systems, 97 televisi on sets, 44 Inte rne t securi ty, see Secur ity Int ern et service providers (ISPs),75 Rating s, 77 Int ern et sho pping, see Shopp ing iPhone, 145
208 CONSUMER REPORTS 0 ELECTRONICS BUYING GUIDE Z008
R Radio HD, 94 satellite, 92 Rear- projection TVs, see Television sets Receivers, see Audio equipment Recyclin g electro nics, 19 Reli abil it y surveys , 17 tel evision sets, 28
see Computers & compute r equipment Speakers, see Audi o equipment Sto res online, Ratings, 10 Ratings, 11
T
Techni cal support, see Computers & compute r equipment Teleph one serv ices, 135. see also Cellular telephones Telephones cellular (see Cellular te lephones) cordless, 147 Television digital,49 high definition, 24 servic es, 46 Television sets, 24 exte nded war rant ies (see War ranties) front-pr ojection, 39 installati on (see Installati on) LCD, 29 pict ure tu be, 42 plasma, 33 rear-projecti on, 37 reliability (see Reliability surv eys) Testing meth ods, 5
W
Warranti es, exte nded, 12 tel evision, 32 Windows Vista operat ing system, see Computers & comput er equipment
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