Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
2007 Lexus GS 450h
Here's our weekly roundup of new products CNET reviewers liked best.
1. 2007 Lexus GS 450h
Editors' rating: 9.0
The good: The GS 450h provides dazzling performance and top-notch luxury all in an eco-friendly hybrid wrapper. GPS navigation and Bluetooth are only the start of a litany of tech features, most of which come as standard equipment.
The bad: Some voice-command niggles with Lexus's fifth-generation navigation system and minor gripes with the variable gear-ratio steering system were all we could come up with.
The bottom line: With more horsepower than most sports sedans, a hybrid engine, and a long list of tech features, the Lexus GS 450h is a consummate package of comfort, performance, and technology.
Shure E500PTH Sound Isolating Earphones
Editors' rating: 8.7
The good: Shure's E500PTH phones offer exceptional sound quality with a three-driver design that's previously been available only for hundreds of dollars more; comfortable and do a great job of passively blocking out noise; includes push-to-hear control; multiple ear adapters and a nice set of accessories.
The bad: Pricey but a solid investment; switch on push-to-hear controller feels cheap.
The bottom line: If you're the type who prefers uncompressed or lossless formats, require low-profile headphones, and don't mind investing in high-end headphones, the Shure E500PTH should be on your short list.
2006 BMW M6
Editors' rating: 8.3
The good: With carbon fiber visible both inside and out, the 2006 BMW M6's mission is clear. Top-flight tech options, bold styling, and monstrous performance add up to a statement vehicle that's tough to match.
The bad: The M6 is more garish, less useful, and considerably more expensive than the M5, while being only a marginally better performer. The interior feels cramped given the car's overall size.
The bottom line: As an executive sports touring car, the 2006 BMW M6 excels in every category, except perhaps styling. The transmission and chassis settings have learning curves, but the reward is effortless speed and control.
Logitech Harmony 720
Editors' rating: 8.3
The good: The Logitech Harmony 720 remote offers a slighter better color screen and a slimmer, sexier design than those of Harmony's original color-screen model, the 880. This model also includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and docking station, and like other Harmony remotes, the 720 is Web programmable and is compatible with Windows and Macintosh machines.
The bad: The remote could sit a little more securely in its dock, the Web interface may intimidate nontechie users, and the painted text labels printed on the case under the transport control buttons may rub off with extended use.
The bottom line: The combination of a color screen, a battery charger dock, and a sleek design makes the Logitech Harmony 720 one of the company's best universal remotes to date.
Sony KDS-60A2000
Editors' rating: 8.0
The good: Can produce deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; can resolve every line of 1080 resolution sources; compact design with bottom-mounted speakers; incredible amounts of picture control; ample connectivity with dual 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, three component-video inputs and a PC input.
The bad: Somewhat expensive; inaccurate primary colors; no picture-in-picture; disappointing VGA connection.
The bottom line: Although more costly than its DLP competition, the excellent picture quality of Sony's KDS-60A2000 will be worth the difference to most viewers.
LaCie Little Big Disk
Editors' rating: 8.0
The good: The LaCie Little Big Disk is a compact drive that offers blazing performance, three connection options, RAID 0 capability, and backup software--perfect for A/V enthusiasts on the go.
The bad: The drive is expensive, and the USB connection isn't bus-powered, which means you'll have to carry the AC adapter if you don't have a FireWire port available. Also, LaCie's phone support isn't toll-free.
The bottom line: The LaCie Little Big Disk is perfect for mobile audiovisual enthusiasts who need fast transfer rates, a compact form factor, and multiple connection options. It's worth the price.
Sony DualShock 2 Analog Controller
Editors' rating: 8.0
The good: The Sony DualShock 2 Analog Controller is extremely responsive, has excellent force-feedback and is probably the most natural-feeling controller available.
The bad: It's wired, and it's not the most durable controller you'll ever use. Also, the d-pad isn't designed very well.
The bottom line: Sony's DualShock 2 Analog Controller stands as the best of its generation and the blueprint for almost every controller released since.
Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth headset
Editors' rating: 7.7
The good: The Samsung WEP200 is a great compact headset that fits comfortably in the ear; buttons are tactile and easy to press; comes with a black charging case; has good sound quality.
The bad: The Samsung WEP200 has a rather unintuitive pairing method.
The bottom line: The Samsung WEP200 is a delightfully small headset that fits comfortably in either ear and features quality sound.
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T9
Editors' rating: 7.6
The good: Excellent design, portability, and build quality; decent photo quality; very quick performance; optical image stabilization; 58MB of internal memory.
The bad: Lens is slow and not very wide at f/3.5 and 38mm; excessive red-eye.
The bottom line: Sony's new Cyber Shot DSC-T9 is a beautiful, highly pocketable camera that's fast and easy to use and has good image quality, to boot.
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Price range: $315-399
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T30
Editors' rating: 7.6
The good: Attractive, functional design; optical image stabilization; solid image quality; 58MB of internal memory.
The bad: Slow f/3.5 maximum aperture; spotty red-eye reduction.
The bottom line: Pocket-friendly and stylish, the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T30 continues the T-series tradition of ease of use and image quality.
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Price range: $354-499