PCs, Peripherals and Software

Asus Eee PC Seashell 1201N (black)

As one of the few Netbooks with a dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia Ion graphics, the 12.1-inch EeePC 1201N has superior performance compared with most Atom-based machines, but any higher-level ULV thin-and-light will still do better.

Dell Inspiron Zino HD

In the right configuration, Dell's Inspiron Zino HD will fit seamlessly into your living room as a PC-based video source. Due to its uneven handling of even standard-def video, this $468 build isn't quite up to the task. Fortunately, Dell offers the right upgrades to get you to the hallowed ground of PC-based video content--just be prepared to spend a little bit more to get there.

ZDNet Product Perspectives

Laptops & DesktopsJohn Morris

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Peripherals: Keyboards, Mice, Scanners, PC speakers, VoIP phones, Accessories

HP Pavilion Slimline s5310y

With poor system performance and a severe drought in features, we recommend leaving this clunker on the shelf and picking up the Gateway SX2840-01, a highly capable budget desktop with a faster processor chip, a bigger hard drive, and a larger variety of connectivity options inside and out.
Toshiba Satellite E205-S1904

As one of the first laptops to feature Intel's Wireless Display technology, the Toshiba Satellite E205-S1904 is a slim, fast, affordable package for mainstream users.
Acer Aspire One 532h-2326 - Atom N450 1.66 GHz

The Acer Aspire One 532h-2326 is just as good for basic tasks as Netbooks costing $100 more, making it a solid sub-$300 option.
Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BN

With a new Atom processor and a tweaked design, the Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BN is an improvement over the already excellent NB205, at a price that's identical.
Gateway SX2840-01

Gateway's SX2840-01 remains the budget PC to beat. Its combination of small size, fast performance, and living room competence makes it one of the most flexible desktops on the market. That it has room to upgrade makes the deal that much sweeter. We recommend this desktop to anyone looking for a powerful, versatile low-cost computer.
Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (Intel Atom N450)

Dell's basic Netbook adds better battery life and the newest Intel Atom CPU, and robust configuration options add a level of flexibility many other Netbooks lack.
Toshiba Satellite T135D-S1324

Toshiba's lightweight and affordable thin-and-light T135 series shaves another hundred off its price by switching to an AMD Neo processor in the T135D-S1324, while offering only slightly diminished performance.
HP Pavilion All-in-One MS225

Don't expect the world from HP's low-cost Pavilion All-in-One MS2255, but as a basic day-to-day PC for light-duty productivity or Web and media accessibility in the kitchen, it's a very good deal. You'd be wise to look here before considering an Atom-based Nettop.
Trendnet TEW-639GR Wireless N Gigabit Router

The Trendnet TEW-639GR Wireless N Gigabit Router is a decent investment for Wireless-N home networking, offering a decent package at an affordable price.
Epson WorkForce 310

The Epson WorkForce 310 is a cost-efficient all-in-one printer that gives you five separate ink cartridges with an automatic document feeder and a detailed control panel. Combine those features with its lightning-fast print speeds, and the WorkForce 310 is a worthwhile addition to your office arsenal.
Sony Vaio Eco VPC-W212AX

With a chassis made from recycled materials, the Sony Vaio W Eco Series Netbook offers a great example to manufacturers looking to make their laptops greener--as a Netbook, however, its features are pretty much industry standard with the exception of a high-res 10-inch screen.
Acer Ferrari One FO200-1799 (Athlon 64 X2 L310 1.2GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium)

Acer's auto-branded Ferrari One FO200 may look like an 11-inch Netbook, but it sports a dual-core AMD CPU and a mainstream laptop price to match.
Acer Aspire EasyStore H340-UA230N NAS server

The Acer Aspire EasyStore H340 is an affordable and flexible NAS solution for both homes and small businesses that don't require advanced features from their networks.
Apple Mac Mini (2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB, Fall 2009)

The lower-cost Mac Mini offers respectable budget performance and Apple's usual compelling design, but a puny hard drive and a lack of HDMI hurt this system's value and overall potential. It's actually more versatile next to its budget-priced Windows competition than the higher-end Mac Mini, but this entry-level Mac is still best left to Apple loyalists.
HP Mini 5102

HP's sturdy and stylish Mini 5102 is a slight upgrade to one of our favorite Netbooks, but we had hoped for a little more fresh thinking for 2010.
Asus Eee PC Seashell 1201N (black)

As one of the few Netbooks with a dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia Ion graphics, the 12.1-inch EeePC 1201N has superior performance compared with most Atom-based machines, but any higher-level ULV thin-and-light will still do better.
Asus Eee PC Seashell 1201N (silver)

As one of the few Netbooks with a dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia Ion graphics, the 12.1-inch EeePC 1201N has superior performance compared with most Atom-based machines, but any higher-level ULV thin-and-light will still do better.
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge (13-inch)

With a relatively affordable starting price and a new design, the ThinkPad Edge loosens up the ThinkPad look--but losing an optical drive keeps it a yard short of being a top-choice compact business laptop.
Dell Inspiron Zino HD

In the right configuration, Dell's Inspiron Zino HD will fit seamlessly into your living room as a PC-based video source. Due to its uneven handling of even standard-def video, this $468 build isn't quite up to the task. Fortunately, Dell offers the right upgrades to get you to the hallowed ground of PC-based video content--just be prepared to spend a little bit more to get there.
Lenovo IdeaPad S12-2959 (Ion, Atom N270 1.6GHz, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7)

Although the IdeaPad S12, with its Nvidia Ion graphics processor, provides some 3D muscle, it costs more than comparable Netbooks.
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