Apple’s new iMacs: A closer look

The new iMac

Amid the hoopla surrounding the release of Windows 7, Apple introduced refreshed lines of iMac computers. We took a look at the 21-1/2 inch model ($1,200 to $1,500) and the 27 inch one ($1,700 to $2,000). (See how we rated previous iMac models in our desktop computer Ratings, available to subscribers.)

Both iMacs have larger displays than their predecessors (20-inch and 24-inch respectively) and come with the latest Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system. They include a newly-designed wireless “Magic Mouse,” and a wireless keyboard, both of which use a Bluetooth connection. (For a glossary of standard computer features, see our free Computer Buying Guide.)

Magic Mouse. This has a touch-sensitive top surface that senses left and right clicks and lets you slide your finger around to scroll a window’s content in any direction. Slide your finger up and down for a normal scroll, or with the “control” key depressed to zoom the whole screen for a closer look. It takes a bit of practice and some independent finger dexterity to use the scrolling, but we were able to get pretty good at it.

The mouse also lets you use a two-finger swipe to navigate back and forth in the Safari web browser, and browse album covers in iTunes and photos in iPhoto. But we couldn’t get that feature to work on either of our iMacs. Apple’s helpline wasn’t able to help us—the products are apparently too new. But we found an Oct 27th software update for the Magic Mouse on Apple’s “support downloads” website that fixed the problem when installed.

In the CR Test Labs: Sony Vaio with Windows 7 looking good

[LOGO: Courtesy of Microsoft]

With Windows 7’s release just a week away, here’s an advance look at how some of the new Windows 7 laptops and desktops perform. We’re testing several press samples that we purchased from manufacturers.

First up is Sony’s VAIO VGN-NW270F/T, a 15.5-inch laptop with 4GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. It replaces the Vista-based VAIO VGN-NW125J/T that we tested, which was similarly equipped. One notable difference: The Windows 7 model uses a slightly faster 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, compared to the 2.1GHz processor used in the older VAIO.

Here’s what we found:

Very good performance. As with the Vista-based VGN-NW125J/T, performance on the Windows 7 system was very good. In fact, the new model scored about 10% higher in our application benchmark. It also performed marginally better in our gaming benchmark, but you can still expect choppy motion in 3D games. Start-up was slightly faster at 63 seconds (compared to 74 seconds); shutdown took an average of 15 seconds on both the Vista and Windows 7 laptops. On both systems, standby time was about 4 seconds and resume was about 3 seconds.

Battery life. The NW270F/T had about 3 hours in our tests. That’s 30 minutes less than on the Vista model, but on par with many other 15-inch laptops we’ve tested.

More features. The VGN-NW270F/T adds a Blu-ray drive, a nice extra for those looking to use their laptop for entertainment.

We’ll be posting full Ratings of Windows 7 computers next month, plus more first looks over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned. You can find our current laptop Ratings and recommendations here. —Donna Tapellini

In the CR Test Labs: New LCD, plasma HDTVs

LG’s PS80-series plasma TVs now have access to streaming movies from both Netflix and Vudu. (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO courtesy of LG]

Here at the CR test labs, there’s no rest for the weary (we’re putting the final touches on our big electronics issue for the December print edition of Consumer Reports). That means that while we’re about a week shy from posting the latest LCD and plasma TV Ratings (available to subscribers ), we’re already hard at work testing 16 new models.

Here’s the list of the TVs currently being evaluated:

LCD TVs

AOC L42H961: A low-priced 42inch 1080p LCD TV with 4 HDMI and 2 component-video inputs.

Hitachi L42S503: A 42-inch 1080p LCD with 120Hz technology and 7 HD inputs (5 HDMI and 2 component video).

LG 42LH90: This sibling to the 55-inch 1080p LCD set currently in our Ratings has a full-array LED backlight with local dimming and LG’s “quasi” 240Hz technology, which combines a 120Hz refresh rate with a scanning backlight to achieve a 240Hz effect. It's also THX certified. Like its bigger sibling, it doesn’t include LG’s NetCast online service with access to streaming movies from NetCast and Vudu.

Mitsubishi Unisen LT-40151: This 40-inch 120Hz 1080p LCD features Mitsubishi’s 16-speaker “Sound Projector” audio system and Dolby Digital 5.1-channel sound.

Panasonic Viera TC-L32C12. A lower-priced mainstream 720p (1366x768) set from a major brand. It has an SD card reader built into the set.

Philips 47PFL6704D: A 47-inch 1080p LCD with 120Hz technology.

RCA L26HD41: A lower-priced 26-inch 720p (1366x768).

Samsung UN40B7000: A 40-inch 1080p set with an edge LED backlight, 120Hz technology, and the company’s Medi@2.0 Internet TV service, which will soon include streaming movies from Blockbuster.

In the CR Test Labs: An ultra-thin plasma, plus feature-laden LCDs

Panasonic’s Z1 plasma TV is just an inch thick. (Click to enlarge)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Panasonic]

Although we’re just a week or so away from posting our latest LCD and plasma TV Ratings (available to subscribers of ConsumerReports.org), we’ve already started testing 16 new models.

The new LCD batch includes a lower-priced TV from Sylvania, a step-up Insignia series with extra features, more models with 240Hz technology and access to online content, and the first Sharp sets to use LED backlights.

We’re also testing two new Panasonic plasmas, including a model from the new “showcase” Z1-series featuring a striking, 1-inch-deep design. We’ll be evaluating the TV to see if its performance is as eye-catching as its looks.

Here’s a preview of what’s currently being tested in our TV labs:

PLASMA TVs
Panasonic Viera TC-P54Z1: This pricey 54-inch 1080p flagship plasma from Panasonic (above) has a uniquely stylish look, thanks to its ultra-thin (1-inch-thick) design and silver-colored bezel. The set sends signals wireless from a separate media console that houses the TV tuner, and includes Panasonic’s Viera Cast Internet service, which can stream movie from Amazon Video On Demand.

Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10: A 50-inch 1080p plasma is part of the upper-tier V10-series that has some extra features, including THX certification, access to the Viera Cast online service, and an SD card slot with the ability to play high-def AVCHD video files. We’ve previously reviewed the 54-inch model in this series.

LCD TVs:
Insignia NS-L42X-10A: Part of a new Insignia (Best Buy’s house brand) Advanced Series LCD TV line. These are ultra-slim 1080p models featuring 120Hz technology and a longer, 24-month limited parts and labor warranty, with a provision for a loaner set should the TV require servicing.

In the CR Test Labs: 22 new laptops

Much to the dismay of kids across the country, it’s time to start back-to-school shopping. Could be that a new laptop will cheer them up a bit. We’re testing a new batch in our labs, and the results will be out soon. Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peek at what we’re looking at.

Acer. Acer’s got the least expensive laptop we’re testing in this batch. A 14.4 15.6-inch model, the Acer AS5516-5474 is priced at $300. The Aspire AS5536-5883, $480, has a 15.6-inch display, 3GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, and uses a dual-core AMD Athlon as its processor.

Apple. The 17-inch MacBook Pro’s been updated with a 2.8GHz processor and 500GB hard drive. With 4GB of memory, it costs $2,500.

Asus. We’ll check out Asus’ claims of 5-hour, 50-minute battery life in this 15.6-inch laptop (the UX50V-RX05) with an Intel Core 2 Solo processor. For $750, you get a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of memory, and 512MB of video memory.

Compaq. A budget ($400) 15.6-inch system from Compaq, the Presario CQ60-417DX, runs on an Intel Celeron processor and includes 3GB of memory but a relatively small 160Gb hard drive.

Dell. We’re taking a look at laptops from Dell that represent both mainstream systems and home-entertainment computers. Prices range from $430 for the 15.6-inch Inspiron 15 with a Pentium dual-core processor to $750 for the 14-inch Inspiron 14 with a Core 2 Duo processor. In between sits the Studio 14z, a $650 14-inch laptop with a Pentium dual-core.

In the CR Test Labs: 10 new netbooks

Is the line between laptops and netbooks blurring? Lower-priced laptops now cost less than $500, while higher-priced netbooks cost between $400 and $500.

And the products themselves are increasingly similar. Netbooks aren’t necessarily bare bones—some new models have bigger hard drives and more memory. Screens are also getting larger. While most netbooks started out with 9-inch displays, that size has largely been replaced by 10-, 12-, and most recently 11-inch displays. Meanwhile, we’ve seen Atom processors, meant for netbooks, in 13-inch laptops.

You’ll soon be able to check out for yourself the details of the 10 new netbooks currently in our CR Test Labs. Here’s a quick preview.

Acer. The Aspire One AO751h-1259 is one of the more loaded netbooks we’ve seen. With an 11.6-inch display, it’s got a 250GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM. Instead of Linux or Windows XP, it comes with Windows Vista Home Basic. It weighs less than 3 pounds (according to Acer) and costs $400.

Asus. The $390 Eee PC Seashell 1005-HA is a 10.1-inch netbook with a 1.66GHz Atom processor and a 160GB hard drive.

Gateway. Two netbooks from Gateway’s LT series take different approaches. The 10.1-inch LT 2021U (pictured above) has an Atom processor and runs Windows XP Home; it has 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive and costs $300. The AMD Athlon-based LT3130U has 2GB of RAM, a larger 250GB hard drive, and runs Windows Vista Home Basic. Its display is 11.6 inches, and it costs $400. We’ll let you know if it’s worth spending the extra $100 when our tests come out.

In the CR Test Labs: Two hot cell phones

Two of the new cell phones now being tested in our labs feature 5-megapixel cameras packed with features found in stand-alone point-and-shoot cameras, such as a flash, zoom, image stabilizer, and autofocus. They also have other characteristics that make them special. Here's a look:

Nokia N97 ($630), Unlocked. This feature-packed smart phone (pictured, top right) combines three of the most coveted smart-phone features—a large 3.5-inch touch-screen display, a generously proportioned QWERTY keyboard, and Wi-Fi—in one nice package. The home screen provides direct access to messaging, music player, Web browser, contacts, and other critical features. The display also shows you missed calls or new messages. The keyboard slides out and tilts up to provide the optimal viewing angle for typing e-mails and messages. A built-in accelerometer automatically reorients Web pages, photos, and other objects when you tilt the phone. And its handwriting-recognition feature lets you jot down numbers, letters, symbols, and punctuation, which are then converted to typed text.

Casio Exilim Mobile ($230), Verizon. With its rugged, water-resistant case, the Exilim Mobile (right) should keep you connected on tough terrain or in foul weather. Its shiny black exterior is actually a translucent display that shows incoming calls and other useful information. Twisting this phone's cover instantly transforms it into a 4.9-megapixel camera and includes digital photo album software and a charging and syncing cradle.

Check our current Ratings (available to subscribers) and look for updated Ratings featuring these phones in about a month.—Mike Gikas

Images courtesy of Nokia and Verizon

In the CR Test Labs: New LCD, plasma HDTVs

The latest batch of televisions in the CR TV lab includes the new 46-inch Sony Bravia LCD.
[Photo: Sony]

While many of us are gearing up for summer vacations, CR’s TV engineers are still hard at work testing more LCD and plasma TVs. Among this latest group are models with full-array LED backlights, and several 240Hz sets that take aim at reducing motion blur. We’re also looking at some new Toshiba models that will be the first to include Dolby Volume, a volume-leveling technology that attempts to minimize differences in loudness when you switch channels or when commercials come on.

Here are the models currently being tested in our TV labs:

LCD TVs

Hitachi L26D103: This 26-inch 720p (1366x768) set is a TV/DVD combo with an integrated standard DVD player, headphone jack, and a built-in sleep timer.

Hitachi L32A403: This 32-inch 720p (1366x768) set from Hitachi has four HDMI inputs, and comes with a swivel stand.

JVC LT-46J300: This 46-inch 1080p LCD from JVC has the company’s TeleDock integrated iPod dock.

In the CR test labs: New HTIB systems

Panasonic’s SC-BT300 7.1-channel HTIB has an integrated Blu-ray drive, an iPod dock, and access to its Viera Cast online service. (Click to enlarge.) [Photo courtesy of Panasonic]

With their relatively simple set-up and all-inclusive designs, home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems have a lot to recommend them. Many now include integrated Blu-ray drives, although systems with standard DVD players remain popular. Most HTIBs are now either 5.1- or 7.1-channel systems that come with either five or seven sonically matched speakers, plus a powered subwoofer. As an added convenience, some models include—or have an option for adding—wireless rear speakers, and many have iPod docks that let you play songs or videos through your entertainment system.

Prices for these systems can vary wildly, from very basic DVD units that start under $100, to powerful 7.1-channel Blu-ray models with lots of bells and whistles and prices that can hit $800 or more. Another option: systems that don’t include a disc drive, but which have all the connections needed for you to use a current DVD player now, then add a Blu-ray player at a later date. All DVD models in our tests play DVDs and CDs, and all models with Blu-ray players can play Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs.

We’re now in the midst of testing more than a dozen new models, including some with Blu-ray drives, some with DVD drives, and several that don’t have any disc player at all. Here’s a list of the HTIB systems currently being tested in our labs:

Blu-ray models

LG LHB953: A 5.1-channel BD-Live Blu-ray system with LG’s NetCast Internet service for access to streaming Netflix instant movies and Pandora’s Internet radio service. It can decode Dolby TrueHD lossless audio, and has an iPod dock.

In the CR Test Labs: New headphones

Things are once again cranking up in our audio testing labs, where CR’s engineering team is already testing a new series of headphones, and KEMAR—CR’s test mannequin—has been called back from summer vacation.

We’re currently reviewing nine new headphone models, ranging from portable insert-style earphones to over-the-ear headsets designed to be used at home, with designs that run the gamut from staid to stylish. When completed, the results will be published in our Headphones Ratings (available to subscribers).

Here’s a list of the models currently being tested:

• Auvio, portable insert-style earphones. Auvio is RadioShack’s new brand for cables and headphones. Comes with three pairs of foam ear cushions and a black leather case.


• Skullcandy TI, home/studio-style over-the-ear headphones with headband. Comes in several color schemes (a few of them quite striking).


• Koss MV1, home/studio style over-the-ear headphones with headband. Ear cups fold flat for storage.