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Gaming gear
It's a good year to be a gamer. All of the "next-generation" home game consoles have been out for at least a year, and the big three--Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo--are engaged in a cutthroat competition to broaden their market share. That may be bad news for corporate profits, but it's great news for consumers: price cuts and better bundles mean that you're getting a much bigger bang for your gifting buck this year. Portables also continue to be a great buy, with the Nintendo DS Lite and redesigned Sony PSP offering more games than ever before.
Editors' top pick
The bottom line: It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii's combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.
The bottom line: HP's Blackbird 002 earns the highest rating this editor has ever given a desktop PC. Its design rivals the Apple Mac Pro, it takes risks that benefit your upgrade path, it's fast, and it's competitively priced. If you can afford it, and you want a high-end gaming PC, buy this one. End of story.
The bottom line: The high-end Sony PlayStation 3's larger hard drive and ability to play PS2 games makes it a worthwhile alternative to the cheaper model--so long as you're willing to wait several months for the more promising exclusive titles to hit store shelves. If backward compatibility is your top priority, this hard-to-find model may be worth the search.
The bottom line: With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.
The bottom line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.
The bottom line: Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.
The bottom line: With a slick new design, brighter screens, and a growing library of fun and innovative games, the Nintendo DS Lite is an impressive improvement over the original DS.
The bottom line: Sony's slimmed-down, network-ready PS2 is a welcome update to the world's most popular video game console.
The bottom line: Now that it has a brighter screen, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP is the budget champ for portable gaming.
The bottom line: The Xbox 360 HD DVD player is an inexpensive way for 360 owners to get high-def movies, but nonowners and audiophiles should stick with standalone HD players.
The bottom line: Nintendo's latest Game Boy has an interesting design but doesn't offer anything you can't find in the company's other portables.
Thanks,
The CNET TV Team
