poll

Last year CNET reviewed more than 40 models of HDTVs, spanning the gamut from cheap 32-inch LCDs to 55-inch LED-backlit behemoths.

But choosing which ones to cover among the sea of available models involves some tough decisions, and sometimes our coverage misses the mark. We can also end up delaying a review of one TV while we review others, and determining that priority isn't always obvious. That's why, as I plan our TV coverage for 2010, I'd like to hear about what models you, dear reader, want to read about most.

To that end, as promised, I've selected 10 of the models I'm most interested in reviewing and slapped them into a poll for your ease-of-voting pleasure. If you're unfamiliar with the new models, check out the cheat sheet below or peruse our 2010 CES HDTV roundup, which highlights the sets that seem most interesting from the perspective of new technology, picture quality and cool new features. Most of those TVs are still a few months from reaching the market, but it's never too early to plan ahead.

If you don't see the model you want most, or if you can't choose among them for another reason, vote accordingly anyway and feel free to leave a comment. The more responses I get, the better idea I'll have of what TVs readers are actually interested in seeing me review. Thanks for your participation.

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We saw a few tablet-esque devices at CES earlier this month, and they were getting interesting. Then on Wednesday, as expected, Apple threw its "i"-obsessed hat into the ring with the iPad which, as is typical when Apple does something, caused the tech reporting world to go all crazy.

You heard about the iPad, right? If not you can google it on Bing.

Anyway, there are now tablets--plural--out there. Which means there's a good chance that you, as a gadget enthusiast, will either be buying one or at least entertaining the idea of buying one … Read more

Whew! Finally we can stop all the speculating and rumor-mongering. The Apple iPad is here, and it's an...interesting device, to say the least. Some folks are no doubt gaga over it, while others probably came away thinking, "That's it?!"

How about you? Think you'll pull the trigger on an iPad? If so, which of the six (!) available configurations will you choose?

If not, why not? Did the device not live up to your expectations? (You didn't really think it was part hoverboard, did you? Yeah, me too.)

Cast your vote in our poll, … Read more

Now that we're just less than 24 hours away from Apple's big announcement, let's take a quick poll: What's the most you'd pay for an Apple tablet?

You know, the tablet--Apple's worst kept secret since the iPhone. There's a 99.99 percent chance that it'll be unveiled at tomorrow's product-launch event--and rumor has it the price tag will be, well, up there.

When you think about it, its anticipated price is not terribly surprising. After all, if it has 10-inch color screen and persistent 3G connection (as the New York Times indicated today), … Read more

We've covered quite a few eye-catching DIY creations lately, from a pilot who used duct tape to fix his bear-bitten airplane to a toy Star Trek phaser that actually works (and could potentially blind and/or kill you).

We also covered a Super Mario Bros. sweater, a garage-built Antarctic snow chopper, a robot flower girl, and a bridal bouquet that measures biometric data and displays it as crazy changing colors so everyone can see how nervous the bride and groom are. We're not sure why they'd want to do that, but they did.

We can think of … Read more

Would you pay to read your favorite newspaper online? Most say no, at least according to a new Harris poll.

With traditional print newspapers struggling to turn a profit, many have turned to the Web as a means to stay afloat. While some offer their online content free of charge, other papers have played around with subscriptions by charging readers a monthly fee. But that strategy may backfire, says a Harris poll released Wednesday.

Among more than 2,000 online adults surveyed, 77 percent said they wouldn't pay anything to read a newspaper's stories on the Web. And … Read more

My cure for post-CES information overload is playing music. For me, that means a return to the basics: pop on a LP, sit down, close my eyes, and just listen. Man, that feels good.

Call me a Luddite, but I like well-designed products you don't have to replace every year or so. Unless you have money to burn, why be an early adopter? Why buy a first generation anything? You'll pay a big price for being first, and pay again when trading up for the next "improved" model. I've never heard of anyone who regretted … Read more

This week can more or less be summed up in three words (or should we say three acronyms?)--CES, CES, CES. It's virtually impossible to keep up with the avalanche of announcements rolling out of the gadget blowout in Vegas, and if your head is spinning as much as ours, you'd be hard-pressed to list your standouts just yet.

But what if your pushy Crave editors told you you absolutely had to cite your pick for the most exciting or noteworthy news out of CES 2010 so far (or else Crave would only post Hello Kitty gadget news … Read more

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a cheapskate. (I even have a blog that says so.) Needless to say, when it comes to buying games for my iPhone, I tend to choose titles that are free or supercheap.

In fact, my buying habits work like this: If a game I want costs 99 cents, I'll usually grab it without a second thought. If it's $1.99 or $2.99, I'll sometimes pull the trigger, though not without some hesitation. Anything that costs more, I rarely pony up for it.

Am I alone in this regard? To find out, I created this poll. Cast your vote, then read on for more discussion.

I suspect most people will choose, "It depends on the game." And, sure enough, some games offer relatively limited replay value, and therefore should be priced lower than games you're likely to play endlessly.

On the other hand, why should I balk at spending, $5 for an iPhone game that's every bit as good as a $50 PlayStation game? (PlayStation 2, anyway.) I'll drop five bucks for a Starbucks coffee and cookie, which last all of 10 minutes, but not on a game I might play for weeks. Why?

Maybe it's because I'm spoiled by all the great freebies, like Tap Tap Revenge 3, Unblock Me, and Traffic Rush. Or perhaps there's less perceived value in a game that runs on such a small screen.… Read more