For today's Frankenfight, two 7.1 HDMI receivers compete for that special place in our heart home theater. Onkyo's TX-SR674 is a worthy contender, but how will it fare against Denon's AVR-2307CI? Hit the jump to find out what the experts at CNET, Sound & Vision, AV Guide, Home Theater HiFi, and the Gadget Guide have to say about these two just-over-$500 systems.

Setup
The Onkyo features an automated setup system, which uses a supplied microphone to measure speaker distances, speaker levels, and to perform the Audyssey room correction. As soon as you plug the microphone in, the Onkyo goes straight into its setup menu. From there it is only a matter of following a simple set of prompts to complete the setup. (4)

One thing that I could not change was an input's name, and thus I was stuck with the generic Video 2 for my TiVo. (4)
[Denon] has the supplied mini-mike and auto-setup routine that most receivers north of about $500 feature today...after running it...I checked the results with a sound-pressure level meter against my own test sources as well as the receiver's own internal test noise. Result: very good. Channel levels were all within ±1 dB of what I'd have set manually, and crossover choices and distances were spot-on. (1)

Unlike Denon's implementation of the Audyssey system that requires the user to run the setup program six times from six different positions in the room, Onkyo's analyzes the room's acoustics from just three positions. (5)

Why HDMI?
...a digital audio cable is still required to transmit Dolby and DTS multichannel audio from the player to the receiver. But Onkyo's TX-SR674 receiver delivers all of the HDMI features one can readily expect...(Dolby Digital, DTS, CD and DVD-Audio, and uncompressed PCM soundtracks) and all HD video formats (including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p). Additionally, the TX-SR674 is capable of converting analog component, composite, and S-Video source signals to HDMI, which means you'll need to run only one cable from your video source to the receiver and another from the receiver to your TV. (5)

Through HDMI, the Onkyo takes full advantage of the new high-resolution audio formats available on Blu-ray and HD DVD.(4)
The [Denon] TX-SR674 does pass Dolby Digital, DTS, and linear PCM (LPCM) soundtracks via HDMI. LPCM compatibility means you can get the uncompressed HD-DVD or Blu-ray soundtracks. (5)

My Comcast cable box still refuses to pass signal to any component identifying itself as an HDMI repeater (will they ever deliver the promised firmware update?), and since the 2307CI does so, like nearly all A/V receivers, I was restricted to the set-top's component output... (1)

Sound
Super Speedway is an IMAX film about open-wheel racing in the U.S., and it features lots of very impressive in-car camera and sound work. This creates very loud passages where you have the engine blaring over a myriad of bumps and rattles from the road noise and the car itself. The Onkyo excelled at these scenes, giving me the dynamics one would expect from being in a race car, while resolving the subtle details of the soundfield. Overall, I was very impressed as to how well the Onkyo reproduced this movie. (4)

[The Onkyo] could in many ways hold its own relative to an expensive 200Wpc reference receiver. And in some respects actually sounded better...only at the extreme volume levels did the bigger receiver's power advantage become apparent. (6)

[The Denon] receiver sounded first-rate on every music or movie program I tried: clean, dynamic, transparent. Top-quality recordings (1)

In regard to the sound, I enjoyed the [Denon's] "Night" feature that pumps up the center channel, letting you hear characters speak to each other while keeping music and sound effects down a bit (which is great for apartments or when you have a baby sleeping elsewhere in the house). (2)

A lot of 100-watt-per-channel receivers don't feel all that powerful, but the AVR-2307CI surely did. We even subjected it to the ultimate test by running our Dynaudio speaker set to Large, because that setting generally sounds best, but makes far greater power demands. The Denon didn't mind one bit. (3)

Video
[With the Onkyo] the incoming analog signals are automatically deinterlaced—converted from 480i to 480p—if the HDMI input on the connected TV can't handle 480i resolution, something very common in HDTVs sold before 2006... (5)

[The Denon] doesn't offer de-interlacing (480i to 480p conversion), so all of the analog video remains in its native resolution...including such common devices such as VCRs, camcorders, video iPods, and older game consoles—it's 480i. Furthermore, the AVR-2307CI's onscreen display shows only at 480i resolution over the HDMI connection as well...other 480i limitations—the lack of de-interlacing and the dearth of onscreen display at HD resolutions over HDMI—mean the AVR-2307CI's HDMI compatibility is questionable with the many older and some current HDTVs that can't receive 480i video via their HDMI inputs (3)

Result: [Denon had] no onscreens via HDMI in my system (1)

Direct comparisons of my best video sources on their component outputs direct-to-screen versus the Denon's converted-to-HDMI version showed the converted image to be slightly—very slightly—softer and, I felt, a hair less saturated (1)

Denon cut one too many corners for those looking for robust HDMI and high-def support (3)

Extras: Neural Sound (both have)
Neural surround's primary selling point is that it is the codec being used by XM for the XMHD channels, which offer full 5.1 surround... My experience using Neural surround on the XMHD channels was generally positive...adding a nice sense of spaciousness that is often lacking in XM broadcasts.... When I used Neural [unsupported channels], everything ended up in the center channel, and it was a significant downgrade from listening in stereo or using DPL-II Music. (4)
Extras: iPod Docks (both have)
[The Onkyo] supports [their] second-generation DS-A2 iPod dock, which can handle video iPods and provides its own remote and onscreen display. (6)

[Denon's] iPod dock works fairly well. The audio integration is great. You just plop your iPod into it, change source to VCR2, and navigate all your iPod menus on your TV. The playlist titles and artists do get cut off as only so many characters fit on a TV screen, but I could easily find my playlist of favorites and hit play.... The iPod video integration isn't nearly as smooth...as the Denon unit can't navigate iPod Video menus on your TV...(2)

Extras: Zone 2 Speaker Outputs [both have]
Instead of the usual B speaker outputs, the [Onkyo] features stereo Zone 2 speaker outputs, which can be fed a different source—say, XM radio—while the main 5.1 system is playing a DVD. (5)

[With the Denon] there's not only a set of B speaker outputs, you can also reassign the two Surround Back channels for use as Zone 2 speakers. (3)

Winner: Onkyo TX-SR674
The Onkyo and Denon models here are very close in features and performance, but Denon's lack of 480i support over HDMI will be nothing but trouble for anyone with an HDTV that is just a few years old. The only distinct feature that could make the Onkyo better would be to support the HDMI 1.3 standard (as opposed to the 1.1 that both models here use)...and we'd take a few more HDMI inputs, too. – Mark Wilson

Onkyo TX-SR674
Denon AVR-2307CI

Image 1
Image 2

So for this week's Franken, we've laid off the cool gadgets and cock jokes, instead stacking up the three best tax prep programs (TurboTax, TaxCut and TaxACT) to duke it out for our eternal affection/one-time use. Hit the jump for our Frankenreview from experts at Tax Software Review, CNET and About, and then share your best tax tips in the comments. Because my CPA's name is Gizmodo.

Ease of Use
"TurboTax doesn't explain what "Distributions" means, or if your W-2 automatically deducts, say, your 401(k) contributions to keep that money safe from taxes. The video explains things better, but not well enough for novices. 1
One of the strengths of TaxCut is that you don't need to have accounting experience of any kind. Simply answer the questions the program asks you. If you are unsure of an answer you can check the extensive Help section for guidance. TaxCut automatically checks your return for common errors 2

I was very surprised by the amount of time it took me to prepare a tax return using TaxCut Premium. In just 30 minutes, I prepared a fairly complex tax return, from start to finish. 3
A unique feature TaxACT 2006 Ultimate Bundle offers is that you can choose between answering tax questions or directly entering data into the forms to complete your returns...The state program is even easier to use than the federal, all the federal information is automatically transferred, then simply answer a few questions and run the alerts and you are done. 2

Features
TurboTax Deluxe offers every feature we looked for and includes some excellent compatibility options...[it also] reconfigures and recalculates entries instantly comparing different tax scenarios to help you maximize your return and plan for next year. TurboTax can evaluate your 401K contributions and estimate how much you can contribute before it affects your take home pay and so on....within seconds, you can evaluate all of your tax choices. 2

TaxCut Premium offers a comprehensive feature set that includes tax advice and a high level of compatibility with other products... The service also has many features for future planning, including a Retirement Savings Enhancer and Tax Planning reports. 2

[but]...we wished TaxCut Premium had a tool similar to TurboTax's Basis Pro, which uses Gainskeeper's historical data of stock prices to help you determine the cost basis of a stock or mutual fund. 1

... A feature we found missing in TaxCut is year-to-year deduction comparisons. 2

TaxCut failed to catch two mistakes when I input my W-2 data (I transposed numbers on my wages, and put a wrong figure for Social Security taxes). This is a fairly common data entry mistake, and TaxCut really should have kept this useful software feature. 3

[With TaxACT] investors can import capital gains transactions from GainsKeeper© and it has a handy "Life Events" feature. This feature can determine the future tax impact of life events such as marriage, adding children to your family, income adjustments, divorce, and more...[it also] includes most of the commonly used IRS tax forms and they guarantee their calculations. If fact, they will pay your penalties and interest if the software makes a calculation error. 2

[But] TaxACT Deluxe does not have a 401(k) Maximizer, a great tax planning tool I found inside the TurboTax software. 2

Support
TurboTax customers get free technical support by telephone, chat, and e-mail, which is a great deal. Intuit promises wait times of 10 minutes or less for phone queries—a promise that rang true in our tests. Support hours are Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time—and that's better than TaxCut, which gives its tech reps the weekend off. 1

For support, TaxAct offers a well-organized, searchable knowledge base on its Web site. Support is free via e-mail and at an Iowa telephone number, and TaxAct guarantees a response within 48 hours. During tax season, January 10 to April 15, support is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays...and Sundays. 1

In Summary
TaxACT is highly recommended for people with relatively straightforward tax returns to prepare.... [and its] appealing price and premium features makes the software a top choice for many. 3

While no tax software is perfect, TaxCut did a thorough job of guiding us through the filing process. And if your overall goal is to save money up front, TaxCut's lower cost makes it an attractive alternative to Intuit TurboTax. 1

TurboTax Deluxe is the ultimate tax preparation product. This is the easiest product to use with one-button upgrades and thorough explanations of tax law changes 2"

Prices
TurboTax Delux w/State
$55
TaxCut Premium w/State
$40
TaxAct w/State
$16

WINNER: In my non-CPA eyes, I would go with either expensive (Turbotax) to deal with a complicated tax return, or inexpensive (TaxACT) if I just needed a barebones filing. But TaxCut, while well-rated, seems to neither be as cheap as TaxAct or functional/accurate as Turbotax.

And don't forget...we need your deduction tips. Otherwise I may actually have to purchase one of these programs. – Mark Wilson

Great Tax Software Chart [Tax Software Reviews]

That's why this week's Franken is between the two iconic movies that were arguably inarguably paramount in coaxing the masses to accept two of the dorkiest technologies (robots and software) as their rightful, hipper overlords. We took reviews from Ebert, the NY Times, Rotten Tomatoes and the scholarly IMDB community, and we converted them to fact through means of bar graph after the jump. Read the reviews, and then let us know the movie that convinced you that technology was not evil.

"The interior of a computer is a fine and private place, but none, I fear, do there embrace, except in TRON...The movie addresses itself without apology to the computer generation, embracing the imagery of those arcade video games that parents fear are rotting the minds of their children. [1]
[Short Circuit] was great from scene one, with the strange "computer" music, to the near hypnotic assembly of one of the robots... [3]

At a time when we're all too aware of the fatal failures of advanced technology, this robot is also reassuring. [2]
[But] What if a movie could capture the very spirit of a computer toy and make it last not just for a few quarters' worth of time, but indefinitely?...'TRON'' means to be a gloriously puerile movie, the full-fledged screen embodiment of a video game. It even means to go to the heart of video gamesmanship, and its premise is very promising in its way. [2]
There is a robot in "Short Circuit" that is really cute, if "cute" can apply to a robot. Its name is No. 5, and it moves and talks and even seems to think like something that is alive, even though we can see, clear as day, that it's made of tubes and wires and photoelectric cells...Too bad that robots, unlike humans, cannot be discovered in one movie and go on to star in another. I'd like to see No. 5 in a film more suitable to its talents. [1]
Sick, sick story of robot-lust. Avoid this film unless you seek moral corruption. [3]

For the record I give [Short Circuit] an official rating of green crap and banana sandwich. This is the worst comedy ever made. Ever. [3]
Tron is no doubt in my mind, the worst movie ever...Everyone I know who has seen it agrees with me...all it is is a bunch of guys throwing little, electronic frizbees. [3]

Winner: TRON
Even without NYT numerical scoring in the graph, TRON wins by a landslide. We recommend the DVD for its fantastic bonus features, for any late adopters out there. Surprisingly, Short Circuit actually made $13 million more at the box office, and Johnny 5 seems to be widely accepted by critics, even though his movie (and its sequel) were panned. – Mark Wilson

Images
More Images
Short Circuit [rotten tomatoes]
TRON [rotten tomatoes]

While Laptop Mag, Popular Science, Shiny Shiny, Infosync, Reg Hardware, Maxim, and Pocket Lint have taken lemons and made lemonade, we are taking lemonade and making...super lemonade. Hit the jump to see the absolute cream of the crop products, the one list to catch you up on all the lists: The Best Of, The Best Of CES 2007.

Media Player
LG Super Multi Blue
"We love the quality of Blu-ray, we love the quality of HD DVD, but we don't want to get involved in a format war and back the wrong one. Seems LG doesn't either with the launch of a dual player." (pocketlint)

Portable Media
Sansa Connect
"This WiFi portable audio player provides streaming Internet radio, as well as WiFi content acquisition in one nicely priced package. In other words, any time you find yourself in a WiFi hotspot, you can download new songs." (maxim)
It's just like a Zune, but useful.

Television
Sharp 108" LCD

Computer
OQO Model 02
"Roughly the size of two iPods, the OQO 02 could easily be mistaken for a handheld videogame system or even a slightly oversize Blackberry. But don't let it fool you: It's a fully functional, standalone computer capable of running Windows Vista." (popsci)
And it's a lot nicer than this UMPC.

Phone
LG VX9400
"Though we've seen swivel screen phones abroad...Verizon's V Cast Mobile TV announcement brought forth the first swivel screen for the US...very light, and surprisingly slim, we expected more bulk from the first generation of true mobile TV phones. The screen swivels to landscape mode and clicks nicely into place, and though it isn't very large, we were happy to see video commandeering the entirety of the screen's real estate." (infosyncworld)
No, we weren't tacky enough to say the iPhone.

Robot
iRobot Create
"From the company that brought you the Roomba vacuum cleaner comes a robot designed for students, geeks and other 'bot lovers to create their own programmes. See it in action here fetching beer from the fridge or even being controlled by a hamster. Genius." (reghardware)

iPod Dock
Viewsonic PJ258D
"... sleekly designed and weighs less than four pounds. The docking station connects an iPod video player directly to the projector...also supports other digital media, including S-Video and VGA...has a 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, 2000 lumens of brightness, and a 2000:1 contrast ratio." (LaptopMag)
If you don't think iPod docks deserve their own group, you weren't at the show. And it's among the world's most expensive, ludicrous iPod docks at $999.

What were your favorites? –Mark Wilson

What announcements will Jobs make this year...new iPods, "iPhones", Macbooks, or even mock turtlenecks? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview...errr...Frankenrumor: rumors from a plethora of Internet sources congealed together in an apple-flavored gelatin of knowledge hearsay quasi-intelligent rumors.

iPhone
"...we probably will see an iPhone."
"No Apple iPhone"
" Coming in January to all providers 2 batteries (1 MP3, 1 Phone) 2 capacities (4GB & 8GB) Prices will run $249 & $449 Flash memory (surprise) Slide out keyboard Touchscreen (on outside) "Cool" OS"
"small as shit."
"[Morgan Stanley analyst] Runkle says the phone will cost $599 for the 4GB model and a whopping $649 for the 8GB version...it'll be wider than an iPod Nano, but narrower than the 5G iPod. It'll have a nice 3.5-inch display and will come in multi-colored aluminum shells like the Nano..."

Video iPod
"If Apple's patents are to be believed, there is also a new crop of iPods on the horizon that will offer larger screens and possibly new navigation techniques."
"...little attention has been given to the rumored full Video iPod despite clear evidence that Apple has been considering such a form factor."
"The focus of the patent is the incorporation of a touch-sensitive bezel (edge of screen) that can adapt to the screen contents to provide an input method for the user...non-screen area would eliminate many of the "smudge" and "scratch" concerns for a full-screen touch iPod."
"...we're more likely to see a bump to 100GB capacity, courtesy of Toshiba's new 1.8-inch drive..."

iTV
"Apple now aims to begin shipping iTV (likely under a different product name) in late January or early February. They added that the additional time is necessary to fine-tune an embedded version of the Mac OS operating system that will reportedly run on the device..."
"Many people are speculating and/or hoping that Apple will ink a deal with TiVo or offer its own personal video recording capabilities...it seems a bit hard to believe the two companies are collaborating on a Mac product."
"There's an Apple patent application dated November 2, 2006 that outlines techniques for acquiring a season's worth of TV shows. However, it only mentions the word TiVo once in the entire document, and that's only in a generic sense, describing recorded digital video."
"I've been hoping for a video update to the AirPort Express, but it seems like the iTV more or less kills that idea..."
"Google integration (iTV + YouTube)"

Cinema Displays
"Look for Apple to announce a 17-inch Cinema display to complement their existing 20, 23 and 30-inch monitors."
"Apple hasn't made any major update to the Cinema Displays since their initial release in June 2004...the next generation of Apple Cinema Displays could feature a built-in iSight, HDMI connectivity as well as support for HDCP...23 inch model may be replaced by a 24 inch one while a larger model may broaden the line-up."
"...a 50" monitor may be planned for 'early 2007'."
"...a coordinated effort to intentionally spread false information to rumor sites...these rumors should be viewed with some skepticism."

iLife, iWork
"Apple's iApps usually get updated at Macworld Expo and this year should be no exception."
"iLife and iWork 07 are a sure thing."
"...introduction of a new spreadsheet application code named "Lasso"

Leopard
"Leopard could be released at Macworld Expo despite Steve Jobs' assertion that it would be released in 'Spring 2007'."
"It will certainly not be released at Macworld."
"the Mac OS[X] appears to be the key to Apple's ensuing consumer electronics strategy, beginning with iTV and iPhone and extending far beyond."
"...as much as I'd love to see PVR capabilities built into Mac OS X, I think Apple is much more likely to continue to focus on sales of TV content through the iTunes Store."

MacPro
"Apple's desktop Mac is due for a quad-core Intel Xeon Processor..."
"One more thing: 8-core Mac Pro."
"The new Mac Pro configuration will feature two of the recently announced Quad-core Intel (more likely Xeon) processors for a total of eight cores per configuration... development on the systems has been complete for some time..."

Macbook Pro
"...the miniaturized MacBook Pro should keep its built-in optical drive and sport a dual-core processor, providing unequalled size/performance ratio in the PC industry... Apple should use the 12 inch form factor... could be priced in the $1700~$1800 range."
"[odds: 50:1]"
"Unlikely rumors, which [PiperJaffray analyst] Munster calls "a stretch," include an ultra-portable 12-inch MacBook Pro..."

iTablet
"... a number of new Apple patent applications that relate to the long-rumored Apple Tablet based computer. The most recent patents appeared...February 2nd, 2006...with a filing date as recent as January 31st, 2005."
"...Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen..."
"Apple researchers have built a fully working prototype of tablet Mac and three companies in Taiwan are bidding for a potential launch in mid 2007."
"...it's not likely to happen..."

– Mark Wilson

Rumor Links...In No Particular Order
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

In today's Frankenfight, we stack the return policies of major retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City and Amazon in one huge pile for you to learn, live and love. While no major reviewers are chiming in with their opinions, hopefully our research will save you at least half a headache (because there is nothing we can do about your kid who is still crying about not getting a Wii).

Is one return policy inherently better than the rest? Sure, Wal-Mart...especially if you happen to "lose" your receipt. But the real lesson here is, don't open electronics that you plan on returning. Because it will probably cost you. – Mark Wilson

Return Policies
Wal-Mart
Target
Best Buy
Circuit City
Amazon

But exactly how strong is this mythology? Can the iPhone's legend stand up to the greatest myths of the history of man: those of the ancient Greek civilization?

There is only one way to find out...and it involves the three-headed ancient god of reason that is the Frankenreview.

iPhone vs. Apollo
Apollo was the most beloved of the all gods, and he was the god of music and supreme master of the golden lyre.

The iPhone can play any music style and any recording converted to the supported digital formats.

Winner: iPhone, because who the fuck rocks out to the lyre these days? Except Sting, of course (aka god of my heart).

iPhone vs. SirensThe Sirens were beings who could entice mariners with their song, only to destroy their ships on the rocks.

Studies have proven that cell phone use while driving can lead to more accidents (some surely involving collisions with rocks).

Winner: iPhone, unless the driver is in close proximity to the Bermuda Triangle, where reception is difficult, and the Lock Ness's brother can team up with the Sirens.

iPhone vs. Atlas
Atlas, as punishment for siding with the Titans, was forced by Zeus to literally bear the weight of the sky on his shoulders.

The iPhone, after the sucktastic RKOR and Chocolate, is now holding up the hearts and expectations of fanboys everywhere.

Winner: iPhone, because oxygen floats and hearts are more difficult to hold in bulk (more slippery, sorta gross).

Steve Jobs vs. Zeus
Zeus is a god.

Steve Jobs just thinks he's a god is also a god.

Winner: Zeus, due to lightning bolt powers.

Brian Lam vs. Epimetheus
Epimetheus is synonymous with "hind-sight". His actions in betraying Zeus and his brother Prometheus (foresight) led to all suffering and despair being released on mankind.

Brian Lam teased the release of the Apple iPhone.

Winner: Tie.– Mark Wilson

mythology 1
mythology 2
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3

Watch the sub-$200 HP Photosmart D7360 and Canon Pixma MP500 duke it out for all the affection you never had in our innovative bar graph. Then hit the jump for the Frankenreview: what happens when reviews from CNET, PCMag, PCWorld and PrinterSpot agree to live in a house and have their lives taped.

Design"The Canon Pixma MP500 is low, wide, and smooth, like an Italian sports car."
"We like the dual-LED icon next to the feed switch, which helps you toggle between the paper trays."
"It has a tilting 2.5-inch LCD screen and memory card slots so you can print without the help of a computer."
"The Photosmart D7360 has a large 3.4-inch tilting LCD — that's about an inch larger than typical displays currently on the market."
"...you can keep both standard letter-size paper and 4-by-6 photo paper loaded and switch between them without having to change paper every time. Alternatively...you can keep two different sizes of photo paper loaded."
"The HP Photosmart D7360 is on the bulky side for a single-function printer..."

Winner: Canon. It's a much sexier design despite including all-in-one functionality.

Standalone Interface/Connectivity "If you're printing directly from a PictBridge-enabled camera, use your digital camera's memory card, use infrared via a device such as your phone, you can use the Pixma MP500 right out of the box..."
"Unlike several of its rivals and many photo printers, the MP500 doesn't let you read images from a USB flash drive attached to its direct-print port."
"One thing the MP500 won't control directly from the printer is printing images smaller than 4 x 6 inches. It automatically scales the image to fit to the maximum paper size without giving you the option of printing at its original size."
"[With the HP]...Plug in a memory card or USB key with photos on it, preview your photos, choose print options, and give the print command through the 3.4-inch touch screen."
"You can watch the video play back on the LCD, stop it at the frame you want, then print. To find just the right frame, you can pause the video and slowly step through frame by frame, either forward or back."
"You can even view animated demos of maintenance tasks, such as loading paper and cartridges, and clearing paper jams."
"It's the perfect interface for computerphobes..."
"...the easiest to use printer we have ever reviewed."Winner: HP. Guess that extra bulk pays off somewhere.

Speed
"The MP500 averages 1:11 per print - substantially faster than two similar photo printers. For 8.5 x 11s, it took an average of 2:58."
"On Premium Plus paper, the HP D7360 is slow, averaging 1:45 per 4 x 6-inch print....However, when printing on HP Advanced Photo Paper, the HP D7360 is the fastest in the market..."
Ed Note: With HP Advanced Photo Paper, the printer averages 53 seconds per print. 8.5 x 11s take 1:17.
"Performance [for the Canon mp500] is a strong point. On our business applications...the MP500 took 15 minutes, 17 seconds, total..."
"[The HP clocks] in at 15:08 on our business applications suite..."

Winner: HP. HP wins the photos, but due to the more expensive paper, we needed more to determine the winner. Then HP also won general office printing speeds with normal paper.

Photo Printing Quality
"[With the Canon]...On photo paper we saw beautifully sharp images with bold colors.
"On our graphics test print, curves were smooth and sharply rendered, but we saw quite a bit of banding in gradients, especially in the grayscale..."
"...with shading changing suddenly where it should change gradually..."
"...slightly cyan-biased skin tones..."
"[With the HP]...the only problem we found was noticeable graininess in blocks of color."
"Most users will like its photo quality, but we've seen better. On photo paper, the darkest areas lacked some detail and exhibited a bluish tint, while skin tones looked too bronzed..."
"The printer recreated skin tones darker than the original with more saturation and contrast. The skin tones are realistic and the model actually seems more alive than the original image."
"...oversaturated and a little dark."Winner: Tie. Each printer seems to have its own problems. I'm scared of the Canon's difficulties with gradients, but resentful that the HP won't print with less contrast than it's told (see above, original on left). But mom, she will love them both.

Overall winner: HP. Mom will like the HP because it has the best standalone interface, and let's face it, she has no clue that her printer should be any smaller. Dad will like feeling cool that he can freezeframe videos of himself dancing nude in the bathroom mirror...to later give to mom. – Mark Wilson

Canon Pixma MP500 Specs
B&W Pages per Min.: 29 • Color Pages per Min.: 19 • Max. B&W dpi: 600 by 600 • Max. Color dpi: 9600 by 2400 • Max. Scanning dpi: 1200-by-2400 • Tray Capacity, pages: 150 • Price When Reviewed: $200

HP Photosmart D7360 Specs
B&W Pages per Min.: 32 • Color Pages per Min.: 31 • Max. B&W dpi: 1200-by-1200 • Max. Color dpi: 4800-by-1200 • Tray Capacity, pages: 100 • Price When Reviewed: $200

CNET HP
CNET Canon
PCMag HP
PCMag Canon
PCWorld HP
PCWorld Canon
PrinterSpot HP
PrinterSpot Canon

We took PCMag's and CNET's top four rated LCDs in the price range (by Westinghouse, Vizio, Viewsonic and Sharp) and let them duke it out battle royal style in the Frankenreview.

Design
Winner: Sharp
"Sharp dropped the silver coloring..."
"I took a moment to admire the display's all-black styling, which features a gloss-finished bezel inset within a matte-finished frame..."
"...the oversized power button would be easy to locate and operate with your eyes closed."

Inputs
Winner: Sharp
"...including two HDMI ports, two component-video connections, and a single RF input that feeds the TV's analog (NTSC), digital (ATSC), and Clear QAM (unencrypted digital cable) tuners."
"...the biggest omission is a dedicated PC input...no mention of using one of the HDMI inputs with PC sources, although dedicated users can probably find a way."

Features
Winner: Vizio
"... boasts a versatile picture-in-picture control. One option lets you view standard-def—but not high-def—inputs in a smaller window while using the PC input for the main screen.
"There are four aspect-ratio modes available for both HD and standard-def sources."

Display

Winner: Sharp
"...summed up with one word, wow."
"...Sharp was able to coax a relatively deep color of black compared to other LCDs we've reviewed recently."
"...has superior representation of color and dark detail."
"Color tracking was admirably linear too compared with the Westinghouse and ViewSonic 32-inch models."
"its less-saturated color was visible...reds are too garish in comparison with other colors."
"...picture was almost perfectly calibrated right out of the box."

Overall Winner: SharpWe were surprised that the Sharp's black levels and contrast ratios held up to TVs far more expensive than those compared here. So while the Sharp may be the most expensive in the competition, it not only looks to be a good TV for under $1,000, but a decent TV in general.

Runner Up: Vizio
For $250 less than the Sharp, you get a PC-input and a decent display save for some color temperature problems...just utilize HDMI and avoid component inputs. If you are sub $700 cheap, we can forgive you for choosing the Vizio. – Mark Wilson

Sharp LC-32D40U Specs:
LCD TV
TFT active matrix
Image aspect ratio - 16:9
Series: Aquos
Width: 32.3 in
Depth: 10.7 in
Height: 25.6 in
Weight: 43 lbs

Video System
Resolution: 1366 x 768
Image contrast ratio - 1200:1
Viewing angle: 176 degrees
Brightness: 450

Television Features
Backlight life: 60,000 hour(s)

Connections / Cables / Slots
Input/Output connections: 2 x HD component input (RCA phono x 3), 2 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A), 1 x S-Video input (4 pin mini-DIN), Audio line-in, 3 x Composite video input (RCA phono)

CNET Westinghouse
CNET Vizio
CNET ViewSonic
CNET Sharp
CNET Sharp 2
PCMag Westinghouse
PCMag Vizio
PCMag ViewSonic
PCMag Sharp

Between Sony's Cybershot T50 and Canon's Powershot SD800 IS, which camera is the best? The fine people at CNET, Cameras Co. UK and Imaging Resource have their own opinions that we've squeezed together in a Frankenreview, but you'll have to hit the jump to find out. It's perfect water cooler talk that just might win over the "cool kids" after all.

Frankenreviewer Says:

Design"Sony's Cyber-shot T-series has proven popular in the market thanks to designs with slim, compact bodies..."
"The 7-megapixel [SD800] camera's tiny body is shiny, curvy, and very attractive."

Winner: Tie. Whatever, both fit in your pocket and look nice enough.

Screen"The 3-inch unit on the T50 looks positively huge."
"Although the touch screen is an interesting addition that is likely to appeal to many people I am not convinced it makes the DSC T50 easier to use."
"We often ended up pressing the virtual touch-screen buttons multiple times before they worked..."
"The SD800 screen resolution with 207,000 pixels is good for a 2.5" screen and pictures look clear on it."
"But the SD800 IS also includes an optical viewfinder. The advantage of the optical viewfinder is undeniable..."

Winner: Sony. Because the screen is .5" bigger, not the craptastic touch screen.

Image Stabalization "If you haven't shot with an image-stabilized camera, you're in for a treat."
"...with the SD800 IS Digital ELPH, you can shoot in low light without having to put the camera on a tripod to avoid the camera shake..."
"Playing with the Sony T50...I could very easily hand-hold 1/4 second exposures...Without image stabilization...[only] 1/30 second..."

Winner: Tie. I've checked out reviewer test shots from both cameras. Both tiny cameras benefit a ton from image stablization, during zooming and low light.

Lens "...the [T50] 3X optical zoom lens only opens as wide as an equivalent of 38mm..."
"Sony hasn't widened the zoom range since the T-series was instituted, it's definitely time for a change..."
"The [SD800] 3.8X zoom range offers the flexibility of wide-angle focal lengths..."
"Chromatic aberration was there at wide angle...[purple fringing]"

Winner: Canon. Better zoom ratio, wider angle, enough said - except that the color and sharpness problems are common with many wide angle lenses shooting at their widest.

Image
"[SD800] photos were attractive, with fine detail rendering and solid color reproduction."
"...Easily blows out highlights..."
"... there is very little redeye..."
"Indoors I am very impressed by the [T50's] sharpness and the brightness of both of my test shots....The outdoor portrait does not really grab me...I find it slightly dull."
"...It is a shame the red eye problem is so obvious..."

Winner: Canon. Without a true head to head photo comparison, this group is difficult to decide. But due to the nature of these cameras to be used in family/friend group photography, the red eye is a major problem that Sony might have fixed by moving the flash away from the lens.

Speed
"The [T50's] time from pressing the power button to capturing its first image took 1.5 seconds, and the shot-to-shot time between subsequent images was also 1.5 seconds without flash..."
"The [SD800's] switch on time is very quick and takes around 1.4 seconds to switch on and take a photo...could snap off a shot every 1.3 seconds..."

Winner: Tie. Canon starts up faster and is generally quick, but Sony has a faster continuous shooting mode.

Misc. Features"Canon SD800 also features Face Detect focusing in any mode. This is one of those gotta-have features...the camera identifies the closest face, focusing on it when you half-press the Shutter button."
"[T50 has] a generous 56mb of storage is built into the camera. I was able to take a respectable 20 shots before the memory became full."

Winner: Tie. In terms of random features, we really wish the touch screen on the Sony was better/more practical, but every reviewer disliked it.

Overall Winner: Canon SD800 IS. At the end of the day, the better lens makes the camera take this competition. And, in a world of point and shoots, details like red-eye and auto face focusing can vastly improve the quality of photos.
– Mark Wilson

Canon Powershot SD800 IS Specs
Size: 90 x 58 x 25 mm
Image Resolution: 3072x2304, 3072x1728, 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1600x1200
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.7
CCD Sensor (Megapixels): 7.10
CCD Size (inches): 1/2.5"
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 105 mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.80x
Auto Focus: Yes
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes
Manual Focus: No
Normal Focus Range: 45 cm to Infinity
17.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 3 - 60 cm
1.2 - 23.6 in
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) / f/5.8 (T) - ???
Optical Viewfinder: Yes
LCD Viewfinder: Yes
LCD Size (inches): 2.5
LCD Resolution (pixels): 207,000
ISO Settings: 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 15 - 1/1600
Exp Adj Range (EV): +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot
Aperture Priority: No
Shutter Priority: No
Full Manual Exposure: No
Self Timer: 1-30 seconds

Sony Cybershot T50 Specs
Size: 95 x 57 x 23 mm
Image Resolution: 3072x2304, 3072x2048, 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1920x1080
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.1
Movie Resolution: 640x480, 160x112
Movie Frame Rate: 30.00, 8.30
CCD Sensor (Megapixels): 7.20
CCD Size (inches): 1/2.5"
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 38 - 114 mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x
Auto Focus: Yes
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes
Manual Focus: Yes
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 1 - 0 cm
0.4 - 0.0 in
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/8 (wide) / f/4.3 - f/10 (tele)
Optical Viewfinder: No
LCD Viewfinder: Yes
LCD Size (inches): 3.0
LCD Resolution (pixels): 230,000
ISO Settings: 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash
Shutter Speed Range: 1 - 1/1000
Exp Adj Range (EV): +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
Aperture Priority: No
Shutter Priority: No
Full Manual Exposure: No
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds

Sony
CNET
Cameras.co.uk
Imaging Resource

Canon
CNET
Cameras.co.uk
Imaging Resource

Red Eye Photo

Hit the jump for the complete story and a dazzling 3D graph. Not to be a tease, but results surprised us a little...

Design
"[The PS3 is] a console of sweeping curves and chrome accents..."
"Most impressively, there's no external power supply for the PS3; you just plug the included power cable..."
"...the PS3 has a front-slot-loading, Blu-ray optical-disc drive, which contributes to the unit's slicker appearance. Discs slide in and eject smoothly...the odds of snapping off or damaging the Xbox 360's disc tray aren't exactly negligible..."
"What's impressive about this PS3, in fact, is that with all this power under the hood, the system runs as quietly as it does...."
"The Wii itself is a marvel of miniaturization."
"The only wrinkle was setting up the thin, low-profile sensor bar... A long wire snakes down to the base unit and enables the controllers to work..."
"The [Wii] sensor bar is extremely unobtrusive, and we forgot it was even there minutes after setting up the system..."

Winner: Tie PS3 and Wii. Xbox 360 is both large and has a massive powerbrick.

Graphics
"It's very hard to tell the difference between titles that are already available on the 360 and their PS3 counterparts..."
"...the Wii's graphics look terrible compared with the competition."
"The Wii also lacks advanced surround sound..."

Winner: Tie PS3 and Xbox 360. Maybe one day reviewers will say differently, but that day ain't here yet. And intended or not, Nintendont deliver for the home theater enthusiast.

Interface
"...the overall design [of PS3 Interface] is slick enough to be called Mac-like, and—at least from an aesthetic standpoint—is more appealing than the Xbox 360's Dashboard and Nintendo Wii's Channels interfaces..."
"For a device powered by a 3.2-GHz Cell processor capable of 208 billion floating-point operations per second, this interface seems...Spartan."
"Sony forgot a few basics, like the ability to use a photo as a backdrop to that simple menu, or listen to music while you are playing games."
"The [Wii] console's features are arranged around a series of Channels listed in side-by-side squares on your television that you access with the remote/controller."
"While perusing the Wii channels, I came across the dubiously named My Accomplishments screen, which details exactly what your console did all day."
"The Mii channel lets you set up cartoony avatars, which are used both as players in Wii Games—including Wii Sports..."
"...beware of false friends who make your nose two sizes too big..."

Winner: PS3 by slight edge. Let's face it, everyone got it right in their own way. But if the reviewers must choose, they're going with PS3, probably because the PSP interface and the PS3 match/integrate so well. And the Wii looks nice out of the box, but a lot of content will lead to jumbles of random buttons.

Multimedia

"The PS3's media features are extensive—enough so that the console could be a worthwhile purchase even for people who never deign to even fire up a game..."
"The PS3 can extract and play an impressive selection of music, photo and movie formats from an equally impressive selection of memory cards and storage devices."

Winner: PS3. Sure, the 360 supports MP3 sharing a little better, but the PS3 photo system is incredibly advanced, as is the PSP connectivity (even if you might not use it). HDMI 1.3 is forward-thinking, too.

Controls/Controllers
"The PS2's Dual Shock controller had 8-bit sensitivity, while the PS3's controller has 10-bit motion detection...."
"[SIXAXIS] isn't as dramatic as the Wii's wand-waving, but is it a welcome addition."
"Playstation 3 controllers don't rumble? Whose genius idea was that? Without rumble, it just ain't a jungle."
"The Wii controllers are also more sophisticated [than PS3], including the ability to measure actual motion (spatial movement) and acceleration, rather than just tilting—but unlike the Wii, the PS3 doesn't require a motion-sensor bar in front of the TV.""I found that the sensitivity of the [Wii] controller - whether it was being used to steer a truck or swing a sword - was both intuitive and precise."
"...after about a half hour, we were clicking, swinging, pointing, and playing with ease. By mid-day, we were hooked."
"...the pointer gets occasionally jerky or twitchy, and the tilt controls require a light and subtle touch..."
"The split controller will also appeal to left-handed gamers for more complex games, since you can manipulate either controller with either hand."
"...extra controllers a pretty pricey: $40 for additional Wiimotes, plus another $20 for the nunchuk.
"The Wii doesn't come with any sort of charger, so you'll almost certainly want to pick up a set of at least four rechargeable AA batteries and a battery charger."

Winner: Wii (big surprise, but Nintendo needs to release some recharge packs ASAP). Surprisingly, the SIXAXIS is pretty decent, but it only ties the Xbox 360's rumble and perfect weight/ergonomics.

Online Play
No reviewers could test the Wii or PS3 functionality because it was disabled at the time. So...

Winner: Xbox 360 (by forfeit). But c'mon, is anyone ready to take on Live?

Play Play
"...it's very hard to tell the difference between titles that are already available on the 360 and their PS3 counterparts..."
"The big question, of course, is whether the PS3 is $100 to $200 better than the Xbox 360. From a pure gaming perspective, the short answer is: no, not today."
"Looking on, my wife couldn't remember the last time she saw something as silly as two dudes jumping around, waving their arms and strutting..."
"I fear that some people might get real tennis elbow from Wii's virtual Tennis, or even tear a rotator cuff when pitching in Wii's Baseball."

Winner: Orthapedic surgeons and the Wii - no one can argue that the system is flat out fun to play. For the nights we crave adult content, we choose the Xbox 360 because of a better gaming library and nothing in the reviews convinced us Sony was better. So that means PS3 outright loses for now. Last place. With the fat kids.

If You Were Too Lazy To Read Everything Above
"...the two versions of the PS3 are well worth their respective $500 and $600 price tags..."
"...[with the PS3] you can be sure you'll feel that you got your money's worth—from a gaming and a multimedia perspective."
"...the Wii will probably leave many hard-core gamers wanting more."
"...it would be easy to dismiss the Wii as more toy than technology...But the best innovations are often the simplest..."
"[Sony] naming a computer chip is like naming your genitals: you're compensating for something..."

Winner: The Wii. By averages, the Wii just edges out the Xbox 360...but given that my TIME magazine was an extrapolation, an argument could be made for a tie. And while the PS3 came in 3rd, it did score high in more than one review. So readers, what do you think about the numbers?– Mark Wilson

CNET PS3
CNET Wii
CNET XBX
PCMag PS3
PCMag Wii
PCMag XBX
RockyMt. PS3
RockyMt. Wii
RockyMt. XBX
Time PS3
Time Wii

But then came along Microsoft's Zune. Instead of a dainty, scratch-prone piece of MP3 china, the Zune is chunky and coated in spank-me-harder rubber. And the Zune was there for us with a shoulder to cry on during those nights we vented how the iPod lacked WiFi, FM, and a general understanding of "a woman's needs". Even if it only goes up to 30GB.

We appreciate that the Zune let's us hook up and share moments on trains or bathroom stalls, but we still crave the monogamy of iTunes DRM support. Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: A review culled from the bits and pieces of Pogue's NYTimes article, Mossberg's work at the WSJ, and opinions from our friends at Business Week and CNet. There's a lot to say, so we've sectioned off the writeup into categories on Design, Screen, UI, Software, and Sharing. And we've got all of our beautiful gallery shots after the jump. What are you waiting for? Jump on through!

Frankenreviewer Says:

Design
"It can't touch the iPod's looks or coolness, but it's certainly more practical...won't get fingerprinty and scratched..."
"The hardware feels rushed and incomplete. It is 60% larger and 17% heavier than the comparable iPod."
"...it's a nice size and weight...neither too thin to hold nor too big to pocket..."
"...You'll want to scroll the circular controller at first impulse..."
"...it lacks the famous iPod scroll wheel, instead using a common four-way navigation pad..."
"...while the controls lack the elegant minimalism of iPod's scroll wheel they are well designed..."
"Scrolling accelerates as you press the top or bottom button, but the iPod's wheel is much more efficient..."
WINNER: iPod

Screen
"The Zune's screen is taller than it is wide — unlike the iPod's — so you can see more of your lists without scrolling."
"It has three brightness settings and though the display is slightly washed out, it's colorful and bright enough for outdoor use..."
"...when videos or photos play, the screen image rotates, meaning you have to turn the player 90 degrees. And just as on the iPod, portrait-oriented photos are now shrunken..."
"...While it is three inches versus 2.5 inches for the iPod's screen, it uses the same resolution..."
"...many album covers look worse than they do on the iPod."
WINNER: Tie

Interface

"...the interface is dark, clean, and stable. It's aesthetically pleasing and functional..."
"The software design is beautiful, simple and graced by brief, classy animations."
"...the entire interface is more colorful and visually satisfying than the iPod's."
"You can also select your own photo as the wallpaper or background for the device."
WINNER: Zune

Software/Store
"...the black, gray, and orange hues of the Zune library software have a more modern look than the rather plain-vanilla iTunes, even though the basic layout is similar..."
"Microsoft's store doesn't sell TV shows, movies or audio books...the Zune store doesn't let you subscribe or download podcasts..."
"Even worse, to buy even a single 99-cent song from the Zune store, you have to purchase blocks of 'points' from Microsoft, in increments of at least $5..."
WINNER: iPod (err...iTunes)

Sharing
"The big, whomping Zune news, though, is wireless sharing..."
"Sharing content by using ad hoc Wi-Fi is pretty cool, although it is limited to sharing within a range of 30 feet, and you can't share video..."
"Each song sent to your Zune from another Zune can be played only three times and is available for playing for only three days."
"Who'd build a Wi-Fi device that can't connect to a wireless network — to sync with your PC, for example? Nor to an Internet hot spot, to download music directly?"
"Zune is curiously lacking a very popular iTunes feature — the ability to view and to listen to another user's music library over a local network..."
WINNER: Zune (by forfeit)

Overall Winner

iPod...by slight edge. Why? Because at the end of the day, most reviewers preferred the iPod, even if breaking down the features on paper makes them look pretty even. But if Apple vs. Microsoft means innovation above just shrinking the players down, we're all for it. – Mark Wilson

Size: 4.4 in. x 2.4 in. x 0.6 in. (h x w x d)
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Battery: Music, up to 14 hours (wireless off), up to 13 hours (wireless on); pictures, up to 4 hours; video, up to 4 hours
Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%

Display
Size: 3.0 inches
Orientation: Vertical and Horizontal
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels

Audio
Windows Media Audio Standard (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
MP3 (.mp3): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): Up to 320 Kbps, Low Complexity (LC), up to 48-kHz sample rate

Pictures
JPEG (.jpg): All resolutions (desktop software will automatically convert to 640x480 at sync time)

Video
Windows Media Video (.wmv): Main Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 1.5 Mbps peak video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio; Simple Profile, CBR, up to 736 Kbps video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio.

Wireless
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g
Range: Up to 30 feet

CNET Zune
CNET iPod
NYT Zune
NYT iPod
WSJ Zune
WSJ iPod
BW Zune
BW iPod
Thanks Zatz!

This battle wasn't pretty. Lifehacker's own Gina Trapani points out that, "Ironically, Fx runs on more versions of Windows than IE 7 does." And it was all downhill from there. While IE 7 was away training in the Himalayas for a year and a half, living off walnuts and squirrel meat, Firefox was poking his wife, being a fill-in-dad for his kids, wearing his favorite tighty whities and learning all his secrets.

Check out our graphs, but equip yourselves with those special solar eclipse glasses first. Then hit the jump for our Frankenfight—where whomever yells the loudest wins. It's sort of the new policy.

OK, fuck this unbiased attitude. Firefox 2 just froze on me while typing this. It can burn in hell.

Wait, it just restored all my windows.

Frankenreviewer says:

Interface

"Unlike IE 7, which has reorganized its toolbar, Firefox 2 changes only the look and feel of its buttons."
"The new shiny-glass look [firefox] is much more sophisticated, as are the rounded tabs and the hairline borders around the address bar and the search engine box."
"IE 7's new streamlined look resembles Vista's."
"You can't miss the new user interface, with tabbed browsing, integrated searching, and newsfeed support..."
"The overall interface of IE has also been cleaned up and simplified..."
"The tabs don't get their own row, however, so they can start to appear somewhat squished if you have many open at once."
- No victory in the Hot or Not competition.

Tabbed Browsing

"Perhaps the biggest change within IE 7, aside from the overall interface redesign, is tabbed browsing."
"The tabs, which can be reordered, can also be previewed on a page with clickable thumbnail displays of each open tab."
"Microsoft's implementation is OK, but is curiously inconsistent."
"The page preview available within IE 7, called Quick Tabs, requires an extra mouse click, which is an annoyance for the ergonomically minded."
"...lets you view, on one page, thumbnails of all the pages you have open in tabs."
"It's very nice, but reminiscent of an Apple feature called Expos ."
"...while Mozilla is touting a revamped tabs interface, it doesn't seem much improved to me."
"New in Firefox 2 is session restore; if Windows crashes and you have several tabs open in Firefox at the time, you can now relaunch Firefox with all the tabs intact..."
"Firefox 2's tab updates are generally a step ahead of IE's. For example, you can configure Firefox to always save your last session for future use; with IE 7 you have to click a box every time."
- Sorry guys, tabs are tabs.

RSS

"RSS isn't treated lightly within IE7; in fact, Microsoft built an entire RSS reader and bundled it in with the browser."
"However, you have no way to quickly preview the feed's contents without opening the feed's rendered page in IE, which somewhat defeats the purpose."
"Firefox 2 makes the raw [RSS] feed understandable, and offers a range of new subscription options."
"Possibly the coolest new feature is Live Titles, formerly Microsummaries, which allows Web sites to stream updated data to your bookmarks."
"Think of Live Titles as RSS-like feeds for your otherwise static bookmarks."
"Web sites must be specifically enabled for this feature for Firefox 2.0, so it's not widely useful yet."
- Still a good idea.

Add-ons

"Unfortunately extensions designed for Firefox 1.5 will probably break within Firefox 2."
"About 80% of the extensions I use are supported."
"In my Firefox setup, Firefox 2.0 obviated the need for five extensions and another two customizations that I apply to all Firefox 1.x installations."
"Another area where IE7 has serious shortcomings is with add-ons that give extra features to the browser."
"...most of the add-ons you'll find aren't free."
"You can enable, disable, and delete add-ons in IE's manager, but it's not very user-friendly..."
"...many of these so-called add-ons are not designed to work directly inside IE and integrate with the browser..."
- Microsoft will never let people develop for IE as freely as they can Firefox.

Security

"Security enhancements within Firefox 2 continue. New is a dialog box informing you of cross-domain scripting, a tactic used by criminal hackers to link nonrelated sites to sites you think may be legit."
"Firefox's default protection stops at comparing sites against a known blacklist of phishing sites, while IE 7 includes site analysis that will try to warn you about a suspicious site even if it's not yet on a blacklist."
"...we found that IE 7 consistently failed to catch phishing sites less than 1 hour old, although IE 7 caught all phishing sites known for at least 1 hour or more..."
"You also get a new "Fix Settings for Me" feature that warns you if you reset security settings to something Microsoft deems unsafe."
"Overall, the new IE has many more security fixes than the revised Firefox. But such fixes were necessary to address IE 6's many holes..."
"With IE7, the default security level has been raised from medium, which is the IE6 default, to medium-high. Not only that, but there are now no lower security levels than medium..."
"But the most important new security feature in IE 7 — something called Protected Mode, which stops Web sites from changing your computer's important files or settings — will work only in the new Vista version of Windows."
- Tacky.

Performance

"IE 7 still uses essentially the IE 4 Web engine. So in terms of page performance, Mozilla Firefox, which updated its Web engine with Firefox 1.5, remains the much faster browser."
"In my informal tests immediately after installing and launching IE 7, the browser with three open tabs used 80MB of memory; under similar conditions and with the same three tabs, Firefox used 58MB. Otherwise, the performance of the two browsers appeared similar."

Random Tidbits

"Firefox 2 also gives you the ability to correct your spelling mistakes online, just like using a word processor."
"Once you have access to inline spell-checking, you won't want to surf the Web without it."
"Speaking of accessibility features, IE 7 includes zoom technology and the new Clear-type page technology, which Microsoft claims renders page fonts as sharp and clear as those printed on a piece of paper."
"Even if you zoom to the maximum level, 400 percent, we found that the Clear-text technology within IE 7 remains quite clear with fonts."
- Zoom feature is a nice innovation from Microsoft.

Conclusion

"The new Internet Explorer is a solid upgrade, but it's disappointing that after five years, the best Microsoft could do was to mostly catch up to smaller competitors."
"Of the two rivals, Firefox remains the better application."
- I plan on running Firefox 2, but I own a Mac.
– Mark Wilson

CNET 1
CNET 2
PCWorld
Computerworld 1
Computerworld 2
WSJ
Photo 1
Photo 2