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The Top 20 Products of the Year
1 Google Apps Premier Edition (Web applications)
Google's Docs & Spreadsheets (soon to be joined by a PowerPoint-esque presentation application) already makes for an interesting alternative to Microsoft Office. Combine it with Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Calendar, and suddenly nearly all of your basic productivity programs and data can be available online. For small businesses, Google Apps Premier Edition adds capacity, support services, and tools for integrating existing infrastructure so that all your employees can use Google's powerful Web apps--no matter where they are. Printouts may never die, but if Google has its way, the office-less office may become a reality long before the paperless one does.
2 Intel Core 2 Duo (desktop CPU)
It's superfast, it's not too expensive, and it uses less energy than its predecessor does. But could Core 2 Duo be too good? Unless AMD can respond to its startling success, the absence of competition could drive up desktop PC prices. That's how terrific this CPU is.
3 Nintendo Wii (game console)
Readers went gaga for the first game console to get nongamers hooked on gaming, nominating it more than any other product. With motion-sensitive controls and a slate of fun games for all ages, Nintendo really has something with the Wii. Now if only we could find one for sale.
4 Verizon FiOS (Internet service)
Supplying enough bandwidth to offer IPTV plus Internet access at up to 30 megabits per second, fiber is the way of the future. As of this writing, FiOS users on BroadbandReports.com gave the service an 84 percent satisfaction rating.
5 RIM Blackberry 8800 (smart phone)
Take one sweet smart phone, and add GPS. With no camera but some serious e-mail mojo, the 8800 is all business.
6 Parallels Desktop (virtualization software)
A Mac OS application in PC World's Top 10? You bet. With a simple interface and improving 3D acceleration, Parallels offers the slickest way to run Windows (or any other OS) on Apple's beautifully designed Intel-based hardware.
7 Pioneer Elite 1080p PRO-FHD1 (plasma HDTV)
In a crowded field of nice-looking HDTVs, Pioneer's high-res Elite series plasma stands alone as the display that everyone wants. If you have the means, we highly recommend it.
8 Infrant Technologies ReadyNAS NV (network-attached storage device)
Great for backups or shared storage, Infrant's 1TB ReadyNAS performs well and includes helpful features such as uPNP support and a built-in print server.
9 Apple Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" (operating system)
Quick: Name a good Vista feature that goes beyond what's in Tiger. Yeah, we can't either.
10 Adobe Premiere Elements 3 (video editing software)
Like the rest of Adobe's Elements products, Premiere gives you just the video editing features you need at a reasonable price.
Google's Docs & Spreadsheets (soon to be joined by a PowerPoint-esque presentation application) already makes for an interesting alternative to Microsoft Office. Combine it with Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Calendar, and suddenly nearly all of your basic productivity programs and data can be available online. For small businesses, Google Apps Premier Edition adds capacity, support services, and tools for integrating existing infrastructure so that all your employees can use Google's powerful Web apps--no matter where they are. Printouts may never die, but if Google has its way, the office-less office may become a reality long before the paperless one does.
2 Intel Core 2 Duo (desktop CPU)
It's superfast, it's not too expensive, and it uses less energy than its predecessor does. But could Core 2 Duo be too good? Unless AMD can respond to its startling success, the absence of competition could drive up desktop PC prices. That's how terrific this CPU is.
3 Nintendo Wii (game console)
Readers went gaga for the first game console to get nongamers hooked on gaming, nominating it more than any other product. With motion-sensitive controls and a slate of fun games for all ages, Nintendo really has something with the Wii. Now if only we could find one for sale.
4 Verizon FiOS (Internet service)
Supplying enough bandwidth to offer IPTV plus Internet access at up to 30 megabits per second, fiber is the way of the future. As of this writing, FiOS users on BroadbandReports.com gave the service an 84 percent satisfaction rating.
5 RIM Blackberry 8800 (smart phone)
Take one sweet smart phone, and add GPS. With no camera but some serious e-mail mojo, the 8800 is all business.
6 Parallels Desktop (virtualization software)
A Mac OS application in PC World's Top 10? You bet. With a simple interface and improving 3D acceleration, Parallels offers the slickest way to run Windows (or any other OS) on Apple's beautifully designed Intel-based hardware.
7 Pioneer Elite 1080p PRO-FHD1 (plasma HDTV)
In a crowded field of nice-looking HDTVs, Pioneer's high-res Elite series plasma stands alone as the display that everyone wants. If you have the means, we highly recommend it.
8 Infrant Technologies ReadyNAS NV (network-attached storage device)
Great for backups or shared storage, Infrant's 1TB ReadyNAS performs well and includes helpful features such as uPNP support and a built-in print server.
9 Apple Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" (operating system)
Quick: Name a good Vista feature that goes beyond what's in Tiger. Yeah, we can't either.
10 Adobe Premiere Elements 3 (video editing software)
Like the rest of Adobe's Elements products, Premiere gives you just the video editing features you need at a reasonable price.
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